Saturday 30 July 2011
Wednesday 27 July 2011
STEP OUT TEAM - Update
Recently two of us had the opportunity to distribute some tracts in Welling. We managed to distribute them but there was a significant change we noticed, people have hardened, moved farther away from the Lord from the last time we did it. Many refused to take a tract politely while others just blanked us and walked past.
As we felt that it was no use just walking on the streets, we decided to walk into empty shops to speak to the shop keepers about God. We entered a bakery first where the lady, refused to take a tract due to differences in belief, we quickly prayed and began talking to her about her beliefs to give her the Gospel message. As soon as she heard the name 'Jesus' and the phrases 'heaven and hell', she refused to give us any details of her faith and just asked us to leave as she 'had different views already and [wasn't] interested'.
While we were slightly disappointed as this was the second time we've tried to speak to someone directly, we were able to successfully speak to and give a furniture shop owner a tract.
Although the day was quite different to our usual 'Step Out Team days', we were very struck by two incidents that followed. Firstly, we found one of our tracts folded and on the pavement, while it was a shock and we were hurt, we prayed and picked it up to re-use it. Finally, when we approached a very friendly lady, she was keen to take our tract, but when we said 'Its about the one true God.' She looked at us, pushed our hand away and said, 'Then keep it to yourself'.
Although it was a very hard day, Jesus never said it was easy. We thank God for helping us give the tracts we had out, we thank God for all the people we met and pray that they find Him. Our hearts were struck by the level of coldness we could feel from many towards God and His word; this just gives us more reason to fervently pray for the lost; they need God. Let us pray that God softens hearts, touches souls and gives us all the strength and courage to carry on spreading the Gospel.
As we felt that it was no use just walking on the streets, we decided to walk into empty shops to speak to the shop keepers about God. We entered a bakery first where the lady, refused to take a tract due to differences in belief, we quickly prayed and began talking to her about her beliefs to give her the Gospel message. As soon as she heard the name 'Jesus' and the phrases 'heaven and hell', she refused to give us any details of her faith and just asked us to leave as she 'had different views already and [wasn't] interested'.
While we were slightly disappointed as this was the second time we've tried to speak to someone directly, we were able to successfully speak to and give a furniture shop owner a tract.
Although the day was quite different to our usual 'Step Out Team days', we were very struck by two incidents that followed. Firstly, we found one of our tracts folded and on the pavement, while it was a shock and we were hurt, we prayed and picked it up to re-use it. Finally, when we approached a very friendly lady, she was keen to take our tract, but when we said 'Its about the one true God.' She looked at us, pushed our hand away and said, 'Then keep it to yourself'.
Although it was a very hard day, Jesus never said it was easy. We thank God for helping us give the tracts we had out, we thank God for all the people we met and pray that they find Him. Our hearts were struck by the level of coldness we could feel from many towards God and His word; this just gives us more reason to fervently pray for the lost; they need God. Let us pray that God softens hearts, touches souls and gives us all the strength and courage to carry on spreading the Gospel.
Sunday 17 July 2011
We're on a Mission - What? Where? When? Why? Who? ...
Please Click On This Link - Beauty for Ashes: We're on a Mission - What? Where? When? Why? Who? ...: "According to the 'Great Commission' we're all called to Mission work. My heart's desire is to go on a Mission trip somewhere to spread Go..."
Tuesday 5 July 2011
Recently the thought about why people just don't believe in God, disturbed my mind. God spoke to me to help me understand this through a sermon by my Church elder, Derek Moon (on Luke 4:14-30) and just by talking to a few of my atheist and agnostic friends at school.
Why unbelief?
1. The primary reason for unbelief is the inability of the human mind to fathom and identify the mysteries of God's word. When we do not understand God's word, we just chose the easy option of just rejecting it. A lot of my friends, when asked about their unbelief, plainly say, "It doesn't make sense!", "Well then how... why... when...?" The pride within us doesn't want to admit its inability to comprehend a greater mystery. Instead of relying on God to reveal the scripture to them, they start off reading with a closed mind. Like Ellen.G.White beautifully illustrates in her book 'Steps to Christ', we need to approach God's word with humility and the willingness to learn, trusting that He will reveal it to us, them He certainly will.
2. Another reason for unbelief is the fact that, our idea of God's promises and His word is different to His. Our preconceived notions accentuate our finite minds. This disappoints us and we fail to see God's promise or work in action. In other words, we misinterpret the scripture. This was a clearly evident reason among the Jews during Jesus' life. Their idea of a Messiah was some kind of a military warrior, who would overthrow the present power and bring victory to the Jews. Due to this rather small expectation, they failed to see the real meaning behind a Messiah, who came to earth to bring a greater salvation, to overthrow the power of death and sin itself, to give us eternal life in Him. Therefore, the best way to tackle this is just to trust God and His word, we don't know how He'll work but His plan is far grater than our's.
3. The third most common reason is that some do not realize the seriousness of the Gospel message. A lot of people seem to easily embark on the fact that they don't want a greater authority to control their lives. They're reluctant to leave their sin behind and walk a life of faith in Christ. Many of my friends tell me that as a Christian, I do not enjoy life, they think that by not doing the same things as they do, deprives me of freedom. In addition, they feel that God controls our lives, stopping us from enjoying it. However, happiness or enjoyment isn't found in night-outs, alcohol or any thing else, true happiness can only be found in Christ. What our flesh finds alluring is not good for us physically and spiritually! Freedom in Christ is better than everything; God isn't controlling our lives but guiding us through it, He is the center of our lives!
