DO YOU LIE ON JESUS WHEN YOU EVANGELIZE?

 

I am afraid that we have lied on Jesus more times than we realize.  We offer a package and an approach that He does not endorse.  We go to great lengths to manipulate people to come to church to “accept” Jesus.  But what happens when we can’t keep up the show?  What happens when we get tired of chasing people down and coming up with great programs to distract them from what they really want to do, which is SIN!

When I read the word through the proper lens I get to see Jesus for who He really is, in His power and His simplicity.  Jesus knew all that He had to offer…life and that more abundantly (John 10:10).  Because of this He was confident and knew that He didn’t have to sell Himself to anyone.  No gimmicks, no lies, no half-truths.  He had no great sales pitch because He is the word made flesh which makes Him enough…more than!  He is the beginning and the end, the first and the last and everything in between.  He gave it to them straight.

He did this to expose their hearts and to chase away those that were only there for a show, not for true surrender.

So as I comb through scripture and I get to know Jesus, it makes me take a hard look at how I evangelize.  Do I invite people to church, leading the conversation with all the programs we may have to pacify their children, and make the parents comfortable or do I shoot it straight.  Do I tell them this is the best decision they will ever make but they must be willing to count the cost?  Do I tell them that once they put their hands to the plow and if they look back they are not fit for the kingdom (Luke 9:62)? Do I tell them that they will suffer because they accept Christ, but to be encouraged because if they suffer for Him they will also reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12)?  Do I tell them the truth, do I tell them about Jesus?  No this approach is not harsh, it is love on full display.  Knowing that if they accept this truth it sets them free (John 8:32) and offers a peace that is beyond human understanding (Philippians 4:7)!

No longer should we be paralyzed if they don’t want Jesus. And for the record, He never tells us to go chase down those who really don’t want Him. Remember what He told the 12 disciples in Luke 9:5 when He first sent them out? The truth of God’s word is a sure repellant to those who don’t mean business with God.  If we get people to “come” to Jesus on a faulty foundation and lies they will not have a lasting relationship which is counterproductive, don’t you think?  May we be freed from looking “successful” to the world.  My God may we hunger for souls that are set on fire!  Even if it is only ten of them in the pews!

So I want to encourage you to take a hard look at how you evangelize. Do you find yourself dumbing down God’s standards in an effort to first get them in?  This is a worldly approach, one that is not endorsed by Jesus.  Come on brothers and sisters, let us go out in love, telling the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth and may God help us to do just that!  As we do this, watch God bring in those that are really hungry for Him!  We have work to do, and our job is to help bring in true laborers into the kingdom to set this world on fire for our God.  How about it?  Are you on board to return to true evangelism?

 

 

Decorating my heart for Christmas

It’s Christmas time again at the Jones’.  I get just as excited as the children at the thought of decorating our home for the Christmas season.  However, I know that it is even more important for me to “decorate” my heart with the truth of God’s word.  With that in mind, I went back to read the Christmas story from the book of Mathew and ditched the mindset of “I have read this so many times and I already know what happens.”

 

In Mathew 1:18-19 we learn that Joseph was engaged to be married to Mary and she was a virgin; not an exception in those days but the expectation.  However Mary ends up pregnant and it was not by Joseph!  It is certain Joseph was hurt and felt betrayed but even in his pain he purposed not to humiliate her.  He instead decided to break it off privately.  It was heavy on his heart and  he went to bed thinking about this thing.  Ever been there, weighed down with concerns as you go to bed…I have. The Lord saw his heart, saw his pain and provided an answer of peace while Joseph was sleeping.   Mathew 1:20 says as he considered this, he fell asleep and the angel of The Lord appeared to Him.  The angel of the Lord brought clarity to his situation.

Here it is Joseph was in a major life altering dilemma.  It is almost certain that he was hurt by Mary’s seemingly betrayal, but he opted not to put her on blast.  Wow!  What is your first response when you think you have been wronged by someone?  Do you look for every listening ear to broadcast the offense, only causing the wound to go deeper?  Do you immediately go on a revenge mission seeking to inflict the same pain you are feeling?

The explanation given to Joseph and his response blesses and convicts me all at the same time.  The angel of The Lord tells Joseph that the child Mary is carrying was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  Now let’s just be honest here, the explanation just did not make sense, it was foolish…at least in the natural. A virgin getting pregnant by the Holy Spirit?  What?    Who has ever heard of such a thing?  But Joseph didn’t question the explanation, he knew it was from God and that was enough.   He did not go asking for a second opinion. When God tells you to do something, do you wait for it to make sense before you act.  I have learned that I have to be ok with not understanding all of God’s directives, I have to trust that He is God and He knows best.  We often want to wrap our mind around all God is saying before we sign on the dotted line, give up on that method, it is pretty ineffective.  Truth be told, we often won’t understand it all because the plan is always so much bigger than we can comprehend.  Humble yourself, trust God and say Yes!

Joseph didn’t even know what he had stepped into, here God takes this ordinary boy and makes him one of the key characters in the greatest story ever!  In Mathew 1:21-23 the angel tells Joseph that the baby is going to be a boy, name him Jesus and oh yeah, he is going to save his people from their sins.  Then the angel of the Lord tells Joseph all of this is a fulfillment of the prophecies  that were given about the savior.  I  mean can you imagine, receiving all this news in one night.  Jesus simply means “The Lord Saves.”  So in other words, Joseph’s yes brought salvation to the world!  How can your yes to the seemingly impossible bring salvation to others?  Or consider this, how can your no hinder the salvation of others. Your disobedience does not only affect you.  Don’t hinder the flow, play your part and say yes.

My prayer is that you will be  encouraged to decorate your heart with obedience this Christmas.  Stay tuned for part two of this post.  Be blessed!