I had a dream last night…
I dreamt I was a Christian living in a Muslim country, where Christianity was forbidden. I was sharing my faith with someone, and there were 2 or 3 Christians in my circle, so to speak. It was a ‘momentary’ dream, almost like an impression or cross-section. I had distinct ‘feelings’, and one very distinct realization… My feelings: I felt ‘constricted’, and fearful. I was conscious that even if someone comes to know Jesus, we had no church or building or books… to build on. We had no place of worship to gather, nor could we make one. And I felt afraid. There was no immediate danger to me, and even a type of openness to my faith on a personal level, but a very insecure sense that violent opposition could flare up at any moment. And this is what I realized: Yes, I needed to continue to share about Jesus, but could only possibly do this with ‘faith’ that the Lord would protect, lead, establish… Faith in his lead, his promise, his gospel… I could only advance in ‘faith’. Faith my floor. Faith my confidence. Faith my map. I woke up in a very different reality. And if you’re reading this, you are most likely in the same reality. There is no real threat to my person here, if I talk to someone about Jesus. There are churches – public places of worship, established and safe – where I can invite people, and provide resources and discipleship. There are networks of other believers for support, encouragement, and equipping… Pray with me: Jesus, give me peace. Hide me in the shadow of your wings. (Ps 17:8) Give me joy. (Ps 86:4) Settle my spirit and my mind. And by your Spirit, Lord, in this place of peace, envision me to advance your gospel. Open doors for me here to reach, build and equip followers of you. And Lord, may the work of our hands in this land, pour forth resources and missionaries and revival out beyond our borders to other lands, until the ‘glory of the Lord covers the earth as the waters cover the sea.’ (Hab 2:14) In Jesus’ name, amen and amen!
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As believers in Jesus we are inspired - and motivated in his mission - by 'knowing' him. We know of his love, of his promises, of his Spirit. And these things we know of him, and hold fast, drive us forward.
But there may come a time when even what you know of God, and truly do love, does not propel you forward. You may gaze on him, stunning in beauty, but having been poured out like a drink offering, there are no waters you can now tap to fortify you, to draw you up to your feet. It is here, my friend, that we need to consider the other side of the equation. When the well within is dry, and you feel there is no water to draw from, we need strength from without. Our relationship with Jesus is 2-way. We know him. We see him. And this inspires and propels us. But more importantly, we are known by him. Yes, when our eyes fade and our heart wearies, his eyes on us do not fade, and his love toward us does not weary. When in our human strength and love for God, we fail, in his divine power and love for us, God does not weaken. So if, my friend, the power that comes through you knowing God seems to dry up, consider the power available to you from being known by God. It is the same relationship, but from a different angle. And it may be that God wants you to draw from that source and discover new Spirit paths and horizons. It is like a 'drawing forth', a pull from Heaven, rather than a 'propelling forward', a push from behind. It is a power from 'eyes on you', rather than an inspiration from what your own eyes can see. It is being seen rather than seen. Being known, rather than knowing. 'God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his”...' (2 Tim 2:19) 'I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day...' (2 Tim 1:12) 'Whoever loves God is known by God.' (1 Cor 8:3) Last night a salesman came to my door. As he was talking to me, I started reflecting on the dynamic of ‘evangelism’ and ‘outreach’. You see, I needed to ‘avert’ this guy, to turn him away. I could do it nicely, or not so nicely, but I had to do it. I didn’t need what he was selling, but if I didn’t cut him off, this sales pitch was never going to end…
