I've been involved in literature evangelism since the 1970s and have seen many encouragements in that time. Of course, most people who hear/read the Gospel do not respond by repenting of their sins and accepting Jesus as their personal Saviour; indeed, many people will not even accept an offered leaflet. However, I'm not discouraged by their refusals as Jesus warned (in Matthew 7 v 14) that this would be the case.
There may well be readers of this blog who wonder if literature evangelism actually works. Do people really take this form of outreach seriously and get right with God? In order to answer that question I've listed below a number of people who've come to know the Lord through Gospel literature. I use initials rather than their full names in order to protect their identity. There are some very spiteful atheists on the internet who subject Christians to cyber-bullying (I know because they do it to me, but I rejoice in it as it increases my reward in Heaven - Matthew 5 v 10-12) and so it is appropriate to take reasonable steps to protect vulnerable people. Please be assured that these are real people - I have not made this up.
Example 1 - shortly after starting work at an office block I used to leave "chick books" in the toilets. A man "R" came to know the Saviour through this witness and started to attend the church I was going to. At the same time his wife "D" came back to the Lord after having spent some years in a backslidden state.
Example 2 - while I was walking back to the train station after spending an afternoon passing out tracts a man approached me ("P") who told me that he had been saved after reading tracts I had given him. I remember having had at least one conversation with him a few weeks previously, and I rejoiced to know of his salvation. This was some years ago but, more recently, I saw him again and he assured me that he was still going on with the Lord and attended a local Gospel preaching church (I know the church he mentioned and it is very sound).
Example 3 - I had a number of conversations with a homeless, drug addict ("S") to whom I gave a Gideon New Testament. Over the years he read this NT and came to know the Saviour. Proof of the change in his life occurred when he found some money dropped on the pavement and gave it in to the Police rather than spend it on drugs. I attended his baptism where he testified to having passed from darkness to light.
Example 4 - I gave a bi-lingual (French/English) person, we'll call him "B", a number of items of literature in both languages over a period of a few years and he came to know Christ. I saw him again recently and he is still going on with the Lord.
Example 5 - "J" had serious personal problems and was on medication but responded to the Gospel in a real and wonderful way after reading a tract and praying to receive the Saviour.
Example 6 - a lady approached me while I was tracting and told me that she was a Christian. She had taken a tract from me some while before and read it to her mother. After hearing the contents the mother got saved and died a few hours later, just in time to avoid the judgement.
Example 7 - "M" was a lady with serious issues. She hated God but was searching for purpose in her life. One day she bought a book on buddhism and later she went past me and took a tract. To cut a long story short she got saved and is going on really well with the Lord. She is a vibrant witness and often gives tracts to work colleagues or leaves them in the rest room for them to read.
I could give many, many more examples of how God has worked through literature evangelism but the afore-mentioned are sufficient to prove that there is a God who changes lives!
"Go into all the world and preach the Gospel" - Mark 16 v 15
Wednesday, 24 September 2014
Saturday, 20 September 2014
Oh dear - he's in big trouble!
In my street evangelism I find that most people are polite. Even if they don't want the Gospel they generally don't get abusive; in short, most people conduct themselves within the bounds of decent standards of human behaviour.
However, there are exceptions. Over the years I've been on the receiving end of verbal abuse and bad words a number of times, and have even had threats of violence. Notwithstanding that, the vast majority of people are polite when they refuse to accept a Gospel leaflet. When the exceptions occur it is reminder of the dreadful hold satan has on people's lives and proof that there is a devil who has not only blinded people, but also holds them in the bondage of slavery.
One such incident happened only yesterday in Ramsgate. I offered a young person a tract which he took; then after he looked at the title (Jesus paid the price for us) he cast it aside onto the floor with a look of contempt for me. I warned him of the Hell that he faces but he walked away very fast.
As I reflected upon this a thought struck me - this "person" (poor creature would be a more accurate description) cast aside the offer of the Gospel. He cast aside the name of Jesus, and, on the judgement day God will cast him aside should he die in his current state of rebellion.
The Bible says: "Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" - Revelation 20 v 15.
