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| Evangelist Keith Wilson's blog |
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| Are we commanded to tell the world of Jesus? |
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28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen. Is it our duty as christians to lead people to Christ?
If so why or why don't Christians do it? |
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| Yes Brother Keith. I believe the problem is the result of fear which will hinder and cripple believers enough to make them ineffective. The bible says that God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power of love and of a sound mind. So the inability or unwillingness to share the gospel can be the result of a lack of power, and having hearts full of everything but love and having minds full of doubt and confusion. Obedience is better than sacrifice, and faith without works is dead. Shalom! |
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| well said brother, One of the biggest problems is people being fearful! Thus they lack power, and become weak and less effective. |
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It was a command; the great Commision. Of course, the Holy Spirit does the actual conversion part. God chose to use us as His vessels to spread the Good news...so if we don't do our part...then the message will not be preached. Why don't we? Because we are afraid! We are afraid of being made fun of, or saying something stupid, or not having all the answers, or thinking we aren't "good" or "holy" enough to preach to people. Or we are lazy. Or selfish. Etc. Etc. I speak from experience, in case someone feels condemned by my words. You asked, I answered. |
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Smile- Thank you for your answer of Yes! We should not be ashamed to tell the World of Jesus.
Lara- I asked you answered , and you are so right on all points. We need to pray and ask the Lord for boldness!
we also need fall in Love with Jesus all over again. Thank you for comments. |
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He commaned us to go. It seems that for so long we have been waiting for them to come.
They won't come, They must be brought.
They won't seek, They must be sought.
They don't know ,They must be taught.
Let every Won one Win one. Pastor E |
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restore- we can't.
Many that are in the Chuches today have turned the mandate into a show case!
Some Leaders have decided to make up there own way of bringing people to christ "This does not work"
they end up preaching and teaching to a church full of weak, scared, wimpy christians who would crowl under a rock before they tell someone about Jesus. |
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Carolyn |
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October 30, 2007 at 10:39am |
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Yes, my brother...We were given the instruction to "proclaim" preach the gospel..whether it's in season or out... |
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Carolyn |
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October 30, 2007 at 10:45am |
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My question...why do people get caught up with preaching on Sunday and they don't want to go to the homeless shelters, prison, highways and by ways? Sometimes I feel like people get too caught up with the titles and postions. .They want to look good in their suits or fancy dresses and preach to a bunch of church folks..granted everyone sittingon the pews isn't saved or delivered but I thought when you accepted your call...it means pursuing relentlessly the loss. We should not be caught up with the where and when...we should just do it...
Now, I'm not clergy...but I realize Jesus gave the Great Commision for all believers so it is my responsibility to "proclaim" the gospel "good news" for all the world. |
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Carolyn, Thats just it, "people get cought up in the "Church" and when i say church i'm not talking the true body. It seems many people get cought up in traditions of man instead of the mandate of Christ, its like wanting the wedding and not the marrige. We don't mind walking down on that red carpet at the church and recieve the gifts from our friends, but when we get home with that husband or wife and the honey moon is over, it's a different story. Now we see her without the make-up, and the bad breath, and him after his hair falls out and he don't wash his feet.
thats when we call for divorce! LOL! "But this is true. |
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It is time for the church to focus on outreach. Feeding the hungry. Clothing the naked. Sending out more to the mission field. People do not do this for selfish reasons, fear or ignorance in not knowing the power they have in them is too magnificent not to hand out. In 1995 80% of the 3.3 trillion dollar income of the churches was spent inside the walls of the church (property, salaries, etc.) 1.7% on outreach and advertising with 1% to evangelize the world. In 2005 out of $5,000,000,000,000 .7% was used on outreach. If the churches took their money out of banks the world economy would collapse quickly. Could the love of money be the root of evil (or plans different than God's plan) in some churches? Could some leaders care more about money than souls? God forbid. It's time to lift up Jesus.Here in the U.S., according to the finances they take in, it takes over $1,450,000 per soul saved. In some countries it's less than $1,500. It's time for change. Of course, if only 2% of people who profess themselves to be Christian have ever led someone to Christ, and only 11% have ever given out a tract, it's time to lift up Jesus. There is only one way to draw all men to God. It's to lift up Jesus from the grave. Raise Him up from the dead. The only way that is done is by the power of the Holy Spirit. Having the Word is not good enough (look at the Pharisees). The letter kills (2 Cor 3:6). The Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost are one (1 John 5:8). When the Spirit is separated from Jesus he's dead. When we use the word without the Spirit of God leading us, the word has no life (Matt 10:19,Prov 25:11). There are no routines that work the same way everytime. Let's get to work and pray for more labourers for the harvest and get busy! |
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The word teach appears twice in the scripture reference given. The word preach does not appear.
