Am I becoming a disciple? Am I Christ’s daily disciple? (Luke 9:23-24)
Am I merely becoming a better church member, going through the motions and programs of my local social club-like fellowship, yet never learning the Bible and becoming a true disciple of Jesus? Am I learning to truly walk with the LORD Jesus as His disciple, making His Gospel known to others in need of His forgiveness? Is this God’s purpose for me on earth? Is this what we see in the book of Acts where the history of the early New Testament Church is recorded? A fresh reading of this book will reveal that the so-called “Christianity” we see today in America has little resemblance to that of the early Church. Please don’t take this in a negative way – I am merely stating this so that we can re-evaluate our lives according to the pattern of Scripture which is what we will all be judged by (John 12:48; Rom. 2:16). It must be known that men wane from the truth as they go on in traditions and in building their own kingdoms and lose sight of the Word of God. Did not our Lord tell us that traditions make His Word void? (See Mark 7:13; Col. 2:8)
Is the extent of my “Christianity” attending church services 2-3 times weekly?
The Church revealed in Acts obeyed God by being baptized in the Holy Ghost, preached Christ and saw God save multitudes. They cast out devils, went from house to house fellowshipping with each other, turned the world upside down, openly upbraided sinners, had dreams and visions, prayed in tongues as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance, prayed constantly and consequently walked in the power of God……… Beware: A fresh reading of the book of Acts could change your life, especially if you will acknowledge that the same God who moved then is alive and well today, working among His people (Mark 16:15-20).
As an individual who will soon stand before the Almighty to be judged for what I did and did not do in my earthly life, I must remove myself from every trace of modern day religion which does not resemble the New Testament Christianity recorded in Scripture. New Testament Christianity was all about loving God and obeying the Great Commission – to reach the lost. Here’s a taste:
“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” Acts 8:4
Notice here that there was a Church-wide effort to evangelize the unsaved – “they.” Beloved, each and every one who is born again will give account to God on the Day of Judgment as to what he did with the command of Jesus to “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
What are you doing to reach lost souls? Are you with Christ or against Him (Matt. 12:30)? Are you ashamed of Him?
Any local church or organization which does not have the lost at heart by reaching out with the Gospel, is simply NOT a work of God. This type church is one that is seeking merely to maintain its own existence instead of being a New Testament salvation station that is a beacon to its world for Christ – like the early believers and all true disciples today.
Absolutely NOTHING can stir a congregation of true believers like new souls being saved. When you start to reach out, you will wonder why you didn’t do this so much earlier and sorrow for the time that was lost. Nothing stimulates the life of a Christian like personal evangelism. Growth is inevitable.
Regardless of whether the local Church I attend is zealous to reach the unsaved or not, I, as one who has been redeemed, have a mandate to do such.
“Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;” Psalms 107:2
I must never allow my sinful nature nor the enemies of the Lord, to hinder my evangelism. People must be reached with the Good News at all costs. I must be relentless in my pursuit of precious lost souls who need to hear about God’s love in Christ. Their whole eternity rides upon my obedience. I must refuse to live this life unto myself, and choose daily to live unto my Lord.
“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15
The local group that is faithful to the LORD will be a harbor for the hurting and a lighthouse beaming out the Good News of the Light of the world. The true believer is one who has a net (plan) that he throws to catch men. As he follows Christ, He is becoming more and more a fisher of men (Mark 1:17).
“And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.” Mark 1:17
Note the Lord’s statement “Come ye after me, and I will make you to become (process) fishers of men.” It is clear from this divine and definitive mandate, that as we follow the Savior, we will be made to become fishers of men. Like the novice fisherman who is learning how to approach his prey (catch), I must continue to learn of the Lord as to how to reach lost souls He died to save. I must lay up His Law and Gospel in my memory and heart to be ready to give an answer to all whom I am privileged to speak about His love.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” 1 Peter 3:15
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
Beloved, God has given His very own Son to redeem you. You are not your own, but now His who bought you with the price of His very own blood (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Why then do we hesitate to tell another who needs to know about His love? All fear must be cast off.
“God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
Eternal souls are in the balance.
“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.” Joel 3:14
His love in us will “cast out fear” (1 Jn. 4:18) and compel us to win the lost before it is too late.
“For the love of Christ constraineth (compels) us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
Am I going to be held accountable for telling others?
