Witnessing

Responsibility of Witnessing

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost (Spirit) is come

upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in

all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8).

Who is responsible for the declaration of the Gospel--- the good news of 

salvation-- to the unbelieving world? Is the duty and privilege of witnessing

reserved solely for ministers, missionaries and evangelists?  Far from it!

Personal evangelism is the responsibility of  EVERY believer in the 

Lord Jesus Christ! 

"God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye...

may abound to every good work."

2 Corinthians 9:8

I place this day in Your care, O God, thanking You for the 

blessed assurance that Jesus is mine.

In Christ name I pray

We will be studying  the book "Witnessing" by R.B.Thieme Jr 

He Gave Himself

The Greatest Gift

God never ask anything of the unbeliever who does not belong to Him.

The unbeliever is said to be "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 21:1),

and a dead person cannot give anything to anyone. But God in His grace

wants to GIVE YOU the priceless gift of salvation. It cost Jesus Christ

everything; but it is free to you simply for the believing.

Who his own self  bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being

dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed

[reconciled] (1 Peter 2:24.

 Believe on the lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved (Act.16:31)

Read more of R.B.Thieme Jr.'s book go to:

R.B.Theme, Jr.Bible Ministries

5139 West Alabama, Houston, Texas 77056 

Love --Response

Furthermore

And it cannot be stressed too often --you cannot give in this age

under any concept of tithing. Spiritual giving in Old Testament 

is described as "offering." Offerings were for believers only. Tithes

were for both believers and unbelievers. The principle remains the 

same today, regardless of dispensation: giving is always an expression

of the believer's love-response to God.

"The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand."
Psalm 121: 5

We thank You, Father, for loving us so much that You bring answers in all
areas of our lives.
In Christ name I pray

Not Commanded

Whatever is taught about giving, it should not be forced upon people.

"I speak not according to the commandment" means that you are not to

give on the norm or standard of a command. Some activities ARE 

commanded in the Word, such as the assembling of  ourselves together,

giving a hearing to the Word, praying one for another, and loving one another

the Agape love, or relaxed mental attitude. But we are NOT commanded

 to give,  because this must be the result of taking in the Word, the filling

of the Spirit, and divine viewpoint in the right lobe. No pressure should

ever exist---no approbation lust---no public display.

"There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek:

for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him."

Romans 10:12

Lord, lead me to someone who needs a friend. May I not be too

busy to recognize Your leading.

In Christ name I pray

Love Giving--NOT-- Law Giving

A Test Of Love

I am not speaking according to the commandment, but through

the diligent application of others [the Macedonians], testing

the genuineness of your love (2 Cor.8:8).

The sixth principle of giving which Paul now emphasizes is

that giving is a test of the genuineness of your love of Jesus 

Christ, as well as your love of God the Father and of God the

Holy Spirit. In effect, Christian giving is love giving-- not

law giving. Christian giving proves the reality of your love

- the genuineness of grace motivation rather then the keeping

of the Mosaic Law.

"My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:19

Dear Father, I'm thankful that all my needs don't begin to exhaust Your resources.

In Christ name I pray

Let Us Superabound

An Extension 

Moreover, just as in everything you superabound, in the sphere of faith,

in the sphere of doctrine, in the sphere of knowledge, in the sphere of

all diligence of application, in the sphere of a relaxed mental attitude,

from you to us, with the result that you also in the sphere of this grace

[giving] superabound (2 Cor. 8:7).

"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations."

2 Peter 2:9

Dear God, help me to withstand the temptation of self-righteousness, 

and all other temptations that keep me from knowing Your will.

In Christ name I pray

Recorded For Us

Material Poverty

Although in material poverty, the Macedonians had such great

spiritual riches that God provided the means for them to give

sacrificially as an extension of their spiritual life. Now  the

Corinthians are hit with the same challenge. The prepositional

phase, "insomuch that "-- literally, "with the result that"-- is used

to make the transition from Macedonian giving to Corinthian giving.

Why is this prepositional phrase recorded for us? To remind us that 

as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ we have the same responsibility

to give; but that responsibility must include the concept that giving is

an extension of the spiritual life.

"In the day of my trouble I will call upon Thee: for thou wilt answer me." 

Psalm 86:7

Help me, Lord, to act with Your love in the seemingly impossible

situation of life.

In Christ name I pray