Encounter God Personally

 Many years ago a nurse I knew told me of a very old lady dying in hospital. She was very lonely because she couldn’t understand English. She was Hungarian and she also knew German well. 

I wanted to help her, so I got the permission of the Anglican Chaplain to visit her and read the Bible to her in German, a language I know well.

I visited her every day and read the German Bible to her. She listened intently, although she was demented and her eyes and her mind would wander at times.

Finally, one evening I read her the promise of Jesus to give eternal life to all who believed.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 
and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”  John 11:25-26 ESV

Suddenly her eyes stopped wandering and she became clearly focused on the question.

“Yes, I believe!” she answered in a strong clear voice.

I never saw her again because the next day she was dead.

A nurse told me the old lady appeared to be dying six months before but she started reviving. God preserved her life until she could hear the message of life and then He took her to heaven.

There are many people out there ready to believe the message of Jesus but they just need you or me to tell them in a loving way.

This old lady was a Roman Catholic, so she knew about Jesus, heaven and hell and eternal salvation. She just needed to hear a simple clear Bible message.

But there are also people who have heard but are not ready to believe.

Many have been abused or bullied by priests, pastors or religious teachers. Others have seen loved ones torn apart by unhealthy Christian religion.

In recent years bishops, priests, pastors and preachers have been ducking for cover because the scandal has been all over the media. You can tell many people about God, but they will not believe until they encounter God personally. 

Supernatural Gifts Today

 A conservative Bible-believing preacher in Australia was travelling through the country. As he left one village, the local tribal elders waved goodbye to him.

When he drove into the next village forty minutes later, the same tribal elders greeted him. He was driving his car, but they had already arrived using magical powers.

The preacher knew that he had failed as an evangelist. The indigenous people looked down on him because their witchcraft was more powerful than the theological doctrines preached from the pulpit.

The frustrated evangelist went to a charismatic preacher and sought advice. He had come to the conclusion that charismatic gifts of the Spirit are still necessary today.

In the Bible, we repeatedly find spiritual warfare. Sorcerers persecute the believing Jews and, in the New Testament, the Christians, but the prophets and later the apostles prove through miracles that the true God is stronger.

When Moses stood before Pharaoh, he threw his staff on the ground and God turned the staff into a snake. The Egyptian magicians also produced snakes, but Moses' snake swallowed the Egyptian snakes. 

In Acts chapters 2 and 3, God used amazing miracles to bring thousands of Jews to faith. In chapter 2, 120 disciples proclaimed the gospel in various languages they had never learned.

In chapter 3, Peter and John healed a paralysed man in Jesus' name.

In Cyprus, the mission was hindered by an evil sorcerer.

Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 
“You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 

Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.” Immediately, mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Acts 13:9–11 NIV

During the Cold War, a faithful Christian wanted to bring a shipment of Bibles to an Eastern European country. At the border, he had to go through customs. The customs officer looked directly into his car, where there was a stack of Bibles, but he could not see any Bibles. 

From the first day of Pentecost, the spread of the gospel was accompanied and confirmed by signs and wonders. God has never ceased to reveal His miraculous power.
 
In our time, millions of Muslims are converting to Christ. 
Numerous Muslims experience or observe miraculous healings in Jesus' name.
Countless Muslims are visited by Jesus in dreams and visions.

What is God's key to opening this seemingly locked door?
Signs and wonders. What is behind them? God's love for lost souls.
How is God's power released in such a wonderful way? The passionate intercession of faithful Christians.

Porn Dealer finds God

 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Mt 20:16 NIV

You did not come into this world by chance, no matter how good or evil your parents were, no matter whether your parents planned your birth or did not want you at all. 

God has a calling for every single person. God is our Creator. He created you. God is a good, creative Creator. He does not create anything or anyone without a good purpose. 

John Dawson was a missionary from New Zealand who served in Los Angeles. He wanted to reach the owner of a porn shop for Jesus. He had breakfast with this man every week and explained the gospel to him. The man believed everything, but was still not ready to give his life to Jesus.

Then John Dawson received a new insight from the Holy Spirit.

He told the man that he was hard on the outside but had a soft heart. God had given him the gift of mercy, but he was using that gift wrongly by giving false comfort through pornography.

The porn dealer was deeply moved and he began to hope.

