Christian, Why Are You Still Here?

If God had willed it, each of us might have entered heaven at the moment of conversion. It was not absolutely necessary for our preparation for immortality that we should tarry here. It is possible for a man to be taken to heaven, and to be found meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light, though he has but just believed in Jesus. It is true that our sanctification is a long and continued process, and we shall not be perfected till we lay aside our bodies and enter within the veil; but nevertheless, had the Lord so willed it, He might have changed us from imperfection to perfection, and have taken us to heaven at once. Why then are we here? Would God keep His children out of paradise a single moment longer than was necessary? Why is the army of the living God still on the battle-field when one charge might give them the victory? Why are His children still wandering hither and thither through a maze, when a solitary word from His lips would bring them into the centre of their hopes in heaven? The answer is—they are here that they may “live unto the Lord,” (Romans 14:8) and may bring others to know His love. We remain on earth as sowers to scatter good seed; as ploughmen to break up the fallow ground; as heralds publishing salvation. We are here as the “salt of the earth,” to be a blessing to the world. We are here to glorify Christ in our daily life. We are here as workers for Him, and as “workers together with Him.” Let us see that our life answereth its end. Let us live earnest, useful, holy lives, to “the praise of the glory of His grace.” Meanwhile we long to be with Him, and daily sing—

“My heart is with Him on His throne,

And ill can brook delay;

Each moment listening for the voice,

‘Rise up, and come away.’”

Lyrical Theology – The Size of Grace

And for this I’m not fit for the task to craft words with
Adequate passion to match the, size of grace
Beyond anything I can grasp but it grabs hold of me
So I hold on tight and hug it back
Surrounded by grace that surpasses the past
Beyond anything we could hope for or ask
How can words describe the Word made flesh?
The best way to understand Him is to understand His death
What He set to accomplish and fulfilled with every step
He was sent from the Father, God’s gift to the world
Gave His only Son to purchase sons and daughters
To make us one with the Son and one with the Father
Took upon Himself the condemnation we deserved
Resurrected after death and He promised to return
Filled us with the Spirit to seal our election
And protect us until the day that we share in His resurrection

The size of grace how great the size?
The gates of Heaven are open wide!
And people of all kind are welcome inside
Should have been denied but instead God replied
He said, in your place my Son has died
His death gave you life it’s the size of grace
Innocent blood that was shed to erase
Every trace of sin for a chosen race
It’s the great exchange, it’s power to change
The Gospel, salvation for ALL who believe
All for His glory, overcoming our hatred and sin with His divine love

The love of our God, gracious and kind
God became a man and suffered for mankind
The punishment for our sin, was poured out on Him
So we could be forgiven and forever live
Saved by grace the cost was not cheap
We can’t add to it, His work is complete
The greatest gift we could ever receive
It’s the Gospel, salvation for all who believe

So we pray for strength of the power of His Holy Spirit
So that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith
That we would have the strength to comprehend,
Together with all the saints
The height, depth, and length
The love of Christ that surpasses knowledge
Filled with the fullness of God
The size of grace

The Necessity of Daily Bible Reading

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly!” Colossians 3:16

Probably prayer is less neglected in devotions, than is the reading of the Bible. Many people who would not go out any morning without a few moments of prayer, will go forth day after day into the thick of life’s duties and perils, without reading even a verse of Scripture! They feel the necessity of asking God to keep, guide and bless them–but they fail to realize that it is in and through meditating on His Word, that God chiefly gives His richest and best blessings.

It is in His Word, that God reveals Himself. We cannot know what He is like, nor what the attributes of His character are–unless we ponder the Scriptures. We cannot learn what God’s will is, nor what He would have us to do and to be–if we do not look into His Word. There is nothing that we need more, than to hear God speaking to us every morning. This is possible, only as we open the Bible and let its words whisper their messages to us.

No matter how familiar we may be with the teachings of the Scriptures, we need to ponder them anew every morning to keep their pure ideals and lofty requirements ever before us, lest we allow our standard of holy living to be lowered.

A celebrated painter always kept some purely-colored stones on his table. When asked by a visitor why he did so, he said it was to keep his eye up to tone. When he was working in pigments, unconsciously his sense of color was weakened. By keeping a pure color near him he brought his eye up to tone again, just as the musician by his tuning-fork brings himself up to the right pitch. In the same way, we continually need to turn to God’s Word to keep our thoughts, and character, and life up to the true standard.

Rubenstein used to say that he could never omit his daily practice on the piano, for if he did, the quality of his playing would at once begin to deteriorate. He said that if he missed practice for three days–the public would know it; if he missed practice for two days–his friends would know it; and if he did not practice for even one day–he himself knew it!