Truly, instead of getting angry with him for showing such arrogant contempt we should be moved with compassion. He has been blinded and enslaved by the devil, he is in the hands of the devil in the same way that a mouse is under the control of a cat that torments it.
We need to pray for him, that the Holy Spirit would be pleased to open his eyes, and turn him from darkness to light, and from the power of satan unto God. We need to pray that God would open his heart just as He opened Lydia's heart in Acts chapter 16 and verse 14. We need to pray that God would be pleased to grant him repentance unto life.
Over the years I've been involved in front line evangelism I've had the privilege of witnessing the power of the Gospel at work in people's lives; God can change even the vilest of people and turn them into "trophies of Grace".
"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away. Behold all things have become new" 2nd Corinthians 5 v 17
However, there are exceptions. Over the years I've been on the receiving end of verbal abuse and bad words a number of times, and have even had threats of violence. Notwithstanding that, the vast majority of people are polite when they refuse to accept a Gospel leaflet. When the exceptions occur it is reminder of the dreadful hold satan has on people's lives and proof that there is a devil who has not only blinded people, but also holds them in the bondage of slavery.
One such incident happened only yesterday in Ramsgate. I offered a young person a tract which he took; then after he looked at the title (Jesus paid the price for us) he cast it aside onto the floor with a look of contempt for me. I warned him of the Hell that he faces but he walked away very fast.
As I reflected upon this a thought struck me - this "person" (poor creature would be a more accurate description) cast aside the offer of the Gospel. He cast aside the name of Jesus, and, on the judgement day God will cast him aside should he die in his current state of rebellion.
The Bible says: "Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" - Revelation 20 v 15.
Truly, instead of getting angry with him for showing such arrogant contempt we should be moved with compassion. He has been blinded and enslaved by the devil, he is in the hands of the devil in the same way that a mouse is under the control of a cat that torments it.
We need to pray for him, that the Holy Spirit would be pleased to open his eyes, and turn him from darkness to light, and from the power of satan unto God. We need to pray that God would open his heart just as He opened Lydia's heart in Acts chapter 16 and verse 14. We need to pray that God would be pleased to grant him repentance unto life.
Over the years I've been involved in front line evangelism I've had the privilege of witnessing the power of the Gospel at work in people's lives; God can change even the vilest of people and turn them into "trophies of Grace".
"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away. Behold all things have become new" 2nd Corinthians 5 v 17
Wednesday, 17 September 2014
The loss of a poor soul
What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? - Mark 8 v 36
No one can adequately describe the loss of the soul. No one can paint this dreadful picture in its true colours.
You and I will never fully understand what it means to lose one's soul until we pass through the valley of death and wake up in eternity.
Only then shall we begin to know the value of the soul.
The value of things will change greatly in that day.
The hour is coming when money, stocks and shares will be worth no more than waste paper.
The day is coming when diamonds, silver and gold will be as dust in the streets.
The day will dawn when houses, property and land will be as useless as a child's worn out toy.
In that day the fame, honour and glory of this world will be worth no more than faded flowers and withered grass.
In that day a man will be willing to trade all that he knows, and can imagine, for the privilege of hearing one Gospel sermon, one hour of prayer, one verse of scripture.
In that day a man will be willing to trade all the world for one grain of faith. Men will curse the day they were born!
In that day of God's judgement and wrath - what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
No one can adequately describe the loss of the soul. No one can paint this dreadful picture in its true colours.
You and I will never fully understand what it means to lose one's soul until we pass through the valley of death and wake up in eternity.
Only then shall we begin to know the value of the soul.
The value of things will change greatly in that day.
The hour is coming when money, stocks and shares will be worth no more than waste paper.
The day is coming when diamonds, silver and gold will be as dust in the streets.
The day will dawn when houses, property and land will be as useless as a child's worn out toy.
In that day the fame, honour and glory of this world will be worth no more than faded flowers and withered grass.
In that day a man will be willing to trade all that he knows, and can imagine, for the privilege of hearing one Gospel sermon, one hour of prayer, one verse of scripture.
In that day a man will be willing to trade all the world for one grain of faith. Men will curse the day they were born!
