Here are two links to access a free printable salvation tract via Google Drive. One is in color and the other black and white.
The tract is two pages. Print double-sided and then fold into thirds.
Monday, November 28, 2016
Monday, November 21, 2016
When Your World Falls Apart, Rush to God
This is how I picture David's return with his men to Ziklag. The smell of fire was the first indication something was off, the city's unnatural quiet was the next. Dread settled in the heart of each man as they drew closer. Slivers of hope were crushed when it was confirmed the enemy had carried away their families. This was not just any enemy either. No, their families had been carried away by the Amalekites who King Saul had unsuccessfully attempted genocide against eighteen years earlier (I samuel 15) and David and his men had just slain (I Samuel 27:8-9). What kind of bitter hatred did the Amalekites harbor in their hearts toward the Israelites? In the face of staggering loss, the battle-hardened warriors broke down. Consumed by a tidal wave of grief, they wept until they had no more power to weep. I imagine loud guttural cries and deep heaving sobs, the wail of anguish, the sound of devastation. Eventually grief gave way to a call for action and David's men spoke of stoning him.
The enemy is precise with his timing. We have an excellent example in Job. Servant after servant delivered horrific news to Job the last conveying the death of his children. Now before David and his army ever arrived at Ziklag they were rejected by the Philistine princes and sent away from doing battle alongside them. After a three-day march home, David found Ziklag burned with fire and his precious wives kidnapped. He is consumed with grief and then betrayal as his men turn against him. Who will rescue his family if he is killed? Blow after blow comes his way. Had the future king ever been under more pressure? Yet, in the midst of this extreme turmoil, he encourages himself in the Lord. When his whole world comes crashing down, in the midst of overwhelming grief and unrest, David looks to God.
Encouraging ourselves in the Lord reminds us how powerful, glorious and awesome He is. Remembring the great things He has done on our behalf and others remind us of His faithfulness. God is good. He is our loving Father who protects, provides, and pulls us in close. We can absolutely trust He has very good things planned for us in the midst of very bad circumstances. The temporal may go to pieces but He has long-term goals in mind, spiritual blessings, that are worth so much more than anything this world has to offer. In the midst of devastation, we can lose sight of what is truly important but He never does, always wanting the very best for us.
After David encourages himself in the Lord he enquires of the Lord. This amazes me because David was an emotional man. Many of the Psalms he penned bear witness to his strong reactions. How easy it could have been to ride a tide of emotion and vengeance in pursuit of the enemy but he didn't. He could have crumbled under the immense pressure but that isn't what happened. David enquired of the Lord and the Lord answered yes, pursue the troop and everything will be restored to you.
I believe that because David sought God, he and his men were blessed with a supernatural strength. David and his army had just traveled three days and wept until they had no more power to weep. One-third of the army had to stay behind because they were too exhausted to continue, yet David and his men smote the Amalekites from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day. Isaiah 40:29-31 tells us that He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. When we place our trust in the Lord He will make provision for us. David recovered everything the Amalekites carried away and more. The enemy loves to make messes, but I have good news; our God has plans to use those messes to draw us closer. King David's son, King Solomon, wrote in Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Intimacy is increased when we trust God completely and He, in turn, directs us. His brush strokes become apparent across the canvas of our lives. Looking back we spot His fingerprints in the paint and know this story isn't ours alone, it's God's too.
When things shatter into pieces, this is when we need God the very most. His inviting arms are open. We can turn to our spouses or friends, eat our feelings or throw ourselves into the business of life but none of those things will bring restoration. They can bring relief but God provides healing. Do not confuse these two. The thing about relief is, it never lasts, you will have to find it over and over again. There is only One who can heal us. Psalm 147:3 says He healeath the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
When things shatter into pieces, this is when we need God the very most. His inviting arms are open. We can turn to our spouses or friends, eat our feelings or throw ourselves into the business of life but none of those things will bring restoration. They can bring relief but God provides healing. Do not confuse these two. The thing about relief is, it never lasts, you will have to find it over and over again. There is only One who can heal us. Psalm 147:3 says He healeath the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
God was so many things to David, his rock, fortress, high tower, strength and deliverer. He knew his help came from the Lord and that God was more than able to care for him. We need to find that place, where God is our everything, and our first reaction is to put our trust in Him. He will lead, guide, teach, provide, direct, protect and so much more. When our world falls apart we can trust, that though it is in pieces, it is also in God's very capable hands. I leave you with David's words. Psalm 71:3 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
Monday, November 14, 2016
Are They the One for Me?
Have you ever met someone and wondered if they were the one God had for you? When I was almost eighteen, a youth pastor (who we will call Drew) was hired to bus tables at one of the restaurants I worked at. At that time I didn’t wonder if he was the one because I wasn’t a Christian and didn’t want to date one. However, I did want to know more about Christianity so I asked Drew about the validity of the Bible and all sorts of questions about God. He had good answers and he lived out his faith which got my attention. For example, he wouldn’t wait tables because he refused to serve alcohol. Even though his denomination did not teach against social drinking, he didn’t want to cause anyone to stumble. Also, he always wore his seatbelt and drove the speed limit because he wanted to obey the laws of the land. He never condemned my actions, like cursing and smoking, but when I asked why he didn’t, he kindly told me that the Bible taught against both.