It is no less true in Christian life, that in order to keep its holy tone up to what it should be, there must never be a break in the continuity of the study of God’s Word. If we leave off for only one day, we shall become conscious of a loss of power in living. If for two successive days we fail to look into God’s perfect law, our friends around us will notice the failure in the beauty, the sweetness and the grace of our character and disposition. If for three days we fail to study the Scriptures, to see how God would have us live, even the people of the world will see a lowering of the spiritual quality of our life!

One of the ways the Bible helps us, is by making Christ known to us. The noblest Christian is he before whose eyes, the character of Jesus shines in brightest splendor. Indeed, it is only when we have clear visions of Christ, that we really grow like Him.

“It seems to me,” says a writer, “that nowadays men think and talk too much about improving their own character–but meditate too little on the perfectness of the divine character.” Christ will never appear really great in our eyes, unless we make His Word our daily study. And only as He becomes great and glorious in our thought–will our character and standard of life be lifted up to what they should be.

Many of the blessings we seek in prayer, can come to us only through the Word of God:

We ask to be kept near the heart of Christ–but our Master tells us that only those who keep His commandments shall abide in His love. In order to keep His commandments, we must know them–and we can know them only by reading and re-reading them.

We ask God in the morning to guide us through the day, and in one of the psalms is the prayer, “Order my steps according to Your Word.” That is, God leads us by His Word. If then we do not read the words of God, how can we get His guidance?

The leading He promises is not general, by long stretches–but by little steps. The Psalmist says, “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet.” It is not said that prayer is the lamp–but the Word. We must carry it in our hand, too, as one carries a lantern to throw its beams about his feet.

We pray to be kept from sin, and in the Scriptures one says, “Your Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Our prayers to be kept from sin, can be answered only by getting the Word of God into our heart!

These are suggestions of the necessity of reading the Bible daily, as well as of praying. Neither is complete in itself alone. We must talk to God–but we must also listen to God talk to us through His Word. We must pray for blessings–but only through the divine words of Scripture, can these blessings come to us.

Lyrical Theology – The Size of Sin

The size of sin is as small as a grain of sand, but separates between wide ocean and dry land.

It’s bigger than bad habits; it’s a matter of man seeking for God’s spot following in same pattern as Adam.

Its deep rooted we are the seed of a broken family tree branching out limbs of disease.

Look at this mess we leave.

This weight of wickedness is heavy as lead trying to catch its descents like stopping a falling rock in a spider’s web.

It’s thin silk thread begins to snap and all that’s left is the residue that sticks between the cracks.

It all ends with a slip into a bottomless pit, grips the heart in the man’s chest till swallowing death.

Sipping for the glass of God’s wrath and genuine justice a just judge must summons for infinite punishment.

The smallest white lie is enough for being indictable.

The size of sin so big it causes a cosmic fraction and Hell is the only relevant response to righteous reaction.

This is what our sinful actions actually earned us, but God took upon himself the weight of sin reserved for us; a weight so significant that only the blood of an innocent one is acceptable and worthy.

So rather than make light of it or minimize the size of it, we should marvel at the magnitude of mercy.

Street Preaching at Lambeau

Here is Jeremy preaching to the Packer fans heading into their Mecca!

LOST!

“But if our gospel is hid–it is hid to those who are LOST! The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers!” 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

What multitudes of people there are who have no concern over, in fact, no consciousness of, their woeful condition! While they do not regard themselves as perfect, yet they are not aware that there is anything seriously wrong with them. They are respectable people, law-abiding citizens, and nothing particular ever troubles their conscience. They consider that they are certainly no worse than their religious neighbors, and though they scarcely ever read the Bible or enter a church, they fully expect to go to Heaven when they die.

Some of them will indeed admit that they are sinners, but imagine that their good works far outnumber their bad ones. Some of them were sprinkled as infants, attended a Sunday school class as children, said their prayers each night, and later joined the church. Nevertheless, to this moment, they have never realized that they are the enemies of God, an abomination in the eyes of His holiness, and that Hell is their just deserts! They see no beauty or glory in the Gospel, no suitableness in it unto their case, and therefore do they despise and reject it.

Though Satan rules in their hearts and lives (Ephesians 2:2), yet it is by their own free consent. They voluntarily obey him and submit to his will. His dominion over them is maintained by . . .
keeping their minds in darkness,
deceiving and deluding them,
blinding them by pride, prejudice, and the workings of their own corruptions.

Nowhere but in the Scriptures, can we learn what is the real condition of the natural man. There his case is diagnosed with unerring precision by the divine Physician.Many are the terms used therein by the Holy Spirit to describe the solemn and direful state to which the fall has reduced every descendant of Adam; and among them probably none is more pointed and awesome than is the term LOST! How dismal is its sound! How much is summed up in that single word! It signifies . . .
that the natural man is in a sinful, wretched, and perilous state,
that he is far astray from God,
that he has willfully and wantonly forsaken the path of duty.

