Soldiers in the Army of God

Hard to believe another week has gone by. I left you with a challenge last week to make the most of every day and every opportunity to share your faith, because you can't turn back the hands of time. Every minute that passes is one you will never get back, so the challenge was to do the utmost in each moment for the Kingdom of God. The reason I continually bang the same old drum is because I know that if there is anything Satan does NOT want believers to do, it is to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to those he has in his grip, and he will do anything and everything he can to thwart the furtherance of the gospel.

As soon as you determine to open your mouth, all the flimsy excuses in the world will come flooding into your mind. Satan will seek to distract you, and if he fails at that, he will seek to discourage you, in a number of ways. He is quite content to leave you alone as long as you stay within the confines of your "christian circle" of friends. If you want to see all hell let loose against you, then determine and actually GO preach the gospel.

As a soldier of Jesus Christ, this is no surprise to us, and each attack comes as nothing new. Attacks from the enemy come with the territory when you are at war. We have been given the proper armor and been given our objectives, and the alarm of war has sounded. The battle is on. The only trouble is, many have not taken to the battlefield. They have received the orders from the Captain, but are not obeying them! They are busy enjoying all the benefits of being in the army, and studying the manual to learn as much as possible about warfare and the rules of engagement. They have regular meetings and parties at the barracks, which they spend large amounts of energy and resources on, while the battle rages on outside. They worship and adore their Captain, yet they do not do what he says!

Jesus said, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do no the things that I tell you?"

"Have you noticed how much praying for revival has been going on as of late - and how little revival has resulted? I believe the problem is that we have been trying to substitute praying for obeying, and it simply will not work. To pray for revival while ignoring the plain precept laid down in Scripture is to waste a lot of words and get nothing for our trouble. Prayer will become effective when we stop using it as a substitute for obedience." A.W. Tozer

"We Cristians too often substitute prayer for playing the game. Prayer is good; but when used as a substitute for obedience, it is nothing but blatant hypocrisy, a despicable Pharisaism... To your knees, man! And to your Bible! Decide at once! Don't hedge! Time flies! Cease your insults to God. Quit consutling with flesh and blood. Stop your lame, lying and cowardly excuses. Enlist!" C.T. Studd 1860-1931 British missionary who served in China, India, and Africa

I know that the reason most of us do not share our faith is because we suffer with the "Fear of Man" Syndrome. We are afraid of what people will think or say. Imagine this for a moment. If I was to offer you $1,000 for every person you witnessed to in the next 2 weeks, do you think you would be more zealous in your evangelism? Think about it --- $1,000 cash for every person you shared the gospel with for two whole weeks. How much money could you make in two weeks? You're thinking "YES!!! Break out the pillow cases, baby! We're going to the bank!" It sure would be nice if that were the case. $1,000 per person would make many of us instant evangelists indeed.

So now let me ask you: Can you deal with your "fear of man" problem for your love for money, when you can't deal with it for your love for God? It's challenging, isn't it? Listen, the Lord has rewards in heaven that will make you detest anything that money can buy. Jesus told us to build treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not corrupt. Where is your treasure?

We have so many motivating factors for preaching the gospel: compassion for the fate of the lost, to hear the words "Well done, good and faithful servant", rewards in the kingdom, the glory of God, etc. Won't you, at least for one of these, step out and obey the voice of your Captain and actively seek and save the lost by preaching the gospel to every creature? The Lord will not let you down when you obey him.

Until next week, ..... See you on the streets!!

Our Primary Objective, Part 2

Last week we were hit with the importance and the urgency of getting the gospel out to our friends and neighbors before its too late. Of course it would seem obvious that this should be the great and foremost issue in the mind of every believer. Its been well said that he who knows what he has been saved from will know what he has been saved for. How can we ignore the plight of the world around us? How could we smugly say to the world, " Go to hell; I'm saved and I don't care." In order to say that, one would have to have a heart of stone. Don't be like the seed that fell among thorns and let the cares of this life or the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and make it unfruitful in your life. Don't be like the rich man, fairing sumptuously every day on the riches of Bible study and fellowship while Lazarus lies starving at your gate.

