Thursday, November 19, 2009

CAN YOU IMAGINE!!!

This is a very true and real message for the church today. The deliver is different, but the message is still the same. Wake up and take this walk seriously. It's time to walk upright before God and stop taking for granted the work of the cross!

On the Holy Spirit

Sermon 141 156
On the Holy Spirit 157
“Now the Lord is that Spirit.”
2 Cor. 3:17.

The Apostle had been showing how the gospel ministry was superior to that of the law: The
time being now come when types and shadows should be laid aside, and we should be invited to
our duty by the manly and ingenuous motives of a clear and full revelation, open and free on God’s
part, and not at all disguised by his ambassadors. But what he chiefly insists upon is, not the manner,
but the subject of their ministry: “Who hath made us able ministers,” saith he, “of the New
Testament: Not of the letter, but of the Spirit: For the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.” Here
lies the great difference between the two dispensations: That the law was indeed spiritual in its
demands, requiring a life consecrated to God in the observance of many rules; but, not conveying
spiritual assistance, its effect was only to kill and mortify man, by giving him to understand, that
he must needs be in a state of great depravity, since he found it so difficult to obey God; and that,
as particular deaths were by that institution inflicted for particular sins, so death, in general, was
but the consequence of his universal sinfulness. But the ministration of the New Testament was
that of a “Spirit which giveth life;” — a Spirit, not only promised, but actually conferred; which
should both enable Christians now to live unto God, and fulfil precepts even more spiritual than
the former; and restore them hereafter to perfect life, after the ruins of sin and death. The incarnation,
preaching, and death of Jesus Christ were designed to represent, proclaim, and purchase for us this
gift of the Spirit; and therefore says the Apostle, “The Lord is that Spirit,” or the Spirit.

