CAN ONE USE FEAR TO WARN SOMEONE ABOUT HELL AND TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST? 

I have heard many Christians say, you cannot preach to save people if you preach making people fearful. Well, you can preach to make someone fearful, but only with a Godly fear, especially if you're snatching them out of their next step which would be really horrible and dangerous to their souls. That is a display of the love you have for the other person. As long as you have the love of God in you and a truthful spirit concerning the person heading to hell and destruction, it is okay to tell them the truth of eternal damnation and the dire consequences of sin.

For me, if it wasn't for fear (Godly fear), I would still be in willful sins. If I hadn't known how ruthless the spirits of fornication are, I wouldn't know exactly why God commands sexual purity. Many do not understand what sexual sins do to their lives. They do not understand how it affects their children, marriages and lives. I needed a wake up call especially now that I wasn't just living for myself but for my son too. I started doing deliverance when I knew I had a child in me. I started praying and anointing myself everyday. These spirits didn't come out without a fight!

Some people need compassion to reach, some need fear to reach and some need a mix of both. Just make sure you're preaching with Godly love in you and not being manipulative.

Just today morning, I saw in the online news here in Kenya, a video footage whereby a young man of  a criminal gang was killed in an extrajudicial cold blood murder by police officers who had hunted some gang members down. I do not accept extrajudicial killings at all, but a young man who was thinking about going into crime can see this and know that there is danger in the path that he wants to choose. He will see and know that crime doesn't end well for the gangs. The truth of the video footage will speak volumes to the young man and he will seek better and honest ways of earning an income. 

Jesus talked about hell fire more than anyone else in the bible. He came to save us from the kingdom of darkness (hell) and bring us into the kingdom of God. So, He would talk about hell and how there will be suffering, wailing and gnashing of teeth. He didn't do that out of malice but out of truth. He died to save us from eternity in hell.

I saw these verses during my bible reading: in Jude 22-23; it explains well. For some, save them with compassion and others are saved through a genuine fear of imminent danger and destruction of their souls. Because let's be real, the wages of sin is death. Sin is horrible and causes so much suffering. Wouldn't you want to be warned about it?

I would surely appreciate a person who warned me and told me the truth. Even if I would be puffed up with pride and refuse to listen, the fact will remain that someone told me the truth. And that person was caring enough to show me the right path.

The reality is that some messages induce fear and there is nothing anyone can do about it. For example messages of judgement upon people from God's prophets in the Bible would induce fear because the people were turning away from God. These were messages of warnings and dire consequences of sin. It was true, it was the reality, and no one could do anything about it other than heed the warning and turn back to Yahweh.

There are messages of good tidings and joy, for example the announcement of the birth of Jesus. It brought hope to those who had been waiting for the Messiah and confirmed to them that Yahweh had indeed not forgotten them.

Both sets of messages minister accordingly, and both should be used in good measure in any ministry. If  messages of repentance are really lacking in a ministry, that is an "itchy ears" ministry. 2 Timothy 4:3. 

The Sugar Coated Version of the Gospel

If churches preached the uncompromising word of God with full details on sin and it's consequences, many would have a Godly fear and turn back to God. Many would repent, turn from their wicked ways and seek the face of God. But as we have it today, many people think that the commands of God are just opinions and not laws. They say that the grace of God covers them even in their willful premeditated sins. More so, they refuse any message of repentance claiming that it is "casting stones". They say "he who is without sin cast the first stone". These are rebellious people. They only want a sugar coated version of the Word of God. That is not God's grace covering them, but a spirit of deceit. 

Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; AND THAT COVER WITH A COVERING, BUT NOT OF MY SPIRIT, that they may add sin to sin: 

-Isaiah 30:1

That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord:

They say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right!

speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

- Isaiah 30:9-10

John the Baptist came with a message, a strong message: Repent. All the other Apostles preached the same message of repentance and salvation. Let us not sell the gospel short but speak the truth. Remember, Jesus spoke the truth, and for that, they crucified Him. But His reward was waiting for Him at the right hand of the Father in heaven.

