August 27, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

G&JC Article #4

A Personal Note & Final Article

I firmly believe that any future revival/awakening/spiritual movement will only take place if the Church reaches out to the gay community. I am not suggesting that we accept the behavior or beliefs of the gay movement, but that we reach out to gays and offer them the love of Christ. This can only take place if the power of the Holy Spirit moves us to ‘go where the Church has never gone before’.

Is the gay lifestyle an abomination according to Scripture, sure it is. But I like what Phillip Lee says about taking the Gospel to those living the gay lifestyle.

Phillip writes, “An abomination is an outrage, a disgrace, something detestable to God – and, yes, this is exactly what God says the practice of homosexuality is.

In Romans 1:26-28, the Bible twice says of practicing same-sex scenarios that God "gave them over" to their sin, meaning, God let their sin run its destructive course in their lives.

Any decision to reject God’s truth results in our becoming enslaved to ungodly passions.

Abomination does not signify "case closed, 10-4-over-and-out, done, finality!"

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 tells us clearly, "Some of you once practiced a behavior, a lifestyle that even progressed to the point that it is how you thought of and defined yourself."

However, 1 Corinthians 6:11 says, "Now you are washed by the blood of Jesus. Now you have a new life. You are sanctified by the Holy Spirit and you are being transformed into new individuals. You are justified – set free from your sin and now wear the robes of Jesus’ righteousness. The Holy Spirit ‘has done’ and is ‘continuing’ to do a great work of transformation in your life."

No longer viewed by God as an abomination. You and I must (embrace and allow) God’s Word to accomplish the purpose for which He sends it:

"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My Word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it" Isaiah 55:10-11. See yourself as God sees you and not as you once were.”

I like what the Apostle Paul said about his ministry. “I come not to you with words of intellectual wisdom or clever sayings, but in the demonstration of the power of Christ.” We must likewise depend on the Gifts and Fruits of the Spirit if God is to impact and change those within the gay movement. Afraid, no; weak, no; confident in the words of Christ, yes; and willing to love the unlovable, yes—this is what Jesus would want me to do.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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