The ache in my heart that I feel in reaction to the relentless spilling of innocent blood in our country and around the world moved me to share this again…please reblog…it’s a message that needs to be shared again and again…thank you…In Christ
During this warranted time of concern that the people of the world are experiencing because of Covid-19, we hear their cries of frustration as they are afraid to go outside or to work and sick of the quarantine. Afraid of the numbers of the deaths as they mount up around the world. Afraid, afraid, afraid!!! It completely amazes me that people are so outraged and afraid…I thought as a society that we’d become numb to death…more often than not, there are times that it seems as if the world has little respect for life: the unborn, the sick, the aged…
Much to my dismay, people have even allowed politics to express death wishes to their fellowman if they disagree with their stand on an issue. Sadly, the world over-all, has gone crazy! For me personally, I’m sickened that the killing of innocent life has been transformed into politics instead…
At this time of crisis because of Covid-19…I’m writing this for the churches of America; to all of those who are voicing fear of the government and conveying the idea that this is an ulterior motive for the closing of churches. PLEASE think about this…if there’s an ulterior motive (it’s God’s will), we’ll address it when it happens, but in the meantime study Revelations, so you recognize the signs of the times. If there’s truly a virus that can wipe us out (it’s God’s will), but in the meantime, if it means practicing social distancing, we need to do that. Romans 13:1010 Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law. We don’t want to cause unnecessary suffering and death to family, friend or neighbor…do we?
For those who believe that the government is setting a trap for us…do you remember this example from the Bible? Jesus ingeniously and perceptively diverted the trap set for Him by the Jewish Pharisees disciples (which he referred to the Scribes and Pharisees as a generation of vipers). When Jesus was asked should the Jews pay tribute to Caesar, right out the gate, he let them know that He knew it was a trap and then before answering He asked if anyone had a coin. Everyone was surprised by this, but they handed him a coin…when he asked whose picture was on the coin. They answered Caesar and Jesus’s reply is found in Matthew 22:21 Then He said to them, “Therefore give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” So if we really believe that this is a trap to end our churches in America, let’s not fall into it! Let’s not give them fodder for their fire. Let’s ask for God’s help and exercise His wisdom.
If we are to respond like Jesus: Did Jesus ever break the law laid down by the Romans? NO Did He talk about rebellion against Rome? NO Did He even hint that He expected us to risk our lives? (Not Really! but he did warn us that we would be hated by all nations and that some of us will be handed over for persecution). Did He say to risk our Health? NO! but He did say in Matthew 4:77 “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.”
How can we serve God if we are dead? How can we share the Gospel if we are hiding out from the authorities? All Christians know that God will take them when He’s ready and we’re not afraid to go…as a matter of fact, most welcome it…but at the time chosen by God. Jesus told Pontius Pilate John 19:1111 “You would have no authority over Me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. This is why the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin.”
I, personally, don’t know a single Christian who’s afraid of death…why would we be? We know and believe God’s promise, we’ve given our lives to Christ, but most of us don’t want to be unwise and seek out death or illness (once again refer to Matthew 4:7) Also in Matthew 10:282Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Most Christians live by this verse from Matthew…
Why would anyone even suggest that following the law of the state (Caesar) would mean that a Christian is afraid to die? What would be the point of stirring up a hornet’s nest? Why would we give them cause to make church meetings illegal, to arrest our pastors (our shepherds on this earth) or church hierarchy? Allowing them to justify our church buildings being bulldozed? Why would anyone with any sense at all think that going against the quarantine orders of the state could do anything but cause detriment to the work of God? Especially now, as time gets short (I’m certain that I’m not the only one who feels that Jesus will return soon). Until he does return, He needs all His soldiers boots on the ground sharing and defending the Gospel…not defending a meeting place or a meeting day. Every place and every day belongs to God Psalm 24:1 A Psalm of David. The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein …where 2 or more gather in His name He’s there with them. Matthew 18:20 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them.”
Reminiscent of our empty streets in America and the world as we face this virus together!
If the powers of evil on this earth plan on doing whatever they can to affect the church and cause us to go underground, so be it, but in the meantime, why would we allow them to trap us into doing something so foolish as to break their order… we must stand in our faith and live to fight another day. Every life is a gift from God and what each man decides to do with his gift is between him and God. Let’s choose God’s Wisdom over rash response…
When will YOU give God His Glory? Isn’t now the time to start? What are you waiting for? There’s a day that will come when it will be too late!
