Exhort One Another

[Jeff K]

Our church hosts a men's breakfast once a month and I was asked to present the message this month. Below is a copy of my notes for what I plan to talk about.
It's my prayer that this message would encourage others to be of one accord and to cry out for boldness to share the gospel of Christ with the lost.
Blessings



Pastor asked if I would be willing to give a message on this date back in May.

In August, I wrote Pastor about this thought that I had for the men’s breakfast message.

This morning I thought I would share with you what has been on my heart and what I need help with.


1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
· Have you ever thought about what the trump of God will sound like, and do you long to hear it?
· Christ coming back to rapture His church out of this world is imminent – it could happen at any moment. Are you living your life as if He were coming today?


Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
· Jesus gave Himself for us so that we would not have to suffer the wrath of God that each of us deserve – are you looking for His promised return, our blessed hope?
· Peculiar people, zealous of good works – being conformed to the image of His Son.
· Jesus Christ is coming!


· Does this glorious event of meeting Christ in the air make you think of those who will either die without Christ or be left behind to face the tribulation?
· Think about those whom God will send a strong delusion that they may believe the lie?
· Do you have a burden for the lost to come to Jesus?


1 John 2:28
And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
· What would cause a man to be ashamed before Christ?
· We know that the Christian will not be judged for his sins, but he will be judged on their faithfulness in serving Christ.
· How is your witness for Jesus?
· Are you on purpose attempting to share the gospel of Christ with the lost?


Colossians 4:2-5
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
· Are you vigilant in prayer asking God to open doors for you to share the gospel?
· Are you using all the time, treasures and talents God has given you to redeem the time toward those on the outside – the lost?


I’ve been cooking for the men’s breakfast for several years now.
As the Lord has impressed on me to be a witness for Him, and I’ve come to ask these questions along with others:
· What is our reason for coming to this breakfast?
· What is the goal of having this meeting of men?
· Is it our prayer this morning that God would move and use this group of men, leaders of the church, leaders of our homes, to take the gospel to the lost?
· Are we redeeming the time?


Act 4 – Peter and John were being persecuted for their witness of Jesus Christ.
Acts 4:23-24
And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them.
· Peter and John gathered together among the brethren.
· They were of one accord – one heart, one mind – powerful.
· Where is the urgency today to gather together in prayer to defeat the enemy?
· Is it because we are too comfortable in our Christian walk and there is no burden to reach the lost and in desperation cry out to God in prayer for His help – for boldness?


Acts 4:29-31
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
· Their prayer was not to stop the persecution, but for boldness.
· Because there were of one accord and there was power in their prayers, the place they were gathered was shaken.
· Is it possible for this group of men to be of one accord and in prayer ask for boldness to take the gospel out to the lost?


I have a great desire to be a bold witness for Christ and take His gospel to the lost.
· Problem is, I’m weak, a coward at times, and a procrastinator.
· I long for a brother – brothers of same mind and Spirit that would encourage, support, pray with me and make plans to go forth.
· Have you ever thought about being like Isaiah and crying out, “Here am I! Send Me!”


I often think about the scene in Joshua 5:13-14
And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant?
· The Lord Jesus Christ is our Captain, and His sword is drawn.
· His command to us is to make disciples of all nations.
· All we need to do is fall in line behind Him.


Commands for the Christian Soldier out of 1 Thessalonians 5
· Comfort yourselves together.
o To call near, invite, invoke, and be of good comfort.
· Edify one another.
o Build up one another.
· Know them that labor among you.
· Esteem them very highly in love for their works sake.
· Be at peace among yourselves.
· Warn the unruly.
· Comfort the feebleminded.
o Encourage those who fear stepping out for God.
· Support the weak.
o Encourage those who are weak in faith.


Be rapture ready – Jesus Christ is coming!
Pray for open doors and the boldness to step in!



This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
Let is shine, let it shine, let it shine.


Would you stand beside me and let your light shine?

 

[Hol]

My favorite part!

I often think about the scene in Joshua 5:13-14
And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant?
· The Lord Jesus Christ is our Captain, and His sword is drawn.
· His command to us is to make disciples of all nations.
· All we need to do is fall in line behind Him.