So why did this encounter have me thinking about evangelism? Well, NOT because we are like ‘salesmen’ when we are bringing the gospel to people. Because we’re not. We are bringing the truth of God and eternal life when we share Jesus with people. We are bringing not just a message but a Spirit of power to forgive, to heal, to save. Not the same as people selling stuff for money for this life! What occurred to me was the nature of ‘reality’ with people, depending on the purpose of your encounter with them. I met this guy in the context of him selling a product to me. He approached me to talk about a product, and because I did not need that product – and that product was the purpose of our encounter – I had to reject the guy (so to speak). Now, if I had walked up to this same guy in the market square, with the purpose of sharing Jesus with him, I would have experienced a very different ‘reality’ with him, and different relationship. In a sense we would have been 2 different people. How? Well, the purpose of an encounter determines who you are in it, and what reality you are in. He would not be a guy trying to sell me something, and me being a defensive consumer – and our reality be one of seller/buyer. Here’s who we would have been: Me, a believer in Jesus Christ, offering him a message of hope and forgiveness, and him, well, whoever he truly is in relation to Jesus Christ, and whoever he chooses to be in that space, that moment, that reality. You see, when you set out with the purpose of ‘outreach’ or ‘evangelism’, you are determining a particular reality in which to encounter and experience people. You are not a consumer or even a citizen of this world, and nor are they. You enter a space – because of the purpose and power of the Gospel – where your citizenship is of heaven (Phil 3:20), and people are negotiating eternity and matters of the soul. We are not always in this space, this reality with people. I wasn’t last night when dealing with the guy on my doorstep selling me something. No, I was very much in temporal life, in the space and reality of this mortal world. And so was he. And there we met, did dealings, and parted. Forever. By God’s grace we can sometimes turn a temporal moment into a doorway to eternal, gospel truth and testimony. But it is interesting that Jesus sent his disciples, and the 72, on specific mission trips. (Luke 10) He did not just give them a message and ask them to incorporate this message into their daily lives and encounters – though we are called to live the Gospel, also. It is interesting that Paul refers to ‘sending’ preachers, or people won’t hear. (Romans 10:14-15,17), and Jesus commanded us to ‘Go to all nations.’ (Matthew 28:19 & Matthew 24:14) In the same way Jesus left there to come here, we’re called to leave here to go out there… (Phil 2:7; Mark 10:28-31) Peace to you – not pressure! This is not a call to ‘action’, but to ‘belief’. We are simply trying to see and understand the ‘flow’ of the Spirit of God, the flow of his River of Life, and jump in!:) How does Jesus work? How does the Spirit of God break in? We want – as a body, not alone as individuals – to see, believe and point our lives in that direction, that purpose. If the Spirit leads you to share Jesus with someone, you can be sure that you are, in that purpose, going to access God’s eternal reality with that person. You may know nothing of their mortal life or history, you may not even know their name, but you will have the privilege of seeing in their eyes where they are in relation to God’s Son, Jesus. ‘Since by God’s mercy we have been given this ministry, we do not lose heart!’ (2 Cor 4:1)
(6-minute MP4 audio recording)
I crossed paths with this guy today. What a powerful gospel we carry. How desperately the world needs this 'power of God'! 'I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation...' (Rm 1:16) This particular website (SharingJesus) is for Believers only, as it contains 'family business', so to speak. So please share it wisely, not on general social media. My other website is 'out the door', for anyone, anywhere: www.1peter1three.weebly.com - share it freely! But not this one...