Ephesians 1:4-64 For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love 5 He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, 6 to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us with in the Beloved.
God created us for His Glory! Isaiah 43:6-7 I will say to the north: Give them up! and to the south: Do not hold them back! Bring My sons from far away, and My daughters from the ends of the earth—7 everyone called by My name and created for My glory. I have formed him; indeed, I have made him.”
When Jesus walked on this earth, everything He did was for the Glory of HIS FATHER in Heaven. He, the King, became a humble servant, He healed people, He prayed continually, He raised people from the dead, He sacrificed Himself to save us . When we accept Jesus as our Savior (Believe ~ John 3-16), God becomes our Father in Heaven too. We become brothers and sisters in Christ and the adopted children of God!
John 7:18 18 The one who speaks for himself seeks his own glory. But He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. This verse is in reference to Jesus – Yeshua, but it applies to ALL of us! When the Holy Spirit comes to reside in us, we are led to live our lives for God and to bring HIM glory in everything we touch, think, do, and experience. We give Him Glory by our Faith, when we Trust in Him, when we Pray to Him, when we Love others, when we Forgive others, when we Thank Him, when we make a Difference in the lives of those around us and share HIS WORD. Jesus tells us in John 15:8 8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Remain in My love.
We need to allow the Holy Spirit to work inside of us in order to model our lives to the image of Jesus…
Our Heavenly Father is Holy: 1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. Revelation 4:88 Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is coming.
In Revelations, Jesus spews out the lukewarm church Revelation 3:14-16 14 “Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: “The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God’s creation says: 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth. WE the people are the church! Not a building! When you realize that you’ve sinned against God…do you WEEP? Does your body rack from pain and make you shudder in the realization that you took Glory from God instead of giving HIM Glory? To think that when we sin, we actually cause God to gag and vomit us out! God demands us to give him our All and when we do this, we are giving Him Glory! This is why Jesus stands between us and God as our mediator…there’s nothing we can say or do to save ourselves from His Wrath! Only Jesus’s righteousness can protect us.
Satan despises God and us and seeks to destroy us because when we live our lives for the Glory of God, it only adds to God’s Glory. God is not only Satan’s adversary, man is also Satan’s adversary…it says in 1 Peter 5:88 Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Every time we allow ourselves to give in to sin, we are being devoured by Satan! Satan revels in this because when we sin, we’re withholding Glory from God. I believe that this is one of the reasons that GOD can’t look upon our sin and why the Angels are guarding HIS throne…to keep sin from HIS sight: sin subtracts from the glory that God desires and obedience to HIS Laws adds to HIS Glory. Revelation 5:1111 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands.
1 John 3:88 The one who commits sin is of the Devil, for the Devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the Devil’s works. When Jesus suffered and died for us on the cross, Matthew 27:4646 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemásabachtháni?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Every sin committed and every sin to ever be committed Jesus took upon Himself on the cross…Because of our sin, He was too filthy for God to look upon, so for the first time ever Jesus felt the pain of separation from His Father of what it’s like to not have the love and protection of His Father. During that moment, he was cloaked in the unrighteousness of the world.
Colosians 3:1717 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
When Jesus was crucified on the cross, there were two criminals who were crucified with Him. Jesus (Yeshua Hamashiach) was sinless and both men with him were sinners. The thief on one of the crosses next to Jesus asked for Jesus to remember him. The other thief mocked Him…
Luke 23:39-4339 Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at Him: “Aren’t You the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? 41 We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise.”
When the thief admonished the other criminal, he did so rightly…he spoke up and showed that he knew who Jesus was! From the words that Jesus said to him in response, this thief journeyed on the road to Heaven and the other thief who mocked journeyed on the road to Hell…
When we come to the cross of Jesus, we are saved, justified by His sacrifice, by nothing that we have done…but here’s a comparison that I want you to consider. When the Children of Israel were rescued from Egypt, they too were saved. However, as time progressed they fell away from God and from believing His promises. They began to live as if they were no longer followers and chose rebellion instead…okay…now it’s time for you say that you haven’t chosen rebellion against God. The Israelite people chose idol worship, sorcery, lust, immorality, drunkenness, piety, hatred, jealousy, they grumbled and moaned against God and Moses…just to name a few. How many of us today are guilty of these same choices?
