James 4:12.  There is only One lawgiver and judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. 

Ray Comfort’s most recent newsletter describes a way that he has been witnessing to folks, that has been very successful.  The following is an excerpt.

For years when I have done this, I have then said, “You broke God’s Law, and Jesus paid your fine in His life’s blood.” But, early in 2008, I added the words, “It was a legal transaction. You broke God’s Law (the Ten Commandments), and Jesus paid your fine. That means that God can legally dismiss your case. You can leave the courtroom on the Day of Judgment because another paid your fine. Does that make sense?”

From the first time I said those words, I noticed again and again, light go on in the eyes of my hearers. While this is certainly not a magic formula, many suddenly understood what I was trying to say when I explained the gospel that way. I can’t point to a Bible verse that uses this exact language, but I can say that legality is the essence of the cross. It was God’s love for justice and for guilty sinners, that drove Him to Calvary.
Man is unique among God’s creation. He is forensic by nature. He intuitively understands the principles of law, retribution and mercy, because he is made in the image of God. That’s why every civilization sets up court systems. That’s why there is a resonance with a sinner (see Romans 2:12-16). So when Paul then uses the Law to bring the knowledge of sin, he knows that he will find reverberation in their hearts (see Romans 2:21-24).

There will be a bunch of seed sowers meeting in Denver to witness downtown on New Years eve.  Robert sent me an email about it, and asks for prayer if you cannot go.  Pray for……..

* for power and filling of the Holy Spirit
* for rapport with the people
* for exaltation of Jesus and His Word
* for the fear of God to fall on the area
* for the blood of Jesus to cleanse the area
* for decrease of self, crucifixion of the flesh, and complete yielding
* for salvation of souls
* for strengthening of weak Christians
* for protection from police or physical harm

May God bless your visits with family and friends this Christmas.  And that you may get a chance to share the “reason for the season”.

Also, something that you might want to do is pick up a stuffed animal when they go 75% off, after Christmas.  I use them all the time as prizes when open air preaching.  It is amazing what kind of stuffed animal you can get for a few dollars.     Have a great and blessed Christmas!

From the WOTM newsletter…..   Deliverance from the “purpose driven” nonsense.

“I was a youth leader at a church I had been going to for about two years when I was reading, Purpose driven life and trying to find God’s purpose in my life, when in the Scripture I came across Matt. 3:2: ‘Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ I didn’t know what the word repent meant, so I googled it and The Way of the Master came up. I listened to Hell’s Best Kept Secret and repented of my sins and put my faith in Christ!”

While we were at the mall last night, Robert was sharing what his devotions were about that day.  He shared what Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest said that day…. “if we do not share the gospel with the lost, then we are a TRAITOR”.  This book was compiled from lectures that Oswald Chambers had at the YMCA around 1917, and how true it is today.  Why are we not hearing truth like this any more???

Devotion for December 20th from My Utmost for His Highest.

Very few of us have any understanding of the reason why Jesus Christ died. If sympathy is all that human beings need, then the Cross of Christ is an absurdity and there is absolutely no need for it. What the world needs is not “a little bit of love,” but major surgery.

When you find yourself face to face with a person who is spiritually lost, remind yourself of Jesus Christ on the cross. If that person can get to God in any other way, then the Cross of Christ is unnecessary. If you think you are helping lost people with your sympathy and understanding, you are a traitor to Jesus Christ. You must have a right-standing relationship with Him yourself, and pour your life out in helping others in His way— not in a human way that ignores God. The theme of the world’s religion today is to serve in a pleasant, non-confrontational manner.

But our only priority must be to present Jesus Christ crucified— to lift Him up all the time (see 1 Corinthians 2:2  ). Every belief that is not firmly rooted in the Cross of Christ will lead people astray. If the worker himself believes in Jesus Christ and is trusting in the reality of redemption, his words will be compelling to others. What is extremely important is for the worker’s simple relationship with Jesus Christ to be strong and growing. His usefulness to God depends on that, and that alone.

