DISCIPLESHIP POINT 6: ENGAGING IN A COSMIC BATTLE!

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19.

Hello Friends:

     Did you realize that we as Christians are engaged in a cosmic battle? We'll talk about it in a little bit.
     Welcome to the Soulwinnersr.us website. Last time we talked about fruit production, based on Jesus’ discourse in John 15. In that chapter, he likened himself to a vine, and we as Christians are the branches that bear much fruit if we abide in Him. I think the topic of fruitfulness is needed and interesting, but perhaps rather boring.
     I just finished watching the “Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power” TV movie series. I’m not suggesting it as a must-watch series. Some of you might question the fact that I watched it at all. The redeeming quality for me is the struggle of good against evil. I would suggest to you, however, that the intensity and importance of the Lord of the Rings TV movies pales in comparison to reality.
     I think it’s amusing that movie lovers and gamers live vicariously through movies and games such as Lord of the Rings. They watch and follow movie and gaming heroes, and don’t realize there is a bigger drama—or game in play. They resort to a shallow make-believe world, instead of the hard-hitting reality that is facing them squarely in the face, but they don’t realize it.
     Satan has done a very good job of making us not think of the cosmic importance of our lives. We think that life on this earth is all that we have—and we don’t realize that our very lives and the lives of our loved ones are teetering on the brink of disaster.
     I entitled this post “Discipleship Point 6: Engagement In A Cosmic Battle!” It’s not a physical war with guns and weapons, but the implications of this war are not just earthly. The Bible says the implications are cosmic, which is defined by Webster’s dictionary as “relating to the cosmos, the extraterrestrial vastness, or the universe in contrast to the earth alone.” In other words, if something is cosmic, it’s much greater than anything we experience here on earth, or in the case of Lord of the Rings, “middle earth”.
     We as Christians aren’t engaged in just some namby-pamby exercise. We can’t just be nice and sweet, and the world will come to us for answers to the tough questions they face. Jesus and His disciples had an edge to them. They weren’t going to back down when the lives of people were at stake. They realized they were in a war of cosmic proportions.
Paul described it in Ephesians 6:10-18. Here it is:

“Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints."

     There you have it! Do you believe that today’s battle for the souls of people is more intense than the one staged on Middle Earth in Lord of the Rings? This is because Lord of the Rings is just fantasy fiction, albeit very intense and dramatic. It was written by J.R.R. Tolkien, a friend of C.S. Lewis, who also wrote the very famous Chronicles of Narnia Christian fantasy fiction.
     It's time to get mad at the enemy of our souls. Galadriel in Lord of the Rings got mad at Lord Sauron, the evil enemy out to destroy the elves, dwarves, Harfoots, and Southlander and Numenorian humans who tried to get in his way. Sauron wanted to establish the dark kingdom of Mordor, inhabited by savage Orcs and other evil followers.
     Satan is, however, much eviler than Lord Sauron. He wants to lull people into a stupor—then destroy them and send them to an eternity in hell.
     In Lord of the Rings, the prevailing thought of many was to not resist the inevitable. Many people today joke about hell, saying, “At least I’ll be in good company.” They don’t have a clue what they’re dealing with—and with whom they’re dealing!
     All seems rosy and good now, but are we aware of the evil forces at work in the world? We are in a world where leaders propose war, destruction, and killing of innocent human lives to get what they want. How would it be if a tank went rolling down your road ready to annihilate you if you resist—and even annihilate you if you don’t resist?
     What about the unease in the Middle East? What about the hatred of Israel, a country about the size of New Jersey? You may say, “Arlen, those things are far away from us.” Well, then let's get closer to home.
     What about the killing of innocent people in our cities, and even in our own towns? I knew a young woman that was killed by a serial killer in Ashland, Ohio where I worked. I was very angry at the man who took the life of this vulnerable woman with mental illness—who was even paranoid on a good day.
     Also, my brother one year older than I got shot and blinded in 2001. It was the same year evil men used planes to kill people in the trade towers and the Pentagon. Their goal was to bring terror to the people of the United States by killing many, many people in one day.
     I know that when my brother was shot I was devastated. Then about two months later I found out that he had become 100% blind. That was almost too much for me to bear. All because one evil man decided to kill and destroy the lives of people that got in his way.
     I also had cancer in 2001. Cancer is another evil destroyer, and thankfully God spared me. My first cousin, however, had the same type of cancer and died.
     Evil forces are all around us, whether we want to believe it—or not. Whether we have experienced it—or not. The reality is that we are all going to experience evil forces at some point in our lives, whether we want to admit it—or not.
     This is not a time for “the power of positive thinking” that many people promote and believe in. We are in a battle of cosmic proportion. Are we going to rise and meet the challenge as Paul encouraged in Ephesians 6? Or, are we going to stand passively by and let Satan continue to kill and destroy us and those around us?
     I want to—and pray that many others of you--choose the Ephesians 6 option to do as Paul said. I want to join forces with you and many others, to engage in a cosmic battle to combat, as Paul said, "the cosmic powers of this darkness."

So, until I see you next time, keep sharing the wonderful love of Jesus,

Arlen

DISCIPLESHIP POINT 4: HEADING TOWARD THE CELESTIAL CITY!

“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

DISCIPLESHIP POINT 3: DON'T GO RIDIN' ON THAT LONG BLACK TRAIN!

 

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19.

Hello Friends:

     Welcome to the Soulwinnersr.us website. Last week was my second Discipleship series post entitled “Discipleship Point 2: Do You Have the Heart?” It was about the fact that discipleship is a very important, needed task, but it takes a great heart for people and doesn’t come easily or naturally to us in the church as a point of emphasis. It is something that takes our great willingness and a calling from God for the task. 

     Last week was about the “who” of being called to do the discipling. This week we are going to address the “why” of discipleship. This post is going to be short and focused. The title of my post this week is “Discipleship Point 3: Don’t Go Ridin’ on That Long Black Train!” It’s based on the popular Josh Turner song.

“Long Black Train”  by Josh Turner

There's a long black train comin' down the line

Feedin' off the souls that are lost and cryin'

Rails of sin, only evil remains

Watch out, brother, for that long black train

[Verse 2]

Look to the heavens, you can look to the skies

You can find redemption starin’ back into your eyes

There is protection and there’s peace the same

Burnin’ your ticket for that long black train

[Chorus]

'Cause there's victory in the Lord, I say

Victory in the Lord

Cling to the Father and His Holy name

And don't go ridin' on that long black train

[Verse 3]

There’s an engineer on that long black train

Makin’ you wonder if the ride is worth the pain

He’s just a-waitin’ on your heart to say

“Let me ride on that long black train”

[Chorus]

But you know there's victory in the Lord, I say

Victory in the Lord

Cling to the Father and His Holy name

And don't go ridin' on that long black train

[Bridge]

Well, I can hear the whistle from a mile away

It sounds so good but I must stay away

That train is a beauty, makin' everybody stare

But its only destination is the middle of nowhere

[Chorus]

But you know there's victory in the Lord, I say

Victory in the Lord

Cling to the Father and His Holy name

And don't go ridin' on that long black train

[Outro]

I said cling to the Father and His Holy name

And don't go ridin' on that long black train

Yeah, watch out brother for that long black train

That devil's a-drivin' that long black train

      So, in a nutshell, what’s the best way for people to avoid “Ridin’ the Long Black Train” to hell?

