Truth Inspires

Throughout my life as a Christian I have encountered many different reactions to my walk faith in Christ. Some have been very pleasant and some not so much. One thing I have realized is my faith has propelled me to experience the supreme truth of 2 Timothy 3:12, "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution ." Honestly, when I became a believer I was not really prepared for the things awaiting me when I made it my aim to be obedient in sharing my faith. But there I was and th ere t hey were —my Jerusalem —the lost souls of those the Lord placed in my path. Becoming a Believer After kneeling before God in prayer outside of my place of employment , God made Himself known to me in a very meaningful way. I have to admit that I had come to a point of brokenness before God. The previous two weeks had found me in a fallen and severely depressed state--despairing even of life. By age nineteen I saw my life going downhill with no clear hope to ...

With the signs of the times pointing toward the end of the age as the prophesied in the eschatological scenarios of the prophets and the Lord Himself, you would think the church age as we know it was finishing its course. But the de-evangelising of society tells a different story. In the first few centuries of the church persecution was common as it spread outward from Jerusalem. But it eventually the persecution subsided thanks in part to the "Edict of Milan 313 A.D." This edict supplied a ruling that Christians were to be released from imprisonment, goods were to be returned, and persecution was to cease. Soon Christianity became widespread. Today Christianity in the Western nations has had its day it seems; or at least that is how it looks. Instead of spreading out in the west it is thinning out. According to Ed Stetzer, 3500-4000 churches are closing their doors annually.** Facts are facts. When I go out into my neighborhood to share Christ I am amazed how many house...

Evangelism – euaggelion - εὐαγγέλιον Surely one of the chief purposes of the Church is to carry out the non-optional task of sharing the good news of Christ’s birth, death, resurrection, and ministry of intercession, Mt. 28:18-20; Heb. 7:25, with a world lost in blindness. The word evangelize comes from the Greek noun, euaggelion, which means literally, good or glad tidings or even good news. We know it as the word gospel in the New Testament. The Greek verb euaggelizo, means to announce or bring good news, or to preach the gospel—the glad tidings. In Luke’s gospel from the Lord, consider how the Greek words are translated in the following verses (I have underscored the word): Luke 2:10 “Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.”  Luke 4:18a “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR;” Luke 4:43 “but He said to them, “I must preach...

I will trust You!! Psalm 143:8   The toughest thing Christians struggle with is by far, “faith.” Faith to believe there is a God. Faith to trust that He knows who we are (He is personal). Faith to believe He is sovereignly in control of our lives. Faith to trust that He will follow through on His promises (that is, his promises are true and trustworthy). Faith to trust that he will do what we ask in accordance with His will. Faith to continuously trust Him even if the answer we received was not included in our request.   Faith to believe and accept that He knows what is best for us. Faith is part of the Christian’s growing process. If we are to be conformed to the image of Christ, Rom. 8:29, then the very word “conformed” must by proxy include process of transformation. The process God uses is the same at its root level for all, but the experience differs. I believe the difference in experience is directly related to the call that God places on each life. Aft...