The calling of a New Testament worker is to expose sin and to reveal Jesus Christ as Savior. Consequently, he cannot always be charming and friendly, but must be willing to be stern to accomplish major surgery. We are sent by God to lift up Jesus Christ, not to give wonderfully beautiful speeches. We must be willing to examine others as deeply as God has examined us. We must also be sharply intent on sensing those Scripture passages that will drive the truth home, and then not be afraid to apply them.

AMEN BROTHER

We went to the mall last night.  Wow.  Just like a stocked pond.  The fishing was crazy!!!  We talked to hundreds of folks.  One group of girls just finished with confirmation at their Catholic church.  They had no idea what it takes to get to heaven, but were “hoping” to get there some day.  One girl said that they don’t do bad things like murder someone.  We discussed God’s standards of perfection and how Jesus said that “if you are angry with someone without cause, it is the same as murder”.  How you must be born again and a new creation.  How on the day of judgment, you must be seen as perfect in the eyes of “Him who we must give account”.  And how confessing your sins is not good enough.  They were very interested in what we had to say, and thanked us for sharing.  In fact, EVERYONE was thankful for us sharing the gospel with them.  What a great time to share the “reason for the season”.  God bless.

Me sharing with the folks

Connie with a group of kids

This weekend is normally one of the busiest shopping times of the year.  So the mall should be a busy place.  We are planning on going to the Citadel Mall this Saturday evening to share the gospel to the busy shoppers.  Maybe we could impress on them the real reason for the season, instead of buying and getting stuff. 

Also, I got an email this morning that was disappointing.  It was about a pastor from the Vineyard church who went to Salt Lake City to start a church.  This move was, apparently, with the blessing of the Vineyard church, but they changed their mind after he got there.  Looks like his recent statements concerning the lack of effectiveness of friendship evangelism has angered many in the church.  His call instead for repentence, and faith has caused the leadership of the Vineyard churches here in Colorado to speak out against him.  And his support from the Vineyard church is not going to be there.  A very sad development for him, the church and the state of “evangelicalism”  today.  It seems those who push “friendship evangelism” think that you can convince someone to convert.  Conversion is only from God, and anyone trying to make a convert from being a friend does not understand how God saves.  Those who are non Christians are dead in their sins and are enemies of God due to their wicked works.  They do not understand the things of God because they are spiritually discerned.  Only those that God draws to Himself can be saved, no matter how much you are a friend to them.  Salvation is of the Lord, and not from you being a good neighbor.  Now, will you do all of those things if you are a Christian?  Sure.  But it will not save anyone.  You are a friend and a good neighbor because you are a new creation and will have a love for your neighbor that you could never have before you were saved.  But salvation comes from hearing, and hearing from the Word of God.  For how can they believe in Him who they have not heard?  And how can they hear without someone telling them?  For we are not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God to salvation for those that believe.  Be a friend, but tell them the truth.  That is the measure of truly loving someone and being a “friend”.  As far as the pastor in Salt Lake City…….good for him.  May he be obedient to God with or without the Vineyard church and speak the truth in love to the folks of SLC and the churches today, who are wandering from the truth…..in case they would offend anyone, and they would leave the church.

Robert sharing the gospel with Brad

Robert and I went downtown this afternoon to share the Gospel with the lost.  This is Robert sharing with Brad.  We also talked to Adam, who is tired of his life and wants to change.  He is investigating the Islam faith.  We told him about all the faiths that are “works based” including the Moslem faith.  How he must be seen as perfect on the day of judgment, and how all the works based faiths (JW’s, Moslems, Mormons and even Catholics) will not save you on that day.  He understood what we were saying and said he would definitely check out what we said by reading the gospel of John.  He was very excited and thanked us for sharing with him.

We are planning on joining a bunch of fellow seed sowers this weekend at the Festival of Lights parade.  We will be handing out a bunch of tracts and (hopefully) preaching open air.  Please join us if you can or pray if you can’t.  Website for the parade is HERE.   

Contact us for info, or call Robert Gray   719-659-8588