I’m going to give you a few examples of poor choices that most of don’t even think about twice, but I’m not going to delve deeply into it… so here goes. Many of us enjoy the Hallmark channel and often credit it with wholesome entertainment, but it eludes to magic & sorcery in much of it’s programming. Many of us say that we enjoy a glass of wine or a beer now and then, but how often does that glass of wine make some of us silly and distort our personalities? I’ve heard some say that the wine or beer allows them to relax and be themselves. Then there’s those of us who sit in the church pews on Sunday and somehow believe that our showing up is like a free ticket to Heaven. Who can say that they’ve walked away from immorality? Not too long ago, I heard about people who were disgusted by the 1/2 time show of the 2020 Superbowl. How many of those disgusted people turned of their TV and forfeited watching the rest of the game because they don’t want to perpetuate that sort of indecent behavior? How many have seen their neighbor drive home a new car and feel angry that their neighbor could afford a new car and they can’t? Okay…enough! You get the point! How are we any different today than the Israelite people during the time of Moses?
The Israelites had the promise of a beautiful opulent land and forgiveness of sins and we have Jesus, the fulfillment of that promise. As Christians, we have faith that Jesus is the Son of God, that he’s the Resurrection, the Way, the Truth, the Life. The only Way to eternal life and we are 100% correct when we realize this. But once we’ve received faith…what next? Faith becomes the catalyst for change, for us to desire to be obedient to Heavenly Father.
Hebrews 5: 8-108 Though He was God’s Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. 9 After He was perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him, 10 and He was declared by God a high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
When Jesus went to the cross for us, He fulfilled the plan of the Father since before the beginning. He knew how difficult it was going to be, but He did exactly what the Father asked of Him…obedience unto death. It was the only plan that could save mankind…it was the beginning of separating the sheep from the goats which will ultimately happen at the judgement seat. In His last breath…Jesus said “It is finished”. The plan had been completely fulfilled and although he dreaded it to the point of sweating blood and asking the father to remove this cup from him (meaning the cup of death), He obeyed. In 3 out of 4 of the Gospels, we read the pleas that Jesus prayed to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane Matthew 26:42, Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42
His Resurrection proved to us that He was telling us the truth when He said He would rise from the dead.
The Way is the path that He walked and that we must follow to be his servant…Jesus says in John 25:12 that anyone who loves his life will lose it and anyone who hates his life in the world will keep it for eternal life.
The Truth is every WORD that proceeds from the pages of the Bible. Jesus is the WORD, therefore HE’S the Truth and we need to believe HIM and believe in HIM.
The Life in eternity is what we’ll gain if we have Faith and Obey Him.
The Israelite people should have been the most faithful of all, they saw the awesome miracles that God performed against the Egyptians, they saw the Red Sea part and walked through it on dry ground. They never went hungry as God fed them Manna from Heaven…but they still disobeyed…they gave up the promised land. There are many people today who say that they believe in God, but they still persist in doing things their way instead of God’s way. Jesus told us in Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” In the scriptures of Genesis 6–7 and Heb 11:7 we are told that Noah had such great faith. When God commanded him to build the ark, he built the ark just as God had told him to do. In obedience to God’s command, he kept his faith, and he and his whole family were saved.
John 2o:29 Jesus said, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Those who believe without seeing are blessed.” Belief and Faith are related; Belief is the agreement that this is the truth, but Faith not only acknowledges the truth, it inspires action, the desire to share the Gospel with others and to help bring them into obedience to God’s will.
Hebrews 11:1 says faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. So when you’re at the cross and facing crossroads, when you’ve reached the point in your life when you need to make a decision that will effect your eternity…ponder your choices. Will you choose the journey to Heaven or the journey to Hell?
God means what He says and says what He means! My hermeneutics are “literal”, however, that being said…study the scriptures yourself and make up your own mind! Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit…
During this warranted time of concern that the people of the world are experiencing because of Covid-19, we hear their cries of frustration as they are afraid to go outside or to work and sick of the quarantine. Afraid of the numbers of the deaths as they mount up around the world. Afraid, afraid, afraid!!! It completely amazes me that people are so outraged and afraid…I thought as a society that we’d become numb to death…more often than not, there are times that it seems as if the world has little respect for life: the unborn, the sick, the aged…
Much to my dismay, people have even allowed political views to express death wishes to their fellowman if they disagree with their stand on an issue. Sadly, the world over-all, has gone crazy! For me personally, I’m sickened that the killing of innocent life has been transformed into politics instead of the morality that leads us to Godliness. As a nation, our compasses no longer point to truth…to the Word of God. Many of those who claim that they are Christians and don’t believe in abortion continue to support the politics of this world that shoves abortion upon those of us who are pro-life. God makes it perfectly clear that He hates the shedding of innocent blood, so I’m speaking up! We all should speak up, because if we don’t, we are allowing others to be led astray…away from God when he’s beckoning us to him. Do you want to shepherd people to God or away from God? What does it say about you and your walk with Him? Are you’re unwilling to rebuke wrong when you see it…bring it to the world’s attention? Rebuking is not the same as judging…God is the judge, but we are required to show our fellowman the right path to Him.
