A few years ago I heard a Christian lady recount some conversations she had had with an unbeliever about the truths of the Christian Gospel. The Christian lady stated that, in one of these conversations she said to the enquirer "If God is drawing you, then you will come". The meaning of this statement is clear - if God is drawing a person to repent of his/her sins and believe in Jesus as a personal Saviour, then that person will so repent and believe, ie they will be saved.
When I first heard that statement I wasn't sure about it. However, as I thought upon John chapter 6 verse 37 I figured that it was absolutely true. Let's look at this verse carefully - Jesus said "All that the Father gives me will come to me; and the one who comes to me I will by no means cast out".
The second half of the verse is a wonderful promise to all those who truly turn to Jesus - he will not drive them away even if they have been living a real bad life prior to that point. However, I want to look at the implications of the first half of that verse. Six times in the first dozen verses of John chapter 17 Jesus states that those who follow him have been given to Him by His Father. Moreover, verse 6 states that Jesus' followers were given to Him from out of the world.
The teaching is clear - God the Father looked upon the mass of humanity on the broad way that leads to judgement and from them He takes out a people that he gives to Jesus. This He did before the world was even created. Such people are referred to in the scriptures as "the Elect". Furthermore, as stated earlier, everyone of those so elected will repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their personal Saviour.
As a street evangelist this truth gives me enormous encouragement. As I hold forth the Word of Life I can be sure that God is drawing His elect. This includes those who, at present, may be vehemently opposed to the Gospel. Indeed, If God so wills even Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens would be saved. How do I know this ? I know this because of the teaching of Job 42 v 2 which makes it clear that NO purpose of God's will be thwarted.
Militant atheists and other servants of the Devil may shake their fists at God as much as they like - but God is sovereign, He will have His way and everyone of His elect will be saved.
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
Watchman Nee - soldier of the cross
One of the most well known Chinese Christians was the evangelist Watchman Nee. he was born in 1903 and converted at the age of 17. Soon after his conversion he started a ministry which lasted 30 years until he was imprisoned by the communists in 1952. Despite dreadful prison conditions and inhumane treatment over a 20 year period he remained faithful to Christ until he went home to Heaven in 1972.
During his time of ministry many souls were saved and he was known as one who had a deep walk with the Lord. However, with spiritual fruit came persecution. Even before he was put in prison he was often vilified and slandered by opponents who sought to destroy his reputation and put a stop to his work for the Lord. His response when faced with such attacks was to simply get on with the job of spreading the Gospel and leave it to God to vindicate him.
This is a great lesson for us in this evil country in which we live. As the spiritual climate becomes colder and more hostile to the Gospel the temptation is to slip into the background and not stand up for Jesus. It would be so easy to take the role of quiet "Christians" and avoid all the slander and persecution by behaving like chocolate soldiers - melting at the sound of battle.
However, this is not the way of the true soldier of the cross. The attitude of the true believer is like that of Moses who chose "to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward". Hebrews 11 v 25-26.
Indeed, it should be said that when opposition and persecution increase the true soldiers of the cross re-double their efforts to make their stand for Christ bearing in mind the words of C T Studd - "If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him."
During his time of ministry many souls were saved and he was known as one who had a deep walk with the Lord. However, with spiritual fruit came persecution. Even before he was put in prison he was often vilified and slandered by opponents who sought to destroy his reputation and put a stop to his work for the Lord. His response when faced with such attacks was to simply get on with the job of spreading the Gospel and leave it to God to vindicate him.
This is a great lesson for us in this evil country in which we live. As the spiritual climate becomes colder and more hostile to the Gospel the temptation is to slip into the background and not stand up for Jesus. It would be so easy to take the role of quiet "Christians" and avoid all the slander and persecution by behaving like chocolate soldiers - melting at the sound of battle.
However, this is not the way of the true soldier of the cross. The attitude of the true believer is like that of Moses who chose "to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward". Hebrews 11 v 25-26.
Indeed, it should be said that when opposition and persecution increase the true soldiers of the cross re-double their efforts to make their stand for Christ bearing in mind the words of C T Studd - "If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him."
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Eaten for breakfast
News has come through that Barack Obama has suffered severe defeats in the mid-term elections in the US. He has lost control of congress and now faces extreme difficulty in getting his legislative programme through. The scale of this defeat is so huge that one could say that "he has been eaten for breakfast".
You may wonder why, if this is a Christian blog, I am making mention of politics; the answer is simple - this defeat is a judgement from the Lord. Obama is a particularly evil man in that he supports late term abortions and has gone on record as publicly stating that Homosexual relationships should be given the same status and respect as relationships between men and women. Moreover, he claims to be a Christian (as many politicians in the US do) but he is so obviously a hypocrite.