156 [text from the 1872 edition]
157 Preached at St. Mary’s, Oxford, on Whitsunday, 1736.
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This description of Christ was a proper inducement to Jews to believe on him; and it is still a
necessary instruction to Christians, to regulate their expectations from him. But [we] think this age
has made it particularly necessary to be well assured what Christ is to us: When that question is so
differently resolved by the pious but weak accounts of some pretenders to faith on one hand, and
by the clearer, but not perfectly Christian, accounts of some pretenders to reason on the other:
While some derive from him a “righteousness of God,” but in a sense somewhat improper and
figurative; and others no more than a charter of pardon, and a system of morality: While some so
interpret the gospel, as to place the holiness they are to be saved by in something divine, hut exterior
to themselves; and others, so as to place it in things really within themselves, but not more than
human. Now, the proper cure of what indistinctness there is one way, and what infidelity in the
other, seems to be contained in the doctrine of my text: “The Lord is that Spirit.”
In treating of which words, I will consider,
I. The nature of our fall in Adam; by which it will appear, that if “the Lord” were not “that
Spirit,” he could not be said to save or redeem us from our fallen condition.
II. I will consider the person of Jesus Christ; by which it will appear that “the Lord is that Spirit.”
And,
III. I will inquire into the nature and operations of the Holy Spirit, as bestowed upon Christians.
I. I am to consider the nature of our fall in Adam.
Our first parents did enjoy the presence of the Holy Spirit; for they were created in the image
and likeness of God, which was no other than his Spirit. By that he communicates himself to his
creatures, and by that alone they can bear any likeness to him. It is, indeed, his life in them; and so
properly divine, that, upon this ground, angels and regenerate men are called his children.
But when man would not be guided by the Holy Spirit, it left him. When be would be wise in
his own way, and in his own strength, and did not depend in simplicity upon his heavenly Father,
the seed of a superior life was recalled from him. For he was no longer fit to be formed into a
heavenly condition, when he had so unworthy a longing for, or rather dependence upon, an earthly
fruit, which he knew God would not bless to him; no longer fit to receive supernatural succours,
when he could not be content with his happy state towards God, without an over-curious examination
into it.
Then he found himself forsaken of God, and left to the poverty, weakness, and misery of his
own proper nature. He was now a mere animal, like unto other creatures made of flesh and blood,
but only possessed of a larger understanding; by means of which he should either be led into greater
absurdities than they could be guilty of, or else be made sensible of his lost happiness, and put into
the right course for regaining it; that is, if he continued a careless apostate, he should love and
admire the goods of this world, the adequate happiness only of animals; and, to recommend them
and dissemble their defects, add all the ornament to them that his superior wit could invent. Or else
(which is indeed more above brutes, but no nearer the perfection of man as a partaker of God, than
the other) he should frame a new world to himself in theory; sometimes by warm imaginations,
and sometimes by cool reasonings, endeavour to aggrandize his condition and defend his practice,
or at least divert himself from feeling his own meanness and disorder.
If, on the other hand, he should be willing to find out the miseries of his fall, his understanding
might furnish him with reasons for constant mourning, for despising and denying himself; might
point out the sad effects of turning away from God and losing his Spirit, in the shame and anguish
of a nature at variance with itself; thirsting after immortality, and yet subject to death; approving
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righteousness, and yet taking pleasure in things inconsistent with it; feeling an immense want of
something to perfect and satisfy all it faculties, and yet neither able to know what that mighty thing
is, otherwise than from its present defects, nor how to attain it, otherwise than by going contrary
to its present inclinations.
Well might Adam now find himself naked; nothing less than God was departed from him. Till
then he had experienced nothing but the goodness and sweetness of God; a heavenly life spread
itself through his whole frame, as if he were not made of dust; his mind was filled with angelic
wisdom; a direction from above took him by the hand; he walked and thought uprightly, and seemed
not to be a child or novice in divine things. But now he had other things to experience; something
in his soul that he did not find, nor need to fear, while he was carried on straight forward by the
gentle gale of divine grace; something in his body that he could not see nor complain of; while that
body was covered with glory. He feels there a self-displeasure, turbulence, and confusion; such as
is common to other spirits who have lost God: He sees here causes of present shame and a future
dissolution; and a strong engagement to that grovelling life which is common to animals that never
enjoyed the divine nature.
The general character, therefore, of man’s present state is death, — a death from God, whereby
we no longer enjoy any intercourse with him, or happiness in him; we no longer shine with his
glory, or act with his powers. It is true, while we have a being, “in him we must live, and move,
and have our being;” but this we do now, not in a filial way, but only in a servile one, as all, even
the meanest creatures, exist in him. It is one thing to receive from God an ability to walk and speak,
eat and digest, — to be supported by his hand as a part of this earthly creation, and upon the same
terms with it, for farther trial or vengeance; and another, to receive from him a life which is his
own likeness, — to have within us something which is not of this creation, and which is nourished
by his own immediate word and power.
Yet this is not the whole that is implied in man’s sin. For he is not only inclined himself to all
the sottishness of appetite, and all the pride of reason, but he is fallen under the tutorage of the evil
one, who mightily furthers him in both. The state he was at first placed in, was a state of the most
simple subjection to God, and this entitled him to drink of his Spirit; but when he, not content to
be actually in Paradise, under as full a light of God’s countenance as he was capable of; must know
good and evil, and be satisfied upon rational grounds whether it was best for him to be as he was,
or not; when, disdaining to be directed as a child, he must weigh every thing himself; and seek
better evidence than the voice of his Maker and the seal of the Spirit in his heart; then he not only
obeyed, but became like to, that eldest son of pride, and was unhappily entitled to frequent visits,
or rather a continued influence, from him. As life was annexed to his keeping the command, and,
accordingly, that Spirit, which alone could form it unto true life, dwelt in his body; so, being
sentenced to death for his transgression, he was now delivered unto “him who has the power of
death, that, is, the devil,” whose hostile and unkindly impressions promote death and sin at once.
This being the state of man, if God should send him a Redeemer, what must that Redeemer do
for him? Will it he sufficient for him to be the promulgator of a new law, — to give us a set of
excellent precepts? No: If we could keep them, that alone would not make us happy. A good
conscience brings a man the happiness of being consistent with himself; but not that of being raised
above himself into God; which every person will find, after all, is the thing he wants. Shall he be
the fountain of an imputed righteousness, and procure the tenderest favour to all his followers? This
is also not enough. Though a man should be allowed to be righteous, and be exempt from all
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Sermons on Several Occasions John Wesley
punishment, yet if he is as really enslaved to the corruptions of nature, as endued with these privileges
of redemption, he can hardly make himself easy; and whatever favour he can receive from God,
here or hereafter, without a communication of himself; it is neither the cure of a spirit fallen, nor
the happiness of one reconciled. Must not then our Redeemer be (according to the character which
St. John, his forerunner, gave of him) one that “baptizeth with the Holy Ghost,” — the Fountain
and Restorer of that to mankind, whereby they are restored to their first estate, and the enjoyment
of God? And this is a presumptive argument that “the Lord is that Spirit.”
II. But it will appear more plainly that he is so, from the Second thing proposed; which was the
consideration of the person of Jesus Christ.
He was one to whom “God gave not the Spirit by measure: but in him dwelt all the fulness of
the Godhead bodily; and of his fulness we have all received, and grace for grace.” Indeed, all the
communications of the Godhead, which any creatures could receive, were always from him as the
Word of God; but all that mankind now in an earthly state were to receive, must be from him by
means of that body, at first mortal, like unto theirs, and then glorious “in the likeness of God,”
which he took upon him for their sake.
In the beginning, the heavenly Word, — being a Spirit that issued from the Father, and the
Word of his power, — made man an image of immortality, according to the likeness of the Father;
but he who had been made in the image of God, afterwards became mortal, when the more powerful
Spirit was separated from him. To remedy this, the Word became Man, that man by receiving the
adoption might become a son of God once more; that the light of the Father might rest upon the
flesh of our Lord, and come bright from thence unto us; and so man, being encompassed with the
light of the Godhead, might be carried into immortality. When he was incarnate and became man,
he recapitulated in himself all generations of mankind, making himself the centre of our salvation,
that what we lost in Adam, even the image and likeness of God, we might receive in Christ Jesus.
By the Holy Ghost coming upon Mary, and the power of the highest overshadowing her, the
incarnation or Christ was wrought, and a new birth, whereby man should be born of God, was
shown; that as by our first birth we did inherit death, so by this birth we might inherit life.
This is no other than what St. Paul teaches us: “The first man, Adam, was made a living soul,
but the Second Adam was made a quickening spirit.” All that the first man possessed of himself,
all that he has transmitted to us, is “a living soul;” a nature endued with an animal life, and receptive
of a spiritual. But the Second Adam is, and was made to us, “a quickening spirit;” by a strength
from him as our Creator, we were at first raised above ourselves; by a strength from him as our
Redeemer, we shall again live unto God.
In him is laid up for us that supplement to our nature, which we shall find the need of sooner
or later; and that it cannot be countervailed by any assistance from the creatures, or any improvement
of our own faculties: For we were made to be happy only in God; and all our labours and hopes,
while we do not thirst after our deified state, — to partake as truly of God as we do of flesh and
blood, to be glorified in his nature, as we have been dishonoured in our own, — are the labours
and hopes of those who utterly mistake themselves.
The divine wisdom knew what was our proper consolation, though we did not. What does more
obviously present itself in the Saviour of the world, than an union of man with God? — an union
attended with all the propriety of behaviour that we are called to, as candidates of the Spirit; such
as walking with God in singleness of heart, perfect self-renunciation, and a life of sufferings, —
an union which submitted to the necessary stages of our progress; where the divine life was hid,
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for the most part, in the secret of the soul till death; in the state of separation, comforted the soul,
but did not raise it above the intermediate region of Paradise; at the resurrection, clothed the body
with heavenly qualities, and the powers of immortality; and at last raised it to the immediate presence
and right hand of the Father.
Christ is not only God above us; which may keep us in awe, but cannot save; but he is Immanuel,
God with us, and in us. As he is the Son of God, God must be where he is; and as he is the Son of
man, he will be with mankind; the consequence of this is, that in the future age “the tabernacle of
God will be with men,” and he will show them his glory; and, at present, he will dwell in their
hearts by faith in his Son.
I hope it sufficiently appears, that “the Lord is that Spirit. Considering what we are, and what
we have been, nothing less than the receiving that Spirit again would be redemption to us; and
considering who that heavenly person was that was sent to be our Redeemer, we can expect nothing
less from him.
III. I proceed now to the Third thing proposed, viz., to inquire into the nature and operations
of the Holy Spirit, as bestowed upon Christians.
And here I shall pass by the particular extraordinary gifts vouchsafed to the first ages for the
edification of the Church and only consider what the Holy Spirit is to every believer, for his personal
sanctification and salvation. It is not granted to every one to raise the dead, and heal the sick. What
is most necessary is, to be sure, as to ourselves, that we are “passed from death unto life;” to keep
