Monday, October 6, 2008
Free Will - A Slave by Spurgeon
A Sermon
(No. 52)
Delivered on Sabbath Morning, December 2, 1855, by the
REV. C. H. Spurgeon
At New Park Street Chapel, Southwark.
"And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life."—John 5:40.
This is one of the great guns of the Arminians, mounted upon the top of their walls, and often discharged with terrible noise against the poor Christians called Calvinists. I intend to spike the gun this morning, or, rather, to turn it on the enemy, for it was never theirs; it was never cast at their foundry at all, but was intended to teach the very opposite doctrine to that which they assert. Usually, when the text is taken, the divisions are: First, that man has a will. Secondly, that he is entirely free. Thirdly, that men must make themselves willing to come to Christ, otherwise they will not be saved. Now, we shall have no such divisions; but we will endeavour to take a more calm look at the text; and not, because there happen to be the words "will," or "will not" in it, run away with the conclusion that it teaches the doctrine of free-will. It has already been proved beyond all controversy that free-will is nonsense. Freedom cannot belong to will any more than ponderability can belong to electricity. They are altogether different things. Free agency we may believe in, but free-will is simply ridiculous. The will is well known by all to be directed by the understanding, to be moved by motives, to be guided by other parts of the soul, and to be a secondary thing. Philosophy and religion both discard at once the very thought of free-will; and I will go as far as Martin Luther, in that strong assertion of his, where he says, "If any man doth ascribe aught of salvation, even the very least, to the free-will of man, he knoweth nothing of grace, and he hath not learnt Jesus Christ aright." It may seem a harsh sentiment; but he who in his soul believes that man does of his own free-will turn to God, cannot have been taught of God, for that is one of the first principles taught us when God begins with us, that we have neither will nor power, but that he gives both; that he is "Alpha and Omega" in the salvation of men.
Our four points, this morning, shall be: First—that every man is dead, because it says: "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." Secondly—that there is life in Jesus Christ: "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." Thirdly—that there is life in Christ Jesus for every one that comes for it: "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life;" implying that all who go will have life. And fourthly—the gist of the text lies here, that no man by nature ever will come to Christ, for the text says, "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." So far from asserting that men of their own wills ever do such a thing, it boldly and flatly denies it, and says, "Ye WILL NOT come to me, that ye might have life." Why, beloved, I am almost ready to exclaim, Have all free-willers no knowledge that they dare to run in the teeth of inspiration? Have all those that deny the doctrine of grace no sense? Have they so departed from God that they wrest this to prove free-will; whereas the text says, "Ye WILL NOT come to me that ye might have life."
I. First, then, our text implies THAT MEN BY NATURE ARE DEAD.
No being needs to go after life if he has life in himself. The text speaks very strongly when it says, "Ye will not come unto me, that ye might have life." Though it saith it not in words, yet it doth in effect affirm that men need a life more than they have themselves. My hearers, we are all dead unless we have been begotten unto a lively hope. First, we are all of us, by nature, legally dead—"In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt die the death," said God to Adam; and though Adam did not die in that moment naturally, he died legally; that is to say death was recorded against him. As soon as, at the Old Bailey, the judge puts on the black cap and pronounces the sentence, the man is reckoned to be dead at law. Though perhaps a month may intervene before he is brought on the scaffold to endure the sentence of the law, yet the law looks upon him as a dead man. It is impossible for him to transact anything. He cannot inherit, he cannot bequeath; he is nothing—he is a dead man. The country considers him not as being alive in it at all. There is an election—he is not asked for his vote because he is considered as dead. He is shut up in his condemned cell, and he is dead. Ah! and ye ungodly sinners who have never had life in Christ, ye are alive this morning, by reprieve, but do ye know that ye are legally dead; that God considers you as such, that in the day when your father Adam touched the fruit, and when you yourselves did sin, God, the Eternal Judge, put on the black cap and condemned you? You talk mightily of your own standing, and goodness, and morality—where is it? Scripture saith, ye are "condemned already." Ye are not to wait to be condemned at the judgment-day—that will be the execution of the sentence—ye are "condemned already." In the moment ye sinned; your names were all written in the black book of justice; every one was then sentenced by God to death, unless he found a substitute, in the person of Christ, for his sins. What would you think if you were to go into the Old Bailey, and see the condemned culprit sitting in his cell, laughing and merry? You would say, "The man is a fool, for he is condemned, and is to be executed; yet how merry he is." Ah! and how foolish is the worldly man, who, while sentence is recorded against him, lives in merriment and mirth! Do you think the sentence of God is of no effect? Thinkest thou that thy sin which is written with an iron pen on the rocks for ever hath no horrors in it? God hath said thou art condemned already. If thou wouldst but feel this, it would mingle bitters in thy sweet cups of joy; thy dances would be stopped, thy laughter quenched in sighing, if thou wouldst recollect that thou art condemned already. We ought all to weep, if we lay this to our souls: that by nature we have no life in God's sight; we are actually, positively condemned; death is recorded against us, and we are considered in ourselves now, in God's sight, as much dead as if we were actually cast into hell; we are condemned here by sin, we do not yet suffer the penalty of it, but it is written against us, and we are legally dead, nor can we find life unless we find legal life in the person of Christ, of which more by-and-by.
But, besides being legally dead, we are also spiritually dead. For not only did the sentence pass in the book, but it passed in the heart; it entered the conscience; it operated on the soul, on the judgment, on the imagination, and on everything. "In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die," was not only fulfilled by the sentence recorded, but by something which took place in Adam. Just as, in a certain moment, when this body shall die, the blood stops, the pulse ceases, the breath no longer comes from the lungs, so in the day that Adam did eat that fruit his soul died; his imagination lost its mighty power to climb into celestial things and see heaven, his will lost its power always to choose that which is good, his judgment lost all ability to judge between right and wrong decidedly and infallibly, though something was retained in conscience; his memory became tainted, liable to hold evil things, and let righteous things glide away; every power of him ceased as to its moral vitality. Goodness was the vitality of his powers—that departed. Virtue, holiness, integrity, these were the life of man; but when these departed man became dead. And now, every man, so far as spiritual things are concerned, is "dead in trespasses and sins" spiritually. Nor is the soul less dead in a carnal man, than the body is when committed to the grave; it is actually and positively dead—not by a metaphor, for Paul speaketh not in metaphor, when he affirms, "You hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins." But my hearers, again, I would I could preach to your hearts concerning this subject. It was bad enough when I described death as having been recorded; but now I speak of it as having actually taken place in your hearts. Ye are not what ye once were; ye are not what ye were in Adam, not what ye were created. Man was made pure and holy. Ye are not the perfect creatures of which some boast; ye are altogether fallen, ye have gone out of the way, ye have become corrupt and filthy. Oh! listen not to the siren song of those who tell you of your moral dignity, and your mighty elevation in matters of salvation. Ye are not perfect; that great word, "ruin," is written on your heart; and death is stamped upon your spirit. Do not conceive, O moral man, that thou wilt be able to stand before God in thy morality, for thou art nothing but a carcass embalmed in legality, a corpse arrayed in some fine robes, but still corrupt in God's sight. And think not, O thou possessor of natural religion! that thou mayest by thine own might and power make thyself acceptable to God. Why, man! thou art dead! and thou mayest array the dead as gloriously as thou pleasest, but still it would be a solemn mockery. There lieth queen Cleopatra—put the crown upon her head, deck her in royal robes, let her sit in state; but what a cold chill runs through you when you pass by her. She is fair now, even in her death—but how horrible it is to stand by the side even of a dead queen, celebrated for her majestic beauty! So you may be glorious in your beauty, fair, and amiable, and lovely; you put the crown of honesty upon your head, and wear about you all the garments of uprightness, but unless God has quickened thee, O man! unless the Spirit has had dealings with thy soul, thou art in God's sight as obnoxious as the chilly corpse is to thyself. Thou wouldst not choose to live with a corpse sitting at thy table; nor doth God love that thou shouldst be in his sight. He is angry with thee every day, for thou art in sin—thou art in death. Oh! believe this; take it to thy soul; appropriate it, for it is most true that thou art dead, spiritually as well as legally.