1. They hear the gospel message of Jesus Christ.
2. They are touched by the gospel message.
3. They allow the gospel message and God’s Holy Spirit to change their lives.
4. You and I help lead them, with repeated encouragement and standing beside them, away from hell, and toward Jesus and heaven.

     So, discipleship itself of people isn’t the end goal. We don’t disciple others just because we are called by God to do it, although being called is a prerequisite of discipling others.

     The goal of discipleship is to help people avoid “The Long Black Train” to hell . . . and lead them toward the light of the Son of God, Jesus, and ultimately to a wonderful eternal life with Him in heaven!

Until I see you next time, keep sharing the wonderful love of Jesus,

Arlen

DISCIPLESHIP POINT 1: WORLD-CLASS CHRISTIANS, TRAINED BY WORLD-CLASS SHEPHERDS"

 

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19.

Hello Friends:

     Welcome to the Soulwinnersr.us website. Last week we talked about the final destination of political leaders and commentators. In today’s culture, I feel we are looking too much toward leaders and commentators, or influencers to save us. The concern is that most of the ones that we look toward are in a real sense lost themselves . . . if they haven’t given over their lives to Jesus. By that post, I was in no way saying that Christians should not involve themselves in politics. I was saying, however, that politics in all cases should take a backseat to the seeking of God’s direction for our lives.
     Today and in the coming weeks I want to explore a concern that I pray about daily, or almost daily, and that is discipleship. I entitled my first post, “Discipleship Point 1: World-Class Christians, Trained by World-Class Shepherds?” I realize the impact the lack of meaningful discipleship in my own life has had, and I want to shed some light on the topic.
     I plan to let the Holy Spirit guide me with this next series of posts about discipleship, and likely as I go in the future when I do a series. In the past when I did a series about a topic, I tried to outline and title every session ahead of time, but I often felt God changing my direction in most of them. This time I plan to pray and allow His wonderful Holy Spirit to guide me as I go.
     Are you like me? Are you always looking for that elusive guide, or coach, if you will, to speak into my life his experience and knowledge . . . a guide or coach that has been through life’s battles, and has become an expert in how to train others to become better disciples to face life’s battles.
     Last week was the Track and Field World Championships. I was drawn to watching certain world-class athletes, some that won, and some that didn’t win. I looked mainly at United States athletes, because I’m from the United States, although there were others, like Armand Duplantis from Sweden, who set an all-time world record in pole vaulting at 21 feet 4¼ inches. I was especially drawn to watching and exploring Sydney McGlaughlin, who set a world record in the 400-meter hurdles.
     Track and field championships have been around for over two thousand years, even before Christ was born. Track and field in most recent times, like the Olympics, that measure precise times and distances, has been around for over 100 years. So to be the best in that span of over 100 years is a phenomenal accomplishment. All of us have heard the term “blood, sweat, and tears”. That’s what these athletes go through most days in the year.
     I watched a video of Sydney McGlaughlin, an outspoken Christian, where she wept with the pressure of being the best in the world ever in her event, but being scrutinized every step of the way about her Christianity, her biracial heritage, and her social media presence. Last week after Sydney set the best time ever in a 400-meter hurdle race, she gave glory to God and cited Hebrews 4:16, “Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.” She said she meditated on this verse before and during the race.
     Sydney, at 22 years of age, didn’t get to where she is at by happenstance. She had coaches at every point along the way. She started with a high school coach. Then a college coach. And most recently professional coaches, currently Bob Kersee, the most prolific world-class hurdles coach in United States history. He is the husband of Jackie Joyner-Kersee, one of the most accomplished women track and field athletes of all time.
     I’ve touched on this topic repeatedly, so many of you might get tired of it, and may not even like it. But, I firmly believe we are missing a specific mark in discipleship. Here it is: Why is it that Christianity, by far the most important race anyone can ever run, has taken a backseat to so many other endeavors?
     And I will end my post by emphatically asking: Why is it not our goal to train world-class Christians by world-class shepherds?

So, until I see you next time, keep sharing the wonderful love of Jesus,
Arlen

THE FINAL DESTINATION OF POLITICAL LEADERS AND COMMENTATORS?

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19.

Hello Friends:

     Welcome to the Soulwinnersr.us website.
     I’m a conservative Christian, but I frequently get letters from the Republican Party. I get them because in years past I wanted to vote in a primary, so I registered as a Republican. As you know, to vote in a primary election one must declare for one political party or the other. My conservative values mostly aligned with those of the Republican Party, so they perceived, from my party declaration, that I am indeed a Republican. Thus, the many letters.
     I admit that I get a little confused with the whole political . . . ‘thing.’ America and the world are so vast with so many people, with so many different political ideologies and opinions, that I usually steer away from trying to think too hard about them all. If I think too hard about them, my mind goes into what I will call . . . ‘political information overload.’
     With this political information overload, I’m so thankful that I have God and his Bible instruction manual to use for guidance and as a steadying influence. You see, the Bible firmly tells me what type of life I am to live, and I think God is personally telling me not to delve too deeply into debates, like political opinion debates. I realize that God calls leaders and experts to delve into these debates on my behalf. And I’m so grateful for them, and I will pray fervently for them.
     I realize some leaders and experts have political opinions very strongly against my own. But I must cling to the trust that God is 100% in control, which He states repeatedly in His Word. So, unless God calls me to state my political opinions, I plan to keep them to myself. And, again, I plan to pray fervently and have reverence for all leaders, even those with opinions strongly against my own.
     So, where does this post fit into the evangelism and soulwinning emphasis of the Soulwinnersr.us website? It fits in because God tells us to pray for our leaders, all of them, regardless of their political persuasion. But I mourn for people on both sides of the political aisle . . . IF, they haven’t personally committed their lives to Jesus.
     Also, these days we have many people, or pundits coming out of the woodwork to state their political opinions. Some are very dynamic, witty, and creative and have gained huge followings. Some, however, use what the Bible calls “foul” or “filthy” language, “obscene and foolish talking”, and “crude joking”. In these cases, I turn away from them immediately, no matter if they have what might be considered good conservative opinions.
     Many pundits or commentators I think speak out of fear, but mostly out of concern about the direction our country is taking. I agree with many of their opinions. But one thing is very certain. I have heard very few of them claim they have committed their lives to Jesus.
     So those of us with conservative Christian beliefs, I want you to think of your favorite political leader or commentator:

• Jim Jordan
• Greg Gutfeld
• Matt Gaetz
• Tucker Carlson
• Sean Hannity
• even, former President Trump.

     Then realize that the political leader or commentator, no matter how dynamic and popular they are, is heading toward the same final destination if they haven’t committed their lives to Jesus. It’s a sobering thought.

So, until I see you next time, keep sharing the wonderful love of Jesus,
Arlen

EVANGELISM QUESTION 7: WHAT ABOUT THE WORD 'ALWAYS'?

 

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19.