our bodies pure and undefiled, and let them reap that health which flows from a magnanimous
patience, and the serene joys of devotion. The Holy Spirit has enabled men to speak with tongues,
and to prophesy; but the light that most necessarily attends it is a light to discern the fallacies of
flesh and blood, to reject the irreligious maxims of the world, and to practice those degrees of trust
in God and love to men, whose foundation is not so much in the present appearances of things, as
in some that are yet to come. The object which this light brings us most immediately to know is
ourselves; and by virtue of this, one that is born of God, and has a lively hope may indeed see far
into the ways of Providence, and farther yet into the holy Scriptures; for the holy Scriptures,
excepting some accidental and less necessary parts, are only a history of that new man which he
himself is; and Providence is only a wise disposal of events for the awakening of particular persons,
and ripening the world in general for the coming of Christ’s kingdom.
But I think the true notion of the Spirit is, that it is some portion of, as well as preparation for,
a life in God, which we are to enjoy hereafter. The gift of the Holy Spirit looks full to the
resurrection; for then is the life of God completed in us.
Then, after man has passed through all the penalties of sin, the drudgery and vanity of human
life, the painful reflections of an awakened mind, the infirmities and dissolution of the body, and
all the sufferings and mortifications a just God shall lay in his way; when, by this means, he is come
to know God and himself, he may safely be entrusted with true life, with the freedom and ornaments
of a child of God; for he will no more arrogate anything to himself. Then shall the Holy Spirit be
fully bestowed, when the flesh shall no longer resist it, but be itself changed into an angelical
condition, being clothed upon with the incorruption of the Holy Spirit; when the body which, by
being born with the soul, and living through it, could only be called an animal one, shall now
become spiritual, whilst by the Spirit it rises into eternity.
Everything in Christianity is some kind of anticipation of something that is to be at the end of
the world. If the Apostles were to preach by their Master’s command, “that the kingdom of God
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Sermons on Several Occasions John Wesley
drew nigh;” the meaning was, that from henceforth all men should fix their eyes on that happy
time, foretold by the Prophets, when the Messiah should come and restore all things; that by
renouncing their worldly conversation, and submitting to the gospel institution, they should fit
themselves for, hasten, that blessing. “Now are we the sons of God,” as St. John tells us; and yet
what he imparts to us at present will hardly justify that title, without taking in that fulness of his
image which shall then be displayed in us, when we shall be “the children of God, by being the
children of the resurrection.”
True believers, then, are entered upon a life, the sequel of which they know not; for it is “a life
hid with Christ in God.” He, the forerunner, hath attained the end of it, being gone unto the Father;
but we can know no more of it than appeared in him while he was upon earth. And even that, we
shall not know but by following his steps; which if we do, we shall be so strengthened and renewed
day by day in the inner man, that we shall desire no comfort from the present world through a sense
of “the joy set before us;” though, as to the outward man, we shall be subject to distresses and
decays, and treated as the offscouring of all things.
Well may a man ask his own heart, whether it is able to admit the Spirit of God. For where that
divine Guest enters, the laws of another world must be observed: The body must be given up to
martyrdom, or spent in the Christian warfare, as unconcernedly as if the soul were already provided
of its house from heaven; the goods of this world must be parted with as freely, as if the last fire
were to seize them to-morrow; our neighbour must be loved as heartily as if he were washed from
all his sins, and demonstrated to be a child of God by the resurrection from the dead. The fruits of
this Spirit must not be mere moral virtues, calculated for the comfort and decency of the present
life; but holy dispositions, suitable to the instincts of a superior life already begun.
Thus to press forward, whither the promise of life calls him, — to turn his back upon the world,
and comfort himself in God, — every one that has faith perceives to be just and necessary, and
forces himself to do it: Every one that has hope, does it gladly and eagerly, though not without
difficulty; but he that has love does it with ease and singleness of heart.
The state of love, being attended with “joy unspeakableand full of glory,” with rest from the
passions and vanities of man, with the integrity of an unchangeable judgment, and an undivided
will, is, in a great measure, its own reward; yet not so as to supersede the desire of another world.
For though such a man, having a free and insatiable love of that which is good, may seldom have
need formally to propose to himself the hopes of retribution, in order to overcome his unwillingness
to his duty; yet surely he must long for that which is best of all; and feel a plain attraction towards
that country in which he has his place and station already assigned him; and join in the earnest
expectation of all creatures, which wait for the manifestation of the sons of God. For now we obtain
but some part of his Spirit, to model and fit us for incorruption, that we may, by degrees, be
accustomed to receive and carry God within us; and, therefore, the Apostle calls it, “the earnest of
the Spirit;’ that is, a part of that honour which is promised us by the Lord. If, therefore, the earnest,
abiding in us, makes us spiritual even now, and that which is mortal is, as it were, swallowed up
of immortality; how shall it be when, rising again, we shall see him face to face? when all our
members shall break to forth into songs of triumph, and glorify Him who hath raised them from
the dead, and granted them everlasting life? For if this earnest or pledge, embracing man into itself,
makes him now cry, “Abba, Father;” what shall the whole grace of the Spirit do, when, being given
at length to believers, it shall make us like unto God, and perfect us through the will of the Father?
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And thus I have done what was at first proposed: I have considered the nature of our fall in
Adam; the person of Jesus Christ; and the operations of the Holy Spirit in Christians.
The only inference I will draw from what has been said, and principally from the account of
man’s fall, shall be, the reasonableness of those precepts of self-denial, daily suffering, and
renouncing the world, which are so peculiar to Christianity, and which are the only foundation
whereon the other virtues, recommended in the New Testament, can be practised or attained, in the
sense there intended.
This inference is so natural, that I could not help anticipating it in some measure all the while.
One would think it should be no hard matter to persuade a creature to abhor the badges of his
misery; to dislike a condition or mansion which only banishment and disgrace have assigned him;
to trample on the grandeur, refuse the comforts, and suspect the wisdom of a life whose nature it
is to separate him from his God.
Your Saviour bids you “hate your own life.” If you ask the reason, enter into your heart, see
whether it be holy, and full of God; or whether, on the other hand, many things that are contrary
to him are wrought there, and it is become a plantation of the enemy. Or, if this is too nice an
inquiry, look upon your body. Do you find there the brightness of an angel, all the vigour of
immortality? If not, be sure your soul is in the same degree of poverty, nakedness, and absence
from God. It is true, your soul may sooner he re-admitted to some rays of the light of God’s
countenance, than your body can; but if you would take any step at all towards it, to dislike your
present self must be the first.
You want a reason why you should renounce the world. Indeed you cannot see the prince of it
walking up and down,
“seeking whom he may devour;” and you may be so far ignorant of his devices, as not to know
that they take place, as well in the most specious measures of business and learning, as in the wildest
pursuits of pleasure. But this, however, you cannot but see, that the world is not still a paradise of
God, guarded and ennobled with the light of glory; it is, indeed, a place where God has determined
he will not appear to you at best, but leave you in a state of hope, that you shall see his face when
this world is dissolved.
However, there is a way to rescue ourselves, in great measure, from the ill consequences of our
captivity; and our Saviour has taught us that way. It is by suffering. We must not only “suffer many
things,” as he did, and so enter into our glory; but we must also suffer many things, that we may
get above our corruption at present, and enjoy the Holy Spirit.
The world has no longer any power over us, than we have a quick relish of its comforts; and
suffering abates that. Suffering is, indeed, a direct confutation of the pretences which the flattering
tempter gains us by: For I am in human life; and if that life contains such soft ease, ravishing
pleasure, glorious eminence, as you promise, why am I thus? Is it because I have not yet purchased
riches to make me easy, or the current accomplishments to make me considerable. Then I find that
all the comfort you propose is by leading me off from myself; but I will rather enter deep into my
own condition, bad as it is: Perhaps I shall be nearer to God, the Eternal Truth, in feeling sorrows
and miseries that are personal and real, than in feeling comforts that are not so. I begin already to
find that all my grievances centre in one point: There is always at the bottom one great loss or
defect, which is not the want of friends or gold, of health or philosophy. And the abiding sense of
this may possibly become a prayer in the ears of the Most High; — a prayer not resulting from a
set of speculative notions, but from the real, undissembled state of all that is within me; nor, indeed,
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so explicit a prayer as to describe the thing I want, but, considering how strange a want mine is, as
explicit a one as I can make. Since, then, suffering opens me a door of hope, I will not put it from
me as long as I live: It helps me to a true discovery of one period of my existence, though it is a
low one; and bids fairer for having some connexion with a more glorious period that may follow,
than the arts of indulgence, the amusements of pride and sloth, and all the dark policy of this world,
which wage war with the whole truth, that man must know and feel, before he can look towards
God. It may be, while I continue on the cross, I shall, like my Saviour, put off “principalities and
powers;” recover myself more and more from the subjection I am indeed in (which he only seemed
to be) to those wicked rulers, and to “triumph over them in it.” At least, it shall appear, in the day
when God shall visit, that my heart, though grown unworthy of his residence, was too big to be
comforted by any of his creatures; and was kept for him, as a place originally sacred, though for
the present unclean.
But supposing that our state does require of us to “die daily,” — to sacrifice all that this present
life can boast of, or is delighted with, before we give up life itself; supposing also, that in the hour
we do somewhat of this kind, we receive light and strength from God, to grow superior to our
infirmities, and are carried smoothly towards him in the joy of the Holy Ghost; yet how can a man
have such frequent opportunities of suffering? Indeed, martyrdoms do not happen in every age,
and some days of our lives may pass without reproaches from men; we may be in health, and not
want food to eat and raiment to put on; (though health itself, and nutrition itself, oblige us to the
pain of a constant correction of them;) yet still, the love of God and heavenly hope will not want
something to oppress them in this world.
Let a man descend calmly into his heart, and see if there be no root of bitterness springing up;
whether, at least, his thoughts, which are ever in motion, do not sometimes sally out into projects
suggested by pride, or sink into indolent trifling, or be entangled in mean anxiety. Does not he find
a motion of anger, or of gaiety, leavening him in an instant throughout; depriving him of the
meekness and steady discernment he laboured after? Or, let him but conceive at any time, that
unfeigned obedience, and watchful zeal, and dignity of behaviour, which, is suitable, I do not say
to an angel, but to a sinner that has “a good hope through grace,” and endeavour to work himself
up to it; and if he find no sort of obstacle to this within him, he has indeed then no opportunity of
suffering. In short, if he is such an abject sort of creature, as will, unless grace should do him a
perpetual violence, relapse frequently into a course of thinking and acting entirely without God;
then he can never want occasions of suffering, but will find his own nature to he the same burden
to him, as that “faithless and perverse generation” was to our Saviour, of whom he said, “How long
shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you?”
I will conclude all with that excellent Collect of our Church: — “O God, who in all ages hast
taught the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit; grant us by
the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort,
through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of
the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.”