 

[Brother Albert R.]

· Have you ever thought about being like Isaiah and crying out, “Here am I! Send Me!”

Great Post Jeff K,
The other day I was sharing Christ with a co-worker and he asked why don't we still see miracles today like the bible records long ago. He continued asking me why Jesus, who walked on water, does not show up and change this metal table into gold. I told him that he did not need miracles to believe and that changing the table into gold wasn't what needed to be changed, rather it was him who needed to be changed. He said, "how can I believe since I never seen anything to show me that God exists". I said to him that he should pray to God for an answer to this question. So he immediately looked up to the sky and asked God to reveal Himself to him. After looking up and talking to God he looked at me with a smile, knowing that neither of us heard Gods' voice. I then said to him, "What is it that you what to know because God has sent me here to answer your questions about Him". So he continued and asked me, did God cared for the Chinese people (my co-worker is of Chinese descent) because for many thousands of years the Chinese never heard of Jesus, he also asked if the Chinese people were in the bible. I said yes that God loved the Chinese people so much that he sent His Son to give His life for them and yes the Chinese people are in the bible because the bible says to go into all the world and preach the gospel. He smiled, then I said as a matter of fact there are millions of Chinese Christians in the underground church in China.
I say all this because sharing the gospel need not be a dramatic experience for us, but rather a blessed opportunity to shine the light God has given..."Here am I, send me!"
Brother Albert

 

[Jeff K]

Great Post Jeff K,
At work the other day I was sharing Christ with a co-worker and he asked why don't we still see miracles today like the bible records long ago. He continued asking me why Jesus, who walked on water, does not show up and change this metal table into gold. I told him that he did not need miracles to believe and that changing the table into gold wasn't what needed to be changed, rather it was him who needed to be changed. He said, "how can I believe since I never seen anything to show me that God exists". I said to him that he should pray to God for an answer to this question. So he immediately looked up to the sky and asked God to reveal Himself to him. After looking up and talking to God he looked at me with a smile, knowing that neither of us heard Gods' voice. I then said to him "what is it that you what to know because God has sent me here to answer your questions about Him. So he continued and asked me if God cared for the Chinese (my co-worker is of Chinese descent) people because for many thousands of years the Chinese never heard of Jesus, he also asked if the Chinese people were in the bible. I said yes that God loved the Chinese people so much that he sent His son to give His life for them and yes the Chinese people are in the bible be cause the bible says to go into all the world and preach the gospel. He smiled, then I said as a matter of fact there are millions of Chinese Christians in the underground church in China.
I say all this because sharing the gospel need not be a dramatic experience for us, but rather a blessed opportunity to shine the light God has given..."Here am I, send me!"
Brother Albert

It's such a blessing when God opens the door for us to share the gospel with those we work with. It's an encouragement to me when I hear of or see others witnessing!

 

[pixelpusher]

yes the Chinese people are in the bible be cause the bible says to go into all the world and preach the gospel.

Good answer Brother Albert, but your account made me curious, so I have just been looking for the Chinese people in Genesis 10, and found several references to the Hittites and Sinites being the ancestors of the Chinese people.

Lambert Dolphin sheds some light (I'm sure there are disputes and other schools of thought about this, but thought that if you speak to your co-worker again, he may find this interesting. There are also Flood legends in China.):

http://www.ldolphin.org/ntable.html

Sidon is mentioned as the first-born of Canaan. He founded the city by the same name, located near Tyre, on the coast of Phoenicia. Since there is no mention of Tyre here we can see how early this account is. Heth is the father of the Hittite nation. The Hittites were once regarded by archaeologists as a biblical blunder. Archaeologists said the Bible was absolutely wrong when it mentioned the Hittites, for there was no such people. But since that time, Hittite relics have been discovered in abundance, and scholars are now well aware of the great civilization that flourished under the Hittites. The Hebrew form of this word, Hittite, is Khettai and from this comes the word Cathay, which many of you will recognize as an ancient name for China. Certain of the Hittites migrated eastward and settled in China. Also, another name in this list, the Sinites, is linked with China. It derives from a presumed son of Canaan whose name was Sin. The Sinites migrated eastward until they came into Western China, where they founded the ancient Empire of China and gave their name to the land. There is a direct connection between the word China and the word Sinim, the biblical name for China. (I remember reading as a boy of the Sino-Japanese War, showing how the ancient name still persists.) They pushed eastward and toward the north over the land bridge into Alaska. The Sinites are the people who settled the Americas in prehistoric days and became the ancestors of the Eskimos and Indians who, to this very day, betray their Mongoloid ancestry.

