Day 7: 50 Days of Passion

Fear can hold back many people. How many are afraid of public speaking, addressing a crowd can be petrifying to some. The medical world has created a whole chapter on this issue of fear and even created words that the classify as phobias. Some have created the terms Evangephobia or Gospelphobia as one who is afraid to share their faith.

 

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. Philippians 1:12-14

 

There is no medical reference to a phobia on sharing the gospel. These terms I mentioned above are coined from churches or ministries creating buzz words to point out that the fear of sharing the gospel is a real thing. There was a fear in Paul’s time for sharing the gospel. But their reasons are way different then ours, sharing the gospel for us makes us uncomfortable, sharing in Paul’s day could cost you your life.

Paul displayed in jail that no matter the circumstance, situation or his lot in life he was willing to share his faith. He didn’t care who knew he followed Christ but confidently shared it with everyone including the palace guards. This confidence is infections. You see it says, “most of the brothers and sister”, this tells me that not all dared to surpass their fears. Many did and their passion increased, their fears decreased and they were able to share their faith in confidence.

Can this life experience of Paul ignite a passion in your heart to overcome your fear to share the gospel?  Or do you know someone who is confident in sharing their faith? If you do hang out with them, let their confidence infect you, let their passion for reaching the lost rub off on you. Join them and be mentored by them, ensure that the purpose of your time together is on reaching the lost and not distracted by your needs.

Like any fear the first step is to admit your afraid. Once you do that you can work towards overcoming that fear. Trying to do something you are afraid to do is hard, but asking the Holy Spirit to remove that fear will change you from the inside out. Stepping out in faith and doing when he gives you that push will build your confidence.

If you want your passion to be the consistent in your life then fear of reaching the lost must go. There is a certain joy that can only be experienced by sharing your faith with another person who is lost. It explodes in your heart when that person commits their life to Jesus.

Are you ready to let go of your fear?

Father, so many of us are caught in this fear of sharing our faith, we think we will lose friends, family or social standing. We are confused by the way the world says that we must accept all and be open to everything. Forgive us for falling for this trap of the enemy, let us not give into this fear. Holy Spirit we ask for you to remove this fear that is holding us back, give us a confidence and to share the truth. Give us mentors who will disciple us and provide us direction in sharing our faith. We want to reaching others and share your love to this world. I pray encouragement and renewed passion for anyone reading this. Amen

 

 

Day 50: 50 Days of Impact

If I had cancer, yet I didn’t know I had cancer I would not be very open to hear you tell me that I had it. If I wasn’t displaying any symptoms or feeling and effects I would call you misinformed. Especially if you were just my friend or co-worker, not even a professional. No one is looking for cancer in their own body. It is the same as sin, no one is looking or thinking they have sinned. For you to tell me I’m a sinner well that can’t be. I am a good person. Dr.’s know what to look for when it comes to cancer, they know the signs, symptoms and what to identify in blood. Jesus in conjunction with the Holy Spirit knows what sin is and wants to open your eyes to the life your living and the life that He has for you. Most people have a hard time accepting the diagnostic, but when you do and seek help that’s when truly healing can begin.

 

“For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.”

Romans 8:7 NLT

 

 

We need to remember that those who don’t have a relationship with Jesus are not looking for him. Those who haven’t been washed clean by the blood of the lamb, are still soaked in the sinful nature and remain hostile towards God. Why would a good God do such bad things to this world and it is people? They will ask questions like that. Because they don’t see the condition they are in.

 

If they could only look at themselves from Gods eyes, they would be down on their knees in seconds praying that God would save them from their evil ways.

 

But God, having a plan to offer redemption made a way for us to be free of sin. Jesus calls out to the people of this world to come to him. In our stubborn selfish ways we don’t hear him, and we ignore his call. I am sure you have friends or family who you have talked to many times about the love of Jesus and they keep shrugging it off and don’t seem interested.

 

Don’t give up, don’t stop sharing, don’t stop praying for them. The only lost cause is one who has been buried. So as long as they have a breath in their bodies keep loving them.