To teach someone something we have to have knowledge of what we teach. And it is really helpful if we love the subject.
Go into all the world. Remember who this was originally spoken to. Most who heard it did not go into "all the world". But they did teach with their lives and words what it means to have an intimate relationship with Jesus in the "worlds" they lived in.
Baptism. To me, the baptism ceremony rates right next to the marriage ceremony of committing your life to the one / One you love.
First people see how great your love is, your passion for Jesus. When they experience His love in their own lives they are drawn into like committment. This was the "formula" in the beginning.
The world uses a similiar formula. No one ever gets drunk or high for the first time because they see other people under the influence and it looks bad. It looks like fun. A lot of times it is. But when a person commits themself to the lifestyle there is a price to pay. Alcoholics go to bars (appropriate since it is a kind of prison). Heroin addicts become junkies as there life deteriotes to garbage. People who smoke dope, well, you get the idea.
Christians who commit themselves fully to GOD pay a price, too. It ain't always easy. Often, we hurt, feel pain, that we would not if we were not a christian. But we do not suffer alone. Like a faithful spouse He is with us during the "lo" times, always.
I used to wonder why, of all the miracles Jesus done, turning water into wine was His first. After he had done that the host (who did not know where the "new" wine came from) said that most people serve the best first and then bring out the lesser quality after everyone is good and drunk. But this time the best was saved for last.
That is exactly how it is as a christian. In the things of the world the best usually comes in the beginning and then goes downhill from there. But in the things of GOD it is good when it begins and just keeps getting gooder. The world is hungry for something real, that will satisfy, that will last, that will endure even thru the difficult times. And the world is watching each one of us. What will our lives teach?
.....peace..... |
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| Victorius- Thank you so much for those statistics, they are true and on point, i pray that many would see and realize what we are doing in those four walls is not all we should be doing. the mandate the mandate, the mandate must be taught. And we must be willing to go out and spreed the Gosple. |
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| Pureheart- Your words of wisdom on this matter is so heart felt, i like the part you wrote about "TEACHING" This is one factor that i think a lot of people miss. Thank you so much and keep winning Souls. |
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28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.
More: Mathew 28:18-20
Intense boldness in Christ.
Need more laborers for Christ.
In the True Church the local Church, the invisable church, the body of believers.
Starting-Finishing what Christ commissioned us to do.
True to the faith.
Religious-Less religion, more christ.
Yearning longing for more of the Holy Spirits power. |
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MaKelly |
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October 30, 2007 at 12:21pm |
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OUTSTAND BLOG
Yes it is a commanded and and even if our lives depende on it like this man
STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS
George Duffield, Jr. (1818–1888) IN 1858, churches throughout Philadelphia united in a citywide evangelistic effort. Every morning and evening, services were held in churches, convention halls, and theaters. Dudley Tyng, a twenty-nine-year-old Episcopalian preacher, spoke to five thousand men; one thousand responded to the gospel invitation.
Four days later, however, Tyng was fatally injured in an accident. As he lay dying, his fellow ministers gathered around him. Tyng was still thinking about the men who had made decisions for Christ and in his last, whispered words said, “Tell them to stand up for Jesus.”
Presbyterian minister George Duffield preached the next Sunday on the text “Stand therefore” and in conclusion read a poem that he had just written entitled “Stand Up for Jesus.” A church member sent the poem to a Baptist newspaper, where it was eventually published. |
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MaKelly |
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October 30, 2007 at 12:22pm |
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STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
Ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner,
It must not suffer loss:
From vict’ry unto vict’ry
His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished
And Christ is Lord indeed. Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
The trumpet call obey;
Forth to the mighty conflict
In this His glorious day:
Ye that are men, now serve Him
Against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger,
And strength to strength oppose. Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
Stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you;
Ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armor;
Each piece put on with prayer.
Where duty calls, or danger,
Be never wanting there. Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
The strife will not be long.