Hello Friends:

     Welcome to the Soulwinnersr.us website. Last week my post was entitled “Evangelism Question 6: What About Wearing God On Your Sleeve?” We weighed the pros and cons of wearing clothing with Christian messages.
     This week my post is the last in the Evangelism Question series. I entitled it “Evangelism Question 7: What About the Word, ‘Always’?" I was planning to do a post this week to refocus on a post I did a little over a year ago entitled “Witness in Our Sleep.” But then I came upon the word “always” in 1 Peter 3:15 where Peter tells his listeners, “. . . always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you . . . “
     Synonyms for the word always are the following: consistently, constantly, continually, ever, forever, incessantly, invariably, night and day, perpetually, and unfailingly.
     In other words, we don’t get to take a break from a command to do something, ‘always’. I think churches and church leaders don’t stress the word ‘always’ enough, especially as it pertains to the verse mentioned in 1 Peter.
     Let’s look at twelve of the commands, or instructions in the almost one hundred times that the Bible writers encouraged their followers to do something, ‘always’, I’m not going to cite all the verses because that might take all day. All you have to do is to go to a computer or phone Bible app and search the word, ‘always’:

1. Always pray to, seek, and keep our eyes on God. There are many, many verses about these, too numerous to mention them all.
2. Always rejoice, praise, and give thanks to God. Again, too numerous to mention the verses.
3. Always be reverent and fear God. This instruction is found in Proverbs 23:17, 28:14, and Philippians 2:12.
4. Always let God guide us with help from His Holy Spirit. Psalm 16:8.
5. Always learn, obey and keep God’s statutes and commands. Just read Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, to get an idea of the importance of this command. There are other commands, like The Great Commission command, that are largely ignored in today’s church.
6. Always strive to have a clear conscience before God and man. Paul wrote this in Acts 24:16.
7. Always excel in the Lord’s work. Paul instructs us to do this in 1 Corinthians 15:58.
8. Always do good works. Dorcas in Acts 9:36 was commended for always doing good works, and was then restored from death to life by Peter through God’s Holy Spirit power.
9. Always be confident that while we are alive in the body, we are away (physically) from the Lord. Paul several times in 2 Corinthians 4 and 5 refers to the importance of always recognizing Jesus’ death and resurrection, even saying we should “always carry the death of Jesus in our bodies.” I’m not claiming to know exactly what Paul is saying here, except that we are to realize that in this life we are heading toward physical death, as did Jesus, but that eternal life awaits us that will last forever.
10. Always let our speech be gracious, seasoned with salt. Paul commanded this in Colossians 4:6.
11. Always allow the peace of God to indwell us. 2 Thessalonians 3:16.
12. And last, but not least, the verse that started my quest in the first place to explore the word ‘always’: Again, it’s found in 1 Peter 3:15. “. . .always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you . . ." Not just some of the time, but ‘always’.

     So, why doesn’t the church, and why don’t church leaders focus on these twelve, what I will call always commands? In my opinion, they should be almost obsessive about giving instruction and encouragement to always be ready, to be reverent, to excel, etc.,
     In almost every meeting. Peter, Paul, Barnabas, Silas, Philip, and many other early church leaders encouraged, and I will use an always synonym, 'incessantly' to do these twelve, and more ‘always’ commands.
     You might say to me, “Arlen, with this ‘always’ business, you’re heaping on me burdens that are too difficult for anyone to accomplish.” I’ll respond to that assertion by quoting John in 1 John 5:2-3: “By this, we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome."
     To do God’s will and to keep His commands do not heap burdens on us. But they provide us tremendous freedom and liberty of knowing we are 'always’, in His will.

So, until I see you next time, keep sharing the wonderful love of Jesus,

Arlen

EVANGELISM QUESTION 6: WHAT ABOUT WEARING GOD ON YOUR SLEEVE?

 

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19.

Hello Friends:

     Welcome to the Soulwinnersr.us website. Last week my post was “Evangelism Question 5: What About Using Gospel Tracts?” We weighed the pros and cons of using gospel tracts to share the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ.
     This week my post is “Evangelism Question 6: What About Wearing God On Your Sleeve?” It’s about the question of wearing clothing that have Christian messages on them. I currently have about 15-20 t-shirts with Christian messages. I’ve also worn out a number more and threw them away . . . and some of my current ones are wearing out. I have favorite ones and usually wear those more than others.
     I grew up Mennonite and my Dad was Amish. In my world, there was very little wearing of clothing with Christian messages. Although some people might make a point that Amish people with their clothing are a prime example of wearing God on their sleeves.
     I’m not sure why I ever started wearing t-shirts with Christian messages on them. I never thought of it as being wrong or bad. I thought of it as simply being open about my faith in Christ.
     Many people including Christians, however, do believe wearing Christian message apparel is wrong. They say openly that they think the person wearing it is pretentious and shallow. I want to explore that topic further by sharing two opposing points of view from online articles I’ve read. I don’t want to get too in-depth about it, and come down too strong on one side or the other. But I would love your opinions about both points of view.

1. Point of View 1: In The Independent: Voice for Southern Utah, an unnamed guest contributor wrote an article in July 2017 entitled “Spiritual Activism: Do You Wear Religion on Your Sleeve?” The author questioned the motivation for people wearing apparel with Christian messages on them. He wrote, “It is always tempting to wear our religion on our sleeve, but do not confuse pithy sayings, faith t-shirts, and bumper stickers with spiritual transformation.” He went on to say, “We are to be in relationship, and our religious values should find us, even in our differences, being brought together rather than pushed apart. Otherwise, our faith is about self-validation, not relationship.” In other words, to this author t-shirts and car bumper stickers with Christian messages are more about self-validation and puts a wedge of separation between us and people that are lost who we are trying to share the gospel message with.
2. Point of View 2: The Reformation21 website shared a different perspective. In September 2014 LBrown wrote “Wearing Christianity on Your Sleeve: What Helps Evangelism?” He quoted hip-hop artist Shai Linne’s lyrics in the rap song “Taste and See”. The lyrics say, "The world is not subtle, why should we be subliminal?" LBrown wrote "that it was a good question - why?" He wrote “I believe many Christians are conditioned to retreat into the cocoon of quietness. "Don't talk about religion," many people say. Therefore, to keep peace with our neighbor in the world, we embrace that mantra." But LBrown quoted Shai Linne’s rap song again, "The world is not subtle, why should we be subliminal?"

     I haven’t firmed up entirely my point of view on the matter of wearing God on my sleeve. I’ve had experiences where a particular t-shirt I wore caused people to ask about it, or comment on it positively. On the other hand, I haven’t been personally approached by anyone who said the Christian t-shirt I wore was offensive to them and commented on it negatively. At this point in time, until it’s proven to me that wearing t-shirts with a gospel message is wrong and harmful, I will likely continue to wear them.
     What about you. Where do you come down on the question of “wearing God on your sleeve”?

So, until I see you next time, keep sharing the wonderful love of Jesus,
Arlen

EVANGELISM QUESTION 5: WHAT ABOUT USING GOSPEL TRACTS?

 

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19.