Charles Spurgeon said, "She is a traitor to the Master who sent her if she is so beguiled by the beauties of taste and art as to forget that to 'preach Christ ... and Him crucified' is the only object for which she exists among the sons of men. The business of the Church is the salvation of souls."

Joseph Arlean, the great Puritan preacher said, "But from whence shall I fetch my argument? And with what shall I win them? I would write to them in tears! I would weep out every argument! I would empty my veins for ink... if only they would be prevailed upon to repent and turn."

Can you feel the passion in that man's heart for the lost? Does not your own heart burn within you as you read the emotion in his words? Can you also sense the urgency with which he preached the gospel? May we be as this man was, and have hearts so set ablaze by the Spirit of God, that we, too, would be able to say that we would "empty our veins for ink". How many of us have emptied a pen of ink to write to a loved one about the everlasting life we've found in Jesus Christ?

If we would just be more eternally minded it would really put things in perspective about our time here on this earth. Life is so short, and there is nothing we will be taking out of here, ...except people. Imagine you have a bank account that gets credited $86,400 every day. The only catch is that it does not carry over a balance from day to day - every evening it erases any part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? You would withdraw every penny, naturally. Each of us has such a bank. It's name is "time." Each morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds and each night it erases whatever part you didn't invest in good purposes. It carries no balance, and allows no overdrafts. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back, and no drawing against tomorrow. Invest it so you will get the utmost in God's will. The clock is running. Make the most of today.

Our Primary Objective

Our primary objective as members of the body of Christ is to bring the message of salvation to the rest of the world. We all have different gifts for use in building up and encouraging those already in the church, but we should not allow our zeal for service drown out the cry of the world around us as they sink into hell.

150,000 people die every day. Think for a moment about how many people that is. If we believe what Jesus said, that straight is the gait and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it, then most of those 150,000 people who will die today will be in hell. Do you care? Does your heart have enough compassion to do something about it? You have an incredible treasure in an earthen vessel. The gospel, inside of you, whether in the form of your own testimony or by preaching the words of everlasting life. Will you obey the voice of your Lord and preach the gospel to every creature? He spilled his blood and suffered for the payment of their sins. Will you reach out and pull them from the fire?

He could have used some other way to send the message across the earth, but he has ordained that through the foolishness of preaching he would save them that believe. He could have written it across the sky in big letters, or made it possible for us to see into heaven from earth, so that we wouldn't have foolish teachings like evolution or re-incarnation or other false religions. He could have written it inside our eyelids so that every time we close our eyes, we read the gospel. He could have used all sorts of other means to reach men and women with the truth, but he has chosen to use us. Are you being a true and faithful servant?

We've all seen the commercials on television where they go to some 3rd world country and exploit the suffering there in order to raise money for their organization. We've all had a sense of deep compassion as we've seen children suffering with hunger and nakedness and the pain on the mother's faces. These commercials raise millions of dollars. Brothers and sisters in Christ, let me ask you, how much worse a fate is it for one to end up in hell for an eternity? Forever and ever and ever in torment! The sad truth of the matter is that you don't have to travel to the ends of the earth to find a poor soul in this predicament. They are all around you, every day. Millions upon millions of them are spread out all over the globe and they are all headed moment by moment to the Day of Judgement when they will stand alone and naked before the throne of Almighty God and give an account of every detail of their lives. And if their names are not written in the Book of Life, they will be cast into the lake of fire and suffer the terrible consequences of their sins.

You and I hold the good news of forgiveness in Christ in our hands! We've already been told to take it to them. How can we sit idly by, enjoying fellowship and singing songs in the lifeboats while sinners are drowning all around us? Its been well said that the body of Christ is not a pleasure-cruiser sailing towards heaven, but a battleship stationed at the very gates of hell.

