Saturday, March 19, 2011
Pastoring a Flock: From the Heart of a Servant, Brother Tony Workman
What does it take to pastor a flock? It takes a man who is in love with Jesus and who loves people. The pastor must have compassion for His people. He must be willing to put people's needs ahead of his own. When someone is hurting, the pastor is there to put his arm around that person, and let them know how much he cares. Sometimes all people want is for the pastor to let them know how much they care. The pastor should be a reflection of God's love. The pastor should be willing to go to hospitals and pray over his people. I don't care how big the church is, the pastor must be there for the sick. A pastor must be forgiving. A pastor must forgive people and be long-suffering with people. That does not mean that a pastor is a push-over. Of course, there are times when discipline is necessary, but that discipline should always be done with a heart of love and with the person's best interests in mind. A pastor must finally Preach the Word! He must preach with boldness and he must preach as if he does not have another day to live. I think pastors should have fellowship with their people. Go out to eat with your flock (Watch what you eat), go to their homes. Show them that you love them. Be a shepherd to your people. It does not matter if the church is 20 or 20,000. Be a Shepherd. I desire to pastor a flock. I have the gift of evangelism but I also have the gift of pastoring. Some pastors do not pastor. If a church is looking for a pastor, then they must observe how the man interacts around people. Does he involve himself in other people's lives? Is he a man of compassion or is he a man who gets irritated often? If your church has men who do not possess these qualities, then maybe what you have is a great preacher, but not a great pastor. If you have a great preacher and a great pastor then you have it made. I want people to know that I love them. I want people to know that I am here if you need me. I long to fellowship with you. I long to listen to your problems and pray with you. I long to love you and lend my shoulder if you need to cry. I want you to know that I hurt when you hurt. It pains me when my friends and my church goes through problems. If I could take your hurts I would. I long to preach the Word! I long to teach people the ways of righteousness and see the lost saved! I love you!
Monday, March 7, 2011
What does Bible Prophecy say about the Middle East Meltdown?
The Bible has much to say about Bible prophecy. Approximately 27 percent of the Bible contains prophetic material. John Ankerberg and Dillon Burroughs explain in detail what does the Bible say about the Middle East Meltdown in their book Middle Eastern Meltdown. This book is an exciting read discussing many topics ranging from Islam, Oil, and terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah. All of these topics are extremely important in understanding the day in which we live, and the importance of Biblical prophecy. We are living in incredible times and the rapture according to Ankerberg and Burroughs could come at any moment. If that is the case then we truly are living in the last days and we as evangelicals should know why we should study prophecy, what part does religion have in the last days, the Rapture, what happens after the Rapture, where is America in Bible prophecy, what is Israel’s future, and finally making your future certain. These are all things that these two great authors discuss and these topics will be broken down in depth.
The first thing that these two authors discuss is Why Study Biblical Prophecy? Within this chapter, seven reasons are given on why we as Christians should study Biblical Prophecy: 1. Prophecy is God speaking directly to humanity, 2. God Himself commands us to study prophecy, 3. Jesus personally encouraged the study of prophecy, 4.Prophecy is evidence that God exists, 5. Prophecy gives us hope for the future, 6. Prophecy encourages a lifestyle of integrity, and 7. Prophecy shapes our personal thinking and worldview. When it comes to the first reason it is amazing “that every twenty-fifth verse in the New Testament refers to the second coming. Prophecy is extremely important in the entire Bible and that is one reason why God wants us to pay attention to prophecy. When it comes to the second reason, the Bible says all scripture is inspired which means that it literally is God-breathed. Prophecy is inspired because all scripture is inspired so we must obey God and be familiar with what prophecy means. When it comes to the third reason Jesus personally encouraged the study of prophecy in Mark 13:23. Mark 13:23 says, So be on guard: I have told you everything ahead of time. So Christ tells them to be aware of the times and to be on guard. That is yet another reason why we should study prophecy. When it comes to the fourth reason, Ankerberg says that “all it takes is one false prophecy to discredit the claim that the Bible is God’s Word to us. Yet the fact no prophecy of Scripture (of the prophecies fulfilled so far) has been proven false serves as confirmation of God’s trustworthiness and existence (129).” Knowing that prophecy is reliable is evidence that God exists. When it comes to the fifth reason, “prophecies intent is to help individuals and communities of people to be encouraged regarding God’s future of the world.” We as Christians have a home to look forward to. We are pilgrims and sojourners passing through. When it comes to the sixth reason, prophecy encourages people to live holy and blameless before the Lord because the Lord could return at any time. Finally, prophecy encourages us in how we think about the world around and how we live for lives from day to day. It impacts our worldview.
