Key to Evangelism

The Key to Evangelism is the exaltation of Jesus Christ. So why do so many people expend energy toward sharing a "fail-safe" message that meets a human standard or expectation. To be clear, I'm thinking about the sinners prayer. In these days, the sinner's prayer is practically a holy grail. Lifted up high and to a religious "don't touch that one" status.

But why not examine our ways of doing evangelism? Scripture tells us to examine ourselves in order to see if we are living in the way (2 Corinthians 13: 5).

Take a closer look. Have you ever thought "if you just say these words of the sinners prayer, then you shall be saved." Yet rather than having any real power to save - which comes through Jesus Christ alone - these words were written by a modern day man and only provide fleeting comfort to the one trying to evangelize. For there is a real temptation placed upon every young evangelist to rely heavily upon these words alone and to enjoy the usefulness of this evangelistic tool simply because "success" is alluring.

In growing up into Christ, here is what I see:

1). The effective presentation of the sinner's prayer has become an objective means by which we - mere mortals - use to count our own achievements in performing this seemingly difficult task of evangelism. By example I will confess my own sin in this grievous way. For I have repeatedly thought "I have heard her say the sinner's prayer in my own hearing; I even led her in the prayer that day, therefore I have won one!" Plain and simple, this is our sinful nature rearing it's ugly head (as in pride) when we credit the winning of a precious soul to our own personal account. It's equivalent to sharing in God's glory that is due to him alone. And are we not told repeatedly, over and over, again and again, that salvation belongs to God. Yes! It is God who brings the growth, performs the miracle and does the good work.

2). The act of leading another person in the sinner's prayer such as saying "repeat after me" in parrot-like repetition causes the evangelist to instantly relax and be tempted to think "my work is finished" even though there still remains a great commission to go and make disciples. And the truth is there really is something more to be done such as walk in fellowship together and not send them out on their own (they are like baby birds needing protection, nourishment, and teaching on how to soar above the things of this world etc).

3). Any evangelistic training which relies on the sinner's prayer rather than the Holy Spirit to do his work is at risk for raising up ill-prepared evangelists. For they do not come prepared or armed with anything more. So the bottom line is this: it may be that a once useful tool has become a hindrance for us in cooperating with the creative work of the Spirit.

4). The thrust of our message should be a clarion call to repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ alone. Our story is explaining God's original and perfect plan to make a people for himself, the greatness of his love by sending his only begotten Son as an atonement for sin, and the finished work of our redemption won through Christ's victory on the cross.

Therefore, take time to ask the Lord what he wants to do in and through you this day. Don't look back. Press forward. . . and let's together recommit ourselves to cling to the cross (not a mere earthly crutch) to help us do the work to which we have been called.

Go ahead now. Use your own words and I'll use mine . . . the words the Holy Spirit places on our individual hearts that he wants to hear.

The author's personal reminder note: There really is a big difference between pleading another to "just say the sinner's prayer and you'll be saved" and clearly speaking the truth, such as boldly proclaiming "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." It is Christ who saves and not a prayer.

Meditation on "Our Father"

Our Father, who art in heaven. . .

You are my Abba,
A Daddy God.

Daddy God . . .
I praise you,
For you gave me life.
It is by your hand that I live.
Job 12: 10 In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of every human being.

Daddy God . . .
I thank you,
For you give me eternal life.
It is through your Son Jesus Christ that I live.
John 10: 10b I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Daddy God . . .
There is none like you!
p.s. 119: 32 I run the way of your commandments, for you enlarge my understanding.

My Prayer for US

Lord God Almighty - Bring US to our knees.

My Heart's Response

Thank you Father for the GOOD gift of your Son Jesus Christ.

My heart's response to you is this: I will follow you.

Thank you too for the gift of song.

Mark 10: 18
John 8: 12

Jesus Christ - Be glorified!

Thank you Holy Spirit for teaching me about the supremacy of Christ; for testifying to Christ alone; and for showing me an example of true humility. You are gracious to us (the body of believers) to extend knowledge beyond measure.

O' Jesus Christ - Be glorified!

Now hear my prayer of many days gone past.

Psalm 86

1 Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2 Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you; save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; 3 be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all day long.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.
6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my cry of supplication.
7 In the day of my trouble I call on you, for you will answer me.