Hello Friends:

     Welcome to the Soulwinnersr.us website. It’s been about two to three weeks since we discussed “Evangelism Question 4: Is It Time to Open Up?” Last week I did a “Let’s Roll!” post to encourage myself, and other Christians, to take life-saving action to prevent lost people from going to an eternity in hell. This week I want to discuss the strategy of using gospel tracts to share the gospel with other people. I entitled the post “Evangelism Question 5: What About Using Gospel Tracts?”
     Gospel tracts have been around for many, many years. Companies and individual people, like myself, develop them to make it easier to share the wonderful gospel message with lost people. Here are some examples of gospel tracts I have, some I’ve used, and some I haven’t used.
     Today we’re going to share a few pros and cons of using gospel tracts.

Pros of using gospel tracts:

1. Gospel tracts contain God’s written Word. The Bible is clear that God’s Word will not return “void”, and it will “accomplish” what it says. Isaiah 55:11.
2. Gospel tracts can establish a point of connection to another person and make it easier to share with that person. Especially if we’re uncomfortable sharing specifics without something written to lean on as a reference.
3. Gospel tracts given to a lost person will allow that person to take it with them to mull over later.

Cons of using gospel tracts:

1. Gospel tracts can be very impersonal, especially if just left lying in public places. Let’s be real! How often have you and I kept, and taken to heart, a tract that was just left lying in a public place?
2. Piggybacking off the previous con, giving a gospel tract to someone with no interpersonal interaction doesn’t allow that person to experience up close and personal the Holy Spirit living inside of you and me as Christians.
3. Tracts can oftentimes be long and wordy. If you’re a non-reader, like me, and have many pieces of literature and mailings to read each day, a gospel tract may seem like just one more piece of junk mail to be discarded.

     Have you ever used gospel tracts to share the gospel? What was your experience like? Were you scared? Do you feel they helped, or hindered you?
     I’d like to hear what you think. I know that many of you are watching my videos but have never responded to me about them, except perhaps a “Like”, which I appreciate. Maybe you think by responding I’m going to hold you accountable in some way to begin evangelizing. I’m pretty easy-going about things . . . and I can certainly identify with your feelings. I went many, many years with very little reaching out to others with the gospel. I’m trying to change that in myself.
     I’ll be honest. I do want evangelization of the lost to have a snowball effect . . . where more and more Christians feel an urging in their soul to do it, perhaps by using gospel tracts . . . or just by interpersonal engagement without tracts.
     What choice do Christians have when thinking about loved family members, friends, and others heading downhill toward hell? I realize that many people, including some church and ministry leaders, are these days trying to minimize the reality of a literal hell. But that’s a discussion for another day.

So, until I see you next time, keep sharing the wonderful love of Jesus,
Arlen

EVANGELISM QUESTION 4: IS IT TIME TO OPEN UP?

 

"Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19.

Hello Friends:

     Welcome to the Soulwinnersr.us website. Last week we discussed what were the influences in our lives that directed us toward coming to Jesus. I gave examples in my own life of the people and things that influenced me. The sad thing to me is the fact that not one of those nine influences openly and directly shared the gospel with me. And for sure I didn’t have one person available to follow along to disciple me, as was encouraged by Jesus in Matthew 28:19. The people and things I mentioned last time as influencers made me think about there being something more to life, but none shared with me exactly how to find the something more. So that’s why my post today is entitled, “Evangelism Question 4: Is It Time to Open Up?”
     Hindsight is always 20/20 . . . but what if the influencers in my life had openly shared the gospel with me, or you, rather than to allow us to come to Christ by a type of learning by osmosis process? And what if they had followed along with us to disciple us?

     I don’t fault the influencers in my life. They were never taught and encouraged to openly share the gospel. And they were never taught and encouraged to disciple ones like me after accepting Christ. But I do fault the church, and church leaders. I don’t, however, want to be dogmatic in advocating punishment for the church and church leaders for their failures. On the other hand, I want to be a change agent, one of many, who turns the church around in this area.
     Let’s start by asking WHY did we stop openly sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, and teaching and encouraging others to do so? I have a few of my own thoughts, but I also welcome your thoughts about why:

1. Feeling inadequate to share. The gospel message and the Bible are things you and I will never understand 100%. I think God made it that way. The mystery and intrigue of the gospel message is what makes it so wonderful. We never know it completely, and we can constantly learn more and more about it.
2. Feeling ill at ease sharing the gospel with others. I took a Dallas Theological Seminary online course, and the instructor made it clear that we will likely never feel totally comfortable sharing the gospel with other people. But he made it clear that is no reason to stop doing it, and God can work in us despite our feeling of unease.
3. Somewhere along the way, church leaders stopped teaching us HOW to share the gospel, and they stopped encouraging us TO share the gospel.

     WHEN then, did we, individually and collectively, stop openly sharing the gospel message with others?

1. I don’t think anyone really knows. We do know the apostles and the early church DID openly share the life-changing message of Jesus Christ wherever they went, and whoever they spoke to, even if it meant people would go so far to put them to death for doing so.
2. I also think the “familiarity breeds contempt” type of phrase applies. Or perhaps an applicable phrase for non-sharing of the gospel might be “familiarity breeds passivity”. Remember how excited you and I were when we first started a new job, a new hobby, and even a new relationship. Then sometime later our excitement turned almost to disdain. Below are some examples of the familiarity breeds contempt or passivity concept:

• First Example: My North Central Technical College graduation in 1990 as an older adult: Up to that point I had blue collar jobs, mostly as a factory or construction worker. But after I got my degree in Social Services, I got a professional job working in community mental health, had my own office cubicle, and wore slacks and a dress shirt instead of blue jeans and a t-shirt. I loved sitting in meetings with other professionals and helping mental health clients in the community . . . instead of running a machine. After almost 29 years in that job, however, I was more than ready to retire. The increased mental health “red tape”, productivity and political correctness requirements, and incompetent co-workers led me to feel almost contempt, or passivity about my job. I went from a starry-eyed dreamer to a weary worker. Don’t get me wrong. I developed many wonderful relationships during those years, but I don’t regret retiring, especially since open evangelism on the job in community mental health was not allowed.
• Second Example: Remember when you and I first came to Christ: Remember how excited we were when we accepted Jesus as our Savior? We wanted to tell everyone we knew about what happened to us. Then over time the excitement wore off. Perhaps family and friends started giving us the cold shoulder, maybe even calling us religious fanatics. Our sharing of Christ somewhere along the line may have ground to, almost a virtual halt.
• Third Example: Over time since the Acts of the Apostles our fervor for sharing the gospel has waxed and waned. Currently it is my strong opinion that it is in a waning cycle. Many pastors and church leaders share with gusto their opinions on their beliefs about the Bible. But few share with gusto encouragement to their flock to fulfil The Great Commission.

     What then, are the steps to change from passivity to an open sharing of the gospel?

1. Admit there’s a problem. The Great Commission in the Bible is very clear. When we don’t “go, therefore, and make disciples”, as Jesus stated in Matthew 28:19, I think strongly we have a problem.
2. Prayer: In a May 16 post, I talked about the many instances where Jesus and His disciples encouraged us repeatedly to ask Him to meet our needs, and He would grant them. I quoted ten scripture passages then, and there are many more, so I’m not going to repeat them here. Would you and I agree that to openly share the gospel with a dying world is a dire need? If so, according to Jesus and his disciples, we should pray for that dire need to openly share the gospel, and He will respond and give us our request. He promised to do so.
3. Start a movement. My whole purpose of the Soulwinnersr.us website in the first place over a year ago, was to start a movement, beginning with myself, to encourage myself, and others, to begin to openly share the gospel with a dying world.