The second thing Ankerberg and Burroughs discuss is Religion in the Last Days. These authors point out that there will be a great falling away in the last days and they provide ten points based on the Word of God on this issue. In the last days people will depart from the faith. This is evident in the society that we are currently living in. In the culture that we live people are denouncing the fundamental doctrines of the faith, and Burroughs and Ankenberg attest to that fact. Evil Spirits will mislead people. In this day and time the number of people who believe they had an encounter with spirits is mindboggling. There also those that do not even believe that Satan exists and some profess to be Christians. People will follow the teaching of demons. Not everything that is proclaimed is truth. There are many different religious movements and these movements are promoting demonic doctrine. People will not put up with those who teach sound doctrine. In fact many of the fundamental doctrines have been ridiculed and those that promote the essential teachings of Christianity are deemed narrow-minded. People will hear what they want to hear, not what they need to hear. Ankerberg points out that “while many churches continue to faithfully communicate the true message of Jesus, thousands of others have individually or corporately rejected the central beliefs of the Christian faith.” We are truly living in the last days.
People will base their religious beliefs on fiction. For instance the Da Vinci code attacks the Resurrection and many people have bought into these lies and are beginning to believe the fictitious accounts. There will be church leaders who deny Jesus Christ. In the last days false prophets will arise. For instance Ankerberg points out “that there was a pastor who after 25 years of ministry told his congregation that he no longer believed that faith in Jesus is the only way to Heaven (140).” The last days will be terrible times. Things in today’s culture are getting progressively worse. Ankerberg points that statistics show that violence, and sexual misconduct are becoming the norms for today’s society. This sounds familiar to the things described in 1 Timothy 3:1-4. People will abandon the true Christian faith. There are many people that believe that the God of Islam is the same God as the God in the Bible. Many people believe that doing good works will get you to Heaven. People are departing from Christianity. Finally, people will doubt the second coming. There are some that believe that Christ’ return is not imminent. Yet, the reason he does delay is for people’s benefit. He wants everyone to be saved and to go to Heaven.
The third thing that Burroughs and Ankerberg talk about is the Rapture. In this chapter these authors interview Dr. Walvoord on the Rapture. There is only rapture. The rapture “ predicts that Christ is going to cause dead Christians to be resurrected and Christians who are alive to be instantly changed to rise from the earth and meet the Lord in the air and enter Heaven (148).”
The fourth thing that Ankerberg and Burroughs discuss is what happens after the rapture. Ankerberg and Burroughs explain that there will be a Tribulation of seven years in which the four horsemen of the apocalypse will be unleashed on the earth. The purpose of the Tribulation is to get Israel to finally acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah. Burroughs and Ankerberg talk about the Antichrist and explain that he will the greatest charismatic leader the world has ever seen. He will hate Israel and he will require the world to receive the mark of the beast.
The fifth thing that Ankerberg and Burroughs discuss is Where is America in Bible Prophecy? They point out four viewpoints about this topic. 1.America will remain strong, but unmentioned, 2. America will be weakened by attack from outside forces, 3. America will have lost her influence from decay, and 4. America is weakened due to the Rapture. These are all possible scenarios, but as Ankerberg and Burroughs point out “ America is not mentioned in prophecy, America does not hold a prominent role in the Tribulation period, and America will change dramatically upon the occurrence of the rapture.
The sixth thing that Ankerberg and Burroughs discuss is What is Israel’s Future? The author’s point out that Israel has been physically restored to their land and that happened in 1948. The authors go on to say that God has made divine promises to Israel that have yet to be fulfilled but will be in the future.