One night Drew invited me to a revival where I was saved. I quit cursing, smoking and asked for Sundays off at one of my restaurant jobs. I was fired, but I didn’t mind because going to church was important to me. I wish the story could end here, at a point in which Drew and I were both Christians. Unfortunately, after I got saved I decided that I liked him and maybe he was the one God had for me. We spent a lot of time alone together and eventually our friendship became more, which led to us kissing in his truck. We agreed it wouldn’t happen again but it did. The guilt and conviction we felt should have led us to repentance but instead it began to separate us from the Lord as we made our relationship more important than our respective relationships with God. At this point, I had only been a Christian for about four months and ended up backsliding. Drew didn’t handle it well. After we broke up he began letting down his standards and tried his hand at waiting tables. He spent more time snowboarding and playing video games, whereas before his spare time was spent praying and playing his guitar as he worshiped God. One of the last things I heard about Drew was that he was drinking at parties. We are no longer friends and I am not sure where he stands spiritually, though I hope he has come back to the Lord as I eventually did. All of this could have been avoided if we had avoided being alone together and had put God first.
If the person you are interested in is causing you to draw away from God, there is a good chance they are not the one for you. If you feel guilt and shame after you spend time with them, you need to stop and reevaluate. If you get angry and defensive when people approach you with warnings or reprimands, you are in a very dangerous place. Romantic relationships can be addictive as you find yourself wanting to spend all of your time either with them or thinking about them. However, you cannot let your relationship become a god. You have to keep God first or you will have regrets. If you look at the woman in Proverbs 5:3-5 as a representation of lust you will see that, although she looks enticing, she brings death and destruction; much like a fishing lure crafted to entice a fish will lead to that fish being gutted, roasted and then devoured. The enemy has come to steal kill and destroy. Do not let him use you as a fishing lure to hurt the one you claim to love. If you are not willing to heed this advice for yourself do it for the one you plan to marry. Commit to keeping them safe and pure because they may not recover if you fail.
Lust is not like burning your hand on a hot stove where there is an immediate and painful response to your action. No, rather lust is like poison ivy that you run around in and then find the next day that there are repercussions. Eve and Adam gave into the lust of their eyes and they paid the price of spiritual death. Don’t see how close you can get to the tree because much like magnets, the closer you get, the closer you will want to be. God has created people in such a way that as they draw together emotionally they desire to draw together physically. This is a blessing inside of marriage but it can be a curse outside of it if you do not take precautions.
I want to take a moment here to state that failing with someone before marriage doesn’t mean you have to marry them. Do not let a bad mistake lead you to a lifelong mistake. Who you marry is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. It will determine the course of your life and the lives of any children you have. Get back to the place where God is sovereign in your life so you can find His will for such a momentous decision. I understand that you may feel overcome with the regret and shame that comes with sin. But the longer you keep your sin hidden the more damage it will do. Nothing compares to being surrendered to God. Bring your works to the light, confess your sin (James 5:16 and I John 1:9) and let God help you deal with the fallout. He will have mercy and will bring healing. Over and over again in the Bible we can see that it is people’s response to hide from God when they have sinned and the devil will certainly encourage you to do so. However, God is calling you back because He loves you and desires your redemption. Jesus gives a picture of our Heavenly Father‘s heart in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:10-32). He is scanning the hills for your return and you will be received with love and restoration.
David was anointed to be King long before he became King. However, if he had acted before God’s time it would have caused trouble. You may believe that God has chosen you to be _______’s future spouse. But if you act like their spouse before you take a covenant with them, it will lead to trouble. Ask yourself if you mind someone else touching your future spouse in the way you feel comfortable touching them. If the answer is no, you need to stop because you aren’t their spouse yet even if you intend to be. Drew and I were going to get married. We had plans and we were certain, yet it never came to pass. I don’t know of one married couple in the church who wishes they had pushed their boundaries more. No, they wish they had been more chaste and pure because they understand something that you will once you are married. No one should have ever touched your spouse like the covenant relationship allows, which includes you, before you take that covenant. The idea that it is acceptable to push physical boundaries with the one you are planning to marry is a trick of the devil. Your marriage is not certain until the covenant has been taken. James 4:14-15 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life: It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
In I Corinthians 13 amongst other things we are told charity suffereth long and seeketh not her own. In other words, love is patient and isn’t selfish. If you really love the one that you are in a relationship with you will uphold their reputation. You will not put them in a situation where others will question their purity. You will not give an opportunity for them to be vulnerable to temptation. You will not initiate or encourage any physical contact that God does not condone outside of marriage. You will wait upon the Lord and His timing so that you can start your marriage with purity and without regrets, the way He intends.
When I met Chris, the man who now is my husband, we both desired to keep God first. I can tell you that our relationship has drawn me closer to God and I now see that true love is not what I had with Drew, where we pushed boundaries and ended up destroying one another spiritually. True love is what I have with Chris, a relationship where God is kept at the center, which is His rightful place.
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Praise God
God has done great things in me over the course of my life. He has transformed me in ways I never could have imagined. He has taken things I may have wanted to keep and brought things I didn't know I needed. I am so glad that He is the potter and I am the clay. He is truly the author of my faith and thankfully, He is also the finisher.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
He that winneth souls is wise. Proverbs 11:30
LEARNING TO BE AN EFFECTIVE WITNESS
At one of my previous jobs I got to take part in a brief class about training others. We were told that the most common reason for poor morale and production was the lack of proper training. So my greatest hope is to train you so that you will feel prepared and confidant the next time God moves on you to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with one of the people He died to save. Witnessing can seem overwhelming at times because we make ourselves vulnerable when we share our faith. But just as Jesus was willing to give all He had for each of us we must be willing to give of ourselves to see others saved. This booklet is meant to be a help and encouragement to witness. I hope to offer practical effective ways to share the Gospel with the lost.
With Authority
When witnessing it is tempting to use phrases like I think or I believe but when we do, it sounds as though we are stating an opinion. “All people everywhere will either go to heaven or hell when they die.” is not an opinion, it is the truth no matter how many people do not believe it to be so. We want to witness with authority as the apostles did, declaring the truth of God. No matter the reaction or response from the person you are speaking with, their conscience and spirit will bear witness to Bible truths. In short, witness with authority and certainty. I Corinthians 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
In Meekness
I Peter 3:15 it says 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: I was told by a wise minister in the church that when they preached they wanted to act in a way that would enable the Holy Ghost to move freely and I believe the best way to do that is to imitate Him. The Holy Ghost in a perfect gentleman, he invites people to change but he never forces them too. We want to have that same attitude. No amount of pushing or prodding on our parts will do any good. But fervent prayer, fasting, and meekness, that allow the Lord to do His work, will.
With Power
Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Jesus gave The Church great power to witness, power that can cast out unclean spirits and heal all manner of disease. Acts 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. God also has given us the Holy Ghost. Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Paul bears witness to this fulfillment of scripture in I Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. God’s power and Holy Ghost were not just for that generation but for our generation as well.
Overcoming Witnessing Obstacles
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Rom 12:21
Overcoming the Flesh
Don’t argue with someone or try to prove that “I’m right”. We need to show that we are RIGHTEOUS, not just RIGHT. No amount of persuasion can cause rebirth. We must stay in the Spirit and avoid the flesh. Spend time in prayer before going out to witness. Pray for the right words and for God to prepare the heart of the one you will be speaking to. When God leads you to someone, you’ll be amazed at how God is already working in that person’s life. Jesus did all of the hard work to purchase salvation and now the Holy Ghost is doing the work of preparing hearts. Our part is only to share the truth…not pound it in.
Overcoming Hesitation
Don’t put off to tomorrow what the Spirit is leading you to do today. We should be “instant in season” (II Timothy 4:2) and realize that “behold, now is the day of salvation.” If we wait we may never see that person again or their hearts may never be as ready to receive The Word. God, who knows all things, knows when the time is right. If it wasn’t the time, He wouldn’t be prompting your heart to witness. A prayed up heart enables you to be sensitive and instantly obedient to the Holy Ghost when He sends you someone to witness to.
Overcoming Distractions
Don’t easily allow distractions to hinder your witness like loud noises, people walking by, or a variety of other things. Stay focused on the topic at hand and maintain eye contact. Nothing is more important than the message of Jesus Christ. You may also be distracted by topics that are not essential to salvation. If you find that you are off topic and the discussion is not going anywhere try to redirect it back to the Gospel.
Overcoming CHRISTIAN-ESE
As we grow in the Lord and spend several hours in church a week we become very familiar with terms that the world has never heard of or may have a separate meaning for. Many people may not know what “saved” means and may not know what they need to be “saved from”. It is good to use Biblical terms, just be sure to define what they mean and ask the person you are talking to if they understand what you are talking about. Just because a person is nodding in agreement does not mean that they necessary agree with you or understand what you are saying.
Overcoming Anxiety
It is normal to feel nervous when approaching a stranger. But remember that the stranger has to stand before God one day and give an account of their life. Imagine how happy they will be if they have accepted Jesus’ sacrifice and now get to go to heaven. Also, imagine the fear and dread they will feel if they have not. Jesus said in John 3:18 that “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Remember when you witness, the Holy Ghost will be there convicting the sinner and comforting the saint. Sometimes we forego that comfort because we do not ask God for it and sometimes even though we ask He withholds it so we will lean on Him. In those times we must decide that a soul is more important than our discomfort. Witnessing is just like anything else in life, practice makes perfect.
Overcoming Judgmental Attitude
God commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus loves each sinner just as much as He loves His Saints. He loved the lost enough to die for them. Let us in turn love them enough to tell them. We must not judge who is worthy of salvation. People come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from a variety of backgrounds, and Jesus died to save them all. Who a person is before they get saved is not what qualifies them for salvation. God does not look down from heaven and search for the most holy because there are no holy sinners. God looks down from heaven and draws all types of different people to Jesus in hopes that they will respond to Godly sorrow with repentance. This is why we must respond to the prompting of God in who we witness to. The next time you see someone who is poor or dressed unseemly let compassion and love be your response. People in the world are trapped in their sins and only the Lord can free them. Do not put the cart before the horse and refuse to witness to people you deem to be unworthy. Also see: Luke 6:37, John 7:24, James 2:2-17
Overcoming Discouragement
The Devil can discourage us when our efforts seem to be in vain. When witnessing, it is so exciting to see someone get saved but it does not happen very often. At least that has been my experience and others that I have talked to that witness often. God is doing a work in every single person all over the world that encompasses their entire life. A few minutes conversation or even an hour or two is just a small piece to a large puzzle. Be content with sharing the puzzle piece God would have you share. It may be the final one that leads to salvation or it may be among the first. Remember what Paul said about himself and another minister, I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. (I Corinthians 3:6) Also, in John 6:44 the Bible says that No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: So do not feel that you have failed if you never see anyone you witness to get saved. You are called to plant seeds and share the Gospel, God will take care of the rest.
