An Interesting Encounter

I had the privilege of preaching the Gospel again yesterday, first to one girl, then three of her friends. The setup was rather interesting, she was bored in class (and finished the assigned work), but then started talking about, what amounted to existential philosophy. I mentioned to her that that was what she was doing, and gave her permission to look up the word. What followed was research into Ecclesiastes and Lamentations and then the lesson was over. I asked her if she would like to get an understanding of what she was researching, and she said yes.

Right, Romans Road locked on. I began by establishing what she believed about God. She was agnostic, very agnostic, so agnostic that she didn’t even know what the word meant. I proceeded by establishing that God exists, and asking what He requires of us.

We moved from there to the law, and she admitted to lying, stealing and blasphemy. I then explained her dilemma about being under judgment. This was the interesting part of this encounter, her curiosity of how she was to escape judgment. Also somberness. I then explained the Gospel to her using Easter as my springboard, and again, she seemed to be focus clearly on the message preached. What was interesting (as she told me later) she had never heard the Gospel message before, it was her first time to hear it. As I was beginning to explain repentance and faith, her boyfriend, and two other friends who had been wondering around looking for her (it was break time) found her in the computer room.

I switched back to the law, and moving faster than before cause time was short, recapped, using the girl I was first talking to, to explain in her own words. She remembered what I had said quite well, a sign that it had gone in. I then explained the Gospel one more time, for all for to hear, then repentance and faith.

At that point the bell rang and they had to leave. I left with a direct challenge to the girl. “Is what I’m saying true and if so, what are you going to do about it?” They left and I glorified God.

I pray for all for of them, that they would repent and put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I know that they have clearly heard the gospel, and I pray God would make them respond to it.

Soli Deo gloria

Witness Encounter: Interview

Reported below is my submitted assignment for a class I took on evangelism, called the Romans Road. It was a great course and I enjoyed it. Included in the course was a practical, WITNESS to somebody, then report back. Below is the prescribed report back as submitted verbatim to the teacher. Its written in fairly technical language so sorry if you don’t follow everything I say. I have been remiss in not reporting back on my witness encounters as of late,, so this is a means of getting back into the habit.

 

I interviewed student named Shane, a grade 10 student who attends the computer classes in which I participate in teaching. I believe he was an unbeliever because he had no testimony whatsoever and at his own description, he is not born again. I spoke to him in person, using the prop of “interview for a class” to initiate the conversation.

I began by asking him about his own personal beliefs and understanding of Christian concepts. He says that he was christened at a home church, (in England) and believes in God and the bible but doesn’t know much about either, or does he go to church. When I pressed the point about the bible, he claims that he believes it to be true, accurate and literal, but he had obviously not taken the step of actually reading it. I asked several other questions, probing his worldview

I hinged the conversation into the Roman’s Road part, by asking him on his understanding of Easter, a tactic I often use, with great affect. He described an accurate picture of Christ’s death and resurrection, but could not begin to explain why any of this was necessary.

In answer to my questions he admitted to lying, blasphemy, adultery and murder of the heart, and in light of this quickly understood that he was not a good person (something he had asserted earlier, but instead was a sinner (Rom 3:23) and that he was going to die and after that hell (Rom 6:23). At this time I quoted Romans 6:23. He seemed to have understood step 1 fairly easily so I brought the conversation back to Easter and explain and related Christ’s death and resurrection in terms of his and my law-breaking. I also emphasized the personal nature of the good news, that he, a fallen sinner, can have his sins forgiven while Jesus bore those sins on Himself on the cross, then on the third day, was resurrected.

I then asked if he knew how to receive that forgiveness of sins. To my surprise he described repentance fairly well, without using the word. I “closed the deal” by explaining how God commands “all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30) and to trust Jesus alone for the forgiveness of sins (Rom 5:1 et al) I also illustrated those commands with analogies which I think, on reflection, were probably not necessary with Shane, he seemed to grasp the ideas well.

Most of the emphasis was on step two. He seemed to grasp both the bad news and the “response” fairly easily but needed a little help connecting all the dots as to why Christ actually had to die. To that end, my Easter approach worked exceedingly well in this case, as it often does in my experience.

On several occasions I pressed him to ask me questions, anything he didn’t understand, but once he had grasped step two, there was nothing further he asked during the conversation. This leads me to conclude that his attitude was one of polite interest, because of the idea of an interview, but otherwise apathy, and for this reason, I concluded the interview with a personal challenge on sin and hell, to try and break him out of it, with little or no outward sign of change in attitude, although he answered my challenge orally in the way I had hoped. I trust that the Holy Spirit will convict him of his sin and lead him to repentance.

