Category: Evangelism

Devotional thought for Today – 10/26/2020

 

Jesus, Friend of Sinners: But How?

Luke 19:1-10

Sinners at the Table

Think of the most untrustworthy people in today’s society, and you have the image of  Zacchaeus, back in Jesus time. He was a chief tax collector,  was rich and that made him the most unliked of individuals. 

Jesus had no issue with sinners like Zacchaeus, in fact as v.10 points out it was His very reason for coming to earth. Yet so many evangelicals today from upon or look down upon those wrapped up in sin.  Here let us look at one group. 

When I was a kid we used to joke that used car salesmen were the most unreliable folks around, you NEVER trusted them. Today I would say it’s politicians. As crazy as that seems considering they are ELECTED representatives, they are also disliked and distrusted by the majority of folks. 

 So what can you an average citizen do? Be active, first and foremost vote, they are elected after all.  Second get involved be more like Jesus and go to meet and greets, or invite them to your local neighborhood gatherings to break bread. Get to know them and let them get to know you and how you feel about issues.  

Many need to be educated (nicely) about on the matters that mean so much to us as Christians.  Certainly we want to be a light, by not gossiping and spreading rumors, by pointing out and encouraging them to do their jobs in a biblical manner.

This is our duty, as Jesus points out in v.10 –  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. A remarkable expression-not ‘them,’ but ‘that’ which was lost [ to (Greek #3588) apoloolos (Greek #622)]; that is, the mass of lost sinners. Zaccheus was simply one such; and in saving him, Jesus says He was not going out of His way, but just doing His proper work. He even explains why He waited not for Zaccheus to apply to Him; because, says He, ‘My business is to seek as well as save such.’ Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible – Unabridged

Devotional Thought for Today – 10/20/2020

Sermon / Sept 11, 2016 / Luke 15:1-10 / Lost & Found / Pastor Terry Defoe

LUKE 15

In Luke 15 we find three different parables where Jesus is teaching the Pharisees and Scribes a life lesson. That lesson is simply that God cares about all people. 

He begins with v.3–7 the first parable concerning a stray sheep. Think of the effort put into looking for one lost sheep from the large flock that is still before a shepard. 

The second parable v.8-10 concerns a lost coin. For some today we think loose change, but in context this could be a months or more wages. So the women diligently searches until it is found. 

The final parable v.11-32 is one of the most famous in the Bible.  Commonly entitled The Prodigal Son this one tells not so much of a lost in the sense of the other two, but a wayward son who comes back to his family. 

What is the common thread among each parable, rejoicing, at each occasion of finding the lost, sheep, coin, son; the person rejoices at their gain. So too as Jesus says in verse 10; Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Is God through His Holy Spirit tugging at your heart today. Have you heard the Good News, the TRUE GOSPEL message, unfeigned (not watered down) of eternal life in Christ but need more. If this is you, I encourage you to seek a Biblical based pastor, Chaplain or reach out to us here at FSM with your questions. 

 

 

5 Questions about Homosexuality

5 Questions about Homosexuality

Kevin DeYoung

Q. – If the Bible says so little about homosexuality, why do Christians insist on talking about it so much?

A. – The reason the Bible says comparatively little about homosexuality is because it was a comparatively uncontroversial sin among ancient Jews and Christians…

READ MORE

Devotional Thought – 10-13-2020

Logos.com

AMP and RVR 1960

There are three types of “Christians” in the world. You are probably thinking I have gone off my rocker but hear me out. If we take this one verse in context 2 Corinthians 6:14-18  I believe we can see them all. Paul tells us that Light (God and His chosen) can have no fellowship (union) with Darkness (Satan, sin and unbelief). 

The pretenders: Those who remain unequally bound together with unbelievers they try and live in both worlds and as Christ relates to John will be spit out Revelation 3:14-16 in the end. 

