Do not Use the Worldly Ideas to Share the Gospel, Use the Word of God

There is a saying going around based on psychology that defies the truth of the Bible.

That saying goes like this; "we must develop a relationship with someone before giving them the gospel." Nowhere in scripture do we see this commanded or modeled.

We are told to go into all the world and preach the gospel, that is wherever God sends us, even if it is in our own community. Everyone can share the gospel from their homes now. We don't have to traverse the world to do it.

Christ spoke to the 5000 without developing a relationship with them. The apostles were martyred because they spoke to strangers the truth of the gospel.

This mantra about developing a relationship first is just an excuse to avoid telling people the gospel unless they like us first, its all about getting people to like us, if they like us maybe they will fall in love with Christ. This is nonsense.

Christ did every miracle possible for people, even healing them while the masses of people saw it and heard about it, but what did they do, they killed Him.

We can develop a relationship with people, being very careful to make sure they like us but as soon as we are bold about the gospel they will turn on us. Developing a relationship requires the compromise of our principles.

We can be friends with absolutely anyone if we do what they do, say what they say and expect what they expect. In other words we must be just like them in every way for them to have a relationship with them.

However, look what God says; Matthew 10:21-22 "…21Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved."

Did God get it wrong? Was He wrong when He said we will be persecuted by people because we live for Christ and because we declare Him openly? NO GOD DID NOT GET IT WRONG!!!!

It is the devil who wants to make us believe we did something wrong by sharing the gospel openly and boldly. He wants to silence those who are weak and depend on themselves to make friendships rather than declaring the word of the Lord. This "friendship evangelism" is not commanded by God, it is a ploy of the devil to make people feel ashamed when they share the gospel and someone becomes angry at us for it.

The people I know depending on friendship evangelism never get around to sharing the gospel, they are continually compromising the Word and smiling through all the sin to influence anyone for Christ.

James 4:4 "You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."

What part of "do not be friends with the world" do we not understand. We can see that the psychology of being friends with the world first will make them like us and like God comes from the devil himself. It makes people weak and ashamed of Jesus Christ.

Romans 12:2

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

We cannot remain friends with the world without becoming like them.

1 Corinthians 15:33-34 " 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.…"

The more time we spend with the unsaved in friendships the more we are tainted by their way of thinking, their way of acting, and worst of all we become silent about Christ.

Proverbs 28:1 "1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion."

We choose the friends that make us comfortable, if we love the world we will choose friends who love the world. If we love Christ we will choose friends who love Christ.

When we love Christ it is very hard to tolerate the foolishness of unsaved people. We must speak of Christ or we will feel frustrated that we were lazy and allowed the unsaved to walk away thinking we approved of their lives without Him.

We are the light with Christ living in us we must walk as the light that chases away the darkness. When we speak we ought to speak as the oracles of God, it will either draw people to Christ or it will chase them away, in either case, this is their choice and has nothing to do with us, it has to do with Christ.

John 1:4-5 "…4 In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

We must not fear the reactions of men, we must desire the truth of Christ above all relationships. If we maintain a friendship with an unbeliever, neglecting the gospel, hoping someone will ask about Christ then we are weak and self-focused.

Allow the Holy Spirit to lead us is the only course for the born-again believer. Do not use human ideas and mantras, use the Bible and guidance of the Holy Spirit, in this we cannot go wrong.

Those Accusers Controlled by the Devil

Some people controlled by the devil want to accuse believers of things in their past that God has healed and forgiven. I call them "past forgiven sins." We all have them, there is no one person who is without past forgiven sins.

A few years ago an angry jealous person said to me; "remember how you used to be." Believe it or not this person was a "Christian."

My response was simply; "yes I have committed many sins in my life." That's all and that's it, no more explanation is necessary.

When we admit to our life before we were born again we completely disarm the narcissist controlled by the devil who wants to destroy our peace and joy by heaping false guilt from the past forgiven sins.

The devil wants us to never forget our sinfulness. He wants us to believe we have never been forgiven and that we can never change.

What devilish people don't understand is that every single person on the face of the earth is headed for hell until they confess their sinfulness and become cleansed by Jesus Christ to be saved.