 

Dear Jesus, we need you to continue to call out to the ones we love. We want our friends and family to come to you. We open ourselves up to be used by you to witness to anyone you set in our path. Loosen our lips to share of what you have done for us and want to do for them. Amen

 

Day 33: 50 Days of Impact

If I had the cure for some incurable disease and never shared it what would that make me? Or if I found it but then mad it so expensive that only the elite could afford it or put others in extreme financial hardship to get well, to the point of not living once cured. We look at what Jesus has done and can’t comprehend what he actually has done for this world. He selfishly gave him self up as a cure for sin. He then offered it freely to those who would only accept it and him. No works to be done, no daily mantras to recite, no human or idol to worship.  He asks that you talk to him, ask for forgiveness and do a 180 on the life you were living. He will take us, our personalities, likes and talents and use you to help others see who his is. Following Jesus doesn’t mean losing your identity but finding out who you were truly meant to be.

 

“And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.”

Jude 1:22-23 NLT

 

 

We have heard it before hate the sin but love the person. Why is that so important of a point? If we hate the person and the sin we then display that they are important to us, or if they aren’t important to us then how important are they to God. John 3:16 is the key where it says, “for God so loved the world”. This tells me the world is important to God, and if they are important to God they should be important to us.

 

This passage is an urgent plea to snatch people from the flames of judgment. We need to purposefully reach others, telling them about the saving grace of Jesus. Because if you believe it or not there are only two options in death. Heaven or hell. And the choices we make here on earth decide where we go. And don’t be fooled a choice of “not now”, it is a choice of hell.

 

So, what is holding you back from sharing your faith? What’s holding you back from inviting someone to your church? Do you love them enough to care where they spend eternity? I pray even today you will reach someone for Jesus!

 

Jesus, give us a strength and passion to reach the lost. Holy Spirit give us many opportunities even today to share about Jesus. You told us that God so loved the world and continues to love the world, not to condemn it but to bring life. Help us to see others the way God does, love them the way he does. They matter to him so they should matter to us. Amen

 

Day 21: 50 Days of Impact

No more then ever we are coming to realize that words have more harmful effect then some generations told us. The old saying “sticks and stones may break our bones but names will never hurt us”, was the mantra of my generation as a kid. We now come to see mental illness and other problems arise due to low self esteem and low self worth due to the way people have been treated. Sticks and stones will break you bones, but they heal. Words cut deeper and leave scars that are harder to heal. Jesus is the ultimate healer and he can heal your hurt from the words that have cut you deeply.

 

“The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”

Proverbs 18:21 NLT

 

The tongue is the most powerful weapon we have. It can destroy and build up. As the proverb reads ‘bring death or life’. But how can words bring death? Mean words that hurt people based on their appearance, mannerisms or disability has lead to many suicides or even mass shootings from an angry individual(s) looking for revenge and answers. How many women have chosen an abortion because they were talked into it? Our words can lead us down roads we never want to be on.

 

But in contrast our words can bring life. Not only our words. The words of Jesus bring LIFE. He taught us how to live life. He showed us what it means to use words to build others up.

 

Words are only useful and powerful in the giving of life if we open our mouths and use words that bring life. We can sit and talk to our friends about everything from weather, to news, politics and sports. But when it comes to the import things in life like a relationship with Jesus we treat those words like poison.  We think, sure it is honey to our lips, but sharing it they will only be bitter to theirs. Rejection is what we fear. But if we don’t try then we will never know.

 

We need to break these preconceived notions that people are always going to negatively respond to the message of Jesus. If we believe the words that Jesus spoke about life then we need to believe that Jesus not only loves us but he loves everyone and they need to hear about his love for them.

 

Dear Jesus, to often we fear that you will be reject if we speak about you. Prove us wrong. Holy Spirit guide us and show us who to share with giving us the words to speak. We are not given a spirit of fear, so help us to live that way, proud of being a Christian wanting to share the love of Jesus with others. Amen

 

 

 

 

Day 15: 50 Days of Impact

Lately if you have been reading my posts you will have seen a trend of making an impact in our world through sharing the truth about sin and salvation. I am hoping that this is connecting with you and motivating you to move forward in sharing your faith. The amazing thing about this avenue is I have no idea who may be reading this and how it may be showing them the truth. Wouldn’t it be awesome for one day when I am walking on the new earth to have somebody come up to me and tell me that they are there because of something wrote. What you do effects so many people, will what you do be positive and work towards leading them to a relationship with Jesus, or will it hinder them from finding him?

 

“This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.”

1 Timothy 1:15-16 NLT

 

We sometimes come into a place as Christians where we have been so comfortable in our salvation that we forget or overlook that we were once sinners in need of a saviour. Then we become complacent in our sharing the love of Christ with the list, and become pew sitters.