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

A Message from the creater of the Anointing of the

Holy Spirit Ministries Food Basket August 04th, 2009.

Personal explanation of why and purpose of this ministry here in the Durham Region and GTA.

So that the viewer would have a better understanding of this message through a video.

Monday, November 16, 2009

DECEMBER FLYER 2009

http://www.scribd.com/doc/22638787/December-Flyer

Monday, November 9, 2009

A CHRISTIAN CHRISTMAS MESSAGE!!!

Custom Twitter Backgrounds

THE SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS

- by Del "Abe" Jones

There's music of the holidays
Playing on the radio -
There's Christmas decorations
Almost everywhere you go.

The Salvation Army bells
Ring out for the poor -
The "Ho,ho." of Santa Claus
In the department stores.

Carolers sing Christmas songs -
Going, house to house -
Tales about, where no one stirs
Not even, a mouse.

Hoofbeats in fresh fallen snow
Pulling, an open sleigh -
Children asking Mom and Dad
"Is Santa on his way?"

Cracklin' from the fireplace -
Roasting chestnuts 'neath the coals -
The soft murmur of prayers
Said, for the lost souls.

Friends and family gather
To toast, Christmas cheer -
There's sounds of angels singing
(If, you really want to hear.

The sounds of Christmas, fill the air
As we celebrate His birth -
Wishing joy, to all mankind
And peace to all on earth.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Make A Difference Movie

http://www.makeadifferencemovie.com/org01/

Lords Payer Movie

http://www.lordsprayermovie.com

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

PHPBBPLANET HOLYSPIRT PRAYER FORUM

ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT MINISTRIES

http://www.phpbbplanet.com/holysprit/index.php?mforum=holysprit

Sunday, November 1, 2009

AUDIO BIBLE STUDY

Signs of the Times ~ Audio Bible Study
Scriptures by audio of the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
Turn on your speakers and let us now walk with God.
If you wish open your Bible and read along.

http://www.ordination.org/New/audio.htm

If you are searching for a better understanding of our God I encourage you to do study and read the above mentioned link as I am very sure it will answer many of your questions and give you answers that you are missing because of curiosity and lack of understanding because of not knowing his message to each and everyone of us.

Isaiah

Song Of Solomon

Chapter 11-12 http://www.ordination.org/Bible_Study/Eccl-11-12.mp3

Song of Solomon: http://www.ordination.org/Bible_Study/SS-01.mp3

http://www.ordination.org/Bible_Study/SS-02.mp3 http://www.ordination.org/Bible_Study/SS-03.mp3 http://www.ordination.org/Bible_Study/SS-04.mp3 http://www.ordination.org/Bible_Study/SS-05.mp3 http://www.ordination.org/Bible_Study/SS-06.mp3 http://www.ordination.org/Bible_Study/SS-07.mp3 http://www.ordination.org/Bible_Study/SS-08.mp3

Friday, October 30, 2009

ECCLESIASTES:

PROVERBS:

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

MATERIALISM

Related Bible Verses

1 John 2:16
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Luke 12:15
And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Ecclesiastes 12:13
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

1 Timothy 6:9-10
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Mark 4:18-19
And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Hebrews 2:15
And deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Luke 16:19-31
“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. ...

Luke 16:1-31
He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ ...

Matthew 27:3-5
Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.

Revelation 21:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

2 Peter 3:5
For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God,

Hebrews 2:14
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

John 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Mark 16:16
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Matthew 25:46
And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

2 Samuel 17:23
When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and went off home to his own city. He set his house in order and hanged himself, and he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.

Genesis 3:19
By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
HelpfulNot Helpful
Genesis 2:7
Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

Genesis 2:1-25
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, ...

Genesis 1:1-31
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. ...

1 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.

2 Thessalonians 1:8
In flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

1 Corinthians 15:47
The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.

Romans 12:1
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Romans 10:9
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 8:19-22
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

Romans 1:20
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Acts 23:8
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

Acts 22:16

And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

Acts 4:12
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 2:38
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Genesis 1:26
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

People and Places

Finding someone to share Christ with is not a problem as there are lost people everywhere. I can witness anywhere in America and it is the same. The Holy Spirit will convict and people will come to Christ. Pray and see where you should witness. I would recommend that you try many different types of environments or settings. Parks, sidewalks, homes, malls, and fast food restaurants are all excellent places to witness. You will be surprised that many of the people you encounter will come to know Christ.