In that day of God's judgement and wrath - what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Thursday, 11 September 2014
God's sovereignty and man's free will.
Norman Geisler is a Christian theologian with a long and distinguished career as a lecturer at a number of Bible Colleges in the US. Some years ago he wrote a book entitled "Chosen But Free" which looked at seeking a Biblical balance between God's sovereignty and Man's free will. At the beginning of this book he stated that this issue had been the one that his students has questioned him most on.
The issue clearly perplexes many people, including Christians and atheists, and I'll give 3 examples of why this is:
1. Romans 13 v 1 tells us God appoints the government but, in Western countries, at least, we have the free will to choose the government. How can it be that God ordains but man has free choice?
2. The Bible teaches in many places that God the Father sent Jesus to die for our sins. Isaiah chapter 53 foretold this 700 years before it happened (a clear example of the Bible being true and infallible). It was ordained that Jesus would die for our sins. However, God still held Judas responsible for betraying Jesus, and the Jews for howling for His blood. How can it be that God, the Father, ordained Jesus to die for us and yet holds people responsible for the deed?
3. In a number of places in the NT we are told that God has fore-ordained people to be saved, and they are the ones who believe in Christ; an example being Acts 13 v 48 "....and those ordained to eternal life believed". Moreover, in 1st Peter 1 v 2 we read that Christians have been elected "according to the foreknowledge of God". How can it be that God ordains people to eternal life and yet holds to account the unbelievers who, if they die "in their sins", will be "cast into the Lake of Fire" Revelation 20 v 15?
These are questions people may ask for understandable reasons and for the answer we need to turn to Isaiah chapter 55 and Romans chapter 9.
In Isaiah 55 v 8-9 we read that God's thoughts and ways are higher than man's thoughts and ways.
This doesn't mean that Man is unintelligent but that we do not have the capacity to fully understand God. If we could fully understand God then He wouldn't be God. It is rather like asking your pet dog to read a daily paper; he may be an intelligent animal but he simply doesn't have the capacity to read a paper.
Now let us turn to Romans chapter 9.
In Romans 9 v 9-13 we read that God chose Jacob over Esau. Moreover, in verse 15 it states that God has mercy on "whom he wishes". This is re-inforced in verse 18 were we also read that "whom he wishes, he hardens". Anticipating the objection to this (in verse 19) Paul goes on to say "Who are you, o man, to answer back to God" - and that is the ultimate answer to the questions raised at the beginning of this article.
God is God and we are mere humans beings; He is sovereign over His creatures. Romans 9 goes on to speak about the potter and the clay (verses 20-21; see also verses 22-24).
As far as the unsaved are concerned the promise is there, that if they will turn to Christ He WILL NOT turn them away (see John 6 v 37); for those of us who believe we rejoice in God's mercy and kindness shown to such undeserving sinners - "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness" Lamentation 3 v 22-23.
The issue clearly perplexes many people, including Christians and atheists, and I'll give 3 examples of why this is:
1. Romans 13 v 1 tells us God appoints the government but, in Western countries, at least, we have the free will to choose the government. How can it be that God ordains but man has free choice?
2. The Bible teaches in many places that God the Father sent Jesus to die for our sins. Isaiah chapter 53 foretold this 700 years before it happened (a clear example of the Bible being true and infallible). It was ordained that Jesus would die for our sins. However, God still held Judas responsible for betraying Jesus, and the Jews for howling for His blood. How can it be that God, the Father, ordained Jesus to die for us and yet holds people responsible for the deed?
3. In a number of places in the NT we are told that God has fore-ordained people to be saved, and they are the ones who believe in Christ; an example being Acts 13 v 48 "....and those ordained to eternal life believed". Moreover, in 1st Peter 1 v 2 we read that Christians have been elected "according to the foreknowledge of God". How can it be that God ordains people to eternal life and yet holds to account the unbelievers who, if they die "in their sins", will be "cast into the Lake of Fire" Revelation 20 v 15?
These are questions people may ask for understandable reasons and for the answer we need to turn to Isaiah chapter 55 and Romans chapter 9.
