This has been a wonderful day.
As was mentioned in the last entry, in an effort and hope to set up some Bible studies, Justin White (a dear brother who is a classmate at Sunset) and I have begun attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. The meetings are conducted every Monday night across the street from the Sunset building, where we learn throughout the week.
Tonight was our third week to sit in. During the first two weeks, we observed some things (what the program is about, what these people are trying to conquer, etc.) and have begun building a rapport with some of the regulars. Yet tonight, the Lord blessed us with some progress.
As is the custom, the conversation goes around the room and each person has the opportunity to say something; about their addiction, what they are fighting, how long they have been striving to turn it around, and so forth.
What we like about A.A. is, they acknowledge there is a God and they recognize Him as what will help them get their life together. Yet the other side of the coin is sad and very indicative of the world we live in.
They will acknowledge God, but they do not recognize Jesus. In order to prevent from offending anyone, phrases such as “It doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you believe what you believe and don’t impose it on someone else, more power to you” are used by just about every individual in there.
It isn’t popular to say there is only one way, when the world views every single thing on earth as equally true and acceptable as long as it isn’t imposed on anyone.
But I refuse to bow down to political correctness. I refuse to keep Jesus Christ to myself. Paul said, “Woe unto me if I do not preach the Gospel.”
Men say there is no absolute truth and that anyone who thinks they do is arrogant and false. But Jesus said, "You will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
The great universal myth is that as long as you have God, it doesn’t matter what you believe, that’s all you need. But that is not what God says in His inspired Word (2 Timothy 3:16).
Christ is the only access to God (Colossians 1:20; 3:17; Matthew 11:27; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:18; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25). He is the only redeemer (Colossians 1:14) and reconciler to God (Colossians 1:20).
In Him only the Christian finds fulfillment in life (2:10) and from Him alone is the hope of glory (1:27).
John 14:6 says that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that NO ONE comes to the Father except through Him, Jesus. Acts 4:12 says salvation is found in NO ONE else, other than Jesus.
As the time neared for us to say something, I jotted down those two scriptures on a piece of paper and showed it to Justin. Nodding his head, we agreed that we were both going to talk about Jesus.
And when it came around to us, we did just that. We also, after listening to all the various struggles that were shared, told them we were praying for each and every one of them; as well as a woman unparticular who has recently endured more than one loss in her life and who is raising two children.
When the meeting adjourned, people were coming up to us. Some thanking us for being there, one woman asking us to pray for her…others saying they appreciated us praying for them.
One man confronted us with an overload of questions, in hopes to prove us wrong and to agree with him, that there is no absolute truth. It was rather difficult at first, but once he noticed that we were maintaining gentle patience in love, and that we weren’t there to show why we’re so “smart” and right about everything, he began to step back and not come at us so hard.
We will be making further contact with him. He has already said he will study with us and even come to a worship service.
Then before we left, we spoke with two more men, who were standing at the back of the room.
One of the men shared a very painful story about his catastrophic family life, in addition to his years of addiction to multiple stimulants. He said that at one point, he didn’t talk to either one of his sons for more than 20 years and that the tension continues to this day.
After speaking with him at length, we just asked him…“We heard the story you shared and if you wouldn’t mind, we’d like to pray with you.” Without hesitation he said that would be great, and we put our arms around one another and we entered the throne room with him.
We prayed for him and his family, as well as for more and more opportunities. The man was going somewhere after the meeting, but we’re going to study with him and continue reaching out to him and others.
As Justin and I walked out of that smoked-filled room and gasped as we caught our first fresh breath in more than an hour, we agreed that being there with those people was worth every single second we spent with them.
In my entire life, I have yet to lead someone to Christ… but I am not giving up. I am never giving up.
Let’s tell someone about Jesus every single day.
Let us never give up.
As was mentioned in the last entry, in an effort and hope to set up some Bible studies, Justin White (a dear brother who is a classmate at Sunset) and I have begun attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. The meetings are conducted every Monday night across the street from the Sunset building, where we learn throughout the week.
Tonight was our third week to sit in. During the first two weeks, we observed some things (what the program is about, what these people are trying to conquer, etc.) and have begun building a rapport with some of the regulars. Yet tonight, the Lord blessed us with some progress.
As is the custom, the conversation goes around the room and each person has the opportunity to say something; about their addiction, what they are fighting, how long they have been striving to turn it around, and so forth.
What we like about A.A. is, they acknowledge there is a God and they recognize Him as what will help them get their life together. Yet the other side of the coin is sad and very indicative of the world we live in.
They will acknowledge God, but they do not recognize Jesus. In order to prevent from offending anyone, phrases such as “It doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you believe what you believe and don’t impose it on someone else, more power to you” are used by just about every individual in there.
It isn’t popular to say there is only one way, when the world views every single thing on earth as equally true and acceptable as long as it isn’t imposed on anyone.
But I refuse to bow down to political correctness. I refuse to keep Jesus Christ to myself. Paul said, “Woe unto me if I do not preach the Gospel.”
Men say there is no absolute truth and that anyone who thinks they do is arrogant and false. But Jesus said, "You will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
The great universal myth is that as long as you have God, it doesn’t matter what you believe, that’s all you need. But that is not what God says in His inspired Word (2 Timothy 3:16).
Christ is the only access to God (Colossians 1:20; 3:17; Matthew 11:27; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:18; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25). He is the only redeemer (Colossians 1:14) and reconciler to God (Colossians 1:20).
In Him only the Christian finds fulfillment in life (2:10) and from Him alone is the hope of glory (1:27).
John 14:6 says that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that NO ONE comes to the Father except through Him, Jesus. Acts 4:12 says salvation is found in NO ONE else, other than Jesus.
As the time neared for us to say something, I jotted down those two scriptures on a piece of paper and showed it to Justin. Nodding his head, we agreed that we were both going to talk about Jesus.
And when it came around to us, we did just that. We also, after listening to all the various struggles that were shared, told them we were praying for each and every one of them; as well as a woman unparticular who has recently endured more than one loss in her life and who is raising two children.
When the meeting adjourned, people were coming up to us. Some thanking us for being there, one woman asking us to pray for her…others saying they appreciated us praying for them.
One man confronted us with an overload of questions, in hopes to prove us wrong and to agree with him, that there is no absolute truth. It was rather difficult at first, but once he noticed that we were maintaining gentle patience in love, and that we weren’t there to show why we’re so “smart” and right about everything, he began to step back and not come at us so hard.
We will be making further contact with him. He has already said he will study with us and even come to a worship service.
Then before we left, we spoke with two more men, who were standing at the back of the room.
One of the men shared a very painful story about his catastrophic family life, in addition to his years of addiction to multiple stimulants. He said that at one point, he didn’t talk to either one of his sons for more than 20 years and that the tension continues to this day.
After speaking with him at length, we just asked him…“We heard the story you shared and if you wouldn’t mind, we’d like to pray with you.” Without hesitation he said that would be great, and we put our arms around one another and we entered the throne room with him.
We prayed for him and his family, as well as for more and more opportunities. The man was going somewhere after the meeting, but we’re going to study with him and continue reaching out to him and others.
As Justin and I walked out of that smoked-filled room and gasped as we caught our first fresh breath in more than an hour, we agreed that being there with those people was worth every single second we spent with them.
In my entire life, I have yet to lead someone to Christ… but I am not giving up. I am never giving up.
Let’s tell someone about Jesus every single day.
Let us never give up.
posted by david creek @ 6:19 PM
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