The third kind of death is the consummation of the other two. It is eternal death. It is the execution of the legal sentence; it is the consummation of the spiritual death. Eternal death is the death of the soul; it takes place after the body has been laid in the grave, after the soul has departed from it. If legal death be terrible, it is because of its consequences; and if spiritual death be dreadful, it is because of that which shall succeed it. The two deaths of which we have spoken are the roots, and that death which is to come is the flower thereof. Oh! had I words that I might this morning attempt to depict to you what eternal death is. The soul has come before its Maker; the book has been opened; the sentence has been uttered; "Depart ye cursed" has shaken the universe, and made the very spheres dim with the frown of the Creator; the soul has departed to the depths where it is to dwell with others in eternal death. Oh! how horrible is its position now. Its bed is a bed of flame; the sights it sees are murdering ones that affright its spirit;. the sounds it hears are shrieks, and wails, and moans, and groans; all that its body knows is the infliction of miserable pain! It has the possession of unutterable woe, of unmitigated misery. The soul looks up. Hope is extinct—it is gone. It looks downward in dread and fear; remorse hath possessed its soul. It looks on the right hand—and the adamantine walls of fate keep it within its limits of torture. It looks on the left—and there the rampart of blazing fire forbids the scaling ladder of e'en a dreamy speculation of escape. It looks within and seeks for consolation there, but a gnawing worm hath entered into the soul. It looks about it—it has no friends to aid, no comforters, but tormentors in abundance. It knoweth nought of hope of deliverance; it hath heard the everlasting key of destiny turning in its awful wards, and it hath seen God take that key and hurl it down into the depth of eternity never to be found again. It hopeth not; it knoweth no escape; it guesseth not of deliverance; it pants for death, but death is too much its foe to be there; it longs that non-existence would swallow it up, but this eternal death is worse than annihilation. It pants for extermination as the laborer for his Sabbath; it longs that it might be swallowed up in nothingness just as would the galley slave long for freedom, but it cometh not—it is eternally dead. When eternity shall have rolled round multitudes of its everlasting cycles it shall still be dead. Forever knoweth no end; eternity cannot be spelled except in eternity. Still the soul seeth written o'er its head, "Thou art damned forever." It heareth howlings that are to be perpetual; it seeth flames which are unquenchable; it knoweth pains that are unmitigated; it hears a sentence that rolls not like the thunder of earth which soon is hushed—but onward, onward, onward, shaking the echoes of eternity—making thousands of years shake again with the horrid thunder of its dreadful sound—"Depart! depart! depart! ye cursed!" This is the eternal death.
II. Secondly, IN CHRIST JESUS THERE IS LIFE,
for he says: "Ye will not come to me that ye might have life." There is no life in God the Father for a sinner; there is no life in God the Spirit for a sinner apart from Jesus. The life of a sinner is in Christ. If you take the Father apart from the Son, though he loves his elect, and decrees that they shall live, yet life is only in his Son. If you take God the Spirit apart from Jesus Christ, though it is the Spirit that gives us spiritual life, yet it is life in Christ, life in the Son. We dare not, and cannot apply in the first place, either to God the Father, or to God the Holy Ghost for spiritual life. The first thing we are led to do when God brings us out of Egypt is to eat the Passover—the very first thing. The first means whereby we get life is by feeding upon the flesh and blood of the Son of God; living in him, trusting on him, believing in his grace and power. Our second thought was—there is life in Christ. We will show you there are three kinds of life in Christ, as there are three kinds of death.
First there is legal life in Christ. Just as every man by nature considered in Adam had a sentence of condemnation passed on him in the moment of Adam's sin, and more especially in the moment of his own first transgression, so I, if I be a believer, and you, if you trust in Christ, have had a legal sentence of acquittal passed on us through what Jesus Christ has done. O condemned sinner! Thou mayest be sitting this morning condemned like the prisoner in Newgate; but ere this day has passed away thou mayest be as clear from guilt as the angels above. There is such a thing as legal life in Christ, and, blessed be God! some of us enjoy it. We know our sins are pardoned because Christ suffered punishment for them; we know that we never can be punished ourselves, for Christ suffered in our stead. The Passover is slain for us; the lintel and door-post have been sprinkled, and the destroying angel can never touch us. For us there is no hell, although it blaze with terrible flame. Let Tophet be prepared of old, let its pile be wood and much smoke, we never can come there—Christ died for us, in our stead. What if there be racks of horrid torture? What if there be a sentence producing most horrible reverberations of thundering sounds? Yet neither rack, nor dungeon, nor thunder, are for us! In Christ Jesus we are now delivered. "There is therefore NOW no condemnation unto us who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
Sinner! Art thou legally condemned this morning? Dost thou feel that? Then, let me tell thee that faith in Christ will give thee a knowledge of thy legal acquittal. Beloved, it is no fancy that we are condemned for our sins, it is a reality. So, it is no fancy we are acquitted, it is a reality. A man about to be hanged, if he received a full pardon would feel it a great reality. He would say, "I have a full pardon; I cannot be touched now." That is just how I feel.
"Now freed from sin I walk at large,
The Saviour's blood's my full discharge,
At his dear feet content I lay,
A sinner saved, and homage pay."
Brethren, we have gained legal life in Christ, and such legal life that we cannot lose it. The sentence has gone against us once—now it has gone out for us. It is written, "THERE IS NOW NO CONDEMNATION," and that now will do as well for me in fifty years as it does now. Whatever time we live it will still be written, "There is therefore, now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus."
Then, secondly, there is spiritual life in Christ Jesus. As the man is spiritually dead, God has spiritual life for him, for there is not a need which is not supplied by Jesus, there is not an emptiness in the heart which Christ cannot fill; there is not a desolation which he cannot people, there is not a desert which he cannot make to blossom as the rose. O ye dead sinners! spiritually dead, there is life in Christ Jesus, for we have seen—yes! these eyes have seen—the dead live again; we have known the man whose soul was utterly corrupt, by the power of God seek after righteousness; we have known the man whose views were carnal, whose lusts were mighty, whose passions were strong, suddenly, by irresistible might from heaven, consecrate himself to Christ, and become a child of Jesus. We know that there is life in Christ Jesus, of a spiritual order; yea, more, we ourselves, in our own persons, have felt that there is spiritual life. Well can we remember when we sat in the house of prayer, as dead as the very seat on which we sat. We had listened for a long, long while to the sound of the gospel, but no effect followed, when suddenly, as if our ears had been opened by the fingers of some mighty angel, a sound entered into our heart. We thought we heard Jesus saying, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." An irresistible hand put itself on our heart and crushed a prayer out of it. We never had a prayer before like that. We cried, "O God! have mercy upon me a sinner." Some of us for months felt a hand pressing us as if we had been grasped in a vice, and our souls bled drops of anguish. That misery was a sign of coming life. Persons when they are being drowned do not feel the pain so much as while they are being restored. Oh! we recollect those pains, those groans, that living strife that our soul had when it came to Christ. Ah! we can recollect the giving of our spiritual life as easily as could a man his restoration from the grave. We can suppose Lazarus to have remembered his resurrection, though not all the circumstances of it. So we, although we have forgotten a great deal, do recollect our giving ourselves to Christ. We can say to every sinner, however dead, there is life in Christ Jesus, though you may be rotten and corrupt in your grave. He who hath raised Lazarus hath raised us; and he can say, even to you, "Lazarus! come forth."
In the third place, there is eternal life in Christ Jesus. And, oh! if eternal death be terrible, eternal life is blessed; for he has said, "Where I am there shall my people be." "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given unto me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory." "I give unto my sheep eternal life, and they shall never perish." Now, any Arminian that would preach from that text must buy a pair of India rubber lips, for I am sure he would need to stretch his mouth amazingly; he would never be able to speak the whole truth without winding about in a most mysterious manner. Eternal life—not a life which they are to lose, but eternal life. If I lost life in Adam I gained it in Christ; if I lost myself for ever I find myself for ever in Jesus Christ. Eternal life! Oh blessed thought! Our eyes will sparkle with joy and our souls bum with ecstasy in the thought that we have eternal life. Be quenched ye stars! let God put his finger on you—but my soul will live in bliss and joy. Put out thine eye O sun!—but mine eye shall "see the king in his beauty" when thine eye shall no more make the green earth laugh. And moon, be thou turned into blood!—but my blood shall ne'er be turned to nothingness; this spirit shall exist when thou hast ceased to be. And thou great world! thou mayest all subside, just as a moment's foam subsides upon the wave that bears it—but I have eternal life. O time! thou mayest see giant mountains dead and hidden in their graves; thou mayest see the stars like figs too ripe, falling from the tree, but thou shalt never, never see my spirit dead.
III. This brings us to the third point: that ETERNAL LIFE IS GIVEN TO ALL WHO COME FOR IT.
There never was a man who came to Christ for eternal life, for legal life, for spiritual life, who had not already received it, in some sense, and it was manifested to him that he had received it soon after he came. Let us take one or two texts—"He is able to save to the uttermost them that come unto him." Every man who comes to Christ will find that Christ is able to save him—not able to save him a little, to deliver him from a little sin, to keep him from a little trial, to carry him a little way and then drop him—but able to save him to the uttermost extent of his sin, unto the uttermost length of his trials, the uttermost depths of his sorrows, unto the uttermost duration of his existence. Christ says to every one who comes to him, "Come, poor sinner, thou needst not ask whether I have power to save. I will not ask thee how far thou hast gone into sin; I am able to save thee to the uttermost." And there is no one on earth can go beyond God's "uttermost."