That same day, the man made Jesus the Lord of his life.

Jesus told the religious professionals of His day that they were blind because they were proud know-alls.

… Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 

For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. Mt 21:31–32 NIV
 
There are still such theological experts and high-ranking church leaders today. This story of Jesus and the religious professionals is unfortunately still relevant.

Are you a human being? Then you are called. You have a calling from Jesus, but your calling must be activated. You must believe and repent.

Are you already converted, but somehow stuck? Your life is more or less virtuous, but for you, God's kingdom is only in the Bible and in heaven. 

Jesus has very specific plans for you and important tasks.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10 NIV

You can continue to strive to be a good, virtuous Christian, or you can take time out to perceive God's guidance and find the true purpose of your life.

“Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. Ps 39:4 NIV

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 
For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Mt 7:7–8 NIV

Unconditional Love of Jesus

 Ed Silvoso was one of the most effective leaders in the great revival that swept Argentina in the 1990s. As a teenager, he was already a dedicated evangelist. He prayed earnestly for the sinners in his neighbourhood.

He piously told God all about the sinful lives of this man and that woman. He called on God to bring conviction of sin and grace for them to repent of their evil ways.

Then God spoke to him about his own wrong attitudes. God showed him how he loved his neighbours. 

The zealous young evangelist learned to pray for the personal needs of his neighbours. God did not even want him to preach to these neighbours because of his superior judgemental attitude.

People don’t become addicted to drugs or alcohol because they want to sin and be evil. They feel an emptiness in their lives and they look for drugs to make them feel better. Should we pray for them to feel guilty and repent? Guild motivation usually doesn’t work.

Do women become prostitutes because they enjoy sexual sin? Usually not. Prostitution is often a last resort. Women are poor and hungry or need money to support drug habits. There are all kinds of reasons, but to reach prostitutes for Jesus, we have to empathise with their suffering. We need to see how God values them, even if they cannot see any value in themselves.

Many Christians today expect people to repent of their sins and be converted to Jesus before they will pray for their healing or offer much needed help. Jesus often did things the other way around.

Jesus healed many who were not converted, although he was deeply grieved when they received healing but did not turn to God for salvation.

I know a group of Christian women in Germany who visited a brothel every week. They didn’t go in like evangelists, but offered genuine friendship.

One Christian woman took a prostitute to a cinema. In the middle of a movie, the prostitute shouted out loud, “Now I believe in Jesus!” It was not a Christian movie, but she was touched by the love of God because the Christian woman showed her unconditional love and acceptance.

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. Jn 3:16 NIV

Jesus offered up his life because he loved people, people like you and me, people like teachers and nurses, people like drug dealers and pimps, all kinds of people. 

Jesus feels what we feel. He feels the pain of the victims of abuse. When you love someone, you feel empathy with their suffering. That is what God is like.

Friendly Mission Outreach

Jesus sent out 70 disciples to evangelise from village to village and from house to house.
He gave them a method of evangelism in the form of clear instructions.

“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’
“When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you.
Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ Lk 10:5, 8-9 NIV

Probably you are not an elder and certainly you are not a Jew in New Testament times. So how can we apply the general principles behind this method of evangelism in our culture today?

In his excellent book on Prayer Evangelism, Ed Silvoso summarises the instructions of Jesus in four brief points.

1. Speak peace to them.
2. Fellowship with them.
3. Take care of their needs.
4. Proclaim the good news.

Speak peace. Have fellowship.

Approach neighbours and workmates with an open, friendly attitude. Don’t be religious or preachy.
Paul said he tried to be all things to all men, to meet and accept people as they are.

Tony Campolo is an American preacher who wanted to reach out to teenage prostitutes. He invited a group of them to his room, paid for their time and entertained them with milkshakes and kind conversation, loving them as a father.

Take care of their needs.

If a homeless beggar asks for money, I sometimes buy them some food, and if possible, have a friendly conversation.

My wife had a lot of contact with Muslim immigrants through her work. She often made friends with them and when they told her about their needs, she prayed for them. Sometimes she would see wonderful answers to prayer.

Proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom.

My wife and I make friends with our neighbours. Often they have serious health problems and we pray for them. In situations like this, I often share my testimony of answered prayers for healing.

I am 76. When I talk to people of my generation, I tell them we are approaching the end of our lives. I tell them I believe in Jesus and I am not afraid of dying, because I will go to heaven with Jesus.