     So, there you have it. I feel very strongly that the time has come, “To Open Up” in sharing the Gospel.

So, until I see you next time, keep sharing the love of Jesus,
Arlen

EVANGELISM QUESTION 2: ESTABLISHING AND ADOPTING EVANGELISM BEST PRACTICE?

 

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19.

Hello Friends:

     Welcome to the Soulwinnersr.us website. I’m going back to the Evangelism Question series to address some evangelism questions we might have. I want to qualify that I’m not an evangelism expert, and you and I may fluctuate and differ in our opinions related to evangelism methods.
     I want to propose, however, developing a plan, or plans of action for evangelism that are the most effective. The title of my second Evangelism Question post is “Evangelism Question 2: Establishing and Adopting Evangelism Best Practice?”. "Best Practice” is a term we used in my seemingly long ago 29-year career in mental health. Merriam Webster defines it as the following:

“‘Best Practice’ is a procedure that has been shown by research and experience to produce optimal results and that is established or proposed as a standard suitable for widespread adoption.”

     In other words, for me working in mental health Supported Employment, my higher ups, which was the Ohio Department of Mental Health, established and adopted Supported Employment Best Practice procedures, which were tested and approved throughout Ohio and the United States as the best way to help people with mental health problems get and keep jobs. I had to trust that they knew best, and I tried my best to follow the outlined Supported Employment Best Practice procedures.
     More recently in sports we hear of analytics being used in making a vast variety of decisions. Analytic specialists are hired to analyze every aspect and procedure used in every corner of building the sports team, including hiring staff, and acquiring and training athletes. It’s thought that to put the best product on the field, it’s beneficial to go about it in a very systematic way. Sports teams usually have millions of dollars at stake, and most have concluded that analytics is a way to get the most bang for their buck.
     You might tell me, “Arlen, evangelism can’t be treated the same way as a sports team, a mental health center,
or a business." "Where, Arlen, is the Holy Spirit in all this?” I’m not advocating throwing out the Holy Spirit in establishing Evangelism Best Practice. And I’m not advocating using analytics as churches did in the recent past to make them more seeker sensitive. Jesus, after all, didn’t instruct the church to be seeker sensitive to make them as comfortable and non-offensive as possible. He in fact said that many people WOULD be offended and uncomfortable when presented with the Gospel message. But in Matthew 28:19 Jesus DID instruct the church to “make disciples of all nations”! And I think we should use every tool at our disposal to make disciples.
     Is it only me, or do some of the rest of you feel the church does things haphazardly under the guise of following the Holy Spirit? Or perhaps because it’s steeped in traditions that are not easily replaced?
     I’ll give you one example. Why is it that when we get past school and college, and away from our jobs, that being a part of a team in a church to “make disciples” is mostly ignored? We go to church, listen to an encouraging sermon about the wonderful blessings we have in Christ . . . which is true . . . but we’re usually never encouraged and trained to take the gospel into the world in which we live? For the most part we leave our church buildings or gatherings uninspired to go out and make a difference in the lives of people!
     I don’t have enough influence in church institutions to personally make them change their approach. But I want to be part of a movement, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to start the church to thinking about Establishing and Adopting Evangelism Best Practice.

See you next time,
Arlen

OLD FAITHFUL GEYSER!

 

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19.

Hello Friends:

     Welcome to the Soulwinnersr.us website. People from all over the United States and the world, about 4 million per year, visit the Old Faithful Geyser at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. They come to see the hot water geyser erupt well over 100 feet in the air at least 17 times per day. What is it about the geyser, and the 500 other geysers in the park that make them so interesting?
     People enjoy the spectacular beauty and phenomena of nature. Old Faithful is a natural phenomenon that is visited more than the other geysers simply because of its power and predictability. The other geysers are interesting to look at with the steam pouring out of them . . . but Old Faithful is by far the main attraction.
     Old Faithful Geyser didn’t ask to become a famous natural wonder. For many centuries it erupted in obscurity, except for the Native Indian tribes. It was discovered by American explorers in the late 1800’s, and in 1872 President Grant designated the area as a national park. If you can believe it, the first explorers and visitors used the steamy hot water of Old Faithful for the practical purpose of laundering their clothes.
     You may ask, "Arlen, why are you bringing up Old Faithful Geyser in relation to your Soulwinnersr.us website?" I’m doing it because of what I believe are three of the most beautiful and meaningful Bible passages. You’ll readily recognize them.

1. In John 4:10 Jesus asked a Samaritan woman at the well for a drink of water. She questioned why Jesus, a Jew, even talked with her: 

   Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would ask him, and he would give you living water.”

2. In John 4:13-14, after the woman didn’t understand what Jesus meant, He further explained:

   “Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up in him for eternal life."

3. Then in John 7:37-39, while addressing a large crowd, came the climax of Jesus’ discourses about living water. Here it is:

   “On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” He said this about the Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus were going to receive the Spirit, for the Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified."

     Do you get it? Literally a geyser of living water, if we believe in Jesus, can erupt from deep within us. The living water gets to the point, just like Old Faithful, where it can’t be held any longer. It will be very evident to all outsiders. In fact, it will be so evident that people will be drawn to us, just like Old Faithful. They will want to experience the living water geyser firsthand, and they will marvel at its power and predictability. They will naturally want to tell their friends about it.
     We will go from obscurity, just like Old Faithful, to becoming a destination for people to visit. We readily realize however, that just like Old Faithful’s power and predictability was provided by an outside source, our power and predictability also come from an outside source. They come from God’s living water given to us by His Holy Spirit that wells up within us.

See you next time,
Arlen

THE POWER OF ASKING AND RECEIVING!

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

Hello Friends:

     The last three weeks I have posted about superhero power.

1. “Does the Church Have Superhero Power? If Not, Why Not?"
2. “Holy Spirit Power Like A Powerful Muscle Car!”
3. “The Living, Active, Enduring Power of God’s Word!"

     Today is likely my last post about superhero power. We often talk about the power of prayer. But I want to dig a little deeper into the power of praying to an omniscient and omnipresent God.

     Omniscient means that God is all-knowing, and has infinite awareness, understanding, and insight. David, in Psalm 139:1-6 explains it more eloquently than I ever could:

“Lord, you have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I stand up;
you understand my thoughts from far away.
You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord.
You have encircled me; you have placed your hand on me.
This wondrous knowledge is beyond me.
It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.”

     Omnipresent means that God is always in all places at all times. In Psalm 139:7-14 David goes on to explain:

“Where can I go to escape your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
If I fly on the wings of the dawn
and settle down on the western horizon,
even there your hand will lead me;
your right hand will hold on to me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me,
and the light around me will be night”—
even the darkness is not dark to you.
The night shines like the day;
darkness and light are alike to you.
For it was you who created my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.
Your works are wondrous,
and I know this very well.”

