LOVE EVANGELISM

 

(Jesus said,) “A new command I give you:

Love one another.

As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

(John 13:34-35)

 

 

If we are truly walking by the spirit (ie. walking in love), observers will notice.

There is no one on earth that doesn’t need to receive and give love.

It is essential to mental and even physical health.

 

Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

 

 

Do people see you as a loving person?

Do people see your Christian fellowship as those who genuinely love one another (with a love that has its source in the Holy Spirit)?

If the answer is YES, they will know that you are disciples of Jesus.

 

Not only that, but they will witness the outworking of the love of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, in the lives of real live human beings like themselves. Consequently, there will be those who will sense that this is real, and be drawn to Jesus and want to know how they can enter into this life in God. This opens an opportunity for us to

 

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you

to give the reason for the hope that you have.

But do this with gentleness and respect,…”   (1 Peter 3:15)

 

You can simply tell them the story of how you were drawn to and received Jesus as Lord.

Know that the Holy Spirit will be there to empower you and show your listeners.

 

“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning.”

(Acts 11:15)

 

 

The wonder of this approach to evangelism is that it is not merely an evangelistic event-but it is ongoing 24/7!

 

Until the next post, "Occupy until He comes"

 

 

 

 

THE SOCIAL JUSTICE GOSPEL

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, (1 Timothy 1:4)

 In Ezra chapter 4 we see tactics of the enemies of the people of God which are designed to disrupt their work in carrying out God's directives to them, ie. the rebuilding of the temple. One of the tactics were the offer to become allies.   "Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither."

At this present time, we see the Church being seduced by the so-called "Social Justice Gospel" (which in actuality is the heretical Liberation Theology). On the surface, it appears to be godly, when it actuality, it is not at all in agreement with the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the world's attempt to "merge" ("Let us build with you: for we seek your God.") with the Church, for the purpose of disrupting the true work and pursuit of the true purposes and truth of God.

 The tenets of the "Social Justice Gospel" and the Social Justice Movement which is front and center in society today, are in essence one in the same. While it is more comfortable to seek to find common ground with the world and win favor with them, James 4:4 says "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."

Galatians 1:8 states, "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed."

Please take a moment to view, Social Justice Isn't Justice, a 5-minute video that masterfully exposes the "Social Justice Gospel" for what it is. Pass it on to others.

Until the next post, "Occupy until He comes"

 

 

 

A BIBLICAL ALTERNATIVE TO THE SINNERS' PRAYER

For years I sat in churches hearing preachers, evangelists, and believers tell people that if they want to receive Jesus into their lives, they need to say a "sinners prayer" and "ask Jesus into their hearts", and in doing so, the are assured of eternal life. Many times repentance is either a secondary issue or no issue at all, when in the preaching of Jesus, it was the primary issue with without no one could be saved ["unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3)]. I don't know where this notion originated from, but it is un-Biblical at best, and at worst, reassuring people that doing so, that they are born-again-saved-eternally secure if they simply say a "sinners prayer" and "ask Jesus into their hearts".

Paul Washer, exposes this dangerous teaching better than I have ever heard in his seven-and-one-half minute video. Please watch it and urge others to do the same:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9hd3pV2VxU 

                  
              

GETTING THROUGH TO PEOPLE WITH THE GOSPEL MESSAGE
(Part 2)

  

Imagine, a spectacularly beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky. You want to share your excitement about it with someone, so you turn to the person next to you and say, Isn't that beautiful to behold?” The person doesn't seem to be as excited about it. In order to elicit a like reaction from the person that doesn't seem to be 'getting it', you begin to share specifics about what you saw and why it excites you so, but to no avail. Then you find out that the person is blind.

Only if we recognize that the unbelieving are spiritually blind, can you not get frustrated. The gospel is not a rational message that can be understood by just anyone, but it is a spiritual message, that requires God's involvement as we share the message with people. "We are co-workers with Christ" (1 Cor. 3:9)


"The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. "(col. 2:14)


So how can we get the message though to people so they can understand, receive, and and believe unto salvation? We can't, that is, not on our own. Remember first that we are coworkers with Christ (1 Corinthians 3:9)


Let's look at two examples from Scripture. First, Luke chapter 24:


36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”


40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.
The Scriptures Opened


44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He (Jesus) opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.


46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.

In Acts 16:13 we read, ”On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

We preach the message and the Lord gives the hearer the ability to understand and believe unto salvation. "We are co-workers with Christ" (1 Cor. 3:9)

But how about those who still don't get it? I personally didn't 'get it' the first time I heard the gospel message. Those who shared the message with me were frustrated that I wasn't getting it, but five years later I did and I believed.