What devilish people don't understand is that no one cleanses themselves, we all must be cleansed by Christ in response to our desire to be changed into a new creation by Him. We cannot change ourselves into a new creation, it must be His work in us after we have repented (changed our minds) and trusted in Him.

I have to wonder if someone has been born again when they do not understand that everyone has sinned including themselves and everyone must repent and be changed by Christ.

When someone operates as though they have never sinned, they are better than others because of how good they think they are, and continue to work to appear good to others, it is unlikely they have ever been born again.

God said we must have a "contrite" heart to be born again, the meaning is a "crushed" heart. When we come to the end of ourselves, and have no confidence in our own goodness and deeds, we see our filthiness and ask God to change us into a new creation.

Those who think they are special and have always been good will not be able to be changed by Christ because they are trusting in themselves and not Christ. Christ will not change someone who is not broken in an experience of a crushed spirit to submit to Him. He only saves those who know they are without the ability to be good enough and know they need Him to change them, to lead them and grow them until the day they die.

Matthew 5:48

"You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

We are not perfect therefore, it is Christ in us Who is perfect, He is our righteousness.

2 Corinthians 7:1

"Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God."

The way we cleanse ourselves is to ask the Lord for His cleansing as He shows us through consequences of our need for confession. We are only cleansed through Christ if we want to be cleansed.

1 John 1:9

"9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

God will cleanse us from any unrighteousness when we confess, then He acts to give us our desire to be cleansed.

If we justify our sin, refuse to confess it, by claiming we had a good reason, then we will not be cleansed. It is only through brokenness and confession that God will work. We must empty ourselves of ourselves to be changed by God.

Philippians 2:12-13

"12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to [a]desire and to work for His good pleasure."

We do not work for salvation, we work because we are saved. Those who are not saved do not admit their need for cleansing, they decide their own goodness and convince themselves they are good.

Only those who can say; "there is no good in me" can be cleansed by Christ.

Romans 7:18 "18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out."

It is only Christ in us Who can be good and Who can work in us to become like Him. Anything we do in the flesh to make ourselves feel good is dung to God.

Isaiah 64:6 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

When we have obeyed God He gets all the praise and credit. When we have worked in the flesh we are attempting to have the credit and we get the glory, it is filthiness to God that we glorify ourselves.

James 4:7-17

"7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."

Hallelujah, what a wonderful life for those who are not affected by the world but led by Christ. The more humble we become the more we can serve Christ, because we know only He is good and only His Works matter in us.

Revival vs Transformation

We do not need a "revival", we need a transformation of the souls of those who claim to be Christians but were never born again.

To revive something means it was alive, then died, and was brought back to life. When there was never life to begin with, there is nothing to "revive." Deadness has been in the church for many years now, no life ever existed among those who entered the church without a born-again experience.

We live in a culture that thinks just "saying" what others want to hear to be a member of a club is equal to salvation. It has nothing to do with salvation.

We are living as in the days of Noah in which people are going along comfortable with their false religion they call Christianity, tainted more with paganism and psychology than with Bible truth.

Many churches claim they are Bible-believing but in fact, do not follow the Bible, they follow their pastors, their psychologists, the cultural standard of our apostate day and argue against the Bible often.

Those who wish to bring the thinking back to the Bible, using Scripture to explain things are rejected by churchgoers, refusing to hear the truth, silencing anyone who does not say and do what the churchgoers like to hear.

2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"

2 Timothy 3:1-5

Difficult Times Will Come

3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times (ragingly insane) will come. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these."

We are told how terrible the attitudes of people will be in these last days, even in the church. God commands us in verse 5 to avoid them. Often this means it will be rare to find a church gathering that is obeying the scriptures even though they say they do, they do not.

Do not be discouraged by this, God warned us to help us place our trust even more fully in Christ and not in any man or system of man.

Proverbs 3:5-6

"5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight."

People will attempt to silence you when you bring scripture to bear in a discussion. When they do this walk away and speak to those who will listen. If no one will listen then be content to be alone a lot.

What does Christian fellowship really look like according to the scriptures?

2 Timothy 4:2

"Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction."