Now another text: "Him that cometh to me, [mark the promises are nearly always to the coming ones] I will in no wise cast out." Every man that comes shall find the door of Christ's house opened—and the door of his heart too. Every man that comes—I say it in the broadest sense—shall find that Christ has mercy for him. The greatest absurdity in the world is to want to have a wider gospel than that recorded in Scripture. I preach that every man who believes shall be saved—that every man who comes shall find mercy. People ask me, "But suppose a man should come who was not chosen, would he be saved?" You go and suppose nonsense and I am not going to give you an answer. If a man is not chosen he will never come. When he does come it is a sure proof that he was chosen. Says one, "Suppose any one should go to Christ who had not been called of the Spirit." Stop, my brother, that is a supposition thou hast no right to make, for such a thing cannot happen; you only say it to entangle me, and you will not do that just yet. I say every man who comes to Christ shall be saved. I can say that as a Calvinist, or as a hyper-Calvinist, as plainly as you can say it. I have no narrower gospel than you have; only my gospel is on a solid foundation, whereas yours is built upon nothing but sand and rottenness. "Every man that cometh shall be saved, for no man cometh to me except the Father draw him." "But," says one, "suppose all the world should come, would Christ receive them?" Certainly, if all came; but then they won't come. I tell you all that come—aye, if they were as bad as devils, Christ would receive them; if they had all sin and filthiness running into their hearts as into a common sewer for the whole world, Christ would receive them. Another says, "I want to know about the rest of the people. May I go out and tell them—Jesus Christ died for every one of you? May I say—there is righteousness for everyone of you, there is life for every one of you?" No; you may not. You may say—there is life for every man that comes. But if you say there is life for one of those that do not believe, you utter a dangerous lie. If you tell them Jesus Christ was punished for their sins, and yet they will be lost, you tell a wilful falsehood. To think that God could punish Christ and then punish them—I wonder at your daring to have the impudence to say so! A good man was once preaching that there were harps and crowns in heaven for all his congregation; and then he wound up in a most solemn manner: "My dear friends, there are many for whom these things are prepared who will not get there." In fact, he made such a pitiful tale, as indeed he might do; but I tell you who he ought to have wept for—he ought to have wept for the angels of heaven and all the saints, because that would spoil heaven thoroughly. You know when you meet at Christmas, if you have lost your brother David and his seat is empty, you say: "Well, we always enjoyed Christmas, but there is a drawback to it now—poor David is dead and buried!" Think of the angels saying: "Ah! this is a beautiful heaven, but we don't like to see all those crowns up there with cobwebs on; we cannot endure that uninhabited street: we cannot behold yon empty thrones." And then, poor souls, they might begin talking to one another, and say, "we are none of us safe here for the promise was—"I give unto my sheep eternal life," and there is a lot of them in hell that God gave eternal life to; there is a number that Christ shed his blood for burning in the pit, and if they may be sent there, so may we. If we cannot trust one promise we cannot another." So heaven would lose its foundation, and fall. Away with your nonsensical gospel! God gives us a safe and solid one, built on covenant doings and covenant relationship, on eternal purposes and sure fulfillments.
IV. This brings us to the fourth point, THAT BY NATURE NO MAN WILL COME TO CHRIST,
for the text says, "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." I assert on Scripture authority from my text, that ye will not come unto Christ, that ye might have life. I tell you, I might preach to you for ever, I might borrow the eloquence of Demosthenes or of Cicero, but ye will not come unto Christ. I might beg of you on my knees, with tears in my eyes, and show you the horrors of hell and the joys of heaven, the sufficiency of Christ, and your own lost condition, but you would none of you come unto Christ of yourselves unless the Spirit that rested on Christ should draw you. It is true of all men in their natural condition that they will not come unto Christ. But, methinks I hear another of these babblers asking a question: "But could they not come if they liked?" My friend, I will reply to thee another time. That is not the question this morning. I am talking about whether they will, not whether they can. You will notice whenever you talk about free-will, the poor Arminian, in two seconds begins to talk about power, and he mixes up two subjects that should be kept apart. We will not take two subjects at once; we decline fighting two at the same time, if you please. Another day we will preach from this text—"No man can come except the Father draw him." But it is only the will we are talking of now; and it is certain that men will not come unto Christ, that they might have life. We might prove this from many texts of Scripture, but we will take one parable. You remember the parable where a certain king had a feast for his son, and bade a great number to come; the oxen and fatlings were killed, and he sent his messengers bidding many to the supper. Did they go to the feast? Ah, no; but they all, with one accord, began to make excuse. One said he had married a wife, and therefore he could not come, whereas he might have brought her with him. Another had bought a yoke of oxen, and went to prove them; but the feast was in the night-time, and he could not prove his oxen in the dark. Another had bought a piece of land, and wanted to see it; but I should not think he went to see it with a lantern. So they all made excuses and would not come. Well the king was determined to have the feast; so he said, "Go out into the highways and hedges, and" invite them—stop! not invite—"compel them to come in;" for even the ragged fellows in the hedges would never have come unless they were compelled. Take another parable:—A certain man had a vineyard; at the appointed season he sent one of his servants for his rent. What did they do to him? They beat that servant. He sent another; and they stoned him. He sent another and they killed him. And, at last, he said, "I will send them my son, they will reverence him." But what did they do? They said, "This is the heir, let us kill him, and cast him out of the vineyard." So they did. It is the same with all men by nature. The Son of God came, yet men rejected him. "Ye will not come to me that ye might have life." It would take too much time to mention any more Scripture proofs. We will, however, refer to the great doctrine of the fall. Any one who believes that man's will is entirely free, and that he can be saved by it, does not believe the fall. As I sometimes tell you, few preachers of religion do believe thoroughly the doctrine of the fall, or else they think that when Adam fell down he broke his little finger, and did not break his neck and ruin his race. Why, beloved, the fall broke man up entirely. It did not leave one power unimpaired; they were all shattered, and debased, and tarnished; like some mighty temple, the pillars might be there, the shaft, and the column, and the pilaster might be there; but they were all broken, though some of them retain their form and position. The conscience of man sometimes retains much of its tenderness—still it has fallen. The will, too, is not exempt. What though it is "the Lord Mayor of Mansoul," as Bunyan calls it?—the Lord Mayor goes wrong. The Lord Will-be-will was continually doing wrong. Your fallen nature was put out of order; your will, amongst other things, has clean gone astray from God. But I tell you what will be the best proof of that; it is the great fact that you never did meet a Christian in your life who ever said he came to Christ without Christ coming to him. You have heard a great many Arminian sermons, I dare say; but you never heard an Arminian prayer—for the saints in prayer appear as one in word, and deed and mind. An Arminian on his knees would pray desperately like a Calvinist. He cannot pray about free-will: there is no room for it. Fancy him praying, "Lord, I thank thee I am not like those poor presumptuous Calvinists. Lord, I was born with a glorious free-will; I was born with power by which I can turn to thee of myself; I have improved my grace. If everybody had done the same with their grace that I have, they might all have been saved. Lord, I know thou dost not make us willing if we are not willing ourselves. Thou givest grace to everybody; some do not improve it, but I do. There are many that will go to hell as much bought with the blood of Christ as I was; they had as much of the Holy Ghost given to them; they had as good a chance, and were as much blessed as I am. It was not thy grace that made us to differ; I know it did a great deal, still I turned the point; I made use of what was given me, and others did not—that is the difference between me and them." That is a prayer for the devil, for nobody else would offer such a prayer as that. Ah! when they are preaching and talking very slowly, there may be wrong doctrine; but when they come to pray, the true thing slips out; they cannot help it. If a man talks very slowly, he may speak in a fine manner; but when he comes to talk fast, the old brogue of his country, where he was born, slips out. I ask you again, did you ever meet a Christian man who said, "I came to Christ without the power of the Spirit?" If you ever did meet such a man, you need have no hesitation in saying, "My dear sir, I quite believe it—and I believe you went away again without the power of the Spirit, and that you know nothing about the matter, and are in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity." Do I hear one Christian man saying, "I sought Jesus before he sought me; I went to the Spirit, and the Spirit did not come to me"? No, beloved; we are obliged, each one of us, to put our hands to our hearts and say—
"Grace taught my soul to pray,
And made my eyes to o'erflow;
'Twas grace that kept me to this day,
And will not let me go."
Is there one here—a solitary one—man or woman, young or old, who can say, "I sought God before he sought me?" No; even you who are a little Arminian, will sing—
"O yes! I do love Jesus—
Because he first loved me."
Then, one more question. Do we not find, even after we have come to Christ, our soul is not free, but is kept by Christ? Do we not find times, even now, when to will is not present with us? There is a law in our members, warring against the law of our minds. Now, if those who are spiritually alive feel that their will is contrary to God, what shall we say of the man who is "dead in trespasses and sins"? It would be a marvelous absurdity to put the two on a level; and it would be still more absurd to put the dead before the living. No; the text is true, experience has branded it into our hearts. "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life."