The final thing that Burroughs and Ankerberg discuss is Making Your Future Certain. They tell the reader that good works cannot get a person to Heaven. They tell us that God became sin for us so that we might have an opportunity to go to Heaven. They tell us that all we need to do is Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and we will be saved. They tell us that we do not have to have a lot of faith to be saved. All it takes is just a little bit of faith. They go on to tell us that once we call on the name of the Lord we can and will be saved.
We are children of God if we have made Him Lord of our life.Reading this book has really challenged me in my walk with Christ. It has challenged to dig deep into the Word of God and to live a holy life because I know that Jesus is returning again and it could be at any moment.
The first thing that these two authors discuss is Why Study Biblical Prophecy? Within this chapter, seven reasons are given on why we as Christians should study Biblical Prophecy: 1. Prophecy is God speaking directly to humanity, 2. God Himself commands us to study prophecy, 3. Jesus personally encouraged the study of prophecy, 4.Prophecy is evidence that God exists, 5. Prophecy gives us hope for the future, 6. Prophecy encourages a lifestyle of integrity, and 7. Prophecy shapes our personal thinking and worldview. When it comes to the first reason it is amazing “that every twenty-fifth verse in the New Testament refers to the second coming. Prophecy is extremely important in the entire Bible and that is one reason why God wants us to pay attention to prophecy. When it comes to the second reason, the Bible says all scripture is inspired which means that it literally is God-breathed. Prophecy is inspired because all scripture is inspired so we must obey God and be familiar with what prophecy means. When it comes to the third reason Jesus personally encouraged the study of prophecy in Mark 13:23. Mark 13:23 says, So be on guard: I have told you everything ahead of time. So Christ tells them to be aware of the times and to be on guard. That is yet another reason why we should study prophecy. When it comes to the fourth reason, Ankerberg says that “all it takes is one false prophecy to discredit the claim that the Bible is God’s Word to us. Yet the fact no prophecy of Scripture (of the prophecies fulfilled so far) has been proven false serves as confirmation of God’s trustworthiness and existence (129).” Knowing that prophecy is reliable is evidence that God exists. When it comes to the fifth reason, “prophecies intent is to help individuals and communities of people to be encouraged regarding God’s future of the world.” We as Christians have a home to look forward to. We are pilgrims and sojourners passing through. When it comes to the sixth reason, prophecy encourages people to live holy and blameless before the Lord because the Lord could return at any time. Finally, prophecy encourages us in how we think about the world around and how we live for lives from day to day. It impacts our worldview.
The second thing Ankerberg and Burroughs discuss is Religion in the Last Days. These authors point out that there will be a great falling away in the last days and they provide ten points based on the Word of God on this issue. In the last days people will depart from the faith. This is evident in the society that we are currently living in. In the culture that we live people are denouncing the fundamental doctrines of the faith, and Burroughs and Ankenberg attest to that fact. Evil Spirits will mislead people. In this day and time the number of people who believe they had an encounter with spirits is mindboggling. There also those that do not even believe that Satan exists and some profess to be Christians. People will follow the teaching of demons. Not everything that is proclaimed is truth. There are many different religious movements and these movements are promoting demonic doctrine. People will not put up with those who teach sound doctrine. In fact many of the fundamental doctrines have been ridiculed and those that promote the essential teachings of Christianity are deemed narrow-minded. People will hear what they want to hear, not what they need to hear. Ankerberg points out that “while many churches continue to faithfully communicate the true message of Jesus, thousands of others have individually or corporately rejected the central beliefs of the Christian faith.” We are truly living in the last days.
People will base their religious beliefs on fiction. For instance the Da Vinci code attacks the Resurrection and many people have bought into these lies and are beginning to believe the fictitious accounts. There will be church leaders who deny Jesus Christ. In the last days false prophets will arise. For instance Ankerberg points out “that there was a pastor who after 25 years of ministry told his congregation that he no longer believed that faith in Jesus is the only way to Heaven (140).” The last days will be terrible times. Things in today’s culture are getting progressively worse. Ankerberg points that statistics show that violence, and sexual misconduct are becoming the norms for today’s society. This sounds familiar to the things described in 1 Timothy 3:1-4. People will abandon the true Christian faith. There are many people that believe that the God of Islam is the same God as the God in the Bible. Many people believe that doing good works will get you to Heaven. People are departing from Christianity. Finally, people will doubt the second coming. There are some that believe that Christ’ return is not imminent. Yet, the reason he does delay is for people’s benefit. He wants everyone to be saved and to go to Heaven.