Oswald J Smith said, "Oh my friends, we are loaded down with countless church activities, while the real work of the church, that of evangelizing and winning the lost, is almost entirely neglected."

Charles Spurgeon said, "If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and un-prayed for."

"Save some, O Christians! By all means, save some. From yonder flames and outer darkness, and the weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, seek to save some! Let this, as in the case of the apostle, be your great, ruling object in life, that by all means you might save some." Charles Spurgeon

One last quote from the prince of preachers, "Brethren, do something, do something, do something! While societies and unions make constitiutions, let us win souls. I pray you, be men of action all of you. Get to work and quit yourselves like men. Old Suvarov's idea of war is mine: 'Forward and strike! No theory! Attack! Form a column! Charge bayonets! Plunge into the center of the enemy! ' Our one aim is to win souls; and this we are not to talk about, but to do in the power of God!"

Brothers and sisters, we are fighting an epic battle, and the objectives of our warfare are the souls of men. Please, for the sake of those around you, don't get so consumed with your own life that you forget the real reason you're still here.

See you on the streets!!

Union Gospel Mission, Tri-Cities

The Tri-Cities Union Gospel Mission is a great ministry where men, women, and families in crisis can find a place to stay while they get back on their feet. They provide meals, a place to sleep, showers, etc., but most importantly, they share the truth of the gospel with those who take shelter in this facility as they demonstrate the love of God through service. There are several programs the homeless can enroll in that are designed to help them clean up their lives and prepare them to find jobs, get a college education, receive job training, restoration of relationships, etc. Recently, Byron Brooks, administrator at the mission (pictured at far right), shared with me about an exciting new branch of the ministry that will extend their help to certain individuals who they are currently unable to facilitate. Some of the current programs include: providing life skills training, providing substance abuse support networks, providing financial accountability, discipleship training, providing affordable housing for program graduates, and working with local businesses to secure employment for program graduates.
Not everyone who stays at the mission is required to enroll in programs. The doors of the Mission are open to everyone, and all that is required to catch a meal or a night's sleep is to attend one of the two daily chapel services, which are at 12:30-1:00 p.m. and 7:30-8:30 p.m. Here is a picture of a typical lunch crowd. Usually there are 35-40 for lunch, and about 50-75 for the evening service. A few years back, when I first discovered this awesome ministry, I contacted the leadership at the mission and asked to be put on the schedule. They asked that I come down and answer a few questions first, (to make sure I wasn't a weirdo or a cult member). I met with Mark Heritage, who interviewed me for about 1/2 hour and he called me back within days and put me on a regular monthly speaking schedule. Praise the Lord!
Typically, we begin with a few worship songs, but unfortunately, I am only musically talented with maracas or tambourines, so it is usually sung accapella. Then we launch into the gospel message, and afterwards, we have a time of prayer for specific requests, as well as answering questions and giving Biblical counsel. We offer free Bibles to anyone in need of one as well. Here you can see a gentleman by the name of Laurence who was at the mission for a few days while making his way to Alaska to work on salmon harvests. Laurence got a bed to sleep in, food to eat, and more importantly, the gospel.
Over the years, we have seen a lot of faces come and go, which tells me that the mission is serving its purpose and also that there are many people who are hearing the message of eternal life as they get the help they need to get back on their feet. There are a lot of hurting people who not only need to be saved, but also to receive instruction on how to live life God's way.
Rob is a guy who is searching for answers and wanting to understand the truth of God's word as it applies to his life. He asked for prayer to know God's will and to have a better understanding of His word. It was a blessing to be able to offer him some Biblical counsel and pray for him.
It is a rare occasion that we don't give any Bibles or pray for anyone. There are almost always people who will approach us afterwards with questions or stories of how they got to this place and prayer requests.
Please pray for the Tri-Cities Union Gospel Mission. Pray for the Lord to continue pouring in the resources they need to operate, and for anointing on the staff and leadership, and for the truth of the message of the gospel to penetrate the hearts of those who hear it. And for us, as we continue to serve, that the Lord will give us wisdom to preach the gospel with clarity and simplicity, and to offer good, sound counsel from His word.
Please consider how you might support your local mission, either financially or by giving of your time and efforts to help those in need.