“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?” Proverbs 24:10-12
Beloved of God, if our Lord has stirred your soul and you are truly ready to embark upon the obedience and adventure of personal evangelism, pray the following prayer to God your Heavenly Father, aloud and from your heart:
YOUR PRAYER: O God, forgive my selfishness in this life. Cleanse me of the sin of self-idolatry and therefore of neglecting the lost souls You died and rose again to save. Quicken me to reach them with your eternal truth before it’s too late. Please make my heart to smell the smoke and feel the flames of hell which are ready to engulf every single lost soul I will come into contact with this day. Grant me a vision of hell. Stir Your compassion in me. Make me to be bold in communicating and declaring Your Word to those who need to hear today. Open up doors for the ministry of Your Word today and please open the hearts of those You’d have Your people communicate with. By Your leading and grace, I choose to enter those open doors and share your Gospel. Thank You for dying for me and rising from the dead – I love You my precious Lord Jesus.
Friend, I am praying for you and your personal evangelism. May our God grant you eternal fruit as you publish His Word to your world (John 4:35; Psalms 68:11).
“The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” Psalms 68:11
Remember, one plants, another waters, and God brings the increase (1 Cor. 3:6). There can be no “increase” without first the planting and watering that we are called to do.
“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” Romans 10:14
God’s Word always accomplishes that which He pleases and never returns to Him void (Isaiah 55:11).
“…he that winneth souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30
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JESUS CHRIST TOLD US TO OVERCOME TO THE END [video]
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Walking in Godly Integrity Means Paying Restitution Where Needed [podcast]
“And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.” Acts 24:16
Truth: The LORD is watching everything you think and do and will bring you into judgment for it all – all (Proverbs 15:3; 20:11; 23:7; Mark 12:41-44; Romans 14:10, etc.). What’s your judgment going to look like?
“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:1-2
Jesus taught that only the “honest” will be with Him (Luke 8:15). The dishonest, “ALL … liars” will perish irrevocably in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8). Those who’ve brought harm to others and have the opportunity to restore what they took (financially, emotionally, etc.) prove who they are by what they do or do not do. Those who take personal responsibility for the harm they brought on another, will be blessed. Those who don’t will be shut out, “cut off” from God (Romans 11:20-22).
“Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,” 2 Corinthians 6:3-4
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
Godly Integrity owns up to its personal responsibility to make amends where we have caused hurt. Restitution. A man of godly integrity never runs from his personal responsibility to repair and restore where he has brought harm – with his words, attitudes, or actions. This is exactly what happens when a man truly repents and gives his life to Christ. Zacchaeus is a great example to us of this. Like Zacchaeus, when we truly repent, there will always be good fruit, amends for our wrongdoing. Watch this closely. Watch what this man does after getting right with God:
Luke 19
1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
5 (the call and command) And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
6 (obedience) And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. (that’s exactly why Jesus came!)
8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. (true repentance always brings for the fruit of restitution Matthew 3:7-10)
9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
As we see in this case with Zacchaeus when he repented, turning to Jesus the Savior, true repentance always brings for the fruit of restitution. See Matthew 3:7-10.
Zacchaeus is a great example. When, if that true repentance happens in his heart, if the sinner, the transgressor allows it, there will be a practical restitution to those he’s harmed by his sin. Soon as he repented he wanted to pay restitution to those he’d harmed.
“Verse 8 is one of the strongest in the Bible on restitution. Salvation does not relieve a person from righting the wrongs of the past. Debts contracted during one’s unconverted days are not canceled by the new birth. And if money was stolen before salvation, then a true sense of the grace of God requires that this money be repaid after a person has become a child of God.” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary
There’s no such thing as a person who is right with God and not making restitution for those he’s hurt.
INTEGRITY: If you owe someone $1,000 and can’t pay it all at once, show integrity and send them $ every month or week till you’ve paid them off. If you don’t, you show yourself to be a man who is without integrity (Proverbs 20:7). Soon as you begin paying back, you demonstrate the earnest of your integrity.
Jesus teaches us that we are wasting our time attempting to relate to or pray to the Father in His name if we have issues that need to be clear up with another.
God will not answer the prayer of any person who does not honor and obey His Word and if a person has an outstanding offense He wants them to clear up these matters (Proverbs 28:9, 13).