Be Prepared
There are several ways to share the Gospel of Christ and you will want to be ready. Now I do not want you to get me wrong here. You do not need to spend X amount of time studying before you will be ready to share the Gospel. In fact if you are saved you are ready. If you just got saved ten minutes ago you are ready. Go and share what God has done for you. There are several instances in the New Testament where people were delivered and immediately praised God and shared what God had done with those around them. But, the Bible does say “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Timothy 2:15) You should also memorize scriptures pertaining to salvation. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
Salvation Scriptures To Study and Learn
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but he gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 3:10-11 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is non other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
I Corinthians 6:9-10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The Incredible Worth of a Soul
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
God did not withhold His Son, but rather God the Father sent His only begotten Son to die for each of our sins. Even if the lost never accept that sacrifice Jesus still took their sins upon Himself, what an act of unconditional love.
Romans 5:8 says that God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus loved each of us long before we loved Him and He died for us when we were yet sinners.
The Time is Short
Even if the rapture is yet a hundred years off the time is short because none of us know when we will die. Some of us are on this earth for seventy years or more and some of us are only here for a few years. Death is more often unexpected than not. Some of the people you see as you go about your daily routine may only have a day or mere hours left. In John 4:35 Jesus states 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.
Look for Opportunities: “And of some have compassion, making a difference”
We are to be like Jesus and to “seek and to save that which was lost.” And to invited others to…
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Psa 34:8
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Isa 55:1
Witnessing should always be on our mind and we should seek opportunities to present the gospel. We can use the “Conversational Approach” to start a conversation and then turn the conversation toward the Gospel.
Opportunities all around us. You may see that the checkout lady may be having a bad day. You could ask her if she has a need you can pray for. This conversation can lead to an invitation to your church, your testimony, the need of a personal Saviour. One man gave his trash men tracts with seven dollars inside each one. He said he appreciated them and wanted to buy them lunch.
ü What about your beautician, your landlord, your neighbor that is mowing their yard?
ü What about long lines such at the DMV and the bank on a bad day?
ü What about lonely people in hospitals or in the retirement homes?
ü What about play places at McD’s or the mall to talk with parents/grandparents while the kids are busy?
ü What about the gas station attendant, the UPS man, mechanic or your co-workers?
During a garage sale a Children's Church teacher and her class gave away FREE water on a hot summer day. Some people could hardly believe it was free and this led to opportunities to witness. The children were living out the scripture: Matthew 10:42, "And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward”. This idea is great for youth groups at special city events.
The Bad News and The Good News
All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; (Isaiah 64:6) and God will by no means clear the guilty (Numbers 14:18) In other words, we have sinned against a perfect Holy God, there is nothing we can do to make it up to Him and the wages of sin is death;. (Romans 6:23) but God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)
Sharing Your Testimony
A good way to witness is sharing your testimony. All salvation experiences have several things in common. The first is Godly sorrow. As the Holy Ghost convicts us of our sins we feel guilty before God and are filled with a Godly sorrow. We then respond to Godly sorrow with repentance as we confess to God that we have sinned against Him. In humility we then ask for forgiveness. God cleanses us from our sins and we experience the new Spiritual birth. In sharing your testimony you can clearly show someone why they too are in need of a savior. Go over your testimony mentally or write it down on paper so that when you share it with a non-believer you will be able to share it in a way that will make them see their own need for salvation.
With Fear
In Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Hebrews 10:31 says It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Unfortunately a lot of people have lost their fear of God through false teaching. They are taught that God tolerates their sins and that a loving God would not send anyone to hell. So to save with fear we must open people’s eyes to their guilt before God. The Bible says that we are enemies of God and deserve His wrath before salvation. So how do we convince people of this? The answer is found in the law because the transgression of the law is sin. I John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. When people realize they have sinned against a Holy God and are guilty before Him they will be moved to repentance.
The Carnal Mind
Romans 8:7 states “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be.” Enmity is defined as deep rooted hatred. If we were to try to change someone’s mind we might reason with them as Paul did with many Jews and Gentiles. But since there is enmity between the carnal mind and God we may also try another way. Romans 2:13-15 For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thought the mean while accusing or else excusing one another; Although a sinner’s mind may be at odds with God, they have the law written in their hearts and their conscience also bears witness to the law. So you see, the carnal mind is outnumbered by the heart and conscience so you must learn how to speak to your allies using the law.
The Law
Psalm 19:7 states The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: and Galatians 3:24 states Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. We can see from these two passages that the law converts the soul and brings us unto Christ. So what is the law? Well we find a clue in Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Thou shalt not covet is the tenth commandment. Another clue can be found in Romans 13:8-9 Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet: and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Again Paul speaks of the law and then quotes from the ten commandments. If you measure anyone against the Ten Commandments they will fall short and realize their sin.
The Ten Commandments
Thou shalt have none other gods before me.
Romans 3:10-12 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. We have all put other gods before the one true God.
Thou shalt not make thee any graven image and thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them:
In America idol worship is not common. But you can have an idol without the graven image. That idol is what is most important to you and usually what you spend the most time thinking about. You can be your own idol or it can be someone else, or perhaps a sport, hobby or object like a car. It is whatever you base your life around.
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
It is very common in our culture to hear God’s name used in anger or to express disgust. It is also flipantly used to express surprise or disbelief. God does not take this lightly. Exodus 20:7 says for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
I do not know of a person who has set every Sunday apart for the Lord
Honour thy father and thy mother.