(9-minute MP4 audio recording)
This is another 'story' (that's all I could come up with) from sharing Jesus on the go... I was stirred, blessed, and stretched through this encounter. I hope it blesses you. We're at war, and through the Gospel of Jesus Christ souls are being saved... 'And this gospel is bearing fruit throughout the whole world - just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God's grace...' (Col 1:6) This particular website (SharingJesus) is for Believers only, as it contains 'family business', so to speak. So please share it wisely, not on general social media. My other website is 'out the door', for anyone, anywhere: www.1peter1three.weebly.com - share it freely! But not this one... This particular website (SharingJesus) is for Believers only, as it contains 'family business', so to speak. So please share it wisely, not on general social media. My other website is 'out the door', for anyone, anywhere: www.1peter1three.weebly.com - share it freely! But not this one... My colleague asked me this question. (March 2019) The experience was a blessing to me. On this brief audio recording (8 mins), I share the experience, and also some thoughts on dealing with this type of challenge in our walk and witness:
About 3 months ago I 'smuggled' my tracts into an Indian Grocery Mart here in Cary, NC. I noticed at the cashier that there were some business card holders with Hindu services being offered (priests, blessings, etc.), but there was one card holder that was empty. I slipped about 30 of my 'business card' tracts in there... Last night I was at this 'Mart' for the first time in a while. I noticed that my tracts were still there. When the cashier saw me in line, he signaled to me, and whistled/called for another employee. I thought he was calling the owner, because when a lady came by, he took one of my tracts from the card holder, gave it to her, and pointed to me. And he said (in front of all the other customers): 'This lady wants to talk to you.' I thought I was in trouble! I left the cash with my son to pay, and I stepped aside to talk with this lady. She said to me: 'I am new here. I have come from Nepal. I read your card and would like the free booklet you mention on it. The owner told me that you would at some point come back to the store and he would introduce me to you.' I assured her that later this coming week I would drop her in a copy of my booklet, 'Who Is Jesus?', but that I will also drop in for her a copy of the Jesus Film that can be set to Nepalese subtitles. My friends, please join me in reaching Nepal - right here, right now! How? Please pray for this lady, Prajwalla, and ask that she will come to see, know and love Jesus Christ. Pray also that through her, she will reach others in Nepal. Also, please thank God for the favor we have found with the owner of this grocery store, named, 'Spice Hut', Morrisville, NC. He not only 'allowed' my cards to remain where I put them, but he has promoted them with his own staff. Be a part of this harvest. Pray today! Thank you for your partnership! (1 Cor 3:9) When I think of going into new environments - like a new job or school course - I can get tense. I fear having to start again with my testimony, with my declaration of faith in Jesus. So, for example, right now where I work and live, people around me are clear about my faith in Christ. The true me - and my testimony - is generally known. There are still day-to-day challenges in my faith, and in situations where I need the Lord for courage to be bold and speak his name, but generally in my circles people know what I stand for, there is a well-trodden path before and behind me. But when I think about getting a new job, or going to a conference or a new setting and group of people, I find myself getting tense about that 'ground level', unpaved path of testifying. I had a very simple, powerful thought today when thinking on this. As I 'remembered' this truth, a wave of relief and strength came over me: In my testimony and testifying, I walk 'with' Jesus, I don't walk 'for' Jesus. I don't go into situations having to start testifying about Jesus, like a bricklayer starts laying bricks. It is not a work that I do 'for' Christ, brick by brick. It is a work in which I partner with Christ. I have nothing to fear. Christ goes before me. He made all people in his image, and for himself. (Gen 1:27; Acts 17:27) I can go into any and every situation - new or familiar - and simply listen for the Lord's leading. This is what Jesus did, and how he knew what to say and do. He didn't just go into situations with a big project and a big mission, but rather he listened for the lead of the Father. (John 5:19) Sometimes the Father prompted and led Jesus to heal only one in the midst of many. (John 5:1-8) Sometimes the Father led Jesus to heal everyone in his sphere! (Mt 15:30) Sometimes Jesus commissioned people to 'speak' his name and message. (Mk 5:19) And at other key moments Jesus admonished people to not tell of his identity. (Mt 16:20) We're not alone in sharing Jesus. We're never alone! In fact, we're not allowed to go it alone! Just listen for the Father's lead. (John 5:19) Stay in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25) Stay connected to the vine, because... 