Evangelism

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THE MYSTERY REVEALED

(1 Corinthians 2:9&10) However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” – the things God has prepared for those who love him – these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

In these verses, the Apostle Paul refers to the great mystery that had been hidden from the beginning of time and now revealed by his Spirit.  The advent of Jesus the Christ is the beginning of this great reveal.  God in his wisdom, that is far beyond what we can conceive, has always had a plan for our redemption. A baby, born to a common family, lying in a manger made for feeding animals, is the beginning of this astonishing miracle.  Jesus came that we might have new life, eternal life.

The great love of our Creator did not allow him to abandon us.  He would give his one and only son unto a torturous death, allowing him to take on the sins of the whole world.  But Jesus did not Just come and go; he grew up like a regular human child, and he spent his adult years teaching us a new way to live. For those of us who have received him, we have been given new life guided by the infilling of his Holy Spirit.

Christmas is a celebration of the reveal. A mystery that was long hidden until the time was ready for its release.  We are all given invitations to what God’s love accomplished for us in his redemption plan.  Don’t miss out! Receive this great gift that our creator has offered us and join in on the everlasting celebration!

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JESUS IS GOD

One of the main premises of Christianity is that Jesus is fully man and fully God. People seldom deny that Jesus was a man, yet his deity is often the point of controversy.  Jesus was born to a woman, but he was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and his father is God.  In his time among us, he did much to demonstrate that he is God the Son.

The first supernatural event that Jesus presented, when he was about to begin his ministry here on earth, was to turn water into wine (see John 2:1-11).  He was at a wedding banquet, and the wine was running out.  He ordered servants to fill 6 stone jars with water.  Each jar held twenty to thirty gallons.  When they were full, he instructed them to take some to the master of the banquet. The water had become fine wine.

Water is as you know H2O.  Its elemental make up is two hydrogen and one oxygen atom.  Wine is about 84% water, and 13% ethanol.  The other 3% is a complex combination of glycerol, organic acids, amino acids, sugars, other alcohols, phenols, minerals, aromatics, and sulfur.  Not only did Jesus turn water into wine, but he made the best wine. 

Other supernatural events occurred frequently during his ministry proving that he is not just a man, but also God.  The gospels are full of miraculous stories of Jesus’ miracles.

For example:

He fed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish.

He walked on the water of a stormy lake.

He commanded the waves and wind to be still and they obeyed.

He healed multitudes of people with various infirmities.

He raised people who had died back to life.

He commanded demons to leave inflicted people, and they had to obey.

Jesus demonstrated his supernatural authority over the basic elements and over all other aspects of creation. Only God has this kind of authority over creation.  And then came the final demonstration. His Godly love for us.  Jesus did not use his power to protect himself but humbled himself and allowed men to take his life so that he could pay for our sins.  Then his Father raised him from the dead and gave him all authority over heaven and earth.

The evidence is clear.  Jesus is God!  No other can claim this truth.

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TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND

(Romans 12:2) Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

I’ve always loved this scripture from Romans talking about transforming and renewing the mind.  However, I’ve recently come to a different understanding of its meaning.  I used to think of being transformed by the renewing of your mind as some miraculous change brought about by the Holy Spirit.  Then there would come this amazing new level of understanding and a greater connection to God.  It turns out, I was over spiritualizing. 

Yes, the results will be the same, a new level of understanding and a greater connection to our God, but this is simply the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.  He guides us through our day by day walk from the moment of salvation.  We are continually renewed until we are called home.

(John 14:25&26) All this I have spoken while still with you.  But the advocate, The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Before we gave our lives to Jesus, we conformed to the patterns of this world.  Hatred, bigotry, self-indulgence, greed, sexual impurity, etc. are the patterns of this world.  When we became disciples of Jesus, The Father gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us into an understanding of the righteous words of Jesus, which are the opposite of the patterns of this world.  The transformation by the renewing of our minds then began, and it is still proceeding.  With this transformation comes an ever-increasing understanding of God’s will for our lives, his good, pleasing and perfect will for each of us.

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GOD REALLY LOVES US

(Psalm 139:13-17) For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  How precious to me are your thoughts, God!  How vast is the sum of them!

