Living the Journey

Praise the Lord! We have been receiving lots of encouraging reports from those of you who shared the Gospel last week as part of the Challenge II! Not everyone was able to actually lead someone to the Lord, but some sowed, some watered, and some reaped! If you haven’t shared with us what the Lord taught you through this experience, please send us a note today. It doesn’t have to be long, just a couple paragraphs is fine.

Here is one story we enjoyed from Christen. We’ll look forward to posting many more similar testimonies on the blog this week!

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“This last week, God allowed me to talk to one of our neighbors about the Gospel. My mom was also there talking to her husband, so I knew that she was praying for me.

Before I got out a tract, I was really praying that God would help me know which one to share. It was getting dark outside, so I knew it would be impolite to expect the neighbor to be able to read it right then. The Lord then gave me an idea. These neighbors have grandsons, who would probably love a million dollar bill! I got out the million dollar tract and told her that on the front it looks like a million dollar bill and on the back it has a Gospel message. I told her that it has some of the Ten Commandments on it and then went through some of them with her. When we got to the commandment to not murder, I mentioned that God considers hatred to be the same as murder. She said that she does struggle with this, and thinks that everyone does all their life.

I also shared James 2:10, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” She thought that she was saved when she was eighteen but at the time she felt like she was saved all of her life. We can pray for her because only God knows her heart, but I am not sure that she really is saved.

I learned quickly that I need to have a lot of Scripture memorized, and that I need to know it well enough that I can quote it even when I am nervous. Thank you for making this second Challenge possible!”

~ Christen

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Today is the final day to share the Gospel as part of the Challenge II! If you have not yet been able to tell someone about Jesus Christ this week, take some time this evening to ask God for an opportunity, step out of your box, and share the Good News! Be encouraged as you read how God used Priscilla last week in the following story:

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I am so excited about the Challenge that is going on this month! This past week my family was traveling to the Big Sandy Conference, and I enjoyed handing out the different tracks at each of the stops we made. One night my Dad wanted to treat us all to a really nice Mexican restaurant. I asked the Lord to give us the right waitress that would be hungering and thirsting after the Lord, and that would not reject the gospel. The Lord answered that prayer! Our waitress was very grateful for the tracts and books we gave her.

After dinner, my dad encouraged me to talk with our waitress, Christian, about the gospel. After thanking her for the great food and service, I asked her if she went to church. She said her background was Catholic, but began opening up and sharing how they had just moved and she had three little children. This was only her second day on the job, and she was sad for having to leave her children at home while working. I asked her another question, “Do you think you can get to heaven by just being a good person?” She thought she could. So many people believe this lie and are trusting in their good works to get them to heaven. I explained Ephesians 2:8-9 which says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”

We can never be good enough to make it to heaven and God knows that. This is why Jesus came to earth and died on the cross to pay for our sins. It is through faith, trusting what Jesus did for us on the cross that gets us to heaven. I also explained the importance of the heart attitude of repentance as it says in Luke 13:3, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Repentance is like a u-turn in your heart that says to God, “I am sorry I have been going my own way, but now by Your grace I am willing to follow You and let You be the Lord of my life.” She listened very attentively, and then said she wanted to pray right then to give her heart to Christ!!!

I was rejoicing for what the Lord did! I know it was the Lord speaking through me and helping me to know what to say. My family was also praying for me and was excited to hear what the Lord did. A verse keeps coming to mind which says, “Ye have not, because ye ask not…” I believe the Lord longs to show us His power and wants to use each one of His children to do great works and lead hundreds of souls to Christ. But we must ask. Ask Him for His power, boldness, grace, the filling of His spirit. Ask that God would bring you each day people that are hungering and thirsting for the truth and that He would give you the privilege of leading them to Christ. So many people are not willing to give their whole life to Christ and will reject the truth. But please don’t get discouraged and stop doing what God has called us to do, because if we are faithful God promises to bless us as it says in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” There is no greater message to share then that of Calvary’s love.

Jesus asked us to pray that God would send forth laborers. The fields are so white unto harvest, and I pray that you would be the laborer that God desires you to be. May the Lord bless you with His faithfulness to continue passing out His Word and sharing the Good News – not just for the Challenge, but for the rest of your life.

~ Priscilla Keller

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The big week of the Soulwinning Challenge has arrived!

After memorizing key verses that clearly explain the plan of salvation and receiving practical training from many godly men, it is now time to get out, meet some people, and share the Good News!

During this week, the week of May 3 to 9, the Challenge is for each one of us to share the Gospel with at least one other person. At the end of the week, send us a report of what the Lord taught you through this experience.

