“Being and becoming Christian” series

Part 98

“Spreading the message of the Father’s love”

As we near the close of the section “Being and Becoming Christian” my thoughts turn to the Easter message and the charge Jesus gave us to go into all the world baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that “I have commanded you, and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age,” (Matthew 28:20, Acts 2:42, Acts 4:31; 18:10; 23:11).

Over the past two years I have been sharing my own personal experiences in sharing my faith in Christ. Had I not experienced more than just the focus of the church I grew up in, I couldn’t have been able to share all the different viewpoints of “Being and Becoming Christian.”

Six compelling reasons

There is a growing notion among the heathen that they don’t need Christ fueled by the pagan world we live in and fact that America, especially the United States is becoming un-churched to the point that we have become a mission field for others around the world. There are at least six compelling reasons for sharing our faith in Christ with those who have not experienced new life in Christ. We as believers are called to share our Faith.

1.         Because God has commanded us to do so. The final words of Jesus while on earth (Acts 1:8) and also the Bible, Jesus to John on the island of Patmos (Revelation 22:17) speak concerning this

2.         Because it demonstrates our lover for God. Christ said that if we truly loved Him we should keep His commandments (John 14-15)

3.         Because all are lost. (Romans 3:10-23)

4.         Because our sharing is God’s chosen method to tell all people. He could have used angels, but He didn’t. Only redeemed sinners can tell lost sinners about Christ. (Romans 10: 14-17, Acts 8:3)

5.         Because God desires to save all people (Acts 4: 12; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4)

6.         Because someone once shared his faith with us. It may have been a Bible teacher, pastor, or God loving parent. They have the right to expect that we will do for others, in turn, what they have done for us, (1 Corinthians 15:  3,4).

Invest in the Kingdom of God

We (our family) have been continually blessed by the outpouring of the Father’s love and our constant desire is to point it out to others. We want to walk in God’s love and to give it away. People tell me how my daughter, Janell, has blessed them in her efforts as a social worker. Yesterday a little boy from the Bible bus showed up in my driveway on his tricycle. “Janell told me to come here if I was thirsty,” he politely state. “She said you have a refrigerator full of pop in your garage.” I had to laugh. This was Janell at her very best. She knew I would give the boy a drink and share some time with him.  I did. She’s got that little boy on his way to Jesus.

These little acts of kindness and love are an important part of fulfilling this vision. Every year we see people receive training, either from this column, or in our churches. They also receive impartation; they are blessed by the Father’s love ands then take the blessing out into the world. And the demand is growing.

What happened to me?

Whenever I see Carol Burton she reminds me that I got upset when I received a letter from church that my membership was about to be relegated to the inactive rolls because the church hadn’t seen me in a long while. “I can still see the look on your face when you received that letter,” she said with a grin. Th

is was nearly 30 years later after I had returned to the church of my youth. In the meantime I had grown in Christ, taught Sunday School for nearly 25 years, had changed churches twice, been to the Brownsville Revival and the Toronto Blessing. Much to the prodding of her last husband Don, the Father had been healing, equipping and envisioning me to serve the body of Christ. My life had been impacted by God, with the help of some folks that knew Him personally. Now I can tell stories of my own students like Carol’s daughter, Leigh Ann, who would remind me of “Indian Action”, where she was a student as I stumbled my way into teaching.

Many, but not all, of these students have returned transformed by His love, to impact their church, city, or profession – seeing healings, miracles, and salvations. Some, like me, are still waiting to get their “Where are you?” letter from the church.

So blessed

We are so blessed by the presence of the Holy Spirit in the churches we have visited and in the services and worship that we share. The Father blessed us with His love and power and He wants to bless you too!

Revival dynamics

In Luke Chapter 10, Jesus sent out seventy others, two by two, into every city and town where he wanted to spread the good news of the Kingdom into the hearts of the people. It was a daring plan for those times. The seventy needed the same anointing of the Holy Spirit He had and the same faith in the Spirit’s enabling and keeping power to enact Jesus’ plan of multiplication.

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few…,” Jesus said. He sent twelve out first, followed by 70 and eventually hundreds, all preaching to hungry masses the gospel of the Kingdom of heaven, with signs and even wonders following. Jesus didn’t send them to Jerusalem, but to the small towns and villages of Israel to find His lost sheep. There was a reason why Jesus based His ministry in Capernaum instead of Jerusalem.

In a smaller town, rather than the big city, news travels through acquaintances that have known each other for generations. If a miracle occurred in the town, the whole town would know it the next day. In a large city, few people know their neighbors and family members often live far away from each other. Life in a large city can detract from such news. Many of our brothers and sisters are seeing their young people leave for the big city only to waste their lives on drugs and alcohol, pointless religions, and hanging out with the wrong crowd. I couldn’t believe what I saw when our son went to college. Something has to change now

Today, scholars will tell you that they are so smart that they don’t need God. Let’s not let our children fall into this trap. We need revival where our children surrender their lives to the Lord Jesus with momentum to build good fruit for the Kingdom.

I know the number of people who read this column is not large, but I challenge you who do to invite someone you trust who is a believer, like yourself, to come and hold meetings on a regular basis, not for a day or two. Make plans and lay the foundation so that you can keep going until real revival comes to your town. If the “Biggest Names” are too busy, invite on of the “Seventy others” with no-names. Pray and believe for miracles and a might outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Young people

Young people especially, you can do this, come in with older folks and others like me. God is looking for a community where a pastor or where the Spirit lives and is ready to give away the power of the presence of God that you are experiencing. Where little miracles happen, families will appreciate it and keep coming back for more, bringing their friends.

Highest level

Have you ever wondered why some Christians seem to operate on a much higher level of anointing than others?  Have you ever wondered what level of anointing does God have for me?

Our adversary, the devil, will do all that he can to keep us from operating in a powerful anointing for God. By doing so the devil knows he will keep us from doing more for the Kingdom of God. He has fooled many into believing that God chooses only certain individuals and only those have certain access to a powerful anointing. I remember a famous evangelist at Brownsville, telling us to get prayer from those on the floor rather than the revivals famous leaders. A guy with two band-aids on his forehead came up and prayed for me a powerful prayer.

Some believe that only the very faithful or those who are obedient, or those who walk in humility can expect to receive a large measure of anointing,” says John Arnott founding pastor of the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship, “Many have struggled with the question, ‘How could God mightily use such and imperfect vessel?’” Truth is that God uses ordinary men and women just like you and me.

Are you among those the enemy has tricked into being content with a small measure of what God has prepared for you?

Like most people, for a long time, I was cheated out of receiving much of the presence and power that Jesus so willingly wants to impart. In embracing the lies of the enemy, I realize now that for over 20 years, I had settled for less of God’s presence that He was willing to give me. My wake-up call came from a simple letter about my membership from the church. What about you?

INSPIRATION: Jesus, in John 7:37-38, teaches us that whoever believers and thirsts should come to him and drink, resulting in “streams of living water that will flow from within.”

Write croneis@earthlink.net