2012 And Counting

The year 2012.  People always see a new year as a fresh start.  A clean slate.  Though really its just another year isn’t it?  Our troubles of 2011 are still lingering with us, the debt we owe from 2011 still haunts us.  But somehow we expect January 1st to magically make all that disappear.  We expect midnight to fall and everything will be happy again.  But it doesn’t work that way does it?  The year 2012 is the same as any other year.  There will be progress, new inventions, new songs and movies and tv shows.  But it has the same holidays, same amount of days in a year, you still have to work, and get sick.  It’s possible someone close to you will even pass away this year.  The clock ticks and tocks the same exact way, and the numbers never change.  The sun still rises in the east and still sets in the west.  The poverty in third world countries will continue, and those living with little income, still have to live paycheck to paycheck.  Because after January ends, people forget that its a new year, and just see it as another year they have to survive.

So in reality when you look at the new year approaching, and you actually look past the 1st of January, does the new year look better to you?  Or does it look the same as last year, just with new materialistic things of this world.  In humanities eyes, 2012 is just another year that they have to live through.  And it seems like despite the rumors, they will continue on, living the way they always have, with one resolution at a time.

So what is the point in even celebrating new years?  Because you have another year of life that you must fight to survive in?  We can climb the ladder of success but we will still struggle.  But the new years celebration was not intended to be celebrated with sadness or in vanity with alcohol and noise makers and passionate kisses.  But with the thankfulness of God’s love.  Because from the beginning of the very first year, God loved us.  He created us, formed us, and made us.

Have you ever wondered why you are here?  Why God created you?  Was it to satisfy a hidden need in Him?  Was it because God was bored just hanging around forever in empty space doing nothing.  Maybe it was because He was just curious and wanted to know what would happen if He made a bunch of people and put them on a planet in the middle of nowhere.  The Bible doesn’t specifically say why God made us, but it does say that he created us.

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:1

But why are we even here?  Simple answer.  Because God loves us.  In the book of Genesis we see that God walked with Adam and Eve.  And that even after they sinned and turned their back on God,  God came looking for them.  He called for them and longed for them.  Even after they deliberately disobeyed Him, God still shed blood to make atonement for their sins when He made garments of skin as clothes for them.  Because God loved us.  And nearly 2000 years later, God calls Moses to make a tabernacle so that God can be with His people.  He continues to search for His people.  Even in the new testament He continues to search out His people nearly 4000 years after the fall of man.

“In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God… and the word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1, 14

And even today He longs to be with His people.  Though the bible says the wages of sin is death and death is what we deserve as sinners, God took that death from us, so He can be with us, because He Loves Us!

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love… He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgression from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” Ps 103:8,10-14 (NIV) 

He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. 1 John 4:8

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

We should celebrate new years not because the past is behind us, or that our future is better, but that God is still calling for His people.  He is still searching for His bride, He is waiting for us, knocking at our door.  We should celebrate new years with thankfulness that God is still looking!  Look at what the word says here,

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son; that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

So what should 2012 be all about?  Let our Resolution/Revelation to come out of the bushes we are hiding in and let God find us.  To allow God to be with us.  To open our hearts door and let Him in.  Celebrate the New Years, by Celebrating God’s Love!

Happy 2012 New Years!!!

The True Meaning.

Pagan Holiday?

Christmas.  The season of joy, love, family, and giving.  Considered the happiest season of all.  Some places wish others well on this season by saying Merry Christmas or Happy Christmas, and then those who just say Happy Holidays.  We see Christmas lights and evergreen trees decked with silver and gold, and other bright colors.  We smile when we hear people singing and caroling.  A time where families come home to spend time with loved ones.  Mistletoe is hung and the Christmas classics such as Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer brings joy to the children.  A jolly old man in a big red suit is sitting in the mall asking children what they would like for Christmas.  Snowmen and Snow Angels are made outside and stockings are hung above the chimney where the yule log is placed.  And children are outside playing with their new toys and mothers admiring their new jewelry and fathers practicing with their new tool set.  Gifts are given, being wrapped in beautiful wrapping paper and a ribbon or bow on top.  Everyone is merry and having themselves a great time.

Yes this is Christmas.  And there is nothing else that defines that celebration.  But for Christians, we chose to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on that day.   However, almost everyone agrees that Jesus was not likely born on that day, so without the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, what is Christmas?  Just another pagan Holiday.  The bible never talks about Christmas, or trees and lights and mistletoe.  It talks about the birth of Jesus, but not about Christmas.  Mary and Joseph did not have the manger decorated with lights and ornaments.  Someone had taken the December 25′s Pagan’s celeration, united it with the birth of Christ to convert pagans to Christianity while allowing them to celebrate their own traditions, this including; the tree, mistletoe, yule logs, gift exchange and etc, and called it Christmas.

So what is Christmas all about?  After looking at the origins of the Pagan Holiday, we look at the name of Christmas.   The word Christmas means “Christ” “Mass”.  And “mass” meaning ‘death by sacrifice’.  So really we celebrate the first act of God’s love and plan performed in the new testament.  We celebrate God sending His son as a sacrifice.  Just like we celebrate Easter by honoring His death (Good Friday) and Resurrection (Easter Sunday).  Christmas is all about celebrating the Birth of our Savior who was born to be a sacrifice for our sins.  And we celebrate it using the pagan’s traditions with all that we know of as Christmas.  Does that mean it is a sin to use the Pagan’s celebrations?  No.  Christians took something of a sinful nature and used it as a way to preach the gospel, convert sinners, and worship our Lord all at the same time.  And is that not what God done to us?  To a lowly sinner and used it to do His will.  He transformed us just as we did a Pagan Holiday.