So, all that being said, I ask you…where’s the outrage and alarm when we talk about the number of babies who die every day from abortion? Just in the USA, there are 71+ abortions per hour! How many have given a second thought to the millions of innocent lives that we’ve taken by the abortion industry? Just in the USA, there are 61.8 million since 1973? These figures don’t take into account the number of chemical abortions!
Talk about a PANDEMIC! WE – the USA – and the World have been experiencing the abortion pandemic for nearly 50 years! There are those who say that abortion has been around forever and I realize that’s the case, but it’s only been this last 50 years that it’s become not only okay, but the thing to do in our country and around the world…any excuse is accepted as the right of the woman to choose death for the child in her womb. More and more people say that it’s not their problem…I’m here to say it’s most likely the shedding of innocent blood that will end this world! Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Don’t you know that abortion is the leading cause of death around the world? This article I’m writing isn’t about statistics, but if you don’t know them you should, then you need to wake up to how devastating these numbers are: More than 42 million abortions took place globally in 2019 according to the tracking service Worldometers, once again finding abortion to be the single largest cause of death across the planet for the year (figures provided by WHO).
This next piece of info is cut and pasted from an article written by SNOPES! So go ahead and argue the numbers if you’re inclined too, but this time Snopes won’t back you up! However, the most recent figure on abortions from WHO we could locate dated from 2014 and was slightly higher than Worldometers’ tally. WHO estimated that between 2010 and 2014, an average of 56 million induced abortions occurred worldwide each year.If WHO’s estimate of 56 million abortions annually held steady through 2016, when they released their survey on the top ten leading causes of death globally, it would be true that the number of abortions worldwide outnumbered overall deaths from heart disease and stroke, the top two causes of death that year. In 2016, ischemic heart disease and stroke killed a total of 15.2 million people worldwide, according to WHO, noting that “These diseases have remained the leading causes of death globally in the last 15 years” Snopes likes to say that abortion isn’t a cause of death…I don’t know what they’re talking about!!! Do YOU? If you do, I’ll pray for you to see the “LIGHT” 1 abortion is 1 too many!
As Christians, we have to stand up against this holocaust! We have to make our voices heard! Psalms 94:16 Who stands up for me against the wicked? Who takes a stand for me against evildoers? From reading the Scriptures, I believe that the Wrath of GOD unlike anything that this planet has ever experienced is on the horizon…along with all the other ailments of mankind, how much longer do you think he’s going to put up with the shedding of innocent blood?
Abortion is a despicable and reprehensible act against the most helpless of our world and it’s spread unlike any disease has ever spread in the history of the world! If abortion is an abomination to me…what must it be to God? I wonder how long it will be before Heavenly Father pours out His wrath upon planet earth? How long before He says He can no longer stand our heathen, pagan ways! How long before He allows us to completely destroy ourselves? The human race deserves every ounce of wrath that He has stored up in His bowls. Here in America, where over the last 50 years, we’ve slowly but surely degraded to the point of hideousness! In a land where his gifts have been plentiful – unlike any other land on this planet. As a nation, everything about us is disgusting; our entertainment, the way we dress, the way we talk, the way we squander the gifts that have been given us…our government, our wars, our self righteous attitude toward the rest of the world. Talk about inciting a fall from Grace… I believe that as a nation – WE HAVE FALLEN!!!
So the next time, you flippantly say “My Body – My Choice” or “Her Body – Her Choice”, remember who made you and in whose image you are made. Then profess that it’s okay to kill a baby made in the image of God!
Matthew 10:38 “And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.“
Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me”.
Mark 8:34 Summoning the crowd along with His disciples, He said to them, “If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me”.
Luke 9:23 “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me“.
Luke 14:27 “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple“.
