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From His Heart with Dr. Jeff Schreve

From His Heart

Dr. Jeff Schreve

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Devotionals by Dr. Jeff Schreve

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TAKING THE GLOVES OFF

"Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the front seats in the synagogues, and the respectful greetings in the market places. Woe to you! For you are like concealed tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it." Luke 11:43-44

Have you ever been told that Jesus was always sweet and nice? That He would never say anything harsh to anyone? I had someone tell me that one day years ago. I knew that the person who said this was not too familiar with the Gospels.

To be sure, Jesus was kind and tender and gentle when it came to broken, repentant sinners. The woman caught in adultery in John 8, the prostitute in Luke 7, and Zaccheus in Luke 19 are proof positive of that fact. But when it came to unrepentant, religious phonies, Jesus was as tough as nails and spoke directly and bluntly to them.

In Luke 11, Jesus is having lunch at the home of a certain Pharisee. From the passage, it is obvious that other Pharisees, Scribes and experts in the Mosaic Law (called lawyers) are also at the luncheon. Jesus pulls no punches in His discourse with them. He denounces their white-washed tomb religion (looking good on the outside but rotten on the inside). He tells them repeatedly, "Woe to you!"

To be sure, this was not the Pharisees' favorite sermon. This was not a feel good message... this was an insulting, scathing rebuke (Luke 11:45). After hearing Jesus say these things, they became VERY hostile to Him. Why? Because Jesus had called them on the carpet and exposed their hypocrisy. He knew their hearts were rotten - that they were walking in pride and selfishness and dishonesty and cover up - and He took the gloves off and told them so.

WHY WOULD JESUS DO WHAT HE DID?

Why was Jesus so stern with the Pharisees and religious leaders? Why was He not sweet and wooing and tender in His rebuke? I think for two main reasons:

  1. As a Warning - The Pharisees were honoring God with their lips while their hearts were far away from Him. God HATES that. That makes God sick to His stomach. If you ever want to experience the anger of God (hopefully you do not), just become a religious phony and see what happens. Start living life as they did - inwardly selfish, proud, mean, rotten, and dishonest... in love with money and respect and power and prestige... while outwardly acting so holy and righteous. That kind of living brings a stern "woe to you" from God.
  2. As an Example - Far too often, Christians fail to stand up for the truth and call a spade a spade. In our world today, we can get so concerned about being politically correct that we dishonor God in the process. Our call from the Lord is to be faithful to Him and take a stand for Jesus Christ and His Word... even if it offends some people... even if it means we are unpopular... even if it means, as it did for the disciples, that we lose our lives as a result.

There is no telling the impact God's people could make on this world if they got real, got honest and got right with the Lord in their own hearts... and took a strong stand for righteousness and the truth in their own community. Surely we are to speak to people in love, but we are to speak THE TRUTH in love. May we not get these two things separated from one another.

God will bless with a "well done" if we humbly and honestly walk with Him... and stand for Him amidst the onslaught of compromise and political correctness.

Love,

Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries

Dr. Jeff Schreve believes that no matter how badly you may have messed up in life, God still loves you and has a wonderful plan just for you. From His Heart provides real truth, love and hope on over 700 radio stations each day, in 182 countries each week on TV, and is always available online. Pastor Jeff takes no income from this ministry. All donations go to furthering the broadcast outreach. As a listener/viewer supported ministry, we thank you for joining with us to help speak the truth in love to a lost and hurting world. Go to www.fromhisheart.org for more information.

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Proverbs 28:1 tells us, "The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are bold as a lion." In the darkening days in which we live, it is crucial that God's people step up and speak up for the King. In this powerful series, Pastor Jeff Schreve encourages us to take our stand as good soldiers of Christ Jesus and boldly speak the truth in love for such a time as this.

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About From His Heart

From His Heart Ministries is the TV, Radio and Internet broadcast outreach of Dr. Jeff Schreve who believes that no matter how badly you have messed up in life, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. We’re on mission to help a new generation discover their creator through the preaching of the compassionate, relevant, yet uncompromised truth of the Gospel. Pastor Jeff speaks the truth in love with clear biblical content combined with engaging, personal stories. His messages are filled with life-giving principles for everyday living and eternal assurance.

On Television: From His Heart is seen each week on Lightsource and also around the world on The Hillsong Channel, NRBTV, The Walk TV, and hundreds of TV stations across America and around the world. Go to Click Here to find the station near you.

On Radio: Click Here to listen to the daily radio broadcast available on OnePlace.com as well as 720+ outlets across America.

About Dr. Jeff Schreve

Jeff's life has been radically changed by Jesus Christ.
Growing up in a church-going home, Jeff learned a lot about God, but he did not know God. He believed in Jesus in the same way he believed in George Washington: he knew Jesus was real, but had not personally met Him. All this changed one night after a Young Life meeting when he was alone in his bedroom. There Jeff saw his need for Christ and His forgiveness and surrendered his life to Jesus.

As a student at the University of Texas, Jeff grew in his Christian life. He graduated with a degree in business and moved back home to Houston, Texas to start a career in business. There he met his future wife, Debbie, at a single's group meeting at Champion Forest Baptist Church. They were married in 1986 and have been blessed with a wonderful relationship and three awesome daughters and two beautiful grandchildren.

A New Direction
After spending 13 years as a chemical salesman, God called Dr. Schreve to preach. He left his secure position and moved his family to North Carolina to attend Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. It was a scary and difficult move to make ... but it was one of the best decisions they have ever made. One year later, God called them to serve on staff at Champion Forest Baptist Church. In 2000, he completed his Master of Divinity degree graduating from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He graduated with a Doctor of Ministry degree in 2014 from Southeastern Seminary.

Jeff Schreve has been the senior Pastor of First Baptist Texarkana in 2003, a growing and exciting church with 4500+ members.

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From His Heart Ministries
Box 7267
Texarkana, TX 75505

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