Now, we must tell you the reasons why men will not come unto Christ. The first is, because no man by nature thinks he wants Christ. By nature man conceives that he does not need Christ; he thinks that he has a robe of righteousness of his own, that he is well-dressed, that he is not naked, that he needs not Christ's blood to wash him, that he is not black or crimson, and needs no grace to purify him. No man knows his need until God shows it to him; and until the Holy Spirit reveals the necessity of pardon, no man will seek pardon. I may preach Christ for ever, but unless you feel you want Christ you will never come to him. A doctor may have a good shop, but nobody will buy his medicines until he feels he wants them.
The next reason is, because men do not like Christ's way of saving them. One says, "I do not like it because he makes me holy; I cannot drink or swear if he saved me." Another says, "It requires me to be so precise and puritanical, and I like a little more license." Another does not like it because it is so humbling; he does not like it because the "gate of heaven" is not quite high enough for his head, and he does not like stooping. That is the chief reason ye will not come to Christ, because ye cannot get to him with your heads straight up in the air; for Christ makes you stoop when you come. Another does not like it to be grace from first to last. "Oh!" he says, "If I might have a little honor." But when he hears it is all Christ or no Christ, a whole Christ or no Christ, he says, "I shall not come," and turns on his heel and goes away. Ah! proud sinners, ye will not come unto Christ. Ah! ignorant sinners, ye will not come unto Christ, because ye know nothing of him. And that is the third reason.
Men do not know his worth, for if they did they would come unto him. Why did not sailors go to America before Columbus went? Because they did not believe there was an America. Columbus had faith, therefore he went. He who hath faith in Christ goes to him. But you don't know Jesus; many of you never saw his beauteous face; you never saw how applicable his blood is to a sinner, how great is his atonement; and how all-sufficient are his merits. Therefore, "ye will not come to him."
And oh! my hearers, my last thought is a solemn one. I have preached that ye will not come. But some will say, "it is their sin that they do not come." IT IS SO. You will not come, but then your will is a sinful will. Some think that we "sew pillows to all armholes" when we preach this doctrine, but we don't. We do not set this down as being part of man's original nature, but as belonging to his fallen nature. It is sin that has brought you into this condition that you will not come. If you had not fallen, you would come to Christ the moment he was preached to you; but you do not come because of your sinfulness and crime. People excuse themselves because they have bad hearts. That is the most flimsy excuse in the world. Do not robbery and thieving come from a bad heart? Suppose a thief should say to a judge, "I could not help it, I had a bad heart." What would the judge say? "You rascal! why, if your heart is bad, I'll make the sentence heavier, for you are a villain indeed. Your excuse is nothing." The Almighty shall "laugh at them, and shall have them in derision." We do not preach this doctrine to excuse you, but to humble you. The possession of a bad nature is my fault as well as my terrible calamity. It is a sin that will always be charged on men; when they will not come unto Christ it is sin that keeps them away. He who does not preach that, I fear is not faithful to God and his conscience. Go home, then, with this thought; "I am by nature so perverse that I will not come unto Christ, and that wicked perversity of my nature is my sin. I deserve to be sent to hell for it." And if the thought does not humble you, the Spirit using it, no other can. This morning I have not preached human nature up, but I have preached it down. God humble us all. Amen.
As a young Bible student, I'm bombarded with books, authors, preachers, and sermons. Even though with all these elements pressing down upon me, I find reading the old preachers to be the most helpful, encouraging, and challenging. I read this sermon the other night and thought I would share it.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Oh the Grace That Saves
"I sometimes think I might have been in darkness and despair now, had it not been for the goodness of God in sending a snowstorm one Sunday morning, when I was going to a place of worship. When I could go no further, I turned down a court and came to a little Primitive Methodist Chapel. In that chapel there might be a dozen or fifteen people. The minister did not come that morning: snowed up, I suppose. A poor man, a shoemaker, a tailor, or something of that sort, went up into the pulpit to preach. He was obliged to stick to his text, for the simple reason that he had nothing else to say. The text was, 'Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.' He did not even pronounce the words rightly, but that did not matter.
"There was, I thought, a glimpse of hope for me in the text. He began thus: 'My dear friends, this is a very simple text indeed. It says, "Look." Now that does not take a deal of effort. It ain't lifting your foot or your finger; it is just "look." Well, a man need not go to college to learn to look. You may be the biggest fool, and yet you can look. A man need not be worth a thousand a year to look. Anyone can look; a child can look. But this is what the text says. Then it says, "Look unto Me." 'Ay,' said he, in broad Essex, 'many of ye are looking to yourselves. No use looking there. You'll never find comfort in yourselves.' Then the good man followed up his text in this way: 'Look unto Me: I am sweating great drops of blood. Look unto Me; I am hanging on the Cross. Look: I am dead and buried. Look unto Me; I rise again. Look unto Me; I ascend; I am sitting at the Father's right hand. O, look to Me! Look to Me!' When he had got about that length, and managed to spin out ten minutes, he was at the length of his tether.
"Then he looked at me under the gallery, and I daresay, with so few present, he knew me to be a stranger. He then said, 'Young man, you look very miserable.' Well, I did; but I had not been accustomed to have remarks made on my personal appearance from the pulpit before. However, it was a good blow struck. He continued: 'And you will always be miserable — miserable in life and miserable in death — if you do not obey my text. But if you obey now, this moment, you will be saved.'
"Then he shouted, as only a Primitive Methodist can, 'Young man, look to Jesus Christ.' There and then the cloud was gone, the darkness had rolled away, and that moment I saw the sun; and I could have risen that moment and sung with the most enthusiastic of them of the Precious Blood of Christ."
C. H. Spurgeon, of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London, was born at Kelvedon, Essex, in 1834; converted Jan., 1850, at the age of 15, at Colchester; gave his first Gospel address at Faversham when he was 16, and for thirty years declared almost weekly, to audiences numbering five or six thousand, the glorious Gospel of the blessed God. He quietly passed from Mentone to Heaven, Sunday, January 31, 1892.
It is an encouragement to me and I pray it is for you as well. God bless!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
My Progress
"As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place where was a Den, and I laid me down in that place to sleep: and, as I slept, I dreamed a dream." - John Bunyan, The Pilgrims Progress
The puritan John Bunyan wrote these words over 300 years ago and yet they still ring true. Not only in Bunyans story of the pilgrims trying to find their way but also my life. I can account for my life these past few months, and speak as though I'm one of those pilgrims walking through the wilderness. Unlike John, I haven't found that rest just yet. Starting Criswell, looking for a job, seeking God on the future, and maintaing my present has been a challenge beyond anything else I could have ever imagined.
God has been that mighty Hand in which I fall in to. I've trusted Him for my relationship with Melissa, my grades, ministry, etc. Even in times I don't feel as if He were there, I still trust.
Even though I'm not sleeping, I can relate with Bunyan in "dreaming a dream." This would be simply a day dream of some sort but nevertheless a dream. There has been many events in the past few months that God has used to break me. Some just being the death of my Nana, the death of a cousin, living back at home, a girl friend who cares, and friends that challenge me. These things have brought me to my knees, and even when fail God in His great mercy and grace loves me since! Aside all my sin and twistedness He still loves me. I've tried to work all these things out in my flesh, which of course is the wrong way to go about anything in the Christian life. Thus, God has been working to make me totally dependant on Him. I realize that God is working in my life and is preparing me for my future. I'm not sure what that is, but He does.
I'm not sure if I'll ever wake up from the dream but I'm alright with that. I'll just press on like "Christian" and wait until I reach the "Celestial City."
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Please Pray
Mob violence in India's Orissa state continues to escalate, and reports coming from Gospel for Asia leaders in Orissa say that as many as 20 GFA-related churches were destroyed and hundreds of Christian families have been burned out of their homes. At least a dozen members of GFA-related churches have been murdered, but no one knows the overall death toll.
"The Christians in Orissa have fled for their lives into the forests," GFA President K.P. Yohannan said, "and some have been in hiding for three days without food or water.
"Several of our pastors are in the forest along with their church people, and one said that he could have escaped, but would rather die with his people than leave them."
Dr. Yohannan called the situation "unprecedented in his 30 years of ministry in South Asia."
"I have never seen persecution so bad in my life," Dr. Yohannan said, "and I have seen a lot of opposition to the Gospel over the years."
Orissa, the state where Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons were burned to death by anti-Christian militants in 1999, has a long history of opposition to the Gospel.
"Yet this past year, we have seen more people place their faith in Jesus Christ in Orissa than in any other Indian state," Dr. Yohannan noted. "So it is no surprise that opposition is increasing."
The latest reports coming in include a long list of specific attacks against pastors, missionaries and their followers—including Christians being hacked to death. One believer's body was cut into seven pieces.