How do we deny ourselves? Are we being told in this verse that we should give up everything in this life that offers us pleasure? I don’t think so, however, we’ve all heard the saying “too much of a good thing”. So moderation might be a good place to start. These are question that we all need to answer for ourselves. If the things you are doing or love to do cause you to sin, then you need to give them up! Could this possibly mean never eating chocolate again, when we really enjoy chocolate? If it causes you in anyway to be less of a follower of Jesus…if it wakens the spirit of gluttony, or the spirit of selfishness or hoarding, etc…then by all means, give it up NOW! Maybe it means never watching football again? If football games and team sports give you occasion to feed the spirits of anger, foul mouth, drunkenness or an excuse to gorge on unhealthy foods, etc…GIVE IT UP! Have you forgotten that once you become a Christian and the Holy Spirit dwells within you that YOU are the TEMPLE of GOD! 1 Corinthians 6:19-2019 Don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body. If you’re the person who goes out shopping and drives up the credit card bills every time your spouse watches team sports…then you need to turn to God (two wrongs don’t ever make a right). These are just some examples…there are way too many to list…a whole blog could be written just about the things that we need to examine in our lives and either give up or change our attitude towards. We must choose between our devotion to the things of the world or our devotion to God.
Don’t lie to yourself…everyone knows exactly what drives a wedge between themselves and Heavenly Father…if you haven’t done so already, it’s time to deny yourself and remove the wedge. It seems to me that what He’s saying in this verse is that we should put Him and our fellow man (includes spouse, children) before ourselves in every aspect of our lives…and that when we continue to live self centered, it makes it impossible to be a follower of Jesus. Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, that is his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. This verse doesn’t just reference the roof over the head and food in the belly, although these are important to survive in this world. there’s more to providing for your family than meeting physical needs. It’s our duty to provide for their spiritual needs too!
I believe that as a people, we have made up our own meaning to “take up your cross” I’ve heard some say that they consider any of the trials of life a “cross to bear” and I’ve heard others say that the cross is symbolic of what we face daily just for the mere fact that we have to live in this world (that may be true depending on the circumstances involved). There’s some that consider an illness, accident or addiction as their “cross to bear”. There are some who believe that if they’re given a task that seems difficult or something they just don’t want to do, they’ve been given a “cross to bear”. I’ve even heard people refer to their marriage or their children as a “cross to bear”. The family they were born into as their “cross to bear”. Ultimately, with this thought trend, every single challenge we face in this life can be placed in the “cross to bear” category. However, I’m thinking that taking up your cross has much deeper undertones and it really has very little to do with any of the previous statements. In my eyes, most of these comparisons make “light” of the cross that Jesus died on!
Are any of these scenarios what Jesus actually meant when these words were spoken? After giving it a lot of prayer and consideration, I believe we should be very thoughtful of how we use the phrase “cross to bear”. How can we compare anything that we endure in this life as even approaching the magnitude of the “cross” that our Lord Jesus died on at Calvary? Don’t get me wrong…I know that throughout history there have been martyrs for Jesus and I know that Christians around the world die daily rather than deny Jesus…and although they don’t deserve these acts of violence from the world, they are unlike Jesus who was blameless, they are sinners, and because of His sacrifice combined with their faith, repentance and obedience, they’ve been promised and given His gift of eternal life.
But to die daily? WOW!!! Everyday, we are faced with the world…there’s only one way to escape the world and that’s through our faith in Jesus Christ and our decision to go the other direction in all instances…away from the darkness of the world and to the Light of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Now what does taking up his cross “daily” mean to me? As a Christian, I have to choose between right and wrong all day and every day (that’s just the state of the world we live in today)! You can’t pick up a magazine, turn on the TV, look at your Facebook feed, listen to the news without being bombarded with wickedness…on and on it goes! When a wicked thought crosses your mind or a wicked scene comes before you, which will happens less and less each day that you walk away from the world and walk with Jesus. Immediately usher out the wickedness…as it will immediately prick your conscious. As we are taught by Jesus, that thinking something evil is the same as doing it, so I believe that watching it on TV or the news works the same way. Instantaneously ask for God’s forgiveness and through the power of the WORD and in the Name of Jesus, rebuke Satan.
When our lives display the 7 distinct and unique fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith found in Galatians 5:22 we are showing the world that the Holy Spirit lives in us! This is the theme though out the Bible… When we begin thinking and dwelling on good things, we have more days when fewer sinful thoughts enter our minds. So “daily” we become nearer to what we need to do to become followers of Jesus. Daily it becomes easier and easier to deny ourselves and “pick up our cross”!