The Legalist: You know these folks they seperate from all things (except maybe nice cloths, cars, homes etc.) They do not smoke, drink, go to movies, dance, even their music is “appropriate” and are quick to condemn anyone who does not comply. They believe what they believe and everyone else be damned.

The Pilgrim: Those who understand that all are sinners saved by Grace. That all “worldly” things are bad for us, and even those that we can participate in should never be done in excess. We are pilgrims or sojourners and exiles (1 Peter 2:11) and as such our focus must always be on the eternal not the temporal. 

One last note you can not evangelize if you stay locked in your church, home etc. you have to go out into the world, that is the nature of the Great Commission.  Nowhere does God tell us to bring the world into the church, He calls us to go into the world. We must do so with caution and being well prepared. 

Saturday’s Military Devotional – Instructed

20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. 21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand. Proverbs 19:20-21

AMP and RVR 1960

CONTEXT: 

If you can remember back to boot camp you have to remember getting off the bus and being SCREAMED at by some Drill Sergeant barking out instructions so fast you had no clue what they said or what to do. 

There was a method and reason to their madness that I did not understand until I had nearly finished Basic Training.  Basically we need to react under pressure under stress of combat and since shooting recruits would not be advisable (or legal 🙂 ) screaming like banshees is the next best thing. In order to insure a soldier does no harm to themselves or others one must learn to act in differing situations of stress. 

Here in our text the preceding v.19 has the same implication, an unwise man (here one who can not control his emotions) must learn the consequences of those actions otherwise he will repeat the mistake and cause himself and or others harm.  

BREAKDOWN:

20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. –  NO ONE, likes to be yelled at, told they are wrong, continually corrected.  Yet the bible is clear, God loves to “correct” that is “Instruct” his chosen and as Proverbs 12:1 says those who oppose God’s loving instruction are “Stupid.”

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible comments on this Those that would be wise in their latter end, must be taught and ruled when young.

21 There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand. –  What is it man longs for; wealth, fame, power?  All these things are the focus of a corrupt heart. Man can plan, scheme and conive all he wishes but to what end? God will always have the final say Psalm 33:10.  

APPLICATION: 

Just as recruits must be taught the ways of soldiering so too those who enter into God’s Army need learn His ways in order to fight the good fight. We cannot be afraid of being continual instruction, being rebuked and getting wise counsel. 

The Book of Psalms 1:1-6 begins with such an exhortation:

Blessed is the man[a]
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law[b] of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night. 

Today’s Questions:

 

Say What?

Observation: What did I read? What struck you as most meaningful?

So What?

Interpretation: What does it mean? Overall and the most meaningful? Did it change your view on INSTRUCTION? 

Now What?

Application: How does it apply to me?

Then What?

Implementation: What do I do? How can I start living it out today?

Daily Devotional – I AM GOD

11 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. 12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. Isaiah 43:11-12

AMP and RVR 1960

CONTEXT

Here in Chapter 43 of Isaiah we find God proclaiming Israel’s redemption v.1-7, then about Israel being witnesses to God’s redeeming salvation v.8-13.

Verse 10 sets up our text today: You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord,
“And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me
And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me. Israel (like all who come to Christ) are God’s chosen witnesses to Him being the great I AM 

BREAKDOWN

11 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. –   Again God repeat the affirmation that He is the great I AM of Exodus 3:15; then adds as a reminder that He is the (only) source of their salvation Exodus 6:6-7 , Exodus 14:13-14 

 12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. – 

God in past times (thing Abraham, Moses, Etc.) declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, that no other (strange) god’s help in my efforts to save Israel; 

Because of this (therefore) I call upon you to be witnesses to my greatness and glory to the ends of the earth declaring; that I am God.

APPLICATION: 

Many folks are AFRAID to share God’s word to be Witnesses for the Kingdom.  The Jesus, the Apostle Paul and Peter all  make it clear we should never be ashamed of sharing the Good News. 

As we noted yesterday Daily Devotional – A Light, this does not mean shoving our faith down someone’s throat but being ever ready to answer questions and share the pure Gospel as opportunities present themselves. 