In Isaiah 55 v 8-9 we read that God's thoughts and ways are higher than man's thoughts and ways.
This doesn't mean that Man is unintelligent but that we do not have the capacity to fully understand God. If we could fully understand God then He wouldn't be God. It is rather like asking your pet dog to read a daily paper; he may be an intelligent animal but he simply doesn't have the capacity to read a paper.
Now let us turn to Romans chapter 9.
In Romans 9 v 9-13 we read that God chose Jacob over Esau. Moreover, in verse 15 it states that God has mercy on "whom he wishes". This is re-inforced in verse 18 were we also read that "whom he wishes, he hardens". Anticipating the objection to this (in verse 19) Paul goes on to say "Who are you, o man, to answer back to God" - and that is the ultimate answer to the questions raised at the beginning of this article.
God is God and we are mere humans beings; He is sovereign over His creatures. Romans 9 goes on to speak about the potter and the clay (verses 20-21; see also verses 22-24).
As far as the unsaved are concerned the promise is there, that if they will turn to Christ He WILL NOT turn them away (see John 6 v 37); for those of us who believe we rejoice in God's mercy and kindness shown to such undeserving sinners - "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness" Lamentation 3 v 22-23.
Tuesday, 9 September 2014
It's all fore-ordained anyway.
I note from the national press that Westminster politicians are getting into a right state over the possibility of Scotland voting for independence next week. It seems that even the Queen is "deeply concerned" (as well she should be, given that she has offended the Lord over signing the "gay marriage" law - God is not mocked).
However, I find the whole thing (Scottish "independence" that is) highly amusing. Leaving aside the obvious economic flaws in the finances of an independent Scotland, the result has already been ordained by God.
In Romans 13 v 1 we read that "the powers that be are ordained of God". Some "Christians" may wish to re-write that to say that God merely allows rulers to be in authority, but the text is crystal clear. I well remember about 30 years ago leading a home group Bible Study when this issue came up. One of our number was a bit of a leftie and strongly rejected the clear teaching of this verse (Maggie was PM at the time!). However, God doesn't simply "allow" rulers into authority He actually puts them there.
Of course, it is right to vote, some may say it's a civic duty, and I always vote in the "big" elections BUT I recognise that the result is not something we need to be troubled about because it's all in God's hands anyway.
The implications of what I have just written are rejected by many on the grounds that past and present rulers have done, and are doing, wrong to their people (and people of other nations!). We think, of course, of Hitler and Stalin; Mugabe and Putin. Moreover, some of our own Prime Ministers have been responsible for wrong doing as we saw just a decade ago when Blair led this country into an illegal and unjust war that caused many thousands of civilian deaths.
However, even though God ordains the government that doesn't mean that they are not accountable to Him for the way they have governed. Romans 14 v 12 tells us that one day we must all stand before God to give an account ( perhaps this is why atheists get so angry and aggressive; they don't like the thought that there is a God who sees everything and will bring them to account). The rulers who have governed unjustly will have to account for the way they have misused the power granted to them by God, but this doesn't negate the fact, and it IS a fact, that God appoints them.
As we consider all this we should experience a feeling of deep calm; to know that God is in control, and that He will work all things out in His own good time, should cause us to leave all things in His hands and not worry about the election results (or the result of the poll on Sept 18th!).
Moreover, what good will it do politicians to be on the winning side - if their souls are not saved then being a victor in the election will profit them nothing.
However, I find the whole thing (Scottish "independence" that is) highly amusing. Leaving aside the obvious economic flaws in the finances of an independent Scotland, the result has already been ordained by God.
In Romans 13 v 1 we read that "the powers that be are ordained of God". Some "Christians" may wish to re-write that to say that God merely allows rulers to be in authority, but the text is crystal clear. I well remember about 30 years ago leading a home group Bible Study when this issue came up. One of our number was a bit of a leftie and strongly rejected the clear teaching of this verse (Maggie was PM at the time!). However, God doesn't simply "allow" rulers into authority He actually puts them there.
Of course, it is right to vote, some may say it's a civic duty, and I always vote in the "big" elections BUT I recognise that the result is not something we need to be troubled about because it's all in God's hands anyway.