The third thing that Burroughs and Ankerberg talk about is the Rapture. In this chapter these authors interview Dr. Walvoord on the Rapture. There is only rapture. The rapture “ predicts that Christ is going to cause dead Christians to be resurrected and Christians who are alive to be instantly changed to rise from the earth and meet the Lord in the air and enter Heaven (148).”
The fourth thing that Ankerberg and Burroughs discuss is what happens after the rapture. Ankerberg and Burroughs explain that there will be a Tribulation of seven years in which the four horsemen of the apocalypse will be unleashed on the earth. The purpose of the Tribulation is to get Israel to finally acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah. Burroughs and Ankerberg talk about the Antichrist and explain that he will the greatest charismatic leader the world has ever seen. He will hate Israel and he will require the world to receive the mark of the beast.
The fifth thing that Ankerberg and Burroughs discuss is Where is America in Bible Prophecy? They point out four viewpoints about this topic. 1.America will remain strong, but unmentioned, 2. America will be weakened by attack from outside forces, 3. America will have lost her influence from decay, and 4. America is weakened due to the Rapture. These are all possible scenarios, but as Ankerberg and Burroughs point out “ America is not mentioned in prophecy, America does not hold a prominent role in the Tribulation period, and America will change dramatically upon the occurrence of the rapture.
The sixth thing that Ankerberg and Burroughs discuss is What is Israel’s Future? The author’s point out that Israel has been physically restored to their land and that happened in 1948. The authors go on to say that God has made divine promises to Israel that have yet to be fulfilled but will be in the future.
The final thing that Burroughs and Ankerberg discuss is Making Your Future Certain. They tell the reader that good works cannot get a person to Heaven. They tell us that God became sin for us so that we might have an opportunity to go to Heaven. They tell us that all we need to do is Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and we will be saved. They tell us that we do not have to have a lot of faith to be saved. All it takes is just a little bit of faith. They go on to tell us that once we call on the name of the Lord we can and will be saved.
We are children of God if we have made Him Lord of our life.Reading this book has really challenged me in my walk with Christ. It has challenged to dig deep into the Word of God and to live a holy life because I know that Jesus is returning again and it could be at any moment.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Do the Work of An Evangelist: Fulfill thy Ministry- 2 Timothy 4
Intro- I would rather win souls than be the greatest king or emperor on earth; I would rather win souls than be the greatest general that ever commanded an army; I would rather win souls than be the greatest poet, or novelist, or literary man that ever walked the earth. My one ambition in life is to win as many as possible. Oh, it is the only thing worth doing, to save souls, and men and women, we can all do it. It’s my business to preach the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s His business to bring results. These were the words of the great evangelist R.A. Torrey who had an international evangelistic ministry and who led many souls to Jesus Christ. These were the words of a True Evangelist.
In order to really see a revival in our churches, in our nation and in order to see a revival in evangelism, there are six principles that one must take hold of in order to truly make a difference in the Kingdom of God
First, One must have a love for souls- Acts 20:31 tells us that Paul for three years ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. This verse shows us the heart Paul had for souls and it opens to us one of the great secrets of Paul’s Power.
A. The Importance of Love for Souls
1. Because love for souls is an essential element of Christ-like character. Not to have love for souls is to be radically unlike Christ
2. Because love for souls is necessary to successful efforts for their salvation
3. Because lack of love for souls reveals either great hardness of the heart or inexcusable ignorance
B. How is love for souls manifested?
1. In a deep concern for their salvation
2. In earnest efforts for their salvation
3. In our being a constant lookout for opportunities to have some one
4. In going out to seek for them
5. In joy over lost souls saved
6. In sacrifices made to save them
7. In deep sorrow of soul for those who will not be saved. Too often are we provoked rather than sad
C. How do I obtain a love for lost souls?
-The great thing to keep in mind in seeking an answer to this question is that love for souls is the work of the Holy Spirit. But on what conditions does the Spirit impart it?