If you are an Evangelist you openly and continually share the Gospel, that is what you have been called by God to do.  Most of us are not called to be Evangelists, but we are all called to be a witness  (Matthew 28-18-20) for the kingdom. 

So another simple question for today; are you prepared to Witness, to answer questions and share the pure Gospel as opportunities present themselves? 

Resources:

Evangelism vs. Witnessing
The Great I AM
What did Jesus mean when He said ‘I AM’?

John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress

Second only to the Bible in world publications Pilgrim’s Progress is a must read for “Christians” of all ages. – Mike

American Minute with Bill Federer

John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress – “The monster was hideous to behold…scales…wings like a dragon, feet like a bear…out of his belly came fire & smoke”

 

John Bunyan 

What would it be like to be imprisoned by your government for 12 years just for preaching the Gospel?¹

This was the fate of John Bunyan, author of the world renown book Pilgrim’s Progress.

 

READ MORE
Map of Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho along the state border with Washington, with a population of 23,800 at the 2010 census. The county seat and largest city of Latah County, Moscow is the home of the University of Idaho, the state’s land-grant institution and primary research university.Wikipedia

¹ = Think this could never happen in America; think again it already has. READ MORE

 

OTHER RESOURCES:

The Pilgrim’s Progress: A Guided Tour Teaching Series by Derek Thomas

Today in Church History  Author, John Bunyan

A Picture of a True Minister (from John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress)

See our Ministry Document and More Page

Daily Devotional – A Light

Logos.com

CSB and RVR 1960

CONTEXT:

Many today challenge the authorship of Isaiah son of Amoz as writer of the whole of this book. I would disagree citing two key factors, first his is the only name cited and second the consistent use of the phrasing  “the Holy One of Israel,”  throughout. 

The first 39 chapters are known as Book of Judgements as Isaiah lays out the judgement of God against the nations.  The remaining Chapters 40-66 are known as the Book of Comforts, here God lays out His plan for the hope and restoration of Israel and all the nations. 

In our Chapter 49, we have the beginning of the Servants call to Ministry.  As we see in v.5, God calls His servants from the womb, for a specific purpose (that Israel might be gathered to him). 

BREAKDOWN:

 And he said, – Reading other translations we see  this later in the verse, here in the KJV it is front and center, GOD is speaking, so pay attention. 

It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant – Okay (rhetorical) raise your hand how many think that their calling from God is a light (read simple, easy, undemanding ) thing.  Well God thinks so! 

to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: – God calls men for a specific purpose, if you think you want to serve God but say I do not know in what manner, PRAY, the Holy Spirit will show you the way.  Far to many head out to a “mission” field without God’s calling and fail, do not be counted among them. 

I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, – So if raising up the tribes of Jacob, and restoring the preserved of Israel was not enough of a challenge God tells Isaiah you will also be a light unto the Gentiles (those non-jews of his time and unsaved of the world today)

that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. – We know that Salvation is in no one except Christ, so God is not telling Isaiah the he will be salvation, but that through his actions people will a light that draws folks to Christ Acts 13:47.

APPLICATION:

BALNAM Patch – Mission:M25

The patch above is worn by all of us associated with Mission M25 Ministries. It means Be a Light not a Mouth, and while of course God expects us to speak he does not expect us to ram stuff down folks throat. 

Here in Isaiah God calls Isaiah to be a light unto the unsaved; that is be an example they want to emulate, be there for them in there time of need, be that person they can count on. God DOES NOT call Isaiah, stand on the corner and preach condemnation and scorn. 

Do not get me wrong there is a time and place to point out error and biblical unrighteousness, yet even that must be done with the light of Christ and God’s Grace shining brightly.  

So today’s question is simple; are you a Light or just a Mouth? 

