The Impossible Gospel

A Question and Evangelism Opportunity

I just found out on Sunday that my pastor has nominated me head the outreach for a billboard campaign. The billboards have the above image on it. This is a daunting task for me, I can't help but say that I am nervous. Not only do I have to swallow my own fear, but I need to try and organize some people to go out with me, and if need be give some training! I would certainly not consider myself a teacher, much less an organizer. Please pray that I cast my cares upon the Lord and trust in Him fully. Also pray that God moves in the hearts of those around me to join with me and go out to share the Gospel with those who are perishing!

Thank you for your prayers!

I believe that the above question is an important question. This question I think separates people. A lot of people know the basics of Jesus, but just who do they believe He is? Is YOUR understanding correct and just what would your understanding of who Jesus is be? Consider these verses:

John 8:58-59 (English Standard Version)

Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

John 10:30-33 (English Standard Version)

"I and the Father are one."
The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?" The Jews answered him, "It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God."

1 John 5:9-12 (English Standard Version)

If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

2 John 1:9 (English Standard Version)

Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

A Great Privilege

This morning as Jenn was taking down the Christmas stuff, I had Robby on my lap and we were watching a YouTube Video. The video was of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" with scenes from "The Passion." I had the a great privilege, I had the chance to explain what we were seeing and hearing to my son. Don't think that I have never talked about these kinds of things before with him; he is starting to get to an age where I can see that he is understanding and comprehending his little world.

As we sat there I explained the images of Jesus being beaten, being sure to explain that we were watching an actor and not really Jesus. I explained how he was nailed to the cross for our sins and how Jesus was the willing and perfect sacrifice for our sins. The video showed scenes from the Last Supper and I got to explain how Jesus instituted the New Covenant and we no longer had to make a sacrifice for our sins, we only need to come to him with a repentant heart and put our full faith and trust in his work on the cross.

As I was telling him these things, of which I don't know how much he was able to comprehend, tears came to my eyes as it hit me; I not only have the profound privilege to teach my children these truths, but the huge responsibility as well. It is a task that I will not take lightly (Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:42, Luke 17:2,) but will thank my God everyday for.

Below is another video that we watched, the quality is not very good, but the content of the song and the accompaniment (sorry if not the correct usage of this word) of the images is powerful.

The Fair and Witnessing

Sorry about the timeliness of this post, things have been hectic for me these past few weeks. But about the fair. It seemed that we were not going to have a booth at the fair this year for various reasons, so Jenn and I and some others from church were going to hand out tracts on our own independently from each other.

Someone from church (Paul) did have a booth at the fair for his home business and the spot next to him was vacant. When one of the people in charge at the fair noticed the spot next to him empty the guy told him that if he wanted he could expand his booth. The man said that it looked bad to have empty booths. Well, when Paul's wife Vicki heard this she asked if she could set up a table for our church, and the man said that is was ok.

We now had a booth at the fair. This was encouraging, I had wanted to do some evangelism at fair and was kind of disappointed that we did not have a booth, but God had provided a booth for us. Since the church was not expecting to have a booth, the church did not have many tracts on hand. Providentially, someone had ordered some tracts through the church and did not want them any more, the problem, there were only a few packs. Jenn and I, not knowing we had a booth or that there was a need for tracts, decided to go back to the fair and I happened to grab the two packs I had. We decided to go back and see Paul and Vicki, they told us the situation and we happily handed over the tracts. Because God had providentially set this all up, the tract table had plenty of tracts for the fair.

Like I said before, I had the desire to witness at the fair and we now had a booth. (I know I could have still witnessed, but due to my sinful fear I was going to just hand out tracts.) I had rolled the idea around for months in my head (witnessing at a fair booth), but as soon as the opportunity presented its self, I got sick to my stomach and fear entered my heart! Vicki told us that she needed help to man the booth, so I volunteered to help, my stomach dropped even more. How hypocritical of me, here was the opportunity I was hoping for and once it presented its self I wanted nothing to do with it!

Despite my fear, I helped out at the table. Let me make this clear, it was only by the undeserved Grace of God was I able to overcome my fear and anxiety. I have witnessed one on one in the past, but I have never been able to find a consistent, clear, and concise way of sharing the Gospel. I submitted myself to God in prayer before showing up and in spite if my flesh God used me to clearly proclaim His word.