God is sovereign - if people fly in His face and violate His laws then He will deal with them. It is clear from His word that all sin is serious but homosexuality is especially vile in God's sight as it goes against nature. To quote from Romans 1 v 27 "In the same way men abandoned natural relationships with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion" The previous verse highlights the fact that lesbian relationships are also unnatural. This verse teaches us that homosexuality is a) under God's judgement, b) against nature and c) is a perversion. Moreover, verse 32 of the same chapter teaches us that those who approve of these sinful acts are also under God's judgement - and this is where Obama comes in.
By approving of these perversions Obama has placed himself under God's wrath - part of which has been clearly exhibited by these dire election results.
Of course, it is wrong to hate homosexuals or seek to do them harm and we should pray for their conversion. In the meantime let us boldly declare the truth that God commands all people everywhere to repent and receive Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
You may wonder why, if this is a Christian blog, I am making mention of politics; the answer is simple - this defeat is a judgement from the Lord. Obama is a particularly evil man in that he supports late term abortions and has gone on record as publicly stating that Homosexual relationships should be given the same status and respect as relationships between men and women. Moreover, he claims to be a Christian (as many politicians in the US do) but he is so obviously a hypocrite.
God is sovereign - if people fly in His face and violate His laws then He will deal with them. It is clear from His word that all sin is serious but homosexuality is especially vile in God's sight as it goes against nature. To quote from Romans 1 v 27 "In the same way men abandoned natural relationships with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion" The previous verse highlights the fact that lesbian relationships are also unnatural. This verse teaches us that homosexuality is a) under God's judgement, b) against nature and c) is a perversion. Moreover, verse 32 of the same chapter teaches us that those who approve of these sinful acts are also under God's judgement - and this is where Obama comes in.
By approving of these perversions Obama has placed himself under God's wrath - part of which has been clearly exhibited by these dire election results.
Of course, it is wrong to hate homosexuals or seek to do them harm and we should pray for their conversion. In the meantime let us boldly declare the truth that God commands all people everywhere to repent and receive Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
Monday, 25 October 2010
The Bible 4 Atheists 0
I recently heard a stirring true story that I wish to share with you as it proves that God's Word (The Bible) is more powerful than atheism.
There is a family living in the English Midlands comprising mum, dad and two sons. The dad was a strong and committed atheist - so much so that he completely banned any mention of God and would not have a Bible in the house. The eldest boy went to secondary school at 11 and one day, during the assembly, the Gideons showed up offering New Testaments free to anyone who wished to take them. The boy was intrigued, wondering in himself what it was about this book that so attracted the ire of his dad. Consequently he took a copy and sneaked home with it hoping he wouldn't be discovered. Over the next few weeks he secretly read it in his room and subsequently got saved. He then told his younger brother what happened and he got saved !
The boys were wanting to tell others about this but were afraid of what dad would say. Eventually the elder boy asked his brother to pray while he told mum - to his astonishment she was not cross but actually got converted as well !!
The three new Christians in this family kept this a secret for a while but knew that they would have to come clean in time. So the mother locked the two boys away for their safety and told their dad. Far from being cross he admitted that he had noticed a change in all three and expressed a real interest in the Gospel. They all went to a local church to worship and the dad, too, came to know Jesus as his personal Saviour.
What does this true story teach us ?
Two things spring to my mind:
1. No matter what opposition is thrown at the Gospel if God has His hand upon someone for salvation He will lead them to the truth. He is sovereign and every person given by Him to Jesus will get saved. John 6 v 37.
2. The Bible's power is stronger than atheism. The elder brother was converted simply through reading the Bible without anyone to help him (humanly speaking !). The Holy Spirit worked upon him through the reading of God's Word and he was saved.
As Christians we can rejoice in God's power and His ability to save whom He wishes. We can also rejoice in the fact that, every week, thousands of Bibles and New Testaments are being given out by the Gideons and other Christians.
"The Lord gave the word, great was the company of those who published it". Psalm 68 v 11
There is a family living in the English Midlands comprising mum, dad and two sons. The dad was a strong and committed atheist - so much so that he completely banned any mention of God and would not have a Bible in the house. The eldest boy went to secondary school at 11 and one day, during the assembly, the Gideons showed up offering New Testaments free to anyone who wished to take them. The boy was intrigued, wondering in himself what it was about this book that so attracted the ire of his dad. Consequently he took a copy and sneaked home with it hoping he wouldn't be discovered. Over the next few weeks he secretly read it in his room and subsequently got saved. He then told his younger brother what happened and he got saved !