But people today only look forward to the celebration and not the reason for it.  We look forward to the happiness people feel and the music and the lights.  We look forward to lights and decorating the tree.  We look forward to giving and bringing smiles and definitely receiving gifts.  But we never stop and think about the gift Jesus gave us.  Because had it not been for that Pagan Holiday, Christ’s birthday would have been another holiday forgotten.  Imagine for a minute that we decided to celebrate it on July 22.  There would be no Christmas tree or mistletoe or lights.  Just another day like George Washington’s birthday.

The scripture people read on Christmas day, is the story of Christ’s birth in Luke chapter 2.  As Linus goes to the middle of the stage holding his blanket he quotes the Christmas Story and says “Thats what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.”  Though that be true, we forget that its not just about the birth of Jesus.  It is much deeper than that.  It is the reason Christ was born.  His whole purpose to be born was to die.  His reason for being was to be nailed to a cross.  When that babe in a manger was born, He was born under the shadow of the cross.  We can read Luke 2 all we want, but that doesn’t tell us what Christmas is all about.  Yeah Jesus was born, but why?  Lets look.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.  Matthew 1:23

That is what Christmas is all about.  We celebrate the birth of Christ not because He was born.  But why He was born.  We celebrate Christmas because that was the day that our Savior came to save us!  It was the day when God came to us.  For years we searched for God and couldn’t reach Him.  For ages God wanted His people to be with Him, but instead God came to us!  He came to us to save us so we can forever be in His arms.  We celebrate Christ’s birth using the traditions of the Pagans, because He was lifted up.

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.  Matthew 20:28

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  Matthew 26:28

Jesus quoted Isaiah 53:12 when he said: “It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” Jesus, although without sin, was to be counted among sinners. Notice what else is written in Isaiah 53:

Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

For the transgression of my people he was stricken…. Though he had done no violence … it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer … the Lord makes his life a guilt offering…. He will bear their iniquities…. He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah describes someone who suffers not for his own sins, but for the sins of others. Let us Celebrate Christmas not just for the birth of Christ, but why He was born.  Because that is the true meaning of Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

I Thirst

 No doubt Jesus experienced extreme thirst while being crucified. He would have lost a substantial quantity of bodily fluid, both blood and sweat, through what he had endured even prior to crucifixion. Thus his statement, “I am thirsty” was, on the most obvious level, a request for something to drink. In response the soldiers gave Jesus “Vinegar” (v. 29).  John notes that Jesus said “I am thirsty,” not only as a statement of physical reality, but also in order to fulfill the Scripture of Psalm 69, which includes this passage:

Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.  They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. (vs. 20-21)

Jesus was on the cross for six hours losing blood and energy.  Of course He was thirsty!  And though God never thirsts, His flesh needs water to survive.  But beyond fleshly thirst and beyond fulfilling scripture, Jesus was thirsty for another reason.  Jesus is God in the flesh, so why would God need drink on the cross when He created the oceans and the lakes?  Why would the Living water be thirsty?  Speaking of living water, maybe our answer is found in John 4, where Jesus approaches the woman at the well.

Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.  There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.  (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)  Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

Here is Jesus again, saying “I am Thirsty”.  But why?  You see Jesus was offering the woman a deal.  If you give me to drink, you will never be thirsty again.  You see the woman was talking about a spiritual thirst, but Jesus was talking about a different kind of thirst.  Thirst doesn’t mean you need liquid in your body, it means you crave, or long for something.  When Jesus told the woman he was thirsty, He was telling her, “I thirst for you!”  God was telling the sinner, I want you to come back to me.  I long for you, I yearn for you!  He tells the woman, I don’t want your well water, I don’t want your liquid, for I created it! I just want you!  I want a relationship with you, I want you to love me, and to run into my arms!  Satisfy my thirst for you and I will give you living water.  Where you will never thirst for love again.  You will never feel incomplete again or broken, forsaken and alone.  I will be there and I will love you.  Satisfy my longing for you so I can satisfy you!

This is what God is telling us on the cross, Here I am on this cross, and I am thirsty!  The scripture noted earlier in Psalms 69:20 “Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none”.  Jesus said “All I have done is love you, and you insult me and mock me and crucify me, And my heart is broken.”  He is yearning for us, longing for us, thirsty for us!”  

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us

Romans 8:37-39

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Galatians 2:20

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.

John 7:37-38

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Do we really think that Jesus is talking about natural water?  He tells us, whoever is longing or yearning for something that you can not find, come to me and let me fill your desire for a love and life.  Let me satisfy your thirst and make your spirit overflow.  But now here is Jesus.  Here is your God.  Crucified on the cross, beaten and torn, mocked and spat on, and all alone.  And as one of the last things He wanted to tell us before dying on the cross, was that He was Thirsty for us.