 

Praying for Unbelievers

 Richard Wurmbrand was a preacher in Romania. He was persecuted under the Nazi occupation, but then things got even worse under the communists.

When the Russian army arrived, it was not really a liberation for the Christians, but Richard Wurmbrand evangelised fearlessly. He even tried to win the Russian officers for Jesus.
 
One Russian officer denied that he believed in God, but with God's wisdom Richard Wurmbrand was able to see through this atheism.

‘But you still pray in an emergency, don't you?’
The communist was caught out and embarrassed.
‘When we were besieged and surrounded in Stalingrad, we all prayed.’

When my mother was 70 years old and still healthy, she didn't want to take my prayers seriously, but at 76 she was close to death. Then she was very grateful for my prayers and she died in peace with God.

Between 1982 and 2000, Argentina experienced a powerful revival. One of the prominent preachers in this revival was Ed Silvoso.

Ed Silvoso explained that many Christians want to pray for unbelievers, but without speaking openly to the unbelievers. They are afraid that God might not answer these prayers and then their faith would appear weak and useless.

Ed Silvoso began his missionary work at the age of 16.

After many years, he has learnt that many non-Christians appreciate our help through prayer, even if they do not expect results and may not even have a clear idea of God Himself.

When we ask our colleagues or neighbours if we should pray for them, they are often grateful for our charity. When they experience that God hears them, his intervention can awaken their faith.

I once spoke to a witch. I tried to win her over to Jesus, but the conversation was very difficult. She had a cunning answer for everything.

Finally, I realised that I should stop striving. I asked God for wisdom on how to end the conversation, and God gave me the right words.

I told her, ‘I will pray that Jesus will visit you in a dream.’

Her demonic power could not resist this attack from the Holy Spirit. Suddenly I saw fear and uncertainty in her eyes.

Your prayers have a power that intimidates even the demons.

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Mt 7:7–8 NLT

How did Jesus minister?

 Many Christians begin by proclaiming biblical doctrines.

‘Jesus is the Son of God, who was in eternal fellowship with the Father before creation. We are sinners and need forgiveness. Jesus died for your sins. If you repent and believe, God will forgive you and give you eternal life.’

I believe this is the truth, according to the Bible. There are also Christians who have heard this message and have come to faith as a result. The apostles in the book of Acts also preached this truth often, but not without signs and wonders.

But did Jesus start like this?

What did Jesus say?

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Mt 4:17 NIV

What does this mean? What did the Jews understand at the time? What did ‘the kingdom of heaven’ mean?

We Christians study the whole New Testament and we have other theological explanations, but the Jews at that time were thinking of prophecies in the Old Testament.

After his resurrection and shortly before his return to the Father in heaven, the apostles were still thinking about the restoration of God's kingdom in Israel.

Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:6 NIV

Why didn't Jesus try to clear up this misunderstanding right from the start? Jesus did not explain theology. He did not start with doctrines.

Later, Jesus asked his disciples what they believed about him.

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Mt 16:13–14 NIV

Then he asked them what they themselves believed. Only Peter gave the right answer.

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Mt 16:16 NIV

How did Jesus respond? Should the disciples proclaim the whole truth everywhere?

Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. Mt 16:20 NIV

Why? The Jews believed that the Messiah would appear as an all-powerful king and commander and force the enemies of God to accept the rule of God. That is what they read in the Old Testament, but we are still waiting for that time. It hasn't come yet.

How did Jesus minister? He preached trust in God, inner purity and love of neighbour, and he healed and healed and healed.

He was rejected by the Bible experts of his time.

When Christians today minister in the same way, with practical love, genuine kindness and miraculous healings, they are rejected by many Bible experts and conservative Christians.

Nothing has changed. God has not changed. He still wants to show his practical love with miraculous healings, and many religious professionals reject this approach, as they always have.

Doctrines are important, but doctrines are often not a good starting point in mission.

In the Gospel of John, we read that Jesus was full of grace and truth, not truth and grace.

What is grace? Undeserved favour and unconditional kindness. Only if this is our starting point, will many people be willing to hear the message of truth.

It is not enough to tell people about the undeserved favour of God. We must demonstrate and practise the genuine kindness of God in our own attitudes and actions.

