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Unbenanntes Dokument
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QUOTES - Challenging
From Messages Given by Michael Furchertduring his US-Tours
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Thank You and God bless you!
© Michael Furchert 2006
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"There are no barriers to faith except those we allow to be there!
Communism didn't bring down our faith. - Our faith brought down
the Berlin Wall!"
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"Let me be as bold as to say that the true problem of our time is not that prayer is being removed from the schools and the Word of God from public ground. The true problem of our time is that the Cross of Christ and the Message of Salvation is being removed from our very churches."
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"Under Communism, Jesus was reduced to a human philosophy to oppose the people. Under freedom, He is reduced to a human philosophy to appease the people."
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" According to many teachings these days, God's blessing, anointing and favor seem to be freely accessible to everyone without a cost or condition, without a price or sacrifice, without a repenting heart and transformed life. And to many, this becomes the only Gospel. "
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" Jesus offered him Eternal Life. Yet the Young Rich Ruler walked away. He did not want to consider the cost, nor a faith that requires sacrifice. He wanted Cheap Grace, a faith that is easy, profitable and convenient. Or what I call it today - Comfortable and complacent Christianity.
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" When I grew up in Communist East Germany there was a clear line! Communism on one side. God on the other. I had to make a choice! I couldn't walk the fence. Under freedom this line is blurred. There's a huge gray area. It has become easy to take this freedom for granted, let faith grow superficial and light and follow God and the world at the same time.
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" If we don't make Jesus Lord OF ALL, we don't make him Lord AT ALL.
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" Bookstores are full with bestsellers promising prosperity, promotion, favor and victory. Success sells, sacrifice doesn't. But Jesus suffered for us AND overcame! And he wants us to experience both as well, sacrifice and victory, in order to build not superficial, but strong and enduring faith, that can stand the test and last through the storm.
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" The faith of a small Christian Church in East Germany coming together praying and believing became influential in bringing down the Berlin Wall, end the Cold War and change world history for ever. How much more can we impact this city, this state, this very country today in times of freedom if we start to stand up and make real with our faith?!
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" If a lighthouse is strong during calm weather - but crumbles during the storm, how many souls lost and in distress will it save? What beacon of hope will it be to those gone astray in darkness? If our faith is strong if life is good but falls apart when storms come up, did we ever have faith? Is our spirituality just a thermometer for our temporary emotional well-being and personal contentment? Or is it built on Christ the Rock of our Salvation, a solid foundation that will last through the storm? "
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" Remember, that a little spark of fire can set a whole forest aflame! "
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" If we do not preach the Cross, Christ's death and resurrection, repentance and Salvation anymore, then Jesus becomes a human philosophy for succeeding in our daily lives instead of becoming our Lord and Savior for eternity. "
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" Has all this unlimited freedom and liberty, this booming culture of Christianity, the Mega Churches and TV evangelists, the overfilled Christian stores, the motivational speakers and all this commercialized faith and entertainment industry really helped this nation to build a strong, solid faith in Jesus Christ, bring repantance and Salvation? Or has faith only become a popularity contest of Superstar Christianty - 2000 miles wide and one inch deep?! "
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" It is our sin and compromise, our complacency and indifference, that separates us faster from the love of God and Jesus Christ than hardships and persecution could ever do that only makes us stronger and draws us closer to Him. "
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" You cannot sharpen an ax on a piece of butter; it takes a rock. But through trials and difficulties, God forms true enduring faith.
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" If we want the young generation to look up to us,
we must stop stooping down.
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" We often think that in order to build strong churches and transform lives what we need is many people, a bigger building, a better sound system, a better worship team, grand piano, choir and orchestration. We need more advanced equipment. We need Christian entertainment to draw in the youth. No, we don't need any of this. Its beneficial but not essential! What need need is the desire to change hearts and transform lives.
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" In our church we had a small wooden alter, 50 wooden chairs, one wooden organ and a wooden cross up front. Yet, in this small church I found a faith in Christ that carried me through the challenges of life behind the Berlin Wall and gave me the strength to make the choice to follow Jesus. And in that little church, I found a faith that still carries me through life today.
