Since I have been on 'vacation' I have had 2 very interesting encounters with Jehovah's Witnesses, 2 days in a row! Yesterday, while my family and I were at the pool I spoke with a gentleman who was from Bosnia, who moved here to spread the 'so-called good news.' After listening to him share with me his 'so-called good news,' I told him he left me totally hopeless. Without Christ being 'fully God' and 'fully man' atoning for my sins there is no way I can be made right with Jehovah God! He kept taking me to our 'inheritance' the 'new heavens and new earth' but I kept directing him back to his sins and how he is unable to know Jehovah apart from the finished work of Christ. So, after 30 minutes I left him with the gospel and prayed for God to open his eyes and heart to the 'true gospel of Jesus Christ.'
So, this morning I went to our local Dollar General Store to pick up a few items. Before making my turn into the parking lot I noticed Jehovah's Witness' speaking with a gentleman on the sidewalk in Cross Plains. So, I being the nosey person that I am pulled over and got out just to listen to what they were saying (of course I knew their spill). After a few minutes they turned to me and asked me if I was a religious person. I told the gentleman, "NO," I was not a religious person...RELIGION sends people to hell. Of course, he disagreed because Jehovah Witness' do not believe in 'eternal damnation.' I told the gentleman who they were speaking with on the sidewalk 'NOT' to listen to their 'poison,' because they were heretics which will lead him away from the true God of the Bible. In neither presentation of their 'so-called good news' did they mention "repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21)." The reason why they did not mention 'repentance or faith' is because they are works based. You have to try and do good works' to earn Jehovah's favor. This to goes right against true Christianity, as Paul reminds us in Romans 3:10-18, where no man is good, no man seeks God nor does man desire to and Ephesians 2:1 says, "we were dead in our sins and trespasses and unable to seek God" Therefore, Paul tells the Ephesian's their salvation is by "grace through faith," and that even faith is a gift of God's grace.
So, if you live in the Cross Plains, TN area and profess to be a Christian, the Apostle Peter reminds us 1 Peter 3:15 "...but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect..." With that said, I allowed these men to share with me their view of who God is and then I by the leading of the Holy Spirit, by the grace of God, and love of Christ which constrains me shared the 'gospel of Jesus Christ' with both of these men. Please do not be a 'jerk for Jesus,' do not run from them, but lovingly engage them with the gospel and the Bible. Yet, share the gospel with compassion, care, and love for their good and for the glory of God!
This will force you as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is get in His Word. Instead of being afraid of these people (Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Muslims) we need Christians who are sold out for the gospel of Jesus, who know the Scriptures, and who will lovingly confront them with their heresy. I pray you will not run from heretics if you are a believer, but confront them, engage them with God's Word, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because we know "the gospel is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes...(Romans 1:16)." May God give us all the boldness to be a 'true Jehovah's Witness' for His glory!
For more information on witnessing to Jehovah's Witnesses click here:
http://carm.org/biblical-response-to-jehovahs-witnesses
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
A Testimony of God's Faithfulness
Through discouraging attacks by the "accuser of the brethren" times like tonight makes it all worth enduring. Tonight After our mid-week service I met with a gentleman who has been coming to PHBC for 3 and a half years share with me the Lord has brought him from being an atheist to graciously granting him repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When I first met him I (3 and a half years ago) I thought I would argue or persuade him into the kingdom, but I was reminded tonight "salvation belongs to the Lord" and only He can save. I can not persuade or debate someone to be saved, rather salvation is a sovereign work of Almighty God.
Tonight in my time with him I rejoiced with him, as I shared how I have prayed for him over these last years. He knew as well that many in our congregation has called his name specifically to the Lord in prayer for his salvation. Listening to him speak of how God has changed his heart, given him a heart which convicts him of his sin, but also he has a desire to seek God for repentance and forgiveness of that sin. To see the joy in this man's heart and testimony for the desire to live for Christ the rest of his days was so overwhelming.
As I sat there I could not help to contemplate, how could this really happen? So, I asked him, "what was it that help you see your need for Christ?" He said, "it was simply, through the preaching of the Word, week in and week out." Hearing statements like that brings reassurance to a young pastor who believes in the sufficiency of Scripture, that God's Word is enough!
So, I close with some observations and encouragements to pastors:
1. Preach the Word. There will be times when people will not like you, your message, your delivery, your leadership style, what you wear, or what you do, but as long as we stick to His Word we have nothing to be ashamed of.
2. Care for the Flock. At times this is easier said than done. Sometimes the flock can be abrupt or at times rebellious. God has called us as pastors to "oversee" them and to "shepherd" them. Do this knowing one day you and I will give an account of their souls (Heb.13:17). No one else in the church will give an account for souls, only the pastor. So, take time to know them and care for them, individually.
3. Encourage those who are not yet believers. Do not give up on those who you think are "hopeless." Is there really any who are "hopless?" The answer is, "no!" Nothing is impossible with God. Take time to get to know those without Christ. Take time to find out who they are, where they come from, and where they are going? How will you know how to minister to or to encourage those without Christ if you do not stop and take time to help them. As believers we should be seeking someone out who we could invest into their lives for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
4. Rejoice in the Lord when a sinner experiences God's grace of repentance and faith. I rejoice in the face that God is working bringing sinners to Himself and for His glory through the simplicity of the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, through all the trials and sufferings as a pastor (although my suffering is nothing), I rejoice in God's goodness in gracing His people with salvation, which brings me to a place of worship of who He is! Sola Deo Gloria!
Thank you Father for your faithfulness to your people, even when we are faithless.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Tonight in my time with him I rejoiced with him, as I shared how I have prayed for him over these last years. He knew as well that many in our congregation has called his name specifically to the Lord in prayer for his salvation. Listening to him speak of how God has changed his heart, given him a heart which convicts him of his sin, but also he has a desire to seek God for repentance and forgiveness of that sin. To see the joy in this man's heart and testimony for the desire to live for Christ the rest of his days was so overwhelming.
As I sat there I could not help to contemplate, how could this really happen? So, I asked him, "what was it that help you see your need for Christ?" He said, "it was simply, through the preaching of the Word, week in and week out." Hearing statements like that brings reassurance to a young pastor who believes in the sufficiency of Scripture, that God's Word is enough!
So, I close with some observations and encouragements to pastors:
1. Preach the Word. There will be times when people will not like you, your message, your delivery, your leadership style, what you wear, or what you do, but as long as we stick to His Word we have nothing to be ashamed of.
2. Care for the Flock. At times this is easier said than done. Sometimes the flock can be abrupt or at times rebellious. God has called us as pastors to "oversee" them and to "shepherd" them. Do this knowing one day you and I will give an account of their souls (Heb.13:17). No one else in the church will give an account for souls, only the pastor. So, take time to know them and care for them, individually.
3. Encourage those who are not yet believers. Do not give up on those who you think are "hopeless." Is there really any who are "hopless?" The answer is, "no!" Nothing is impossible with God. Take time to get to know those without Christ. Take time to find out who they are, where they come from, and where they are going? How will you know how to minister to or to encourage those without Christ if you do not stop and take time to help them. As believers we should be seeking someone out who we could invest into their lives for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
4. Rejoice in the Lord when a sinner experiences God's grace of repentance and faith. I rejoice in the face that God is working bringing sinners to Himself and for His glory through the simplicity of the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, through all the trials and sufferings as a pastor (although my suffering is nothing), I rejoice in God's goodness in gracing His people with salvation, which brings me to a place of worship of who He is! Sola Deo Gloria!
Thank you Father for your faithfulness to your people, even when we are faithless.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
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