LET PEOPLE TASTE OUR FRUIT OF REPENTANCE
Sakkie Parsons
Translated from Afrikaans: “Laat die mense ons vrugte van bekering proe”
Translator: Robin Barker
Someone wrote to me and asked me who was being spoken about in Zachariah 11:17
Let’s read what is written:
ZAC 11:17 “Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye totally blinded!”
Now, of who is being spoken of here when we read?
ZAC 11:17 “Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! …”
There is a statement supported by many theologians that applies more directly to the Jews and their future, and we read according to these theologians amongst other things, the following about this shepherd:
DAN 9:27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.
There are still a few other places where this evil shepherd, according to this point of view, is spoken about.
Whether the people who understand the Word in this way, I am not going to debate whether it is right or not.
I am rather going to share with you that which according to my opinion what is relevant to you and me for now at this point in time.
Well – This Zachariah 11:17 “Woe to the worthless shepherd …”, of course you will find all around.
Some people very easily proclaim a lot of rubbish in the name of the Gospel of Christ and then call it the Gospel of Christ.
Then I am not even talking about those so called ‘shepherds’ and the evangelists that sometimes perform/act like clowns and actors – even up to the false laughs and tears.
As well as those who love to scream and I do not know why some of them think that their audience is hard of hearing.
I always say, that if the messenger is greater than the message, then the messenger has failed, and my red/warning lights have been turned on.
My personal standard of comparison is:
If I have gone to a certain service to hear a certain person preach, and after I have left and the speaker was more impressive than that what he/her has preached in the name of the Gospel of Christ, there is certainly a problem. You can even literally call it a ‘hell of a problem’.
Listen to what Jesus says on occasion to these performing preachers and those who preach a false gospel:
LUKE 11:42-52
42 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.
43 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.
44 “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”
45 One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”
46 Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
47 “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them.
48 So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs.
49 Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’
50 Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world,
51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.
52 “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”
Have you now realised that everything you have now read can be individually applied to you and me, when we preach, that we are Christians but just Christians in that which is convenient and where it is convenient for us.
We should live as a denomination, congregation, shepherd, or member of a congregation that people can take us seriously, by carrying the fruits that comply with our repentance.
Jesus says it on occasion this way:
MAT 7:17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
What does the fruit look like that Jesus is talking about, that should be found in you and me?
GAL 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
GAL 5:23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
As Christians, you and I have the equipment. Come let us use them.
In other words:
“If we believe it, let us live it.”
ROM 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
So, let the people taste that glorious fruit you have.
Sakkie
Email: bediening@sakkieparsons.co.za
Website: www.sakkieparsons.co.za
Cell: 083 457 6669
Jude 1:24-25 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy, to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
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