Surviving The Lions Den

Ever find yourself going through a tribulation, that no matter what you do or how hard you pray, it feels like God just don’t hear you?  Ever find yourself in a place where all you see, are problems and burdens, that are waiting to devour you and you just can’t help but wonder where is God?  Or do you ever find yourself struggling on a daily basis, and your so tired to stand on your own and you ask God, why won’t you help?  It’s almost like being in a dark, damp, den filled with hungry lions that are drooling at the smell of our misery and fear.

Most of the time we forget that God is with us and that He has a plan for us.  Even when we can’t see what it is yet.  And when the world casts us into a den of hungry lions, where we see the King of the Jungle waiting to consume us, we forget who the King of Kings is.  But still, how do we survive The Lions Den, when all we see is darkness, and our problems.

It’s obvious where our story comes from.  Daniel was a righteous man in Gods eyes.  And in chapter 6 we see that he was a man of prayer.  But yet somehow, he was still managed to be thrown in the Lions Den.  Why would God allow such a thing?  That question will be answered later.  But as we look at Daniel’s story the first thing we automatically assume, is that it was Daniels prayers and faith that saved him.  But sometimes that still isn’t enough.  Anyone can have faith that God will save them, but faith alone will not cut it.  Anyone can pray for God to save them, but like faith, prayers alone will not work.

How DID Daniel survive the lions den?  His story is found in Daniel 6:1-28

1. Obviously Faith and Prayer did have a part in it.  You see Daniel loved God and prayed with Him daily.  It gave that personal connection with God.  Something that Christians lack today.  A direct communication with the Almighty.  Even while Daniel suffered a good bit, He didn’t give up on God, he still prayed.
2. In Daniel 6:20 it says “And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?”  This tells us that Daniel didn’t just pray, but he served God continually.  So many Christians think that we can do anything we want to on this earth and still think God will protect us from harm.  But we must serve God in all that we do to survive this lions den.  This includes: Prayer, Bible reading, ministry work, worship Him in spirit and truth, share the gospel, obey His commandments, etc.  And not just on Sunday or twice a week but continually!
3. Daniel 6:22 says “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.”  Take a look at the bold in that verse.  God found Daniel innocent.  Not of the law that the king made, but of God’s law.  God looked at Daniel and found innocence.  Daniel was without sin, and was a righteous man of God.  This tells us that Daniel was sanctified.  To make our petitions known before the Omnipotent God, we have to wash our sins off of our lives, get rid of the filth that we keep locked up inside of us and be sanctified.  God wants us to be pure and holy.
4. The latter part of that verse says “And also before thee, O King, have i done no hurt.”  Sometimes the people in our lives are the source of our problems.  But instead of retaliation, show them love and longsuffering.  Because the bible tells us in Matthew 25:40 “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”  So let us make sure that we don’t have quarrel with our neighbors before wondering where God is.
5. The last thing, is found in verse 23.  “Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of harm was found upon him, because he believed in his God.“  Ok, let us get the record straight.  This is not the same as having faith that God will deliver you.  Daniel Believed in God.  He knew who God was, and he knew God loved him.  He knew God would not allow him harm because he was innocent.  He didn’t doubt for a second God didn’t hear his prayers.  He didn’t doubt for a minute that God hadn’t left his side.  He knew God was all powerful, He knew, God was with him, even in the darkest place of his life.  But not only that, the bible says he believed in his God.  It was a personal and intimate relationship between a man and his God.  And that is the very thing that Christians forget.  We remember the story of Daniel, how he prayed his way through the lions den and when we apply it to our lives today, we forget to believe in our God.  Our Savior, our Friend, our Father, our Fortress, our Refuge.  You could almost say that believing in God is knowing who He is intimately.

It is when we Pray, have faith, serve God and others, be found innocent and believe in God while having a relationship with him, that we are saved from the Dark days of our lives.  That we are saved from The Lions Den.

Psalms 23:4  ”Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…”  

Daniel 6:27    ”He delivereth and rescueth, and He worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”

Arrows in a Quiver

• Time to touch up on a very picky subject.  Sinners and Christians alike for some reason think that having children is a blessing until you have over 2 or 3.  Then they are a burden.  Some believe that having just 1 can be a burden.  But they are all wrong.  No where in the bible does it say anything bad about children.  As a matter of fact, the bible tells you to have children.  Take a few close looks at the scripture.

“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.   As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.  Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.  Psalms 127 : 3-5″  

Interesting.  Children aren’t a burden.

• They are a heritage of the Lord.  This does not say heritage of you.  It is a heritage of God, which means You didn’t make that baby for yourself.  GOD wanted you to be blessed with that baby.  God gave you a heritage.  You inherited this baby that God has given you.  Its not a burden, its a privilege.

• They are the fruit of the womb.  What is fruit?  Something sweet.  Something that is pleasureful.  A luxury even.  A life given substance.  God called them fruit because their not just some parasite.  They are something of far more worth.

• They are a reward.  Self-explanatory.  I shouldn’t have to say any more.  But if that was the case there would be no need for this post.  They are a reward.  I want you to remember that next time you are at home and you have bad thoughts about your own children or other peoples children.

These 3 things describe children as God sees them.  But instead of accepting God’s gift and blessings in the form of a small baby, we give them away or worse, we kill them.

