Saturday, May 28, 2016

Remmenber Missionaries

9. Part Two
Pray in accordance with 1 Timothy 2:1-4 for the salvation
of all unsaved persons in governmental office, that the Gospel
may have free course in our nation. Pray that our leaders may 
begin to recognize their own inadequacy to solve the problems
of the world (Psalm 9:20), that they might look beyond themselves
and see their need of the Savior. Your own prayers on behalf of
missionaries allow you to enter into their ministry and help pave
the way before them. Therefore, never underestimate the power
of prayer in witnessing!

Everyone who thus HOPES in Him purifies himself as He is PURE.
1 John 3:3

Friday, May 27, 2016

No Cliches

9. Part One
Do Not Be Confused
in your prayer life! Don't be bound by such epigrams as 
"Talk to God about the unbeliever before you talk to the
unbeliever about God." Since God supplies your contacts,
and since He is omniscient, just fire away with Gospel
information and forget the cliches!

Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we HOPE in You.
Ps. 33:22

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Carnality

8. Do Not Brag
about your experiences in witnessing! Testimonies about 
personal witnessing efforts often reflect pride and constitute
occupational hazards in the Christian's life. Avoid "bragamonies"
the Lord  knows what you are doing, and that is all that is necessary!
He will reward you accordingly!

"CARNALITY"
The state in which the old sin nature controls the life of the 
believer; grieving and/or quenching the Holy Spirit.

HOPE is the raw material from which faith build the house
By Rex Rouis

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Be Accountable For Your On Life

7. Do Not Judge
other believers for their apparent failure to witness!
Whether or not they witness is between them and the
Lord; you are accountable for your own life, not for
the lives of others! Such judging only brings divine 
discipline upon you. If you judge or malign others, 
you are out of line. Besides, you have no way of really
knowing whether they are witnessing for Christ unless 
they brag about it; then they are out of line.

I pray that the eyes of your heart maybe enlightened in order
that you may know the HOPE to which He has called you.
Eph. 1:18

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

It Will Not Come Back Void

6. Do Not Measure
Your spiritual life by your witnessing! A person is not
spiritual because he speaks to ten or twenty persons
every day. The effectiveness resides in the Word of
God, which states that ----"it shall not return unto me [God]
void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall 
prosper in the thing whereto I sent it''
(Isa. 55:11)

The HOPE of those who are right with God is Joy
Prov.10:28

Monday, May 23, 2016

No Vows

5. Do not set Quotas
It is not mandatory that you speak to a specific number
of persons every day about Jesus Christ. This is a false
standard for spirituality sponsored by many Bible institutes.
Never permit yourself to be inveigled into taking a vow such  
as, "Before God, I will speak to ten souls every day" If God
insisted on quotas and vows, this would be declared in His
Word! Simply witness whenever the Lord provides the opening.

A better HOPE is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
Heb. 7:19

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Be Personal

Do Not Embarrass People

4. Deal with the individual alone whenever possible.
Witnessing to one person in public often produces
embarrassment, loss of prestige, annoyance. If this
is the case, the people you seek to reach for Christ
 may turn you off completely, and you may never have
another opportunity to reach them. Remember that
personal evangelism is exactly that--personal!
 
 
What oxygen is to the lungs, such is HOPE to the meaning of life.
 Emil Brunner
 
 
 
 

Friday, May 20, 2016

Your IQ Is Not An Issue

3. Do You Get In A Rut

Different approaches to the subject of the Gospel are 
necessary to reach different people. Be flexible! What
may be effective with one person may be a total failure
with another. Your own IQ or that of your listener is not
an issue, nor is it vital that you understand Judaism to
witness to a Jew or physics to speak to a scientist about
Christ. Knowledge of Bible doctrine is the answer, for your
flexibility comes with spiritual maturity.


Everything that is done in the world is done by HOPE.
Martin Luther

The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to 
Him and are safe.
Prov. 18:10

Thursday, May 19, 2016

False Issues

Do Not Allow
2. Yourself to be sidetracked by false issues!
Stick to the subject! Don't be drawn into a debate
concerning the authenticity of the Word of God,
heathenism, living a good life or social problems. 

Set your HOPE fully on the grace to be given you
when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 1:13

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Just Provide Information

Pitfalls In Witnessing
While there are no set rules for effective witnessing.
there are a number of pitfalls or postulates in witnessing;
these should be examined and avoided.