"They are raping Christian girls—and some gang rapes are taking place," Dr. Yohannan said. "We are praying that the young women on our Bible college campus will remain safe. There are 250 students there, and 90 of them are girls. A handful of police officers are trying to protect them, and that is a blessing. But we have had people come on campus and attack students in the past, so I am asking for all Christians to pray for their protection."
The violence began after the Saturday night murder of Swami Laxmananand Saraswati, a top leader of the VHP (World Hindu Council) and an outspoken opponent of Christianity. He was killed in an attack by 20 men armed with guns and hand grenades. While the murderers are suspected of being Maoist rebels, the Hindu radicals seized on the killing as an excuse to incite violence against the area's Christian community.
"What is most disturbing," Dr. Yohannan said, "is that the radicals have not only incited this violence, but they are also orchestrating it. And the latest reports are that they are bringing in militants from Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and other states to carry out their evil plans."
Because the swami's goal was to stop the spread of Christianity, especially among tribal and lower-caste Indians, an attack on him last December incited a similar wave of violence—again targeting Christians.
"Between December 24 and January 15, some 730 Christian homes and more than 100 churches were destroyed," Dr. Yohannan recalled. "Several dozen Christian women were sexually assaulted, and more than 40 shops owned by Christians were looted."
"Most of the victims were Dalits, formerly known as Untouchables," he noted.
"Basically, what we are facing is genocide—ethnic cleansing—against Christians, and so far, no government has spoken out against it."
Dr. Yohannan asks that concerned people in the West call on their government officials—as well as those in India—to intervene in this disaster.*
"But most important is prayer," Dr. Yohannan emphasized. "Please pray that God will intervene in this situation, that His peace will descend on the people of Orissa, and that His message of love will fill the hearts of all of India's people.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Hard Enough Time Just Trying
Mark 14:51-52 And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.
These verses have always troubled me. Now you may be reading this wondering "What is this kid about to start talking about?" Well let me explain. No this isn't some high exposition of text, cause frankly I'm pretty sure I'm breaking every rule of Hermeneutics. Let me start out...
I'm 19 years old and I've come to the realization that I don't know everything. Actually I found that out about 6 months ago but I pretended just to make myself feel better. But at this young age I've figured out that I'm never going to be a "Master of Divinity." My sinful nature wont allow me. Even though I strive and fight and kick and spit...I....I, just wont understand everything about God.
I can't wrap my mind around how God elects some people, and then at the same time is not willing any should perish but all to come to repentance. Even though most say that the greek word of "all" can be taken in two ways...individually meaning each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything...or collectively meaning some of all types. For me, I have my stance but I'm not going to divide a church over it.
How about this one. Is the NT church a model of how we are suppose to act in the body of Christ or is it the model of how we are suppose to meet in homes like the early church. Even though culture, and history influence the reading of the Bible. I don't take a stance on this one because, well...technically "I've had church" in a van in Calcutta India, on the beaches of Galveston, and on the front porch of my friends house.
I read this one today. Is man born a sinner? Or is he a sinner by the choices he makes after he is born?
Worship on Saturday or Sunday? Did the gifts of the Spirit die out? Is there such thing as a laughing revival? Is todays missions working? Do we send western missionaries or natives?
Now now, I'm not looking for answers. I say that because I'm not looking for a thesis on the doctrine of Orginal Sin or how speaking in tongues proves that you've been baptized in the Holy Ghost. All I'm saying is that...everytime I get into a decussion about these things I feel like the young man in the Mark passage. I'm following maybe for the right reason, or wrong just depends. But then when something grabs me, I flee. Not literally naked but you get the point. I get scared. It's not that I don't have an opinion or stance, it's that well I just have a hard enough time just trying to submit to my authorities with a pure heart. Or witness to someone who is lost and going to hell. I find it hard to pray sometimes. Now does this mean I'm just going to give up on finding answers, start watering down the Gospel, my view of Christ in light of His Word and His work to redeem men for the wrath to come? No! But now I'm going to find the answers with humility. Not looking for them with pride, just so I can prove my point. I'm going to make sure I have the linen cloth still over me. I know in God's time, He'll show me. I have faith for that.
.....Was I just naming and claiming that?
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
In Honor of...
To my Nana, who is the strongest woman I know. Standing at about 4' foot nothing with flaming red hair, this woman could be heard from at least a mile away just with her laugh. She wasn't just your avg old woman. She always had something to say. Being raise and living in the south will do that to you. Her humor, love, care, and personality made up "Silly Philly." It seems like yesterday that I was helping her plant flowers, putting up bird houses, and laying stone in her yard, which she loved. Oh, and just yesterday it seems like we were in the mall buying luggage for my trip to India, and just yesterday my grandmother passed from this life into the arms of Jesus. Yes she will be missed, but praise God she is in a much better place then this world.
She is a beautiful woman. Inside and outside. I will miss her coming over just to say hi. I will miss the stories of her. I will miss her smile. It just wont be the same without her.
You see, I'm sorry there are so few words but if you knew her, you would agree with me in saying that there is no way you can describe someone like her. No word explains or even comes close to touching the surface of my Nana.
That cancer the doctor said she had, didn't kill her. The fluid on her lungs, that didn't either. The infection in her body didn't phase her one bit. It just seemed right to God to take her out of this world for Himself. None of that stuff whatsoever could have held her down anyway.
I thank her for everything she was done. She is an example to me to keep on fighting. I love you, and I will miss you.
Phyllis Powell
April 15, 1946 - July 29, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Great Stories of Christians
There are many stories in the Christian world that just make you sit back and marvel at the work of God. I want to share a few stories with you and every Christian I believe needs to know by heart.
Here is a Story About Charles Spurgeon.
In 1857, a day or two before preaching at the Crystal Palace, I went to decide where the platform should be fixed; and, in order to test the acoustic properties of the building, cried in a loud voice, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." In one of the galleries, a workman, who knew nothing of what was being done, heard the words, and they came like a message from heaven to his soul. He was smitten with conviction on account of sin, put down his tools, went home, and there, after a season of spiritual struggling, found peace and life by beholding the Lamb of God. Years after, he told this story to one who visited him on his death-bed.
A Missionary Story
In September of 1955, Nate Saint Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Peter Fleming and Roger Youderian found a Huaorani settlement while searching by air. In order to reach the remote tribe, Saint and the team lowered gifts, including machetes and clothing, to the Huaorani in a bucket tied to the plane. The Huaorani were a widely feared tribe, because of their chronic fear and anger. They tended to attack and kill any outsiders without provocation. Nevertheless, the tribe displayed excitement on receiving the gifts, and soon gave back gifts of their own. After three months of successful air contact, the missionaries decided to attempt to meet the people on the ground, and on January 3, 1956, they set up camp four miles from the Auca settlement, using a portion of the beach as a landing strip. Their initial personal contact with the Huaorani started out encouraging; however, on Sunday, January 8, 1956 the entire team was killed on the beach when armed Huaorani met them.
John Wesley
No church in England would allow John Wesley to preach. So he decide to open air preach. After seeing the results he never again hesitated to preach in any place where an assembly could be gotten together, more than once using his father's tombstone at Epworth as a pulpit. He continued for fifty years — entering churches when he was invited, and taking his stand in the fields, in halls, cottages, and chapels, when the churches would not receive him
The Two Moravian Missionaries
Two young Moravians heard of an island in the West Indies, where an atheist British owner had 2,000 to 3,000 slaves. And the owner had said, “No preacher, no clergyman will ever stay on this island. If he’s shipwrecked,we’ll keep him in a separate house until he has to leave but he’s never gonna talk to any of us about God. I’m through with all that nonsense.”Three thousand slaves from the jungles of Africa brought to an island in the Atlantic and there to live and die without hearing of Christ. Two young Moravians heard about it. They sold themselves to the British planter then used the money they received from the sale, for he paid no more than he would for any slave, to pay their passage out to his island for he wouldn’t even transport them.And as the ship left the …river at Hamburg ...left its pier at the river at Hamburg and was going out to the North Sea, carried with the tide. The Moravians had come from Herrnhut to see these two lads off, in their early twenties, never to return again. For this wasn’t a four-year term, they’d sold themselves into lifetime of slavery. Simply that as slaves they could be as Christians for these others were.The families were there weeping for they knew they’d never see them again. And they wondered why they’re going and questioned the wisdom of it. And as the gap widened and the houses had been cast off and were being curled up there on the pier. And the young boys saw the widening gap, one lad, with his arm linked through the arm of his fellow, raised his hand and shouted across the gap the last words that were heard from them. They were these: “May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering” And this became the call of Moravian missions. And this is the only reason for being, that the Lamb that was slain may receive the reward of His suffering.
The Last Story...
267 years ago on July 8, 1741 Jonathan Edwards preach one of the most famous sermons of all times. Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. The rest is history.
