02/11/17 PART OF THE PREACHER'S JOB

02/11/17 PART OF THE PREACHER'S JOB
Isaiah 58:1
(1) Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

It is not the fun part of the job for those who are driven by love.
We don't like to make the hard sayings.
We don't like to confront and correct angry people.
We don't like be characterized as narrow and intolerant.
We don't like to be viewed as judgmental and harsh.
BUT THE JOB MUST BE DONE.

Our intention is
to bring people to Christ,
to build people up in faith and love and joy.

But before ground can produce good fruit it must be prepared,
by breaking it up,
by removing stones,
by uprooting unwanted vegetation.

The preacher's job is to cultivate and till the ground, which includes
* breaking up the hardened heart,
* removing the stones of resistance,
* uprooting the weeds, brambles, thorn,
* opening the ground to sunlight and air and water.

Yes, we cultivate,
Yes, we till,
Yes, we plant,
Yes, we irrigate,
Yes, keep the devouring animals out of our fields and
Yes, we stand guard against people who would set our fields afire.
Yes, we harvest.

But it all starts with properly preparing the ground. If the ground is not properly prepared then it will not properly produce the fruit.

Far to many hearts never produce the fruit of salvation because they have not had the deterrents to righteousness removed.