The boys were wanting to tell others about this but were afraid of what dad would say. Eventually the elder boy asked his brother to pray while he told mum - to his astonishment she was not cross but actually got converted as well !!
The three new Christians in this family kept this a secret for a while but knew that they would have to come clean in time. So the mother locked the two boys away for their safety and told their dad. Far from being cross he admitted that he had noticed a change in all three and expressed a real interest in the Gospel. They all went to a local church to worship and the dad, too, came to know Jesus as his personal Saviour.
What does this true story teach us ?
Two things spring to my mind:
1. No matter what opposition is thrown at the Gospel if God has His hand upon someone for salvation He will lead them to the truth. He is sovereign and every person given by Him to Jesus will get saved. John 6 v 37.
2. The Bible's power is stronger than atheism. The elder brother was converted simply through reading the Bible without anyone to help him (humanly speaking !). The Holy Spirit worked upon him through the reading of God's Word and he was saved.
As Christians we can rejoice in God's power and His ability to save whom He wishes. We can also rejoice in the fact that, every week, thousands of Bibles and New Testaments are being given out by the Gideons and other Christians.
"The Lord gave the word, great was the company of those who published it". Psalm 68 v 11
Friday, 15 October 2010
Evanjellyism - a Western disease !
One of the by-products of being raised in western culture - particularly in the UK - is that we are conditioned to believe that it is wrong to offend people. Consequently, we tend to be very careful not to make definite or dogmatic statements but take the easy way out by being "diplomatic". This mindset has so infected modern day evangelicalism that we tend to avoid speaking about subjects like eternal judgement and Hell. We also shy away from speaking the truth on the more contentious issues of the day like Homosexuality, or the uniqueness of the Christian Gospel (viz. that Jesus is the only way to God). Indeed it should be stated that many Christians today are little more than chocolate soldiers melting at the sound of battle. I call this "evanjellyism".
Moreover, to make matters worse, when any Christian does display true Biblical courage by declaring the truth he/she is often referred to as "extreme". Furthermore when such believers receive hostility from the world then it is considered that they have brought it on themselves. If we take that line then we may as well say that the Apostle Paul brought trouble on Himself by going to Jerusalem when he was warned not to. Taking this to it's logical conclusion we could also say that John Bunyan brought 12 years imprisonment upon himself by preaching in "unlicensed premises". It is clearly obvious that courage is the lost cord of modern day Western Christianity. Is it any wonder then that the Christians in the UK have made so little impact ? Is it any wonder that we are considered an irrelevance when we are quite happy to merge into the background and not make our stand for Christ?
What then is the remedy? First of all we need to get before God and pray for His forgiveness for being so spineless, and then plead with Him to give us a real anointing of His Spirit so that we would have this Holy Boldness to declare the truth - whatever the consequences. Then, I would suggest that every Christian read a copy of C T Studd's "The Chocolate Soldier" - any Christian who reads this and is unmoved must have a heart of stone.
In the meantime let us give support and encouragement to those few Christians who are prepared to stick their heads above the parapet for Jesus and not criticise them.
"Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" 1st Corinthians 15 v 58.
Moreover, to make matters worse, when any Christian does display true Biblical courage by declaring the truth he/she is often referred to as "extreme". Furthermore when such believers receive hostility from the world then it is considered that they have brought it on themselves. If we take that line then we may as well say that the Apostle Paul brought trouble on Himself by going to Jerusalem when he was warned not to. Taking this to it's logical conclusion we could also say that John Bunyan brought 12 years imprisonment upon himself by preaching in "unlicensed premises". It is clearly obvious that courage is the lost cord of modern day Western Christianity. Is it any wonder then that the Christians in the UK have made so little impact ? Is it any wonder that we are considered an irrelevance when we are quite happy to merge into the background and not make our stand for Christ?
What then is the remedy? First of all we need to get before God and pray for His forgiveness for being so spineless, and then plead with Him to give us a real anointing of His Spirit so that we would have this Holy Boldness to declare the truth - whatever the consequences. Then, I would suggest that every Christian read a copy of C T Studd's "The Chocolate Soldier" - any Christian who reads this and is unmoved must have a heart of stone.
In the meantime let us give support and encouragement to those few Christians who are prepared to stick their heads above the parapet for Jesus and not criticise them.
"Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" 1st Corinthians 15 v 58.
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Is Claire Rayner now in Hell ?
The news came through today that Claire Rayner has died. She became famous for answering questions from newspaper readers about emotional issues that were concerning them. (The term for such people is "Agony Aunt"). In itself it is not wrong to seek to help people who have problems; however, in Rayner's case the answers did not reflect the teaching of God's infallible word for one simple reason - she was a convinced atheist (and proud of it !). Consequently she was a fool (Psalm 14 v 1).
