HALF EVANGELISM

 

MEMORY VERSE: 1 Corinthians 9:22 to the weak I as weak that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ex 30, John 9, Prov 6, Gal 5

 

Asides praise and worship, one activity God loves so much and takes interest in is evangelism. No wonder He said in Luke 11:23, ‘he that is not with Me is against Me: and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth i.e. whoever is not bringing people to Christ is sending people away from Christ. There is a great reward for those who witness about Christ in heaven. Here on earth, the Lord has promised that those who witnesses i.e. turn many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever, Daniel 12:3.

 

There is more to evangelism than approaching people and telling them Jesus loves them and wants to save them. Evangelism is not about just telling people that Jesus came to die for them and all. It is far more than that. Most of the time what we do is half evangelism. We tell people Christ loves them but we are not ready to demonstrate the love of Christ to them. We tell people Jesus saves but we are not ready to be the savior we talked about to them. I remember a particular experience while i was witnessing to a particular sister. I was praying and literally begging her to accept Jesus but I noticed I was not making any progress at all so I sought the advice of a brother. At that time the sister had just lost her job, she could barely feed herself talk less of buy a bus fare to look for jobs. Anyway the brother advised me to be the Jesus I was preaching to her. Immediately I made some arrangements to get her some food stuff and I began to assist her in her job search. Guess what, the next time I invited her to church she turned up and I think that was her first time of setting foot in a church. Evangelism is not only about saving the soul but saving the body i.e. taking interest in what the fellow is going through and offering support. Another part of evangelism God is keen on is follow-up. One of the reasons why people are not encouraged to come to church anymore is because the church does not show genuine interest or care for them. Many have been attending service for weeks, months or even years and no one from church has bothered to contact them to check on them talk less of the pastor setting time out to visit them at home and pray with them. Jesus conducted follow up with his disciples. It was during one of the follow-up visits he healed the mother-in-law of Peter, Matthew 8:14-15. Several years ago a young lady gathered a group of street kids to teach them God’s word. Among these kids was Robert Morrison. He would attend church today and not show up for a while, only to show up out of the blue again. What always brought young Robert back to the class room was the follow-up this young lady was doing. Today Robert Morrison is known as the great missionary to China who translated the bible into the Chinese language and opened the Kingdom of Heaven to countless millions who live there. The follow-up conducted on the unpromising, unstable Robert gave birth to a great missionary.

 

ACTION POINT: Contact brothers and sisters you did not see in church last Sunday and check if all is well.

WHO IS A BORN AGAIN SERIES Pt1

MEMORY VERSE: Ezekiel 11:19 – then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ex 20, John 9, Prov 6, Gal 5

The fact that a fellow does not commit fornication or adultery does not make him a born again. The fact that an individual is the first to get to church and the last to leave does not make him a born again. The fact that a brother can quote the bible does not make him a born again, after all Satan knows the bible off heart and he quotes them too. In Matthew 4:1-11, we see him quote Psalms 91:11-12 – he shall give His angles charge over you and in their hands they shall bear you up lest you dash your feet against a stone. Miracles are not a proof that a man is a man of God. Simon the sorcerer performed great miracles that astonished the people of Samaria in Acts 8:9. The fact that a sister speaks in tongue does not mean she is born again. Demons speak in tongues and as a matter of fact, the donkey of Balaam spoke too, Numbers 22:28-30

After a man is born again, He becomes a new creature. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says old things will pass away i.e. old ways of life and all things become new. Before this happens a process needs to take place. Ezekiel 11:19 say then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh. A born again has one heart i.e. a heart that is one with Christ ;a heart that reasons the way Christ reasons; a heart that loves what Christ loves and hates what Christ hates. That is why it is impossible to be a born again Christian and still abhor hatred towards people. Once Christ enters a life there is no more room for hatred because Christ is love (1 John 4:8), and love always cancels out hatred. A born again brother or sister who is full of love will love evangelism. How can you and i claim that we sincerely love a brother or sister, we see them going to hell and we pretend as if all is well? Or we have friends , family or children who are yet to give their life to Christ and we are comfortable with that.If we sincerely love them, we will witness to them and do follow-up. One heart also means a sincere and upright heart not a divided heart. It is this heart that makes one a child of God. When you see an individual with one heart, his faith in God is genuine, his hope is devoid of hypocrisy and his love is without deception. He loves God not because of what He will receive from God but because He is God. A fellow with one heart has his affections and desires towards God. Not only that, He is subject to the will of God. The fellow with one heart is sincere to both God and man. That is why you will never see a born again flattering people or telling a lie. Do you know that people with one heart with God forgives and show mercy? They do because our God is God of mercy. 

