For many years I have been receiving The Berean Call newsletter.
And, although the main article is always interesting, thought
provoking, and apologetic for our Christian faith - the first section I
read is always the Q&A section. Why? Well, I guess it is for the
same reason I love a good discussion style Bible study and Sunday School
class. In discussing Scripture and our Christian faith teachings with
other believers - I always learn something new, gain some new insight.
In the same way, reading a Scripture passage for the hundredth time - I can still find and learn something new. Is that because I have a learning or reading disability? No, it is because each time I read it - God may choose to reveal a new truth, a new insight to show me some new (to me) facet of His Truth which is appropriate for where I am today in my Christian walk.
When I began studying End Times prophecies and the book of Revelation over 25 years ago, I had many questions which were unanswered. Yet, I found that God was faithful in giving me answers, at the appropriate time. Let me give you an example. Some 20 plus years ago I was still wondering what will happen to believers who survive the Tribulation.
One evening as I was driving home from work, I was sitting at a four-way stop sign in Tustin, California - thinking only of getting home and relaxing. From out of nowhere, a thought popped into my head, "Those who survive the Tribulation will go into the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ, in their mortal bodies." Whoa, where did that thought come from and why now? It did not take me long to realize that the Holy Spirit had just solved another piece of my End Times puzzle. We serve an amazing God.
So, this week when I received my snail-mail copy of The Berean Call newsletter, the Q&A question "I know that soul winning is supposed to be a really important part of the Christian life, but can you explain further about what the Scriptures say on this subject?" - that immediately made me think. Is the only way to do soul winning to knock on doors or to do street evangelism?
Short answer: No! There are many ways to do soul winning - even though door knocking and street evangelism may show the most immediate results. God gives each of us different talents and we should use those talents to be faithful in following His Great Commission.
I think back on ways that I have been His witness across the years. Some 25 years ago, I was having lunch at Coco's in Newport Beach and behind me I heard an older man tell the hostess that he was feeling weak and was afraid to drive home. I turned and volunteered to drive him home and during the drive, I felt an immediate friendship with him, George. That weekend Dory and I visited George and shared with him. Did we win him to Christ? No, but it was a good learning experience.
George told me, "I am a retired Christian." Stunned I listened when he told me, "Being a scientist, I changed my mind." I will admit that I was too new a Christian and not really armed with the Scripture knowledge to refute his statement. So, I tucked my tail and left. But, that taught me that I needed to get deeper into a study of His Word - for the next time I met a George.
About 18 years ago, I was in Moreno Valley and had to go to the Regional Medical Center ER for my foot. Waiting in line, there was a young man who was a White Supremacist standing behind me. Later, in the waiting room I noticed him reading a Bible.
At an appropriate time, I asked him, "Pardon me, but you finger tattoos say H A T E - yet the book you are reading teaches L O V E. What is the story?" He told me that he, a devout White Supremacist, had been walking in Riverside when a Christian approached him and shared Jesus Christ with him. That day, on the sidewalk of Riverside, that White Supremacist became a Christian believer.
Would YOU have the faith to approach an obvious White Supremacist and share Christ with him? God gave that person the courage and the desire to share with that young man - at that time. And a soul was won!
Twelve years ago, about 11:30 PM, I went for a walk on Magnolia Avenue near Tyler Street in Riverside. Suddenly a homeless man, who appeared to be on drugs, jumped out from behind a sign and was screaming and cursing at me. I nervously backed away from him, crossing four lanes of Magnolia Avenue traffic with him stalking after me, and not one driver seemed to notice.
But the moment I stepped on the center island, I felt the peace of God come over me. I stopped and told the man, "I have no money (I never carry a wallet when I walk at night), but can I pray for you?"
I walked up to him, put my right hand on his left shoulder, and prayed that God would bless and protect this man. After praying for him, we hugged, tightly. And, this man who had been screaming and cursing at me just minutes before - said in a small quiet voice, "That is what I really wanted." And he meekly walked away.
As I was walking home it suddenly dawned on me, neither that man nor his clothing had any "sleeping on the street" odor. Looking at him it was very obvious that he was homeless - yet, no odor when I hugged him? How was that possible?