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" It is not by Christian traditions and heritage that we are saved, not by "In God we trust" on the dollar bill, nor by religious reference of our politicians, not by a social culture of Christianity or a gospel of prosperity and self-fulfillment. It is by our choice to accept Salvation through Jesus Christ, turn from sin to repentance, from darkness to light, break with compromise and complacency and make him Lord of our lives.
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" This country calls itself a "Christian nation under God", yet it is leading on the world market of pornography and drug abuse while crime and violence are soaring high. The divorce rate is higher among the Christian community than among unbelievers. Teenage pregnancies are at an all time high and sexual immorality, idolatry and superstition is sweeping the nation, even the Christian Church. More people worship materialism, self-fulfillment and worldly desires than God who created heaven and earth and gave them life. Let me say, that this country is a mission field that needs to be re-evangelisted.
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" Evil doesn't come as obvious evil so it could be recognized. Evil comes disguised as good so it can deceive and mislead. It doesn't come as obvious darkness so it could be feared. It comes in the garment of light so it will be marveled at and adored. Evil always disguises its true nature so it can deceive and mislead many.
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" We don't really need political freedom for our faith to grow strong. We need a Bible, the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. We need a personal relationship and commitment to Jesus Christ. Our faith does not depend on outward circumstances. It doesn't matter whether dictatorship or democracy, rich or poor, persecution or freedom. It matters that our life is built on the solid rock that is Christ Jesus our Lord, that we accept his faithfulness and return our faithfulness to Him!
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" We're so much focused on our own rights and liberties. But the Bible says "Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow me!" In a society that is so much about finding personal happiness and self-fulfillment - a sentiment resonating throughout many Christian books and teachings theses days - it is important to remind ourselves again that Jesus as called us to die to self and live our lives to glorify Him!
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" Do you know what kept Jesus strong and focused in times of discouragement and adversity? Not a worldly promise of breakthrough and promotion, of financial blessings and success. But the focus on the cross, to give his life for our Salvation! This is what will build strong faith! This is what will build a strong church! The focus on the cross!
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" You can be a strong church today! We don't have to wait for a big revival, a better worship team, a bigger sound system, or a hundred new members to join in. Jesus called eleven ordinary men - fisherman and tax collectors - to build his church. All they had to do was to believe in his Word. And their belief and faithfulness changed the world.
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" Do we have a Bible in this church, the Word of God and the Holy Spirit? And do we love him enough to follow Him? That is what really matters to form enduring faith and to build a church that will last through the storm. Such are the churches that will stand should hard times should ever hit this country, while others might crumble and fall apart like houses build on sand.
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" Let us first grow in the strength and firmness of our faith. Because it is the individuals like you and me who make up a church and if our faith in strong, then the church is strong. But if our faith falters so will the church no matter how magnificently built it might appear.
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" "I want to know Christ and the power his resurrection" is the first part of a transformed life. "And the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…" is the second. There is resurrection power and there is sharing in his sufferings. Victory and Sacrifice. But many want the one without the other.
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" If we faithfully follow Jesus Christ we can stand on his promise to be more than conquerors, see his miracles that deliver us, see his power that will set us free, experience his favor over our adversaries, overcome and have the victory. But if we allow sin, compromise and complacency to overtake our lives, then the smallest challenge might make our faith crumble and fall apart and separate us from Jesus and his love.
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" Jesus Christ has given the same promise to us! He too wants to meet us as resurrected Lord and Savior. He too wants to empower us with the Holy Spirit. He has given his life for us on Calvary for our Salvation and now calls us to follow him. He calls us to be faithful, to be committed to him, to break with sin, complacency and compromise and to stand up for him as he had stood up for us. He calls us to follow Him against the odds, throughout good and difficult times, through joy and hardships, through happiness and trials, through favor and adversity and to make a difference in our church, - in our community, in our state, and in our country.
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" At the end of his earthly life and ministry Jesus summoned it all up: "I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work that you gave me to do and now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began." What really matters in the end is not our standing and reputation, our blessings and rewards, but that our lives, professions and ministries have brought glory to God on earth.
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