Gloriopolis
  • HOME
  • ABOUT HENRY
    • Personal Me
    • Biblical Me
    • Ministry Me
  • ABOUT GLORIOPOLIS
    • Gloriopolis…
    • Coffee, Physics, Sex…
    • Comment Policy
  • BLOG AMBITIONS 2014
    • Like Bees to Honey
  • CONTACT
    • Ask Me Something
  • CONTRIBUTE
    • How You Can Help Me
  • SPEAKING
    • Booking Henry
    • Kind Words
  • DONATE
Album Artwork
PreviousPlayPauseNext
i

Loading audio…

Please wait while the audio tracks are being loaded.

No Audio Available

It appears there are not any audio playlists available to play.

Bad URL

The track url currently being played either does not exist or is not linked correctly.

Update Required To Play Media

Update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.

Tracks

Gloriopolis Community

Category: Discipleship

9 I BELIEVE, THEREFORE I SPEAK

  • March 20, 2013
  • by Henry Kriete
  • · Discipleship · MINISTRY TOOL- BOX · THE PARADISE CAFE

rome-christian-martyrs-granger

I BELIEVE, THEREFORE I SPEAK.

What if I was not a Christian right now? What if I was not saved because no on loved me enough to speak? Or risk rejection? Or risk looking foolish? I shudder at the thought. It terrifies me. I weep even.

Today I want to talk about sharing our faith.  (And please check out the PDF at the end of this post.)

It’s been a long time since I’ve met someone who became a Christian because of my invitation.  A few years at least. And the reason is simple: I have not been actively sharing the good news.

Of course, I invite people to church here and there.  And any Christian who asks me to study the Scriptures with a friend of theirs will always get a big, “Yes!” And I’m thankful that in the last two years, two of these individuals accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. But reaching out to those around me on a regular basis, if not daily, and leading someone to a saving relationship with Christ has not been a serious focus. I’ve not acted as though heaven and hell are the only options for humanity. I’ve not been urgent. I’ve been, for the most part, silent. Something I am ashamed to admit.

THE SPIRIT LOVES TO PREACH.

If I have the Spirit in me, and I refuse to share the gospel with those around me, it’s because I’m being controlled by the flesh and not the Spirit. The Spirit loves to preach. He loves to empower us for the mission. He loves to encourage us when we are timid. He loves to lead his faithful witnesses to those who seek and search for truth. He loves to open hearts. He loves to exalt Christ.  He even loves to surprise us: Acts 9 – Saul the persecutor becomes a Christian – God’s first surprise! Acts 10 – Cornelius the Gentile becomes a Christian – God’s second surprise!

In fact, if we survey the book of Acts to verify the above truths, it becomes clear how the early church made such a huge impact: All kinds of Christians were spreading the gospel to all kinds of people in all kinds of places at all kinds of hours.  And God’s Spirit did the rest. It’s really true. Check it out for yourself. The Spirit will lead us to those who are open to the truth. That’s one of His job descriptions so to speak. All He needs from us is a willingness to witness. So, it must go without saying:

Whenever I choose to be silent, it is not the Spirit in me, but the flesh in me.

Whenever I move among people and it never occurs to me to share the gospel, it is not the Spirit in me, but the flesh in me.

Whenever I see someone and pass judgement on them, talking myself into believing they are not “open,” it is not the Spirit in me, but the flesh in me.

Whenever I claim to be a disciple of Christ yet make no effort to make other disciples of Christ, it is not the Spirit in me, but the flesh in me.

Whenever I shrink back from sharing the gospel because of fear or shame or suffering, it is not the Spirit in me, but the flesh in me.

Whenever I stand in a crowd of people and remain unmoved because of apathy, it is not the Spirit in me, but the flesh in me.

Whenever I judge others, especially in a cavalier manner, for not being true disciples of Christ and yet make no effort to reach out to them, it is not the Spirit in me, but the flesh in me.

THE FOG OF THE WORLD ON MY SENSES.

According to the apostle Paul, “I believe, therefore I speak.” I’m glad someone believed enough to stand up in my grade 11 classroom and state that he was a Christian and a virgin. I’m glad someone believed enough to give me a tract called, “How to find peace with God.” (A tract that meant so much to me I kept it for years until I lost it in a flood.) I’m glad someone believed enough to give me a Bible to read, even when I lived in a quasi-commune and was steeped in sin.  I didn’t look like I was open at the time and I certainly didn’t act like I was open. In fact, if I met my teenage self today, I probably would not share my faith with me! But others did. A debt I can never repay.