In our culture parental disrespect is the norm. It can be seen in T.V. shows and in the general attitude American youth have toward their elders. But God commands us to honour our father and mother and in Colossians children are commanded to obey them in all things.
Thou shalt not kill.
I John 3:15 states “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
In Matthew 5:28 Jesus says “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.“
Thou shalt not steal.
God commands us not to steal. That means even small things, like candy, or change, or a test question. I Corinthians 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Thou shalt not bear false witness (lie) against thy neighbor.
It does not take a ten lies or even a hundred lies to make a person a liar, just one lie even a “white lie” makes a person a liar. Revelation 21:8 states But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shat not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
Coveting is the first step to many sins. Desiring what is not ours will leave us with an adulterous and idolatrous heart. God wants us to be content and faithful with what we have. Remember in I Corinthians 6:10 not only are thieves mentioned as those who will not inherit the kingdom of God but the covetous as well.
Some may say that they have only broken one of the commandments but James tells us in chapter 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one pint, he is guilty of all.
When you take this into consideration it is Romans 3:23 becomes very clear
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
When witnessing it is exhaustive to go over all Ten Commandments but by just going over a few you can show people that they are guilty before God. In our culture it is very common for people to lie, steal, and use the Lord’s name in vain without a second thought. When people realize that they are guilty before God and have broken His law they will be much more receptive to the good news that Jesus was sacrificed for their sins and remember that their conscience and the law written on their hearts will be on your side ad will the Holy Ghost. John 16:7-8 Jesus says Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: The word reprove can be defined as convince. The Holy Ghost convinces men of their sin. So you see the carnal mind is greatly outnumbered as you share God’s law with the unbeliever. When a sinner realizes that they are guilty before God the next step is for you to share the consequences of their sin.
Death: Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We know that all men die weather they are a sinner or a saint, so what death is this scripture talking about? It is referring to the second death, which is referenced in Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And again in Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. We can see from these scriptures that the wicked, those who have never accepted Jesus as their savior, will receive their recompense. Each of us are deserving of hell but those of us who have accepted Jesus’ provision will have no part of it. Revelation 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. And Revelation 20:6 says Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. John 3:36 states He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. From the scriptures in this section we can glean that without Jesus we will inherit the second death and that the wrath of God abides on us. There are also many scriptures, some of which I cited when expounding upon the Ten Commandments that clearly state that liars, thieves, and blasphemers will not inherit the kingdom of God but rather a lake of fire. You do not have to quote all of these scriptures to them. Just a few will clearly show what the Bible teaches about this subject.
When people see their guilt before God and their just reward for their sin they are then ready for the good news of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for their sins. The good news that 2000 years ago Jesus was born of a virgin. He lived a perfect life free from sin and then died on a cross as a sacrifice in our place so that we might be saved from sin and hell. II Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Or in other words Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. So you see the wages of sin is death so Christ died for us and now we are free to receive eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. We had a debt we could not pay so He paid a debt He did not owe.
Gods’ Power: Matthew 28:18-20
We see in Matthew 28:18-20 that Jesus equips the apostles and then sends them forth. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” My purpose in putting this packet together was to help equip you to witness but you have already been given the greatest equipment through your inheritance in Jesus Christ. You have access to His power go ye therefore.
At one of my previous jobs I got to take part in a brief class about training others. We were told that the most common reason for poor morale and production was the lack of proper training. So my greatest hope is to train you so that you will feel prepared and confidant the next time God moves on you to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with one of the people He died to save. Witnessing can seem overwhelming at times because we make ourselves vulnerable when we share our faith. But just as Jesus was willing to give all He had for each of us we must be willing to give of ourselves to see others saved. This booklet is meant to be a help and encouragement to witness. I hope to offer practical effective ways to share the Gospel with the lost.
With Authority
When witnessing it is tempting to use phrases like I think or I believe but when we do, it sounds as though we are stating an opinion. “All people everywhere will either go to heaven or hell when they die.” is not an opinion, it is the truth no matter how many people do not believe it to be so. We want to witness with authority as the apostles did, declaring the truth of God. No matter the reaction or response from the person you are speaking with, their conscience and spirit will bear witness to Bible truths. In short, witness with authority and certainty. I Corinthians 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
In Meekness
I Peter 3:15 it says 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: I was told by a wise minister in the church that when they preached they wanted to act in a way that would enable the Holy Ghost to move freely and I believe the best way to do that is to imitate Him. The Holy Ghost in a perfect gentleman, he invites people to change but he never forces them too. We want to have that same attitude. No amount of pushing or prodding on our parts will do any good. But fervent prayer, fasting, and meekness, that allow the Lord to do His work, will.
With Power
Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Jesus gave The Church great power to witness, power that can cast out unclean spirits and heal all manner of disease. Acts 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. God also has given us the Holy Ghost. Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Paul bears witness to this fulfillment of scripture in I Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. God’s power and Holy Ghost were not just for that generation but for our generation as well.
Overcoming Witnessing Obstacles
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Rom 12:21
Overcoming the Flesh
Don’t argue with someone or try to prove that “I’m right”. We need to show that we are RIGHTEOUS, not just RIGHT. No amount of persuasion can cause rebirth. We must stay in the Spirit and avoid the flesh. Spend time in prayer before going out to witness. Pray for the right words and for God to prepare the heart of the one you will be speaking to. When God leads you to someone, you’ll be amazed at how God is already working in that person’s life. Jesus did all of the hard work to purchase salvation and now the Holy Ghost is doing the work of preparing hearts. Our part is only to share the truth…not pound it in.