  Hosea 9:11 says “As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly way like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception.”  and vs 14 says “Give them, O Lord: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.”  

There are a few things to point out here…

1. That children are such a wonderful blessing that God actually closed the womb, as punishment.
2. This proves that God controls conception and birth.
3. Most importantly God refers to the conception of children as Glory.

And in Luke 1:36 we see that a woman who was barren and in her “old age”, that God opened her womb to conceive and give birth.  And with Mary who had never been with a man, God planted HIS seed inside of her, so that she conceived and gave birth.

In Gensis 4:1 the bible says “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.”  Interesting how we see that it took three things to create the child.  It took the seed that God created to fertilize an egg that God also created, and likewise it took God to guide the process.

Psalms 139:13-14 the bible says “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.  I will praise thee: for I am fearfully wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”

Another translation says “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
      and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
      Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.”

It is plain to see here that it is God who controls the conception, the growing child, and the birth.

And if you search through the gospels of God’s word you will see that Jesus tells us time and time again that those that curse children will be punished.  And those that bless children will be blessed.

I will conclude on this thought, if you believe that everything has a purpose, that everybody has a purpose, then why do you try to hit the abort button on God’s plan for your children?  Wether it is by birth control, by getting a vasectomy, or getting your tubes tied, or worse, planning the abortion, you are destroying not only human life which is against God’s law, “Thou shalt not kill.” but also rejecting the Lords blessing on your life.  Someone once asked why hasn’t there been a cure for Cancer, or Aids, or World hunger?  And someone answered, because you continue to abort them.

The main excuse I hear today is, “Don’t bring a child in this world with the way it is today.”  So let me ask you a question?  If in March of 1918 someone went up to a woman and said “The world is going to go to chaos.  Crime rates will rise, wars will break loose, there will be a great depression, and a terrorist attack that kills many.  There will be earthquakes and tsunamis and hurricanes will greatly increase in severity.  The economy will plunder and jobs will be scarce.  People will live in poverty from not getting enough income and drug use and alcoholism will be everywhere and homosexuality will not only increase but be the “cool thing to do.  You should kill that baby so it won’t have to live through it, or not have any children for that reason, then that woman would have killed Billy Graham.”  Even if you feel like you never amounted to nothing, it doesn’t mean that your child can’t grow up to be the next deliverer of God’s Children.

 Who are we to play God in decided which life should live?  And how dare we try to Abort God’s plan.

Invisible Church 3

Another chapter to the Invisible Church.  All of the posts on the Invisible Church has either been on the Hypocrisy of the Religious Church, and the Unity of God’s people.  This one will be the exact same, in a whole new point of view.

The Invisible Church as said in the last posts, is a Church without walls.  A church who is willing to leave their local church to preach the gospel.  A Church who doesn’t just sit on a pew, but move around their community to win souls.  Before the Local Religious churches existed, there was the Invisible Church.

The Church with 4 walls was only created to publicly Worship God, and to Fellowship with fellow Christians.  To encourage one another.  A place to get revived in the spirit when yours is weak, a place to bring a sacrifice of praise to the Alter of the Lord.  A place to hear the Word of God from a Pastor.  Whose job is to teach, reprove, and rebuke.  A Pastor is your teacher and servant and protector.  Nothing else.  Though he is a chosen Man of God, with a very important job, he is not something that you should worship.  Because he should be working to bring God glory.  Not himself.

But the Invisible church are the Children of God who want more then that.  They want to share what they have with the other people of the world.  They feel a deep and heavy  burden to bring others to Christ, lest those people spend an eternity in Hell.  They aren’t selfish to keep the grace of God to themselves but pass this love and mercy to others.  They want to help others, by giving them food, water, shelter, love…and hope.  The invisible church deny themselves and take on the burdens and infirmities of others.  They use their strength to help the weak.  They are the eyes for the blind and the ears for the deaf.  They shine the light to those who are lost in the dark.  The invisible church doesn’t just worship God on Sunday mornings, but every day.  Their faith and prayer and daily living, are found worthy of God’s calling and love.  They live their daily life better than most live a Sunday morning life.   They stand for what they believe in no matter what the consequences.  They are persecuted by many, and loved by few.

The bible says,

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.  Ephesians 4:1-6

It’s easy to see what Paul was trying to say here.  He tells us that we should love and protect and help one another.  Jesus preached over and over about loving your neighbors.  As a matter of fact He said it was one of the greatest commandment.  When Jesus walked on this earth, He didn’t condemn the world because of their sins like the local church is apt to do, but He showed them love.  It didn’t matter if they were diseased, cussed like a sailor, or even an adulterous woman, He loved them.  Though we always hear that we should love our neighbor as yourself, Jesus goes a little deeper then that in another verse.  He says

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  John 13:34

Love your neighbor as He has loved us?  What is that supposed to mean?  He has unconditional love for us.  He loves us when we are filthy in sin, He loves us when we are pure and holy.  He loves us when we curse Him, He loves us when we put the nails in His hands.  He loves us no matter our race, gender or age.  He loves everyone so much that He died for us as said in John 3:16.  He loves us so much He took the cross off of our shoulders and said He would take our infirmities and pain for us.  He loves us so much He died and went to hell, so we wouldn’t have to.  And that is how He commands us to love our neighbor.