1. A deep and genuine desire on our part for a love for souls
2. Prayer. The prayer should be definite. Not merely for the work of the Holy Spirit in general, but for this specific and definite work of the Spirit. It seems to be a law of the Holy Spirit’s operation that He only gives that which we definitely see to be His work and definitely seek
3. The Spirit works through instrumentalities. The Truth. What Truth?
a. The value of the soul
b. The peril of the soul
c. Christ’s love for souls
II. One must understand the importance of soul winning. Proverbs 11:20 says The Fruit of the Righteous is a tree of life; but he that winneth souls is wise. Every wise man will make soul winning the business of life because:
A. Because it is the work Christ has appointed us to do- Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15- This is Christ’s commission to His disciples. The apostolic church undoubtedly understood that the commission was for the whole church and not merely to the officials. The idea of the church that soul-winning is the business of the pastor’s and the evangelist’s is utterly foreign to the New Testament ideas of the church.
B. Because it was the business of life with Jesus Christ and by making it the business of our lives we are following Him. Luke 19:10. No one has the right to call himself a follower of Christ who is not a soul winner, who is not going out to seek and save the lost.
C. Because it is the work in which we shall enjoy the unspeakable privilege of Christ’s personal presence. Matthew 28:20 says and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. It is a wonder that men pay so little attention to very stated condition of this promise.
D. Because it is the work for which the gift of the Holy Spirit is bestowed and in which we enjoy the fullness of the Spirit’s power. Acts 1:8. The gift of the Holy Spirit is bestowed for a special purpose and enjoyed in special work. That we may be witnesses, that we may have power in soul winning, not merely for our own personal blessing and enjoyment.
E. Because it is the work that produces the most beneficial results. James 5:20 says He which converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death. It saves souls from death. Three things we must consider here
1. The value of that which is saved a soul. Mark 8:36 says For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
2. The second thing to notice is the awfulness of that from which the soul is saved, from death. Not a mere cessation of existence but the degradation of existence, eternal shame and infamy, agony.
3. That to which the soul is saved
- To happiness
- To Holiness
- To glory
- To fellowship and likeness to God
III. One must understand and feel the reality of Hell
A. Many times people church neglect preaching about Hell, but it our responsibility as ministers to preach on Hell because it is a very real place. Read parts of Luke 16 and Matthew 7:21-24- “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
B. Many times Jesus warns His listeners of the place called Hell
C. Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost, and to provide salvation for an unregenerate world
D. Jesus illustrates the importance in Luke 5 of the importance of repentance and forgiveness when he heals the paralytic man of the palsy.
E. We must remember what it was like when we were lost in our sins and on our way to Hell. We must feel the darkness and torments of Hell.
IV. We must be genuine Christians if we want to reach the Lost
A. God hates lukewarm, and people are watching constantly, so be genuine!
B. Do you possess spiritual fruit in your life?
C. Does the Lost see Jesus living in your life?
D. We must be salt and we must be light in a dark world
E. We must understand that in order to reach the lost our lives must be pure and holy
F. The lost are looking to see a difference in your life
V. WE MUST PREACH THE WORD, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD!!!!
A. We must preach out again sin even it becomes unpopular to do so
B. We must preach repentance
C. We must preach the Word
D. There is no pleasure in the World that will bring satisfaction, Only Jesus will bring satisfaction
VI. In order to experience Holy Ghost Revival we must have the same Pentecostal Power that the first century church experienced. Simply put we must become a first century church in a twenty-first century world. This Pentecostal power is available for believers today if they will sell out and present their bodies a living sacrifice.
A.The Character of the Power- Acts 1:8-But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.". It is power for testimony and service
B.The Source of the Power- Acts 1:8. The Holy Ghost. The Spirit of God himself wielded the Sword of the Spirit
C.The Human conditions of the power- In other words what had the 120 done that prepared the way for and made certain the coming of the Holy Spirit in this Pentecostal Display of Power?