Overcoming Hesitation
Don’t put off to tomorrow what the Spirit is leading you to do today. We should be “instant in season” (II Timothy 4:2) and realize that “behold, now is the day of salvation.” If we wait we may never see that person again or their hearts may never be as ready to receive The Word. God, who knows all things, knows when the time is right. If it wasn’t the time, He wouldn’t be prompting your heart to witness. A prayed up heart enables you to be sensitive and instantly obedient to the Holy Ghost when He sends you someone to witness to.
Overcoming Distractions
Don’t easily allow distractions to hinder your witness like loud noises, people walking by, or a variety of other things. Stay focused on the topic at hand and maintain eye contact. Nothing is more important than the message of Jesus Christ. You may also be distracted by topics that are not essential to salvation. If you find that you are off topic and the discussion is not going anywhere try to redirect it back to the Gospel.
Overcoming CHRISTIAN-ESE
As we grow in the Lord and spend several hours in church a week we become very familiar with terms that the world has never heard of or may have a separate meaning for. Many people may not know what “saved” means and may not know what they need to be “saved from”. It is good to use Biblical terms, just be sure to define what they mean and ask the person you are talking to if they understand what you are talking about. Just because a person is nodding in agreement does not mean that they necessary agree with you or understand what you are saying.
Overcoming Anxiety
It is normal to feel nervous when approaching a stranger. But remember that the stranger has to stand before God one day and give an account of their life. Imagine how happy they will be if they have accepted Jesus’ sacrifice and now get to go to heaven. Also, imagine the fear and dread they will feel if they have not. Jesus said in John 3:18 that “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Remember when you witness, the Holy Ghost will be there convicting the sinner and comforting the saint. Sometimes we forego that comfort because we do not ask God for it and sometimes even though we ask He withholds it so we will lean on Him. In those times we must decide that a soul is more important than our discomfort. Witnessing is just like anything else in life, practice makes perfect.
Overcoming Judgmental Attitude
God commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus loves each sinner just as much as He loves His Saints. He loved the lost enough to die for them. Let us in turn love them enough to tell them. We must not judge who is worthy of salvation. People come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from a variety of backgrounds, and Jesus died to save them all. Who a person is before they get saved is not what qualifies them for salvation. God does not look down from heaven and search for the most holy because there are no holy sinners. God looks down from heaven and draws all types of different people to Jesus in hopes that they will respond to Godly sorrow with repentance. This is why we must respond to the prompting of God in who we witness to. The next time you see someone who is poor or dressed unseemly let compassion and love be your response. People in the world are trapped in their sins and only the Lord can free them. Do not put the cart before the horse and refuse to witness to people you deem to be unworthy. Also see: Luke 6:37, John 7:24, James 2:2-17
Overcoming Discouragement
The Devil can discourage us when our efforts seem to be in vain. When witnessing, it is so exciting to see someone get saved but it does not happen very often. At least that has been my experience and others that I have talked to that witness often. God is doing a work in every single person all over the world that encompasses their entire life. A few minutes conversation or even an hour or two is just a small piece to a large puzzle. Be content with sharing the puzzle piece God would have you share. It may be the final one that leads to salvation or it may be among the first. Remember what Paul said about himself and another minister, I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. (I Corinthians 3:6) Also, in John 6:44 the Bible says that No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: So do not feel that you have failed if you never see anyone you witness to get saved. You are called to plant seeds and share the Gospel, God will take care of the rest.
Be Prepared
There are several ways to share the Gospel of Christ and you will want to be ready. Now I do not want you to get me wrong here. You do not need to spend X amount of time studying before you will be ready to share the Gospel. In fact if you are saved you are ready. If you just got saved ten minutes ago you are ready. Go and share what God has done for you. There are several instances in the New Testament where people were delivered and immediately praised God and shared what God had done with those around them. But, the Bible does say “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Timothy 2:15) You should also memorize scriptures pertaining to salvation. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
Salvation Scriptures To Study and Learn
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but he gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 3:10-11 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is non other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
I Corinthians 6:9-10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The Incredible Worth of a Soul
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
God did not withhold His Son, but rather God the Father sent His only begotten Son to die for each of our sins. Even if the lost never accept that sacrifice Jesus still took their sins upon Himself, what an act of unconditional love.
Romans 5:8 says that God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus loved each of us long before we loved Him and He died for us when we were yet sinners.
The Time is Short
Even if the rapture is yet a hundred years off the time is short because none of us know when we will die. Some of us are on this earth for seventy years or more and some of us are only here for a few years. Death is more often unexpected than not. Some of the people you see as you go about your daily routine may only have a day or mere hours left. In John 4:35 Jesus states 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.
Look for Opportunities: “And of some have compassion, making a difference”
We are to be like Jesus and to “seek and to save that which was lost.” And to invited others to…
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Psa 34:8
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Isa 55:1
Witnessing should always be on our mind and we should seek opportunities to present the gospel. We can use the “Conversational Approach” to start a conversation and then turn the conversation toward the Gospel.
Opportunities all around us. You may see that the checkout lady may be having a bad day. You could ask her if she has a need you can pray for. This conversation can lead to an invitation to your church, your testimony, the need of a personal Saviour. One man gave his trash men tracts with seven dollars inside each one. He said he appreciated them and wanted to buy them lunch.