An excellent way for you to become comfortable with areas that you are witnessing in is to visit these areas several times before you witness. Pray in these areas as you visit them. I spend much time driving and walking through areas of poverty until I become comfortable in these areas. I changed my driving routes in town and drive through all areas to become familiar with different surroundings. The Lord seemed to be leading me to do this and it was so interesting to see how it has helped me. As you drive and visit these areas, you will see so many needs. Pray for those that may not know how to pray for themselves. Become familiar with unfamiliar surroundings.

Door To Door Evangelism

I take most people that I train door to door in the communities where their church is located. Door to door evangelism is one of the most difficult types of witnessing. However, it will produce decisions for Christ while making the community aware that your church cares. Be sure not to have too many people go to one door. Divide into groups as you go out and agree on a time and a place to meet back. Some doors will not open when you knock on them and others may slam as people are frustrated with you disturbing their privacy at their home. It is a little more difficult to witness to people in their own homes. However, I would highly recommend that you learn and experience door to door evangelism. You will see souls saved, whole families come to Christ, and many Christians currently not attending church find their way to your local church. Be sure and remind a new convert to be water baptized and this oftentimes leads them to attend your church.

You will speak to many Christians as you knock on doors. Be sure to not try to influence someone established in another church to attend your church. Our efforts should be that of evangelism and not to recruit people from other churches. I simply want to see people in a Christian church of their choice. It is more important that people attend any Christian church than a specific church. This type of unity with other churches will produce results and be received by the religious community as you evangelize areas. Too often, I have seen criticism of those who go door to door by other churches if witnessing teams try to direct other congregations to their church. Let's look for the lost and those who do not attend church and focus on them. Be sure and keep record of the homes that you have visited and the results learned from the visitation. You may use your records in the future to revisit the doors of the lost.

One afternoon we were going door to door in a city and saw a Laotian man standing in his yard watering his lawn. Several of us approached him and we began to make friends with him. We were so thankful that he could understand English. He had been heavily influenced by eastern religions and knew nothing about what we spoke. I saw an old dog walking across the street. I said, "Do you see that dog? Should a car run over him, his life is gone forever. However, should you get run over that is not the end of your life. We were made to live forever." The man leaped with joy and said, "I knew I was more than that dog. I knew! I knew! I knew!"

I went on to explain that God had written a book called the Bible and he took it from my hand and began to read. He sat down in the middle of his yard and read the scriptures that I had shown him. For once in his life he had found what he was looking for. He had found hope. That day in the middle of his yard we led him to Christ. I was so excited to see his expression to know that he would live forever in a place called heaven.

We went on down the street door to door and met many other people along that street. We witnessed for several hours and came back by this man's home as we walked to the church. He was still sitting in the middle of his yard reading his new Bible. Oftentimes you will see that God does such a deep work in the life of an individual. Our witness that day was not dynamic or special. We simply shared the basic truths of the Word and the whole time it seemed that God was speaking to his heart and knew what he needed to hear. He found hope and an opportunity to read the Words of his Creator to know what life in Christ is.

Fast Food Restaurants

Witnessing in fast food restaurants is so exciting and can be explosive. As we witness in a restaurant, we often see two or more people come to Christ at the same time. You need to be kind, avoid any debates and don't be pushy. If you are pushy or disturb people, you will be asked to leave by the manager or challenged by the person you are speaking to. I often will purchase a soda or food before I witness. As a patron of the restaurant, I have a right to be there. We are often so welcomed that people come to us for stickers and WWJD bracelets. Many times people will ask us for Christian materials and not even know Christ. It is in this kind of atmosphere that many will come to Christ. The atmosphere seems to be spiritually charged with the witness of Christ. As you witness you will see God move sovereignly as He wishes. We have seen many lost people find Christ in seconds as we witness in restaurants. I hope you enjoy the next example where a class we trained in California experienced witnessing in a restaurant.

I went to a beautiful church at Nipoma, California to teach a group from two different churches on how to witness in the streets. As I approached the platform to speak, I looked up at the pulpit and it just did not seem comfortable to me. I stepped down from the platform and told the group that the step would be my curb and the carpet would be my street. You see, I am more comfortable in the streets than in churches. I have spent so much time in the streets that it has become my church. Once again, I shared my heart with the people. I was so excited to see the tears from many that listened. It is the tears that are released from the heart. Certainly God was sharing His love for the lost of their community.

I was shocked to see so many hands go up when I asked how many wanted to go to the streets with me to witness. We prayed for the city and departed for a McDonald's located near the church. As I was leaving toward the restaurant I was reminded how difficult my ministry would seem. I am always a spectator and must wait to see what God is going to do in the lives of those we encounter. All those who had just listened to what God does in the streets were now ready to see lives changed. I remembered when I was on the plane on the way there praying, "God, you must move! The people of California are expecting you to begin a work in the streets." It seems that God spoke to my heart and said, "That is my responsibility and yours is to go." My ministry is totally dependent on the Holy Spirit to protect our lives and to convict and save souls.

At McDonald's, we stepped out of our vehicle, walked less than ten feet, and spoke to a lady by the pay phones. The young lady's name was Genese. The witness was so moving and yet was so typical. In response to questions about her relationship with Christ she said, "I pray. I pray everyday." Oh, I hear this so often! I asked her if she knew Christ and if He was in her heart. She said, "I believe in Him." I pursued the witness a little further and asked her if she was living for Christ. She was lost and without Christ. The witness and the Holy Spirit had brought her to a point of conviction. She only knew of Christ. We shared the scriptures from Romans 10:9-10 and she quickly came back to Christ. Within less than a minute someone had already found Christ. God is so good!

We went into McDonald's and before I could sit down, a customer called me to their table. I knew God was about to do something again. He was moving so quickly. I call these events explosions in the spirit when God is moving. I have seen this happen so many times in the streets. Sometimes it happens quicker than we can imagine. So I pulled up a chair and seated myself at the end of their table. I said to the family seated, "What's up?" They were curious about the orange sticker on my shirt. I told them it was a Jesus sticker and gave them one. I gave the children WWJD bracelets and simply tried to be friends with this family that showed an interest in my sticker. I have had gang members before ask what was in the bag I was carrying. It was so neat when I showed them it was Bibles and often they would come to Christ when I witness to them. Certainly God can stir someone's curiosity. Surely God looked down and arranged it for me to be at this table. I looked over my shoulder and the group from the church were seated around me at the nearby tables. They expected God to move and He did.

As all looked and watched I asked a young girl at the table about her relationship with Christ and she had fallen away from Him. God had already started working on her life and she quickly came back to Christ. Her name was Alyssa. I had new friends in California and another person came to Christ. Since the time we drove into the parking lot, less than ten minutes had passed and two people were now saved. Praise God! He was moving in the midst of all of those that watched.

