Every Creature/ All Creation

[OneAccord]

Mark 16:15 KJV

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Other translations say preach the gospel to all creation.

I think it's interesting that these terms are used rather than 'all nations' or ''all peoples' or 'inhabitants of the earth'.

A quick word search on 'creature' includes all the animals on the ark, and all the creatures made in Genesis 1,and named by Adam in Genesis 2.

All creation suggests everything that was made collectively, man being only one part of the whole of creation.

I was struck by the usage of these terms here in a recent reading and wondering if anyone else has ever given this any thought...........

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings OneAccord,

Here is some more food for the grist mill:

Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

1 Timothy 4:3-4 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

Revelation 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

A while back I heard a woman tell of being able to communicate with animals. She seemed to think they responded to her kindness and her good thoughts toward them. Knowing that one day the lamb shall lay down with the lion, and a child shall stick his hand into the hole of an adder, why not preach to "every creature"? At least you will get plenty of practice.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[endure4salvation]

You can brush up on your open air preaching techniques by preaching to fire ants and a swarm of gnats.

Good stuff, but don't aim at conversion, but at repentance....

[OneAccord]

[irishcowboy]

well, think about this guy.....

*********

this preacher, was traveling down the road late at night, heading towards a town where he was to preach the next day.....

on the way, he was prompted by the Lord to pull over and stop the car and preach....

in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night????

after a few minutes of dialogue, the preacher pulled over, stadling the ditch, he got out and looked around, no one anywhere to be seen.... placed his bible on the hood of the car, and using his flashlight, started his preaching,

after a bit, the Lord told him to preach it like he was preaching to thousands.... still thinking this is a bit weird, and well, figured a bit of practice in the delivery wouldnt hurt.... he preached it from the bottom of his whole being.....

during this time a couple cars drove by, and slowed down, one person even asked if he needed help.... they both drove off.....

when he got done preachin, and no further promtings from the Lord, he got back in the car, and drove on.....

a few weeks later, he was at a church, and he delivered the same sermon..... and afterwards, a young man came up to him, and asked if he was the preacher that was preaching along side the road a few weeks back....

kind of taken back the preacher asked if he was in one of the cars that came by...... the kids said no, I was the one under your car sleeping in the ditch when you stopped, and when you started preaching, i crawled out and sat off where you couldnt see me.... you see, I had given up, been thrown out by my folks, done in with booze, and well, just done with life..... you got me to thinking while you was practicing your sermon, that there has to be more..... so I started walking again, and then a man offered me a ride, that man told me more about Jesus, and feed me and gave me some new cloths.....and well, that man is over there, the pastor of this church, and there on the front row, that was sitting with me is my family....

*********

so, preaching to the world to the rocks ( which will rise and praise His Name ) trees, grass , well the entire creation........ is a good thing....... you never know who may hear you...... for God is in the entire creation, so at least God can hear you......

listen for His voice, do as He bids.

mike

PS: this is of a true story, it is not quoted, but paraphrased..... the actual testimony about this event was about three or four times as long....

mike

[OneAccord]

Let's consider Romans 8:19-22 in light of this topic:

8:19

For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

8:20

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;

8:21

because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

8:22

For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

Also Isaiah 55:12....The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

[ColleenLovesMischief]

I'm not much for open air preaching. I love to listen to it and all, but I'm just learning to teach!

[mobile21]

Most ancient civilizations did not consider slaves to be "human beings" so that's just a logic term to use.

[OneAccord]

Okay, check out this verse before we let this thread die completely:

Revelation 5:13 And every creature which is is heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying

Blessing and honor and glory and power

be to Him who sits on the throne

And to the Lamb, forever and ever.

This sounds like all of creation will be worshipping Him in the great throneroom of God.

Is this also the every creature we are supposed to be preaching the gospel to in Mark 16:15?

It sounds silly, but is it??????????