1.The Disciples were wholly surrendered to Christ
2.The Disciples were obedient
3.The Disciples recognized their need 1:14. There must be a clear recognition
4.The Disciples intensely desired. For ten days they bent their thought and prayer largely to this one point
5.The Disciples prayed
6.The Disciples believed. They expected.
D. How was the Spirit manifested in their lives?
1. Spoke in the Spirit’s power. They gave up their own strength and wisdom and used God’s
2. Testified to the mighty works of God, No talk of self, self was lost sight of
3. They preached Christ vs. 22-35
E. Results of the Spirit moving
1. Multitude amazed, marveled perplexed
2. Some mocked v.13
3. Men pricked to the very core of their being v.37. Genuine conviction. The need of this day
4. Genuine conversion vs. 41,42
VII- Conclusion- Can we have this power and similar results in our churches today? The answer is yes! I truly believe that God wants to revive this nation and revive the world! My soul waits upon God, for my expectation is from Him! I rejoice in the fact that you have read this post ; I rejoice in the amount of prayer that has been laid for me as I preach the Word. And friends, God has heard your prayers and is going to do something great in our midst! I say this from no confidence of my own, but because I believe I have heard the voice of God, and I say this as a prophet of God believing that you and I are going to see one of the mightiest movements in the history of the church of Jesus Christ on earth! I believe God wants me to spread this gospel throughout this land and to the whole world! I still believe that mass evangelism works and I still believe that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. Thanks and be blessed!
Reverend Tony Workman, Host of Reviving Your Day!
In order to really see a revival in our churches, in our nation and in order to see a revival in evangelism, there are six principles that one must take hold of in order to truly make a difference in the Kingdom of God
First, One must have a love for souls- Acts 20:31 tells us that Paul for three years ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. This verse shows us the heart Paul had for souls and it opens to us one of the great secrets of Paul’s Power.
A. The Importance of Love for Souls
1. Because love for souls is an essential element of Christ-like character. Not to have love for souls is to be radically unlike Christ
2. Because love for souls is necessary to successful efforts for their salvation
3. Because lack of love for souls reveals either great hardness of the heart or inexcusable ignorance
B. How is love for souls manifested?
1. In a deep concern for their salvation
2. In earnest efforts for their salvation
3. In our being a constant lookout for opportunities to have some one
4. In going out to seek for them
5. In joy over lost souls saved
6. In sacrifices made to save them
7. In deep sorrow of soul for those who will not be saved. Too often are we provoked rather than sad
C. How do I obtain a love for lost souls?
-The great thing to keep in mind in seeking an answer to this question is that love for souls is the work of the Holy Spirit. But on what conditions does the Spirit impart it?
1. A deep and genuine desire on our part for a love for souls
2. Prayer. The prayer should be definite. Not merely for the work of the Holy Spirit in general, but for this specific and definite work of the Spirit. It seems to be a law of the Holy Spirit’s operation that He only gives that which we definitely see to be His work and definitely seek
3. The Spirit works through instrumentalities. The Truth. What Truth?
a. The value of the soul
b. The peril of the soul
c. Christ’s love for souls
II. One must understand the importance of soul winning. Proverbs 11:20 says The Fruit of the Righteous is a tree of life; but he that winneth souls is wise. Every wise man will make soul winning the business of life because:
A. Because it is the work Christ has appointed us to do- Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15- This is Christ’s commission to His disciples. The apostolic church undoubtedly understood that the commission was for the whole church and not merely to the officials. The idea of the church that soul-winning is the business of the pastor’s and the evangelist’s is utterly foreign to the New Testament ideas of the church.
B. Because it was the business of life with Jesus Christ and by making it the business of our lives we are following Him. Luke 19:10. No one has the right to call himself a follower of Christ who is not a soul winner, who is not going out to seek and save the lost.
C. Because it is the work in which we shall enjoy the unspeakable privilege of Christ’s personal presence. Matthew 28:20 says and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. It is a wonder that men pay so little attention to very stated condition of this promise.