God Rescues Ruined People

There are terrible people who repent and God forgives them.

Hermann Zaiss was a very blessed German evangelist at the end of the war. As early as 1945, thousands and thousands of people from all regions of Germany and other countries came to his meetings.

Many gravely ill people were miraculously healed, but these were not the greatest miracles.  

He was a young soldier in the British army of occupation. He had a burning hatred of the German people.

His commander was a Canadian officer who looked upon this young man with Christian compassion because his uncontrollable bitterness was poisoning his own soul.

This young man was no monster. A Jewish child from Germany, he had found refuge in England, but his entire family was murdered by the Nazis.

The Canadian officer brought the emotionally wounded young soldier to the meeting where the German evangelist was preaching.

Also among the audience was another seriously injured man. He was a hardcore Nazi from the Waffen SS, a loyal disciple of the Führer.

In the last days of the war, he was hit by an artillery shell explosion.

When he woke up from a coma, he saw a black American nurse smiling at him with Christian compassion.

He no longer understood the world. One of his legs had been torn apart, and he was permanently crippled.

The helpless SS officer and the embittered young Jew listened to the sermon, saw the healings, and felt the presence of God with his love and mercy.

Then their hearts became warm and soft. They turned to Jesus and testified of their experience.

He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. Ps 147:3 NASB95

Then the most amazing of all miracles took place. They became firm friends.

We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death. 1 Jn 3:14 NRSV

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Rom 5:1 NLT

Women Preached in the Bible

 The women also spoke for God. Acts 2: The sons and daughters prophesied. Peter and 119 other men ... and women spoke God's words, opening the door of salvation with the keys of the kingdom.

On the day of Pentecost, 50 days after the cross, 120 disciples of Jesus were dramatically filled with the Holy Spirit.

Peter was no longer the coward who denied Jesus. He stood up fearlessly and spoke words of power to the crowd. These words of power and life were the key to the kingdom. They opened the door of salvation to 2000 listeners that day.

The prophetic words of Jesus were fulfilled.

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Mt 16:19 NIV

When God gives words of grace and truth, they are words of life for anyone and everyone who will receive them.

But was it only Peter who spoke God's life-giving words that day?

There were 120 disciples who spoke words from God to the crowds that day. They spoke in languages they had never learnt, and the listeners from many nations understood God's message in their own languages.

Who were these 120 disciples? Were they only men who had been ordained to preach?

Peter clearly rejects this idea.

“ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, … Acts 2:17 NIV

So did the women also proclaim the gospel in a public meeting?

In chapter 1 of Acts we have a clear confirmation of Peter's revolutionary words, although they were not Peter's words, but the words of the Holy Spirit quoted by the prophet Joel.

They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. Acts 1:14 NIV

Yes, the women were there too. There were also women among the 120 disciples. The women also spoke to the crowd with the authority of the Holy Spirit.

What do keys do? They lock and unlock doors.

The words of Peter and the other 119 male and female disciples unlocked the door of salvation and locked the door of condemnation for all those who believed and received their message.

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Mt 16:19 NIV

Locking and unlocking is another way of saying binding and loosening.
Jesus gave his disciples the keys of the kingdom, keys, not just a key.

Keys represent God-given authority.
Words of inspired preaching, teaching, prophesying and witnessing are all keys through which God opens the doors to reach people with His goodness and power.

So who has the authority to bind and loose or to lock and unlock?

• Only Peter? Clearly no.

• Only the apostles? No.

• Only the ordained preachers? No.

• Only men? No.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Mt 18:18–20 NIV

Where two or three male or female disciples are together in unity and harmony, their words of faith and believing prayer can bind or loose, can lock or open spiritual doors.

The Keys of the Kingdom

Jesus gave Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven. A key opens doors or locks doors.

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; … Mt 16:19 NIV

When Peter preached the good news of Jesus on the first day of Pentecost, he opened the door for 2,000 Jews from different nations to enter God's kingdom of heaven.  

... whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Mt 16:19 NIV

When Peter was anointed by the Holy Spirit and proclaimed God's truth and grace in his preaching, the power of unbelief was bound and the grace of salvation was loosed.

You could also visualise it differently.
The door to hell was closed and the door to eternal life was opened.

But was it only Peter's sermon that opened the door of faith?

“ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Ac 2:17 NIV

120 disciples, men and women, were dramatically filled with the Holy Spirit. They uttered prophetic words from the Holy Spirit and they spoke these words in languages they had never learnt. These languages were also understood by the listeners from different nations.

God gives the keys of the kingdom of heaven to all disciples in all generations. If you let yourself be led by the Holy Spirit, he will give you words that will touch people.

God wants to give you words of love, words of grace and also words of truth.

Restauring Bullied Christians

There are lost sheep that Jesus wants to restore.

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 

And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders
and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ Lk 15:4–6 NIV

This well-known parable of Jesus is ignored by some preachers.

However, it should admonish us that we are called as witnesses for Jesus to win people for Jesus.

Many preachers use this parable to encourage us to pray for others and to evangelise. That is right and very important.

But when I consider this little story carefully, I don't see a wild sheep that has never been tamed.

The lost sheep in this parable already belonged to the flock, but somehow got lost.

I have no experience with sheep, but I do know a bit about keeping chickens.

My wife and I had a few chickens in our small backyard. It was always an outsider, a chicken that was bullied.

Then my mother-in-law gave us more chickens and the bullying got much worse.

One of the new arrivals was of a different breed. This hen had long feathers on its head, but no red crest.

The other hens were the worst racists.

The different-looking hen was totally rejected, cruelly picked on and rejected.

The bullying was constant and brutal. She moved away from the others and secluded herself in a corner or hid behind a bush.

There are communities where sexual sin is punished harshly, but very unfairly, because it is always the woman who is blamed. If a girl or young woman is harassed in this way and leaves the church, who takes care of her?

There are churches where a wife is supposed to obey unconditionally, but when husbands are cruel and domineering, the wife is blamed. Who cares for her?

There are many Christians who truly believe in Jesus, but they are somehow different.

A young man was converted in a very evangelistic church. In this church, cigarette smoking was tolerated for a while after conversion, but not for long.

After a few months this young man was still smoking and he was condemned as a rebellious sinner and cast out.

Such churches criticise churches without discipline. In the New Testament we read of only one case where a sinning Christian was to be expelled from the church.

But only one Christian in the New Testament was expelled from the church because of sin. He was a man in Corinth who was involved in a sexual relationship with his mother-in-law.

There are churches that function like exclusive sects. Those who do not submit unconditionally become victims of bullying. If such a Christian is expelled or leaves the church, no one cares about him.

In Corinth, some such preachers had seized control of the church. Paul rebuked the Christians who had submitted.

In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. 2 Co 11:20 NIV

This still happens. There are many traumatised people who have been victims of bullying in churches and cults. They are lost sheep. Who looks after them?

Unusual Miracles in Christian Mission

 I know a preacher in Australia who was on a mission trip to Pakistan. He heard that a poor Muslim  farmer in the neighbourhood had a very sick cow. Many Muslims know that God dramatically answers the prayers of Christians, and this farmer invited the preacher to pray for their sick cow.

He visited the poor farmer, but the cow was already dead, but he prayed for the dead cow anyway. The following day the dramatic news came, the cow was alive again and completely healthy.

There are many churches in Europe where signs and wonders are not expected, but especially in Africa, Asia and South America, signs and wonders like the one in Acts are very common.

The first dramatic sign in the book of Acts was the manifestation of speaking in tongues.
One hundred and twenty disciples of the Lord Jesus were together in Jerusalem.

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Ac 2:4 NRSV

Then they came out of the upper room and proclaimed heavenly wisdom in these languages they had never learnt.

Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation under heaven.

When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Ac 2:5–6 CSB

An American preacher was once a guest on a Christian talk show in California. In the middle of the interview, he felt a very strong touch of the Holy Spirit.

He began to speak in tongues. He felt very nervous because he didn't know how the radio station's management would react. He was relieved that no one reacted.

Listeners to the talk show could call counsellors.
Immediately after the program, a telephone counsellor approached the preacher. She spoke with a strong German accent.

It turned out that a German woman was listening to the program and she heard the preacher speaking in her own language. The preacher didn't even know what language had come out of his mouth and he didn't know what he had said in flawless German.

The German telephone counsellor explained to the preacher that the German woman who had called was terminally ill and dying. She heard instructions from God on what to do from the preacher's mouth. As she carried out the instructions from the Holy Spirit, the power of God came upon her. She got up and was completely healed.

