Purpose of heaven bound ministers.

Purpose of heaven bound ministers.

John  20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.  20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:  20:23 Whose  soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

To amplify what Jesus meant in the commission, listen to this scripture.

Luke  19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

This was what every heaven bound ministers should be doing.

Luke  19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

Why is this imperative?  Listen.

For their hearers not to perish.

2 Peter  3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

John  3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

John  3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Ezekiel  33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

James  5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;  5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Jude  1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:  1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Except this was accomplished,  their evangelistic outreaches would amount to nothing and unprofitable to their hearers.

Matthew  16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Listen to these.

1 Corinthians  15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

2 Peter  2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Romans  16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.  16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Revelation  3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;  3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:  3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.  3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

It is for this reason that, they and their entire congregations will be damned in eternity.

Matthew  7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

God will help you to be wise and do what Jesus did, during His earthly ministry in Jesus name.

Let us pray.