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Pismo Pier is a strange place to see a wolf. One day, right after sharing the Gospel with a Jehovah’s Witness, I turned around to see a very large man – his nickname is Wolf. Wolf was probably in his late fifties and like I said a BIG guy. One of his hands could have covered my whole head.
This is an encounter I had two years ago when I was just getting started in trying to share the Gospel – it’s not polished that’s for sure. I said something in this encounter that isn’t necessarily theologically sound. I know you’ve heard it before too – maybe you’ve said it. I said, “You need to accept Jesus.”
As Christians, we all know what that means, but the unbeliever doesn’t. As I listened to this again, I thought to myself, ‘Ok Allen, let’s drop the modern Christian lingo and just stick to what Scripture says.’ Instead of saying, “accept Jesus,” say what John 1:12 says, “…receive Him…” “Accepting Jesus,” is a man-centered way of trying to communicate God’s truth. Jesus doesn’t need to be “accepted” by man, man needs to be accepted by Jesus.
Here is some more modern Christian lingo that we should loose, “ask Jesus into your heart.” Have you heard that? Can you find it in Holy Writ? Nope! It’s not there… How about this instead. “Repent and believe the good news" (Mark 1:14), “…turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:20-21, also see Hebrews 6:1-3).
There is something else that you’ll notice missing from this Gospel presentation; the Resurrection of our Risen Lord.
My point is this. When you start sharing the Gospel. It’s not going to be perfect. You’re going to get tripped up a bit here and there. You will more than likely have a few ‘disasters.’ A disaster, from our perspective is bad, but I believe the tough encounters are helpful for our training.
If someone asks you a question you don’t have the answer to, be humble and admit you don’t know - that’s ok. Go home, pray, and study to get the answer so you’re ready next time.
This is a short encounter but seeds were planted – Salvation is of the Lord.
Saints, if you’re not already sharing the Gospel – you can do this! God gave me a gift so I can evangelize – maybe you have this gift too. Go stand in front of your mirror. Do you have lips, a mouth, and a voice? Great, God has gifted you!
Oh yea, are you weak? Do you have fear? Do you tremble at the thought of sharing the Gospel with you next-door neighbor, a family member, or a stranger? Then you qualify!
And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
If you desire to go out to the streets for some training (be a fly on the wall) with us, please feel free to contact me at apeek33@yahoo.com May God alone be honored.
2 Comments:
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Matt Hickman
said...
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Repent and believe the good news is in Mark 1:15
Sorry Allen, I had to pick at your quotation!
Bwuahaha!
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Ambassador
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Thanks for sharpening my iron bro. I must have used my RICK JAMES version of the Bible the day I sighted that ref...
keep me on my toes....
It is GOD's Word, teach me to honor It.
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