This day the noise of battle;
The next, the victor’s song.
To him that overcometh,
A crown of life shall be;
He with the King of Glory
Shall reign eternally. |
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No more needs to be said on this! We sing the songs of zion and now we must stand! I love this and i love the fact you put the words it is in my head and i am going to place it deep with in my being, Stsnd up , stand up for Jesus ye soiders of the Cross!
All who are SOIDERS, Stand Stand Stand! Glory to God! |
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Tricia |
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October 30, 2007 at 2:41pm |
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I feel that it is our duty to lead people to Christ, and I feel that some of us Christians don't do so because possibly their faith isn't strong enough. Or they are not being instructed by the Churches well enough. See we bring people into out churches and set them down in the pews, but what do we do with them after that? The Churches I feel are not connecting with the new Christians entering the churches and directing them well enough into a life of discipleship. We must not lose connection with new christians, we must not lose connections with each other so we can make each other stronger and build each other up in our Faith so we are all strong enough to get out there and bring others home to Christ!!
Just like in Luke Chp 10 when Jesus sent out the 72 he sent them two by two... and I feel he did so not only so his word would be more believed with two telling it, but also so that the two could keep each other strong for Christ.
So if Jesus sent them out two by two, how can we expect new and old christians just to get out there alone and spread the word and bring back home the great shepherd's lost sheep? - We have to do it together!
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| Trica- you make a great point in the matter of going out two by two, we always have to be careful when going out on planed soulwinning efforts,it is a collective effort.But it is also important for us to share as we walk this life, in a store, in a hospital, or anywhere we would met up with someone in need of the savior. We must always be ready, wether alone or not! truly we are never alone with Christ. In order for us to be prepared for this you are right , we need training and teaching in the church, the kind of teaching that will equip all the believers. Point well taken and recieved. |
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Gene |
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October 30, 2007 at 6:01pm |
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Yes! I think that people tend to not want to bother other people. "Don't say that. It might upset someone." Well, as one man of God once said, "If you like the football game and want your team to win, isn't it better to get excited about God's kingdom and want HIS team to win?" We should take that same passion and express it for Christ. I think part of the problem is that some people aren't very passionate at all. They have a hard time telling other people about anything. That's OK. God can fix that. And some are so passionate that they just get in your face and get all confrontational instead of sharing the Gospel.
We are a Blessed people! We know Christ. If that isn't reason for telling others, I don't know what is! |
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Gene- You speak wise words my brother! Passion, we don't have enough passion for Christ, alot of people even shy people will share something that is interesting to them, but as for the Christian and His God, Many would rather use excuses like God will do that or " i wasn't called to do that.
So right gene.
Carrie - You didn't have to read all the comments, because as you stated "it is our duty to win the Lost. You are so right. |
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Bless Yahweh (The Lord) O my soul and all that is within me bless His Holy Name,
Yes Evangelist it is our duty and it was commanded by Christ and as a child of God I will speak for myself. I try to live by Gods word and sometimes it makes others inquisitive giving me the opportunity to tell them about Jesus. I usually give my testamony on how He delivered me from alcohol, drugs etc, and then it gives me the chance to witness about the goodness of The Lord. God bless you.
Dani-EL (Yahweh is my Judge) |
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| Jack- Thats Child like voice is the thing Christians need to consider. Listening as a child and Singing as a Child! "A CHILD OF GOD" Thanks for the song. |
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| Dave- A handy dandy Amen! |
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Tropical- You are correct by saying we all should allow the Spirit to lead us, this is so true. And yes we are hands, feet , arms, ect. People also view our lives and that should be a testimony in it self. 8:29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 8:30 And Philip ran thither to [him], and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 8:31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 8:32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 8:33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 8:34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 8:36 And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. 8:40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea. This example here shows part of what you are saying , but the truth is that people need to be made to understand. they need to be led by the scripture. Paul said in - 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! preaching is not just for those in the pulpit, preaching is spreading the Gosple of Jesus Christ, DEATH< BURUAL< RESURECTION. We have to tell them so they understand. we all have been called once we recieved Jesus as savior! IT is the mandate! |
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| K, of course I read all the comment before I answered a resounding YES! Need I say more? |
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| No need Sandee, and thanks for being a wittness for Jesus! |
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There are still thousands in this nation who have never heard the gospel even once in their entire life time. Beautiful are the feet of those whose feet are on the mountains - who climb the mountains in preaching the gospel. Many of us do not climb the mountains in evangelism but simply sit at our nice homes with all the comforts. If you read the biography of a wonderful servant of God from USA who lived in our midst, it will bring tears to our eyes. Please forgive me for posting the entire message here by taking much of your space.