ü What about your beautician, your landlord, your neighbor that is mowing their yard?
ü What about long lines such at the DMV and the bank on a bad day?
ü What about lonely people in hospitals or in the retirement homes?
ü What about play places at McD’s or the mall to talk with parents/grandparents while the kids are busy?
ü What about the gas station attendant, the UPS man, mechanic or your co-workers?
During a garage sale a Children's Church teacher and her class gave away FREE water on a hot summer day. Some people could hardly believe it was free and this led to opportunities to witness. The children were living out the scripture: Matthew 10:42, "And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward”. This idea is great for youth groups at special city events.
The Bad News and The Good News
All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; (Isaiah 64:6) and God will by no means clear the guilty (Numbers 14:18) In other words, we have sinned against a perfect Holy God, there is nothing we can do to make it up to Him and the wages of sin is death;. (Romans 6:23) but God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)
Sharing Your Testimony
A good way to witness is sharing your testimony. All salvation experiences have several things in common. The first is Godly sorrow. As the Holy Ghost convicts us of our sins we feel guilty before God and are filled with a Godly sorrow. We then respond to Godly sorrow with repentance as we confess to God that we have sinned against Him. In humility we then ask for forgiveness. God cleanses us from our sins and we experience the new Spiritual birth. In sharing your testimony you can clearly show someone why they too are in need of a savior. Go over your testimony mentally or write it down on paper so that when you share it with a non-believer you will be able to share it in a way that will make them see their own need for salvation.
With Fear
In Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Hebrews 10:31 says It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Unfortunately a lot of people have lost their fear of God through false teaching. They are taught that God tolerates their sins and that a loving God would not send anyone to hell. So to save with fear we must open people’s eyes to their guilt before God. The Bible says that we are enemies of God and deserve His wrath before salvation. So how do we convince people of this? The answer is found in the law because the transgression of the law is sin. I John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. When people realize they have sinned against a Holy God and are guilty before Him they will be moved to repentance.
The Carnal Mind
Romans 8:7 states “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be.” Enmity is defined as deep rooted hatred. If we were to try to change someone’s mind we might reason with them as Paul did with many Jews and Gentiles. But since there is enmity between the carnal mind and God we may also try another way. Romans 2:13-15 For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thought the mean while accusing or else excusing one another; Although a sinner’s mind may be at odds with God, they have the law written in their hearts and their conscience also bears witness to the law. So you see, the carnal mind is outnumbered by the heart and conscience so you must learn how to speak to your allies using the law.
The Law
Psalm 19:7 states The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: and Galatians 3:24 states Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. We can see from these two passages that the law converts the soul and brings us unto Christ. So what is the law? Well we find a clue in Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Thou shalt not covet is the tenth commandment. Another clue can be found in Romans 13:8-9 Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet: and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Again Paul speaks of the law and then quotes from the ten commandments. If you measure anyone against the Ten Commandments they will fall short and realize their sin.
The Ten Commandments
Thou shalt have none other gods before me.
Romans 3:10-12 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. We have all put other gods before the one true God.
Thou shalt not make thee any graven image and thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them:
In America idol worship is not common. But you can have an idol without the graven image. That idol is what is most important to you and usually what you spend the most time thinking about. You can be your own idol or it can be someone else, or perhaps a sport, hobby or object like a car. It is whatever you base your life around.
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
It is very common in our culture to hear God’s name used in anger or to express disgust. It is also flipantly used to express surprise or disbelief. God does not take this lightly. Exodus 20:7 says for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
I do not know of a person who has set every Sunday apart for the Lord
Honour thy father and thy mother.
In our culture parental disrespect is the norm. It can be seen in T.V. shows and in the general attitude American youth have toward their elders. But God commands us to honour our father and mother and in Colossians children are commanded to obey them in all things.
Thou shalt not kill.
I John 3:15 states “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
In Matthew 5:28 Jesus says “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.“
Thou shalt not steal.
God commands us not to steal. That means even small things, like candy, or change, or a test question. I Corinthians 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Thou shalt not bear false witness (lie) against thy neighbor.
It does not take a ten lies or even a hundred lies to make a person a liar, just one lie even a “white lie” makes a person a liar. Revelation 21:8 states But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shat not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
Coveting is the first step to many sins. Desiring what is not ours will leave us with an adulterous and idolatrous heart. God wants us to be content and faithful with what we have. Remember in I Corinthians 6:10 not only are thieves mentioned as those who will not inherit the kingdom of God but the covetous as well.
Some may say that they have only broken one of the commandments but James tells us in chapter 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one pint, he is guilty of all.
When you take this into consideration it is Romans 3:23 becomes very clear
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
When witnessing it is exhaustive to go over all Ten Commandments but by just going over a few you can show people that they are guilty before God. In our culture it is very common for people to lie, steal, and use the Lord’s name in vain without a second thought. When people realize that they are guilty before God and have broken His law they will be much more receptive to the good news that Jesus was sacrificed for their sins and remember that their conscience and the law written on their hearts will be on your side ad will the Holy Ghost. John 16:7-8 Jesus says Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: The word reprove can be defined as convince. The Holy Ghost convinces men of their sin. So you see the carnal mind is greatly outnumbered as you share God’s law with the unbeliever. When a sinner realizes that they are guilty before God the next step is for you to share the consequences of their sin.