The English preacher mentioned above told me how he experienced a very unusual manifestation of speaking in tongues. He received a direction from the Holy Spirit to fly to Jakarta, Indonesia. 

He obeyed God's leading and sat in a hotel room in Jakarta. He had received no further instructions. All he could do was wait and pray.

Then there was a knock on the door. An Indonesian pastor entered and invited him to preach to his huge congregation.

The English preacher stood at the pulpit, ready to preach in English with an interpreter. He opened his mouth and began to preach in perfect Indonesian. He had never learnt Indonesian.

Not only could he speak Indonesian perfectly, but he could understand everything. From that moment on, he was able to completely master the Indonesian language. He later worked as a language teacher and taught Indonesian in Australia.

For me, speaking in tongues is very important. I pray every day in languages that I have never learnt. I don't understand these languages and if there are listeners, they don't understand anything either.

But God understands.

For the person who speaks in a tongue is not speaking to people but to God, since no one understands him; he speaks mysteries in the Spirit. 1 Co 14:2 CSB

How can we understand this contradiction?

In 1 Cor 12:10 we read about ``different kinds of tongues`` 1 Cor 12:10

We cannot understand this gift of grace, but God's gifts are always good.

God Changes Bad People

There are terrible people who repent and God forgives them.

Hermann Zaiss was a very blessed German evangelist at the end of the war. As early as 1945, thousands and thousands of people from all regions of Germany and other countries came to his meetings.

Many gravely ill people were miraculously healed, but these were not the greatest miracles.  

There was a young soldier in the British army of occupation. He had a burning hatred of the German people.

His commander was a Canadian officer who looked upon this young man with Christian compassion because his uncontrollable bitterness was poisoning his own soul.

This young man was no monster. A Jewish child from Germany, he had found refuge in England, but his entire family was murdered by the Nazis.

The Canadian officer brought the emotionally wounded young soldier to the meeting where the German evangelist was preaching.

Also among the audience was another seriously injured man. He was a hardcore Nazi from the Waffen SS, a loyal disciple of the Führer.

In the last days of the war, he was hit by an artillery shell explosion.

When he woke up from a coma, he saw a black American nurse smiling at him with Christian compassion.

He no longer understood the world. One of his legs had been torn apart, and he was permanently crippled.

The helpless SS officer and the embittered young Jew listened to the sermon, saw the healings and felt the presence of God with his love and mercy.

Then their hearts became warm and soft. They turned to Jesus and testified of their experience.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Ps 147:3 NIV

Then the most amazing of all miracles took place. They became firm friends.

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 1 Jn 3:14 NIV

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Ro 5:1 NIV

You can be a Missionary

 Maybe you are not a leader in the church, but you want to establish something for God in your school or office, or in your neighbourhood.

God raised up wonderfully gifted leaders in the Bible.

We think of Peter, Paul and John, outstanding apostles who were able to discern God's thoughts and establish new missions. They were trailblazers for Jesus.

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Ephesians 4:11 NLT

 But not all missionaries and trailblazers were official church leaders.

Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews.

However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus.

The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord. Acts 11:19–21 NLT

We will know these pioneers in heaven, but in the meantime we don't know their names.

Maybe you can have a barbecue in your garden. You can invite your non-Christian neighbours, but also two or three Christian friends who are strong in faith. Then you can pray for your neighbours.

Once I talked to some friends who wanted to learn about the Bible. They had talked to Jehovah’s Witnesses and were interested in doing a Jehovah’s Witness Bible study. 

I immediately invited them to come to my house instead, and my wife and I spontaneously started our own bible study group.

I heard a wonderful testimony from a Christian woman who was active in a charismatic church.

One of the pastors, who was very prophetically gifted, organised a meeting, so that Christians would learn through practical experience to perceive God's thoughts and then pass them on.

Is that biblical? It is.

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 1 Cor 14:1 NIV84

“ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Acts 2:17 NIV84

When are we to prophesy? In the last days, in the end times. When did the end times begin? 2000 years ago. Have the end times come to an end? Really?

Who is allowed to prophesy? "Your sons and daughters." So women can prophesy too? According to the Bible, yes. And in assemblies with men? In Acts chapter 2, clearly yes.