The outcome of the presentation was a success. The three aspects of the Romans Road were clearly presented and he now was a full understanding of the Gospel, its promises and implications. For me, it is profitable in that it encourages me to not be lazy in evangelism but rather to be bold. To conclude, I plan to pray for this young man much in the next few weeks. I will also have the chance to have further conversations in and around class, although I will not push the point.

To conclude, I thank God for allowing me the opportunity to witness to Shane, it was an unusual interview in that he had more knowledge than the average unbeliever I have spoken to. I trust and pray God will bring him to repentance and faith, adoption into the family of Christ.

Soli Deo gloria

Religion Vs Christianity

I am not religious; I am a Christian, and there is a big distinction between the two. This is the distinction: The basis of religion is man working his way to god/s. The key word there is 'work.' And when I look at every religion in the world, this is the case. For examples, for the muslims, to go to heaven by keeping the 5 pillars of Islam, then maybe, just maybe Allah will be gracious and let them in. Similarly in Catholicism, (which is similar to Christianity, but is not Christianity) you must do the sacraments and be baptized. We can go through each religion as see what is called in theological circles: works righteousness or self righteousness. Basically man commending himself to god/s by their own virtue.

But (true, biblical) Christianity is different, This is the distinction, in that works play no part in commending us to God, but we are save by faith. Let me explain. First you need to understand that there is NOTHING in us that commends us to God. You see, while we may think that we are good people, the reality is, by God's holy standard, we are the opposite. For example, If you have lied, God sees you as a liar, If you have stolen (value is irrelevant) then God sees you as a thief. If you have taken God's name in vain even once (saying something like 'OMG', or not given Him due reverence whenever you say His name) that is called blasphemy, and the bible says that God will not find him guiltless who takes His name in vain. One more: You know what adultery is, but Jesus said that if you even look with lust, you commit adultery with her in her heart. Now I trust that you, like me, are a human being and therefore have broken those commandments (from the 10 commandments). I have, so God sees me as a lying, thieving, blasphemous adulterer at heart, whether I like it or not, if you have broken these laws, He sees you the same.

Thats the bad news, and its pretty bleak, but Christianity doesn't stop there, there is good news also. The good news is that although we are all condemned, God made a way for us to be forgiven. 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ, fully God, fully man, voluntarily went to the cross, upon which they crucified Him. God looked down and saw Jesus' sacrifice and was satisfied. Then on the third day He defeated death and rose again. Its like this, you are in court for a serious crime, the judge sentences you to life in jail or a fine which is more than you could ever pay. You are about to be led off to jail, when someone in the crowd stands up and give the judge a check for the full amount. You can go free, not because you are good, but because he paid your fine. Same with Christ, He paid your sin debt to God. Now the bible says to repent and put you faith in Jesus Christ, thus we say that by faith we are saved, no works we can do can add to Christ's death, because that death was enough, and we have nothing worthy to add.

Now like it or not, every religion is opposed to this teaching. We like the idea of 'doing it ourselves' but the problem is we can't, in any way. Now there is one other thing I haven't mentioned yet. That is that the God of the bible, of Christianity, claims to be the only God that exists, He was the creator of the world, He owns it, and He makes the rules. On that basis, every other god does not exist, except as carved idols and in our mind. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me"

Thank you for reading this, Please think about it, consider your sin and then think on the kindness of the saviour, Jesus Christ, please repent and put your faith in Christ

UNIVERSAL ATHEISTS DAY

HAPPY UNIVERSAL ATHEISTS DAY

April 1

The fool has said in his heart, there is no God Psalm 14 vs 1

Atheists, You have broken God's laws, by professing atheist you are breaking the greatest of the commandments, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength; as well as the first 2 of the 10 commandments: you shall have no other God's before Him and you shall not make any graven images.

But God is Rich in mercy, dispire your rebelion, He is willing to forgive you. The basis of that forgiveness is Jesus Christ's death on the cross. He paid the wrath of God on behalf of all who will humble themselves, repent and trust Him. Please do that today, you may not have tomorow.

Witnessing

I got the chance to preach to two young men during a break at my school. I used a curved illusioned track as a seway. Soon they realised that they had lied, stolen, committed adultery by lust and blasphemed and that they needed to repent and put their faith in Christ.

They both were serious about this, they learned what they had to do. Then I explained why I would tell them something like this. That I care about them and didn't want them to go tell hell, which is what the bible says will happen, if they are still in their sins.