According to an article in the "freethinker" web site she died as an atheist - if that is the case then we can say with all confidence that she is now in the torments of Hell. The clear teaching of God's infallible word gives no eternal hope to those who die as unbelievers.
Rayner joins the ranks of other prominent atheists who recently passed into eternity and, if they did not repent, are bitterly regretting their sin and rebellion against God. I have in mind such people as Michael Foot and Robin Cook.
As Christians we face many challenges in life and much hostility. In recent years persecution against us has increased. Consequently we may be tempted to think that it would be easier to go with the tide of unbelief and simply live to please ourselves instead of standing up for Jesus and putting ourselves through distress and anxiety due to opposition. However, let us remember the words of our Saviour when He said "What does it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul" Mark 8 v 36.
Let us not be intimidated - these people who think they are so clever that they can reject God will have their "payback". One second in Hell will be enough to convince them they made the wrong choice; for us Christians one second in Heaven will convince us we have made the right choice, and all the persecution we endured for the Saviour will have been worth it.
According to an article in the "freethinker" web site she died as an atheist - if that is the case then we can say with all confidence that she is now in the torments of Hell. The clear teaching of God's infallible word gives no eternal hope to those who die as unbelievers.
Rayner joins the ranks of other prominent atheists who recently passed into eternity and, if they did not repent, are bitterly regretting their sin and rebellion against God. I have in mind such people as Michael Foot and Robin Cook.
As Christians we face many challenges in life and much hostility. In recent years persecution against us has increased. Consequently we may be tempted to think that it would be easier to go with the tide of unbelief and simply live to please ourselves instead of standing up for Jesus and putting ourselves through distress and anxiety due to opposition. However, let us remember the words of our Saviour when He said "What does it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul" Mark 8 v 36.
Let us not be intimidated - these people who think they are so clever that they can reject God will have their "payback". One second in Hell will be enough to convince them they made the wrong choice; for us Christians one second in Heaven will convince us we have made the right choice, and all the persecution we endured for the Saviour will have been worth it.
Monday, 4 October 2010
The unreasonable reasonists
I noticed earlier in the year that a group calling themselves "The Reasonists" posted an article attacking the work of the Gideons International as they place Bibles /New Testaments in Hotels, Schools and Hospitals. (I say "a group" but this may be a lone operator !). To read it you need to google "Reasonists" and look up the link entitled "Stop the Gideons International".
It seems to me that this person/group is being unreasonable. The simple fact is that the Gideons finance the work themselves, so no cost is incurred by the establishment concerned. Moreover, the management of the Hotel/School/College/Hospital choose to give permission before the Word of God can be placed. The Gideons never force themselves onto anybody - it is all done by consent.
Moreover, what this person/group need to be aware of is that God is sovereign - He will ensure that His word is spread despite opposition from small-minded individuals who masquerade as freethinkers and champions of free speech but, in reality, are on a fruitless crusade to hinder the spread of the Christian Gospel.
In recent months Nottingham NHS trust has tried to ban Gideon Bibles/NT but have had to back down. Moreover, the miners trapped in Chile have received a consignment of Gideon NTs. Every day many thousands of people all over the world are in receipt of a Gideon Bible or NT. God will not be intimidated by anyone, not least a tinpot, cowboy outfit like "The Reasonists".
As God's word goes forth we can be certain that it will do it's own work in drawing lost men, women and young people to a saving knowledge of Christ.
"The entrance of God's word gives light, it gives understanding to the simple". Psalm 119 v 130
"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God". Romans 10 v 17
It seems to me that this person/group is being unreasonable. The simple fact is that the Gideons finance the work themselves, so no cost is incurred by the establishment concerned. Moreover, the management of the Hotel/School/College/Hospital choose to give permission before the Word of God can be placed. The Gideons never force themselves onto anybody - it is all done by consent.
Moreover, what this person/group need to be aware of is that God is sovereign - He will ensure that His word is spread despite opposition from small-minded individuals who masquerade as freethinkers and champions of free speech but, in reality, are on a fruitless crusade to hinder the spread of the Christian Gospel.
In recent months Nottingham NHS trust has tried to ban Gideon Bibles/NT but have had to back down. Moreover, the miners trapped in Chile have received a consignment of Gideon NTs. Every day many thousands of people all over the world are in receipt of a Gideon Bible or NT. God will not be intimidated by anyone, not least a tinpot, cowboy outfit like "The Reasonists".
As God's word goes forth we can be certain that it will do it's own work in drawing lost men, women and young people to a saving knowledge of Christ.
"The entrance of God's word gives light, it gives understanding to the simple". Psalm 119 v 130
"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God". Romans 10 v 17
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