The King’s Commission

Quote from the Pleasing Pain blog:

“No messenger of a king bearing the king’s message ever waited to earn his right share the word from his king.  He shared it, because that was his duty!  So too, all Christians are ambassadors for Christ, and it is our joy to share the gospel with as many as we can.  If Christ has given us approval to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations, we need not earn another’s approval to share the gospel, the message of our king.” (Emphasis added)

Matthew 28: 16-20

What Man Means for Evil

Let’s say you live in China. Your every move is monitored. Big Brother is watching and you know it. You work for the Chinese government and your job is to infiltrate chat rooms, message boards, and comment areas on the Internet in order to spread propaganda.  According to the article cited below, as many as 300,000 people (known as “China’s 50 Cent Party”) are doing this every day.

Imagine, you have never heard the Gospel and then one day you access a message board to ply your nefarious trade when you read a message like this:

There is a Creator who created all there is and ever will be, who has revealed Himself in what He has created, and who has established His laws to govern this universe. One day He will judge everyone according to their deeds. What will happen when you stand before Him on that day of judgment? There is a way to find out: Have you ever said something that wasn’t true or taken something that wasn’t yours? Have you ever looked at another person with lust? If you have done these things, you have broken three of the Creator’s laws. That same Creator has declared that all liars, thieves, and adulterers will suffer eternal torment in Hell.

The Good News is that the Creator, God, doesn’t desire this for you. Instead, “God demonstrated His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, came to take upon Himself the wrath and judgment you deserve for breaking God’s Law and sinning against Him. The Bible tells us, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life”. He did this when He shed His innocent blood for the remission of sins as He died on the cross. Three days later, He rose from and forever defeated death. He did this for you, He did this because of Love, He did this as a free gift. To receive this free gift, you must repent (that means to confess and forsake your sins) and put your trust in Jesus. If you do this you will not have to suffer God’s justice in Hell when you stand before Him on the day of judgment. Please carefully consider this; there is nothing more important.

Now imagine the joy in heaven when one sinner repents (Luke 15:7).

The 50 Cent Army is likely up to no good. This seems like an excellent opportunity though to share the Law and the Gospel with a potential audience equal to the population of 47 countries. The next time you are on a message board or in a chat room think about planting this kind of seed, God will allow it to take root and grow in exactly the right way at exactly the right time. After all, sometimes what man means for evil, God intends for good (Gen 50:20).

Imagine.

 

Via The Raw Feed:

The CCP has hired thousands of freelance Internet propagandists whose job is to infiltrate chat rooms, message boards and comment areas on the Internet posing as ordinary users to voice support for the agenda and interest of the CCP. The BBC calls these freelance propagandists China’s 50 Cent Party. The Guardian newspaper calls it the 50 Cent Army. (50 Cent isn’t a rapper in this case, but a reference to the pay: 50 Chinese "cents" per post, which is equivalent to about 7 US cents). Some estimates claim that the 50 Cent Army includes a whopping 300,000 people. If that’s accurate, China’s freelance propagandists exceed in number the total populations of 47 countries.

Confident Evangelism

We are supposed to proclaim the Gospel in all the world. It is not an option but a command. Sharing the faith is not just the job of ordained ministers but an obligation of every Christian. In this two part audio series Don Green explains why every Christian has the freedom and competence to share the Gospel confidently with the lost.

Confident Evangelism, Part 1

Confident Evangelism, Part 2

Catching Up

After a prolonged absence from blogging, I’m back. While I was away…

My first grandchild, Caleb, made his world debut on July 5 bringing with him an opportunity for me to read the Scriptures with a new set of eyes:

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.—Proverbs 17:6

…I confess that I’m struggling with the word “aged” a little bit, but that crown part is absolutely right on the mark!

 

A short while later my car broke down, thank God!

 

And then my desktop computer monitor decided to fizzle and die. Even though I have a laptop computer that I could have used, I keep it reserved for work rather than personal use– a policy that even astronauts aught to follow. I am a little bit bummed that I missed hearing about this until it was too late though.

And now you know the rest of the story…

Still Much Work Ahead

Roll up your sleeves, there is still much work to be done for the harvest. Much, much more work.

Father, for the sake of ten still to be found, will you not yet tarry? Send your laborers into the harvest, give them speed, grant them passion, allot them souls! Amen.

Ten Commandments Bookmark and Tract

The Ten Commandments Bookmark and Tract has the Commandments listed on one side and a Gospel presentation on the reverse. I’ve found these work best if printed on heavyweight paper with either a glossy or matte coated finish and is designed to print 4 bookmarks (front and back) on one standard 8.5 x 11 inch page. Each bookmark measures 2 x 6.5 inches.

Side one:

The Ten Commandments

Side two:

One day everyone will stand before God in judgment. How will you do? Here’s a quick test to find out:

Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen anything? Have you ever used God’s name as a curse word? Have you ever wanted something that did not belong to you? Have you ever allowed someone or something to be more important to you than God?

If you have done these things, you’ve broken God’s Commandments and you will stand before Him as a lying, thieving, covetous, blaspheming, idolater. The Bible says God’s wrath awaits you and on Judgment Day you will end up in hell.