     Bible passages like these two simply blow me away! But what blows me away even more is the fact that with God’s omniscience and omnipresence, that he is just waiting for us to use “The Power of Asking and Receiving!”, which is the title of my last superhero power post.
     I’m not going to elaborate long on the following ten Bible passages that explain the power of asking and receiving. The verses speak for themselves. Let them sink deep into your soul. These are not just feel-good verses. They have power to change the way we think about God.
     Also, I encourage you and I not to get hung up on the fact that our prayers haven’t been answered in the past. God’s Word is true, and we need to take them at face value. Wondrous answers to our prayers are on the way:

1. Matthew 7:7-8 and Luke 11:9-10: “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
2. Matthew 21:21-22: Jesus answered them, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you tell this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will be done. And if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
3. John 4:10 (Jesus and the Samaritan Woman): Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would ask him, and he would give you living water.”
4. John 14:12-14: “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”
5. John 15:7: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.”
6. John 15:16: “You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.”
7. John 16:23-24: “In that day you will not ask me anything. Truly I tell you, anything you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. Until now you have asked for nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.”
8. 1 John 3:21-22: “Dear friends, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive whatever we ask from him because we keep his commands and do what is pleasing in his sight.”
9. 1 John 5:14-15: “This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him.”
10. Lastly, Revelation 3:20: "See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."

     This last Revelation 3:20 passage to me is by far the greatest example of the Power of Asking and Receiving in the Bible . . . for us to ask Jesus to come into the door of our lives. And for him to enter and eat with us . . . for eternity!

See you next time,
Arlen

THE LIVING, ACTIVE, ENDURING POWER OF GOD'S WORD!

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

Hello Friends:

     Last week the post “Holy Spirit Power Like a Powerful Muscle Car” was viewed almost a record number of times . . . at least for me. I didn't use Bible verses like I usually do in my posts. But I think it was a good analogy of a weak car overhauled to be a powerful muscle car . . . being like God by His Holy Spirit overhauling a weak person to make them into a powerful person, at least powerful in his or her inner spirit.
     Today I want to WOW you with the post, “The Living, Active, Enduring Power of God's Word!" I really love the Bible, and God speaking to us from the Bible. Many of you have heard the joke about a man trying to seek God's direction by randomly opening Bible passages instead of reading the Bible systematically:

• The first passage in Matthew 27:5 reads: “Then he (Judas) went and hanged himself.”
• The second passage in Luke 10:37 reads: “Go, and do thou likewise.”
• The third passage in John 13:27 reads: ”What thou doest, do speedily.”

     The joke is funny . . . but I strongly question the premise that says a person cannot be directed by God by reading random Bible passages. In fact, I would further go on to say that the Bible is so jam-packed with powerful words, that a person can in fact read random Bible passages to be inspired!
     But I digress. Back to the post. I used the three adverbs: living, active, and enduring in the title of this post because that’s exactly what the Bible says about God’s Living Word in the following scripture passages:

• Hebrews 12:2: “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword.”
• 1 Peter 1:23: “ . . . because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.”

     In the post we’ll also explore the term: “God's Word”, or “Word of God", or some derivative used over 1000 times throughout the Bible. I'll say it again. OVER 1000 TIMES!
     First, if you explore the Old Testament the terms are used almost exclusively related to words spoken directly by God to the Israelite leaders and prophets. The leaders and prophets in turn repeated God’s words to the people. If the people accepted and obeyed words from the Lord spoken to the leaders and prophets, the people curried God’s favor and received His blessings. BUT, when they openly disobeyed God’s spoken words, they received God's curses that resulted in death, famine, or plagues.
     God’s leaders and prophets many times intervened with their own words of petition back to God to have mercy on the people, and most times God listened and relented. Although he didn’t eliminate the punishment entirely, in most cases he lessened it.
     Another example of the importance of God’s Word in the Old Testament is found in Psalm 119, which is the longest chapter in the Bible. It has 176 verses, and each verse talks about the importance of listening to, and obeying God’s revealed words, laws, instructions, decrees, commands, statutes, etc. Think of it. The psalmist thought God’s Word to be so important that he wrote 176 consecutive verses about it!
     To further the point that the power of God’s Word is living, active, and enduring are the following breakdowns of the term used in the New Testament:

• The four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John refers to the term God's Word, Word of God, or some derivative: over 80 times.
• Book of Acts: 40 times.
• Epistles, which are the writings of Paul, Peter, John, Jude: Over 60 times.
• Revelation by John the Revelator: 17 times.

     So, the total references to the terms about God’s Word is used almost 200 times in the New Testament alone! The conclusion can be made that the almost 1000 Bible references to the terms about God’s Word should give us some indication of how important it was to God getting His message across to mankind, and how powerful it was!
     But what was God’s real plan in His written message with so many references to the term God's Word, or Word of God, etc.? It’s clear that He was making known with His written Word . . . about His “Living Word”!
     The following four scripture passages make it clear:

1. John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
2. John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
3. 1 John 1:1-4: “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us.”
4. Revelation 19:13: “He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God.”

     So, who was made flesh (a man) and dwelt among us (which means living among the disciples and the rest of the people in Israel at that time)? And who was revealed to the disciples, that they saw with their own eyes? And who was the only person who wore a robe dipped in blood? It’s evident from these four passages that the Living Word of God was and is Jesus!
     So, Jesus, God’s Living Word . . . and the over 1000 references to God’s written Word throughout the Bible give reassuring evidence of: "The Living, Active, Enduring Power of God's Word!"

See you next time,
Arlen

DOES THE CHURCH HAVE SUPERHERO POWER? IF NOT, WHY NOT?

 

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19.

Hello Friends:

     Welcome to the Soulwinnersr.us website. I’m doing another brief interlude to my normal posts. This post is something I thought about with my last Evangelism Question post. It’s entitled “Does the Church Have Superhero Power? If Not, Why Not?” I’ve touched on this theme before, but I think it’s a very important topic to consider again and again.
     I think that Christianity gets a bad rap because many, many people, especially our younger generation, think of the church to a large degree, as being wimpy and boring. They don’t see Christians as having any real power, and if you get right down to it, any real joy. I will own up to my own part that I play in that.
     Young people, and even many older people, are almost addicted to action games and movies where they live vicariously through the online or movie heroes that save the world, or at least their part of the world, against an evil villain. I love westerns and am amazed how drawn into the Old West action I get, and I will even say Old West violence. After all, the heroes are justified in using violence to save innocent people. Right? But that’s a debate for another day.
     Where’s the church losing out? What can we do to instill a sense of action and adventure into our Christian faith? I don’t advocate for us to drum up false excitement and adventure, or to renew our somewhat failed seeker sensitive strategies. But just like the goal of my Soulwinnersr.us website was to instill the focus for myself, and perhaps others, toward evangelism . . . I think that we should perhaps have focus groups or if you will, think tanks, to figure out how to instill the sense of adventure and great joy back into our Christian faith. We’re failing, and it’s critical to look at why we’re failing.
     We’re not failing because of a wimpy and boring story. The Bible is packed full of adventure, intrigue, action, and power. After all, God, His son Jesus, and His Holy Spirit are the most powerful superheroes ever, right? Let’s look at the term “power” in the Bible. Through the wonder of the internet, I counted how many times the term power, powerful, powered, etc. was mentioned in the Bible.