PRAYER POINT: Father, please give me a heart that is one with Jesus.

LET THE DEAD BURY THEIR DEAD

MEMORY VERSE: Matthew 8:22 but Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ex 28, John 7, Prov 4, Gal 3

BIBLE STUDIES: Matthew 8:21-22

There are three seasons in the life of every man – past, present and future. Out of these seasons, two of them are out of our control – the past and future. The present is all we have so let us make very good use of it. In our bible studies, we read the story of a man who wanted to first go and bury his dead before following Jesus. The dead referred to in this passage is his past. The father of this disciple did not just die, he had died sometimes back. A very rare opportunity came to this man to enjoy an usual relationship with our Lord Jesus i.e. to move forward in life, but his past (events that have already taken place in his life) wanted to rob him of it.

Just like this disciple, the past of many are robbing them of an opportunity to move forward in life or have a breakthrough. The past of many are robbing them of liberty and happiness .Do not let the enemy rob you of your joy by condemning you about what you did before you met the Lord. Whatever you did before you met Christ, is forgiven! Many are living in bitterness as result of unforgiveness. People have wronged them in the past; people have offended them through what was said against them and instead of forgiving they are holding unto it. There are many who still beat themselves down because of a wrong decision they made in the past. The truth is you cannot change the past so why not let go of it and move on. There are many who believe that because they made a mistake in the past, their future is ruined. It is a big lie, your past does not decide your future, and it is your present that decides your future. Some years back, I and a junior member of staff had an argument over an instruction I gave out. I overheard her threatening to slap me. Later she apologized, I forgave her and we moved on. Some two years after I was suspended over a matter I knew nothing about. Three days to the final hearing, my phone rang and when I checked it was this sister that threatened to slap me. I picked up the phone and she gave me an inside information that turned the case in my favor. If I had decided to stop greeting her because of what happened two years prior, will the Lord have used her to provide me with that information? The past achievements of many are robbing them of an opportunity to move forward. Instead of working harder, they sit and begin to remember how the Lord used them to do A and B. Before you know it, they get carried away and pride sets in. Whatever the Lord has done through you in the past is the past. The most important thing is what the Lord is doing through you in the present. What you did for the Lord in the past is the past, what are you doing for the Lord today! To move ahead in life, one needs to forget about the failures of yesterday; the disappointments and shame of yester-year. One also needs to ignore the achievements of the past to be able to achieve more. Failure to let go of the past would render you stagnant and keep you in the past.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please severe me from every past that is preventing me from going forward.

IF YOU HEAR MORE FROM GOD, YOU WILL SWEAT LESS

MEMORY VERSE: Isaiah 30:21 says and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, this is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ex 27, John 6, Prov 3, Gal 2

 

If there is anything to earnestly seek, it is the ability to hear from God. When you hear from God, your faith grows, Romans 10:17. The whole world may be panicking but your mind will  be at rest because you have heard from the controller of seasons, Daniel 2:21. Not only that, every time He speaks life is injected into your situation. According to John 6:63, His words are life. I remember several years ago when I was given a month to produce a thing or two and attend an interview or leave the country. It was certain that I was going to leave the country because I stood no chance under the heaven if I attended the interview. While I was fasting, crying and praying, a voice thundered from heaven saying   ‘what are you, O Great Mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain’, Zechariah 4:7. Today I am still in the same country where I was giving a month to leave several years ago. The reason why most people sweat and struggle in their endeavor is because they have not heard from God. Isaiah 30:21 says And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. When God begins to speak to you, you will never miss a turning in life again. The reason why many struggle today is because they have missed a major turning in their life. They have studied medicine instead of studying law. They have married brother A or sister X instead of marrying brother B or sister Y. They end up struggling to survive. When you hear from God, missing a major turn becomes impossible. The more you hear from God, the lesser the wrong turns you will take in life.