Then Paul goes to say that there is One Body, One God, and One Spirit.  He is pointing out here that we are all Christians, who is one body, and we serve the same God.  Yet for some reason the churches today think we all are so different and believe so different that we have to separate and avoid discussions on religion lest we argue.  Here is the latest news people.  God didn’t call you together to argue.  He called you together to agree.  To know that Jesus is Lord, beside him there is no other.  He don’t care if your Methodist, Baptist or Pentecostal.  He justs wants you to love Him, live for him, obey His commandments and live a life worthy of His calling towards you. Did Jesus not say that if Kingdom should fight against itself, that Kingdom will fall?   The spirit of separation is what is causing the churches to fall today.  But it is time for the church to rise from its little hole we put ourselves into and stand tall and stand strong.

The spirit of Unity is what the church needs.  Acts 2 we see the disciples sitting in the upper room.  They were waiting on something Jesus had promised them.  But they wasn’t bickering and complaining and fighting against each other.  The bible says they were in one mind and one place when the Holy Ghost fell on them.  Look at that closely, they were in one place (you know, kind of like a church), and in one mindset.  All of the disciples were looking for the same thing.  They prayed diligently for the same thing.  They searched for the same God, they longed to see their savior, their souls cried out unto God to show them more.  And they wasn’t going anywhere until they got what they came for.  That is how the church needs to be today.  Even though not every Christian can go to the same church, we all need to seek the same thing.  When the church finds that Spirit of Unity, the impossible becomes very possible.  Even God knew how strong His creation would be when they all work together.

 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.  And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.  And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.  And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.  And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.  And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.  Genesis 11:1-6

The story of the tower of Babel is a prime example.  Everyone had the same speech.  They had the same mindset.  They had the same goal.  And when they had an idea they formed together and made it happen.  But here is the key verse.   The Lord seen the tower and said they have one language and are all together and God seen the strength of His creation when the spirit of Unity was upon them.  He seen people uniting to complete a goal they had set out to do.  And when He seen that unity in His people, He said, NOTHING will be restrained from them.  They will be able to do things that they thought were impossible.  They will be able to do anything they want.  Nothing will be restrained from them.  That is the spirit of unity.  Though at this time it was a bad thing because it was not the right time,  it happened again a couple of thousands years later in the upper room.  Only this time, the timing was perfect.  And their hearts were pure.  And if the people who lived over 4000 years ago can do that, and the disciples nearly 2000 years ago can do that, then whats wrong with the church today?  It is time for the church to rebuild the bond together and become one body again.

We are One Church

With One Vision

Serving One God.

So who are you?

Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?

“My God, My God,

Why have you forsaken me?”

Matthew 27:46

One of the 7 last things Christ said before He died.  But why did Christ say these words?  ”My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?”

If Jesus Is God, (John 1:1 ”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”)  Then why would He cry out to Himself?

These words He cried out are so depressing and sad…poetic yet some how familiar.  That’s right, Jesus quoted Psalms 22:1 which begins with, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”. Jesus quoted this scripture so that we could understand He was fulfilling the Messianic prophecy  right there on the cross.  Psalms 22:11-18 says:

Be not far from me, for trouble is near; For there is none to help. Many bulls have surrounded me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.   They open wide their mouth at me,  As a ravening and a roaring lion.   I am poured out like water,  And all my bones are out of joint;   My heart is like wax;  It is melted within me.   My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And my tongue cleaves to my jaws;  And Thou dost lay me in the dust of death.   For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet.  I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots.

His heart has been broken and melted inside him (v. 14).   During the crucifixion process, the blood loss causes the heart to beat harder and harder and become extremely fatigued.  Dehydration occurs (v. 15).  Verses 16-18 speak of piercing His hands and feet and dividing his clothing by casting lots.   And this is exactly what occurred in Matthew 27.

Psalm 22 was written about 600 years before Christ was even born. And at that time the Crucifixion hadn’t even been invented.  Actually, the Phoenicians come up with it and Rome borrowed the horrible way of execution from them.   So, therefore when Rome come to rule over Israel, it became the Roman means of capital punishment for all the Jews whose biblical means of execution was stoning.  But He had to prove His point.

But that still really wouldn’t tell us why He cried those words in the first place.  So now that we see where the words came from, let us see why the Almighty Omnipotent God, would say that.

In fact there are two reasons.

1. The bible says in Hebrews 4:15 that He was tempted the same as we are, but yet he still never sinned.  The stories of people all through out the bible like Job and David, when they felt that God had for some reason, left them in the dust.  Forgot them, forsaken them, betrayed them…they would cry out.  WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?!  WHY WON”T YOU HELP ME?!  And we say things like that today.  Like God doesn’t care, or isn’t watching or helping you.  It seems like He walked you into the valley of the shadow of death and left you there.  You see God became flesh so that He can feel what you feel.  He became flesh and bones to go through the same temptations and the same agony you go through today.  When Christ was on the cross, He thought of you.  He thought of you when you cried out My God My God! Why have you forsaken me?  And when He thought of you, He had to feel the same way.  He suddenly felt alone…imagine, the Almighty King, desolate and alone.  He cries out…because our flesh cries out.  It’s something to think about.