Then a Scripture verse came to mind: Hebrews 13:2, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it." Am I saying that I met an angel that night? Not really, but who knows? That Scripture verse sure did seem to fit my situation - and who are we to question the power of God?
For the past 25 plus years I have been sharing my faith via newsletters, articles, and blogs that hopefully are edifying, encouraging, and when needed, apologetic. I believe that is the ministry God has given me. Have you found your God-given ministry yet? Talk with Him about how He would have you serve Him.
That said, let me share with you the Q&A question from the latest issue of The Berean Call newsletter which caused my flash-back moment:
In the same way, reading a Scripture passage for the hundredth time - I can still find and learn something new. Is that because I have a learning or reading disability? No, it is because each time I read it - God may choose to reveal a new truth, a new insight to show me some new (to me) facet of His Truth which is appropriate for where I am today in my Christian walk.
When I began studying End Times prophecies and the book of Revelation over 25 years ago, I had many questions which were unanswered. Yet, I found that God was faithful in giving me answers, at the appropriate time. Let me give you an example. Some 20 plus years ago I was still wondering what will happen to believers who survive the Tribulation.
One evening as I was driving home from work, I was sitting at a four-way stop sign in Tustin, California - thinking only of getting home and relaxing. From out of nowhere, a thought popped into my head, "Those who survive the Tribulation will go into the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ, in their mortal bodies." Whoa, where did that thought come from and why now? It did not take me long to realize that the Holy Spirit had just solved another piece of my End Times puzzle. We serve an amazing God.
So, this week when I received my snail-mail copy of The Berean Call newsletter, the Q&A question "I know that soul winning is supposed to be a really important part of the Christian life, but can you explain further about what the Scriptures say on this subject?" - that immediately made me think. Is the only way to do soul winning to knock on doors or to do street evangelism?
Short answer: No! There are many ways to do soul winning - even though door knocking and street evangelism may show the most immediate results. God gives each of us different talents and we should use those talents to be faithful in following His Great Commission.
I think back on ways that I have been His witness across the years. Some 25 years ago, I was having lunch at Coco's in Newport Beach and behind me I heard an older man tell the hostess that he was feeling weak and was afraid to drive home. I turned and volunteered to drive him home and during the drive, I felt an immediate friendship with him, George. That weekend Dory and I visited George and shared with him. Did we win him to Christ? No, but it was a good learning experience.
George told me, "I am a retired Christian." Stunned I listened when he told me, "Being a scientist, I changed my mind." I will admit that I was too new a Christian and not really armed with the Scripture knowledge to refute his statement. So, I tucked my tail and left. But, that taught me that I needed to get deeper into a study of His Word - for the next time I met a George.
About 18 years ago, I was in Moreno Valley and had to go to the Regional Medical Center ER for my foot. Waiting in line, there was a young man who was a White Supremacist standing behind me. Later, in the waiting room I noticed him reading a Bible.
At an appropriate time, I asked him, "Pardon me, but you finger tattoos say H A T E - yet the book you are reading teaches L O V E. What is the story?" He told me that he, a devout White Supremacist, had been walking in Riverside when a Christian approached him and shared Jesus Christ with him. That day, on the sidewalk of Riverside, that White Supremacist became a Christian believer.
Would YOU have the faith to approach an obvious White Supremacist and share Christ with him? God gave that person the courage and the desire to share with that young man - at that time. And a soul was won!
Twelve years ago, about 11:30 PM, I went for a walk on Magnolia Avenue near Tyler Street in Riverside. Suddenly a homeless man, who appeared to be on drugs, jumped out from behind a sign and was screaming and cursing at me. I nervously backed away from him, crossing four lanes of Magnolia Avenue traffic with him stalking after me, and not one driver seemed to notice.
But the moment I stepped on the center island, I felt the peace of God come over me. I stopped and told the man, "I have no money (I never carry a wallet when I walk at night), but can I pray for you?"
