Evangelizing: Some Common Questions Part 1

"Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God. 13We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But the one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is discerned by no one. 16For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ." 1Corinthians 2:12-16 (NASB 1995) (underline and bold mine)

These verses confirm that unbelievers can't spiritually discern scripture. They're blinded by the 'god' of this age, Satan, who is blinding them to the light of the gospel, because he knows that if they see, then they'll be saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Unbelievers can't understand the deeper meaning of scripture, because the words are dead to them. To them, it's just, at best, a religious book of rules, at worst, a bad fairytale. It's the Holy Spirit that breathes life into scripture, making it come alive in our spirit. 

Philippians 4:13 is a great example: "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." How many unsaved individuals have ridiculed born again believers over this one? They come up with a list of ridiculous tasks for believers to perform if they can truly do "all things." What they've done is they've taken this scripture out of context, understanding it with their own limited human mind, and are using it to try to belittle and embarrass believers. That's when the education begins. We can say, "This scripture, in context, means that through Christ's empowering presence, we can face trials, hardships, and suffering with perseverance and peace. We can do all things through his strength. It has nothing to do with Jesus being a genie in a bottle that will grant us our every wish. It's a statement of faith about our reliance on God providing the strength to endure life's challenges and maintain peace and contentment in any circumstance."

Another example of an unbeliever's limited understanding of the word is when they ask why God, who's supposed to be all loving, sends people to hell if we can't help but sin. There are two major flaws in this argument, but I'll address the "God is love" issue further on. The issue I'm discussing here doesn't pertain to one particular scripture about judgment as much as it is about this person's error of omitting scripture that explains God's plan for salvation, and how it's the rejection of this plan that determines someone's eternal condition. We could respond by saying, "Through Adam, sin entered the world and one of the consequences was that the human race became spiritually dead. We lost that precious spiritual connection with God, and the human race had to deal with living in a body with a sin nature. That's why God created the sacrificial system for the Jews, so that the blood of innocent animals could temporarily cover their sin in God's eyes. Eventually, that temporary system was replaced with a permanent sacrifice, providing a perfect and everlasting payment for our sin when Jesus offered Himself as an offering for our sin. He became the sacrificial Lamb, taking the full force of God's punishment that was meant for us. His blood doesn't just cover our sin, it obliterates it, never to be remembered. God's perfect solution was offered to mankind. Repent, believe, and have your dead spirit be resurrected by His blood and through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. By His Spirit, your spirit is made alive again. That's what makes us a child of God and heals our relationship with Him. That's where the term "born again" comes from. True, we will continue sinning, but we sin less and less as we grow closer to God. What sends us to hell? Rejecting that solution, rejecting that free gift of salvation, rejecting that covering for our sin. That's what sends us to hell. It's actually a decision we all make. Who have you chosen? God or yourself? Heaven or the Lake of Fire? If you're going to lay blame on anyone, lay blame on the one making that decision, and that decision is yours. It's that simple."

Some unbelievers will bring up the fact that the bible mentions the existence of unicorns. Again, they're speaking out of ignorance. "The word unicorn didn't mean the same then as it does now. Over a few millennia, the definition as changed. When we mention unicorns today, we're thinking of a more modern day creature that looks like a horse with a spiraling horn planted right in it's forehead. The modern interpretation of the word isn't what the scripture is referring to. In fact, it's only the KJV that uses the word 'unicorn.' The 1828 edition of Noah Webster’s dictionary defined 'unicorn' as 'an animal with one horn, the monoceros. This name could be used to describe any one horned animal, but it's often applied to the rhinoceros,' indicating that the term was historically used to describe real animals, not mythical ones. So when you hear or read the word 'unicorn' in the KJV bible, it's actually from a Latin translation and it's referring to a one horned rhinoceros, a monoceros."

Another method of attack is to reject the deity of Jesus. They'll say that Jesus never declared himself to be God. Many born again believers don't know how to answer this attack on the gospel, but with a little preparation, and a few scripture references, it won't be difficult to respond to. Here are my thoughts:

"Although Jesus never said, 'I'm God, worship Me,' it does say this in scripture: "And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.” Matthew 16:63-64 (NASB) "So Jesus is saying He is the Son of Man, and admitting He's the Christ, which means Messiah, and that he's going to be sitting in a co-equal place of authority and power in heaven with the Father, and that he's going to return on the clouds of heaven. He's essentially made himself equal with God (because He is God). 

Scripture also shows that Thomas worshipped Jesus as God: "After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst ("So Jesus doesn't use the door, but miraculously and instantaneously appears in their presence") and said, “Peace be with you.” 27Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” ("So here Thomas is calling Jesus "Lord" and "God" and Jesus doesn't make any effort to correct him.") 29Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” John 20:26-29 

Then there's Luke chapter 5, where it states, "Seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” 21The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” 22But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23“Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24“But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”—He said to the paralytic—“I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.” 25Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. 26They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today.” Luke 5:20-26 (NASB) (bold and underline mine) "So Jesus is proclaiming he is God by forgiving sin and to prove that authority, He heals the paralytic man. 

