Evangelism Starts With A Prayer
If you are interested in seeing the power and results of prayer, then pray for someone's salvation. Immediately, the object of your prayer will experience strife, sorrow, anger, bitterness and resentment. These are the necessary labor pains of a new birth.
Whenever Jesus spoke to a group of people, the Bible tells us that he went away to pray alone. He prayed that the seed he just planted would take hold and create a pregnancy of the Holy Spirit. While the spirit grows the person will become uncomfortable, irritable and possibly even depressed - just as a woman who is pregnant. These emotions are a necessary part of salvation because there is now a war going on inside this person. The old -self is fighting to maintain hold over the new, developing self. The dark spirit is fighting to maintain control over the spirit of light. It is a war and the prize is the person's eternal life.
"For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: If any one will not work, let him not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work in quietness and to earn their own living. Brethren, do not be weary in well-doing. If any one refuses to obey what we say in this letter, note that man, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not look on him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother." 2Thessalonians 3:10-15 RSV
For those who are brothers and sisters in Christ, Paul is not speaking about spiritual food here.
We are all commanded to witness and give testimony to God's plan of salvation through the death and resurrection of his son, Jesus. Not only must we earn our own spiritual living by reading the Word and praying, but we must evangelize the world. Those who are not doing the work of the Lord - as commanded - should be ashamed. Time is running out.
Whenever Jesus spoke to a group of people, the Bible tells us that he went away to pray alone. He prayed that the seed he just planted would take hold and create a pregnancy of the Holy Spirit. While the spirit grows the person will become uncomfortable, irritable and possibly even depressed - just as a woman who is pregnant. These emotions are a necessary part of salvation because there is now a war going on inside this person. The old -self is fighting to maintain hold over the new, developing self. The dark spirit is fighting to maintain control over the spirit of light. It is a war and the prize is the person's eternal life.
"For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: If any one will not work, let him not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work in quietness and to earn their own living. Brethren, do not be weary in well-doing. If any one refuses to obey what we say in this letter, note that man, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not look on him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother." 2Thessalonians 3:10-15 RSV
For those who are brothers and sisters in Christ, Paul is not speaking about spiritual food here.
We are all commanded to witness and give testimony to God's plan of salvation through the death and resurrection of his son, Jesus. Not only must we earn our own spiritual living by reading the Word and praying, but we must evangelize the world. Those who are not doing the work of the Lord - as commanded - should be ashamed. Time is running out.
posted by Hepzibah The Watchman | 7:30 AM
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