8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.
9 All the nations you have made shall come and bow down before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.
10 For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name.
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

14 O God, the insolent rise up against me; a band of ruffians seeks my life, and they do not set you before them.
15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant; save the child of your serving girl.
17 Show me a sign of your favor, so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame, because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

FRANK(talk)in(g)Sense

Frank Talk

iGoogled: In researching crushed rose petals I found it very interesting, and personal to me, that Frankincense is also used as a raw material for perfume. It is clear that Frankincense, in addition to embalming and other more common medicinal purposes, is significant to producing a pleasing aroma.

iLearned: Frankincense comes from a tree of the genus Boswellia. The species is called Boswellia sacra or B. sacra with the root word meaning holy.

iSurmise: In addition to what I have been told, Frankincense was given to Messiah to signal His Holiness.

iPonder: How great and good God is!

There is no mistake the Jesus Christ should be given such a gift of Frankincense. He is the one who is Holy.

The aroma of Christ is lovely; it is a fragrant offering of laying one’s life so that others might live.

1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage. . . 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew 2:1-2,10-11

iUnderstand: Wise men in offering a gift of frankincense to Messiah are guided by Wisdom. Wisdom comes only from The Holy Spirit and not an avatar of one’s own making.

iDesire Christ.

iSeek Christ.

iFound Christ.

iWorship Christ.

iLove Christ.

iPray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.

Now iRejoice. Amen.

To Walk in Freedom

Lord, I thank you forever. You love me, save me, and forgive me of all my sin. You set me free!

THANK YOU FOR FREEDOM.

Thank you for another reminder this week of all that you have done. In the past I chose death; but by your gracious hand and unfailing love I receive life.

I never want to live apart from you, for my freedom is in you and you alone.

THANK YOU JESUS.

Thank you for Psalm 119

44 I will keep your law continually, forever and ever. 45 I shall walk at liberty, for I have sought your precepts.

Commentary: Self-help is a vanity; fleeting and worthless.

Put Away Childish Ways

God is Love! Do you really believe this? Do you spend your day with him and linger in conversation? or Do you still try to shape God into becoming your own personal genie who will grant you 3 wishes (e.g., health, wealth and happiness)?

As a child I acted out of selfishness and rebelled from God's ways. At the end of the school day I ran to the television; I didn't run to God. I loved the television show "I Dream of Genie" and exchanged truth for a lie. I also spoke like a child, "Give me, give me, give me!" I also listened to familiar voices tell me, "What's so wrong with wanting good things for yourself, family, friends, and the neighbor next door?". . . except for the truth that wishful thinking is not the same as faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love.

4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrong doing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13: 4 - 7

See the whole of 1 Corinthians 13. The message is clear. There is nothing selfish about love.

• Love is self-less.
• Love is described as the laying down of one's life for another (see Matthew 20: 24 - 28).
  
• Love willingly places others before oneself.
  
• Love is self-sacrificial; making the love of Christ known through any (and all) physical act of tending to the needs of others.

Therefore, since we are sinners in need of a Savior, let us look to Jesus Christ. For he has shown us how to live and how to die. Jesus continually sought God the Father for all things including his direction, words and strength. Jesus prayed this prayer, "Thy will be done."

Ah! This is costly. A precious jewel. He is Love.

Lord, Please help me! I am in need of Savior. I have failed by every measure. Please show me how to live and what to do. On this very day I want to learn to love like you. Grant me strength to put away those childish ways that solely seek to please myself. Forgive me too for treating you like an earthen idol. I now choose to turn this day. "Thy will be done" in my life. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Morning Watch

O' Lord we thank you for awaking our hearts to your love; for making us afresh and anew; for strength, forgiveness and receiving untold blessings according to your Word. It's true, your wisdom speaks a better word offering life and compassion, and giving provision for a living covenant of peace through Christ Jesus, our LORD.

With a high calling from above, we gladly choose to set aside our concerns; turning our attention to others and those places where your affections remain. We specifically pray for your church and your people worldwide. Grant them greater wisdom and discernment in this hour of history, we plead. It is clear that we need to know right from wrong and to discern truth from untruth.

So, at this very moment, we come together as one collective body of believers boldly asking for an immediate and keen awareness of your direction. We desire that all your children may not miss the mark, stumble, fall astray, or lie down bleeding. Give us Jesus!

(the heartfelt prayer of a servant girl)

Proverbs 9: 1 - 6

A Man of Sorrows : iSorrow

My soul cries out for more of you.

It's as simple as this I choose Christ. And no matter what happens my prayer will remain, I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death (Philippians 3:10).

O let my life be a reflection of your Love. . .

In the morning
I now can see
A rarely tasted fruit
Indeed!

There is no price
He paid the debt
Lay down your life
In truth submit

For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well (Philippians 1: 29)

How beautiful A Man of Sorrow is. . . A cross just for me. His blood shed for me. His love poured out for me.