The implications of what I have just written are rejected by many on the grounds that past and present rulers have done, and are doing, wrong to their people (and people of other nations!). We think, of course, of Hitler and Stalin; Mugabe and Putin. Moreover, some of our own Prime Ministers have been responsible for wrong doing as we saw just a decade ago when Blair led this country into an illegal and unjust war that caused many thousands of civilian deaths.
However, even though God ordains the government that doesn't mean that they are not accountable to Him for the way they have governed. Romans 14 v 12 tells us that one day we must all stand before God to give an account ( perhaps this is why atheists get so angry and aggressive; they don't like the thought that there is a God who sees everything and will bring them to account). The rulers who have governed unjustly will have to account for the way they have misused the power granted to them by God, but this doesn't negate the fact, and it IS a fact, that God appoints them.
As we consider all this we should experience a feeling of deep calm; to know that God is in control, and that He will work all things out in His own good time, should cause us to leave all things in His hands and not worry about the election results (or the result of the poll on Sept 18th!).
Moreover, what good will it do politicians to be on the winning side - if their souls are not saved then being a victor in the election will profit them nothing.
Friday, 5 September 2014
God's purposes WILL be carried out.
In the 1970s I used to receive a magazine called "The Voice of the Martyrs" which highlighted to dreadful suffering of Christian believers in the communist countries of Eastern Europe. The evil communists put Christians in prison, tortured, and even murdered them. Moreover, Bibles were burnt by the 1,000s in huge bonfires as the enemies of the Gospel attempted to eradicate all traces of Biblical Christianity.
Every year this magazine would have a text for the 12 months up to December and, one year, (I believe it was about 1978 or '79) the text was "The God of peace will bruise Satan under your feet shortly" from Romans 16 v 20.
As I read this I remember thinking something like the following: "Surely, that can't happen; the communists are so entrenched and so powerful". However, as we all know, communism in E. Europe collapsed within a decade and Christian evangelism was able to be openly done and not in secret as before. Indeed, in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, a building that was once used to frame laws against Christians became the venue for a Gospel rally!
Truly, the Gospel had triumphed over communism and God had had the last word against those who opposed Him and His word - the Bible.
I was reminded of this Gospel victory as I pondered the 2 greatest threats to Biblical Christianity today - militant Islam and militant atheism/secularism.
We all know how these twin forces (both inspired by Satan, the enemy of people's souls) are being marshaled against the Gospel. In our own perverse and wicked nation we have seen evidences of political correctness being used by atheists to try and silence evangelism. We are all aware, too, of just how vicious militant Islam is.
In the light of these threats we may well find ourselves being discouraged BUT, let us remember how God has worked in times past to ensure His word goes out. He has vanquished His foes in the past and He will do so again.
In the meantime let us re-double our efforts to spread the Word, knowing as we do, that the Gospel is "the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes" Romans 1 v 16.
Every year this magazine would have a text for the 12 months up to December and, one year, (I believe it was about 1978 or '79) the text was "The God of peace will bruise Satan under your feet shortly" from Romans 16 v 20.
As I read this I remember thinking something like the following: "Surely, that can't happen; the communists are so entrenched and so powerful". However, as we all know, communism in E. Europe collapsed within a decade and Christian evangelism was able to be openly done and not in secret as before. Indeed, in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, a building that was once used to frame laws against Christians became the venue for a Gospel rally!
Truly, the Gospel had triumphed over communism and God had had the last word against those who opposed Him and His word - the Bible.
I was reminded of this Gospel victory as I pondered the 2 greatest threats to Biblical Christianity today - militant Islam and militant atheism/secularism.
We all know how these twin forces (both inspired by Satan, the enemy of people's souls) are being marshaled against the Gospel. In our own perverse and wicked nation we have seen evidences of political correctness being used by atheists to try and silence evangelism. We are all aware, too, of just how vicious militant Islam is.
In the light of these threats we may well find ourselves being discouraged BUT, let us remember how God has worked in times past to ensure His word goes out. He has vanquished His foes in the past and He will do so again.