• 385 times
• 264 times in the Old Testament
• 121 times in the New Testament

     For the sake of time, I’m only going to look at just a few New Testament references to the term power:

1. John the Baptist referred to Jesus in Matthew 3:11 as “more powerful than I.”
2. Jesus’ hometown people of Nazareth were “astonished” at His miraculous powers in Matthew 13:54.
3. Jesus said in Matthew 24:30 about his return to earth “on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
4. The angel Gabriel in Luke 1:35 told Mary, the mother of Jesus, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”
5. Luke referenced Jesus in Luke 4:14 as going to Galilee “in the power of the spirit”, where the “news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity.” In other words, Jesus went viral. 
6. Luke referenced one of the Bible’s many instances of Jesus’ power to heal in Luke 6:19, where it says, “The whole crowd was trying to touch him, because power was coming out from him and healing them all.” 
7. Jesus gave out His power to others for the first time in Luke 9:1 where he summoned his disciples, and “he gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases.” 
8. Jesus in Acts 1:8 told his disciples before he ascended to heaven on a cloud that they would receive Holy Spirit “power” to be witnesses everywhere they went. 
9. Paul referred to Jesus in Romans 1:4 as “the powerful Son of God”, and in Romans 1:16 that Jesus demonstrated “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” 
10. Paul wrote in Romans 15:13 that he wanted the Romans to “overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

     I could go on and on a couple hours about references to power in the New Testament alone. Ephesians 1:19 refers to ‘the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength”. Don’t you and I usually feel wimpy and insignificant. So, it’s difficult to think of the limitless power that we have in God and His Son Jesus!
     We talked earlier about the power of superheroes to save the world from evil villains. The evilest villain in the entire history of mankind is Satan. Satan’s plan is not only to kill people, but to make them suffer unbearably in the process.
     Only God’s plan can thwart Satan’s diabolical scheme. Acts 10:38 reported that Jesus healed “all who were under the tyranny of the devil.” Where have we heard of the tyranny of a dictator recently? 

     Ephesians 6:12 says that we struggle against “the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.” The definition of cosmic according to Merriam Webster is the following: “Of or relating to the cosmos, the extraterrestrial vastness”. Then Merriam Webster further defines cosmic as the following: “Characterized by greatness especially in extent, intensity, or comprehensiveness.” In other words, our struggle against the devil and evil is so big the human mind can’t comprehend it. Talk about the need for superhero power!
     Many young people and older people alike are transfixed by stories of cosmic implications like the Marvel movies, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Star Trek, and many others. How can we instill in them, and us, the cosmic implications and need for church superhero power . . . before it’s too late?

See you next time,
Arlen

EVANGELISM QUESTION 1: BIBLE EXAMPLES

 

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19.

Hello Friends:

     Welcome to the Soulwinnersr.us website. Last week I did a post on “The Divine Intervention Show”, a take-off on the show “Intervention” about drug and alcohol addicts that are facing death if they don’t get help from intervention specialists to overcome their addictions. The Divine Intervention Show, on the other hand, would be about people facing spiritual death if they don’t get help from divine intervention specialists filled with God’s Holy Spirit, leading them to give their lives to Jesus.
     Now I’m back to the seven-post series about evangelism questions to try to shed a bright light on some very important specifics to introduce Jesus to unsaved family members, friends, and others. My first post is entitled, “Evangelism Question 1: Bible Examples.” I want us to look at key Bible, or scriptural examples of what evangelism is all about.

First, let’s define evangelism:

• The Cambridge Dictionary defines evangelism as “the activity of persuading people to become Christians, often by traveling around and telling people about your beliefs”. A pertinent Bible verse explaining evangelism is found in 2 Corinthians 5:11, “Therefore since we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people.” This Bible verse doesn’t use the exact word evangelism, but it clearly defines it by using the phrase, “persuade people”.

Next, let’s define an evangelist:

• The Cambridge Dictionary defines an evangelist as “a person who tries to persuade people to become Christians, often by traveling around and organizing religious meetings”. So, evangelism is “the ACTIVITY of persuading people” . . . and an evangelist is “the PERSON who tries to persuade people to become Christians.
• Ephesians 4:11 talks about the ministries of Jesus, including using the specific term “evangelist”. Here it is: “And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.” Paul specifically used the term “evangelist”.

     Now, let’s look at whether only a trained and gifted “evangelist” is authorized to do evangelism, or to “persuade people to become Christians”. D.T. Niles, in his book “That They Might Have Life” declared the following well known statement:

• “Evangelism is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.” I know that quote isn’t directly taken from the Bible . . . but isn’t it the very essence of evangelism . . . “one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread?”

     Jesus didn’t just commission trained evangelists to go out, organize evangelistic meetings, and persuade people to become Christians. Acts 1:8 is one of several Bible passages where He commissioned ordinary fishermen, tax collectors, and various other untrained people to do the work of evangelism. Jesus said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
     Please, please recognize the power we have as Christians when we are filled with the Holy Spirit as were the disciples in Acts! I realize that a couple places in Acts have examples of people speaking in tongues . . . and there are groups of people that emphasize speaking in tongues as being the catalyst by which all Holy Spirit power is manifested. But the filling and power of the Holy Spirit doesn’t come exclusively to those who speak in tongues. Let’s look at tongues just a little bit to clarify:

• Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14:4: “The person who speaks in another tongue builds himself up.” So, tongues are generally to build a person up in his or her personal faith.
• Paul then wrote in verse 39, “do not forbid speaking in other tongues.”
• BUT, Paul wrote in verse 19 about public church gatherings, “I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others, than ten thousand words in another tongue.”
• So, I think it’s safe to say that tongues can serve a purpose, just like many other Bible-based practices. Tongues can never, however, be the foundation piece that we stand on to be able to do evangelism.

     The Holy Spirit’s power inside us doesn’t come exclusively from speaking in tongues. It comes from the following sources:

1. First, the Holy Spirit’s power comes inside us immediately when we confess and turn from our sins, and do as Paul wrote in Romans10:9, “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
2. Second, the Holy Spirit’s power comes to each of us after we commit our lives to Christ, and each of us is now a “temple” of God, filled with His Holy Spirit.
• In 1 Corinthians 3:16 Paul states emphatically to Christians, “Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in You?” God’s temple isn’t just the one in Jerusalem built by Solomon. And it’s definitely not the church structures where Christians meet. God’s temple is you and I, individually and collectively, where God’s great Holy Spirit power now resides.
3. Third, the Holy Spirit’s power comes from having a close, intimate relationship with God and His love. James wrote in James 4:8, Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” I think the Bible is plain. Closeness to God is the greatest catalyst toward having tremendous Holy Spirit power, including great power for you and I . . . to be evangelists.

See you next time,
Arlen

STEPS TO GOD 7: TRANSFORMED!

 

"Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

Hello Friends: 

     We have today pictures and examples of transformation. You’ll see pictures of people and things that look normal at first. But after a life-changing alteration by an outside force, they were completely transformed into superheroes to save the world. Most of you will readily recognize Clark Kent transformed into Superman. 