2. The next reason He cried out was simply because The God who could never sin, despised sin, turned His back on sin…became sin.  When Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane, He said, “father if it be thy will, let this cup pass from me.”  As an analogy, This cup was filled with the entire wrath of an omnipotent God.  The God who would punish ALL who was in the world and all who will be in the world, which ultimately be forever in damnation and in hell, was in this tiny cup.  That Jesus had no choice but to drink of.  All of it.  God had decided that no longer would He let HIS creation perish…He would become their sins, take all of their punishment, Just so they can have a chance in an eternal life with Him.  So He cried out, because suddenly He knew how it felt, to be one of us.  As He hung their on the cross, and He thought of us…God from heaven, became Human.  Filled with sin…and now on His way to a forever burning fire.  Even though God knew how the story would end, by resurrecting and winning the victory, He felt such a depression at that time on Himself, and for us…

To tell it like it is,  He cried those words…

!!!!!BECAUSE HE LOVES US!!!!!

The Adulterous Woman

One of my favorite stories of forgiveness.  A story that is so powerful but  mostly overlooked.  A story of God’s TRUE nature in grace and mercy.

John 8:1-11 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.  And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.  And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.  Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?  This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.  So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.  And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.  And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.  When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.  

Now must of you who have not heard this story, I hope the teaching goes without saying.  But for those of you who are curious why this is such an important story, or why this story shows God’s face through the words, then pay attention.  As I walk you through the story through the eyes of the woman, the Savior, and the accusers.

When Jesus went to the mount of Olives, He knew something was going to happen.  So He came early in the morning to the temple.  And He taught some people.

But then the scribes and pharisees, the Holy and Righteous guys of the church, found some filthy unclean whore of a woman.  Who they caught dead in the act of sleeping with another man.  When they seen this they immediately readied the capitol punishment that the law of Moses commanded them to do.  But they thought, “Why not take out two birds with one stone?  Literally.  Let us trick this Jesus into saying something blasphemous about her so we can stone the both of them”   So they brought this woman who was officially unclean, meaning now she could have no social life, or any other kind of life, to the blasphemous man who claims to be God’s son.  They probably gave her trouble by jerking her around by her hair, and shoving her on the ground.  Causing the dirt to fly in her mouth and tasting the last piece of life she has left.

Here is this woman, knowing she has been caught.  And now the punishment is death so brutal, they call it Murder with specified aggravating circumstance. It is torture before death.  Where the person is literally beat to death by large stones being thrown at her.  And now as she is thrown on the ground like some filthy dog, she weeps.  Because now she feels the conviction.  But its to late.  Even if she survives this brutal beating, she will never see her friends or family again.  She sinned against God and now the “God Squad” is out to get her.  But nonetheless she is scared.   For her life.  But if she could just have one more day to make things right.  But its to late.  If she could just explain herself or tell her family she loves them.  But its to late.  And as she hears those Priests of the church say that it was up to Jesus, imagine how she felt.  She would do anything for this man if He would just let her go.  But if he was one of them, He would tell them to stone her and pick up a rock himself.

The scribes and pharisees now have this man where they want him.  In the middle of the temple surrounded by witnesses.  Now they can trick him and make him slip up in his words.  THEN they can get rid of him once and for all.  They ask in mockery, “Master, we caught this woman and the law that God gave Moses says we should kill her with stones, but what do YOU think we should do?”  Imagine ego that just grew inside the pharisees.  The hatred for this man.  He is in THEIR territory now.  There is no escape.  They will do what God’s law said.

As the Almighty Savior is teaching in the temple, He has this woman thrown in front of him.  Who is crying, and pleading for her life.  He hears the Pharisees words and listens to their hearts.  He knows they plot against him.  So He just kneels down and starts drawing in the sand like He can’t even hear them.   He ignored them.  But for some reason they kept pestering Him and asking Him and wouldn’t leave Him alone.

At this time the woman listens to the pharisees accuse and watch this man ignore them.  Why won’t He help?  Why won’t he say anything?  Seconds felt like hours…yet He refused to say anything.

The Savior now getting a little agitated continued to write in the sand and said “If there are any of you without sin let him cast the first stone.”

The pharisees were so excited because they thought they had him.  He wouldn’t answer, they moved their bishop to the proper place to put the king in checkmate.  Gameover.  But then He opens his mouth and says something that made them think.  Only the people who had no sin could cast a stone.  Where did this come from?  What could they say to that?  They can’t throw a stone knowing they would be lying to everyone else and themselves.   The fact that the tabernacle still stood shows us that even the pharisees, the most righteous people had sin in their hearts.  But this statement wasn’t about that.  This was the first time Jesus put conviction in the hearts of the Pharisees.  And it was such a feeling, having to look inside yourself, and realize that standing before God in the flesh, daring you to tell Him that you have no sin in your life.  Even the great prophet Isaiah fell on his face before the Almighty God and said “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the middle of a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts”.  Imagine for a moment the feeling of the pharisees.  They literally felt such a pain for their own soul that there was no way they could take the life of another.

