Category: evangelism

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Conversations with God…

Meeting God

Job’s Audience with God

Job was facing the pangs of disease and loss of all he had, yet in a prayerful moment he still honored his faith and his God. In the quiet and stillness he prayed: “I would lay out my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know with what words he would answer me-and understand what he would say to me. Would he contend with me with great power? No, he would only pay attention to me.” [Job 23: 4-6] Job had such a close walk with God that he could picture them sitting down to discuss his questions and God would be there to listen.

al Is this way you see yourself and your relationship with God? If not, stop and consider what your relationship with God is at the moment. If you need help seeking that, send me a note and let’s talk. 

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12.29.24.Look up!

There's a new day coming

Revelation 22 Look Up!

As we began this marvelous book we have read and meditated upon the words that Jesus gave John to the seven churches. Now as we begin to close this chapter we are again reminded that he says:  “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches.” He is coming soon and the signs of his coming are all around us but it is in His timing for He patiently waits and the door remains open for those to commit to him. He is not willing any to perish and so down through the centuries, He has been watching,been preparing for each to hear the good news of the gospel.  We, like John, are to be the witnesses of Him so that they will be without excuse. 

Jesus closes with these words: The one who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! Are we looking forward to his return? Are we watching? Are we waiting? 

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12.4.24. Jesus is the LIGHT

Psalm 139 tells us a truth that we need to attend to. Examine me Lord. Show me just as You showed John to the 7 churches. You see all, nothing is hidden from your sight just as a lighthouse has a beam of light to alert the sailor to the shoals and dangerous rocks as it swivels around. As God’s light swivels around he reveals to us our lack of holiness, our lack of understanding, our pride in thinking we can navigate this life apart from him. But as His light swivels around and reveals the rocks that are before us that are dangerous , rocks like untamed words, untamed motives, untamed directions and yet God knows what we will do with what we see. Some men see but refuse to acknowledge. Some men see and reroute to avoid the catastrophe that could take their life. And yet in His loving way he allows us to choose which route we will take. 

Paul told the captain and the centurion to not set out from the safe harbor but they refused. the result was the Perfect Storm to show them that Paul was His servant. Again they thought just emptying the cargo would save them but it only caused the ship to drift ever closer to the rocks. In the end, the ship was lost but the men were saved. God allows the Perfect storms to come into our lives so we may set our course towards a safe harbor and when there to remain there until the weather changes. What lessons did those 276 persons learn …not one was lost…did they then realize that God is the one who ordered that storm to show His power, His presence, His perfect understanding of men’s hearts?

What about me? Am I looking at the Lighthouse which is Christ? Am i navigating the perilous waters around me which hold the rocks of destruction?

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11.27.24.What do you need to believe?

John 20 Evidence 

Jesus has risen but only Mary has seen Him and touched Him and believed. Even her words are like that of a foolish woman. How like today when we witness to others, our words fall on fallow ground. Just like the parable of the seeds are the hearts of men. Some fall on fallow ground, others fall on rocky soil, and yet some fall on tilled soil and bear fruit. Which soil is your heart? 

Jesus offers His promise to those who believe. As the Father has sent Him, so now He sends us into all the world to speak the words of the gospel message.  What evidence do we need to believe? Thomas needed the physical evidence of the risen Christ, yet later Peter will remind his readers: even though you do not see Him you love Him. Is this where I am/where you are? What do you need to believe? The gospel of John reminds us of this truth: But these are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

When John wrote the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ he said: Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those who hear and obey the things written in it because the time is near! Are you blessed today? 

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11.19.24.Greater Works

John 14 How perplexing to read these words of our Savior: Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Jesus was sent to do the work of our salvation but how can I as a mere human do a greater work than He? This is perplexing! 

While on earth,Jesus was held by the nature of his geography and his time limit. However, now with the presence and indwelling Holy Spirit we are not only able but given the privilege to move about over all the earth and present the gospel message that He brought. The day of Pentecost saw 3000 people who claimed salvation but now thousands are hearing and submitting to His Word. We Iive in the internet world with the advantage of seeing and hearing His Word preached and lived out. This is why Jesus said, you will do greater works and is our command to seek and save the lost everywhere. This is our mission statement to go into all the world and preach the gospel. 

Are we going? Are we preaching the gospel? Are we doing greater works? 

We have the good news
Go and Tell
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10.30.24. Be an Encourager Today!

