“Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." (Matt. 9:2 NIV)

Most Christians are missing out!

Many of God’s followers have never had the joy of leading someone to Christ. There are many reasons for this. Some are simply oblivious to their responsibility to share the Good News. Others would do so, but they do not know how, so they don’t even try, although many clear opportunities may come their way. Some believe it is the exclusive responsibility of the clergy, not them. Then, there are those who are simply afraid to share their faith with anyone at all, like my friend Mary Beth. She attended my soul winner’s class at her church as something to do because she attends everything the church presents, no matter what. I taught the group how to use a little booklet to lead someone to Christ. It has Scripture verses and steps they could use to share Jesus with any interested person, and it even has a little prayer they could pray with anyone who wishes to invite Jesus into their life. It is a simple step-by-step tool. Anyone could easily use it to bring someone to Jesus… accept Mary Beth, as she exclaimed very sincerely. She told me she simply couldn't and wouldn't, because she was too shy, was an introvert, and, quite frankly, was just too afraid to do it, period! I told her that once she knew how to bring someone to Jesus, He would provide the opportunity for her to do it. She just shook her head, laughed, and said, “Mike, you're wonderful! You can easily share with anyone. That’s your personality, but it's not mine. I will never be able to do that.”

About a month later I saw Mary Beth at the county fair

She was sitting next to another woman, and they were watching our Gospel Music Show. I was the MC of the program made up of individuals and groups who were taking turns singing gospel songs. One of the singers was a black woman named Mildred Wynette. She had just finished a rousing version of the song, “Jesus got a hold of my life, and He won't let me go!” Her presentation was lively, animated, and enthusiastic. After she finished the song, Mary Beth came up to me and said, “I just can't believe it! I was sitting next to a lady over there on the bench, and we were both tapping our feet to the music in enjoyment. The woman said, ‘Wow, you can sure feel the Lord’s presence when that lady sings!’ And I said, ‘Yes, you can. Are you a Christian, too?” And she said, “No, I'm not! I don't know how to become a Christian. I don't go to church, and no one has ever explained what I should do to become a Christian.” And I said to her, ‘Oh, it's so easy to become a Christian! Let me show you this little booklet I just got at my church that explains it so clearly. I then took the booklet out of my purse and shared the simple steps with her. At the end of the booklet was the little prayer, and she gladly prayed it with me! She invited Jesus to be her personal savior right then and there! I just can't believe it; I just led someone to Jesus!” I said, “Mary Beth, you’re wonderful!”

Be prepared to share!

Mary Beth thought she could never share Christ because she was shy. But she was mistaken! Once she knew how, God set up the opportunity for her to use what she knew. The main reason most people don't share Jesus is because they wouldn't know what to say if they were asked directly by someone who wanted to know. Don't let that happen to you!

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV)

“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4 ESV)

When I first saw the above verse in the Bible, I was shocked at what it said. That you would get the desires of your heart by simply delighting yourself in God. I thought, “What if my desires are selfish? What if I want something sinful? Would God still give it to me?” Then, I discovered something very surprising about this promise. When you truly delight yourself in God, something miraculous happens. God changes your desires, and you end up wanting what He wants for you. It is a wonderful process. 

It's an often-mentioned subject

The Bible has a lot to say about delighting and pleasing God. According to Baker’s Bible dictionary the idea of delight occurs approximately 110 times in Scripture in various forms. The related concept of "please" occurs about 350 times.

Jesus, as our supreme example

He took immense pleasure in honoring and obeying his father.

“The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him." (John 8:29 NIV)

And what pleases (delights) Him, should delight us as well!

“So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.” (3 Cor. 5:9 NIV)

And it makes us joyful!

Therefore

“Praise the LORD! How joyful are those who fear the LORD and delight in obeying his commands.” (Psalm 112:1 NLT)

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” (Psalm 139:7 NASB)

Practice the presence of God

The Practice of the Presence of God is a book of collected teachings of Brother Lawrence (born Nicholas Herman), a 17th-century Carmelite monk. He did not do all the normal religious things most monks did but instead practiced thinking about God and including Him in all the trivial things he did. He realized the simple truth that God is always present, and you should look for and recognize Him everywhere.

God is continually present

He is always with you whether you realize it or not. The Bible says so! 

“I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matt. 28:20 NASB)

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5 ESV)

Therefore

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” (Psalms 139:7-10 NIV)

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” (John 15:7)

Abide defined: Accept or act in accordance with. Comply with, obey, observe, follow, keep to, hold to, conform to, adhere to, stick to, stand by, act in accordance with, uphold, heed, accept, go along with.

Abide in Jesus

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. ‘I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.’”  (John 15:4-5)

“Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.” (1 John 2:28)

“The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” (1 John 3:24)

Abide in Christ’s teaching

“Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 1:9)

Abide in His love

“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.” (John 15:10)

“The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” (1 John 2:6)

“As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.” (1 John 2:24)

(2 Corinthians 9:6) “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

You must sow seed and do it bountifully if you expect to get an abundant crop

What would you think of a farmer who said, "I'm not going to plant any corn seeds this year. When God gives me some corn, then I'll plant some seeds." So, every day he is out there in the field checking it out for corn. “Hey God, where’s my corn?” That guy's never going to get any corn. Sowing comes first, then you reap. 