'apart from Christ you can do nothing!' (John 15:5) '‘Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.' (John 5:19) Just before dawn - darkest hours of the night - Jesus walked on stormy waters, approaching the boat of the disciples. They saw him on the waters and were terrified, thought he was a 'ghost'. (Matt 14:22-33) When they realized it was Jesus, Peter said to him, 'Tell me to come to you.' (vs.28) Jesus said, 'Come.' (vs.29) As Peter walked on water, approaching Jesus, we're told, 'he saw the wind, he was afraid, and he began to sink...' (vs.30) We all have this experience of Peter, in different ways. Maybe you're in one right now. We have seen the Lord in our path, we have heard him call us in a direction, we take 'miracle steps' in that direction (like Peter walking on water), but then the wind and waves surge up around us, and we begin to sink. We doubt. Peter cried out to the Lord to save him, and Jesus caught him. Jesus then asked him, 'Why did you doubt?' (vs.31) When Peter saw the wind and waves surge, threaten, I wonder did any of these 'type' of questions shoot through his head and heart: 'I've sinned! I should never have 'tested' the Lord in this!' (Remember, Peter asked Jesus to call him out...) or, 'This was my idea, my pride, the Lord is angry with me and my destruction is his will!' or, 'Maybe it wasn't Jesus I saw, who called me, I've been deceived!' or, 'I thought he called me, maybe I misheard!' or, 'Jesus has let me down!' Also, I wonder if Peter actually felt that the 'appropriate' response to this surge of danger and pressure, was to stop, to sink, to re-think... My friends, it would appear from what Jesus said - 'Why did you doubt?' (vs.31) - that none of the above thoughts or feelings were on point. The truth is, it was Jesus that Peter had seen, it was Jesus he had heard, his 'miracle steps' had indeed brought him this far, and the miracle was still beneath his feet, and it would have honored Christ for Peter to steady his heart, hold fast to his belief, ignore the wind and the waves, and remain standing on water. There was no need - and no spiritual value - in any of Peter's fear, rethinking, reconsidering, or doubting. Is there an area of your life where you are floundering in faith, but it is 'miracle steps' that even has you in this place? Are you actually walking on water (God's many confirmations, his miracle, his path), but you have lost sight of the 'miracle' and are only seeing the wind and waves? My friend, this is your moment to 'remember', to be steadfast in faith, to honor God not with rethinking, reconsidering, or allowing the wind and waves to redefine your course, but with a battle cry, a worship stand, a prayer and shout of believing and fighting forward, in Jesus' name! You have heard the Lord, he has confirmed it, you have walked a long way 'on water', and now is your time to honor God in the storm with - faith! (Heb 11:6) PWALKER YOUTUBE PWALKER WEBSITE #1: (Mark 1:1-5) Repentance was ‘preparation’ for the coming of Jesus: John the Baptist was sent by God to prepare the way for Jesus, and the way he did it was calling people to repent of their sins, and mark this ‘turnaround’ by being publicly baptized. It had been prophesied that this ‘messenger’ would come (Mal 3:1), and Jesus himself said that John the Baptist was the ‘Elijah’ to come again. (cf Mt 11:14, fulfilling the last prophecy of the Old Testament, Mal 4:5-6) Note: Repentance prepared the road for Christ, and was also part of Christ’s own message. (Mark 1:15) Repentance still prepares the way for Jesus, and is still called for by Jesus. (Acts 3:19) #2: (Mark 1:7-8) Repentance is the beginning, not the end, of the message of Jesus! John the Baptist clearly states in these verses that what is coming after him, is more ‘powerful’. Repentance is good, deep, necessary, but it is ‘done’ and marked by water baptism. It ‘prepares the way’. For what? Well, for the more ‘powerful’, as John says. (vs.7) Jesus comes with more power, and is the ‘point’ of all repentance. Repentance prepares, Jesus ‘finishes’. (cf John 19:30/Ps 22:31) And the ‘mark’ of coming to and being