Do you still have a little sense of fear about sharing the Gospel? In the following exhortation, Three Life Changing Stories, Pastor Ken Pierpont of Evangel Baptist Church gives inspiration and encouragement for witnessing. A master storyteller who has himself lead many Journey to the Heart teams, Pastor Pierpont shares a refreshing perspective that perfectly sets the tone for our exciting week of soulwinning!

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Congratulations!

to everyone who successfully memorized twelve key verses that can be effectively used when sharing the Gospel. We will be mailing each one of you a Soulwinner’s Resource Kit later on this week!

Even if you didn’t quite make the April 23rd deadline, be assured that the time and effort you invested in memorization will not go unrewarded.

But the Challenge Has Just Begun…

The week of May 3-9 is just around the corner! This is the week that everyone who has taken on the Challenge will share the Gospel with at least one other person. Remember that success in soulwinning is not necessarily seeing the fruit, but following the leading of the Holy Spirit to plant the seed of God’s Word in the life of another person.

At the end of that week you will be required to write up a short report of what the Lord taught you through this experience.

In the meantime, here are some things you can be doing to get ready:

• Read a classic book on soulwinning, such as One Thing You Can’t Do in Heaven
• Practice sharing the Gospel with your parents or siblings
• Learn how to use the Wordless Book
• Start to find people interesting
• Stay tuned to livingthejourney.com for further inspiration!

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Here is the twelfth and final of twelve verses to be memorized as part of The Challenge II!

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“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

- I John 1:9

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I John 1:9 is a well known verse…but do we fully understand the richness of what this passage is truly saying?  

In witnessing to others, this verse is a powerful tool in helping to explain the nature of God, as well as His promise to forgive sin and cleanse one’s life. For me, it always helps to find out what the original meaning of each word is. The word “confess” means to acknowledge and assent to. “Faithful” means trustworthy, and “just” means equitable, innocent, and holy. I thought it was interesting to note that the tense used for “confess” is the present subjunctive active. In other words, this tense gives the connotation that confession here is a repeated and continuous action. This makes sense when you consider that John is writing to fellow believers. This also coincides with Matthew 4:17, where Jesus used a similar tense when He gave the command to “repent.” Regardless, this truth can be applied to the life of both the saved and unsaved. With this in mind, I John 1:9 could be paraphrased:

If we confess and acknowledge our sins, Jesus Christ, who is trustworthy and holy, promises that He will (for He is fully able) forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We can share this promise of God’s forgiveness and cleansing power to those we  are witnessing to. This verse can be used as a springboard to share about the holiness of God that can then be contrasted with man’s sinfulness. If a person does not recognize and acknowledge their exceeding sinfulness, they will never understand why they would need God’s forgiveness in the first place. Thus, it is vitally important that a person acknowledge that they are indeed sinful and have violated God’s moral law and are in desperate need of His forgiveness and cleansing blood. With this understanding, they will begin to appreciate the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on their behalf. Confession is always humbling, but God only dwells with those who are of a “humble spirit” (See Isaiah 57:15) and the proud He knows “afar off” (See Psalm 138:6).

I John 1:9 is a powerful promise that speaks of God’s holiness, His love, and His redeeming plan for mankind if they would but humble themselves, confess and turn from their sin, and seek His face.

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Today is the final day to have one of your parents call the Journey to the Heart office (630-323-9800 ext. 522) and report that you successfully memorized twelve verses to complete the first part of The Challenge II!

Here are some thoughts on verse eleven:

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“For whosoever shall call
upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved” – Romans 10:13

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This promise has spoken peace into the lives of many searching to find assurance of their eternal destiny. It is a matter of fact stated simple enough for any honest soul to find true peace with God by simply resting in “the Word of the faith which we preach.”

At just three years of age, I found peace with God through simple obedience to this verse and I know that anyone who in simple child-like faith obeys will receive that same assurance that I have enjoyed all these years.

When sharing my faith, I often explain this verse word by word. Whosoever really means anyone regardless religious background, cultural differences, or political persuasion. To call on the Lord you don’t need a phone, but rather talk with Him in prayer. Share with Him what you have learned about your need for salvation and based on His name, character, and Son’s death on the cross that you accept His sacrifice as full payment for your wrongdoing. This verse states that if you do this, you shall be saved. Does that mean maybe, might be, hope to be, or think you will be saved? No! We can rest in the simple truth of Scripture, just as I did at a very young age and know for certain if we died today, we would enjoy an eternity with the Lord.

Do you have that confidence, assurance, and hope? Do you know beyond the shadow of doubt that you will spend eternity with Christ? If you have doubts, there is no time to spare. Call on the name of the Lord today. Take God at His Word and you SHALL be saved!

~ David

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