1. Do not argue!

You may win the argument but not the soul of the unbeliever.
Your responsibility is to provide information, not to win a 
debate. Present the Gospel, but never dispute its validity.
Leave the rest with the Holy Spirit, whose function it is to
make the Gospel a reality.

The Lord is my portion---Therefore I HOPE in Him!
Lam. 3:24

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

So True Even Today

Thessalonians
 Soon after they accepted Christ and organized as a church,
they began to experience pressure. Opposition came from
the Roman Empire, the Jews and the heathen fraternities in
their vicinity. They suffered intense persecution from these
groups; however, because the Thessalonians were properly
indoctrinated, they stabilized and received blessing in their 
suffering. While it is true that  the Christian life  is a life of
fantastic privileges and blessings, the Lord warned us that
sooner or later we would face pressures from the world.
(John 16:33)

He who has health, has HOPE. And he who has HOPE has everything.
-Proverb-

Monday, May 16, 2016

Do Not Heap Up Your Sins

The Result
Of effective witnessing is stability in suffering.

For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches
of God which in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: for ye
also have suffered like things of your own countrymen,
even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord
Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us,
and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might
be saved, in this way they always heap up their sins to
the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.
1 Thessalonians 2: 14,16

For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called
to one glorious HOPE for the future.
Eph.4:4

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Acceptance

The Response
Of the Thessalonians' to Paul's follow-up was tremendous.
Where as many people are hostile or indifferent to the word
of God because they have been subjected to legalism prior
to the time of Gospel hearing, the Thessalonians readily
accepted the message of grace. This acceptance effectively
worked in them, and they became actively operational.
Their witness and service for the Lord was a reality and
elicited thanksgiving in Paul and Silas.

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because,
when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye
received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the
word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that
believe.
1 Thess. 2:13


I know the plans I have for you,
declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you HOPE and a future.
Jer. 29:11

Friday, May 13, 2016

Walk Worthy

The Third Purpose
Of  follow-up is collective:
Finding for the new believer a Bible-teaching, Christ-centered church.
If that is not possible in your locale, point him in the right direction,
toward Bible doctrine taught in tape or written form. It is God's 
intention for every saved person to "walk worthy" and to become
spiritually self -sustaining-- that is, to be able to handle his problems
before the Lord.

That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto
His kingdom and glory (1 Thess. 2:12).

Galatians 5:16 states "...Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not 
fulfil the lust of the flesh."  

May the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that you may abound in HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Rom.15:13



Thursday, May 12, 2016

Don't Fall By The Wayside

A reason for follow-up is personal:
fellowship and encouragement of the new believer.
During the period of adjustment and orientation to
Phase Two (Gods plan for the believer in time), the
immature Christian often needs encouragement. He
has not yet developed sufficient inner resources of
soul with which to recognize the importance of Bible
Doctrine to every facet of life. A floundering believer
is in danger of falling by the wayside.
 
The wings of HOPE carry us soaring high above the driving winds of life.
By Ana Jacob

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

A Threefold Purpose

Doctrinal
The purpose of follow-up is doctrinal, personal and collective.
Note that follow-up still has a threefold purpose first, doctrinal;
the new believer must be taught Bible doctrine. No believer can 
advance spiritually on his own. Were it true that all a Christian 
need do in order to grow in grace and in to the knowledge of his
Savior is read a chapter or two of Bible daily, the Lord would not
have found it necessary to give certain men the gift of pastor-teacher
(Eph. 4:11)! It is the duty of the pastor-teacher to feed the flock of God,
to edify and equip the saints (Eph. 4:12). God designed the local church
to be the believer's classroom.

By R.B. Thieme, Jr  Book Witnessing

Be strong and take heart all you who HOPE in the Lord.
Ps. 31:24

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

As A Newborn

Follow--up
must supplement witnessing.
Ye  are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly 
and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you
that believe (1 Thess. 2:10).

When a person accepts Christ as Savior, he immediately
becomes a newborn child of God. You feed them basic
concepts of the "sincere milk of the word (1Pet. 2:2) by
which they may grow! Even the Lord Jesus Christ is said
to have taught His audience "as they were able to hear it"
(Mark 4:33)! Paul is like a father to the Thessalonian
believers; he treated them as he would his own children.