PLEASE NOTE: I am not searching for any accolades, pats on the back, or atta-boys. I am not trying to draw attention to myself. I am merely showing what God do even through a sinful excuse-filled vessel. I am boasting only in my weakness, that God may be glorified in my weakness. (2 Cor 11:30, 12:8-10)

God gave me the opportunity to share one-on-one, with two to three and once with a small group. Over all, I directly shared the Gospel with about twenty different people. God gave me a clarity that I have not had before. I was able to finally put into better words and analogies that made sense. God opened the recesses of my mind where I had stored all of the witnessing encounters that I have heard and He helped me assemble it together to form a clear Gospel message. at one point there were six or seven people all gathered around wanting to know the Million Dollar Question. It turned into a mini open-air (preaching.) I had to lift my voice so they could all hear, and as a result people walking by stopped (thankfully God caused me not notice them, I would have been thrown off.) After I was done a kind lady encouraged me with a quick "good job," which was very kind.

One more experience I will share was what I call a drive-by. I asked an older lady if she could answer the Million Dollar Question. Paul egged her on and suggested that she could not. So, she asked what it was.

"If you were to die right now would you go to heaven or to hell?"

She leaned over the table and gently touch my hand and said, "I know where I am going, too bad you don't." And she started to walk away!

I replied, "How do you know that I don't?"

"Because of the way you are preaching this!" And she took off!

Needless to say I was flabbergasted. I sat there trying to find words to say. But God knows what He is doing. Sin entered my heart and I wanted to have a "discussion" with her. But God knowing my heart caused her to walk away. Thank you Lord for saving me from soiling Your name!

My evangelism flame before this, was flickering and on it's last bit of fuel. I had let sin overtake my heart and allowed myself to slip into complacency. God used the fair to reignite my flame and passion for the preaching of the Gospel. "Do you see, do you see, all the people sinking down? Do you care, do you care, are you going to let them drown?" Do we really belive that if poeple do not come to a saving repentance and faith in Jesus Christ alone, that they are going to hell? Do we REALLY believe it? If we do how can we stay silent? Why do I care If I look like a fool if it is to be a fool for Christ who is the only one who can save them from their sins and Hell? Where is my urgency, my compassion? People are dying everyday! I am preaching to myself as well as all you fellow Christians. We are all called to evangelize (Matt 28:19-20.) We may not all have the gift of being a full time evangelist, but are our lives marked with going out of our comfort-zone to share the Word of Truth? Remember, we are no better than the lost, just better-off. We are just fellow beggars trying to show other beggars where to find the Bread of Life!

Please pray for all of those who heard the Gospel! Pray that God may save some!

Update Coming Soon!

Once I rest up and spend some well needed time with my family, I will post an update about the Gospel sharing at the fair. Please pray for the souls that hear the Law and the Gospel and for those who left with the Spirit convicting them of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

Conviction...From a Sunrise?!

Well as the title says, I was deeply convicted by the sunrise this morning. I will explain my thought process that I had this morning and it will weave in to my conviction.

As I was driving to my first stop this morning I was preparing myself to start my time of prayer (I have about a forty-minute drive.) One thing I really enjoy, is seeing God's handiwork in each of His sunrises. Today's was magnificent, as usual. The clouds looked like they were drawn across the sky by a wide brush. The color of the sky near the horizon was a fiery orange, with reddish hues being cast on the clouds. When the sun broke over the horizon it came with blazing glory.

I started to think about power of God and how creation unfalteringly obeys His commands to create such a masterpiece. God commanded the earth to be tilted at the perfect amount for their to be different seasons. God commands the earth to be at a perfect distance in orbit around the sun to allow for life to thrive on the earth. God commands the sun's explosions to produce life sustaining energy and light. He commands all this and the creation obeys. He commands the earth to rotate, which produces the sunrise. The atmosphere refracts light just as commanded to shine through the dust that has perfectly obeyed to give the sky its fiery color. God gave wisdom and knowledge to the person who made my glasses that allow my eye to clearly see all that I saw. This is where I paused and came to see my sin, weak and feeble faith in God's faithfulness.

I was planning on confessing my lack of faith, but God brought it to the forefront of my mind right there and then. A little background, I have been starting to stress a little about some changes coming up. We have another little one on the way, we will soon need to find a better and or bigger place to live and to top it all off, my work is reorganizing everyone's jobs and I have to interview for some positions this week. Their is a lot of uncertainty coming up, one thing I do not like. I already knew that God has always provided for my little family. We may not have an abundance but we have always had enough and have not lacked. I had no reason to worry and I was going to confess and repent, until the Holy Spirit wanted to give me a better perspective.

At this point I was crushed and tears came to my eyes. God saw this vile, small, God-hating, blasphemous rebel and instead of snuffing out my little meaningless and God-opposing life, He caused me to be regenerated and born again! And yet He still puts up with my sin as I struggle with my flesh everyday, oh wretched man that I am! But I know their is no condemnation for those who are in Christ, He sees us as perfect even though we are not yet perfect. What right do I have to worry?! How arrogant of an attitude. Look at the birds of the air and the lilies of the field are they not clothed and fed? Will God not take care of those that He has adopted as sons?


Father, forgive me for my lack of faith!