 

There are one or two reasons why people do not hear from God. Firstly, they do not spend time with God. They are too busy with work, family, career e.t.c. If you want to hear from God, go close to Him. James 4:8 says draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Secondly, they disobey God in little things. There are many who God have been asking to do a thing or the other for years and they have not done it. If you are not ready to obey little instructions, what are they chances that you will obey instructions that will turn your life around? Has the Holy Spirit been nudging you to preach to someone at work or in the college? Stop ignoring the Holy Spirit and witness to them. If you continue to ignore the leadings of the Holy Spirit, He will stop leading you. Thirdly, lack of gratitude. No one loves to talk to an ungrateful fellow let alone a fellow who is always complaining. Instead of complaining of what the Lord is yet to do, thank Him for what He has done.

 

ACTION POINT: Spend more time with God praising Him. Not only that stop ignoring the leading the Holy Spirit.

TYPES OF VESSELS – VESSEL OF GOLD AND SILVER/ VESSELS OF EARTH AND WOOD

2 Timothy 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ex 26, John 5, Prov 2, Gal 1 BIBLE STUDIES: 2 Timothy 2:20-22

Yesterday we looked at some of the contents of a great house. We have discussed about borrowed vessels; vessel unto honor and unto dishonour. As we discussed, the great house mentioned in our bible studies is the present day church. The owner of the house is Jesus, Colossians 1:18. The vessels are the believers.

Also present in this great house are vessels of earth and wood. We know that the wood and earth have little or no use. Wood and clay are reserved for ignoble use. Wood and clay vessels are used for dishonorable purposes, perhaps in the kitchen or to carry out garbage or human waste. They often get broken and are cheaply replaced. The vessels of wood and clay are believers who are like dry wood. They are destitute of the grace of God, and are fit matter for Satan to work upon, and by them raise and increase the flames of contention and division in the church. Every time there is a quarrel or contention in the church they are always involved. They are sensual, carnal, and wordly. They are void of spirituality and lack spiritual mindedness. They are the ones you will see fighting most of the time for positions in the church. If they are not put in posts, they start a quarrel and turn the church upside down. Also in this great house are vessels of gold and silver. These vessels are for noble uses. No one uses china cups to feed dogs. These vessels are kept clean so that they may be used for honourable purposes, such as dinner parties. These vessels are prominently displayed as decorations or used for serving important guests as a gesture of honour while the vessel of earth and wood are strictly utilitarian. They are used for duties that are never seen and are kept out of sight as much as possible. These persons or believers are comparable to gold and silver for their worth and value, and preciousness in the sight of Christ. To the Most High God they are His jewels and peculiar treasure because of their excellency and usefulness in the church. These vessels are known for their purity and worthiness while the vessels of earth and clay are known for their impurity and unworthiness. The question is what type of vessel are you – gold or clay, silver or earth? How useful are you in the house of God? How useful are you in that department in the church? Are you the type the pastor is always calling to settle quarrel between you and your spouse or other members of the church? How valuable are you in the hands of God?

PRAYER POINT: Father please open my eyes to myself as You see me. Also help me to take to correction when You rebuke me.

TYPES OF VESSELS – VESSEL UNTO HONOR AND DISHONOR

 

2 Timothy 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ex 25, John 4, Prov 1, 2 Cor 13

BIBLE STUDIES: 2 Timothy 2:20-22

 

We have discussed about borrowed vessels. They are instruments the Lord uses to bring joy, cause a turnaround in a life or win souls. Through them the Lord changes lives but their lives are never changed because of sin. Borrowed vessels are either discarded or relegated to the background. I pray that you will not be a borrowed vessel in the mighty name of Jesus. 