Here are just a few stories that have impacted me. Let me know about a few stories that challenge you!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Oh the Law Which Shows It's Might
Well God has been faithful in answering my prayers! I've been praying each week that God would allow me to witness to someone. I want to share with you one witnessing experence.
I was sitting here on Monday messing around on my laptop when I felt a sudden desire to go outside. I don't know why but if it was God urging me to go forth I didn't wanna grieve the Spirit. So off I went....
I sat on the front steps praying "Lord bring someone." I prayed that then went inside to grab a "What If" tract, and as soon as I came out, 2 guys were walking down the street. I knew God heard my prayer, ordained this time, and so I knew I had to witness. The 2 guys came walking by the house so I met them before they passed.
mc: can I ask you a few questions, it's for a class?
guy1: ummm, I guess....
mc: okay, well who were the first the presidents of the USA?
guy1: Washington, Adams, Jefferson....
mc: you know, you'd be shocked at how many Americans do know that.(keep in mind that this guy had a darker skin tone, and middle eastern accent)
mc: okay next question...when was the Declaration of Independence signed?
guy2: July 4, 1777...dang i mean 1776.
mc: sweet..okay next question...how many types of beer can you name.
guy2: oh, a lot!
mc: oh really...start naming them.
guy2: bud, bud light, miller, etc...(he names about 15)
mc: oh okay wow...do you drink?
guy2: no, my dad's a drunkerd
mc: okay okay no big deal, okay last question. how many 10 commandments can you name?
guy1 and guy2: ummm...hummm.....well
guy1: dont lie, dont steal..(guy2...ummmm) oh what is that other one...dont cheat.(?)
mc: okay, that's pretty good..well have you kept them?
guy1 and guy2: haha...no
this was a great lead! God opened up the door to very clearly use the Law to show sin
then...
mc: well hey, I'm a Christian, and I just wanna talk for a little bit if you dont mind. Do you believe in God?
guy2: yeah...I believe
mc: how about you?
guy1: well I'm an atheist.
mc: okay! well that's cool...where are you from?
guy1: Pakistan
mc: oh okay, so you were probably raised Muslim?
guy1:.......yeah
mc: so what made you decide to become atheist?
guy1: well because why would I believe in a god that would make me fast for a month, pray 5 times a day, and do all this s*** to please him?
oh what a door God opened up!!! Guy1 was still relating everything back to Islam.
mc: makes sense...you're right. You know what Christianity says about that?
guy1: not really.
mc: You can't do anything. It is free! God became Man, and died for your sin. The Law that you have broken is for us to see our sin. It also shows us that we need a Savior! 2000 years ago Jesus Christ was crushed. The full wrath of God was poured out on Him. The same wrath that will be poured out on all who reject Him. Christ bore the weight of sin and died. 3 days later He rose again from the dead and now sits at the Right Hand of God waiting to judge. God now commands you to repent and put your faith in Christ. Repent means to turn away from your sin! God will put a new desire for you to know Him, and a desire to hate sin. That is what God did. If you dont repent, God will find you guilty and cast you in hell.
guy1 and guy2 thought for a little bit and didn't say much.
mc: from the Fall. the Fall meaning when man fell into sin, we are born dead in sin. Depraved, and God-hating. We love our sin, and would do nothing else but sin. Therefore God is totally justified by sending all of us to hell or our sin and rebellion. BUT..He provided A Way through Christ's blood.
both of their heads were down at this time
mc: do you think that lying is bad?
both: yes
mc: how about stealing?
both: ........yes
mc: how do you know that? where did you get that moral law?
guy2:....it had to have come from God.
mc: that's right. God gave you a conscience. you know right and wrong. God did that. this just proves that you need a Savior.
mc: you see that tree over there? that proves that there is something Bigger out there.
both of them agreed
mc: now which religion is right? you have Islam which tells you believe in allah and work your way. or Hinduism..just pick one of the 330 million gods. or Christianity which says that God did everything for you just repent and believe in Him and He will put a desire in you, He will grow you. God does it!
after that I shook their hands and told them I'd be praying for them. Oh I gave them the one tract that I had on me. the "What If" tract....
Please pray for "Ray" and "Sean"
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Stone to Flesh
I was once Your enemy as I stood before the Law.
Damned to condemnation due to the effect of the Fall.
Rebel, God hater, all burning within
lover of pleasure was the weight of my sin.
My heart so black so wicked unclean
Your wrath poured out was what I should glean
As coming Day in which You should judge
knowing that I would be bound in the Grudge
But by Your grace have I been saved
and by Your blood I am no longer a slave
The work You did to change my heart
from stone to flesh a work of art
The faith You gave the repentance You granted
is something that I could have never chanted
For that wrath oh in which you took
so that my name could be found in that Book
And to You who died and rose again
My love is due until the end.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Goin' Back to the Roots: Faith in Christ and the Repentance of Sin
I've learned a lot since I first started to share my faith about 2 years ago. Things to say, things not to say. Having a street-side debate on creation and the big bang theory with a drunk 25 year old woman. (By God's grace, He sobered her up to hear the Gospel) Long talks about the antichirst, end times, and all the problems with America. (Which actually all can be turned back to the Gospel) Getting the cops called on you and them threating to arrest us. (Which lead to me getting pulled over for the first time and the cops saying they were sorry they made the threat)
I could go on with times I've talked to people. I honestly think that every Christian should do that. I've learned so much about people, and how they act just by handing them a tract or just sparking a convo about God. I don't feel as if Christians need a "Sudden Passion" or "Divine Calling" to talk about the Gospel...I think we should be able to talk about Jesus..the One that saved us. As Mark Cahill said "We GET to share the Good News!" I know for me, it was hard to start a convo, but in the end I'm glad God gave me the words to speak. As I've heard over and over again..."just open your mouth."
There is no way I can boast in myself about the times I've witness or the talks I've had with people because I didn't do anything except for open my mouth. God has promised us that He would speak through us. I just want to encourage you and myself with the truths that God has in His Word about salvation and some keys to witnessing. I don't claim to know a lot about witnessing but I do know Jesus Christ and him crucified. (1Co 2:2)
Faith in Christ:
Joh 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
Mar 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Rom 4:5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
Rom 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
These are real verses! As Romans 10:17 says faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Which means....we must witness. If people are saved by faith, and faith comes by hearing the Word, we must proclaim the Word so people can receive that faith and put it in Christ. I use to down play faith. I didn't express it while I was witness, but after reading the NT, I've come to find out that everything done in the Christian life has to be done by faith. Meaning that the faith in Christ that we have in very important, and we must share with people that faith in Christ is important.
Repentance of Sin:
Luk 13:3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Mar 6:12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.
Act 3:19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,
Act 17:30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
Rev 16:9 They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.
The other thing needed to be expressed in witnessing is the need of repentance of sin. Even in my Christian life, I've learned that repentance is key. Some people may take this to be the whole "turn or burn" style of preaching or witnessing. Which, in fact, with an honest heart...yes that is what it is. I may not say it, but I sure do mean it. I do preach it with grace though. Not trying to be harsh, even though it may come across that way. But the need is there. Repent of sin. Turn from it and live. This came to life for me as I was saved. All I knew was sin and evil. But God allows me to turn from my sin and believe the Gospel. I didn't have to sin anymore! I didn't have to go to Hell! God commands us to repent from sin and put our faith in Christ.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Goin' Back to the Roots: Thoughts of the Weekend
This weekend, let me tell you was great! Spending time with mom and dad, swimming with Amanda, listening to Kenneth preach what I thought was a great sermon, hanging out with Melissa's family, and of course spending time with her as well! I honestly can't wait to be back in Mabank and be around the lake. My desire to be back down there was sparked by something Kenneth said. I'm going to parapharse it, but here we go. In his sermon, he was speaking about Paul in Acts 21 and 22. He mentioned that Paul lived among these people, they knew his old life. But as he gave his defense, Paul made it very clear that he was a changed man.
Kenneth brought up a good point being that for so of us, we live among the same people who knew us in our old lives. Who all they ever knew was the old man. But now since we are saved, we need to live a totally new life. A life in Christ!
For me, I lived among the people of Mabank. People knew me as I once was (you can ask Melissa) but by God's mercy and grace, He saved me! He saved me...
Now, just as Paul, I can make my defense and say that God has worked through my life and change who I am. God did it, not me.
Tonight, many Mabank High School students just graduated. Some know where they are going, some don't. Others don't care, and others..well are just glad they made it this far. I remember that. I knew what I was suppose to do. God told me. I was called to live like Christ and tell people about Him. This is what I'm still called to do. He has provided me with a wonderful family. An encouraging best friend Melissa. A supportive church family, and most of all I have the Holy Spirit. He does all things well!