Just in these three examples alone, Jesus has made Himself equal with God and has accepted the title of 'Lord' and has accepted worship as God and has claimed that he can forgive sins, something only God can do."

Here's the part that I mentioned earlier and promised to get to. People will often say that God is love... period. That's always a go-to for those who want to serve a generic universal 'god' of love that doesn't expect too much from anyone. Just be good (in your own eyes) and you're fine. "It's true that one of God's divine attributes is love, but scripture tells us that He has other divine attributes. He's holy, He's righteous, He's just, and scripture talks of His judgment and wrath. A 'god' whose only attribute is love is no real 'god' at all, because he's a 'god' that people create in order to avoid the more negative aspects of sin. They want love, but not accountability. They want love, but not obedience. They want love, but not feel compelled to live by God's objective standards, which is perfection. People don't want to give up self in order to become more like God, so they create a different 'god' in their head that agrees with own subjective moral standard. He's love, so it doesn't matter. As long as they live the life that they subjectively label as 'good,' then they're okay with that. What they're doing is building up for themselves a false sense of peace and a false belief that they're living a life that's pleasing to 'god' because they find no fault with how they're living. As long as they're good, for the most part, then they have a ticket to whatever heaven they've created for themselves in their own mind. What they lack is the understanding that they're actually following a false 'god' of their own making, and therefore have no covering for their sin. The hard truth for them is that sin cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

These are just a few of the things you may hear from people when talking with them about Jesus. They all have questions. Believe me, the more you talk with people about Jesus, the easier it gets. Sure, they'll be some tough questions that you may not know the answer to, but just be honest... "I don't know. That's an interesting question. That'll make for an interesting bible study." God doesn't expect you to know all the answers. If that's what's holding you back, you may want to rethink that. I honestly admit that there are a whole host of people who are way smarter than me. They use words I don't understand and talk about people who I don't know, but you know what? I know the most important person, Jesus, and He's sent us the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth and to guide and help us when we're out in the world telling others about Jesus. 

I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone, because the blessings and benefits are great. Even if you aren't great at sharing the salvation message, maybe someone will see a little bit of themselves in you and your "imperfection." People are often intimidated by "professionals," and your simple way of sharing Jesus may be just what they need to feel comfortable and willing to open up to you. So, take your imperfect self out there and talk to people about the perfect Jesus. If God didn't want you there, He wouldn't put you there. Start now, and then when you look back 6 months down the road, you'll realize how much you've grown in your evangelizing skills, and that will encourage you to keep sharing the good news!!!

"But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance." Luke 8:15 (NASB)

REPENT, AND BE FORGIVEN!

BELIEVE, AND BE SAVED!

TRIBULATIONHARVEST.NET

Cemeteries: Joy In Spirit And Grief Of Heart

I don't know if you've ever felt it before, but there's a mild fascination I experience when visiting a cemetery. I stand there looking across the vast expanse of the land and take in the sight of thousands of headstones that contain tens of thousands of names. There are people buried in unmarked pauper's graves, children's graves, single graves, family lots, and those who are buried in above ground and walk-in mausoleums. There are those whose engraved grave marker is worn and impossible to read, and those whose flat marker will soon be completely covered up and forgotten, like those that have already disappeared with time. The names and dates on these grave markers or crypts give us only the most basic information for those buried there. Name, date of birth, date of death, and maybe a short inscription. They come from all backgrounds; from business owners and entrepreneurs to factory workers and the indigent. The rich, the poor, the successful and the ones who had to struggle their whole life to make ends meet.

God gave most of them a life filled with personal experiences; joy and laughter, sadness and grief, amazement and love, praise and worship, incredible faith, etc... Some, like a cousin of mine, was stillborn and was ushered immediately into heaven. Others had a tragic ending to their life, through their own actions, the actions of others, or though an unforeseen tragedy. Still, others lived a long life, living into their 80's, 90's and 100's. 

I think of some of their stories... a spouse grieving as their wife or husband passed on before them. A child whose life was cut short, as was the case with Louise Cambra, whose headstone appears here. They each had a life story that was buried with them. The stories of their life remain in the memories of those who knew and loved them, but those life stories last only one or two generations before they're lost to time, as those who knew them pass away as well, taking those beautiful memories with them. Their graves, once lovingly attended to by family, now stand cold and bare as those family members get too old to visit the cemetery, or who pass on into eternity themselves, leaving no one to remember the loved one that they cared so much about. Their long lost loves become nothing more than a name on a family tree. 

It makes me wonder how much of my personal story will live on beyond my years. I'm realistic enough to know that whatever those memories are, they'll die within one generation, and then I'll be like everyone else at the cemetery... lost to history... a name and a date on cold grave marker with no story to go with it. I guess that's why I've added so many memorials to the Find A Grave website. I feel that everyone should be remembered, and I do my small part to make sure people aren't forgotten... that they aren't just remembered as a name and date. But that's the limit of those of us here on earth. We can document a person's life, but it's impossible to really experience someone else's life. There's only One who can do that.