     The second is a picture of the Transformer toy and comic book/movie character, Optimus Prime. Instead of explaining what a Transformer toy is, for those of you who don’t know, I put the link of a very humorous YouTube video about an automatic transformation of the Optimus Prime Transformer. I hope you like it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0SEYM9jHVg

     The title of my Soulwinnersr.us post is obvious. It’s "Steps to God 7: Transformed!" You will likely say to me that in no way can the transformation of a person be as dramatic as the transformation of Clark Kent into Superman, or a non-descript semi-truck into Optimus Prime. I’m here to say, however, that it’s exponentially greater than both!
     Many of us have the false notion that to become a Christian is to accede to becoming a boring person, or even a “bore”. I think that many churches have made becoming a Christian non-attractive by their rules and traditions. The church’s, I’ll call, “four-wall mentality” of being “God’s House” is archaic and quite frankly untrue. The church is God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit living inside of us individually and collectively, not inside the four walls of a church building. Another truth is that God is just waiting to unlock creativity, passion, friendship, and love within us that we never thought possible.
     I’m not talking about manufactured excitement that many of us think about when we think of a church that is “alive”. I’m talking about deep and profound mental insight that we never had before. Paul encouraged in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed by this age, but transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
     What happens when you and I are transformed by the renewing of our minds. I’ll list some examples:

1. Jesus said in Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.” Imagine us being transformed to becoming a light on a hill, that can’t be hidden, that others are able to follow, and navigate by!
2. Paul said in Ephesians 2:7, “He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” We aren’t subject to just a little bit of grace and love, but grace and love that is so huge that it can’t even be measured.
3. Jesus said in John 15:15, “I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father.” Jesus isn’t withholding any blessing or insight from us. He’s making known “everything” He heard directly from God.
4. Lastly, Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:16-21 about the great transformative power and love God gives us through Jesus, “I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

     All I can say is, “WOW!" Does that sound like a dull and limiting existence, or an exciting and limitless experience? Also, the transformative power we have as Christians is not only for our own benefit, but also to transform us into superheroes to save our world!
     This is my final Steps to God post. I pray that you found them meaningful. I keep joking with my wife that I’m going downstairs to make my “un-viral video”. That’s OK. My goal in the first place for my Soulwinnersr.us website wasn’t for my videos to become viral. I make the videos to motivate myself first, and perhaps encourage a few others along the way, to join me in the exciting adventure of soulwinning.

See you next time,
Arlen

STEPS TO GOD 6: SEALING THE DEAL!

 

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19.

Hello Friends:

     When I asked Dee to marry me, after she agreed we started making arrangements. But one of the most important steps was to obtain a marriage license. We had to have it approved by a judge with signatures by a court official and a minister that made it official and binding. In essence we sealed the deal of our marriage.
     I’ve been using the tenets of the Roman Road gospel as the basis for most of my seven-post series, with a few other important Bible principles sprinkled in. This sixth post about “Sealing the Deal” is the absolute most important contract we will ever encounter. I want to stress again its vital importance.
     The deal is between two parties, just like the written one here. It, however, is not with a human person, company, or government entity. It’s between you and God only. No one else is involved in the transaction, although there are those standing by our sides, perhaps not physically but in spirit, cheering on the deal. Then we can readily imagine a great roar of approval, perhaps applause, and even a great deal of angelic singing in heaven after the deal is complete.
     So, let’s move on to the precursors and specifics of the deal. We’ve talked about some of them in previous posts:

1. Recognize our sin. We talked about this in two posts. The first post, “A Veil Over Our Hearts”, is where we determine to do right, but the path to doing right is veiled from us. We don’t even recognize that we have sin getting in our way. My second post, “Help, I Need Somebody”, is the realization that “we need somebody, not just anybody”, but the “somebody” is still not revealed to us. Paul uncovers the barrier directly to us in plain words in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The recognition of sin as a barrier to God is our first step.
2. Understand the wages of our sin: I referenced it in the post “Unwanted Wages”. Paul in Romans 6:23 stated, “For the wages of sin is death. . .” This isn’t just a physical death, but scripture is clear that it also includes a spiritual death. This death, according to the Bible, results in an eternity in hell with eternal pain and suffering. We all want the best for our lives, right? Acknowledging that we don’t want to live in pain for eternity is the second step.
3. Accept the gift of God: We talked about this gift, or offer if you will, in a previous post, “An Offer We Can’t Refuse”. After we acknowledge the wages of sin written about in the first part of Romans 6:23, we immediately observe the wonderful gift that God is reaching out His hand to offer us. Here’s the offer, “BUT the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God didn’t leave us long to ponder the dire consequences of our sin before He immediately made us aware of His offer of the gift of eternal life.
4. The nature of God’s gift: The gift offered to us is eternal life “in Christ Jesus our Lord” that we just talked about, but how and why did it come about? It came about, as Paul wrote in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Christ bridged the gap that we couldn’t bridge ourselves.
5. Sacrifice for our sins: We often talk about the sacrifice of soldiers who die defending the freedom that we have in America. They’re held up as heroes, and rightfully so. But Christ’s sacrifice was exponentially greater. His sacrifice on the cross was for everyone, not just Americans, so that we all can have the freedom Jesus mentioned in John 8:32, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jesus then said a little later in John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.”

     So, there we have from the Bible “Steps to God” that I outlined in my five previous posts. Now, how do we seal the deal? We’ve already concluded that the contract isn’t a physical one where our signature on a piece of paper is the binding factor. We’ll discuss two components of the deal:

1. Proximity of the two parties entering into the agreement. Before getting married Dee and I met together often, took classes with our pastor, made the decision to get married, then sealed the deal with a signed marriage contract and wedding ceremony. In the same way God draws near to us, or wants to draw near to us, or enter close proximity with each of us: 

“See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” James 4:8.

“God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble”. Psalm 46:1

“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

2. Taking action to enter the relationship. At one point I needed to take the step, as scared as I was, to ask Dee to marry me. I really didn’t know exactly how she was going to respond. In the same way, it’s scary to take a leap of faith to trust God, who is so foreign to most of us, and ask Him to enter a personal, intimate relationship with us. We’ve learned from the Bible, however, that God is very close, and just waiting for our invitation. Romans 10:13 states, "For whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 

     The above listed occurrences we talked about in “steps to God”, occur somewhat naturally. We only realize their significance after the fact. But when we come to the end of ourselves and realize that we can’t draw close to God with our own power, we are invited heartily by God to take action to call on His name to save us.
     Romans 10:9 states, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” When I was a young Christian, I didn’t know the impact the name of Jesus really had. I now understand the great power taking the action of confessing His name has in my life and the lives of others. It makes me want to proclaim His name more and more.
     So, “sealing the deal” of beginning a relationship with God can be somewhat intimidating. Most of us already know that fact by the response we get from family members and friends when we tell them about Jesus. Some of them have said to me, “Arlen, I don’t want to hear about that.” They think I’ve gone off the deep end into religious fanaticism. If so, I’m in very good company. Paul and the apostles met with the same opposition. But the Bible verses about the “broad” and “narrow” roads spurs me on. We’ll talk more about that in my final “Steps to God” post.

See you next time,
Arlen