They left with a feeling of awe, but I don't think they have repented yet. God please save these two young men, raise them up as men of God and faithful witnesses. In Jesus Name Amen

A New Opening

I have discovered a new opening into the gospel. I am blessed by a job, working at a High School. But in my spare time I am studying my theology degree. "what are you studying?" is a common subject. I tell them I am studying theology, they ask: "what's that?" I explain that the word comes from the two greek words: theos and logos. I explain a little of the some of the things I study in theology, then I bring up the subject of Justification By Faith. The always ask: "what is that?" What a segway into the gospel. I preach the law, and how we need to be justified, and how can that happen only through repentance and faith towards Jesus Christ.

Isn't God good, puting me in this place, at this time, to preach the gospel to a group of young people, please save them Lord

Preaching To Grade 10s

I've just got the new Million Dollar bills from www.livingwatersafrica.com and I thought I'd hand them out in one of the classes, which had before seemed receptive to tracks and the gospel. God is so gracious, that at least 3 people heard clearly the law and the gospel. First time, was a girl I'd tried to witness to before, but something else had interupted. But today we resumed and she clearly heard the gospel. She seemed very convicted. I ended it by asking "Is there any sin that you love enough that you are willing to risk hell for eternity, by doing it?"

I moved to two other girls who I'd given the Million Dollar bills to. These two were not as receptive, but they listened and I left them thinking about their sin and the Saviour's kindness in forgiving us.

Pray for all of them because others in the class heard me as we talked. One girl was heard to say: "thats Sh**". Pray for them all, that they will be saved. In Jesus' name

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I pray that today you will give me another opportunity to preach today. Lord I pray for my youth, that you would save them in Jesus name. But yet Lord, I pray that today I might open my mouth boldly so that they might hear your law and gospel, that they might be saved. In Jesus precious name. Amen

A Good Day's Fishing

I had a good day fishing outside the school today. The scene was outside the school after the bell had gone. I was talking to some girls from one of my classes. The girl in particular was asking about some questions about general things of Christian life. Then she told me that everyone was surprised that she was a Christian, when she told them. I talked about a few things such as growing in Holiness. Then I used the segway: I told her that if she regularly shared her faith with her friends, they wouldn't have to guess if she was a Christian or not, then I said, I would show her what I meant. So I gathered three of her friends and shared them the gospel. At one point I gave them the Good News/ Bad News tract. A couple of other girls asked for one, and I gave it to them. By the time I had finished sharing with the first group, two others had wondered up and they had just finished reading the tract I gave them. So I shared the Gospel with them also. All six had such a look of conviction that I was so encouraged that the Gospel was going deep.

I used an analogy today which was useful today. I share it with you, if you find it useful: imagine if I put a chip in your brain that recorded every thing you see, think and say for just a week. Then I took those images and sounds and thoughts and projected the screen in the school assembly. The feelings you would have is a small part of the shame of what judgement day will be like.

God bless, please pray for those girls;

God Has Been Very Faithful

God has been very faithful to me - a sinner. He has given me much opportunity recently. Let me give you one example. One of my class's was argueing about the bible, was it true or not. Lord thank you, what a segway, I had the opportunity to share the gospel with about 4 of them. Then the next day the kids wanted to keep talking so I shared the gospel again. At least 6 of them heard it. I saw much conviction in some of their faces. So I pray that that the gospel would come in and change them.

School Witnessing

Praise God, praise God, praise God

Thanks be to God, so far today, He has allowed me to preach the twice, first to two guys who claim to be Christians. I don't know if they are or not, but they don't seem to understand it so I was priveliged. Then I preached it to a young man, which arose from using Gospel tracks.

The first one arose when the kids wanted to research their heros. The hero in question was 50Cent. And he believed he was a hero because he had reformed from drugs and stuff. From that everything followed, looking at the law and then a bit of grace.

The second happened when I gave a Million Dollar Bill and then a Good News/Bad News track. He asked why I work where I work. Things progressed quickly so that when I said I was an evangelist, he asked me what that was. I used that to springboard into the spiritual. I gave him the the GN/BN track and asked him to read it, which he did. I then took him through the Law and Grace. I could see the contriction on his face. I asked him if he there is any reason why he should not repent and put his faith in Jesus. He said there is no reason...