We are to be discussing things openly, encouraging when things are spoken of in truth, and correct and rebuke those who are in error. We are to love as we do these things as well as not back down when treated shamefully for our dedication to God's Word.

A true friendship is an open one without secrets and love and enjoy honest discussions using the Scriptures. Those who resist the truth of the Bible while refusing to discuss things according to the Bible are in rebellion lacking good sense. All these people are interested in is their own opinions and pleasure. Often they care only about being seen as right or superior, not in being correct according to God's Word.

Sanctification is a Lifetime Experience

What so many Christians do not understand is that "sanctification is a lifetime" experience. The reason God allows what is in our hearts to come out of our mouths or in our actions during difficulties is to show us what still remains that needs cleansing.

The more we confess the more we can walk without guilt and the more we walk in holiness. Our Spiritual growth depends on confessing as the Holy Spirit warns us, always for our own cleansing and for His glory.

1 John 1:9 "9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Bad Things for the Believer are not Bad, they are just Hard

Bad things that happen to the believer only seem bad because we don't like them. Every hard thing that happens to the believer is for our training, learning, and strengthening. That's why God says; "count it all joy when you endure various trials.

James 1:12

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."

James 1:2-4

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

2 Timothy 3:16-17

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."

2 Timothy 3:17

"That the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."

Brothers and Sisters we are in Spiritual boot camp, all that we go through God uses for our benefit and His glory.

Jesus Warned Us About This - "The Days of Noah Have Come"

One Mediator, Only Christ Jesus

There is only one mediator between God and man and that is Christ Jesus!

If you are looking to anyone at all for truth and counsel other than Christ you have an idol. Even though we share with one another and teach one another, as well as correct, rebuke and admonish one another daily, we do not hold someone in such high regard that they are our "go-to person" for truth. Only Christ is the One we go to for truth.

Galatians 2:20

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

When Jesus Christ lives in us He is the One we should consult before we consult with anyone else and only consult with another when Christ tells us to do so.

We are living in a world in which any person will be tainted by the culture and driven by emotions. There are those who are power-hungry, operating as narcissists enjoying power over others more than they serve Christ. We can consider what others say, while asking the Holy Spirit to expose what is not right and endorse what is from Him.

We must encourage others in the way of the Lord using Scripture. If someone is misusing scripture in false doctrine or advice we must discard it and continue obeying God.

Romans 3:3-4 "…3 What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 Certainly not! Let God be TRUE and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.”

No one is so "educated" they have all the answers, in fact, if someone is educated in the seminaries of our day they have a hindrance to their walk. Seminaries now are places where more psychology and marketing skills are taught than proper doctrine.

Preachers are taught in the seminaries to be arrogant, resisting correction from the brothers and sisters who are not "educated" in these places, to keep "their flock" under control.

Whenever there is a mentality of control over anyone there is no love and there will be false teaching. Nowhere in God's word does He teach anyone to control anyone else. We are to teach and preachers are to preach to help lead others to truth, not to control them.

We are to be Spirit-controlled, not man-controlled.

Romans 8:5-13

5 For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,

7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,

8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—

13 for if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live."

John 16:13-14 " 13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.…"

I see no place in Scripture where God said any man will lead us into all truth. It is the Holy Spirit Who is our guide and help. Also, I see no place where God said that we should look to man as our guide. Leaders in the church should be pointing us to Christ, not to their own ideas of righteousness.

Stubborn hearts will not listen to truth from God's Word, they are influenced and controlled by their traditions of men as taught to them over the generations. It takes an Holy Spirit controlled person to break away from the traditions of men to follow Christ.

Luke 12:53-55

53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

When we expect the Scripture to be the standard for teaching we will find ourselves with few friends as well as being rejected by family. People, in general, are more dedicated to their comfort and traditions than they are to God.

Thank the Lord that we do not have to be intimidated by those who love their traditions. As we lose friends and family God brings others who are like-minded and will encourage and enhance our walk with Christ.

Philippians 2:2-8

"2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others."

What a blessing it is to find people who want to know God's mind as we walk with them. We seek the Lord together, because of this we are not easily offended by correction nor are we intimidated by those who wish to control others.

Hallelujah!!!!