Phil 4: 8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Evangelism is fired by our desire to share our faith in our Savior Jesus Christ. “All” sinners are under the wrath of God unless they repent from their sins and believe and trust in Jesus, they are “lost”. This is why it’s vital for us to talk to those around us and those we meet who have no idea that they are “lost”. We must prick their conscious so they wake up and realize that they need saved. We “ALL”, Jewish and Gentile alike need the Son of God…we need for our unrighteousness to be exposed by the repenting of sins and accepting Jesus as our Savior so we can be cloaked in his righteousness. Then and only then will we be able to stand before Heavenly Father with Jesus as our mediator.
When we feel the inspiration to evangelize, it’s vital to pray and ask for God’s guidance so we will be speaking His will, not our will. Then move forward with the Love of God and Love of Man in our hearts. Understand: it’s not our place to convict anyone, it’s not our place to try to make anyone feel guilty. When evangelizing, our only commission is to share the good news (the Gospel) that we all have Salvation and eternal life because of our Faith and the Grace of God and that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, covered us with His righteousness and is our mediator with our Father in Heaven. The person must feel convicted of their own accord because they realize that they are not following a Godly life.
As Christians, Jesus commissions us to evangelize: Jesus intentionally chose 12 people to disciple and then he spent the remainder of his earthly life on with these 12 disciples. Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Engage others: Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matthew 28:20 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. Amen (so be it, let it be).
If evangelism seems a little intimidating, begin by keeping your heart open to the people around you who are at least curious about God; share with them, you’ll plant the seed and with God’s will, the seed causes them to be hungry for the Word of God and fuel the burning desire to follow Jesus. When you’ve found this person, take the time to disciple them through scripture and personal testimonials of how God has worked in your life.
YES!!! It would be wonderful to bring thousands to Christ, but right now, let’s just concentrate on planting the seed of Salvation in one person at a time. As we grow and learn in Christ, it will become easier. Eventually you will be able to share with strangers.
After you have engaged a person watch for the evidence of receptiveness:
Are they appreciative of the Word? Are they appreciative of your time and your willingness to guide them? Are they honestly hungry for Salvation or do they groan when you talk about your faith in Christ? Are they truly willing to repent…(probably the most difficult subject to address) the Bible mentions the word “repent” and “repentence” 106 times in the KJV and like many other words used in the Bible, it has various and significant meanings: regret, atone, to be sorry, ask forgiveness, feel sorrow and be remorseful…these are just a few…
Matthew 4:17 from that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand
Acts 20:21 “repentance toward God” (change of mind), and “faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
If at some point in your conversation, if they aren’t as interested as you originally hoped or thought…don’t beat yourself up and don’t argue…if you discover that the person whom you thought was interested isn’t, pray for God to move their hearts and then be okay with it, you’ve planted the seed and scripture tells us to move on…don’t dwell on what you could or should have said…don’t go back to them and try to rehash in order to change their mind as this may cause them to drift further from the truths you were trying to share with them. Allow our Father in Heaven to do His will…and count it as a learning step for future evangelism.
Luke 9:55If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
Matthew 10:1414If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.
Mark 6:1111And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
Acts 13:5151So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium.
Luke 10:1111‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’
Once you’ve spoken with someone about Salvation, if they show a flicker of interest, you need to ask if they have a Bible and if they don’t have a Bible, be prepared to get one to them (have a Xtra Bible or two with you especially for this purpose)…if they do have a Bible, make a casual but joyful comment about dusting it off and spending time getting to know the Word of God. Have a couple of scriptures in mind for them to look up because eventually, they will need to take steps on their own. You might also mention that their cell phone has over 2000+ Bible apps available.
There are some evangelists who are able to stand on a street corner and share the message of Salvation to onlookers in hopes of planting the seed…however, this style of evangelism is not a calling for everyone, but we can learn from watching and examining their approach. If this style of Evangelism sparks an interest in your heart, please take a look at this website it’s given me a lot of excellent information including teaching info on Evangelism, Apologetics and tools to help you share the Gospel.
Here’s another awesome quote from Charles Spurgeon (1834 – 1892) Baptist Preacher “The saving of souls, if a man has once gained love to perish sinners and his blessed master, will be an all-absorbing passion to him. It will so carry him away, that he will almost forget himself in the saving of others. He will be like the brave fireman, who cares not for the scorch or the heat, so that he may rescue the poor creature on whom true humanity has set his heart.”