The woman in this true story had a friend over. She wanted to attend the meeting where they learned to share God's thoughts, that is, prophesy.

Her friend did not believe in God, but she was curious and wanted to come along.

The preacher told the Christians to pair off. The curious unbelieving woman wanted to join in.

Then the preacher told everyone to pray and receive a revelation or message from God for their partner and share it. A strange thought came to the unbelieving woman, and she passed it on. The Christian woman was deeply blessed because only God could know what she heard.

The unbelieving woman was amazed, and she became a believer.

Is this biblical? In the Old Testament, a donkey spoke a true prophecy.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, Ephesians 3:20 NIV84

WE CAN BE LIKE JESUS

What does it mean to be a Christian?

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 (NIV) 

Many people say a little prayer confessing faith in Jesus and then they are told they are saved and on their way to heaven. Often it is true. 

A prostitute went to a church meeting and believed. She said a prayer receiving Jesus into her life and kept on going to church. 

• In following weeks she tried to be kind and helpful to people, even in her unholy workplace. She began to give generous offerings in church. 

Little by little she changed until the day came when she walked away from her life of prostitution. 

Her faith saved her.  

But evangelists can tell you that the majority of people who say a prayer of commitment in a meeting do not show evidence of a changed life a year later.

• Sadly it appears that conversion can either be a shallow ritual or it can be a deep redirection of a person’s whole life, beginning with a real conversion and transformation on the inside.

How did Jesus respond to faith? Sometimes He was excited.

Zacchaeus was a corrupt tax collector who became rich by ripping off his fellow Jews and sharing the spoils between the hated Romans and his own family.

When Jesus came to town, he climbed up a tree to see Jesus without being seen by the crowds. He know he was a hated man.

Jesus was always open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and He looked up and saw Zacchaeus hiding in the tree.

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." Luke 19:5 (NIV)

Jesus saw what the Father was doing in this wretched man’s life. 

If we are living in the Holy Spirit, we will also have spiritual sixth sense to know what is happening secretly inside people’s hearts.

When Zacchaeus saw how Jesus loved and accepted him, his change of heart was dramatic and powerful.

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, 

• and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Luke 19:8 (NIV)

And how did Jesus respond to this?

Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:9-10 (NIV) 

Jesus reached out in love. He always listened to the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of the Father showed Him when people’s faith was genuine.

• We can also operate in the power and love of the Holy Spirit. 
• Through the gifts of the Holy Spirit we can also receive revelation and wisdom in practical situations. 

If we are moving in the Holy Spirit, we can touch people and see lives changed like Jesus did. 

• I was on a boat on a lake in Germany when I saw a lonely old woman sitting by herself. I went and talked to her. She told me the tragic story of her life and I wanted to help her. My wife and I talked to her and we listened a lot for hours. 

We cried out silently to God to give us some words from heaven to touch her heart.

• Then God answered and my wife shared the message God gave her.

She told the lonely woman of the beauty of heaven waiting for her. She began to weep and her life was changed for ever.

You are a Christian if God has deeply touched your heart on the inside and you have allowed Him to turn your life around. 

But it does not end there. 

God is calling us to be led by the Holy Spirit as Jesus was, to love people like Jesus and to lead many to know their Heavenly Father.

YOU CAN SAVE MANY LIVES

When Jesus called Peter and his other Apostles, he did not call them to wear robes and sit on thrones. 

He called them to save lives.

And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.

• Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Mt 4:18 (NKJV) 

Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God who died to pay the penalty for your sin? 

"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. Jn 3:16 (NIV) 

• For God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, in exchange, he poured God’s goodness into us! 2Co 5:21 (TLB) 

If you really know Jesus, you will want others to know Him too. 

• We can only have peace with God through Jesus.

So now, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith in his promises, we can have real peace with him because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Romans 5:1 (TLB)  

We can only escape God’s judgement and eternal hell through Jesus.

He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Jn 3:18 (NKJV) 

But there is a problem. 

Many Christians hate confronting people and most people don’t like being pressured, not by salesmen or by aggressive evangelists. 

• Are there solutions to this problem?

YES THERE ARE.

Jesus attracted people because He was full of love. 

• He radiated the love of God because that was His character. He also lived in constant loving companionship with His heavenly Father.