 

Many of our eyes are blind to the lost people around us. We know their lost but for some reason, apathy perhaps, we don’t care. The calling to reach those who are lost needs to be our life focus, not with a sense of guilt leading it, but a genuine passion to share Gods love with this broken world. The joy that comes when someone receives Christ for the first time is unexplainable, the roar of rejoicing in heaven echoing in our hearts.

 

Dear Jesus, I need a passion for the lost. I am failing in the great commission and want to turn that part of my life around. Holy Spirit give me words to speak, help me past my pride and ego to share your love. Amen
How can I help you today? Do you need prayer? Do you have questions? I would love to help.

Day 13: 50 Days of Impact

People all around us are searching for purpose. We accept so many counterfeit ideas that claim to give us purpose in life. We see this all the time in our world where people feel their purpose is something us “normal” people find disturbing. Whatever it maybe they fight hard to show people that what they believe is truth, they expect others to join them in their purpose. The thing about all these purpose driven lives is they are rooted in sin, and sin doesn’t care how many people get hurt along the way. They honestly believe what they are fighting for is truth. God created us with a purpose. You can read about our purpose in Genesis. It was to have a relationship with God. Sin divided us from having this God sent Jesus to restore this relationship. We need to help people see what our purpose is.

 

“For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.”

Philippians 1:20 NLT

 

Paul in this story was in prison for preaching the gospel of Christ. He was torn between reaching the lost and just going home to be with Jesus. I don’t believe at any time was Paul contemplating suicide, but the fact that he understood if for some reason he was to die while in jail, he knew where he was heading and was okay with it.

 

We are called to be bold for Christ. Not to be ashamed of the gospel. To share the love of Christ and make disciples as commanded in the great commission. Yet we sit in our own prison cells waiting for death. I say wake up and walk out the door, if you have Jesus as your saviour you are free and the door to your prison us side open. You no longer need to be sitting in it dwelling on the past of focusing on your sins. Jesus has set you free, and in that freedom, he asks you to share it with others. He commands you to share with others.

It says Jesus stands at the door to each and every person on earths heart and is knocking.  What in the world does he need us for? I believe our mission in sharing Jesus to the lost is not to save, for that is a choice they must ask for, ours is to focus the person to hear Jesus knocking. Leading them to the door and letting them know who is on the other side.

 

Dear Jesus, we are called to go and make disciples. Sharing to gospel if Christ to all people. I pray that we don’t become complacent expecting others to do the work for us. Missionaries have their place, but we don’t want to be funding them so we can sit back and say well my work is done. We are called to share with others. Holy Spirit equip us to share, guide us, motivate us out of our comfort zones. We want to tell others about Jesus love to them and the relationship he desires to have with them. Amen

 

Day 13: 50 Days of Impact

We look at other countries or even our own and wonder who put this person in charge. Are the even qualified to run this place? There are different ways to deal with this; 1) There are those who actively oppose them either with protesting and in some cases violence. 2) Those who just take it, they know it will pass and although they may not like it what can they do. 3) lastly there are those who flee for their live.

We need to flee into the arms of Jesus. Then and only then can we actively oppose the enemy that is destroying this world. We are not called to be passive, but to fight the enemy from within is hopeless. Only free people can free people.

 

“But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy.” Psalms 5:11 NLT

All over the world there are millions of displaced people’s, we call refugees. Driven out of their homes by wars or cruel dictators and their armies. They flee in hopes of a new life somewhere else where things can be ” normal”.

Non-believers are living a life full of internal wars, and living a life lead by a mad dictator whose only desire is to keep them from finding the truth that they are heading towards destruction. These people need to have their eyes opened to the sin that infects their lives. As believers, we need to share the love of Jesus who is offering them not just refugee status but citizen status for anyone who would cry out to him for help. He came to rescue them from the path to destruction.

This mad dictator who is running their lives has convinced them that they are good enough, so much so that even when presented with the truth of Jesus they dismiss it as something for the weak person and not for them. We need to work even harder to break this chain of complacency in the lives of those around us. We need to display a life of joy and peace that can only come from Jesus.

Jesus, soften the hearts of those who need you, give us words to displace the lies that the enemy has build into their lives. Give us wisdom to use the right words at the right time, things that we would never know without the discernment of the Holy Spirit. We want to bring people to know you and to be free from the path of destruction. They matter to you and they matter to us. Amen

 

Day 12: 50 Days of Impact

Day 12: 50 Days of Impact

 

Unless you are asleep under a rock or are a hermit in the woods (in both cases why are you on the internet), you know that this world is going crazy. Hatred for fellow mankind which we hope is going runs deep in many, they think of themselves greater then others. Here is the problem and I will say it over and over again, we are so focused on the symptoms and side effects but we fail to see the sickness, Sin. Like a weed unless we destroy the root it will continue to work its way back into our society.