News from the PERSECUTED CHURCH

Pray for the Persecuted Church

Remember those in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily Hebrews 13:3 (CSB)

Acordaos de los presos, como si estuvierais presos juntamente con ellos; y de los maltratados, como que también vosotros mismos estáis en el cuerpo RVR 1960

International Day of Prayer for persecuted Christians

This year’s International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians (IDOP), Sunday, Nov. 1, is fast approaching. Be among the first to watch The Voice of the Martyrs’ new IDOP video, Janette: Central African Republic.

Free IDOP Resources

The Voice of the Martyrs

Front-line workers in Vietnam

They Go Where We Can’t

Bao and Chi, a husband-and-wife team, work on the front lines of Christian ministry in Vietnam, training and discipling believers from 10 different tribes.

Authorities have arrested them numerous times, trying to end their ministry work in Vietnam’s rural areas. But each time they are released from jail, Bao and Chi get on their motorbikes and return to their work.

Bao and Chi are two of the more than 40,000 front-line workers The Voice of the Martyrs serves as they risk everything to share the gospel. We invite you to help equip these workers with the tools they need to advance God’s kingdom in restricted nations and hostile areas.

Support Front-Line Workers Today

Men driving motorbikes

Your support for those advancing God’s kingdom on the world’s most difficult and dangerous mission fields equips faithful workers with tools like these:

  • motorbikes that help evangelists increase their ministry outreach from one or two villages to 10 or more
  • outreach tools like DVDs, digital memory cards and solar-powered projectors to help Christian workers reach more people with the gospel in hostile areas and restricted nations
  • Retreats for pastors that provide training and encouragement as well as fellowship with others risking their lives to spread the gospel

When pastors, evangelists and other front-line workers receive these ministry tools, they are reminded that they are part of God’s global family and that they are not serving alone.

For Stories on the Persecuted Church Please Go to: icommitTOPRAY 

Barnabas Fund

Christian Newsline

News updates on the persecuted Church

The following stories and more can regularly be found updated at: barnabusfund.org/news

Chinese Communist Party rewrites Gospel story to depict Jesus Christ as “killer and sinner

China’s extreme surveillance, forced sterilization of non-atheists in camps “much worse” than Soviet gulags

Chinese Christian leader calls for prayer as surveillance pressure on Christians escalates

Indian Christians in “fear and shock” after extremists warn leave faith or die

Indian Christians beaten, humiliated, forced to chant Hindu affirmation in Jharkhand

Indian government freezes bank accounts forcing human rights charity to halt work

Pakistani Christian acquitted of “blasphemy” after six years on death row

Indonesia’s ban on Bible app contradicts religious tolerance philosophy of Pancasila

Prayer Focus Update October 2020

 

Daily Devotional – Seeking God

6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6

AMP and RVR 1960

CONTEXT:

As a immature Christian I remember reading  Romans 3:10–12  where Paul is quoting Psalm 14:2-3; at about the same time our Pastor was going through a study on the Book of Isaiah. When he go to our text I was thinking the bible contradicts itself right? 

Of course not! CONTEXT, is everything and in both cases the Lord being near is key. In Psalm 14 and Romans 3, He is looking upon man that is casting His gaze and influence over. In our text He is near enough to be found. 

There is no contradiction when it is God offering His mercy and Grace freely. 

BREAKDOWN: 

Seek ye the Lord – Not for blessings and favors but for redemption and Salvation

while he may be found – When can God be found?  The Holy Spirit convicts man of sin John 16:8 and as Romans 1 says all mankind are without excuse. 

call ye upon him – That is to cast ourselves as lowly sinners wholly upon His mercy and Grace. 

while he is near –  God is a patient and loving God, but like all Fathers will only put up with so much, He extends His generous offer of Grace for only so long before allowing us to go our own way Romans 1:18-32. 

APPLICATION:

When God calls we need to be ready to listen. Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:2  again quoting Isaiah, this time 49:8 says, this reconciliation to God has an expiration date, its a limited time offer. There is a time that is “favorable or acceptable” and we need be ready to take advantage of God’s offer on that Day.