Are You Persuasive?

Persuasive: convincing, compelling, forceful.
Have you ever convinced someone to do something that you want them to do? We all have at some time or another; sometimes with great ferver. Have you ever been that way while you witness to someone? We see in Acts 26, that Paul is witnessing to King Agrippa and Festus and when he is done speaking in verse 28 King Agrippa says, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." Most Christians in America want to let their lives do the witnessing instead of bringing the Gospel to our friends, neighbors, and co-workers. When we witness, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with the words that will speak to that person. We also need to allow the Holy Spirit to give us a burning desire to share from our hearts what the Lord has done for us. He will give us power... (Acts 2:8). If we don't have a personal relationship with Christ, we can't convey to others the depths of Christ's love by dying for us. We need to live it and speak it!!

Who Would You Die For?

Is there a person in your life you would die for? Your mom, dad, or another family member? What about Jesus? In America we normally don't have to face the persecution that the early followers of Christ, or those under communism, have had to face. We see in Acts 21:13 that Paul said, "I am not ready to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." I have been reading the book "Tortured for Christ" which is about men and women who have sacrificed everything to preach the Gospel to the lost under the rule of communism. Would you be willing to lay down your life for Jesus to reach the lost?

Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing?

Acts 20:29-30 - "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.” Have you ever heard of the emerging church? The basic premise is more about the worship experience and less about the teaching of God’s word. Dan Kimball, one of the prominent leaders of the emerging church, had this to say about worship: “We should be returning to a no-holds-barred approach to worship and teaching so that when we gather, there is no doubt we are in the presence of God. I believe that both believers and unbelievers in our emerging culture are hungry for this. It isn’t about clever apologetics or careful exegetical and expository preaching or great worship bands...Emerging generations are hungry to experience God in worship.” The Bible teaches that there needs to be a balance between worship and the teaching of God's Word. When we step out of balance, we leave ourselves open to perverse things. Is there something you can do to keep yourself from being drawn into these churches that are changing God’s word? Are you stepping out of the care of the Shepherd and into the wolf pack?