Rev.John Llyod Dorsey, a humble servant of God from USA   Rev.John Llyod Dorsey was born in Blacksburg, South Carolina, USA on 22-11-1924 and left this world to be with Jesus on 17-9-2002 in New Delhi, India. He was a member of the Presbyterian denomination. Hearing the call of God, he came to India in 1947 and served his Master faithfully till his last breath for 55 years in India. He was one of the few missionaries who had opted to stay in India, notwithstanding the fierce opposition to them in this country. God had not blessed the Dorsey couple with any child because, probably, God wanted this couple to treat the children in India as their own. He and his wife founded a Christian School, called Faith Academy, in New Delhi in 1964, which grew into an elite Christian educational institute, over the years, by dint of his hard and tireless work.
Rev.Dorsey lived a life, which was simpler than a middle class Indian. He did not own a car for his personal use and used to visit the nearly areas in the slum colonies and in the neighbourhood only on his bicycle. He preached the gospel to the poor and used to conduct regular bible classes for the post graduate students of a famous Government research institute in Delhi, who were mostly Hindu students.
He was a man of prayers, and was a great source of strength and of comfort to those who were in tears. He had never sought after the pulpits of big churches but was preaching sermons in house churches, fellowship meetings, etc. He had not hankered for any position in the Christian world but was silently doing the will of God in his life.
Many students of Faith Academy belonging to other religions were touched by his simple life of devotion and of discipline.
When the health of his dear wife deteriorated, he sent her home in 1991, and chose to remain in India to carry on God’s work. He sacrificed everything at the altar of God. Normally, a couple in their advanced age would not like to part with each other. Rev.Dorsey died of a massive heart attack on 18-9-2002, following a surgery on his leg in Delhi. At the time of his death, Mrs.Dorsey was not here. Due to her ill health, she could not reach Delhi for the funeral service of her beloved husband. Dorsey was conscious of his home call on the deathbed and spent his last hours in prayers and in hearing the Word. On the deathbed, he expressed his desire to the people around him that he should be buried in a burial ground in Delhi which is meant for the poor Christians. His desire was fulfilled.
During his memorial service on 21-9-2002, many testified that he was a true servant of God and disciple of Christ Jesus.
In this connection, I want to share my personal testimony about this great servant of God. On 24-12-1997, a day before Christmas, my beloved mother slept in the Lord. Since it fell on a day preceding Christmas, the pastor of my own church, due to his preoccupation with the Christmas celebrations, could not attend the funeral service at the War Cemetery, Delhi. But Rev.Dorsey was there, to our great surprise. He did not know my mother personally. He came there to comfort us and to pray for us. This incident is evergreen in my memory.
These days, there are ministers of God in our midst who perform signs and wonders in Jesus’ Name and who love to preach in big churches and in big evangelistic crusades. But hardly we find any servant of God like Dorsey who had left the luxury and comfort of his own nation to serve God in another nation where there are extreme climates, opposition to the glorious gospel, and a dearth of comforts and luxuries.
Through the life of Dorsey, the Lord showed the insufficiency in my life to serve Him. On the memorial service, I rededicated my life to His service in the footsteps of Rev.Dorsey.
The Holy Spirit exhorts us to follow the footsteps of this great servant of God and to bring the revival fire to our churches through his life and ministry. |
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troy |
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November 05, 2007 at 6:55pm |
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yes we do need to reach out to the whole world ,the reason we don't ? i think it is because of a lack of fear we don't fear God enough we fear man more than God
Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fearfhim which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. |
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Job- thanks for the post, and it was not to long nor did it take up to much space.
This is worth the read and space.