As I was driving home yesterday from Melissa's house, I crossed a bridge. It's a good size bridge in length. As I drove, I watched the sun fall behind the trees and rays of light peered upon the open face of the lake. I missed that so much. But then I realized that only about 5 miles down the road lies one of the darkness places on the lake. People who don't know Jesus. The "unchurched people". But watching the sun fall, God gave me hope that He is in control of all things. He is in control of all the ones who graduated, the drug addicts, unsaved church-goer, and everyone else around the lake. He put on my heart to pray for revival around the lake. Going back to the roots of Truth, and telling people about the Risen Christ!
As I heard this weekend, open your mouth and let people know about Christ. The Christ of the Bible.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Old Paths Combined With New Roads Make Up My Life
I'm sitting here...alone...in the dark...without any noise, well except for the washer and dryer. But anyway, soooo I've been thinking about some things.
As some of you may know, I've been going through some struggles these past couple of months. I've had some questions, issues, and etc come up in my life and it really brought me down in my faith. But as God's word says, He causes us to walk in His ways, He came and started working, and revealing sin in my life. As God being the loving One He is, He allowed me to repent. But here are some things that have help me grow closer to Him.
Mat 5:1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
Mat 5:2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
Mat 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Mat 5:5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Mat 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Mat 5:7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Mat 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Mat 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Mat 5:10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Mat 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
Mat 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Mat 5:15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
Mat 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Here are some passages that have helped me out along the way. Also some other things the Lord has used to help me.
God has once again used the book One Thing You Can't Do in Heaven by Mark Cahill. Along with Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper.
Getting hammered by Paul Washer.
God has also showed me the need to be urgent in my prayers and have faith that in all things He will be glorified!
Knowing that I have the Holy Spirit indwelling. That is all the power I need to walk in this world.
Picking up my old study Bible. The first Bible I actually read after I was born again.
Reading the Way of the Master website.
Praying for the mission field and believing that God will make His name great among the nations.
Something struck me as I was looking at myself and wondering why I felt so dry and weak over the past couple of months. I was trying to think up new ways to serve and worship God. I'm not going to go into detail but in a sense, the things were not me. I know I have grown so much in love and grace but I missed so much about thinking about things that really didn't matter. Trying to look for the things that would work for "me and my personal walk" with Him and not really looking into the Word to find out.
"Even though we may think something might work, we should do what is right, even if it works or not."
- Paul Washer
For me...that is so true. I was trying to find things that worked instead of doing what is right. Right being to repent, forsake sin, love others, and live like Christ. I wanted to love others, and be like Christ. But I couldn't do it unless I repented.
So my point is this, I've learned so much about love and grace. Becoming more mature as a young man, but I forget that I must be like Christ and hate sin. In a sense I'm reverting back to who I was, but in a totally difference sense, I'm becoming more and more like Christ. Amen!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Random Words That Help Clear My Mind
Oh you, why don't you long?
Do you not see the Hope within? That burning flame that point towards...
Can you not bear the pain inside, or live to see the Love that died?
It seems to me that you don't care, oh sweet is the shame that forever tears.
Your life so, let's just say...wasted in your pride and lies. You claim the Name but don't know why.
Well I can say is you're
Lost...
...in what you may ask? In that drink maybe sitting in your glass? Or how about the money you make, that seems to block your mind one frame at a time? Even better, the lies that spill from your mouth, turning the truth into doubt, false into real things that can never come about. Have you taken anything from your friend, mother, daddy? How about looking upon a guy, or girl which ever one you like, just so you could spend some "time" alone in the night? The only thing I can say is that you just don't know the....
Truth, that was, is, forever, Truth, always there, unchanging, Truth.
From grace He came to pay the ransom that no one else can exchange. He is the only One that can be proclaimed to be King over all. He suffered, died, but oh wait there is more, Him rose from the dead so man could live, live forever and not die anymore.
Believe, and turn away from the things I named. The shame, pain, and things will remain until you place your faith in the One who will never change. He is the only One, no one else. He is the name above all names!
Jesus Christ...
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Why Does Such a World Exist, and Where is God?
In the wake of the cyclones, earthquakes, terrorism, and evil in this world I thought I would post these words from John Piper.
you can find the sermon called Where is God at
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2005/223_Where_Is_God
I think he does a great job of explaining this issue.
Why Does Such a World Exist?
So we ask: Why, Lord? Why is the world you made like this? If you are God—if you are the Christ the Son of the living God—why is this world so full of terror and trouble?
Here is what I believe the Bible teaches in answer to this question. I will give two answers that are not the reason such a world exists, and then four answers that are the reasons such world exists. I deal with each very briefly and point you to the Scriptures where you can search God’s word for yourself.
1. The reason this terrorized and troubled world exists is not because God is not in total control.
The Bible is overwhelmingly clear that God governs everything in the universe from the smallest bird to the largest storm. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father” (Matthew 10:29). “Even winds and sea obey him” (Matthew 8:27). “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord” (Proverbs 16:33). “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will” (Proverbs 21:1). “Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?” (Lamentations 3:37). “Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it?” (Amos 3:6). “He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him” (Mark 1:27). “I am God, and there is none like me . . . saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose’” (Isaiah 46:9-10).
There is no person or being in the universe that can thwart the sovereign will of God. Satan is his most powerful enemy and does much evil in the world, but he must first get God’s permission, and none of his actions is outside God’s governance. He never breaks free from his leash (Luke 22:31; Job 2:6-7; 42:11).
2. The reason this terrorized and troubled world exists is not because God is evil or unjust.
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). “Good and upright is the Lord” (Psalm 25:8) The angels cry before God day and night, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:3). And when he does things that seem evil to us, the Bible teaches us to speak to man like this: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). God is not evil, even when he wills that evil come to pass. There are good and holy and just purposes in all he does. For those who love him he “works all things together for good” (Romans 8:28). Now and forever.
Now the four positive reasons why this world exists.
1.The reason this terrorized and troubled world exists is because God planned the history of redemption and then permitted sin to enter the world through our first parents, Adam and Eve.
In 2 Timothy 1:9 the apostle Paul said, “[God] saved us and called us toa holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.” In other words, before there was any world or any sin in the world, God planned saving grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That means that God knew Adam would sin. He was already planning how he would save us.
Therefore Adam’s sin was part of God’s plan so that God could reveal his mercy and grace and justice and wrath and patience and wisdom in ways that could have never been revealed, if there were no sin and no Savior and no history of salvation. God’s aim for this fallen world is that he be known more fully, because knowing God most fully is what it means for us to be most fully loved. If you turn to Christ, you will discover in God more wonders in this fallen world than could be imagined in any other world.
2.The reason this terrorized and troubled world exists is because God subjected the natural world to futility. That is, God put the natural world under a curse so that the physical horrors we see around us in diseases and calamities would become a vivid picture of how horrible sin is. In other words, natural evil is a signpost pointing to the horrors of moral evil.
Before I say another word, hear this word of clarification: some of the sweetest, most humble, godly, Christ-exalting, heaven-bound people carry some of those signs. Listen to Romans 8:18-21:
The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
In other words, God subjected the creation to futility and bondage to decay and misery and death. He disordered the natural world because of the disorder of the moral and spiritual world—that is because of sin. In our present condition blinded by sin and dishonoring God every day, we cannot see how repugnant sin is. Hardly anyone in the world feels the horror that our sin is. Physical pain we feel! And so it becomes God’s trumpet blast to tell us that something is dreadfully wrong in the world. Diseases and deformities are God’s portraits of what sin is like in the spiritual realm. That is true even though some of the most godly people bear those deformities. Calamities are God’s previews of what sin deserves and will one day receive in judgment a thousand times worse. They are warnings. And that is true even when they sweep away Christ-followers and Christ-rejectors.
Oh, that we could all see and feel how repugnant, how offensive, how abominable it is to blackball our Maker, to ignore him and distrust him and demean him and give him less attention in our hearts than we do the carpet on our living room floor. We must see this, or we will not turn to Christ for salvation from sin. Therefore, God mercifully shouts to us in our sicknesses and pain and calamities: Wake up! Sin is like this! Sin leads to things like this. (See Revelation 9:20; 16:9, 11.) The natural world is shot through with horrors to wake us from the dreamworld of thinking sin is no big deal. It is a horrifically big deal.
3. The reason this terrorized and troubled world exists is so that followers of Christ can experience and display that no pleasure and no treasure compares to knowing Christ. That is, the loss of every good thing in this world is meant to reveal that Christ himself more than compensates for all losses.
We see it in the New Testament and the Old Testament. The apostle Paul says, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8). The superior worth of Christ is magnified because in all Paul’s losses, he experiences Christ as all-satisfying.
The prophet Habakkuk said it with amazing and painful beauty:
Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. (Habakkuk 3:17-18)
Famines, pestilence, persecution—these happen so that the world might see in the followers of Jesus and discover for themselves that God made us for himself and that he is our “exceeding joy” (Psalm 43:4) and at his right hand are pleasures for every more (Psalm 16:11). The losses of life are meant to wean us off the poisonous pleasures of the world and lure us to Christ our everlasting joy.