Lost! A traveler from time to eternity, treading the road that leads to certain and everlasting destruction!

Lost! A creature who has forfeited the approbation and favor of his Maker, and is now an outcast from Him!

Lost! One who has squandered his substance in riotous living, and is now a spiritual bankrupt and pauper. He is out of the way of peace and blessing, and utterly incapable of finding his way back to it!

Fearful beyond words, is the condition of fallen man. His case is as hopeless as that of a dying person whose disease is incurable. A lost child is a pitiful object–but what mind can estimate or pen depict the tragedy of a lost soul? Lost now, lost forever–unless a sovereign God intervenes and performs a miracle of mercy for its recovery!

Man is lost positively, in that he is not what he should be. He is . . .
a defiled creature,
a guilty criminal,
a child of disobedience!

Lost judicially, under the curse of God’s broken Law, sentenced to death, “condemned already” (John 3:18), the wrath of God abiding on him! (John 3:36)

Lost meritoriously, for his transgressions deserve eternal death, which is the wages of sin–and fully has he earned them.

Lost experientially in point of ability or power to recover himself, he is “not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can he be” (Romans 8:7). The moral impotency of man is such that he is utterly incapable of performing a single spiritual act: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil! (Jeremiah 13:23)

None will know how utterly man is lost, until they experience God’s wrath in Hell, and can then measure the fearful distance they have departed from Him!

Thus man is lost in every way, and in every sense!
Federally, by the imputation to him of the guilt of his representative’s offence.
Effectually, by the transmission of a corrupt nature from his parents.
Actually, by his own evil conduct, “you have destroyed yourself” (Hosea 13:9).
Practically, by the forming of evil habits, so that now he is “held with the cords of his sins” (Proverbs 5:22).

Lost to God, for He has no love, no service, no glory from the unregenerate, so that they deprive Him of the honor of their creation.

Man is lost to himself . . .
to all reason and rational inducements,
to right conceptions and perceptions,
to every consideration of God’s claims upon him.

Lost to all sense of shame for his horrible condition in the eyes of the Holy One.

So lost as to have “delight in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:12).

Lost to piety and true happiness.

Out of the way of holiness, peace, and security.

Lost in sin, in ignorance, and error.

Lost irretrievably, like a sheep that wanders farther and farther astray, until it perishes. Man is utterly unable to find his way back to God, for he is in total darkness–a wanderer in a pathless desert, perishing in a howling wilderness. What makes man’s case yet worse, is that he has no desire to be recovered! He has perversely set himself up to be his own master, and stubbornly determines to please himself and carve out his own career.

Rather than return unto God, the unregenerate would take any road which leads farther away from Him. They resent His expostulations and resist the strivings of His Spirit. If not with their lips, with their hearts, they say unto God: “Depart from us–for we have no desire to know Your ways!” (Job 21:14). Yes, they would much prefer to be annihilated than yet meet God face to face, and have to give an account of themselves to Him (Romans 14:12). They hate His holiness and dread His justice, while despising His goodness and abusing His mercies!

10 Ways NOT to Use Gospel Tracts

When distributing the Gospel, be sure to do so in a way that brings glory and honor to God. With that in mind, here are some things to avoid.

Don’t litter–tracts left outdoors can easily blow around and become a nuisance to those who have to clean them up.
Don’t leave tracts in Post Offices or anywhere else where literature is prohibited.
Don’t force tracts on people.
Don’t be rude when someone turns down a tract.
Don’t trespass.
Don’t cause damage by sticking tracts to houses, cars, etc.
Don’t leave a tract in place of a tip–it is a very poor testimony.
Don’t use bad tracts. Make sure they are attractive and connect to the Gospel.
Don’t forget to take tracts everywhere you go! You can’t share what you don’t have.
Don’t do it alone–seek God’s guidance and blessing at every turn.

30 Ways to Use Gospel Tracts

Hopefully, the following list will give you some ideas of how you can put the “silent missionaries” to work. No matter where or how you choose to distribute tracts, seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit for each tract placed, and then pray for the Lord of the harvest to bless the seed sown.

Put in greeting cards.
Pass out door to door.
Share with fellow campers.
Tack up on bulletin boards.
Put in pockets of used clothing given away.
Pass out at parades, festivals, and special events.
Hand out at stadium entrances, concerts, etc.
Mail out (with return address) to names in the phone book.
Leave in laundromats.
Give to attendants at parking garages, toll booths, etc.
Leave in hotel rooms (in the drawers, telephone book, etc.
Include in bills paid by mail.
Hand to store employees and check out clerks.
Leave in returned library books.
Put in magazines in waiting rooms.
Get permission to set up tract racks in stores and businesses.
Enclose in letters to prisoners, pen-pals, etc.
Leave with (generous) tip in restaurants.
Give to hospital and nursing home patients while visiting.
Hand out at zoos, picnic areas, and beaches.
Leave on seat on a bus, plane, cab, etc.
Leave in locker at health club.
Pass out on busy street corners.
Give out on college campus.
Leave in break room or cafeteria at work or school.
Leave for the newspaper boy, mail man, etc.
Put in each box or bag of every merchandise you sell.
Put in airport lounges, bus terminals, etc.
Give to students at Vacation Bible School and Sunday School.
Rent booths at fairs for tract displays.