When my story on earth eventually ends, there's One who will know exactly what I was thinking, feeling, battling with, straining to accomplish, etc... He knows all the stories from birth to death; He knows my personal struggles; He knows my deepest and most intimate thoughts and feelings; He knows the intent of my heart; He knows those things that I longed for deep in my heart... God will have been with me from conception to death, experiencing everything with me, from beginning to end. He's laughed with me, cried with me, mourned with me, joked with me, sustained me through my darkest days, carried me when I had no strength, protected me from those things I was unaware of, walked by my side in the struggle and in the pain. He's been with me through it all.

As I scan the cemetery, I'm reminded that God gives everyone multiple opportunities to seek Him, to know Him, and to receive the gift of salvation that is found in no one but Jesus. I often wonder, "How many of those who are sleeping in the ground under my feet actually repented of their sin and lived their life faithfully for Jesus? How many were true born again believers?" It gives me joy in my spirit to know that those who truly repented and lived their life for God are in His presence right now. I am truly thankful to God for them. I'm overjoyed knowing that I'll be living and fellowshipping with them throughout eternity!!! But my joy turns to grief when I understand that there is a greater number of those who have died without repenting and without having a true relationship Jesus. I grieve for those who have gone before me and who have chosen to reject Jesus and what He did for them. I'm helpless to help them, because they've already stepped into eternity. They chose the wide and easy road through life, living their life in the flesh and doing what they wanted to do, which eventually lead to their destruction.

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it, for the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 17:13-14 

I think the saddest thing is having a family member or friend who rejects God or who has created their own personal 'god' in their own head that gives them permission to live their life as they see fit and still make it to heaven, and who will argue to the point of division, but it's expected. Jesus said...

"Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and man's enemies will be the members of his household." Matthew 10:34-36

My own experience is evidence of that. My own mother told me on more than one occasion that I was "too religious," and when I tried explaining the salvation message to her, she'd wave me off and say, "You believe in God your way and I'll believe in Him my way." She wasn't a devout Catholic (hardly ever went to Mass), but she still considered herself Catholic. Even at the end of her life as she was dying of pancreatic cancer, she still rebuffed my efforts to explain the salvation message. She chose to reject my words in favor of trusting in the watered down teachings of Joel Osteen, while trusting in her own personal interpretation of Catholic religiosity. I'm not disrespecting or shaming her. No, I'm using her as a warning to others. There are many who have died with a "belief" in Jesus, but to whom Jesus will say...

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'" Matthew 7:21-23 (bold and underline mine)

I've said this before, and I'll say it again. The worldly reaction to death is to say Rest In Peace (R.I.P.), but that's not scriptural, because there is no rest or peace for those who have died in their sin. The only way anyone can rest in peace, is to make the choice in this life to repent of their sin and to believe, in faith, that Jesus lived and died for them, and shed His blood for the remission of their sin, and they need to do that before they breathe their last breath and pass into eternity. Anyone can say they believe in God, but do you have a faith that actively seeks a daily relationship with Him and that leads to obedience? We're told that it's by our fruits that we'll be judged. What kind of fruit are you producing?

"So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits." Matthew 7:17-20

Is my mother resting in peace? I don't know. That judgment is above my paygrade. All I can say is that she refused to accept the message of salvation before she stepped into eternity, and that thought sometimes bothers me, but I have to remember that we all live a life that God has given us, and we all have the same opportunities to surrender our life to Him. I understand that there will be those who will act upon faith, and those who will not, family included. 

So as you can see, it's important to make that decision now, because we're not promised another day on this earth. If you look at the number of people who are killed or die unexpectedly every day (just look at the headlines), remember, that you could also meet that same fate. Everyone likes to believe that it can't happen to them, but I'm sure that those who died unexpectedly were thinking the same thing and living their life oblivious to what was about to take them from this world and instantaneously thrust them into eternity. 

If you want to know what salvation means and what it means to be born again, CLICK HERE and you'll be taken to another page on this website that explains it to you in easily understandable terms.

Even though this world will eventually forget my name and my grave will blend in and stand quietly among the thousands of others, I'll be living my best life in heaven with the One who knows everything about me, down to the smallest detail. 

I'm reminded of song lyrics that say, 

To everyone who's lost someone they love, long before it was their time, you feel like the days you had were not enough when you said goodbye. 

And to all of the people with burdens and pain, keeping you back from your life, you believe that there's nothing and there is no one who can make it right. 

There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary, and love for the broken heart. There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing, He'll meet you wherever you are... cry out to Jesus!

For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on, they've lost all their faith and love. And they've done all they can to make it right again, still it's not enough. 

For the ones who can't break the addiction and chains, you try to give up, but you come back again, just remember that you're not alone in your pain and your suffering.  

There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary, and love for the broken heart. There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing, He'll meet you wherever you are... cry out to Jesus!

When you're lonely, and you feel like the whole world is falling on you, you just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus! Cry to Jesus!

To the widow who suffers from being alone, wiping the tears from her eyes. 

For the children around the world without a home, say a prayer tonight. 

There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary, and love for the broken heart. There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing, He'll meet you wherever you are... cry out to Jesus! 

CLICK HERE to watch the music video.

REPENT, AND BE FORGIVEN!

BELIEVE, AND BE SAVED!

TRIBULATIONHARVEST.NET