From the very beginning of creation, God took great interest in bringing forth mankind. He bent down and formed man with his own hands, and then he formed woman.  Each one was formed from the earth he had created.  King David recognized that God involves himself in the creation of each one of us as he knits us together in our mother’s womb. And isn’t it interesting that he has knowledge of each day of our lives from the beginning of our existence.

There is an intimacy between us and God that transcends our understanding, but his great love for us was revealed when he sent his Son to redeem us.  When we consider these things, it becomes apparent that God is continually working on his desire to have a relationship with us.  Remember, God did not create us and then walk away.  We walked away!

In my own life, I stayed away from God in those early years.  I wanted to do life on my own terms.  I had an awareness that he was there, but I kept my distance.  When the realization of how badly I had messed up my live came crashing in, God, who was waiting patiently, received me with open arms.  I deserved punishment, but through the work of Jesus, I was granted grace.  From that moment on, I began to live a life of blessing in the arms of my God.

I now know that the greatest foolishness in this life is to try to live it without the one who created us and loves us.  The greatest fulfillment in this life is to seek God and his will for us.  Nothing is better than a relationship with the one who calls himself Our Father.

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THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD

(Ephesians 2:19-22) Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.  In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

I was reading this verse last week during our worldwide prayer for the church.  I was intrigued by the idea that all the true Christians across the entire earth are built into a living temple, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus as the chief cornerstone.  Construction of this temple began on the day of Pentecost.  Since then, each new brother or sister who enters the kingdom of God is filled with the Holy Spirit, and they become a part of this temple.

Imagine the earth with a worldwide temple full of prayers and worship rising toward heaven.  What an awesome image, with every born-again Christian across the whole earth having a part in the prayers and worship being sent to our Father in heaven. 

In this fallen world, we know that the enemy must be working to interfere with this glorious work of the temple of Christ.  I believe his main weapon is to keep Christians at odds with each other.  I’m not referring to those who suffer under false doctrines, the enemy has no problem with them; but to those of us who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we are to love all people. We are to love and be in unity with those who are of the family of God.

We are of the same building, and we are filled with the power of Jesus to love and bear witness of his love to the world. Yet, if we are at odds with each other, the walls begin to crumble, and our power is hindered.  In Psalm 133:1 David reminds us, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”

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EVERYDAY CHRISTIANITY 3

 (Colossians 4:2-6) Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.  Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

(Colossians 4:5&6 MSG) Use your heads as you live and work with outsiders.  Don’t miss a trick.  Make the most of every opportunity.  Be gracious in your speech.  The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.

Last week we talked about praying for those who are in full-time ministry.  Here in verses 5 and 6, the Apostle Paul transitions to talking about how we ourselves should approach opportunities for sharing the Gospel. 

Paul tells us to be wise in our interactions with non-believers.  We should maintain a positive interaction that will allow us to take advantage of any opportunity to share about Jesus.  Our conversation should be full of grace, which means kind, non-judgmental, and avoiding a “holier than thou” attitude.  As The Message puts it, “The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.”

The humble place of remembering that we were once outsiders is always the right demeanor for approaching the unsaved. The saying goes, “But for the grace of God, there go I.”  Genuine love, compassion, and understanding is what people need from us. Judgement is in the hands of Jesus who is the perfect judge.  

 I like to think of non-believers as being in a temporary situation.  They are just a prayer away from being a brother or sister in the family of God.  How wonderful to think that God would give us the honor of leading them to Jesus and eternal life.

Paul gave the Colossians sound advice in how to lead a daily Christian life.  Isn’t it an amazing blessing that we still have the advantage of his words today. 

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EVERYDAY CHRISTIANITY 2

 (Colossians 4:2-6) Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.  Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Last week we looked at this passage from Colossians, and I focused on verse two which is about devoting ourselves to prayer.  Let’s continue by looking at verses three and four.

And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

The mystery of Christ is simply the Gospel message of what Jesus did for our salvation.  It is the most beautiful message ever heard by mankind.  Sharing this message requires presenting it with the recipient in mind and always being attuned to the Holy Spirits guidance.  Paul is asking the Colossians to pray that God would open opportunities for sharing, and that he would do it clearly.

We are still called to this prayer today.  We pray for those we know who are sharing the Gospel message – our pastors, missionaries, and evangelist.  As the Colossians did for Paul, we pray that the Lord will open doors for them to share, and that they will be able to share the Gospel clearly.  We also pray for their safety.