As we look forward to celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, who, being raised from the dead has provided us the gift and opportunity for everlasting life, as Christians we delight in this knowledge. Think about this: if we trust what the Bible tells us about Hades, Gehenna & Sheol (HELL) and what will happen to those who don’t follow Jesus, we need to feel horrible fear for those who don’t believe. This horror combined with “Love” for our fellow man should drive us to do or say whatever is needed to sear their conscience and turn them to God. There will be a time when the “Book of Life” is closed and we need to plant as many seeds of faith as we can before that time arrives.
Are you listening to God? Once we’ve given our lives to Jesus, we belong to HIM! We need to listen to Him… The word SHEEP is used 16 times just in the book of John! If you want to understand more about following Jesus, I suggest you read ALL of John, but especially John 10. Of course, without saying, to truly know Jesus, you need to read His WORD ~ the Bible!
You might ask…what is it to be a sheep…so I found this description on the internet: Sheep is a meek animal. They are usually very quiet and gentle, holding themselves aloof from the world. In a herd, all the sheep tend to listen to their leaders and show esteem to them. Because of the obedient character, sheep are among the most popular animals beloved by mankind. When sheep are together, the have increased safety from predators. In the Human sense, this is why we group together as Christians…not because Christianity is a religion, but because Christianity is a relationship and together we hold one another up in this treacherous world that we live in! Like sheep we need to be aloof from the world! We need to be in a constant state of listening…
I’ve actually heard some people say with a note of disgust in their voice that they don’t like being compared to a sheep! That they don’t want to be followers…they want to be leaders and they don’t see any value in being a follower as there’s more than enough sheep in the world already. (These people don’t realize that God has a wonderful place for them in the scheme of things if they are willing to follow HIM). They aren’t willing to be meek (Matt 5:5 the meek shall inherit the earth). They look at gentleness as being weak, however 1 Peter 3:14 says But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed. The person who doesn’t want to be a sheep doesn’t want to be quiet, because they enjoy being heard.
Proverbs 17:27-28 27 The intelligent person restrains his words, and one who keeps a cool head is a man of understanding. 28 Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent, discerning when he seals his lips.
John 10:27-29My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them…
Jesus is our Good Shepherd…He provides us with everything we need including protection, but we must give Him our hearts and our minds, so that we can become HIS totally…
When Jesus went to be with His Father in Heaven His disciples became His shepherds, so if you’re called by Him to shepherd then do so, but listen for HIS voice to show you the way to shepherd….1st Peter 5 tells us that those we are under are called shepherds. Because we are sheep, we lose our way…we’re helpless without Him! We need to be shepherded… we need to be constantly guided…we can get lost very easily and go astray. We need to be taken care of…just like sheep, we would drown in this world without our faith in Jesus to rescue us. We need to be cleaned by His blood (the wool of the sheep needs to be cleaned frequently because it collects dirt, odors, etc)….just like us humans, they are made filthy and bedraggled by the world. There’s no way that we can cleanse ourselves without the blood of Jesus. He’s the lamb of God and we are HIS sheep.
As the 23rd Psalm says…23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. (KJV)
Jesus was speaking of the Holy Spirit in John 14:16 (KJV) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Psalm 32: 8-9 tells us to LISTEN! 8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. 9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near
Jesus is asking us to be His sheep…no other animal can be compared to the way we need to humble ourselves before HIM. Once we asked Jesus into our lives as our Savior, God is always speaking to us through the Holy Spirit. Sometimes His voice is a whisper, sometimes it’s a feeling and sometimes it’s loud and clear! If you want to talk to Jesus, He’s always near…He will hear you! Will you hear Him when he answers?
This world is full of pain because we say that we can’t or won’t forgive one another for either a wrong or a perceived wrong. Through the Love of GOD, forgiveness has the power to restore and forgiveness opens the door to a new life and LOVE! LOVE and FORGIVENESS walk hand in hand! Ephesians 4:2 “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” 1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” John 15:12 “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
PLEASE forgive one another! Time is short! Today could be the last day of your life! Around 150,000 people on this earth die everyday! Don’t let your lack of forgiveness not only be a chasm between you and your fellow man, but it will also become a chasm between you and Heavenly Father! Pay heed to Jesus’s words.. Mark 11:26 “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.” Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. If you carefully read those scriptures…he’s said the exact same thing from two different angles. FORGIVE!!!