But God doesn’t desire this for you: instead, “God demonstrated His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, came to take upon Himself the wrath and judgment you deserve for breaking God’s Law and sinning against Him. The Bible tells us, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life”. He did this when He shed His innocent blood for the remission of sins as He died on the cross. Three days later, He rose from and forever defeated death. He did this for you, He did this because of Love, He did this as a free gift. To receive this free gift, you must repent (that means to confess and forsake your sins) and put your trust in Jesus. If you do this you will not have to suffer God’s justice in Hell when you stand before Him on judgment day.

Repent and believe in Jesus now, please don’t wait.

Download the Ten Commandments Bookmark (PDF File)

Still Think You’re a Good Person?

Fox has a game show called The Moment of Truth on which contestants answer a series of personal and embarrassing questions to receive cash. Before each show, contestants are asked more than 50 questions while the truthfulness of their answers is measured by polygraph. During the show, 21 of the same questions are asked again, if the contestant’s answers are truthful based on the results of the previously administered polygraph, they go on to the next question. If the contestant lies or refuses to answer, the game ends.

Since the show first aired on January 23, 2008 no one has answered all 21 questions truthfully.

Think about that for just a minute. The “secret” things of our lives are so shameful or hurtful or embarrassing that we cannot answer truthfully just 21 questions about our lives  — not even for $500,000!

If we are this ashamed of our own actions now, just think about what it will be like on the Day of Judgment when we have to give an account for all our thoughts, all our words, and all our deeds.

This video (HT: The Lawman Chronicles) puts this is in perspective:

Related:

The Human Condition

How Many People Face Judgement Every Day?

The Cure Only Jesus Can Offer

A Holy Saturday Encounter with Jehovah’s Witnesses

On Saturday before Easter I was in the yard with my wife finishing up some lawn work when two older men approached us with an invitation to a “sunrise service on Sunday”. I have to admit when they approached I immediately assumed they were Jehovah’s Witnesses and so their invitation surprised me. I knew JW’s do not celebrate Easter and felt bad for prejudging them.

When I asked what Church they were with, one handed me a tract which I quickly scanned and found, — yes, in fact, they were from the Watchtower.

I handed them the tract back and told them ‘no thanks’ and that I already had plans to attend a Sunrise Easter Service to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. The two gentleman asked why I wasn’t interested in keeping their literature. That gave me a small opening so I dove right in with the assumption I had, at best, two minutes before they took off for the next door.

I explained to them that I would be glad to answer their question if they would answer a few questions for me first. They agreed.

Q: You both know the Ten Commandments, right?

A: Yes, that’s in the Old Covenant, we aren’t bound by those laws any more.

Q: You have your New World Translation of the Bible with you, right? Can you tell me what Jesus said in Luke 18:20?

A: The older of the two gentlemen pulled out his NWT and started reading “You know the Commandments,…”.

I interrupted him and asked them both again if they new the Commandments and they admitted that yes they did know them and agreed that they still represent God’s law (after a little prodding). We walked through the five listed in Luke 18:20 and they admitted that they had broken each one of them at some point in their life.

Q: So when you die, what will happen to you?

A: We will be dead until the resurrection.

Q: What will happen to you at the resurrection?

A: We believe we are part of the earthly class and will live on the new earth.

Q: You’ve admitted that you are lawbreakers, what does your bible say will happen to the sexually immoral, to murders and to all liars in Revelation 21:8? Again the older of the two gentleman turned to that passage and started to read it out loud and stopped about half way through.

A. This doesn’t apply to us, we will be saved by our death.

I have never heard that before and said as much to them (I was momentarily taken off guard). “You’re telling me that you are saved by your own death and not through the death of Jesus Christ?” I asked. “Yes, that’s what the bible teaches” one of the men replied. At this point I really wanted to ask where the Bible taught that, but decided against it and pointed out that by their own admission they were liars, sexually immoral, and murders at heart and, if their scripture was true, they had no hope in the resurrection.

Our conversation came to a quick end and I was disappointed that I did not get the chance to share the Gospel message with them. Before they left however, I told them that I would pray for them (they told me they weren’t interested) and to please remember where I live and come back anytime should either of them want to talk more.

I was left with the distinct impression that wouldn’t happen either…

…but I’m praying anyway.

It’s Not a Choice, It’s a Command

And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. (Acts 10:42)

Transform the world, make the commitment:

l to share the gospel with at least one person every week.

l to pray earnestly to the Lord to send laborers into His harvest.

l to be not a hearer of the WORD who forgets, but a doer who acts and daily take up my CROSS all follow Jesus.

Download Evangelism Commitment Cards (set of 4, .PDF file):

Me, Dirt Bag

I just got back from a business trip.

Two states, two airports, rooms filled with people, people in small groups, people everywhere and not one time did I share the Gospel. I was prepared to, I made sure before I left home that I had a supply of tracts and Pocket Testaments (never leave home without them), and everyone one of them returned home with me unused.

Sure, I was busy, very busy, it’s not like I had a lot of extra time; but the truth is, I just didn’t try.

I could have handed the lady at the toll booth a Pocket Testament; but I didn’t.

I could have chatted about the law and the Gospel with the nice elderly couple I sat next to on the plane today; but I didn’t.

I could have handed out million dollar bill tracts by the hand full during any of several meetings I attended today; but I didn’t.

Opportunity forever lost.

Time forever wasted.

Souls untouched by me today.

Because I didn’t.