The woman who is trembling for her life, hears the first rock fall to the ground.  The sound probably scared her.  She begins to cry as more and more stones are dropped.  And stands to see that everyone had left.   And her Savior stands and looks around and asks, “Where are your accusers now?  Has any man thrown a rock at you?”  And with a trembling voice, she replies “No my Lord.”  And as a Father who forgives his child, He said “then neither do I condemn thee.”  This was the same GOD who told Moses to write the law for the woman to be stoned. Deut 22:22: ”If a man is discovered committing adultery, both he and the woman must die. In this way, you will purge Israel of such evil.” But now Grace had come and ran to aid the woman.  Mercy had to abound.  And now God says, You are forgiven.  And the kicker, she never asked for forgiveness.  This was the one time God showed TRUE mercy.  The one time God showed his unconditional love not just toward Christians but Sinners too.

Now to apply this story for us today.

The woman is the sinner.  But that sinner can sometimes be  a member of your church could be that woman.  Or a thug on the streets.  Or the girl who wears skimpy clothes and attracts all the guys.  Maybe is the homeless drunk on the side of the interstate.  Maybe a co-worker, a friend, or even a family member.  And it seems like most Churchs is the pharisees today.

But oh how the Pharisees are so much better then this generation of Christians.  The people of the church today would throw them stones in a heart beat.  Thinking they are more holy then that filthy sinner.  Though they preach sinners must be saved, but in reality when a sinner approaches, or is cast down in front of them, the first thing they do is pick up a stone and launch it at their prey.  Why is this?  Because they are without hope?  Because they could plant bad seed into the hearts of the Christians?  Because their different?  Or just because your self righteous attitude says that you are better then they?  Lets answer these questions.  Though you actually may be holier then they, Jesus didn’t die just for you.  He died for that adulterous woman too.

Maybe YOU are that sinner that has been cast down by others.  Cast out, or even just a free living sinner.  God wants you to know there is punishment of sins.  No it may not be getting stoned, but something far worse.  An eternity in Hell.  But Jesus sees you where you are.  And He hears your cries and the cries of your accuser, Satan.  But He is willing to ignore all of that mess if only you will to submit to Him.  He loves you so much He was willing to be cruicified for you.  And He wants you to love Him in return.

Jesus is crying out to you and ignoring your sins.  Regardless of what they are.  Stand up and see that your accusers are gone.  And run into the arms of your Savior.  And remember the last words He spoke to her, “Go and sin no more.”

John 3:16-17: For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

Psalms 103:24 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

Hypocrites

The Final Masquerade

Today’s subject is on something that was chosen by voters on facebook.  One of the easiest things to teach about.  One of the easiest things to become angry about.  The easiest to find and see in the world today.  But mostly, the easiest to become.  When it comes to Hypocrites, people think they know everything about them.  But what they don’t realize they know nothing about them.  Let us first define the word Hypocrite.  Hypocrisy is an unconscious self-contradiction: a state  between one’s professed beliefs and feelings and one’s actual beliefs and feelings, or an application of a criticism to others that one does not apply to oneself.  Hypocrisy is like a father who beats his child with a belt for smoking, while holding a cigarette in his hand.  Or like a “Christian” who claims to be pro-life but yells at people to stop preaching at abortion clinics because it is pressing their beliefs on others.  Hypocrites are very common in the world today.  As a matter of fact, the majority of them are “Christians”.  

Hypocrisy is like a Masquerade mask.  You put on something beautiful and elegant on the outside, only to reveal another face underneath.  So take the following story, into consideration.

You enter in a big room where there is hundreds of people all wearing the most beautiful Masquerade masks.  They all tell you they are righteous people who have no sin, and they are beautiful and pure. but one by one as you unveil their true identity, the faces of every person is warped and twisted.  Dark and ugly.  Satanic even.   When God looks through the hearts of the Hypocrites, this is what He sees.  Masks, hiding a face full of sin.

Hypocrites are not only very annoying and ugly, but also very dangerous.  For years Hypocrites have ran Christians out of church and even out of faith.  New christians go to church and realize that the people who attend don’t practice what they preach.  After that the christians get so confused on what the Word really teaches that they either get burnt out of church or they themselves inherit the spirit of Hypocrisy.  Or when Pastors and Teachers preach holy living for years, and turn around and have affairs and come out to be homosexual.  When Christians go to church they have people they rely on and trust.  They need these influences to build their faith and to keep them strong.  Without which they fall under the temptations of this world.  And when they find out that those Pastors or Teachers they once trusted, is now one of the biggest hypocrites, it burns people out.  It literally drains their spirit.   So what now?  You have Christians who ultimately get  burnt out of Church and Faith.  That would make their blood on the hands of the Hypocrites. 

But what does the Word say about Hypocrites?  Rev. 3:16 says  ”So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.”  This is actually saying it is better for you to be an open sinner, than a false saint.  Because as an open sinner you only hurt yourself.  But as a false saint, you hurt others around you.  Do hypocrites go to hell like any other sinner?  Yes.  Yes they do.  Job 13:16 says “He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.” So as a warning to all who read this, be sure your not found guilty of such a hideous crime.

The bible says in Matt 7:5 “You hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of your own eye; and then shall you see clearly to cast out the mote out of your brother’s eye.”  Jesus tells us that we must first cleanse ourselves before we judge others or else we are those Hypocrites.