with Jesus is not done with water, but with the Holy Spirit. (vs.8) Note: Repentance is something we need as a ‘way of life’ (see Matthew 3:8), but our focus, the point of repentance, is to be with Christ. Don’t linger and languish in a worldly sorrow. When you repent, walk free, and ‘be’ the new and redeemed you that Christ paid for. (Rev 5:9; Is 49:16) The repentance that Christ gives, ‘leaves no regret’ (2 Cor 7:10) #3: (Mark 1:11) God quotes the bible! Jesus often quoted the bible (see Matthew 4:1-11, and Luke 20:17-18, and many more occasions!) But here, God quotes himself! See Mark 1:11 and Isaiah 42:1. Note: We need to read the bible regularly – daily. We need to read it methodically (maybe 1 chapter a day), so as to learn the history of God’s character through his acts, his teaching, his people. If God and Christ quote the scriptures, surely we need to know – and quote and/or reference – the scriptures! #4: (Mark 1:15) Jesus is the ‘good news’. ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’ (Mark 1:15) If you look carefully at this scripture – and bearing in mind how Christ so often shielded his own truth (Mark 1:25, Pr 25:2, Mt 16:20, Mt 13:44, Is 6:9) – it is important to note the detail. ‘The time has come…’ This is an ‘arrival’ point. Jesus is saying the time is here, I am here, God is here! (Is 7:14, Mt 1:23) So when Jesus goes on to say that the Kingdom of God has ‘come near’, I believe we are to press in here and see that the Kingdom of God had actually come – i.e. ‘the time has come’. (see Matthew 20:18) Jesus goes on to say, ‘Repent and believe the good news!’ (vs.15b) Repentance was preparation, as we have seen, not the actual ‘time come’. So here Jesus is pairing, coupling the ‘repentance’ – i.e. the preparation – with the prize, the presence and revelation of ‘God with us.’ The good news is not the repentance, but that sins can now be forgiven here on earth. (see Luke 5:24) This forgiveness of sins is the ‘harder’ thing to do, according to Jesus. (Luke 5:24) Why? Because it cannot happen without his own shedding of blood. (Heb 9:22) You can repent without the shedding of blood, but your repentance has no forgiveness, no ‘arrival’ or redemption, without the shedding of blood. The good news is the forgiveness of sins, and ‘God with us.’ (Mt 1:23; Jn 17:3) The good news is Jesus Christ himself – the King of Kings not only in heaven, but here on earth (increasingly – Mt 6:9-13), and now in your heart! (Col 1:27) Note: The ‘pressing in’ to really ‘see’ Jesus, is a principle we are called to, and rewarded for doing. If you have some time, look up and consider these scriptures: Jeremiah 29:13, Isaiah 6:9, 2 Chronicles 15:15, Genesis 32:22-32 (note vs.26), Matthew 15:21-28, Mark 14:1-9, Matthew 20:29-34, John 20:11-18, Hebrews 11:6. #5: (Mark 1:17) Coming to Christ is the message of the Kingdom of God. I believe the ‘good news’ being Jesus is reinforced right here in verse 17 after that critical verse 15 above. Jesus calls Andrew to follow him, and says that in doing so, he will catch others. To follow Christ, is to enter into the good news. To come to Christ, is to be forgiven, and saved forever. To come to Christ is to access the good news of God, and to find a new purpose. What purpose? Well, to ‘catch other men’ for Christ. The good news is coming to Christ, and the call of Christ is to bring others to him. Here, as noted above, the King of Kings, comes to ‘King’ the earth, and also ‘reign’ in your heart. Jesus, King of heaven, King of the earth, and King of your heart. This is the Kingdom of God! Note: Every aspect of life comes from Christ. (Acts 17:25, Ps 24:1, Ps 50:10, Ez 18:4, Gen 1:27, Jn 10:34, Ps 82:6, Mt 5:45) However, the ‘kingdom’ here is one of darkness. It is a defeated kingdom of darkness (Jn 16:11), but it is here. For this reason, to bring the name of Jesus and the power of Jesus with faith to any corner of this dark world, and in any word, deed or deposit that the Spirit fills, is to bring the ‘Kingdom of God’ – i.e. the presence and aroma of Christ – to and through the kingdom of darkness. So ‘conversions’ to Christ are not the only aspect of bringing the Kingdom of God to earth. Every ray of light you bring in Jesus’ name is beautiful, powerful, eternal! However, we can so quickly substitute the King for his Kingdom, lose the man in the midst of his power and blessings. This is to lose our ‘first love’, and it is to lose the whole point of the Kingdom itself: the King! (Rev 2:1-5; Jn 5:39-40) Bless you as you crown Jesus King of your heart, follow him, and ‘catch’ others! (Mark 1:17) PWALKER YOUTUBE |
AuthorPeter Walker. Archives
March 2022
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