Tag Archives: John

Spiritual growth begins with personal evangelism

Posted on January 16, 2014 by | Comments Off on Spiritual growth begins with personal evangelism

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Since the middle of December, I have prayed and asked God to send a personal revival into my life. Although I had rededicated my life to the Lord Jesus Christ in 2006, I felt that I had reached a point in my spiritual walk where I only had two choices: spiritual growth or spiritual stagnation.  Although I did accept the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior in 1988, I had become spiritually stagnant.  There was no spiritual growth and at times, I had little to no excitement about the things of God.  Having been there once already in my life, I have no wish to turn back to that way of life.

This morning, I read a familiar passage of scripture: And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (Revelation 3:14-18). Now while I realize that it is talking about a particular church/stage of church growth, there is also an application that can be made to the individual believer.  This particular teaching within the book of Revelation was not a new idea recorded by John but is a continuation of the teachings from the Lord Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry: No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (Luke 16:13).  The lukewarm church – and the lukewarm Christian – while still proclaiming love for Christ is also trying to appease the earthly desires of the flesh.

In December, I began praying for that personal revival, asking God to not only strengthen my walk with Him, but to allow me to become more passionate about my faith. I knew that I didn’t (and still don’t) want to become a lukewarm Christian; I never want to reach a point in my life where I am comfortable about who I am spiritually without any real wish to see further spiritual maturity. I’d much rather hear the Lord describe me as He did David, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will (Acts 13:22) than to have Him say So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth (Revelation 3:16). As I continued my personal Bible reading, I found great comfort in three verses I’ve probably read a few hundred times, When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek (Psalms 27:8), Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified (Psalms 40:16) and O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him (Psalms 34:8).  It’s not because I just discovered them for the first time – it is because I had come to the point that I was ready to listen to what the Lord, through His word, was trying to tell me.

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Posted in Chrisitian Philosophy, Christian Responsibility, Our relationship with God, Personal Evangelism

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Personal evangelism: it is that important

Posted on January 8, 2014 by | Comments Off on Personal evangelism: it is that important

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On Sunday, at my church’s morning worship service, Pastor Alan Ramsey delivered a message called, “Rediscovering our call to go” where he discusses some reasons why older Christians are reluctant to share the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. All through the service I thought of the verse, The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise (Proverbs 11:30). I have always found that verse interesting for several reasons but during yesterday’s message, I began it see this verse in a very different light. As I began drafting this devotional, I began thinking of all the people I came across in 2013 and asking myself a simple question: of all those that I met last year, which ones am I content to allow never to hear the gospel message – which people am I content to watch slide into a Christ-less eternity into Hell?

A few years back, I visited a church where the pastor was trying to encourage his congregation to witness to others.  He told them not to worry about those outside their comfort zone, but to focus on presenting the gospel to those who they felt most comfortable with.  Unfortunately this is not only unscriptural, this is also very bad advice for several other reasons. When Jesus gave the command to go, the book of Matthew records it as 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 28:19).  No where in this verse does it say to stay within one’s comfort group.  In fact, this verse says just the opposite – to teach all nations – not just the ones we have the most in common with.  This idea is also present in the gospel of Mark where the Great Commission is also recorded: And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). At the time of the writing of the gospels, the concept of a nation-state is not what it is today; a nation referred to what we would now consider as ethnic identity – so, we are to go and teach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to all people, regardless of their ethnic identity – a far cry from just witnessing within our comfort zone!

The fourth chapter of John has one of my favorite Bible stories. It is the woman at the well that, after admitting her sins, accepts the gift of salvation – the Living Water – Jesus offered her. Without any sort of Bible college training or even a Saturday soul winning seminar, she did what comes natural to anyone that has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior: The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him (John 4:28-30).  She wanted others to experience the saving grace of salvation that only the Lord Jesus Christ can bring. Without any thought of being embarrassed about what others would say or being rebuked by her family and friends, she simply went out and told others. As Jesus’ disciples questioned him for even speaking to the woman, he gave them a strong rebuke: Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together (John 4:35-36).

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Posted in Christian Responsibility, Discipleship, Personal Evangelism

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God’s absolute judgment

Posted on January 3, 2014 by | Comments Off on God’s absolute judgment

Gold Lady Justice, in Brugge, Belgium.

Across our nation, there is a statue that adorns many courthouses across the land – the statue, Lady Justice – is seen as being the perfect representation of the ideals of American jurisprudence. She is blindfolded, and in one hand holds up a balance, while holding a sword in the other. Our nation takes great pride in the dispensation of justice.  Phrases such as “justice is blind” and “equal protection under the law” are taught in nearly every high school civics class across the country.  Recently, I heard some people in my community talking about various local judges; one was considered a “good judge” because he was deemed as understanding, cared about people and always tried to find a way to give them a second chance.  The other judge was seen as evil, wicked and uncaring because he does not give second chances and always gives the criminal the harshest penalties that the law allows.

Just as the three people were discussing the implementation of man’s idea of justice, we have all come across people that try and view God’s implementation of justice in similar fashion.  The world (and some so-called “Christian” denominations) have the idea that God weighs your good and bad deeds and as long as your good deeds outweigh the bad, then you’ll get into Heaven.  This is far from the truth; in fact, Jesus taught against this very thing: And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions (Matthew 19:16-22).

Overall, this young man was what the world would be considered a decent, good man.  It was not his great deeds, his good and wholesome lifestyle, or even his great wealth that would keep him from eternal life.  The thing that would keep him from gaining eternal life was his lack of obedience and faith – the young man loved his wealth and the prestige and security that comes with it.  Instead of depending upon the Lord Jesus Christ and the promise that even the apostle Paul understood, But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19), this young man took great comfort in relying on his own works, his own hands, and his own understanding. He didn’t want to hear the teachings of Jesus: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:19-21).

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Posted in Christian Living, Our relationship with God, Standards

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