1 Tim 3:7 says “Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”  Paul tells us here that if we have a good report (a good reputation without sin), So while we preach or teach  to others, we must make sure that we are without sin to avoid being a lukewarm Hypocrite who will continue to be the reason of burning Christians out of church and faith and finding their blood on our hands.

Isaiah 32:6 For the vile person will speak villainy, and his heart will work iniquity, to practice hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.

Isaiah 32.6 “Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.”

Ezekiel 33:31-32 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.

Job 20:5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

Job 27:8-9 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?

Proverbs 11:9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

Evangelism 102

 

So Mr. Evangelist, it seems like after reading Evangelism 101 you find yourself in a tricky situation.  You find that once you have become a Christian, it is pretty easy to talk to people about your Christian life.  But it seems that there are some that are a little stubborn and just won’t listen when you ask them to accept Jesus as THEIR savior.  In this blog we will discuss different solutions to try in these unfortunate circumstances.

You have a friend, or family member, or just someone you care about, who doesn’t know Jesus.  But you have an urgency in your heart to show them the light so that they too can be saved and not eternally damned to a forever lake of fire.  It’s only normal to feel this urgency.   As a matter of fact, MOST Christians don’t feel that urgency, but people like Jesus, Peter, and Paul felt this urgency and even told us to feel the urgency because the Lord is returning soon.  But your friend or family member doesn’t want to listen.  They change the subject or avoid it all together.  What do you do?  For most people my advice would be: “Follow God’s Instructions”.   But for those that are unlearned I will discuss what to do in these times.

1. Don’t Stop.  The Bible says in Isaiah 62:1 “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch.” Think on this a min. before continuing and get in this mindset.  I will not stop, or keep quiet, or silent until Jesus returns and the world sees her salvation.  We’re not there yet.  And until that day comes, Do Not Stop! Don’t stop preaching, Don’t stop witnessing, Don’t stop praying, Don’t stop inviting them to church.  If you stop, they win. Satan wins.  Isaiah had the mindset of urgency by proclaiming I WILL NOT STOP PREACHING UNTIL TIME COMES TO AN END!
2. Love them.  You may be the only Jesus that person will see.  So make sure that you never quit showing them love.  God’s love.  The bible says in Romans 5:8 God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus loves them EVEN THOUGH that person is a sinner.  Jesus loves them even when they reject Him.  But when the time comes when they must meet Him face to face on Judgment day, God will say “I don’t know you, depart from me you doer of iniquity.”  So we must make sure we show them the same love so that they know we don’t want to give up on them.  And that there is a God who loves them too.
3. Pray.  Prayer is one of the only ways of communication to God.  So pray that the Lord will convict their heart so they may see they need Jesus more than anything.  Continue to pray that the Lord tells you exactly what to say and do.  The bible says Matthew 10:19 Do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. This means that know that Jesus is with you and He will tell you what to say.  Because another way God communicates with us, is through His word.  The bible.  So read His word daily to be prepared for times like these.  When the time comes, pray that the Lord reminds you of His words.  To give you wisdom and knowledge so that you can get through to this person.  A combination on prayer for wisdom, and prayer for the other person to feel convicted and open their heart is the best way to approach.  Note: This is a must!!!
4. Show and tell.  Quit tell them what God CAN do, and start showing them what God HAS done through YOUR testimony.  Your testimony may be the BEST testimony for this situation.  Use it.  If you discuss what God has done in the past, such as He made the earth and trees, they will just try to argue evolution.  So don’t get on the path on comparison between God and their beliefs.  Stay on God’s mercy and grace on Your life, and what He CAN do in theirs.
5. Shake the dust off.  The bible says in Mark 6:11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” This does not mean “give up”.   This simply means, don’t let it get to you.  But don’t fret about something to much and surround your life around that one person.  Because you have work that needs to be done else where too.  Keep inviting them, keep praying, keep preaching, keep loving and keep telling them of what God has done for you, but don’t be discouraged because they still reject it.  There is not much more you can do.  You must leave them to their fate.  Because when one rejects Christ, they have no salvation.  And warn them of their future for chosing to reject Him.
6. Remind them of their future.   If all else fails, tell them what they have to look forward to.  They story of Lazaras and Abraham tells us of the torture we can face in hell Luke 16:23-24 and in Hell, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ’Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ Remind them if they don’t come to Christ, then they will face the same fire.  Remind them that they will be eternally burning in the lake of fire asking for death but won’t be able to find it.

6 Easy steps to take and remember when faced with a problem of rejection towards Jesus.  Dont stop, show them love, pray for them, show them your testimony.  When these things don’t work, then you must shake the dust off your feet and remind them of their future.  Leave them with their decision.  Sometimes if you push, they will feel intimidated and run.  So don’t push.  Instead love.  And remember that the work that you are performing here, is the greatest work you can do for Jesus.  Because the greatest miracle in God’s eyes is bringing a lost soul to Him.  And the number one priority in the Christian works is soul saving.

But always remember this, You can not save a lost soul. You can only show them the way to salvation.  It is their choice wether they want to proceed down that path or not.  Your job is not to convince them of anything, but only to SHOW!!! If you try to do God’s job instead of your own, then things will not work the way you want.  Because its not about what you want.  Its about what God wants and what that person needs.  So may God bless you on your daily walk with Christ.  Now go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that Jesus has commanded you. And behold, He is with you always, to the end of the age.”