Next, I told the pastor that the Holy Sprit was leading me to two people and I would like for him to assist me. I showed the pastor the lady that he was leading me to. I thought that we would miss her before we could reach her. She was at the register paying for her gas at the station adjoining McDonald's. We stood outside and waited. She then went to the payphone and we waited. Finally, she walked by us and we had an opportunity to speak to her. It seems her credit card was rejected and she now had time to wait and speak to us. She was waiting on a relative to pay for her gas.

We asked her several questions about her relationship with Christ. She was raised in a denomination that did not know Christ and had recently chose not to follow this doctrine. She seemed to be ready for a personal relationship with Christ. We showed her the scriptures and she came to know Christ. Her name was Regnal. Praise the Lord for that day she had chosen Christ. She then asked for the name of a church that she could attend. Now I introduced her to the pastor standing next to me. The pastor began to share with Regnal and immediately shared with her more about Christ. It seemed that Regnal enjoyed meeting with the pastor and accepted an invitation to visit his church. What a joy to have many from the church and the pastors in the streets as we witness!

We had one more person to speak to now. It was the cashier. We spoke to her and she was lost. She knew she needed to come to Christ. It seemed that before we could finish a sentence, another customer came to the register. We presented our witness a sentence at a time. In the midst of all of this, God still moved. We did not have an opportunity to pray, but I introduced her to the pastor. We agreed that he would come back at another time when things were not so busy and pray with her to lead her to Christ. Yes, this was most unusual but God moved.

It was now the end of our witness and we were excited about what God had done. I was glad that all had an opportunity to see the moving of the Holy Spirit in the lives of people in a restaurant setting.

Sidewalks and Streets

Witnessing on sidewalks and in the streets is my favorite type of witnessing. When you encounter someone on the sidewalk, they are out of their surroundings and more likely to respond.

Never allow fear to have a place in your witness. While you may be in a new area, remember you are there for the most important reason on this earth. You are there to share Christ and should not be afraid or ashamed.

Romans 1
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

One night I was witnessing along the sidewalks and areas of a park when someone told me a story that I will never forget. The young men we were talking to were identified with gang. Whether they were gang members or not, no one knows. They were glad to see that we were bold about our witness to be in the park and alleys at night. They told us the story about a white van that occasionally drives into the park and throws tracts at them from the van window. The gang kid said, "I guess they feel better now." Could it be the kids in the van throwing tracts out at people felt they were fulfilling the great commission to share the Gospel. Your witness will never be effective if it is not personal and mixed with love for all people.

On another night in the same park a man was riding a bicycle along a road in the park. I said something to the man and he stopped. As I extended my hand to his I noticed how white his hand was. It seemed to have powder on it. I then saw his face as I was reaching for his hands. His eyes were so tired and his nose had powder going down from it all the way to his shirt. I then knew he had been shoving cocaine into his nose before I met him. I knew that moment how filthy that hand was since it was covered with drugs and fluids from his nose. However, I would not let that stop me from taking his hand and greeting him. I shook his hand and told him that God loves him and I care about people and wanted to share a message with him. His name was Charles.

He was ready to receive the message of Christ and prayed with me that night. I will always remember the man with the cocaine hand. I saw him from time to time in our city and he carried his small new testament everywhere he went. Late one night I was at a gas station witnessing and he came up to me and said, "Do you remember me?" I said, "Charles, is that you?" He was so happy and changed so dramatically that I almost didn't even recognize him. He looked like a different person now. He was so thrilled that I remembered his name. I learned that sometime later Charles died and I knew that God had arranged for me to meet Charles that night. What if I had not taken that filthy hand in the park that night? Would Charles have found Christ? I believe that God loved Charles so much that He sent His Son to die on a cross for his sins—just as He did for you. Never look at the conditions of lives as you minister. Let God use you to minister to all people.

Almost a year after Charles's death I was witnessing and led a lady to the Lord. That night I thought it was a typical witness but when I handed her a new testament she looked at it and me and said, "My dad carried one of these for years and read it every day. It had a sticker on it just like this one." I asked her the name of her dad and she said, "Charles." She cried when she found out that the same person who led her dad to Christ had just led her to Christ. She told me that her dad carried the new testament that I gave him everywhere he went. She said that he had hoped to be able to witness with me in the streets and that he was preparing for that by reading the new testament. I knew that night as I walked away God had arranged this special night for Charles's daughter and me. I knew without a doubt that God was in charge of all that happened.

Bars and Night Clubs

We do not recommend anyone to witness in a bar who would be tempted by such an environment. I have heard stories of someone who comes out of this life style and goes back in to witness and become entangled in sin once again. Therefore, if you intend to go into bars then ensure you are called to this type of ministry and that you are not recently out of this kind of environment. This is a totally different kind of witness and can be very peaceful and sometimes very explosive. While witnessing in a bar it is very important that you never say a word to judge anyone. Your words can often be misinterpreted in a bar and will lead to an argument.

When I go into a bar to witness, I usually pick out someone when I first enter the door and move slowly and witness to one person at a time. If you try to quickly cover the bar and move too fast you will be asked to leave. I never order anything in a bar and do not pretend to be a patron there. If you hand out too many tracts in the bar you will asked to leave. Never discuss the persons drinking or why they are in a bar. I only speak to the heart and not their habits or problems.

Respect Authority and Private Property

Occasionally when witnessing in public places you will encounter law enforcement personnel that may ask you to leave. Although you have a right to witness in a public place, it is imperative that you cooperate with law enforcement. Never have an encounter with a law enforcement officer. Policemen are there to keep peace and to ensure your safety. If you have a reoccurring problem with law enforcement asking you to leave an area you should report this to your pastor and let him work with the police department to resolve any misunderstandings.

To be a witness means that we must obey authority and live peacefully. I remember the Roman soldier that understood the message of Christ and the authority of his government.

Matthew 8
8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

We must cooperate at all times with store owners who ask us to leave and with those in authority. Sometimes the presence of too many people witnessing in an area can create a problem for law enforcement. They are concerned anytime large amounts of people congregate in an area at night.

In my witnessing experience, I have been asked to leave very few private businesses and public places. Without exception I have always cooperated. I have been asked to leave many bars and clubs that we were witnessing in. If too many enter a bar it will cause a disruption or if you are too pushy you will be asked to leave. Bars are privately owned and you will have to cooperate. In bars that are in very bad areas, I will ask the owner or tell them what I am doing there and often times they will let me hand out the stickers and witness to a few people, especially when I place a time limit of how long I will be there.