Troy- Thank you for your comments, and the truth. |
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| Wow, I have little to add to any of this except my yes. The thing is, it's easy to share your relationship with God to those you are close to. Start there. Just share your story. Keep it simple--you don't have to have all the answers, you don't have to know the whole bible or have all your scriptures handy for a ready reference. If someone asks you something you don't know, tell them "I don't know about that, but I'll try to find out." It sets others at ease to know that you're learning too. Aren't we all? Paul said, 'I have not yet attained' or something along those lines. All we have to do is be real. Share what is real and let the Holy Spirit lead you. You can't fail. In your weakness you are made strong. It may not be a great theologian that can change the heart of your next door neighbor or the guy you work with. But it could be you with just your simple story of what God did for you that makes the difference for someone else. |
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| Birdie- Thank you for keeping it simple,Thats the ticket keeping it simple. So many people try to be so deep that they forget that the Gosple of Jesus Christ is simple, It is us that make it soooo complicated. Thank you for your input, and Good bless you! |
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| Thousands who have never heard the Gospel and yet over here there is a church on every corner. and here we argue about salvation and some have never heard. Folks are mad cause they didn't get to preach to a bunch of folks who claim they know Jesus but act like they don't. Brother Job I am praying that God opens a door for me I would love to come.I think another reason that we don't go is because the name it, claim it, speak it, keep it theology only works over here. Over there NAME WHAT! ,CLAIM WHAT! In most of those countries it is God or Bust. The spirit is moving because they are so open to recive. you go over ther playing you might get sent home with something you don't want to bring home. demonic activity is real over there and so is the power of God because they have tapped into the spirit realm |
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| All I can say is Amen, Amen!!!!!!!!!!!! God Bless you. a servent Of The Most High. Doyle Crowe |
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| Pastor Elam, I am overwhelmed by your readiness to preach the glorious gospel in India. |
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| Amen to that brother Job! |
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My answer is yes. 12:11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and [unto] magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: 12:12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
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I think an important part of the commission is that we make "disciples" It's not enought to just lead someone to the Lord, we are to teach them all things he has commanded us.
Someone else may have already commented to this point. If I am repeating what someone else mentioned, forgive me.
I do not agree that just leading someone to say the sinners prayer is truly getting them born again. Yes, The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation, but there is more to a true heart conviction.
Several places in scripture do we see examples of where people, after hearing the word, and learning about Christ, they asked "What must we do to be saved?" They were convinced that Jesus was the messiah, then they made the decision themselves and were not just prompted to do so.
I say this because in early 2001, after a very nasty dicvorce, and feeling very, very lost. I went to a church service for the first time in about 10 years. I was crying through the message and then came forward for prayer. I was led in "the sinners" prayer and told, "now read your bible and come back next week."
While in and of itself this is good advice, what didn't happen was someone taking the time to explain to me that there was a lot more to conversion than just the prayer. No one told me that the enemy would now be attacking, or that there even was an enemy for that matter. Needless to say it wasn;t long at all before I was back in my old ways. Nothing changed.
But Praise God, on December 24, 2004, feeling lost once again, I cried out to God and for the first time, He spoke to me! He spoke Proverbs 3:5-6. Those words went straight to my heart and from that moment on I have not been the same. I was saved and I knew it.
My point is this: I believe 10 people who are discipled into knowing the truth of what happened on the cross, and what God's plan for eternity is, will be much more effective for the Kingdom than 100 people who just "say the prayer" and no one steps up along with them to teach them all of his commands to us.
Make disciples. Not Converts!
Great post my friend.
Thanks.