When our stand is attacked, our boldness to stand for Christ can be wavered. Pray for boldness always to stand up for Christ. 

So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 

Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants THAT WITH ALL BOLDNESS THEY MAY SPEAK YOUR WORD, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 
Acts 4:1-31. 

Speak with boldness, pray for boldness to preach the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and to do deliverance. 

WOMAN, ARE YOU COVERED? 

A word from God. God created a woman not to be able to go through some things in a marriage. The nature of a woman seems 'soft' and gentle because God created her to be covered by her husband or a man in Godly authority over her e.g her father, and not leave her exposed to the enemy (the devil). The only man who can cover a woman completely here on earth is a man who has God as his covering. This man should be under the total submission of God and have his heart after God's own heart. 

A man who doesn't have God as his covering is not adequately able to cover his wife/daughter. A man without a God covering will put his woman through all types of hell because he doesn't know how to cover his wife or what it means to cover his wife. It's a wonder that some women do not know that they are not being covered. 

A man who cannot cover his wife spiritually cannot cover anything that concerns his wife, even her children. Just because a woman is married doesn't mean she's covered. 

Seek God concerning who to get married to. 

...she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me (and cover me spiritually), since you are a near kinsman. Ruth 3:9. 

If you're married and uncovered, pray to God, He will cover you even despite your husband uncovering you. Your husband may notice Someone or 'something' else is covering you but don't despair, God will never leave you nor forsake you. 

If you are a single mother, ask God to cover you and your child. God is your covering. 

"For the Lord has called you

Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, Like a youthful wife when you were refused,” Says your God." Isaiah 54:6

"For your Maker is your husband,

The Lord of hosts is His name;

And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth." Isaiah 54:5 

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Psalms 91:4 

THE TURTLEDOVES GIVERS

It amazes me  how God loves to use juxtapose. Placing two ideas or situations together to create a contrasting effect. He hides and covers His most precious things. Sometimes, you may look at a person and think that he/she is in the worst of positions in life but because this person is very prayerful, God is actually in control of the  person's situation, working something beautiful. In my life, I have come to see and know that God uses humility type of situations and people. Those who choose to humble themselves before God, those who choose to be covered and hidden by God. Seeking fame is vain. 

I always picture the Israelites waiting for their Messiah in those days when Jesus was born. They thought He would be great, a powerful ruler, an earthly king. But there was another type of people waiting for the Saviour, the true Messiah. People like Simeon and Anna. Simple people, both old, hidden in God, Spirit filled. They recognised that the child that Mary and Joseph were coming to present was the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

I think about how people in churches usually say, "It's the people with money that always get recognised. It's the people with wealth that get the front row seats in church". Well, that's usually true. Having been literally born and raised in church, this is the case most of the time. It's sometimes a weak point on the part of the preachers to align themselves with those who have wealth, influence and power not knowing that within the congregation, there is a meek and powerful evangelist, teacher, prophet or minister of the word of God. I knew a man who was a prophet within the congregation of a church I used to go to. This man told me of a prophesy about that church and the prophecy came to pass word for word. I was amazed. I wondered how many such people were within the congregation? All I know is that people avoided this person like the plague because he was so lowly, it literally hurt :-) He was a powerful deliverance minister and I pray and hope he is continuing in his assignment in God.

Jesus's parents were the turtledove givers. Lowly with a humble income and a humble offering. They walked through the streets of Bethlehem, Mary carrying their swaddled one and a half month old little bundle of joy, Joseph carrying the turtledoves and the pigeons. Nobody stopped to salute them, nobody asked to see the baby, no one gifted them. The people didn't know. Joseph and Mary made their way past the traders displaying their wares, the throngs of people going about their daily activities. Joseph put a protective arm around his wife because some people didn't seem to notice she was carrying a little newborn. When they reached the temple, Mary almost sighed in relief. The temple was alive with its usual activities. Pharisees, Sadducees and Levite priests here and there, young Hebrew boys rushing to class to study the Law of Moses; the boys would soon be part of the elite among the Israelites.