I have been in the worst bar in our community that is shut down nearly every night for fights and drugs. However, the night we decided to go in we had about fifteen people we were training in the parking lot and only a few of us went to the door. I went to the door and the bouncer would not let me in. I told him that I must go in to talk to the people that God had led me there and asked to speak to the manager. He invited me in and the manager agreed that we could come in and he went out and invited the rest of my group in. I could not believe that he let all fifteen of us in this bar. We were given fifteen minutes to share our message and then to leave. I thank God for the experiences that we have seen as He has given us favor with all people. This was the third bar that I had ever been in and it was quite an experience. Every substance you could imagine was being smoked and drank inside. It was so sad to see the addictions. All of us wanted to reach all of the people for Christ that night. It took a move of God to get us in and we pray that even today lives would remain changed from our visit to that bar. Expect God to move and you will experience great joy when you see the results of His hand moving even upon the life of an unsaved bar owner to prepare the way to win others to Christ.

Witnessing in the Rain

There have been few times that rain has fallen in the streets while we were witnessing. We don't let the weather stop us when we go out. We simply witness where we can and go where the people are. You can take your teams to a laundromat, bus stations, airports, malls, covered sidewalks, recreation areas, and convenience stores. Each one of these areas presents its own challenges and excitement. We find that a greater harvest is found in areas of poverty. Most impoverished people are without hope and find it rare for people to care for them. Bus stations and laundromats are often areas where we find poverty and need. We find in the ministry of Christ that He was always moved by need and so is He today.

Matthew 9
35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

;

Sharing Christ

Who to witness to

When you are out witnessing, be in an attitude of prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to someone. It is important to have someone with you to help assist with any distractions from others. Your witness will be more effective if the person you are witnessing to can hear just you. If you are not sure who to speak to, then speak to everyone unless the Holy Spirit says not to. Jesus said that He was not willing any should perish.

Proverbs 3
27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

Matthew 18
11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Therefore, we should feel free to witness to anyone. However, I do not witness to young children. In today's society your intention to share Christ with a young child could be misinterpreted.

When someone tells you they are not a Christian or that they never professed Christ as their Lord and Savior then you should be prepared to lead them in prayer. First, I recommend that you pray a preparatory prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to convict them. This prayer seems to allow the words you speak to be heard by their heart. When I do not pray this prayer, many times the witness ends up in much discussion on their part about religion or some other subject.

The Approach

As you approach the person it is always a good idea to have something to give them. A Christian sticker or tract is always good to hand someone. Many times this is the easiest way to make contact with someone. Introduce yourself and listen for their name so you may use it later in your conversation. If they do not speak English, see if one of their children can interpret for you. I often use their family members to interpret for me as I witness. Also, see the chapter called "The Approach" for more detailed information on how to approach someone with your witness.

The Question

It is always a good idea to make general conversation first and try to enjoy their friendship. Say to them, "I must ask you a question before I leave. We are visiting everyone and ensuring that they know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior." Ask them the following:

"If you died tonight would you know without a doubt that you would go to heaven? Please answer as if God were listening."

While they are thinking, you should pray silently and ask the Holy Spirit to search their heart. Pray with your eyes open and don't let them see you pray. It could create confusion if they see you pray for them. If they respond with a yes, then ask the following:

"Have you prayed a prayer aloud and personally invited Him into your heart?"

Continue your conversation until you are assured that Christ is in them.

Next open your Bible and show them Romans 10: 8-10 and read it out loud. Place their name in the scripture where it seems appropriate. This makes the Word of God even more personal. It is a good idea to explain the scriptures as you go along. The following scriptures have some suggested comments added in them. The suggested comments that I use are in parentheses in the scriptures below.

Sharing the Scriptures

Romans 10
8 But what saith it? (Everyone wants to know what God is saying to them. The scriptures are asking what does God say. Well let's see together.) The word is nigh thee, (Hold the Bible out and show them. This says that the Word is near you. Even right in front of you.) even in thy mouth, (It is in my mouth right now and it could be in yours. I am speaking it now.) And in thy heart: (The Word is in my heart and it can be in yours.) That is, the word of faith, which we preach; (The Bible says that faith comes by hearing God's Word. The Word of God will actually give you the ability to believe. But, we must say it aloud and let our heart hear it and faith will come.)
9 That if thou (Place their name in place of thou.) shalt confess with thy (Place their name in place of thy.) mouth the Lord Jesus, (The Bible says that we make a confession out loud. Let's see what happens when we do this.) And shalt believe in thine (Place their name in place of thine.) heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Ok, it says that if we say we believe that Jesus is Lord and God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. But, He has asked us to confess the scriptures out loud. He will help us to believe. Let's look at the next verse.)
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; (Remember He will give you the ability to believe.) And with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (The Bible asks us to say it aloud. When we do this, we are doing what God has asked us to do to be saved. )

After I have read and explained the scriptures, I tell them, "You too can have the Word in your heart and be saved right this moment and you can know without a doubt that you will go to heaven when you die. If you would like to pray that prayer to confess Christ as your Lord then simply take my hand right now and we will pray together." You see it is easier to take someone's hand and thereby say yes than to first say yes with their voice. Also, this gives you a point of contact as you pray for them.

Now pray the sinners' prayer with them that we discussed and tell them about this new life that they have just received. It is always a good idea to give them a tract that has the scriptures you used in it and to give them a Bible. I always like to write their name in their Bible and the date they were saved. Also, I write the scripture references that I used in the front of the Bible.

Prayer of Rededication

Oftentimes while someone has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior once in their life, they may not be living for Him right now. They may be backsliden and according to their own words feel they would not go to heaven if they were to die. I find that almost one-third of those I speak to in the streets once knew Christ and have fallen away. It is so important to ask the Question and issue the invitation to receive Christ even if they have once been saved. I generally use the same techniques on those that have backsliden as I use with those that have never known Christ. We do ask them if they want to come back to Christ instead of asking if they want to know Christ. Sometimes those that have fallen away have become hardened to the scriptures and God.

Now you may ask them if they would like to rededicate their life. And say the following:

"If you feel that He is not as close to you as when you first began to walk with Him or if you have fallen away, would you like to pray and rededicate your life right now? Then simply take my hand and we will pray together." This gives you a point of contact as you pray for them. It is a very important point to note that you will lead the prayer. I have seen some confused and did not want to come to Christ because they did not know how to pray. Make it clear that you will lead them in prayer. Also, I have seen that those that I train will have more success if they ask for someone to respond by an acknowledgment of simply taking your hand, and thereby saying yes in their heart to praying with you.

If they say yes, then have them pray the following aloud. Tell them sometimes it is best to begin new with Christ when someone has fallen away.

Sinner's Prayer

"Father, in Jesus Name I ask you the best way I know how that you forgive my sins and take my life and direct it, lead it, and guide it, all the days of my life. I want to know You in a more personal way and help me to grow in Your Word. I believe that You died on the Cross for me and that You were raised from the dead. I confess You as my Lord. In Jesus name I pray. Amen."

This New Life

Now tell them how to walk in this world and that life is a series of decisions and we must make the decisions that our heart and the Word of God is telling us. This is called repentance and that is turning away from what we know is wrong. I never tell them what to do, I let the Holy Spirit tell them about what things in their life they need to deal with. God deals with all of us differently and we must let God do the work in their lives. I tell them that their life is a long journey and they will sin and do things wrong but it is important to know that we can ask for the Lord to forgive us. We should ask for His forgiveness and protection everyday as we walk in this world. Ask them to tell someone what has happened to them. It is a good idea to give them a Bible and materials that explain their new life in Christ.