D. Because it is the work for which the gift of the Holy Spirit is bestowed and in which we enjoy the fullness of the Spirit’s power. Acts 1:8. The gift of the Holy Spirit is bestowed for a special purpose and enjoyed in special work. That we may be witnesses, that we may have power in soul winning, not merely for our own personal blessing and enjoyment.
E. Because it is the work that produces the most beneficial results. James 5:20 says He which converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death. It saves souls from death. Three things we must consider here
1. The value of that which is saved a soul. Mark 8:36 says For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
2. The second thing to notice is the awfulness of that from which the soul is saved, from death. Not a mere cessation of existence but the degradation of existence, eternal shame and infamy, agony.
3. That to which the soul is saved
- To happiness
- To Holiness
- To glory
- To fellowship and likeness to God
III. One must understand and feel the reality of Hell
A. Many times people church neglect preaching about Hell, but it our responsibility as ministers to preach on Hell because it is a very real place. Read parts of Luke 16 and Matthew 7:21-24- “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
B. Many times Jesus warns His listeners of the place called Hell
C. Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost, and to provide salvation for an unregenerate world
D. Jesus illustrates the importance in Luke 5 of the importance of repentance and forgiveness when he heals the paralytic man of the palsy.
E. We must remember what it was like when we were lost in our sins and on our way to Hell. We must feel the darkness and torments of Hell.
IV. We must be genuine Christians if we want to reach the Lost
A. God hates lukewarm, and people are watching constantly, so be genuine!
B. Do you possess spiritual fruit in your life?
C. Does the Lost see Jesus living in your life?
D. We must be salt and we must be light in a dark world
E. We must understand that in order to reach the lost our lives must be pure and holy
F. The lost are looking to see a difference in your life
V. WE MUST PREACH THE WORD, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD!!!!
A. We must preach out again sin even it becomes unpopular to do so
B. We must preach repentance
C. We must preach the Word
D. There is no pleasure in the World that will bring satisfaction, Only Jesus will bring satisfaction
VI. In order to experience Holy Ghost Revival we must have the same Pentecostal Power that the first century church experienced. Simply put we must become a first century church in a twenty-first century world. This Pentecostal power is available for believers today if they will sell out and present their bodies a living sacrifice.
A.The Character of the Power- Acts 1:8-But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.". It is power for testimony and service
B.The Source of the Power- Acts 1:8. The Holy Ghost. The Spirit of God himself wielded the Sword of the Spirit
C.The Human conditions of the power- In other words what had the 120 done that prepared the way for and made certain the coming of the Holy Spirit in this Pentecostal Display of Power?
1.The Disciples were wholly surrendered to Christ
2.The Disciples were obedient
3.The Disciples recognized their need 1:14. There must be a clear recognition
4.The Disciples intensely desired. For ten days they bent their thought and prayer largely to this one point
5.The Disciples prayed
6.The Disciples believed. They expected.
D. How was the Spirit manifested in their lives?
1. Spoke in the Spirit’s power. They gave up their own strength and wisdom and used God’s
2. Testified to the mighty works of God, No talk of self, self was lost sight of
3. They preached Christ vs. 22-35
E. Results of the Spirit moving
1. Multitude amazed, marveled perplexed
2. Some mocked v.13
3. Men pricked to the very core of their being v.37. Genuine conviction. The need of this day
4. Genuine conversion vs. 41,42
VII- Conclusion- Can we have this power and similar results in our churches today? The answer is yes! I truly believe that God wants to revive this nation and revive the world! My soul waits upon God, for my expectation is from Him! I rejoice in the fact that you have read this post ; I rejoice in the amount of prayer that has been laid for me as I preach the Word. And friends, God has heard your prayers and is going to do something great in our midst! I say this from no confidence of my own, but because I believe I have heard the voice of God, and I say this as a prophet of God believing that you and I are going to see one of the mightiest movements in the history of the church of Jesus Christ on earth! I believe God wants me to spread this gospel throughout this land and to the whole world! I still believe that mass evangelism works and I still believe that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. Thanks and be blessed!
Reverend Tony Workman, Host of Reviving Your Day!
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