scripture
Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
quote
God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on him.
Hudson Taylor, missionary to China
picture
Church sign north of where 152 crosses 165 in Los Banos.
scripture
Matthew 9:1-8
Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!" Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." And the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.
quote
There is no place like the feet of Jesus for resolving the problems that perplex our hearts.
G. B. Duncan
missionaries
My parents are leaving Bakersfield for Kabul. <see attached>
The Good Person Test, that was sent out yesterday, is to be used to show a person that they are a sinner. Once a person comes to this realization it is then needed to explain the consequences of this state.
scripture
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The bad news comes first: the result of sin is death.
The good news is that spiritual birth can happen if we receive the free gift of eternal life which God has offered through Jesus Christ.
(rebirth: John 3:1-21; en Espanol)
scripture
John 3:16-18
Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.”
Most people think that they are good people. A simple way to help someone come to the realization that they are in need of a redeemer can be done with a few questions.
Thank you Ray Comfort for this simple way to break it down and reach people with the grace of God!
Good Person Test
Have you ever told a lie, even a white lie?
Yeah.
What does that make you?
A liar, I guess.
Have you ever stolen anything regardless of its value?
Yes.
What does that make you?
A thief.
Have you ever been angry at someone?
Oh yeah.
Jesus said that being angry toward someone is committing murder in your heart. If that is so then what does that make you?
A murderer.
Have you ever looked at someone with lust?
Of course.
Jesus said that if you look at someone with lust then you commit adultery with them in your heart. If that is so, then what does that make you?
An adulterer.
Therefore, on your own confession you are a lying, thieving, murderous, adulterer at heart. Now, if you stood before God and gave an account for you life, would He accept you based on your deeds?
I don’t think so.
Stay tuned for how to follow up this conversation starter with “Jesus is our Redeemer”.
scripture
Matthew 6:1-4
Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
quote
No man is greater than his prayer life. The pastor who is not praying is playing; the people who are not praying are straying. The pulpit can be a shop window to display one's talents; the prayer closet allows no showing off.
Leonard Ravenhill
