More Thoughts on Oprah...

I wanted to take some time to elaborate on yesterday's blog, God is Not Worried About Oprah. Here are a few clarifying thoughts...

1. Oprah's not a threat to the church of Jesus Christ - Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." If you are a part of Jesus' church than you have your eyes on Christ and your ears turned into His voice...not Oprah Winfrey. Oprah's beliefs and teachings can only mislead someone as long as they choose to hear what she is saying. As followers of Christ, we are to told that "...faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" Romans 10:17 KJV. Only God's Word can increase our faith. As we grow in God's Word, we are feeding on what the Hebrews writer calls "...strong meat[that]belongeth to them that are of full age [mature]..." The writer under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost concludes "...those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." [Hebrews 5:12, KJV]

The holy scriptures teach us that it is the Word of God that gives us the ability to discern what is good and what is evil. This is why followers of Christ must hear what God has to say in His Word daily instead of Oprah. Again, Oprah is not a threat to the church of Jesus Christ, but her beliefs can and is misleading to those that choose not to have their senses sharpened by the Word of God.

2. We need to pray for Oprah and those that choose to hear her - How? As I pointed out yesterday in 2 Corinthians 4: 14 "...the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." It is our responsibility as believers in Christ to pray that the Holy Spirit open their blinded eyes as He convicts (persuades) of the precious truth of the gospel. Prayer and fasting are powerful weapons of the believer. God can and will "open the sinner's blinded eyes" as we love the sinner enough to bombard heaven with prayer, fasting, and obedience.

3. Finally, let ME make this point a little stronger and clearer than I did yesterday: WE AS PREACHERS AND ALL FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST ARE CALLED to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world" [Mattew 28:19,20). Listen...we are greater than Oprah and her followers in number, and in might, and we as the church of Christ wield more influence and power than she does (I know for some of you thats hard to believe). Matthew 29:18 says our leader, Jesus Christ, as been given all authority in heaven and earth. He gives that authority to us, His church, to go preach, make disciples, and do His works. If we the church will simply cary out the great commission, Oprah, the media, or the "gates of hell" itself will not be able to hold back the kingdom of God.

Come'on, share Christ with someone today! Pray for the lost, the spiritually blind, the sick, and especially your enemies. Do good to them today! Ask God to give you His love for them. Love and practice God's Word! Lets be on the offense as believers in Christ today instead of on the defense. Go and make disciples!

-Pastor