Questions for the Professing Christian

Below is a compiled list, from a variety of evangelists, of suggested questions to help you in conversation during a witness encounter with a professing Christian. It is not a safe assumption that all who say with their mouth are truly Christian. Remember, overall we cannot know for certainty whether a person’s faith is genuine, but we can probe with questions to pave the way for the Holy Spirit to help a person examine themselves.

Questions for the Professing Christian:

Do you share your faith?

Do you go out of your way to share your faith with strangers?

What do you mean by “sharing your faith”? Do you share the Gospel with them?

Have you ever truly understood the Gospel?

What is the Gospel?

What do you say to people when you witness?

Do you ever mention Judgment Day?

Do you ever mention Hell? Sin?

Who in your life isn’t saved or born again? Where will he/she go if he/she dies without Christ?

If a blind man were walking toward a 1000 foot cliff, what would you do? Let Him know about a good church? Warn him about the cliff?

If a non-Christian is unknowingly headed toward eternal Hell, what should you do? Invite him to church? Warn him about Hell?

When was the last time you read your Bible?

Have you ever read the entire Bible?

How often do you read your Bible?

How does someone to become a Christian?

Would you consider yourself to be a good person?

Are you a Christian?

How do you know?

Why are you a Christian?

Why should someone be a Christian? What do they get out of it?

If you died tonight, where would you go? Why?

What must I do to be saved?

Why did you become a Christian? Tell me about your conversion.

How do you know that you have truly repented?

How has your life changed?

What are you doing now that is different from before you became a Christian?

How is Jesus your Savior and Lord?

How are you serving Jesus with your life?

Do you read and study the Bible?

How is the Lord working in your life right now?

When was the last time you shared the Gospel with someone?

If being a Christian were a crime, would there be enough evidence to convict you guilty?

Is Jesus precious to you? Is He your treasure?

Who is Jesus to you?

A normal person who lives in the jungle and has never heard of Christ, when they die will they go to heaven or hell?

Is Ghandi in heaven or hell? How do you know?

Is Mother Theresa in heaven or hell? Why?

Questions to Ask the Nonbeliever

Below is a compiled list, from a variety of evangelists, of suggested questions to help you in conversation to swing from the natural to spiritual with the aim of getting to the Gospel. Questions are a natural way to help lower a person’s defenses by communicating humility, and are relatively non-threatening. Remember, questions lead to questions in return and can help a person discover the truth for themselves.

Questions to Ask the Nonbeliever:

What do you think happens on “the other side” (when someone dies)?

What do you think God is like? How would you describe His character?

Do you think you could prove God exists?

What do you think God is like?

Do you think God is angry with humanity?

Do you think God should punish murderers? If so, how should He punish them?

How would you describe your conscience?

Do you always listen to your conscience?

Do you ever think about death?

Are you afraid of dying? Why?

Where do people go when they die?

If you died tonight, where do you think you would go?

If there was a way to avoid death, do you think that you would be interested?

Do you have any spiritual beliefs?

Who do you think Jesus was?

Who is Jesus Christ to you?

Do you believe in Heaven or Hell?

What do you think a person has to do to go to Heaven?

Why do you think God gave us the Ten Commandments?

If God gave you your life, do you think you should feel “indebted” to Him?

On a scale from 1 to 10, where do you think God fits into your life?

What do you think God requires of you?

What do you love most in life?

Have you ever read the Bible?

What do you think is the Bible’s main message?

Would you consider yourself to be a good person?

How many of the Ten Commandments can you name?

Do you think you have kept the Ten Commandments?

If God were to ask you why He should allow you into heaven, what would you say?

What is stopping you from submitting and trusting the Savior right now?

If you could ask God any question, what would it be and why?

How many hours a day do you work out?

How many hours a day do you spend on spiritual fitness?

What do you think is more important physical fitness or spiritual fitness?

Do you think there are many roads to God, why or why not?

What is your goal in life, what makes you tick in life?

What’s your life story?

What scares you most in life?

If what you are believing is not true, would you want to know?

Is there any absolute truth?

If the answers to your questions were available, would you like to have them?

Do you think the Bible’s claim that someone can know that they have everlasting life is true?

What is stopping you from asking God for forgiveness and following His Son Jesus for the rest of your life?

Fishermen's Call

A Reformation in Gospel Proclamation