STAY AND OCCUPY, NOT ABORT AND ABANDON

Carmine Azzato | May 5, 2022 | Hitting The Pavement

I’m eternally grateful that Jesus didn’t abandon his assignment because of the religious opposition He faced. Ministers that are called by God need to rethink the messaging they’re putting out. I’m tired of hearing people say that they know what they’re doing because they’ve been doing it for so long. Is it possible that in this new day that we’re living in, you may be doing something wrong? Pride and popularity are idols, Satan delights when we get full of ourselves. Maybe, just maybe it’s time to get back to the basics. There’s an old saying (you can’t teach an old dog new tricks), maybe some of us should consider whether we’re the old dog.

Here’s a basic and a great place to start. John 3:16-17 New King James Version. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. The scripture says that the world might be saved, this is the scripture that should convict your every decision. When people pass judgment or condemn one another, the world looks from afar and will never be saved because we don’t represent Jesus.

Here are two simple questions I believe we need to ask ourselves if we call ourselves soul winners. (1) Do we go to win souls in areas where we’re invited to go by people? (2) Do we go to win souls in areas because the Lord tells us to go? Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost. Everywhere Jesus went He was in absolute danger, Jesus always faced opposition. It wasn’t only Jesus that was in danger, Jesus’s disciples were also in danger because they sought His direction. I know this may seem harsh and abrupt but it’s time we open our mouths and begin asking the hard questions. We need to stop worrying about when Jesus will return and start wondering why He hasn’t returned yet. Maybe, He is waiting for us to finally get it together!

We’re living in a world that is being divided by more personal opinions than by divine appointments. It’s easy to point fingers and blame everyone else. It’s easy to start something and then stop because not everyone agrees with the direction or the mandate that Jesus gave you. Maybe it’s time to point the finger at yourself. Doing what’s popular amongst a majority of the population will drive you for a while. Doing what’s not always comfortable and easy will drive you to your knees. The bible talks about Jesus falling to His knees seeking the Father’s direction and protection. Jesus did this because He knew that a large majority of religious leaders hated Him.

PASTORS THROUGHOUT EVERY COMMUNITY NEED YOUR HELP

Many case studies and surveys focused on Faith and Christianity have compiled staggering results. Sadly, these studies show a record number of Pastors leaving the ministry and going back into the workforce. Christianity has always been under attack, but the past two years Christians have been backed into a corner. Satan has launched an all-out attack, striking blows from all angles. Satan’s relentless attack has driven a wedge between this young generation and their families. Satan has caused churches across America to close their doors. Many people may return to their local churches, and some will not.

Picking apart the body is not healing the body. There’s a massive infection that’s spreading amongst the body of believers. Jesus brought simple correction and direction to those that followed Him and to those that didn’t even know Him yet. Jesus proved that He was the Son of God because He walked in compassion while miracles, signs and wonders followed Him wherever He went. It was the example that Jesus led by that drove the most notorious Christian killer to his knees. Apostle Paul formerly known as Saul of Tarsus was reached because of his encounter with Jesus. People like Saul can’t be transformed if we abort and abandon our assignment from the Lord.

Isn’t it amazing that a guy who killed and ordered the killings of Jesus followers is responsible for writing over two-thirds of the New Testament? If Apostle Paul was physically here right now and wrote letters today to many of these “high-profile” ministers, these ministers would be highly offended. They would not receive Apostle Paul’s words of wisdom. Over the years I have personally witnessed a couple of “high-profile” ministers have traumatic meltdowns. First, they would publicly announce that the Lord spoke to them and told them one thing. Then they would have a meltdown and publicly state that they got it wrong. The deception is so strong that it’s causing a vast majority of Christians to question and bend the word of God so that they would be accepted by social groups.

PROPHET OR NON-PROPHET

What are we to believe with these self-titled Prophets? Are we to believe that God made a mistake, or that God’s direction wasn’t clear? Then to boot, the apologetics tour becomes the new normal. This is rhetoric, simply an easy ploy to line their pockets. In common English, it’s nonsense and we better wake up fast. The real question is, when will a steadfast righteous army of Jesus followers finally going to say something. When is it going to be too much? How many people must get hurt and how many will lose everything including their lives before we stand for what’s right?

People are walking away from the faith because they don’t know what to believe. So many mixed messages and mistaken prophecies are coming from some of the largest pulpits. Satan is sitting back watching as many are aborting the calling that is on their lives. The time that we have left on this earth is a lot shorter than many may care to believe. Regardless of this fact, I choose to live each day as it is my last. To reach as many lost souls as humanly possible. In the same respect I know that the Lord has called me to reach more than just the unbeliever. Jesus has called me to speak into ministers that believe their way is the right and, in some respects, the only way.

Here’s the reason I’m writing this blog; several weeks ago, the Lord spoke to me about being a voice of truth. Revealing the truth that will take away the fixation that so many are mesmerized by. As believers we need to take our eyes and attention off these preachers and get them fixed on Jesus. I know some will read this and think, who do you think you are? I’m just an obedient God-fearing servant of the Lord that has seen what I shouldn’t have seen. When you experience and see what you shouldn’t see, the Lord will show you how to handle what you cannot unsee. Correction must come, too many people are losing everything including their souls.

WE SHOULD SERIOUSLY RECONSIDER

Mark 8:34-38 New King James Version speaks about taking up the Cross and Following Jesus. 34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

We should seriously reconsider what and who we are following. There are a lot of tremendous works going on throughout cities across America. But know this, churches are not going to overflow until the work in the streets are done. We need to GO OUT and make disciples of all nations. That means ALL people from ALL walks of life, from both sides of the aisle, and from all denominations of religion. None of us have arrived and none of us are perfect. As a child I lived by one of Vince Lombardi’s finest quotes. Vince Lombardi said, “that no person can obtain perfection, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence”.

Since being saved, delivered, and set free, I only chase after the one, Jesus. I know that if I chase after Jesus each and every day of my life, I can catch excellence. Let us all GO OUT into all the world and be an excellent representation of Jesus! The world needs Jesus more now than ever before. Too many precious souls are being condemned to Hell. Let you and I be a true Light in someone’s dark world today. If you do not belong to a powerful community church in your area, pray that Jesus would lead you to a Church that you can call home.

Thank you for reading, please share this blog with someone you are praying for.

By Carmine Azzato

May 5, 2022, Hitting The Pavement