How many of us hold a grudge against our parents and blame them for the failures we have in this life? When things go wrong, they become our scapegoat. How many of us give praise to our parents for our successes? When things go right we claim all the credit. How many of us actually think about the fact that without this particular pair of parents…we wouldn’t be here or who we are today? If you’re blaming your parents for everything that goes wrong in your life…then it’s long past time to forgive! It’s also time for you to realize that they weren’t necessarily supposed to be “perfect”! If you’re a Christian, you know and believe that God’s plan is perfect from beginning to end. If anything, we are the ones who throw the wrench in His plans…simply because He’s given us freedom of choice and WE make the wrong choices.
The parents or parent we have are who God chose for us to help make us into the human beings that we are today. If you’re not measuring up…take a good look at yourself! What can you do to change your life for the better? I believe that you can start by giving your Life to Jesus as we are to LIVE for GOD! HE DIED for US! Once you’ve given your life over to Jesus, you will find continual change going on within yourself and because of this change, people around you will change too and they will see you with different eyes. When you LIVE for JESUS, HIS light will shine inside you for the whole world to see.
God calls us to be salt and light, to stand out in the crowd. What better way to do so then to do something so utterly unheard-of and counter-cultural like loving one another regardless of the hurt…Jesus taught us to pray “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us”. Displaying this Christ-like love in today’s hate-filled world will force people to take notice and wonder who or what could compel us to love each other in this way.
This is the 1st line of a humbling song that I’ve recently found on YouTube: “If Jesus come tomorrow to spend some time with you…would you answer all His questions or lie to hide the truth?” We should know that there’s nothing that we can hide from Jesus, but is it possible that we should ever be so unwise as to think that we could? Adam and Eve tried to hide from God in the Garden of Eden when they’d sinned; their sin brought them loss of righteousness and separation from God, ultimately death 1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
The 2nd line of the song: “Would you welcome Him with open arms or even let Him in? If Jesus comes to- morrow, what then?” Are we ready? Have we forgiven our family members, friends or acquaintances of perceived wrongs…have we asked their forgiveness or forgiven ourselves? Will Jesus find us rejoicing in His love and peace or will He find us angry, tired, and in conflict? Will He find us sharing our faith with the weak and the lost? Is there anything in your life that you regret? Is there anything in your life that you have not repented of? Is there anything in your life that could keep you from sitting at the feet of Jesus? Jesus said in John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
The 3rd’ line of the song: “If Jesus calls your number, could you leave today? Are you ready to lay down your worldly goods and walk away?” No one knows when Jesus will be coming back, but we do know that He is…He has told us to be prepared…He will arrive when we least expect it. Have you allowed your love of the world to get in the way of your walk with God? Are you doing your best with the last moments of your life to serve Him, to share Him, to bring as many people to Him as possible before the end comes? Jesus said in Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
The 4th line of the song: “Would it take a month of Sundays, to tell Him of your sin? If Jesus comes tomorrow, what then?” James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: Do we recognize our own sin? Do we blame our sins on others? Are we so wrapped up in “ME” and the world that we don’t see our sin for what it is? The entire Bible from the beginning to the end addresses sin. From the Garden of Eden and through all the words of Jesus in the New Testament, it’s made clear that God, our Father, abhors sin. This is why He sent His Son Jesus to us, to cloak us in His righteousness because He knew that man could not live without sinning,
1 John 1:9 f we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Heavenly Father gave us a way out, but because we have a way out do we continue to sin? God Forbid!
The 5th line of the (chorus) song: If the sky turns black as midnight in the middle of the day Isaiah 34:4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.Revelation 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Both of these verses tell us that the heavens will be rolled up like a scroll. I remember when Mt. St. Helens, a volcano in Washington state blew it’s top…it was an eerie feeling as I watched out the window and the darkness rolled in like a tidal wave…of course, the news had informed us that it was the result of the volcano blowing up and the cloud of ash headed our way…so it wasn’t scary, but it certainly was unexpected.
The 6th line of the (chorus) song: “And somehow you knew that Jesus would soon be on His way” Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
The 7th line of the (chorus) song: “Would you have to beg forgiveness or could you reach out and take His hand” Jesus said in Matthew 7:14 “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
Jesus ~ Amazing Grace! 
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