I have realized – no great insight — that the more I need the world to meet my needs, the less inclined I am to share my faith. The more at home I feel in the world, the more comfortable, the less inclined I am to share my faith. The more engaged I am with the world, the less inclined I am to share my faith. The more I envy those in the world, the less inclined I am to share my faith. The more distracted, entangled and worried I become from being in the world, the less inclined I am to share my faith.  The world is a lie, a fog, a stupor on my spiritual senses. Can you relate to this?

The Bible gives very few reasons as to why a Christian does not share their faith: unbelief, cowardice, shame, laziness and apathy. However, I’ve put together a list of 50 biblical motivations meant to encourage and inspire us to actively share our faith! Hopefully, even one or two of them will move me to compassion and consistent action. To find another me! Or find another you!        PDF: Biblical Motivations To Seek and Save The Lost

Spread the news!

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

2 TWENTY-FIVE THINGS THAT NEVER DISCOURAGED JESUS

See how he enters Gethsemane! –- face down; blood, sweat and tears; in utter agony -– "My soul is overwhelmed to the point of death." See how he leaves Gethsemane! – erect, peaceful, in total command -- "Arise, let us go, here comes my betrayer."

  • March 4, 2013
  • by Henry Kriete
  • · Discipleship · MINISTRY TOOL- BOX · THE PARADISE CAFE

“HE WILL NOT FALTER OR BE DISCOURAGED” Isaiah 42.4

See how he enters Gethsemane! – face down; blood, sweat and tears; in utter agony – “My soul is overwhelmed to the point of death.” See how he leaves Gethsemane! – erect, peaceful, in total command — “Arise, let us go, here comes my betrayer.”

GESTHEMANE WAS AN OVERWHELMING EXPERIENCE FOR JESUS, BUT NOT DISCOURAGING!

  1. Luke 22.31-34
  2. Luke 22.39-46

TWENTY-FIVE THINGS THAT NEVER DISCOURAGED JESUS:

  1. The almost total collapse of his Galilean ministry after two years of work – John 6.
  2. Many of his disciples grumbling and turning away.
  3. Family thinking he’s out of his mind.
  4. His own brothers not believing in him.
  5. His hometown totally rejecting him.
  6. The apostle’s dullness, fears and lack of faith. Even after the resurrection! Matthew 28.17
  7. The apostle’s constant vying for position and glory.
  8. Knowing Judas was a thief and would also betray him from the outset.
  9. Unyielding opposition and threats from religious authorities.
  10. Rumours and innuendo.
  11. The daily pressure to stay the course, meet needs of multitudes, provide for lost sheep.
  12. Outright slander and poisoning of others towards him.
  13. Misunderstanding or twisting his message.
  14. Satan speaking through his friends, like Peter.
  15. Interruptions at every turn: family, sickness, demon possessions, traps to make him stumble.
  16. Crowds of thousands constantly pressuring him.
  17. Daily suffering because of temptations — yes — and longing for a normal life – perhaps.
  18. Meagre and harsh living conditions, most of the time.
  19. Imprisonment, doubts and beheading of John the Baptist.
  20. Herod’s threat to kill him.
  21. Judas’ betrayal for money (and with a kiss.)
  22. Apostle’s vehement denials and abandonment.
  23. The ingratitude, doubts and shame of those he loved and healed.
  24. The cup of the cross looming before him on a daily basis.
  25. The city he loved, hating him and crying for his blood.

Although sighing, angry, overwhelmed, frustrated, tired, and lonely at times – he was never discouraged. Besides an honest, utterly submissive prayer life, here are two more reasons Jesus was never discouraged:

DEEP CONVICTION OF THE TRUTH

  • The Authority of Scripture: Matthew 4.1-11
  • His Personal Identity: Son of Man; Son of God

What can I learn from this to help me not be discouraged?

DEEP CONVICTION OF HIS CALLING

  • The Glory of God: John 12.27; John 14.30-31; John 17.1,4
  • The Salvation of Mankind: Luke 19.10

What can I learn from this to help me not be discouraged?

Spread the news!

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

GO

Subscribe to Gloriopolis

Like Gloriopolis on Facebook

Like Gloriopolis on Facebook

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • SoundCloud
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS
Cancel
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
%d bloggers like this: