136: BRING OTHERS TO JESUS Acts 8:6

An American football team was coached by a man named Vince Lombard, he led the ‘Green Bay Packers’ to victory after victory, but one day they lost to a team they should have easily defeated. Though disappointed, Lombard gathered his team together. Then putting his hand in to the bag he was carrying and with his inimitable smile, brought out a football and said, “Gentlemen, this is a football.” So what was he really saying to his team? “Get back to basics.” The captain of (our) Salvation is Jesus and before He went back to heaven He gave us the game plan. (Acts1:8) “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” Now, since a person’s last words are some of the most important ones they want to leave with us, they lead us to ask this question. To whom was Jesus speaking? “You and I” You shall… be witness to me.” There are people around today who will never go to church. Their only chance of hearing the gospel is through you or me. Through what our lips declare and what our lives demonstrates. So, what is this power Jesus spoke of? The Greek word for “power’ is Dynamos, from which we get the words dynamite or dynamic.(huge) Dynamite is a huge explosive force, which when properly harnessed or exploded can remove any obstacle that stands in its way,. You may say “I don’t have that power, I have never been to Bible College, and I don’t feel qualified to share the gospel so dynamically” Remember this , God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called by filling them with HIS Spirit and power (Dynamos). To day you and I , are being called to minister God’s “Dynamos.” to His Careless, Disobedient, Broken and Hurting world. Are you a Serious Christian? Do you truly belong to God and believe that He loves us so deeply that He sent His only Son Jesus to die for your sins and rose from the dead three days later; thus giving you entrance into eternal life and His everlasting Kingdom? Is Jesus and His will the base-line of your every conviction and conversation? Is your faith in God the most precious possession you haves So precious in fact, that you can’t help speaking about various aspects of your relationship with Him to everyone you meet, not only about it, but how they too can have this relationship with Jesus? Do all the people you know, know that you are a Follower of Jesus Christ and why? Do people know they can come to you in times of trouble or heartache, not just for sympathy and consolation but in and for true confidence and trustworthy advice? Are you approachable, and a reliable prayer? A real Christian will develop and maintain these qualities because they are visible signs that we love God and our neighbour; And isn’t that what Jesus told the Young man who asked the question “What should I do to gain eternal life?” To day, the church of Jesus Christ (as I see it) has only two options; evangelise or fossilise. When the church (that’s us) fails to share its faith with those outsiders, it either ends up in a holding pattern or in death throes. Sounds dramatic, but read on; The New Testament church’s growth is described in these words from (Acts 2:47) “The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Not only did they influence every level of society, but their enemies said of them (Acts 17:6) “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too..” Here’s a question, If your church closed it’s doors tomorrow, would anyone other than your congregation notice the difference? Think about this; Why don’t we share the Gospel more readily? 1. Lack of opportunity:Answer: Make the opportunity, change the topic of conversation. 2. I’m too shy; Answer, Get over it, say a prayer and ask for Holy Spirit help. 3. Afraid I will be ridiculed or laughed at. Answer, Try another question like- “What will happen to you when you die? Or have you ever thought about Heaven and Hell? Start a discussion, even if people don’t appear to want to talk about it, it will start them thinking. Think now about those early believers, their assignment seemed geographically impossible; How were they to reach people in far off places? They had no air travel, radio, television, printing presses, internet, or any of our other modern technologies at their disposal for communicating the gospel. It seemed legally impossible. Because, the Government authorities forbade them to speak in Jesus’ name. And it also appeared socially impossible; After all, who would really listen to a bunch of Galilean fisherman devoid of culture and class? Yet they were witnesses through the power of the Holy Spirit and people did listen to them. They did so much with so little, How? Because they understood, accepted, relied on and used the Holy Spirit Power which Jesus had promised them; You too have this same Holy Spirit Power if you trust God and allow His Spirit to speak and act through you. .Surely we can do more than we are doing to get the Name, Character and Power of God in to this beautiful country of ours. Please pray about this, asking God to give us not just the ability, but the willingness to step out and use the Holy Spirit Power that He has given us to accomplish His Will. It is reckoned that if just 10 percent of the members of the average church to-day got serious about evangelism, their church attendance would double in just one year. By the way the word translated “witness” is the same word from which we get our English word “Martyr”. I thought I’d drop that in, so You can measure your own faith and see how much you really do love The Lord. In the light of recent happenings, not only in America, England, Europe and the Middle east but even down here in the South Pacific, the situation is getting very serious Jesus warned us it would, and said “Don’t go into battle without counting and understanding the cost. Those early believers reached the world for Christ knowing it could cost them their lives, but they were willing to get off the fence and devote their lives to His cause by following Christ’s call; Are we ready to do the same? This is the time to make your decision, not when the enemy is knocking at your door. Thank you for reading my thoughts on “Bringing others to Christ.” I know it isn’t easy and sometimes you have to bare your own soul in the process, but, I believe with The Spirit’s Power, our efforts will not go unrewarded. JESUS is the best and most precious gift you can give to anyone and they will thank you for it through all eternity. Remember Jesus died for you, because He loved you and He rose again three days later. then went to Heaven to make a place for us to be with Him forever. Trust His promise, “I will NEVER leave you or forsake you”. God Bless. Phaline.