As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged 
every one of you, as a father doth his children (1 Thess. 2:11).



We have this HOPE as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
Heb. 6:19

Cast your cares on God; that anchor holds.
By Frank Moore Colby

Monday, May 9, 2016

Announcing The Gospel

Two Men
Paul  and Silas  had labored at Paul's trade of tent making to 
supply their daily needs rather then become a financial
burden to the Thessalonians. Although they had worked to
the point of exhaustion, they kept  on announcing the Gospel
of Jesus Christ. Consequently, their witness of life and lip
bore dividends for God.

For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for labouring
night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of
you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
1 Thess. 2:9 


The Lord is good to those whose HOPE is in Him, to the one who seeks Him.
Lam.3:25


Sunday, May 8, 2016

Strong Love

Affectionate
So being affectionately desirous of you, we were
willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel
of God only, but also our own souls, because ye
were dear unto us  ( Thess. 2:8)

"Being affectionately desirous " is one word in the Greek (Himeiromai)
used especially of parents who had lost a child and now grieved or longed
for him. The word denotes the strongest kind of love that can be experienced
for an absent loved one and indicates an habitual attitude of mind.

Be joyful in HOPE patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Rom. 12:12

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Be Gentle

Genuine
Concern motivates consideration in witnessing.

 When we have been burdensome, as the apostle
of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as
a nurse cherisheth her children ( Thess. 2:6b, 7).

As a model witness, Paul compares his method of
operation among the Thessalonians to that of a
nursing mother. "In witnessing for Christ we were
as tender with you as a nursing mother is with a baby.

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and
constant peace... because he HOPES confidently 
in You. (Isa. 26:3)

Friday, May 6, 2016

Salvation Is A Gift Of God

The Gospel Is Not For Sale
For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know,
nor a cloke of covetousness; God  is witness: Nor of men
 sought  we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others.
1 Thess. 2:5, 6a.

The Gospel will stand on its own; it needs no selling gimmicks!
Paul never witnessed to satisfy approbation lust, nor did he use
 the Gospel to raise money. This is what is meant by the phrase
"nor a cloke of covetousness". From this statement emerges an
important principle: never knowingly accept money from un-
believers for the Lord's work!
HOPE begins in the dark, the stubborn HOPE that if you
just show up and try do the right things, the dawn will come.
You wait and watch and work: you don't give up.
Anne Lamott

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Dividends

To Be Put In Trust

This came to mean to deposit or to invest capital with
the intent of making a profit. Capital invested is synonymous
with free enterprise, that wonderful system which made America
the most advanced and prosperous nation on earth! 

The Gospel, too, is capital. God has deposited the Gospel in 
each believer in order that it might bear interest and pay 
dividends (2 Cor. 4:7). Therefore, the importance of our
personal responsibility in declaring the Gospel cannot be
overemphasized!

R.B. Thieme, Jr
Book on (Witnessing)

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us,
so that through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures we
 might have HOPE.
Rom.15:4

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

A Futile Attempt

The Gospel is Capital In Witnessing

But as we were allowed of  God to be put in trust
with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing
men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
1 Thess. 2:4

The Greek word for "allowed" is the verb Dokimazo,
which means "to test" someone or something for the
purpose of approval.

Legalism: Man's futile attempt to gain salvation, 
spirituality or the approbation of God through
human good.

The word HOPE I thank for faith and indeed HOPE is nothing else
but the constancy of faith.
John Calvin

Monday, May 2, 2016

Don't Be A Huckster

Nor in Guile
this presents the principle that the Gospel must never
be watered down. The Greek word for "guile (Doloa)
means "huckster." Under no circumstances must the 
Gospel be diluted with social reform, economic 
panaceas, brotherhood, do-goodism, legalism or philosophy!

Blessed are those whose HOPE is in the Lord and Their God.
Ps.146:5


Sunday, May 1, 2016

Not Human Good

"Nor of  Uncleanness"

Certifies Paul's use of 1 John 1:9. He made sure that he
had kept current on rebound before he witnessed for his
 Lord, so should you. Only in the power of the Holy Spirit
can you score  profound impact on the life of the unbeliever;
only when He communicates through you can you be sure that
your witnessing is truly service for the Lord instead of merely
human good.

We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces 
perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, HOPE.
Rom. 5:3-4