During devotion my daughter Brooklyn says, " Daddy God is like electricity, Jesus is the outlet, and we are radios. The radio (us) plugs into (accept) the outlet (Jesus) and turns on. The music that comes out is us sharing the Gospel for everyone to hear. But the radios that don't plugin (accept) the outlet (Jesus) are thrown into the trash (Hell). " I said "Who did you learn that from?" She said, "No one". I told her "No someone did teach you that." Brooklyn replied, "Wait it was the Holy Spirit". Thankful my children are learning to listen to the Lord and know His Voice. Never underestimate how precious and important reading God's Word is with your family. It helps them to grow in Christ and recognize God's Voice. Never forget that your family is your first ministry. Stay focused, you can do this.
Joshua 24:15, John 10:27, Deuteronomy 11:19-20
"In His JOY!"
Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be accountable.
http://consumedbyjoy.blogspot.com/
Showing posts with label Sharing the Gospel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sharing the Gospel. Show all posts
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Sunday, May 25, 2014
"Knock knock...who's there?"
This week I lay in bed for 8 hours sleeping peacefully with no worries about the day ahead of me. I awoke and went about my normal routine of preparing for the day when I there was a knock on my door. I looked through the window and saw a familiar face of a gentleman I had seen before and talked to briefly. As a matter of fact I saw him yesterday on two separate occasions. The first time I saw him I was taking out the trash and he was arguing with his wife outside, I couldn't understand what they were saying but I could tell that they were both displeased with each other's actions. I saw them later on that day when I was heading to a men's bible study but this time it appeared they had reconciled and were laughing with each other. So I was curious about why he was standing outside my door at 6:30 am.
I slightly opened the door because I was still in pajamas and said, "Hello". He looked in me the eyes and asked, "Are you the pastor?" I did not know how to respond because I am not technically a pastor so I said "Yes, can I help you?" He said he really needed to talk to me so I told him we could talk but just give me a moment to get some clothes on.
I slapped some jeans on and went outside to talk the young man. He said, "My name is Sonny I know you helped my brother and did a bible study with him. I really need some help, for the past three hours I have stood outside wondering what to do with my life. I was in rehab yesterday with my wife but we both just got up and left. I don't want to live like this anymore. I don't want to fight anymore or do the devil's deeds, I just want it all to end. I asked God to give me this woman (Valerie) as my wife and if He did I would live for Him. But I haven't lived for Him and all. I am still living the way I want to live and I believe God has cursed me. I was contemplating killing myself this morning because I am so sick of the way I am living."
I reassured Him that God is not in the cursing business but took him to John 3:16-21. And told Sonny that Jesus came to save us not to curse us or condemn us. However if we reject Christ we have effectively condemned ourselves. And the reason people choose not accept Christ is because Christ exposes the sins we are unwilling to give up. Sonny already knew he needed Jesus but he was unwilling to give up his sinful lifestyle. But he agreed that enough was enough and he was ready to change.
By this time Sonny's wife Valerie came over because she was listening from a distance. I could tell how much she had abused drugs because she could barely stand still. She said, "We could do it but we won't get any support. People (ie, family, friends, customers) are going to make fun of us and try to tempt us to keep using and selling drugs. All my life all I have known is Meth. I grew up in a Meth House and it's all I have ever known since."
I looked at her and took them both to Romans 3. I showed how the Bible makes it very clear in Romans 3:9-20 that we all are dirty and filthy. We all have sinned tremendously and are worthy of eternal death. But how Romans 3:21-31 shows us how God makes us clean in His sight. That the sacrifice of Christ has taken away the punishment of sin and made us new. So it does not matter what others think of us, who we were, where we have come from, what we used to do, and how long we did it. All that matters is we accept the grace of God, His forgiveness, and now live a life that brings Him glory, honor, and praise.
I asked them, "Do you all understand what I am saying." They both said yes. We talked about how rehab was wonderful but it is vital that we detox their souls through the power of Christ. They both said, "That's what we want, we want to change and live for Jesus." We knelt in the grass and prayed together. They accepted Christ as their Savior and committed to live for Him as their Lord. As we prayed I could hear Sonny weeping uncontrollably and feel Valerie fidgeting from years of meth abuse. We stood up and talked about what's next. For Sonny it was rehab for an undisclosed amount of time. For Valerie it was possible jail time because she had a court date the same day and would be forced into rehab.
As they walked away I made sure they had my number and I told them to call me with the news of what happened in court and if they made it to rehab (if they were allowed to make a phone call). They waited 3 hours contemplating suicide outside my house with a bible clutched in their grip but by the grace of God, He preserved their life and they accepted Christ. They did not seek how to name wealth and obtain it. They were not looking for a special prayer cloth or holy water from Jerusalem so they could feel blessed. They were not looking for a special prophetic Word from the Lord that I would supply them if they gave me a $100 love offering. They were sheep without a shepherd, they were looking for Christ.
God always provides an opportunity to use His people if they are willing. My wealth, health, status, and/or popularity did not lead them to my door. It was the Holy Spirit who brought them there. It was not my great words, degree, or title that enabled me to share the Gospel, it was God giving me the words to say and reminding of the scriptures I had studied. The harvest is plentiful in God's Kingdom but we need workers who are not out to make profit, trying to become popular, or even preach their own gospel. We need workers who only want to serve the King and do His bidding. We need faithful people. Are you that person? Stay focused you can do this!
Matthew 9:35-38
"In His JOY!"
Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be accountable.
http://consumedbyjoy.blogspot.com/
I slightly opened the door because I was still in pajamas and said, "Hello". He looked in me the eyes and asked, "Are you the pastor?" I did not know how to respond because I am not technically a pastor so I said "Yes, can I help you?" He said he really needed to talk to me so I told him we could talk but just give me a moment to get some clothes on.
I slapped some jeans on and went outside to talk the young man. He said, "My name is Sonny I know you helped my brother and did a bible study with him. I really need some help, for the past three hours I have stood outside wondering what to do with my life. I was in rehab yesterday with my wife but we both just got up and left. I don't want to live like this anymore. I don't want to fight anymore or do the devil's deeds, I just want it all to end. I asked God to give me this woman (Valerie) as my wife and if He did I would live for Him. But I haven't lived for Him and all. I am still living the way I want to live and I believe God has cursed me. I was contemplating killing myself this morning because I am so sick of the way I am living."
I reassured Him that God is not in the cursing business but took him to John 3:16-21. And told Sonny that Jesus came to save us not to curse us or condemn us. However if we reject Christ we have effectively condemned ourselves. And the reason people choose not accept Christ is because Christ exposes the sins we are unwilling to give up. Sonny already knew he needed Jesus but he was unwilling to give up his sinful lifestyle. But he agreed that enough was enough and he was ready to change.
By this time Sonny's wife Valerie came over because she was listening from a distance. I could tell how much she had abused drugs because she could barely stand still. She said, "We could do it but we won't get any support. People (ie, family, friends, customers) are going to make fun of us and try to tempt us to keep using and selling drugs. All my life all I have known is Meth. I grew up in a Meth House and it's all I have ever known since."
I looked at her and took them both to Romans 3. I showed how the Bible makes it very clear in Romans 3:9-20 that we all are dirty and filthy. We all have sinned tremendously and are worthy of eternal death. But how Romans 3:21-31 shows us how God makes us clean in His sight. That the sacrifice of Christ has taken away the punishment of sin and made us new. So it does not matter what others think of us, who we were, where we have come from, what we used to do, and how long we did it. All that matters is we accept the grace of God, His forgiveness, and now live a life that brings Him glory, honor, and praise.
I asked them, "Do you all understand what I am saying." They both said yes. We talked about how rehab was wonderful but it is vital that we detox their souls through the power of Christ. They both said, "That's what we want, we want to change and live for Jesus." We knelt in the grass and prayed together. They accepted Christ as their Savior and committed to live for Him as their Lord. As we prayed I could hear Sonny weeping uncontrollably and feel Valerie fidgeting from years of meth abuse. We stood up and talked about what's next. For Sonny it was rehab for an undisclosed amount of time. For Valerie it was possible jail time because she had a court date the same day and would be forced into rehab.
As they walked away I made sure they had my number and I told them to call me with the news of what happened in court and if they made it to rehab (if they were allowed to make a phone call). They waited 3 hours contemplating suicide outside my house with a bible clutched in their grip but by the grace of God, He preserved their life and they accepted Christ. They did not seek how to name wealth and obtain it. They were not looking for a special prayer cloth or holy water from Jerusalem so they could feel blessed. They were not looking for a special prophetic Word from the Lord that I would supply them if they gave me a $100 love offering. They were sheep without a shepherd, they were looking for Christ.
God always provides an opportunity to use His people if they are willing. My wealth, health, status, and/or popularity did not lead them to my door. It was the Holy Spirit who brought them there. It was not my great words, degree, or title that enabled me to share the Gospel, it was God giving me the words to say and reminding of the scriptures I had studied. The harvest is plentiful in God's Kingdom but we need workers who are not out to make profit, trying to become popular, or even preach their own gospel. We need workers who only want to serve the King and do His bidding. We need faithful people. Are you that person? Stay focused you can do this!
Matthew 9:35-38
"In His JOY!"
Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be accountable.
http://consumedbyjoy.blogspot.com/
Sunday, May 5, 2013
"I am a REJECT!"
Luke 10:1-16
We live in a world where we want the approval of others as opposed to respect. We will hold back the truth and tell a lie to make others comfortable. We stand up for what is convenient and shy away from what could cause controversy. All in all we do not want to endure rejection. We do not want to experience life as an outcast of popular society. It's like we immature kids in "High School" trying to fit in with the cool kids.
This world needs more people who are willing to stand up for truth and be unashamed about it. We need more people who are willing face rejection for the sake of Christ. Jesus made it clear that there are people yearning for truth but there are not many people willing to share the truth of The Gospel (Luke 10:2). And He said we should pray to the Lord that He will raise up more people willing to go out and share God's Truth.
We must have the willingness to go out and proclaim God's Inconvenient Truth to a world that would rather bathe in comfortable lies. We have to understand we will be like foxes being chased down by a hunter. We are the prey in a hostile world (Luke 10:3). But this does not stop us from sharing the truth. It also means we will face rejection, called intolerant, and unwise because we are trying to call rebels to repentance.
We cannot run from our responsibility to share God's Truth and His Message of Salvation because we fear rejection and ridicule. Instead we should find delight in sharing God's Truth regardless of how others may view us are treat us. Because the real travesty is that they are not rejecting our truth but rather they are rejecting God's Truth (Luke 10:16). And this does not mean we are harsh, condemning, and arrogant. No instead we speak the truth in love and not in hate (Ephesians 4:15)
So we are rejects in the world's eyes as well as outcast. But despite all of this we are still God's Children and we have the wonderous JOY! of experiencing His love, the freedom that comes from walking in and knowing His Truth, and the peace of His Salvation. This alone should compel us to share God's Truth with others so that the may experience what we have.
Stay focused, you can do this!
"In His JOY!"
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