Mary and Joseph knew where the priest's table for handling purification after childbirth was. They started making their way towards the table. As they approached, the priest at the table cast a glance at them and their turtldoves offering and he quickly engrossed himself in the big old books before him, copying in entries of the couples who had come in that day to give their purification offerings. Suddenly, Joseph thought Mary had stumbled, he instinctively gripped her arm. It wasn't a stumble, it was old prophet Simeon who had startled her. Old Simeon was always old Simeon. As far as Mary could remember, he had always been old. Mary and Joseph smiled, Simeon was a gentle, happy soul. He greeted them quickly and asked to hold the baby. He lifted up the baby who was now waking from his sleep almost wondering why he was being lifted up in the air.

“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation...", (Luke 2:28-32) Simeon said, hearty joyful tears welling up in his eyes.

He continued speaking words of prophecies about the baby Jesus and Mary and Joseph were amazed. Simeon was known to always speak of profound things that nobody would understand sometimes, but his words at that moment led by the Spirit of God, touched the very soul of Joseph and Mary because they were the very words that God had been daily impressing on the couple since the conception of the baby.

A while later the widow prophetess Anna came rushing in with joy, as fast as her old age could allow her. She started thanking God and praising God, "Berachah! Berachah!", she said joyfully. She spoke of the redemption that Jesus would bring not just in Israel but to all mankind. The Levite at the purification registry table watched all these in amazement, "Who are these turtledoves givers that they should be given much attention? I have taken in healthy lambs for offering today. Who is the baby they are carrying? Who is Jesus? What are those two old prophets talking about?"

He didn't know that what Mary and Joseph had was of more worth than a whole bullock; they were carrying his Saviour, the Saviour of the world, the Lamb of God.

Are you a turtledoves and pigeons giver? Is your life lowly and meek? God loves to work with such. Throughout the bible we see God esteemed the gifts in the hearts of the people He used. Those who felt that they didn't have much to offer, those who felt little, insignificant, poor, rejected, abased, abandoned. God loves to use such souls. So lowly that when Gideon was called a mighty man of valour and that he would be used to save Israel from the Midianites, he refused and asked,

"O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” Judges 6:15.

The lowly shepherds that kept the flock by night were the ones who received the good news from the host of angels singing beautiful songs about the birth of Jesus. David was a lowly shepherd when he was anointed king of Israel, Joseph was a prisoner when he was appointed prime minister, Ruth was a widow a foreigner in Israel when she was recognised by Boaz, Esther was an orphan when she was crowned queen, Timothy was just but a young zealous youth when the elders laid hands on him and blessed him to do ministry, it was Jephthah that was cast out for being the son of a harlot but was later sought after,  it was the little slave girl that told Naaman that there was a prophet in Israel who could lead him into healing.

God uses the empty hearts ready to be filled with His Spirit. God uses the crushed, desolate, meek, poor and the hidden. He places us in such hidden meek positions so that we can cast our crowns and let Him use us. There is no place for a pompous, boisterous, bells and whistles, prideful heart. We should not glory not in our fleshly strength but in His awesome infinite strength. There won't be a time when your soul won't pant after His living water. There won't be a time when you'll feel that you do not need God. There won't be a time when you'll forget it's all about Him.

Do you have a small gift in your hands to offer?, give it still. But God is looking at the gift in your heart that through Him, you have to offer to the world. Do not worry about your turtledoves and pigeons lowly, meek life. Humility allows God to use you.

What do you have in your hands?

•A little oil; 1 Kings 4:2

•Only a handful of flour and a little oil; 2 King's 17:12

•A rod; Exodus 4:2

•Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ...; Acts 3:6

•two little copper coins; Luke 21:2

God is waiting to hear from you in prayer and in worship, despite how you feel, He wants to use you.

"The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of the birds is come, and the voice of the turtledoves is heard in our land...Arise, my love, my fair one and come away...O my dove in the cleft of the rock, in the hiding (secret) places of the stairs, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet and your face is comely." Song of Solomon 2:12-14.