4. Finally, the reason this terrorized and troubled world exists is to make a place for Jesus Christ the Son of God to suffer and die for our sins. The reason there is terror is so that Christ would be terrorized. The reason there is trouble is so that Christ could be troubled. The reason there is pain is so that Christ could feel pain. This is the world God prepared for the suffering and death of his Son. This is the world where God made the best display of his love in the suffering of his Son.
Romans 5:8, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” All his suffering was the plan of God to reveal redeeming love to us. The sovereignty of God, the evil of the world, and the love of God meet at the cross of Christ. Listen to this amazing statement from Acts 4:27-28 about God’s plan for the suffering of his Son—for you! “Truly in this city [Jerusalem] there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.” All the scheming, all the flogging, all the spitting, all the beating with rods, all the mockery, all the abandonment by his friends, all the thorns in his head, all the nails in his hands and feet, the sword in his side, weight of the sins of the world—all of it according to God’s plan. For you to see God’s love more graphically.
God’s deepest answer to terrorism and calamity is the suffering and death of his Son. He entered into our fallen world of sin and misery and death. He bore in himself the cause of it all—sin. And he bought by his death the cure for it all—forgiveness and everlasting joy in the age to come.
On his behalf I invite—I urge—you to receive him as your Savior and Lord and the supreme Treasure of your life.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Jaya Deva Narahari!
Jaya Dev
Sanskrit words by Brahmabandhab Upadhyay
Music by Chris Hale and Peter Hicks
Upachita-chirachin-mukurita pratibimbita
You, who are the blossoming of abundant, eternal knowledge, the reflected one
Brahma-paraatpara-roopa
Form of the infinite, highest of the high
Kanaka-kumaari-baalaka bhava-chaalaka
You, who are the child of the golden virgin, yet ruler of the universe
Nirguna-gunaabhiraama, Nirguna-gunaabhiraama
Full of delightful qualities yet beyond comprehension
Jaya Deva, Jaya Deva, Narahari, Narahari
Victory to God, Victory to God, the man-God
Pandita-mandala-mandana bhaya-khandana
You, who are the radiant gem in the assembly of the pandits, destroying fear
Dandita-bhandana-bhoota
With a rod of rebuke, driving out the evil spirit
Aadhi-vyaadhi-vitaadana para-sevana
You, who dispel cares and destroy diseases, serving others,
Paavana-lilaa-khela, paavana-lilaa-khela, paavana-lilaa-khela
All your works shining with holiness
Vinivedita-nija-vedana bali-jeewana
You, who have offered yourself to suffer agony and dishonor,
the sacrifice of your life
Krita-kilbisha-visha-naasha
Destroying the poison of evil within
Lalita-dayita-hrid-ranjana nayana-anjana
Desired one, beloved, delight of the heart, soothing ointment for straining eyes
Sudalita kaala-karaala, kaala-karaala, kaala-karaala
Victorious crusher of fierce death!
Narahari was introduced as a title for Christ by Brahmabandhab Upadhyay (1861-1907) in 1901. The title first appeared in a Sanskrit stotra by Upadhyay, where he describes how God reveals his love to us by becoming fully human while at the same time remaining independent and free of his creation. Upadhyay was always searching for words that sprung from the soil of India that could be used to describe various aspects of God's nature. Nara-hari means, "man-God." For more information on Upadhyay, read Julius Lipner's, "Brahmabandhab Upadhyay: The Life and Thought of a Revolutionary."
Now I know that you will look at this and wonder "What is he listening to?" Well, all I can say is that this music is beautiful (http://www.aradhnamusic.com/)
I've been praying that the Lord would bring me into a state of consist worship to Him. Not just the the mornings or evenings but all day everyday. Slowly, He has been doing this.
I put these lyrics up here to show, and make a point. My question is..What is worship? Is it music? Lyrics? Actions?
To a lot of Christians you mention worship and they automatically think "Worship Service." Is that what worship really is? Just a service? A one time thing we do for maybe 30 mins?
(Romans 12:1 NASB) Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, {which is} your spiritual service of worship.
(Romans 12:1 NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
My point here is to show that these two version of Romans 12:1 have to be the same. I'm not a student of greek but from what I can tell is that your "spiritual service of worship, and your "reasonable service" have to be the same. I think service and worship both come from the same greek root of latreuĊ.
but anyway....so worship is our service! It is an everyday thing! YEA!!!
I know that going over to India and to see a "worship service" was a blessing. But they lived it out everyday.
Well I was just thinking about this and thought it might encourage you to worship Narahari!
Friday, May 2, 2008
Looking At Things...From a Different Set of Eyes
Photo by Elisabeth Kirkwood
God is slowly but surely making my heart soft. I'm really not the tough, manly man most people think I am. (or the lack there of). I was reading a while ago stories of missionaries and childern that without a doubt broke my heart. So I would like to share a few things that really effect me and stir my heart. Then top it off with a question. There things I'm listing really dont have to do anything with the question, but it may build up to it.
Hearing stories of kids walking into their schools and murdering their class mates.
Reading about a husband/wife losing their life long best friend.
Looking at pictures of childern laying on a sidewalk to die.
Knowing that most western Christian ministries fight each other.
Watching the "adopt a pet" ads on T.V. Yes really, no joke. God loves animals too!
Hearing stories about soldiers laying down their lives for...me and my freedom.
Pretty much any Christian martyr story.
Watching the rain fall on people walking in nice clothes.
These are just a few. There are more, but no need to name them. Now aside from adopt a pet ads, the one of western Christian ministries fighting each other really hurts me. I serve at a ministry and I happen to work in the area of getting events for us to serve at, to promote the ministry and work God is allowing us to do. I have to deal with other ministries telling us we can not put this or that material out, or we can not put child sponsorship packets on the table because they are the only ones that can do that. Or even better than that, ministries telling lies about other ministries. What a whole bunch of backstabbing people! It really upsets me to know that God has given us a duty to carry out the greatest honor on earth, namely preaching the gospel to the ends of the world, but ministries fight and lie just so they can get there way.
I'm reading the book Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper. He mentions in his book that the goal of missions is the gladness of peoples in the greatness of God. I fully believe that! That is the aim. We have the money, time, chance, to see millions saved but yet we have to make sure your doctrinal statement lines up, can't be to Charismatic or Reformed, make sure everything is pretty, "i's" dotted, make sure you have a back up plan just in case you can't fulfil the Great Commission, make sure that western Christians are the ones leading the teaching (cause remember western Christians know best). Now I know, someone is going to read this and get upset or mad at me and say that these things matter. To some manner of reason...maybe. How about this question...How will they hear? Not how can we reach them. Who is we? Usually when we say that, we is actually the westerns. I don't mean to sound harsh or judgmental, which I know some people will view it this way but let's grew up and glorify God. We punch and kick when millions of people are going to hell. Now I'm not saying native missions is the only way, and there is no place for western missionaries. I'm saying ministries need to open their spiritually blinded eyes and reach the world...as a Body. The Body of Christ. We are all an arm, leg, finger, let's do it together!
Now I understand that in Acts it talks about Paul and Barnabas parting from each other. Yes we all have a hang ups of different doctrines. It is a hard thing to work along side of a Calvinist when you don't believe you didn't have a choice, or a Charismatic guy when you really don't understand fully what the baptism of the Holy Spirit is. I get that. But, I highly doubt Paul told lies about Barnabas or didn't love him as a brother just because he wanted to take John Mark along on the trip.
Please read this carefully and think long and hard about it...
Think about a little girl. 12 years old, living in India. Beautiful brown skin, dark brown eyes. She has nice clothes and her daddy loves her. Her family is wealthy. She actually goes to school and is smart. She doesn't know Jesus. She is fed nice rice with chicken every day. She can sing very well. She plays with her friends at the time, because that is her favorite thing to do. She loves life....
Now...
Think about another little girl. 12 years old, living in India. Her skin is rough, and her eyes have dark rings under them. She has one shirt, and a skirt. Her daddy sells her body so he can buy drugs. She is a Dalit, or untouchable. She can't spell her name, and for the most part doesn't know it half the time. She doesn't know Jesus. She finds food that has been chewed by a dog. She has a beautiful voice. She has no friends. She doesn't have a clue about anything better.
now my question...how will they hear the Gospel?
You know what the shame is? That God has given us a chance to reach both of these little girls, but we fail, because we just can't get along. Both of these girls are lost and going to hell. It doesn't matter where they are, who they are, what they do. How will they hear about Jesus? I really don't care if you hold strong to the soverenigty of God, or even if you think the choice is up to man. That really doesn't matter. The Gospel has to go forth.
Think about those girls....what do they think? They don't know the truth. They don't know about missions and all the plans western Christians come up with. They don't know doctrine or theology.
Try looking out from their eyes....
Here are some good reads
Come, Let's Reach the World by K.P. Yohannan
Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper
Revolution is World Missions by K.P. Yohannan
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