Recently, I had an opportunity to speak to a friend of mine about her eternal destiny. She was shocked to find out that 'doing good' doesn't give you a pass to heaven. Once I explained the Gospel - repenting, confessing our sins, asking for forgiveness, believing in the greatest sacrifice of love, and striving to obey Him - she did not seem interested. She told me that she wanted to believe in the world view where our 'good deeds' and sins are weighed. Although I tried to explain further, she seemed to reject it completely.
Our longing desire to sin, that we are born with doesn't like the idea of turning away from it; our flesh doesn't like the idea of turning from sin. At times, we might give up the fight thinking it is not possible. However, in Christ everything is possible. If we are ready to accept Him, we will see the freedom from sin, we will see that there is more to life and He will change us and help us to let go of the sinful life; it is a process not always an overnight event. This reminds me of a verse that sums it all up beautifully: James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Why to believe?
Our eternal destiny depends on it! Romans 3:23 says the we all 'have sinned and fall short of the glory of God' , therefore, none of us can enter heaven. Heaven is a place of perfection, no place for sin there! God, through His love for our fallen race(humanity), and through His grace, has come down to earth, died in our place on the cross as a perfect Man, so that, if we believe in Him and His sacrifice and repent sincerely we can enter Heaven. In other words, He paid the penalty our sins deserve on the cross, therefore, we have been freed from our sins. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me." Therefore, it is clear that we can't enter heaven without accepting Him as our Savior.
The Gospel message is for everyone. It emphasizes God's mercy, grace and His unfailing love. Therefore, it is vital, as Christians, that we follow the 'Great Commission' and be 'Fishers of Men'. People, need to know the Lord, without Him, they face the gnawing jaws of hell. Let us do our part for God's kingdom!
Why unbelief?
1. The primary reason for unbelief is the inability of the human mind to fathom and identify the mysteries of God's word. When we do not understand God's word, we just chose the easy option of just rejecting it. A lot of my friends, when asked about their unbelief, plainly say, "It doesn't make sense!", "Well then how... why... when...?" The pride within us doesn't want to admit its inability to comprehend a greater mystery. Instead of relying on God to reveal the scripture to them, they start off reading with a closed mind. Like Ellen.G.White beautifully illustrates in her book 'Steps to Christ', we need to approach God's word with humility and the willingness to learn, trusting that He will reveal it to us, them He certainly will.
2. Another reason for unbelief is the fact that, our idea of God's promises and His word is different to His. Our preconceived notions accentuate our finite minds. This disappoints us and we fail to see God's promise or work in action. In other words, we misinterpret the scripture. This was a clearly evident reason among the Jews during Jesus' life. Their idea of a Messiah was some kind of a military warrior, who would overthrow the present power and bring victory to the Jews. Due to this rather small expectation, they failed to see the real meaning behind a Messiah, who came to earth to bring a greater salvation, to overthrow the power of death and sin itself, to give us eternal life in Him. Therefore, the best way to tackle this is just to trust God and His word, we don't know how He'll work but His plan is far grater than our's.
3. The third most common reason is that some do not realize the seriousness of the Gospel message. A lot of people seem to easily embark on the fact that they don't want a greater authority to control their lives. They're reluctant to leave their sin behind and walk a life of faith in Christ. Many of my friends tell me that as a Christian, I do not enjoy life, they think that by not doing the same things as they do, deprives me of freedom. In addition, they feel that God controls our lives, stopping us from enjoying it. However, happiness or enjoyment isn't found in night-outs, alcohol or any thing else, true happiness can only be found in Christ. What our flesh finds alluring is not good for us physically and spiritually! Freedom in Christ is better than everything; God isn't controlling our lives but guiding us through it, He is the center of our lives!
Recently, I had an opportunity to speak to a friend of mine about her eternal destiny. She was shocked to find out that 'doing good' doesn't give you a pass to heaven. Once I explained the Gospel - repenting, confessing our sins, asking for forgiveness, believing in the greatest sacrifice of love, and striving to obey Him - she did not seem interested. She told me that she wanted to believe in the world view where our 'good deeds' and sins are weighed. Although I tried to explain further, she seemed to reject it completely.
Our longing desire to sin, that we are born with doesn't like the idea of turning away from it; our flesh doesn't like the idea of turning from sin. At times, we might give up the fight thinking it is not possible. However, in Christ everything is possible. If we are ready to accept Him, we will see the freedom from sin, we will see that there is more to life and He will change us and help us to let go of the sinful life; it is a process not always an overnight event. This reminds me of a verse that sums it all up beautifully: James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Why to believe?
Our eternal destiny depends on it! Romans 3:23 says the we all 'have sinned and fall short of the glory of God' , therefore, none of us can enter heaven. Heaven is a place of perfection, no place for sin there! God, through His love for our fallen race(humanity), and through His grace, has come down to earth, died in our place on the cross as a perfect Man, so that, if we believe in Him and His sacrifice and repent sincerely we can enter Heaven. In other words, He paid the penalty our sins deserve on the cross, therefore, we have been freed from our sins. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me." Therefore, it is clear that we can't enter heaven without accepting Him as our Savior.
The Gospel message is for everyone. It emphasizes God's mercy, grace and His unfailing love. Therefore, it is vital, as Christians, that we follow the 'Great Commission' and be 'Fishers of Men'. People, need to know the Lord, without Him, they face the gnawing jaws of hell. Let us do our part for God's kingdom!
Monday 4 July 2011
Friday 1 July 2011
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