 

The awesome part is that Jesus already defeated the root of sin, he has power over sin. We are foolish to believe that just coming together against sin in our own power will lead to any big changes. All the rallies, policies, vigilantly justice or your social media outcries can do nothing to stop sin. Until people fall to their knees and cry out to Jesus to rescue them the cycle of sin will continue until Jesus returns.

 

 

“Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up?”

Proverbs 6:6-9 NLT

We are in summer, it isn’t time to be sun bathing. Wake up! Jesus is returning soon! Are you ready? Are you sharing with others the hope you have in Christ? Wake up! Don’t be like the foolish virgins who have empty lamps when the groom returns. Fill them up. Wake up! Church are we asleep at the wheel? Wake up! There is a world, a country, a community, a neighbor who needs to know about Jesus. Wake up! Where is our passion for the lost, why are we so apathetic to the cause, everyone needs Jesus. Wake up!

Holy Spirit, we need an influx of passion for the lost. Give us a desire and grieve our hearts for the people who need Jesus. Give us wisdom and determination to just do it. Help us put our pride aside, we need to reach the people who don’t know you. Not to grow our personal church but to grow your CHURCH. If we want to see things change we need to be changed first. Amen

 

Day 11: 50 Days of Impact

Things are happening daily in this world that we would easily describe as tragedies. Others are not so much tragedies but purposeful acts of evil that no one can explain away. They will point the blame and blame a group of people but they never truly understand what is the cause behind it all. Sin, it is the backbone of the evil in this world, its goal is to confuse, constrict and keep people so distracted to who God is. How will our reactions as believers impact those watching?

 

“People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy.”

Ecclesiastes 9:12 NLT

 

Tragedy comes to everyone. Cancer, death, strokes, car accidents, suicides, murder, job losses, unexpected expenses, theft, and many other things constitute tragedy. These things can hit the beloved and unbeliever alike.

 

We as believers take these life events no less hard. It is all in how we react to them that will determine how we survive them.

We grieve when we need to grieve. Fight when we need to fight. But the awesome reality is we don’t do it alone. We have a father who comforts us and a family we can come to lean on.

 

Let us be that comfort to those around us who don’t know Jesus. Show them the love in the tragedy. Be the friend they need. They need to see us as friends and not enemies.

Sin is here to keep people away from God, it is our nature to enjoy those pleasures, but our purpose is to connect with the creator. Until we do that we will never be satisfied with life.

If today you are wanting to surrender to Jesus, asking him to forgive you of sin and free you from its bondage, I encourage you to just talk to him. There is no magic prayer, no mantra you must repeat. It is your heart he is looking at when you talk to him. If you make this change I encourage you to find a church that is invested in God and plug into a family of believers.

 

Jesus, we all know people who are hurting, help us to share your love to them in their grief and despair. Let them know they are loved by you and your family. Jesus, I am sorry for the things I have done, forgive me of my sins, I surrender my life to you. Amen

 

Day 50: Original 50 Days of Pray Revisited

Thoughts on Day 50: Well it was great revisiting this original series with you. I hope you enjoyed it. Remember, prayer is a powerful weapon we can use to reach the lost, and talk to God.

DAY FIFTY

But Jesus, again crying out loudly, breathed his last. (Matthew 27:50 MSG)

When I started the 50 Days of Pray I did not count ahead to see when if would be ending. I think it is fitting that it ended on Good Friday.

Jesus, beaten and bruised, hanging up on the cross, they didn’t stop mocking Him, they gave Him sour wine. But that is not why Jesus was crying out. I can’t imagine what He must have been going through as every imaginable sin from creation to completion was put on Him. It was so unbearable that he cried out loudly. It wasn’t the torture or the cross, that killed Him, I believe it was the overwhelming sin that was thrust upon Him that took His last breath.

But I am so glad that the story doesn’t end there. 3 days later He resurrected from the grave. Amazing. He defeated sin and death once and for all. So he knows what you are experiencing, he knows your pain.

Dear Jesus, thank You for taking sin on for us. Thank You for bearing it all on the cross. You are so amazing. Keep working in my life, I want to do anything You ask of me. Amen