If you and I live in the presence of our loving God, and if we let go of narrow judgemental religious attitudes to people, 

• if we decide to really love people and accept them, then people will feel loved and they will feel touched by our kindness.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Mt 5:16 (NKJV) 

If you love people, you will see each person as an eternal spiritual being created in the image of God. 

• Even a person living a bad life has a unique God given potential.

A missionary in Los Angeles wanted to reach the owner of a sex shop with the love of Jesus. 
He prayed for inspiration and God gave him this message. 

The pornography dealer had a gift and a calling from God to comfort and encourage people but he was giving the wrong kind of comfort. 

When the shop keeper heard this message, his spiritual eyes were opened and he accepted Jesus and the pardoning love of God. 

God has deposited heavenly treasure in every human being.

• A person’s life might be a shipwreck and the treasure may be lost but a loving servant of Jesus can even salvage shipwrecks with the power and loving wisdom of God. 

If you want to save people, don’t feel obliged to copy some evangelistic method. 

• Be yourself. There are different types of evangelist.

• God can use THE INTELLECTUAL TYPE to discuss scientific, historical and theological problems with deep thinkers who may be more open than they appear to be.

• God can use STORY TELLERS to tell people what He has done in their lives.

• God can use FRIENDLY people to form loving friendships with people in need of love and understanding.

• HELPFUL people can win people with practical acts of kindness.

• HOSPITABLE PEOPLE can invite people to meet other believers. You can show wonderful videos in your own home.

• COMMUNICATIVE PEOPLE can initiate wonderful discussions. When you listen to people respectfully, they are often more open than you think.

• PRAYERFUL PEOPLE can release the power of God. If God answers your prayer for neighbours or colleagues, they experience the reality of God’s love for themselves and they can become open to the message of Jesus.

END TIME REVIVAL, FALSE PROPHECY OR BIBLE TRUTH?

We hear so many people prophesying and teaching about The Great End Time Harvest of souls, of the global revival which is coming. 

On the other hand, there are people who question these prophesies and for two reasons.

The first reason is the Bible prophecies that speak of terrible times and spiritual decline before Jesus comes.

Mt 24:12 (ESV)  And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 

 

2 Timothy 3:2-5 (NKJV)  For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, 

• lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 

• having a form of godliness but denying its power. 

• And from such people turn away!

Mt 24:5 (NKJV)  For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.

This last text can have two meanings. The usual interpretation is that the false preacher claims to be Christ.

It can also mean that the preacher affirms that I (Jesus) is the Christ but then deceives many with bad doctrine and manipulative and controlling leadership. 

• There are indeed many false cult leaders who affirm that Jesus is the Christ. 

• There are also many preachers who teach correct doctrine regarding the Trinity and salvation but they behave like cult leaders, making their members into mindless slaves under the control of church leaders.

The second reason for doubting the prophecies of a Global End Time Revival is the actual experience of the negative prophecies coming true before our eyes.

All of the countries which were Christian before the 20th Century are now either Post Christian or under attack from powerful Anti-Christ culture. 

• Lukewarm Christianity has poisoned all Western societies which were once known as Christendom. Church attendance and moral standards are catastrophically low.

However, there is another side to the story.

• The number of fervently believing Christians in formerly unreached,  or non-Christian countries is hundreds of millions and growing rapidly.

• In Africa, the Christians Gospel is accompanied by signs and wonders which challenge witchcraft and Islam.

• In China, the Communist government has not been able to contain a powerful, believing, miracle working underground church with over 150 million members.

• As in China, so in North India, there are new churches planted every day, thousands of souls saved every week and miracles are a way of life.

It appears the Great End Time Revival has already begun but most of the old Christian countries have not yet realised it.

But what about Bible prophecy?

The same text that correctly warns of lukewarm Christianity in the West, also predicts a global End Time harvest reaching, reaching every nation.

Mt 24:12-13 (ESV)  And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

14  And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

People of every NATION, every TRIBE and every TONGUE must be reached in this great End Time harvest.

Rev 5:9 (ESV)  And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

Up to now, there are many millions of people in unreached people groups. 

• There are languages and dialects which have never been used to speak the name of Jesus.

Only a global revival can bridge the gap between present reality and the fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

What will this End Time revival look like?

Jn 17:22-23  (NKJV)  And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 

• I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, 

• and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

Eph 5:27 (NKJV)  that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.