Next week let’s look at verses 5 and 6.  We’ll talk about Paul’s instructions for us, as we share the mystery of Christ.

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THE CORD OF THREE STRANDS

(Genesis 2:18) The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a helper suitable for him.”

Throughout our 44 years of marriage, there have been times when my wife and I have spent time away from each other.  We are currently in one of those seasons. My wife is away tending to a sick brother. I find it emotionally painful to be apart, but it is somewhat beneficial in that our desire for each other is heightened.  From the beginning God acknowledged that man has need for a companion.  Though not clearly stated, our companionship was never meant to exclude God.

Forty-four years ago, two sinners came together to form an intimate relationship.  Would this relationship last?  Ah, they had a distinct advantage.  They both had recently formed a strong relationship with their creator. From the start, God was at the center of their union. What that meant is that in hard, difficult times, they had God to turn to.  When times went well, they knew who to thank. 

So here I am sitting alone at my desk, and what is on my mind?  Gratefulness to God for this beautiful, wonderful woman he brought to me those many years ago.  God has been so good to us.  I am thoroughly convinced that God has been at the center of our successful marriage.

(Proverbs 18:22) He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.

(Ecclesiastes 4:12) Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.  A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

God’s presence in any relationship is vital, because with him you can form a strong bond. Thus, “a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” In marriage his presence makes all the difference. 

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CHOOSE THE GOOD

(Psalm 64:1-6) Here me, my God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy.  Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the plots of evildoers.  They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.  They shoot from ambush at the innocent; they shoot suddenly, without fear.  They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, “Who will see it?”  They plot injustice and say, “We have devised a perfect plan!”  Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.

Since mankind rebelled against God, we have known the difference between good and evil.  God encourages us to do good; who encourages us to do evil?  Ah, we remember the snake.  He, the devil, and all his cohorts work very hard to lead us away from God and his goodness.

Because we have all inherited the rebellious nature of Adam and Eve, we must continuously battle between good and evil.  If evil wins, we see the fruit of it in our choices and actions.  In Psalm 64 David describes what evil looks like in those who choose to perpetrate it.  The people who David calls his enemies show no consideration to the consequences of their actions.  In fact, they delight in the devastation they inflict on others.

In Psalm 65 David talks about those who choose God’s goodness. (Psalm 65:1-4) Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled.  You who answer prayer, to you all people will come.  When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.  Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts!  We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.  In these people, we see God honored and praised; thankfulness is in their hearts and on their lips, and they are filled with the good things of God.

What a contrast between those who choose evil and those who choose good.  Yet, even If you have immersed yourself in evil, God has made a way to repent and turn to him. All his children have come to the moment of repentance, and they have been renewed by God’s perfect solution to overcome sins hold. He gave his only Son.  Now is the time to repent, humble yourself, and turn to God.  He will welcome you with open arms.  If you choose not to receive God’s salvation, you will be punished for all your sins.

Choose the good and live in the goodness of God.  Choosing evil always leads to destruction.  Living life the way God intended will lead us to loving others and ultimately eternal life.  Following the ways of evil leads to exploiting others and finally punishment.

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SEEKING GOD

(Jeremiah 29:13) You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Mankind has always thought there was more to life than just his time on earth.  Our history shows that we have always searched for eternity.  In Ecclesiastes 3:11 Solomon tells us why, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.  He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”  We search for eternity because God has placed it in our hearts.  We also know that there is a God because of the beauty of the creation in which we exist.  God is a mystery to be found, yet he does not hide himself from us.  We can find him if we seek him with all our heart.

There has always been, deep inside my consciousness, an awareness that God exists.  Through the years, I have developed a loving relationship with him.  How did this come about?  It came about when I came to a desperate place in my life, and I called out to him.  He answered me!  Since then, I have sought to know him. 

In those early years, during times of worship, I’d sing a song whose words were “I love you, Lord.”  I remember thinking, do I really love the Lord.  Today I can emphatically say “yes, I love you, Lord”, because I have spent time seeking him.  I have found him and developed a deep love for him.  Most of all, in those years of seeking him, I discovered his great love for me.

Jesus said, “Seek and you will find.”1 The writer of Hebrews said, “…anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”2 All of us, who are followers of Jesus, know that these words are true.  Because we have sought after him, we have found him, and he has rewarded us with eternal life and an everlasting relationship with himself.

1Matthew 7:7

2Hebrews 11:6