Thank the Lord

Facebook Evangelism

I've been chatting with a friend of mine on Facebook. It was very evangelistic, He was thinking about life and stuff. We discussed death and its cause. And then I asked, 'do you believe in heaven and hell, and where will you go when you die?' He told me he wasn't sure, but then asked what is probably the best segway into the Law: 'but do I really deserve hell?' I took him through the Ten Commandments, and he admitted to me that he had lied, stolen and committed adultery and blasphemy. His next statement was so good, bearing in mind what the bible says about the mouth being stopped, I was so pleased to see the contrition in the words: 'so I'm in big trouble.' I could see he was humbled before God so I gave him the good news and grace of God, the cross etc.

I don't know if he was converted but by what he said gives me hope he now understands that he needs to repent and put his faith in Christ, and I ask you to pray for him and his salvation.
God bless

Witnessing At Work

I was blessed today to witness to two young Grade 9s who I teach at my School. One has been brought up Catholic, but doesn't agree with that church, and the other isn't anything, but believe in reincarnation.

What was interesting was that the conversation was started by a comment that I wasn't wearing the WWJD bangle that I usually do. One of the girls asked about it and thus the conversation developed. They both had several questions but by the grace of God I was able to answer all of them and always bring it back to the important things, the Law and the Gospel. We parted on aimable terms and they promised to think about their sins, and God's kindness to save them from the sins. The other big think that they didn't get was HOW God saves, through Jesus, what did dying on the cross have to do with it. I was able to share how Your sins are punished on the cross and Jesus (when you are born again) gives you His righteousness.

Pray for these two, any Christian reading this that they would come to the knowledge of the Lord in repentance and faith.

The Blind Man

I pose this question to anyone who may be reading it:

I blind man is walking towards a high cliff. What is more loving: redirecting the blind man away from the cliff or giving him some food for the walk?

The answer is obvious: redirecting him away, because if he goes over the cliff he will die! Ponder that for a while, I will expound and explain it in the next post...

Gospel

I am going to take this opportunity to preach the gospel to any who may read it. This is the structure of any witness encounter I would have with anyone and follows the Way Of The Master.

Do you considder yourself to be a good person, I'll bet (if you are not a Christian) you answered yes, basically I am a good person. OK that doesn't suprise me because the bible says that everyone sees themself as good in their own eyes. But here is the test, using the objective standard of goodness, according to the bible. The standard is The Ten Commandments: and I'll only look at 4.

1: have you ever told a lie? yes? what do you call someone who tells lies? A liar right.

2: ever stolen anything regardless of value. The command is: Thou shalt not steal. taken anything that isn't yours and you have broken this one, what do you call someone who steals? no not a stealer, its a theif.

3: Ever used God's name in vain. That is called blasphemy and this is very serious in God's sight. The bible says that He (God) will not see him (you) guitless who takes his name in vain.

4: Ever committed adultery, probaby not, but listen to what Jesus said: If you even look with lust (sexual desire) at someone else, you are committing adultery with that person in your heart. Ever looked with lust. God sees you as an adulterer.

If you have done any or all of these things, you are then a self admitted lying, theiving, blasphomous adulterer at heart. This is not me judging you, this is what you are admitting to doing if you answered yes to any of the above questions. Now the question is: If God judges you by this standard, would you be found innocent or guilty? and on that basis, heaven or hell?

Many of you probably said 'guilty' on that basis, but 'heaven' for the second? Why? Why sould the just judge of all the universe let you free from your crime. God's grace and forgiveness cannot apply to you because you have no basis to receive them. If you have any other reason, feel free to comment, I will try and answer them all.

Basically this is the problem in a nutshell. You have committed sin. God the Just cannot ignore and forgive or leave unpunished, sin. Therefore you would be condemned to hell, what you (and I for that matter) deserve. But there is some good news (gospel) also. The bible discribes that this same judge is rich in mercy. He has provided a way which guilty sinners like us can be forgiven. Jesus Christ, the God man himself, died on the cross, taking the punishment you deserve. The bible says that he was bruised for our inequities. He stepped in to the courtroom, where you have just been found guitly, and says: I will pay your punishment.

What does this mean? You can be forgiven, made right with God, and allowed into heaven, on the basis of Jesus' righteousness. Its the great exchange, He takes your sin, and gives you His righteousness. There is no amount of work that can be done to earn salvation, but to receive it there are TWO things that you must do. You must repent (turn from sin to God, apologise) and put your faith in Christ, like you put you faith in a parachute to save you from death from falling. Then HE will save you. And please do it today, you can't guarantee you'll have tomorow, you could be dead before then... so today is the day of salvation, repentance and faith.