Month: August 2015

The Motivation for Soul Winning

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2 Corinthians 5:11-15

  1. The first motive for soul winning that the Apostle gives to us is “the fear of the Lord” (v.11). “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord…”
    By “the fear of the Lord,” the Apostle does not mean the divine terror of an angry Judge, which the unsaved will experience when they stand before the Lord. No, no, here the Apostle speaks of that reverential awe. He speaks of the fear that the Lord, by His own person, produces in the Christian—a godly fear, a worshipful fear toward God. This fear is a pious reverence that Paul had of Christ as His divine assessor and future judge.
  2. The second motive is for the glory of God and good of the church or concern for people (v.13). “For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.”
    To be “beside ourselves” literally means to be out of one’s mind. Paul says, “Oh no, I’m not crazy. I am in full possession of my mental faculties.”But this is the world’s conclusion about those who are dogmatic and zealous about the truth. Both Jesus and John were accused of possessing a demon (John 8:48; 7:20; 8:52; 10:20). After Paul gave his dramatic testimony before King Agrippa, the Roman governor Festus “…said in a loud voice, ‘Paul you are out of your mind! Your learning is driving you mad’” (Acts 26:24). But Paul said, no, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth” (v.25). The issue for Paul was not about what people thought of him. His motivation was to be pleasing to God for the sake of the church. Is this the case with you?
  3. The third motive for soul winning is the love of Christ (vv.14-15). “For the love of Christ controls us…”
    The Apostle says that the love of Christ led him to conclude, “…that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.”

    One died—all died: This speaks of the Christian’s union with Christ.
    One died—all die: This speaks of the Christian’s imitation of Christ.
    One died—all live: This speaks of the Christian’s devotion to Christ.

    Only a risen Savior has the power to communicate His saving grace to those for whom He died. And, my friends, what the New Testament seeks to teach us by the resurrection is that the same Jesus who died is loose and at large in the world, working, rescuing, saving all whom He died to save.

Mission: Possible

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Connectedness. Ideation. Context. Strategic. Learner.

Researchers suggest that by becoming aware of and focusing on your natural talents, you can build them and have success in your spheres of influence. While I agree that the above-mentioned themes describe much about me, I am reminded that God is sovereignly governing my life.

My mission did not include attending graduate school. My mission did not include moving to Arizona. My mission did not even include Christ. Yet, by His grace, here I am.

God made it clear that I did not choose Him, rather He chose me and appointed me to go and bear fruit (John 15:16):

Amazing grace, How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

God has given me a mission, and it is dynamic. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matt. 28:19-20). It is a mission to fulfill this Great Commission in my city, in our state, my country, and anywhere else God sends me.

Jesus calls for every Christian to step out in faith and spread the Good News wherever we go. If you’re a believer in Jesus Christ, where has He called you to go? Who has God put on your heart to share the gift of salvation? What small or large steps can you take, with the knowledge that Christ will be by your side, “to make disciples of all nations?”

 

 

Gospel Driven Children

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I have a news app on my phone that alerted me of the earthquake in Nepal the morning it occurred. Not long after this notification, I received an email in my inbox from Samaritan’s Purse saying they already had workers in Nepal assessing the damage, and they were sending out a team to help with emergency shelter, water, hygiene kits, and other relief. I was amazed at how quickly they responded to this tragedy. I then asked myself why I don’t respond as quickly. Not so much a response to act, necessarily. But, even to just pray. It often takes me awhile to process these things before my heart feels what is happening and then I respond.

If my response is so slow, how can I teach my children to respond to things around the world? Not just simply responding physically to the tragedy, but being Gospel centered and driven to bring the message of hope?

I think a place that we can all start with our kids is here…at home. I cannot help my kids be missions minded abroad if I am not helping them be mission minded where we live: in the schools they attend, the neighborhood we live in, the lives of our friends and family. But, how do we start?

Several months ago, we had someone from our family visiting us for a few days from out of town. My son, Kai, had a song playing on repeat in his mind and heart since we sang it at church on Easter: Christ is Risen. During breakfast one day while our family member was here, Kai started singing that song. “Oh, church come stand in the life (light). God, He’s not dead, He’s alive, HE’S ALLLIIIIVEEE!!” He squeals that last “He’s alive.” Then, his sister joined and sang other portions of this song. Over and over throughout this day, Kai continued to sing this song until he obviously was getting a bit under our guest’s skin. At one point, our guest just said, “Ok, we get it. He’s alive.” As I was watching this whole thing unfold, I was so encouraged. I was encouraged, because my kids are learning to be missions minded, just simply by being who they are with whoever they are with. We sing Gospel centered songs. They sometimes like to be goofy with those songs. But, even in that, they planted a truth into a soul’s heart that Jesus is alive.

We can all tend to complicate this training of our children into Gospel driven people. The task seems daunting sometimes. I’m learning that I just need to take baby steps! They may not fly out to aid in the next overseas tragedy this year, but as I invest into them through daily devotions, reading truth, proclaiming truth, singing truth, they will become missions minded. Lord-willing, this will carry on with them as they grow, and I pray God will use them to make an impact in their families, neighborhoods, friendships, schools…wherever God will lead them.