In the meantime let us re-double our efforts to spread the Word, knowing as we do, that the Gospel is "the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes" Romans 1 v 16.
Wednesday, 3 September 2014
"I could never worship a God like that!"
In the Bible God commanded King Saul to attack the Amalekites and completely wipe them out, every last one of them. He also commanded him to destroy all the animals. However, the king disobeyed the Lord and spared King Agag. He also spared a number of animals ostensibly to use them as sacrifices to the Lord.
No doubt Saul thought it was good to spare the animals in order to sacrifice them to the Lord but Samuel, the prophet, rebuked him stating that obedience was more important than sacrifices. (You can read the whole account of this in 1st Samuel chapter 15).
Opponents of the Bible point to this (and many other Biblical accounts of God ordering the mass slaughter of people) as a means of attacking God. What kind of being, they say, could be so cruel as to make such an order?
There are several things wrong with this line of reasoning. Firstly, God's ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55 v 8) and when He gave these commands He had His reasons for it - however much it may seem repellent to our humanistic society which extols the "goodness" of human nature.
Secondly, the pagan nations were a constant source of temptation to the Israelites. The Israelites had been chosen by God to be a monotheistic nation - that is, to worship one God, but the pagan nations were idolatrous. In order to keep the chosen race pure from sin it was necessary to wipe them out. The disobedience of the Israelites in letting them live led directly to snares being put before God's people, and their being led astray.
Thirdly, God is sovereign, we are not, and that is the ultimate answer. When people say "I could never worship a God like that" my answer is simple - "I know, until God takes out your heart of stone and replaces it with a heart of flesh, you never will!"
Moreover, when people rail against God in this way we need to remember the words of Romans 9 v 20 "Who are you, o man, to answer back to God".
I have heard people say things like "When I meet God I'm going to tell Him just what I think of Him!" However, when people meet God they will be so over-awed by His presence they will immediately fall down and worship Him. Those who have got right with Him before they died (by accepting Christ as their personal Saviour) will rejoice in His presence; but those who have died in a rebellious state will be in abject terror as they realise that they were wrong all along. They should have listened to Christians attempting to help them by pointing them to Christ as they ONLY way to Heaven.
In the meantime let us re-double our efforts to spread the Gospel, knowing that we ARE on the victory side.
No doubt Saul thought it was good to spare the animals in order to sacrifice them to the Lord but Samuel, the prophet, rebuked him stating that obedience was more important than sacrifices. (You can read the whole account of this in 1st Samuel chapter 15).
Opponents of the Bible point to this (and many other Biblical accounts of God ordering the mass slaughter of people) as a means of attacking God. What kind of being, they say, could be so cruel as to make such an order?
There are several things wrong with this line of reasoning. Firstly, God's ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55 v 8) and when He gave these commands He had His reasons for it - however much it may seem repellent to our humanistic society which extols the "goodness" of human nature.
Secondly, the pagan nations were a constant source of temptation to the Israelites. The Israelites had been chosen by God to be a monotheistic nation - that is, to worship one God, but the pagan nations were idolatrous. In order to keep the chosen race pure from sin it was necessary to wipe them out. The disobedience of the Israelites in letting them live led directly to snares being put before God's people, and their being led astray.
Thirdly, God is sovereign, we are not, and that is the ultimate answer. When people say "I could never worship a God like that" my answer is simple - "I know, until God takes out your heart of stone and replaces it with a heart of flesh, you never will!"
Moreover, when people rail against God in this way we need to remember the words of Romans 9 v 20 "Who are you, o man, to answer back to God".
I have heard people say things like "When I meet God I'm going to tell Him just what I think of Him!" However, when people meet God they will be so over-awed by His presence they will immediately fall down and worship Him. Those who have got right with Him before they died (by accepting Christ as their personal Saviour) will rejoice in His presence; but those who have died in a rebellious state will be in abject terror as they realise that they were wrong all along. They should have listened to Christians attempting to help them by pointing them to Christ as they ONLY way to Heaven.
In the meantime let us re-double our efforts to spread the Gospel, knowing that we ARE on the victory side.
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