Death: Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We know that all men die weather they are a sinner or a saint, so what death is this scripture talking about? It is referring to the second death, which is referenced in Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And again in Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. We can see from these scriptures that the wicked, those who have never accepted Jesus as their savior, will receive their recompense. Each of us are deserving of hell but those of us who have accepted Jesus’ provision will have no part of it. Revelation 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. And Revelation 20:6 says Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. John 3:36 states He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. From the scriptures in this section we can glean that without Jesus we will inherit the second death and that the wrath of God abides on us. There are also many scriptures, some of which I cited when expounding upon the Ten Commandments that clearly state that liars, thieves, and blasphemers will not inherit the kingdom of God but rather a lake of fire. You do not have to quote all of these scriptures to them. Just a few will clearly show what the Bible teaches about this subject.
When people see their guilt before God and their just reward for their sin they are then ready for the good news of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for their sins. The good news that 2000 years ago Jesus was born of a virgin. He lived a perfect life free from sin and then died on a cross as a sacrifice in our place so that we might be saved from sin and hell. II Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Or in other words Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. So you see the wages of sin is death so Christ died for us and now we are free to receive eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. We had a debt we could not pay so He paid a debt He did not owe.
Gods’ Power: Matthew 28:18-20
We see in Matthew 28:18-20 that Jesus equips the apostles and then sends them forth. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” My purpose in putting this packet together was to help equip you to witness but you have already been given the greatest equipment through your inheritance in Jesus Christ. You have access to His power go ye therefore.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Gentle Breeze
A gentle breeze flows through the trees
As my mind fills with memories
Of the life I lived in slavery
Before I was reborn
Never happy, never free
Lost in chains I could not see
I needed you so desperately
But I was all alone
There was no where for me to go
I had not future and no hope
There was no place to call my home
I was truly lost
So many tears I never cried
So empty deep inside
I just wanted to run and hide
But you can’t hide from yourself
Just then You came to rescue me
Break the chains I could not see
You showed me what it meant to be
Alive for the first time
At a place called Calvary
You brought me down to my knees
And there you set the captive free
And opened up my eyes
You are my future and my hope
You are my fortress and my home
And I will never be alone
Because You died for me
So though I lived in slavery
And with that comes old memories
As the gentle breeze flows through the trees
I smile, because I am reborn
As my mind fills with memories
Of the life I lived in slavery
Before I was reborn
Never happy, never free
Lost in chains I could not see
I needed you so desperately
But I was all alone
There was no where for me to go
I had not future and no hope
There was no place to call my home
I was truly lost
So many tears I never cried
So empty deep inside
I just wanted to run and hide
But you can’t hide from yourself
Just then You came to rescue me
Break the chains I could not see
You showed me what it meant to be
Alive for the first time
At a place called Calvary
You brought me down to my knees
And there you set the captive free
And opened up my eyes
You are my future and my hope
You are my fortress and my home
And I will never be alone
Because You died for me
So though I lived in slavery
And with that comes old memories
As the gentle breeze flows through the trees
I smile, because I am reborn
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
The Mundane
I have a few thoughts whirling about my head and so I thought I would come here and write them out. I have been wondering what truly loving God looks like. So I decided to first look at how God loves us and the greatest example of His love was the crucifixion. These are the three scriptures that popped out at me.
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
He loved us when we didn't deserve it.
Matthew 26:39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
He also loved us when He didn't feel like it.
So how do I apply this to myself? God always deserves my love. But there are honestly times when it is easier to love God than others. When God delivers me from a trial, when He blesses me materially or spiritually, when I can feel His presence, it is easy to get past the flesh and love God and praise Him. It is hardest for me to love God in the mundane ordinary times. God loves me the same no matter what I do and it is my goal to love God that way as well. To love Him because He is not because of what He has done in my life. I never really understood the song "Just Because You Are" because the scripture says in
I John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
But now when I sing that song it will mean that I love God for who He is not because of how He has blessed me. I will love Him in whatsoever state and I will love Him in all seasons. So how do I show Him my love? After reading Matthew 6 I think that by giving in secret, praying in secret, forgiving others and trusting God to provide for me I show Him I love Him. What has always intrigued me about Christianity is the close relationship the Lord offers. I want to be closer than ever before and love Him just because He is.
Just Because You Are
Just because You are forever I will praise You
Just because You are I will glorify Your name
Just because You are I lay my life before You
and Father I adore You just because You are
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
He loved us when we didn't deserve it.
Matthew 26:39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
He also loved us when He didn't feel like it.
So how do I apply this to myself? God always deserves my love. But there are honestly times when it is easier to love God than others. When God delivers me from a trial, when He blesses me materially or spiritually, when I can feel His presence, it is easy to get past the flesh and love God and praise Him. It is hardest for me to love God in the mundane ordinary times. God loves me the same no matter what I do and it is my goal to love God that way as well. To love Him because He is not because of what He has done in my life. I never really understood the song "Just Because You Are" because the scripture says in
I John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
But now when I sing that song it will mean that I love God for who He is not because of how He has blessed me. I will love Him in whatsoever state and I will love Him in all seasons. So how do I show Him my love? After reading Matthew 6 I think that by giving in secret, praying in secret, forgiving others and trusting God to provide for me I show Him I love Him. What has always intrigued me about Christianity is the close relationship the Lord offers. I want to be closer than ever before and love Him just because He is.
Just Because You Are
Just because You are forever I will praise You
Just because You are I will glorify Your name
Just because You are I lay my life before You
and Father I adore You just because You are
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