“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19
Hello Friends:
Welcome to the Soulwinnersr.us website. If you’ve been like me you’re almost obsessed with everything royal in the last couple of weeks since the death of Queen Elizabeth of England. Monday morning I woke up at 3 AM and didn’t realize that Queen Elizabeth’s two funeral services and three elaborate processions were starting before 6 AM EST due to the five-hour time difference.
I watched the first procession from Westminster Hall where the queen lay in state, to Westminster Abbey for the main big funeral. Then there was the procession through the streets of London.
I then went to visit a friend, and together we watched the hearse procession to Windsor Castle about twenty-four miles away. As they approached the castle they slowed down to an elaborate walking parade march about two and one/half miles up the hill to the castle. A second funeral service was held there at St. Georges Chapel.
The regal nature of the Queen and her heirs was on full display up to and during the funeral services and walking processions. Leaders from all over the world came to pay their respects.
Many stories are told and videos are made of the Queen and her royal family, and how in awe most people are of them. I just watched a video of Prince William and Kate with an unannounced visit to a British radio station. One disc jockey knew about the visit, but others did not. Their jaws dropped when the royals entered the room.
Dee laughs at my almost obsession the last couple of weeks reading about and watching royal family events. I knew about the royal family—everyone does. But I never knew the royal family as I do after the last couple of weeks. I’ve learned some of the good, the bad, and the ugly happenings of their lives.
I go back and forth from thinking that the whole nature of British royalty is lavish “pomp and circumstance”—to wondering what it would be like to live as they do.
Well, as Christians, we don’t need to envy the royal heirs, as we don’t need to envy heads of state, and other well-known rich celebrities and sports stars. God’s word clearly states why in Galatians 4:4-7:
“When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying “Abba, Father! So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.”
Can you take it in? We are, as Christians, royal heirs to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. We will one day live in a mansion and a city that makes Buckingham Palace and London look puny. You can read all about them in John 14 and Revelation 21.
Until I see you next time keep sharing the wonderful love of Jesus,
Arlen
"Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19
Hello Friends:
Welcome to the Soulwinnersr.us website. I’m variating away from the Discipleship Point posts this week because of a scripture passage that I felt was a very important one at this time. I entitled it simply, “Ambassadors for Christ!”.
Many people these days are advocating for believers to be verbally silent about our faith, and just let our lives do the talking. Their favorite quote is from St. Francis of Assisi who said, “Do all you can to preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words." I won’t go against St. Francis of Assisi as a Christian believer, and I certainly don’t know exactly the context of his quote. But I think 2 Corinthians 5:20 refutes the notion of never using words to share the gospel. It states, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “ambassador” as the following: "An authorized representative or messenger." Synonyms for ambassador are the following: agent, delegate, emissary, envoy, legate, minister.
Many of you remember Shirley Temple as a child movie star in the 1930s. She was the biggest box office attraction during that time. Ms. Temple retired from acting in 1950 at the age of 22. She then did a variety of other jobs, but after sharing an interest in politics she was appointed as a delegate to the United Nations in 1969. Then after several other political appointments, she was appointed as an American ambassador to Ghana, and later to Czechoslovakia.
Shirley Temple’s three main duties as an ambassador living in Ghana and Czechoslovakia were the following:
- Protect American citizens living in or visiting Ghana and Czechoslovakia.
- Support trade and prosperity between America and Ghana or Czechoslovakia.
- Work for goodwill and peace between America and Ghana or Czechoslovakia.
To perform these three main duties, it’s impossible to entertain the idea that Shirley Temple never verbally talked on behalf of America about American beliefs, ideals, and political positions.
Likewise, as “ambassadors for Christ” in Christ’s kingdom, we should be always verbally advocating or “pleading on Christ’s behalf” for others. Our main plea to them is, “Be reconciled to God.” After they are reconciled to God they can expect His protection, His provision, and His goodwill and peace.
Until I see you next time keep sharing the wonderful love of Jesus,
Arlen
“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19.
Hello Friends:
Welcome to the Soulwinnersr.us website. Last time was my third Discipleship series post entitled “Discipleship Point 3: Don’t Go Ridin’ on That Long Black Train!” We went from the “who” of discipleship two posts ago, to the first “why” of discipleship the last time. I didn’t want to end the “why” of discipleship on a negative note. I want it to end on a resoundingly positive note. So, I entitled this week’s post “Discipleship Point 4: Heading Toward the Celestial City!” It’s about sharing the wonderful happiness with those we disciple that we can have on earth now, and especially the almost beyond explanation, wonderful happiness in what John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress” labels “The Celestial City”. The celestial city is a term Bunyan used for the New Jerusalem found in Revelation 21.
I’m very interested in evangelism and discipleship because I believe very strongly in what the Bible says about the stakes involved. Last year a missionary-minded man on Facebook came against my Facebook posts on a very regular basis. He opposed my assertion of the importance of Christians sharing their faith verbally. He claimed that living a godly life was much more important than verbal sharing.
I questioned him on his assertions based on what Jesus said in the Great Commission about going and making disciples, not just setting a good example. And the fact that according to Jesus, the final destination of either heaven or hell is on the line.
The man said, and I’m paraphrasing, “What you see on earth is what you get.” In other words, he was saying I was too heavenly minded to be any earthly good. I admit that I am very heavenly-minded, and I don’t apologize for being so.
You see, I want to see the Celestial City or New Jerusalem if you will, with its streets and walls of gold clear as glass. I want to walk down the main street with the River of Life flowing down the middle of it. I want to partake of the Tree of Life on each side of the river that brings healing to the nations. I want to live in a place where there is no more death, fighting, or wars. And I desperately want to share the gospel openly, and disciple others so that they can experience the Celestial City with me in the next life.
A verse I read this morning firmed my conviction about the open verbal sharing of the gospel, and discipleship of others that will guide them toward heaven. In 1 Corinthians 15:19 Paul wrote, “If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.” In other words, Paul was saying living for Christ in this life is important, but the end goal is heading toward, and leading others to . . . The Celestial City!
So, until I see you next time, keep sharing the wonderful love of Jesus,
Arlen