I walked up to him, put my right hand on his left shoulder, and prayed that God would bless and protect this man. After praying for him, we hugged, tightly. And, this man who had been screaming and cursing at me just minutes before - said in a small quiet voice, "That is what I really wanted." And he meekly walked away.
As I was walking home it suddenly dawned on me, neither that man nor his clothing had any "sleeping on the street" odor. Looking at him it was very obvious that he was homeless - yet, no odor when I hugged him? How was that possible?
Then a Scripture verse came to mind: Hebrews 13:2, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it." Am I saying that I met an angel that night? Not really, but who knows? That Scripture verse sure did seem to fit my situation - and who are we to question the power of God?
For the past 25 plus years I have been sharing my faith via newsletters, articles, and blogs that hopefully are edifying, encouraging, and when needed, apologetic. I believe that is the ministry God has given me. Have you found your God-given ministry yet? Talk with Him about how He would have you serve Him.
That said, let me share with you the Q&A question from the latest issue of The Berean Call newsletter which caused my flash-back moment:
Question: I know that soul winning is supposed to be a really important part of the Christian life, . . .The Berean Call newsletter Q&A Section, January 31, 2017
Question: I know that soul winning is supposed to be a really important part of the Christian life, but can you explain further about what the Scriptures say on this subject?
Response: It is certainly true that Proverbs:11:30 tells us, “He that winneth souls is wise.” Further, in Luke:19:10, our Lord declared, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” In 1 Corinthians:9:16, Paul wrote, “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”
The principle of soul winning and its necessity is there. That’s the challenge and admonition our Lord left when He gave the commission in Matthew:28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach [make disciples of] all nations;...”
What we aren’t given is a “methodology.” We are given examples of the disciples preaching the gospel: “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ” (Acts 5:42).
Consequently, some people don’t seem to believe they are soul winning unless they are preaching publicly or house to house. Yet the Lord Jesus had many meetings with people who came to Him to speak. And, while the term “friendship evangelism” is a popular focus today, too often it can be an excuse for never confronting someone with the claims of the gospel. The gospel by its very nature is an offense (1 Corinthians:1:18).
Also, we need to remember that the Lord uses circumstances and often will bring us to places where the gospel can be shared with individuals. The point is that we are to be ready. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).
In Acts 8, Philip was given an opportunity to minister the gospel to the Ethiopian eunuch whom God had prepared. Philip simply had to be ready both to minister and to obey the Lord’s command to “join thyself to this chariot” (v. 29).
Paul always went to the synagogues or places “where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither” (Acts:16:13). He went to these places both to minister to his people and to join with those who clearly were pursuing spiritual things. In short, they were alert to and took advantage of opportunities that presented themselves.
There certainly are good reasons for keeping tracts available to give to people. We may not always be going door to door, but we should prepare by praying and asking the Lord to give us a heart for evangelism and study to know the gospel message. As much as possible, prayerfully seek to build relationships with neighbors, friends, and relatives, and be alert for opportunities.
Finally, if no opportunities are readily available, then prayerfully seek to create them as led by the Lord and be content if you only plant a seed, trusting Him to water and give the increase.
To read the full February 2017 issue of The Berean Call visit the link below.
Hebrew Roots and the Leaven of Works Salvation - Part 1
The Berean Call Newsletter, February 1, 2017By T.A. McMahon and G. Richard Fisher
http://www.thebereancall.org/content/hebrew-roots-and-leaven-works-salvation-part-1
Purge Out Therefore the old leaven… —1 Corinthians:5:7 The Apostle Paul warned about being tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians:4:14). These days, the winds of false doctrine are blowing hard against the church.
To subscribe to The Berean Call Newsletter visit this link: http://www.thebereancall.org/
And, scroll down to:
The Berean Call is available by postal mail each month for free. We are willing to send the newsletter to you by regular mail but encourage you to read it online to save printing and mailing costs. Send us a message to add or change your paper mail address.
I pray this you have found this blog useful, that maybe you found a "golden nugget" or two - and that you will share it with your FRANs (Friends, Relatives, Associates, Neighbors).
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
No comments:
Post a Comment