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| Michael- Brother you are soooo correct, We are not to just lead people in the Sinners prayer we are to make diciples as you said! We must train and teach as the scripture goes further, Go ye therefore and TEACH! That is how people understand what it is that they have done or who they have trusted in. Thank you much for your comment and please continue to use your testimony,im sure it will help lots of people saved and lost come to a deeper understanding of the Gosple. |
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| An evangelist is one who sows the seeds of gospel in many places. He sows the seeds and goes away. Philip the Evangelist led the Ethiopian officer to the Lord after baptising him and then disappeared. He did not stay with the Ethiopian to disciple him. We have five types of New Testament ministers in the Body of Christ. To equip the saints for the ministry, it is the combined work of all these five types of ministers. The teachers and pastors are supposed to nurture the new converts in the Word. The apostles equip them for evangelical out-reach ministries. The prophets prophesy on the young believers and lead them to the right types of ministries for which God has called and anointed them. |
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| Bro Keith, I haven't had time to read through all the comments above, so please forgive if this echos what has already been written. I think the western church is in large part still caught in a spectator mindset. We expect pastors to pastor, teachers to teach, evangelists to evangelize, prophets to prophesy, and apostles to blaze trails. The rest get to give and pray and cheer them on. Funny, but that's not what Paul said in Ephesians. Maybe we need to look again at what he did say. Seems like those gifts are given to the church as gateways to ministry. Apostles equipping the saints to blaze new trails for the Kingdom. Prophets holding forth the reality that we can all hear from God and speak His truth. Pastors and teachers shepherding and teaching all believers how to guide and love and instruct in the faith, and evangelists equipping every saint to do the work of an evangelist. "...equipping the saints for the work of service..." Just some thoughts. |  |
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| JOB, And Don- both your points are well thought out and shows truth! Thank you for sharing that information. This blog is put out so that all the readers and those that comment, will gain more insight into what we all are supossed to do. When we look at different views of other people and there thoughts it helps us to be able to teach more effectively. We are able to teach comming from every angele! Thank you for sharing what you know. |
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How can they believe unless someone preaches(shares, proclaims, or tells) to them? Rom10:14 Notice Jesus didn't say go into the world and live a good life or pray and whoever believes and baptized will be saved in Mark 16-15-20, but go into all the world and preach. Jesus said the Spirit of the Lord is upon me and He has anointed me to preach,.... Why aren't more people preaching and here is a better question? What are they preaching when they do? Is the gospel, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life? The word love in never used in the book of Acts! Did anyone in the bible lead anyone in a "sinner's prayer"? You can go to www.citytaker.com and get the answer to some of these thought provoking questions. |
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| Jeff , Thanks for the answer and the link you directed me too, i pray thatmany will visit it as i have . |
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Jobey |
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November 12, 2007 at 9:16am |
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| HE shed HIS precious blood for you... does HE still have to "command" you?... Be Jesus to the world |
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| Jobey- This is spoken like a true soilder of the Lord! |
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| Agree with Jobey. We talk of fear and command and duty. And in our churches we teach techniques as though we were selling real estate or vacuum cleaners. Salvation becomes a commodity. Or a remedy. It is about the restoration of a relationship. The most important relationship anyone can ever have. The one that puts everything else in its proper place. When I fell in love with my wife, you couldn't shut me up about her. My kids? My granddaughter? Just give me an opening! I love them and I'm nuts about them. And I can tell you about them because I KNOW them intimately. And Jesus?...Oh yeah!!! If we KNOW Him...intimately...how can we help but be absolutely crazy in love with Him?...and fall on our faces in awe of Him?....and how can anyone possibly shut us up??? Just give us an opening! |
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| Don - Amen! Let us continue to take those openings and use them to tell people of Jesus and Salvation. |
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I hear ya Don!
I think this is exaclty why it is difficult for me to be around unbelievers. It's not that I don't want to be around them. I would appreciate having more friends who are unbelievers. Or more friends period for that matter, but that's another blog. My point is that because I love Jesus so much and nuture my relationship with Him, he's all I want to talk about. From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks, right?
Not that this is a bad thing but most unbeleivers don't want to hear about Jesus ALL THE TIME!
How can we possibly shut up? |
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Michael-
Live the Life , be an open book before them , and never stop talking about the one who Saved you. Think about Jesus he was with Sinners all the time, around them and he never stoped talking about The Kingdom of heaven, I don't think we should either. But i know the feeling. |
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I am with you Keith. I don't let the world stop me from speaking about my Jesus. If they choose not to be around me then so be it. That's the "be a living sacrifice" part that we are taught in Romans 12:1, right? |
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| Michael, my experience has been that a lot of unbelievers are honestly seeking and appreciate honesty, passion, and authenticity. I have a lot less problem spending time with unbelievers than I do with "christians" who want to cruise through live safe and unchallenged. Or live with a foot in each world. Often comfortable church folks are threatened by passion much more than unbelievers. The good news of the Kingdom that Jesus brought was good news to those who were desperate for it. They welcomed the message and Him. But that good news and the passion it brought was an affront to the religiously self-satisfied. They didn't need the rabble disturbing their well ordered lives. Bottom line, I guess, is that the true gospel tends to get folks thrown out of a lot of respectable places, religious and pagan. And it is welcomed by those who are hungry and have ears to hear. God's just funny that way. Seems like the wrong side of the tracks more often than not ends up being the right side. Go figure. |
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