Preparatory Prayer

As you share Christ with others you will see people reject your witness. I saw several people that did not come to Christ one day and I talked to the Lord about it. I said, "Lord what is wrong? Why didn't those people get saved." The Lord said, "You did not pray for them." I knew I had heard from God and couldn't wait to share Christ with the next person. I knew that I would see many come to Christ. Sometimes those that had fallen away from God had became hardened to the scriptures and to God. Other times people's lives may be spiritually influenced by the enemy. Therefore, I offer to have a word of prayer with them before I share the scriptures. I call this prayer the "Preparatory Prayer."

The Lord showed me that by having a prayer with someone that I felt would be a difficult witness would enable the Holy Spirit to have access to their heart. The preparatory prayer is a request for the application of the Blood of Jesus on their heart. Through prayer the Lord will cause the enemy to be bound from interrupting the witness. In the prayer we ask that the Holy Spirit would make my words clear and help them to understand. The Holy Spirit will cause your words to penetrate deep into their heart. Also, they are now expecting us to share something with them before they go. Lastly, we ask that they would have long life and long health as it is mentioned in Psalm 91:16. Certainly you would listen to anyone that prayed for you to have long life and health. Also, we are using the power of agreement with the person. If the person and you are in agreement with your prayer it sets the stage for God to produce a miracle in the person's life. In the scriptures below we can see the power of prayer available to bind the enemy in verse eighteen. The power of agreement is in verse nineteen. The Lord has promised in verse twenty to be present when we are gathered in His name.

Matthew 18
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

I have seen example after example where people rejected my initial witness and then I prayed the preparatory prayer with them, then I would see them come to Christ. As you pray it is a good opportunity to touch their shoulder or hold their hand, if appropriate. I believe that by touching them on the shoulder or taking their hand that contact is made in a spiritual way. They can feel the love of God and His anointing can flow through you into their heart. I pray similar to this prayer:

"Father in Jesus Name, we ask that you would touch them and strike the Blood of Jesus across their heart. Father, give understanding to my words as I speak and help them to know you in a more personal way. Lord, it is our prayer that the Holy Spirit would surround them with conviction and that your mercy would be poured into their life. And Lord, give them long life and health and help them to follow you all the days of their life. Lord, we ask for a hedge of protection about them. In Jesus name we pray. Amen."

After the prayer, I read Romans 10:8-10 to them and issue another invitation and I have seen person after person pray to receive Christ. I feel that praying for them made the difference. When I am in a bad area in the heart of an inner city, I will often begin my witnesses with the preparatory prayer. When I approach them and introduce myself I will say, "Let me pray and ask God to bless you." As I am asking, if I can pray for them, I reach and place my hand on their shoulder. Most people will respond and allow you to pray for them.

I remember the first time that I prayed the preparatory prayer. I was visiting a friend's mother that was thought to be terminal with an illness. It was imperative that she become saved since it was not known if she would live or die. Family members and others had tried to share Christ with her and she would not pray with them. I approached her bedside and was about to pray when I thought it was important to follow the leading of the Lord. He wanted me to first pray for her before I issued the invitation. I prayed a simple prayer and then issued the invitation. To everyone's surprise she held my hand and followed me in a prayer inviting Christ into her heart. The presence of the Holy Spirit was so wonderful that day as she was saved. Although she departed this earth from her illness, we knew that she had indeed received Christ. She was the first of thousands that would come to know Christ from the preparatory prayer. Let the Lord touch lives as you reach out and pray the preparatory prayer.

Building a Bridge

While I witness, I often notice many people who want to come to Christ lack the courage to respond. It is important that we build a bridge to help them find the strength to overcome the hindrances that discourage them from accepting Christ.

I was witnessing to a young man in Oshawa, Ontario and he had a genuine interest in coming back to Christ. However, as I witnessed, his father was watching, and the son felt uncomfortable responding to Christ. I took a few steps sideways and blocked the view between him and his father and spoke more quietly. I was creating a better environment for the witness. I tried to make it easier for him to come back to Christ. The young man rededicated his life to Christ.

In Paris, Arkansas, I was witnessing to three ladies in a park. I sensed that two of the ladies did not have a relationship with Christ. When I issued the invitation to come to Christ, the ladies looked at each other but no one would admit they were away from Christ. It was time to help them come to Christ. I said, "Let's all take hands and I want to lead you in a prayer." I told them to pray this prayer like they meant it. I led them together in the sinners' prayer. I asked, "Who prayed that prayer and meant it and came back to Christ ?" Again, they all looked at each other and no one said anything. I said, "You two ladies came back to Christ didn't you?" They admitted that they did and now tears seemed to come to their eyes. This was the first time I noticed that people really need help to express their emotions, and to build a bridge to Christ. All of us have different emotions and I believe that we should do anything we can do to help someone to Christ. We helped them overcome pride and find Christ.

Also, when I am witnessing I will issue an invitation for someone to come to Christ. I have seen some issue an invitation by simply saying, "Do you want to pray to receive Christ?" Most will say no because they do not know how to pray and they are too embarrassed to do this on their own. They do not understand what it is they are being asked to do. I make it easy for them to respond to Christ and make it clear what they can do to receive Christ. Again, this bridge will help them to respond. I have noticed that people want, with all of their heart, to respond but just cannot. I will say to the person, "If you want to receive Christ, take my hand." I warmly extend my hand close to them and make it easy for them to take my hand. I will then say, "I will pray now, and you can follow me in a prayer to invite Christ into your heart." Helping others pray is an important bridge to Christ.

I sat down on a curb beside a homeless man in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to be closer to him and not look down on him. By sitting with him, I was able to identify more with the man and build a bridge to Christ. He became comfortable with me sitting with him, and we had an enjoyable discussion. After a few minutes, I changed the focus to Christ. The man quickly came to Christ and seemed to be saved and became my friend. I recorded Morris's name in my journal so that I will always remember our talk on the curb. It is so important that we learn how to identify with those we speak to and create the best possible opportunity for them to hear the gospel and be converted to Christ.

The technique of building a bridge is what we see in church services. When we see a pastor invite people in a service to Christ, we see an invitation given with everyone's eyes closed and for those wanting to accept Christ to raise their hand. This method is similar to what we do in the streets. While the techniques vary, the idea is still the same. We are trying to make the person feel comfortable in coming to Christ. In church, a pastor is asking for a response of a raised hand. In the streets we are asking for a response of an extended hand.

While techniques are useful and important, it is most important to allow the Holy Spirit to give the person the courage and conviction to come to Christ. All of us can remember when we came to Christ. We can remember the conviction that we felt and the courage that we had to respond. The most important bridge back to Christ is by the person of the Holy Spirit.

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