 

[Andy C]

Great Post Jeff K,
At work the other day I was sharing Christ with a co-worker and he asked why don't we still see miracles today like the bible records long ago. He continued asking me why Jesus, who walked on water, does not show up and change this metal table into gold. I told him that he did not need miracles to believe and that changing the table into gold wasn't what needed to be changed, rather it was him who needed to be changed. He said, "how can I believe since I never seen anything to show me that God exists". I said to him that he should pray to God for an answer to this question. So he immediately looked up to the sky and asked God to reveal Himself to him. After looking up and talking to God he looked at me with a smile, knowing that neither of us heard Gods' voice. I then said to him "what is it that you what to know because God has sent me here to answer your questions about Him. So he continued and asked me if God cared for the Chinese (my co-worker is of Chinese descent) people because for many thousands of years the Chinese never heard of Jesus, he also asked if the Chinese people were in the bible. I said yes that God loved the Chinese people so much that he sent His son to give His life for them and yes the Chinese people are in the bible be cause the bible says to go into all the world and preach the gospel. He smiled, then I said as a matter of fact there are millions of Chinese Christians in the underground church in China.
I say all this because sharing the gospel need not be a dramatic experience for us, but rather a blessed opportunity to shine the light God has given..."Here am I, send me!"
Brother Albert

Excellent, inspiring post, keep sharing the Word brother. We may never know who sought out Jesus after our witnessing, but we will be surprised when we see folks in Heaven we never thought would be there.

 

[Brother Albert R.]

Good answer Brother Albert, but your account made me curious, so I have just been looking for the Chinese people in Genesis 10, and found several references to the Hittites and Sinites being the ancestors of the Chinese people.

Lambert Dolphin sheds some light (I'm sure there are disputes and other schools of thought about this, but thought that if you speak to your co-worker again, he may find this interesting. There are also Flood legends in China.):

Great reference brother,
I am going to have to read more on Lambert Dolphin works. I have a couple of books that reference the Flood legends in China.
Thanks again,
Brother Albert

 

[Brother Albert R.]

Excellent, inspiring post, keep sharing the Word brother. We may never know who sought out Jesus after our witnessing, but we will be surprised when we see folks in Heaven we never thought would be there.

"AMEN!"
Brother Albert

 

[Jeff K]

I walked into the hospital today to see my dad and as I was wrapping up my umbrella, a woman sitting in the vestibule asked me if I was a pastor. You just have to smile when the Lord opens the door wide open. I was able to share the gospel with her and several other who just happen to be in that small room.
God is so good.

 

[Jeff K]

Great Post Jeff K,
The other day I was sharing Christ with a co-worker and he asked why don't we still see miracles today like the bible records long ago. He continued asking me why Jesus, who walked on water, does not show up and change this metal table into gold. I told him that he did not need miracles to believe and that changing the table into gold wasn't what needed to be changed, rather it was him who needed to be changed. He said, "how can I believe since I never seen anything to show me that God exists". I said to him that he should pray to God for an answer to this question. So he immediately looked up to the sky and asked God to reveal Himself to him. After looking up and talking to God he looked at me with a smile, knowing that neither of us heard Gods' voice. I then said to him, "What is it that you what to know because God has sent me here to answer your questions about Him". So he continued and asked me, did God cared for the Chinese people (my co-worker is of Chinese descent) because for many thousands of years the Chinese never heard of Jesus, he also asked if the Chinese people were in the bible. I said yes that God loved the Chinese people so much that he sent His Son to give His life for them and yes the Chinese people are in the bible because the bible says to go into all the world and preach the gospel. He smiled, then I said as a matter of fact there are millions of Chinese Christians in the underground church in China.
I say all this because sharing the gospel need not be a dramatic experience for us, but rather a blessed opportunity to shine the light God has given..."Here am I, send me!"
Brother Albert

Hey Brother Albert - I was thinking about you and this conversation with your co-worker. Have you had a chance to do any follow up? Not pressing, just wondering.