 

In our bible studies we read of a great house. Present in this great house are vessels of various types. There are some that are relegated to the kitchen e.g. vessels or pots used for cooking – cooking pots e.t.c. Since they are in the kitchen, the owner of the house rarely sees or touches them. Because they are in the kitchen, anyone can go in and touch them. The owner of the house never really invests his resources on them. These vessels do not really worth much and they are replaced from time to time. They are known as vessels unto dishonor. The great house referred to is the house of God or church. The owner or the house is Jesus. Colossians 1:8 calls Jesus the head of the church. The vessels are believers or workers in the vineyard of God. The vessels unto dishonor are vessels that are to the dis-reputation of the church, the dishonor of religion and scandal of the gospel. By them God is dishonored, His ways evil spoken of, His doctrines blasphemed, and His name reproached. Such vessels Jesus (the owner of the house) never invest His resources on them. He never touches them i.e. anoint them. They are at the mercy of different kind of demons. Jesus rarely bothers about them. They are vessel unto dishonour because they bring shame to Christ. They commit abortion, adultery, take bribe just name it. Also in this great house are vessels you find in the dining room e.g. drinking vessels. They contain costly viands. They are always on display for the world to see. The owner of the house heavily invests on them. He touches them daily and kisses them. They are known as vessels unto honour. These are believers who behave honourably and are worthy of honor in the church. They live a blameless life. It is hard to find a fault in them. Jesus invests His resources on them and He daily touches them. If they tell you good morning, you can be rest assured it is morning not afternoon or evening. You can live them in a room with 1 billion dollars and they would not touch a dime out of it. At the end whilst the vessels unto dishonor are covered with shame, vessels unto honour enjoy glory, immortality and eternal life. The question is what type of vessel are you? Is your life bringing honour to Christ or dishonour to Him?

 

PRAYER POINT: Father, the grace to bring You honour all the days of my life please give to me.

TYPES OF VESSELS – BORROWED VESSELS

2 Kings 4:3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ex 24, John 3, Job 42, 2 Cor 12

 

BIBLE STUDIES: 2 Kings 4:1-7

 

In our bible studies we read the story of one of the wives of the sons of the prophet. This woman was facing serious challenges, she was in big debt and her husband was dead. To worsen her situation, the creditors threatened to take her two sons (the only source of her joy) as slave. She ran to Elisha for help and that one asked her if she had anything in her house, something the Lord can touch? You see whatever the Lord touches begins to multiply as we see in the case of Jesus feeding five thousand men not counting woman and children, Matthew 14:13-21. She confessed that she had a small jar of olive oil so Elisha asked her to go and borrow some empty vessels and pour her little oil in them. She did as she was told. Her oil filled the vessels and she sold them to pay her debt.

 

Let us look at these vessels that were borrowed a bit closer. These vessels were instruments the Lord used to bring joy into the life of this widow. Not only that they were instruments the Lord used to cause a turnaround in the situation of the widow. The Lord used these vessels to inject life into the dead situation of this widow. Without those vessels, her oil would have remained in the small jar and she would have ended up losing her two sons. One important thing I want to point out is that after these vessels were used to work a mighty breakthrough in the life of this widow, they were dumped and we never heard of them again. These vessels were only relevant when oil was in them; immediately the oil was sold and the debts were paid, they were discarded to the background. Many today are like these borrowed vessels. Through them the Lord touches the life of people. Through them the Lord wins souls. Through them the Lord meets the needs of other believers. Do not grow wings because the Lord is using you. Do not get carried away, the fact the Lord is using anyone is not a yardstick that their standing is perfect with God. In Numbers 22:30 we see the Lord warning Balaam through a donkey. If the Lord can use a donkey- an unclean animal to warn a prophet, He can use anyone .After the Lord spoke through the donkey, we never heard of the donkey again. Who are borrowed vessels? They are the people who do not practice what they preach. They encourage people to be humble but they are not humble. They talk of giving to God but they never give. They are the ones you will see talking of evangelism 24 hours but they never evangelize. Galatians 6:7 says be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. The end of a borrowed vessel is not always good because they are usually relegated to the background.

 

Prayer point: Father, please give me the grace to be the hearer and doer