Good Friday - Nailed it!

Hallelujah. Grace like rain falls down on me. All my sins are washed away.

• Have you heard these words?
• Do you know this truth?
• Will you receive this gift?

Christ died for all our sins erasing the record! (incl. my sins, your sins, our sins and "are" sins . . . all).

Colossians 2: 13 - 14

13 And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, 14 erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. [emphasis mine]

Q: How will I know this to be true?
A: Take your guilt to the cross and see your salvation.

Psalm 32: 5
Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Heavenly Father, I come before your throne with boldness; asking for this one - for the one reading - to know the depths of your love. I pray for the heaviest burdens of guilt and shame to be removed. In your most merciful and gracious ways, please take away the sins of self-reproach: including unending blame; feelings of culpability and responsibility for "bad things" in one's life or in the lives loved ones; disapproving thoughts of discredit, disgrace, scorn and rebuke. Bring healing to these festering wounds that paralyze, I pray in the mighty name of Jesus.

iProfess: There is healing in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 103: 1 - 5
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits - 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Hallelujah. Grace like rain falls down on me. All my sins are washed away.

Birthday Sonnet

Thy Rest (in Thee)

A life of shattered dreams I lived;
Like a withered body on a cross.
I hang there with my Lord today;
My prayer to know Thy Rest (in Thee).

Helpless. Not hopeless.
My ever-present help.
Knowing full well...
I can't ever save myself.

Let me hurry unto my death;
A self surrendered to new birth.
O' Suffering Servant, nailed to the tree,
turn my life upside down in love for Thee.

Who is it that proclaims stark love?
Jesus Christ has done for me.
I beseech thee, O' Most Glorious One,
let me know Thy Rest (in Thee).

For the Beloved Church

Originally this letter was written to encourage the leadership of a church renewal movement inside the PCUSA (the year 2006). I choose to release this letter now. I am ever mindful that the days are short – understanding that the spirit of the Anti-Christ has been unleashed.

Dear Ones,

This has been a week where God has narrowed my walk – not to restrict my freedom in Christ, but to protect my heart from half-truths. Basically, he inquired of me “To what teachings do you hold fast to?” “From whom do you seek wisdom and knowledge and truth?” “Whose words do you hold in your heart and cherish?” “Are you making choices based on God’s truth or simply taking action in response to words from the mouths and hands of man?”

In particular, there was a verse I had to talk to the Lord about. When I read it, I knew my heart was not pure and I was wrestling with this truth. Perhaps you are too. 2 Timothy 3: 12 says this, "Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

You see, at the time my eyes were opened to this scripture I was also reading a book on Christian martyrs. Through their testimonies, written in black and white, I could see a clear picture of how God sustained each one of them through all persecution, torture and means of death . . . just like he did for Stephen. The common denominator remains. They truly love(d) Jesus, keeping their eyes upon him.

This is the way I want to live too - - gazing upon my savior Christ Jesus.

I am thankful for God’s correction and the preparation of my heart for things to come. I want to hold to truth alone. It is Christ alone who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Please listen to God’s word, receive it, and pray for one another, as we possibly enter into a season of persecution for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Your sister in Christ, Brenda

A KINGDOM PARABLE Matthew 13: 3b – 9; 18 – 23

3b "Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 Let anyone with ears listen!"

18 "Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23 But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."


HOW TO PRAY Colossians 2: 6 – 7

6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

• Father God, I ask that you would strengthen my brothers and sisters in the faith. They are weary and sometimes fearful of what man can do to them.

• I thank you for giving us your Son. Lord, we are not worthy of praise. . . only you. It is unfathomable how much you love us! To think, that while we were yet sinners you sent your only son Jesus Christ to make a way for our salvation. THIS IS LOVE!

• Lord, please purify us and help us to desire only your Son.

• Lord, I also ask on behalf of the entire leadership of the beloved church that we would be rooted in Christ Jesus alone. I beg for greater faith, O God.
  

• Help our unbelief and change our hearts. May we be bold for Christ and never shrink back.

• Thank you for this opportunity to show you our love, and to draw closer to you through trials that purify our faith.

• Whom do I have in heaven but you? O my soul sings! I love you Jesus. You are My Everything.

This I pray in the precious name of JESUS.

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT Colossians 2: 8 – 15

8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; 12 when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, 14 erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it.

Prayer for New Beginnings

Prepare our hearts, O' LORD. Please water the seeds of faith, which you have planted within us, so that we may become More than Conquerors!