Until next post, "Occupy until He comes"

               GETTING THROUGH TO PEOPLE WITH THE GOSPEL MESSAGE

Imagine, a spectacularly beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky. You want to share your excitement about it with someone, so you turn to the person next to you and say, Isn't that beautiful to behold?” The person doesn't seem to be as excited about it. In order to elicit a like reaction from the person that doesn't seem to be 'getting it', you begin to share specifics about what you saw and why it excites you so, but to no avail. Then you find out that the person is blind.


When we share the gospel with someone who is spiritually blind (2 Cor. 4:4), we should not get frustrated when they can't understand what is so understandable to us. Just as no amount of convincing, persuasion, and salesmanship could have helped the blind person see the rainbow,


no amount of the same will help a spiritually blind person perceive and believe the gospel message unto salvation. Who then can be saved?


In the process of bringing people to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we do not do this alone, rather,

we are coworkers with Christ. (1 Cor. 3:9).

“When his disciples went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the signs that accompanied it. (Mark 16:20)

Lets, look at two examples:

On the Sabbath, we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us. (Acts 16:13-15)


WE PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL THE LORD REMOVES THEIR SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS AND ENABLES THEM TO UNDERSTAND IT AND BELIEVE UNTO SALVATION.


For we are laborers together with God (1 Cor. 3:9)


To His disciples who did not yet believe:


He (Jesus) said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. ”Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” *(ACTS 24:44-45)


What about those who don't respond to the gospel? I didn't respond the first time I heard it, did you?


"One sows, another reaps" (John 4:37)


Be content to sow-Be content to reap for:

"Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal;
so that he who sows and he who reaps may REJOICE together." (John 4:36-NAS)

Reservations for the Big Party have been made for YOU! Revelation 19:6-9)

Meanwhile...Occupy until He comes...

AMBASSADOR'S FOR CHRIST

                             
"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." New International Version

"Therefore, we are the Messiah's representatives, as though God were pleading through us.
 We plead on the Messiah's behalf: "Be reconciled to God!"  International Standard Version
                                                      (2 Cor. 5:20)

   
I once was at a luncheon in which one of the guests was the ambassador from Hungary. What caught my attention most about this ambassador was his behavior. He was very self-controlled, careful about the words he chose and the way that he behaved, loved his country passionately, and above all gave his all to represent the ruler and the nation that he represented in the most honorable way possible. His took his job most seriously lest he misrepresent them in any way.

This is quite a good model for ambassadors for Christ. Doesn't this describe the way that Jesus conducted himself in his earthly ministry as he represented God the Father ("The Father and I are one" John 10:30), and the Holy Spirit ("Now the Lord is the Spirit" 2 Cor. 3:17).

There are those Christians who act as if they were "baptized in lemon juice" (as the saying goes), and on the other extreme those who act goofy and brainless in the name of being controlled by the Spirit". Jesus did neither, yet many believers model their conduct after other believers rather than Jesus Christ himself, and others who walk as Jesus walked. Romans 5:1 tells us to"Imitate God". 

"And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." (Eph. 5:2)

Someone close to me told me that there is a man who works in her department who is a Pastor and who is "a bad person".  Another I know likewise shuns going to a church because of the behavior of Christians exposed to in the past. Poor ambassadorship does damage-it turns people away from the one whom we are ambassadors. 

Does your ambassadorship need a overhaul?

CO-WORKERS WITH CHRIST IN THE GREAT COMMISSION

“we are labourers together with God…” (1 Cor 3.9)

When actively engaged in the work of evangelism, let us be conscious that the mission and work is God’s in which He has invited us to labor with HIM. Apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). He does what we cannot do, and we do what he cannot do, ie., we present the gospel message to people while He by his Spirit enables people to believe the message and in Him.

When Jesus proclaimed what we refer to as the Great Commission as recorded in Mathew 28:18-20, 

He said that He would be with us.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Let’s look at two examples that are recorded in the book of Acts.

 “On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.” (Acts 16:13-14)

 ^“ While Peter was still saying these things, ⁱthe Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word… ⁴⁸ And he commanded them ^qto be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.” (Acts 10:44 & 48 -NKJV)

Let’s be conscious and aware that God looks over his word to perform it (Jer. 1:12), and let’s be confident that when we present the gospel, He is there in our midst (Matt. 18:20) at that moment working together with us.

Let’s act on this and see the fruit of it.

Until next post..."occupy until He comes".