Snail ,mail

3 John A Balm in Gilead

The Apostle John is writing to a personal friend, Gaius. His words to him remind us of this hymn: There is a Balm in Gilead. “Sometimes I feel discouraged,And deep I feel the pain In prayers the Holy Spirit revives my soul again” So it is when we need that balm that heals, a friend sends us words of encouragement. 

John has learned from others that Gaius is living according to the truth. In fact, John records this phrase twice! How encouraging to know that Gaius “ demonstrates faithfulness by whatever he does for the brothers”  and even more so in that he demonstrates that to complete strangers! What a great compliment to receive and how encouraged Gaius must have been at receiving this letter from a dear close friend. 

Today, who needs this word of encouragement? Who needs the words of that great hymn: There is a Balm in Gilead? Remember this stanza as you wade through today’s many appointments: “If you can’t pray like Peter,If you can’t be like Paul. Go home and tell your neighbor, He died to save us all.”

Be an encourager today to someone, pray for them, and send them gracious words that are a balm.  You are where you are today to  edify and lift someone up. 

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Sharing the Gospel Message

study the scriptures that speak of Jesus

Ps 78 Instructions

Always as we read this psalm we are reminded of our responsibility to share the love of God with those who are in need of a Savior. The Psalmist writes : “We will tell the next generation about the Lord’s praiseworthy acts,about his strength and the amazing things he has done.” [Ps 78:4] Have you taken time to share with the ones you love most yet have not yet accepted Christ…even if you are repulsed. This verse reminds me that as a teacher of little ones I was reminded of this truth. What do we share but the love of God and all of his attributes. Romans reminds us that “For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse.”[Rom 1:20] Clearly the psalmist and Paul as he wrote to the Romans that God has revealed His power, His majesty and His eternal qualities so that we might know Him. 

Today, stop and consider what you may want to share with your unsaved family, your unsaved neighbors and others. 

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Are you ready?

Jesus is coming !

2 Thess 2 Worrywart or Trusting

What would you have  done if you knew someone you had taught had the wrong ideas and truth and worse, they were sharing it with others. Paul had only a short time in Thessalonica and so he redeemed the time by teaching these new converts the basics of the faith. Somewhere along the way, these new converts misunderstood or had forgotten what he said about the end times. We can do the same if we are not careful. So shortly after his first letter to them, he sent a second to correct their understanding because they were thinking they had missed the rapture and it tore at their heartstrings. 

In this second letter he told them to recall what he had said about this time. He began by asking them to note that the man of lawlessness had not been revealed. In addition Paul asked them a question: is there a man sitting in the position of the most holy place and proclaiming himself God? Paul reminded them that until they can see and can answer affirmatively, it has not happened. 

Do you worry about the end times? Are you looking for the Christ to return? What signs are you using to keep calm and be joyful in the work of the Lord? 

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Sharing the Gospel Message

The simple gospel message

1Thess 2 Paul and his team were persecuted in Philippi, but that did not stop them from sharing the gospel message. He may have been cast out of that city, but God saved some of those seekers who became the little church there. Paul had to leave and went to Thessalonica and it was there that the jealous Jews followed him there to keep the gospel hidden. Today, there are many who want the gospel hidden and men to remain unsaved. As it was then, so it is today. The reason is found in 2 Cor 4:4 “the god of this world has blinded men so that they might not see the glorious image of Jesus Christ.” 

Paul tells the Thessalonians that when he came there to share he presented the gospel message as a child might or as a nursing mother or as a doting father. Paul became all things to win some. How do you seek to share the gospel message when there are evil workers seeking to undermine the truth? 

Jesus said to go and make disciples and we are to be about that business today. Are we going? Are we making disciples? What is keeping us from fulfilling that command? 

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The Women of the World

Proverbs 7 Adultery

Solomon continues his teaching of his son (s) about the ways of the woman of the world. If anyone could instruct us in this topic it is Solomon. It is like reading his diary and he shows us the pattern of how this sin evolves and destroys the unsuspecting.  

Solomon gives us wise  instructions: “Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways—;” Notice it is the heart that is easily caught because it is deceitful and desperately wicked. [Jer 17:9] Sin begins in the heart and then follows its path to the loss of purity. 

Secondly, do not wander into her pathways. There are two paths of life, one that is wide and leads to destruction and the other is narrow which leads to life everlasting. The adulterous woman walks on the wide path and seeks followers, so be alert and choose wisely. 

And now for the reason: “For she has been the ruin of many; many men have been her victims.” [Prov 7:26 MSG.] 

The lesson for us who are the aged is to read this and share its truths to the younger generation. 

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