“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Matthew 5:23-24
God is not going to bless our lives unless we are willing to sincerely admit our sins, repent and confess them, and make amends (restitution) with anyone we’ve harmed. In the divine economy, there’s no such thing as being right with God when you’ve done another person wrong, haven’t repented, and haven’t made amends for what you’ve done. Such a person will be outside of the will and blessings of God until he makes things right with God and man.
The LORD requires that His people “examine” and “judge” themselves.
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine and honest judge yourself and amend your ways or God will judge you.
“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” 1 Corinthians 11:31-32
More Bible Verses on Restitution
Read Exodus 22:1-31
“If a thief be found breaking up (stealing in a burglary, home invasion), and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him. 3 If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.” Exodus 22:2-3
“Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the LORD, and that person be guilty; 7 Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed.” Numbers 5:6-7
“And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. 6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” Genesis 9:5-6
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TIMES OF REFRESHING FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD! [video]
TIMES OF REFRESHING FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD!
Who’s Ready for Some “RAIN” from Heaven? God desires to refresh His people, to rain His bless-ed mercy, forgiveness, and benefits down on them …. and our part is fresh repentance….
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12
What are the stated conditions to receive the “rain” of the LORD from Heaven?
- “Sow to yourselves in RIGHTEOUSNESS”
- “reap in MERCY”
- “break up your fallow ground”
- “for it is time to SEEK the LORD”
“till he come and rain righteousness upon you.”
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” Acts 3:19
“Times of refreshing” will come exclusively to those who turn to the LORD with a whole heart.
A great prayer right this moment is …. Heavenly Father, please grant me to have a pure heart, a poor in spirit heart, and an heart after Thee. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Repentance is dying so that Christ lives and reigns in your life – not you (Matthew 3:7-10; Romans 6).
Adam Clarke on Hosea 10:12:
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness – Let the seed you sow be of the best kind, and in just measure.
Reap in mercy – By the blessing of God on this ploughing, sowing, and harrowing, you may expect a good crop in harvest.
Break up your fallow ground – Do not be satisfied with a slight furrow; let the land that was fallowed (slightly ploughed) be broken up again with a deep furrow.
For it is time to seek the Lord – This should be immediately done: the season is passing; and if you do not get the seed in the ground, the early rain will be past, and your fields will be unfruitful.
Rain righteousness upon you – God will give you the early rain in due time, and in proper measure. Here are the metaphors, and the application cannot be difficult.. Here are ploughing, fallowing, sowing, harrowing, watering, reaping, threshing, and feeding on the produce of well-directed labor. All may be applied to the human heart, and the work of God upon it. Correction, contrition, conversion, receiving the grace of Christ, bringing forth fruit, etc.”
“For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Ezekiel 36:24-27
Most preaching today does not begin at the foundation, does not get to the root cause. This is due to the absence of the original Gospel doctrine of the cross – the divine mandate to be crucified with Christ, which is nowhere to be found coming from the mouths of the “accursed” preachers of “another gospel.” (Galatians 1:6-9)
WHAT do we have without a heart after God? Religion (Acts 13:22).
Most of the social media messages tell us, continually remind us that God loves us but nearly none of them inform us that the God who loves us, sent His Son to die on a cross for us, and requires and commands us to be “crucified with Christ.” (Galatians 2:20; Romans 8:29; Colossians 3:3) Beware of the half-truth false gospel of today! We must walk in the original Gospel – all of it – if we are to escape and not be “Led away with the error of the wicked.” (2 Peter 3:17)
Prescription for those heavy in heart: Read God’s Word. Read it repeatedly, perpetually, daily. NOTHING REPLACES BIBLE READING AND NEVER WILL.
Times of Fasting and prayer gets YOU out of the way so Jesus can reign supreme! Isaiah 58
You are not serious about overcoming sin if you’re not yet setting apart regular times of fasting and prayer. The fact that you don’t want to fast is the clear proof that you need to fast. Currently, your flesh is in control! Once you are broken, you will delight in, you will look forward to those times of regular fasting! Read Isaiah 58. | The Amazing Benefits of Fasting and Prayer
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JESUS CHRIST TOLD US TO OVERCOME TO THE END [video]
Walking in Godly Integrity Means Paying Restitution Where Needed [podcast]
TIMES OF REFRESHING FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD! [video]
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