Sin: Transgression of the Law or Missing the Mark?

So which is it? When someone blows it and sins against God, were they transgressing the law, or were they merely missing the mark? Well, it depends upon the situation. It comes down to differentiating between what are commonly called sins of "omission" and sins of "commission". On one hand, the sinner was trying his best to do what's right and didn't cut it, and on the other hand, he knew full well what he was doing was wrong and yet did it anyway.
These two types of sin are clearly depicted in the life of king Saul. If you remember in 1Samuel 13, when the Philistines were about to close in on Saul and his troops in Gilgal, while Samuel tarried, the men of Israel were afraid to the point of trembling and king Saul became impatient and made burnt offerings to the Lord, which was in disobedience to what the Lord had commanded. When Samuel did arrive, it was then that he pronounced the judgement of God on Saul for his sin. But Saul thought he was doing the right thing! He was offering to the Lord before the battle, but he didn't do it right, and God judged him for it. A sin of omission.
Then at a later time, the Philistines again arrayed themselves before Israel for battle, and Saul was so afraid "his heart greatly trembled". (1Samuel 28) By now Samuel was dead, and the Lord did not give an answer to Saul through the prophets, so he sought out a woman who had a familiar spirit. He went to the witch of Endor to find counsel. Here Saul knew what was right or wrong, and deliberately crossed the line and sinned against God. A sin of commission.
Sins of commission are like having a line drawn in the sand and stepping over it anyhow. Sins like, lying, theft, adultery, murder, gossip, envy, doubt, coveteousness, blasphemy, and idolatry. We all know these things are wrong and yet we do them anyhow.
When sharing the gospel with unbelievers, I usually don't spend too much time discussing sins of omission. Here's why: We've all heard the analogy of an archer shooting at a target, but missing the bullzeye, and this is "missing the mark", or "sin". This is a very poor analogy to use because it paints the picture that the sinner is trying his best to live right but just can't do it. In other words, he's not a bad person, he just needs someone to help him with the little he's lacking. Using this analogy to refer to his sins as "missing the mark" does nothing in terms of leading him to repentance because you're telling him he's already trying hard enough. It totally defuses the seriousness of sin. This also makes God look unjust for sending sinners to hell when they were doing their best to do what he says. Although we have all committed sins of omission, and missed the mark in that sense, it is more of a loss to the sinner rather than a gain to soften the blow by avoiding more obvious sin.
I know its hard not to let the fear of man get to us when sharing the truth of the gospel. Its hard to talk about sin and judgement, because we are afraid of how people will respond, but it is absolutely necessary in order for someone to understand the gospel. But what is the gospel? In a nutshell, we've sinned against God and deserve his wrath, but because of his love for us, he sent his Son to live and die for us so that all who will repent and put their trust in Him will have forgiveness of sins. What is more likely to make this good news good? Telling someone they are trying really hard but just need a little lift? Or gently and lovingly showing the sinner the enormity of his crimes? Once a person comes face to face with their sin and realizes that the judgement of God is just, then the blood of Jesus is something they will cling to for a lifetime.
They don't bail out on the Lord when times get tough. They didn't come to him for a better lifestyle, or to try something different. they came because they have sinned against God, and they need the blood of Jesus to cleanse them from sin. They don't wak away from him when they lose their job, or when their spouse fails them, or when they are tempted, or when the bank takes the house. No! These things only make them cling tighter to the Lord and even look forward to getting out of here.
So, boys and girls, don't be afraid to bring up the hard subjects. When witnessing, don't just gloss over the seriousness of sin, but show the person their great need of the Saviour. They will thank you for telling them the truth, because they sure aren't hearing it from many sources these days. The Lord will honor you for preaching the whole counsel of God. Don't you want to stand before him and hear "Well done, good and faithful servant"? Be faithful to proclaim the whole truth. Do it for the glory of God!