God does supply seed

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” (2 Cor. 9:10)

God causes what you have planted to grow

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.” (1 Cor. 3:6-7) 

You get what you plant so sow good things!

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” (Gal 6:7-9)

“Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.” (Hosea 10:12)

“Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him!” (Isaiah 30:18)

Gracious because of His covenant

“But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion on them and turned to them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them or cast them from His presence until now.” (2 Kings 13:23)

Gracious and slow to anger 

“The LORD is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.” (Psalm 145:8) 

Gracious and righteous

“Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate.” (Psalm 116:5)

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Rom. 8:37)

Sometimes, when going through life’s challenges, things look bad and it's difficult to feel victorious. But, we are victorious because God said so, and that settles it, no matter how things may appear.

The Battle of Waterloo 

The news of the result of the Battle of Waterloo was eagerly awaited by the people of Great Britain because so much depended on it. Unfortunately, somehow or other, the message arrived to the people of Great Britain with one word short, and only two words arrived —'Wellington defeated'. The country was plunged into great despair and mourning, until the mistake was discovered, and the omitted third word arrived—`Napoleon —so that it read 'Wellington defeated Napoleon'. Their sorrow was suddenly turned into joy.

We won!

I have a friend who likes to say, “Hey, I have looked at the end of the book, and we won!” Of course he is referring to the book of Revelation in the Bible. He has discovered the secret of seeing the big and complete picture. God does and will work out everything for the good, no matter how it may look! (Romans 8:28)

God has made you victorious! Period! 

“For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” (Deut. 29:4) 

“But  thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1Cor. 15:57)

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” (2 Cor. 2:14)

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)

“Any victory that does not more than conquer is just an imitation victory. While we are suppressing and wrestling, we are only imitating victory. If Christ lives in us, we will rejoice in everything, and we will thank and praise the Lord. We will say, ‘Hallelujah! Praise the Lord’ forever.” – Watchman Nee

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13 NIV)

I had doubts!  

After discovering from my aunt that my father had not died as my mother had told me but had only moved to another state, gotten remarried, and had other children that I finally met, we exchanged much information. All this was exciting. 

But, I had some serious doubts

I wasn’t totally convinced that I was related to them. Yes, I was completely sure they were related to my big brother David because the resemblance was unmistakable. But I didn’t look like any of them; I look more like my mother. And because David and I were a couple of years apart in age and because my mother and father had separated before I was born, I thought there could possibly have been someone else “involved” after they had split. So, to be sure, I asked one of them, my new sister Kathie, to take a DNA test, and I would, too. We got two DNA kits from Ancestory.com, and I sent mine to them as Mike French, from Lynden, Washington, and she sent hers to them as Kathie Swan from Anderson, Indiana. We gave no information other than our names and addresses. Several weeks later, the results came back, informing us we were closely related to each other! Yes, it was confirmed—we are siblings! After that test, there was no doubt left, and I wholeheartedly believed that we have the same father. 

God’s kids must not doubt!

My doubting experience reminds me that there are Christians, such as one of Jesus’ own disciples, famously known as Doubting Thomas, who had trouble believing (John 20:26). If Christians entertain doubts and don’t know for sure they are a member of God’s family with promised eternal life, they will be unstable, weak, and ineffective in their relationship with Him. 

Absolute assurance

God wants us to have absolute assurance of our relationship with Him and said, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13 NIV)

Those who have received Him have the right to become God’s children  

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13 ESV)

It’s through faith in Christ

“For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” (Gal. 3:26

ESV)

Therefore

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:38-39)

“God makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity, Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land.” (Psalm 68:6 NASB)

My newfound brothers and sisters

Shortly after my mother died, I received a shocking phone call from my mother’s older sister, my Aunt Evelyn. She said, “Mike, you better sit down; I have something important to tell you.” She then told me that my birth father, Brach Whitson, hadn’t really died in an automobile accident before I was born, as my mother had told me. "But," she continued, “shortly after your parents had separated, he moved from California to Anderson, Indiana, and then remarried. So, Mike, you may have some relatives there to look up.” I was blown away by the news and at once made some phone calls to Whitsons, living in Anderson, Indiana. The first person I called gave me the phone number of Brach’s daughter, Barbra. I phoned her and told her that Brach was my birth father, and I was seeking information. She seemed happy to hear from me and told me that he had recently died and there were ten children. I told her that he had also had two more children, my brother David and me. A couple of weeks later, I flew to Indiana to meet them. My new brother Greg came to pick me up. As we drove along, I stared intently at him. He noticed and said, “What?!” I said, “Greg, I’m very sorry for staring at you, but you look exactly like my brother!” (I meant that he looked like my older brother David, who had recently died!) He said, “I am your brother; get used to it!” We soon arrived at where the rest of them were waiting for us. They greeted me with hugs. Although they had been equally surprised to hear about me, they were loving and receptive. We laughed a lot and shared stories to catch each other up. It was a complete joy having all these new siblings!

Sons and daughters

“And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Cor. 6:18 ESV)

Your offspring shall be blessed

“Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” Gen. 28:14)