 

[Brother Albert R.]

Hey Brother Albert - I was thinking about you and this conversation with your co-worker. Have you had a chance to do any follow up? Not pressing, just wondering.

All the time. I engage with ease and comfort knowing that it is God planting and watering. It would take a miracle to see him come to Christ, but that is what it took for me and all of you to come to Christ. We do not know how Gods seed grows...but it never returns void. I have also been engaged with an 83yr. old co-worker who has been a Mormon all his life. For the past 10 yrs. this Mormon has taught me more about Mormons than any book I had previously read. So we both have an ongoing dialog, he is patient with me because I am patient with him. I show him in the word of God the differences between what they teach him and what God has revealed to us. One day I expect to see him in heaven and he might even thank me for showing him both kindness and patience...because I truly care for him. Even my Chinese co-worker may come up to me in heaven, set me down and explain to me how I was one of a number of people God had placed in his life to draw Him to Himself...So I "NEVER GIVE UP AND I WILL NEVER SURRENDER!"
God bless you Jeff K.
Brother Albert

 

[Jeff K]

All the time. I engage with ease and comfort knowing that it is God planting and watering. It would take a miracle to see him come to Christ, but that is what it took for me and all of you to come to Christ. We do not know how Gods seed grows...but it never returns void. I have also been engaged with an 83yr. old co-worker who has been a Mormon all his life. For the past 10 yrs. this Mormon has taught me more about Mormons than any book I had previously read. So we both have an ongoing dialog, he is patient with me because I am patient with him. I show him in the word of God the differences between what they teach him and what God has revealed to us. One day I expect to see him in heaven and he might even thank me for showing him both kindness and patience...because I truly care for him. Even my Chinese co-worker may come up to me in heaven, set me down and explain to me how I was one of a number of people God had placed in his life to draw Him to Himself...So I "NEVER GIVE UP AND I WILL NEVER SURRENDER!"
God bless you Jeff K.
Brother Albert

That is encouraging to me. I have witnessed to a man that works for me and he is a Jw. He pushed me aside and I should find a way to dialog with him.

Thanks for the testimony.

 

[Brother Albert R.]

That is encouraging to me. I have witnessed to a man that works for me and he is a Jw. He pushed me aside and I should find a way to dialog with him.

Thanks for the testimony.

I do not pursue an ongoing dialog with someone who is not ready for one...God has not prepared their heart.
Brother Albert

 

[Jeff K]

I do not pursue an ongoing dialog with someone who is not ready for one...God has not prepared their heart.
Brother Albert

I guess I look at it like this:
In Luke 4, Jesus was rejected by His own people in Nazareth to the point they tried to run Him off a cliff. Then in Mark 6, we see Jesus once again returning to Nazareth only to be rejected again. Certainly Jesus knew He would again be rejected, so why did He go? I think it was an example for us to follow. We will never know if God has softened the heart of a man who previously rejected Him unless we go back and inquire.

Perhaps I was full of pride and condemnation the first meeting. Perhaps nothing has changed, but I'll never know unless I go.
I'll pray about it and see how the Lord leads me.

 

[Brother Albert R.]

I guess I look at it like this:
In Luke 4, Jesus was rejected by His own people in Nazareth to the point they tried to run Him off a cliff. Then in Mark 6, we see Jesus once again returning to Nazareth only to be rejected again. Certainly Jesus knew He would again be rejected, so why did He go? I think it was an example for us to follow. We will never know if God has softened the heart of a man who previously rejected Him unless we go back and inquire.

Perhaps I was full of pride and condemnation the first meeting. Perhaps nothing has changed, but I'll never know unless I go.
I'll pray about it and see how the Lord leads me.

I see your point, I'll be praying for you as well. Pray for me also, because, like you, I desire to be used more by our Lord in evangelism and not less.
God bless you brother,
Brother Albert