There was once an actor at a so called drawing room function..

..and this high-profile actor was asked to openly recite. Yes recite.

"Okay," so he stood up. He wanted to be very gracious to his audience therefore he said, “I’ll recite anything you would like me to recite.” 

And yet no one suggested anything particular. 

But one old preacher happened to be there. He had been sitting in the back row. (Man, how did he get in there? Perhaps he just crashed that party cuz typically Bible preachers and teachers don’t really get invited to upscale drawing room functions or any gatherings on such a high society level, but there he was.. in the middle of it, in there just the same). 

The preacher then stood up and said, “I’d like to hear you recite the Twenty-Third Psalm.”

Sure, there's nothing like getting God's pure words into the ears of people we care about! 

Well, the actor was taken a back.. a few steps.. but he stayed composed and professional.. though a little bit shocked by that request. 

He had put himself out there, wide-open before this group and so he had to do what this man had asked him to do. 

The good thing was that he actually happened to be educated and he remembered this well known Psalm so he responded, “All right, I’ll do just that.” 

Then he started out and repeated the Twenty-Third Psalm with his complete eloquence, so articulate and polished, SO MASTERFULLY did he quoted it. Such a public spokesmen! His diction was beautiful. It seemed flawless in the delivery. And when he was done there was spontaneous applause throughout the entire room. 

When was they last time you heard an actor quote something like that? 

Then the actor figuring he’d kind of rib him back, that old clergy guy, so he retorted, “Now, preacherman Sir, I’d like to hear you recite it.” 

And the old gentleman hadn’t anticipated or bargained for that, but because of his deep love for Christ the preacher stood up and he too repeated the Twenty-Third Psalm. 

His flawed well-worn voice cracked some, it broke, wasn’t very beautiful. The interpretation wasn’t really all that good. And when he got done there was no applause.. but there wasn’t one dry eye in the entire room.

And the actor sensing his own emotion wellin'-up stood to his feet and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I reached your eyes and ears and he reached your heart.” And he said, “The difference is this. I know verbatim that old Psalm, but he in an intimate way knows the Shepherd.”

Got a few minutes? I dare you if I may to know it. To prayerfully memorize this beautiful Psalm as well, but more so while there's still time.. to know this Shepherd well, and to make Him well-known. 

The Lord is my Shepherd;

I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. 

I'm about to jump on a plane to SoCal today (San Clemente). Been preparing here in Dallas to teach through James 4 next Sunday at Prestonwood on Park.  

What a great epistle -- I am thrilled with James' "altar call" so to speak in this chapter.  This soul-winner's appeal is really at the heart of his letter. It's the very core of his book as he points us to Christ!  Yes, James also knew and knows the Shepherd -- you can too!

BTW: The Scriptures are fill with such evangelistic invitations saying come to know Jesus the Chief Shepherd (Read more on this). 

Why? Cuz that's God's heartbeat for all humans that we turn and trust Him. Who is on his heart today? God the Son longs for a close righteous relationship with you! So what are you waiting for? Come as you are.  

Jesus said, "I am the Good Shepherd, and I know without any doubt those who are My own and My own know Me [and have a deep, personal relationship with Me—even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father—and I lay down My very own life sacrificing it for the benefit of the sheep. I have other sheep beside these that are not of this fold. I must bring those also, and they will listen to My voice and pay attention to My call, and they will become one flock with one Shepherd." John 10:14-16 amp 

"I’ve placed in front of you Life and Good Death and Evil. And I command you today: Love God, your God. Walk in his ways. Keep his commandments, regulations, and rules so that you will live, really live, live exuberantly, blessed by God, your God, in the land you are about to enter and possess. But I warn you: If you have a change of heart, refuse to listen obediently, and willfully go off to serve and worship other gods, you will most certainly die." ~ God (Deuteronomy 30:15-20)

“God created things which had free will. That means creatures which can go wrong or right. Some people think they can imagine a creature which was free but had no possibility of going wrong, but I can't. If a thing is free to be good it's also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having. A world of automata of creatures that worked like machines would hardly be worth creating. The happiness which God designs for His higher creatures is the happiness of being freely, voluntarily united to Him and to each other in an ecstasy of love and delight compared with which the most rapturous love between a man and a woman on this earth is mere milk and water. And for that they've got to be free. Of course God knew what would happen if they used their freedom the wrong way: apparently, He thought it worth the risk... If God thinks this state of war in the universe a price worth paying for free will that is, for making a real world in which creatures can do real good or harm and something of real importance can happen, instead of a toy world which only moves when He pulls the strings then we may take it it is worth paying.” ― C.S. Lewis

“Right is right even if no one is doing it; wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it.” ― Saint Augustine

So many fears out there today. I’ve noticed the Amish people don’t seem to have many at all, not even over Covid 19. Nope, cuz they don’t have CNN or TVs. 

But it seems like the stresses in our Western society have increased much and intensified as of late. This can put an amazing impact on families, or workers, and other people’s lives.. on their hearts, emotions and minds. Studies have now shown us this.

They tell us that Company CEOs now have to make decisions in 15% of the time that they used to have to make them in just 10 years ago. In other words everything is squeezed into a shorter period. A lot is at stake.

The pressure is overwhelming and it does put stress on many people in many Lands, but you know what.. God isn't fretting, or worried, or in a hurry, or caught off guard, or getting all stressed out. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, and his good counsel from the word endures for all of time and eternity. So stay in touch with him. Follow Christ closely. Ask specific questions and pray for your friends. 

1. What is libertarian free will? Is free will the only way humans can be morally responsible for their actions?  

2. Is God sovereign or do we have a free will?

3. What is this so called "conditional election"?

4. What is compatibilism and how does that relate to free will?

5. How do God’s sovereignty and humanity’s free will work together in salvation?

6. What is Molinism and is it biblical?

7. Surviving the end times - what do I need to know? It kinda looks like we be smackdab in those times now. 

8. What does the Bible say about perseverance?

9. What is ultimate reconciliation?

10. Do human beings really... truly have a free will?

11. Will we have free will in heaven? If there is free will in heaven right now, will it be possible to sin in heaven? 

12. Does God have free will?  Aren’t there things God can not do? If God can’t sin, doesn’t that mean He is not truly free? We know he can't lie or stop loving you.  

God has chosen never to lie to anyone ever -- He “cannot lie” Titus 1:2 nasb

13. Is God sovereign or do we have a free will?  Is God in total control of everything in the universe? 

14. What does the Bible say about predestination vs. free will?  Is it possible for predestination and free will to both be true? 

15. What is fatalism? What is determinism?  What even is determinism? Are we nothing but pawns forced to accept our fate? 

16. Do angels have free will?  Do the angels have any choice as to whether they obey God? 

17. Who are the elect of God?  Does God predestine who will be saved? Is God’s election based on His foreknowledge of who will believe?

18. Why did God choose me? What purpose did God have in choosing me? Do I have a choice in regards to whether I am chosen? Do you kinda wonder if you really are chosen? I say choose to turn (hang a U-turn from all the Bible calls sin aka repent), trust (believe with commitment cuz of the cross).. to know, and to daily follow Christ. You’ll see. His loving arms are patiently wide open to receive you.   

"In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.." Ephesians 1:11 (These verse are from the esv)

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." Proverbs 16:9 

"If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority." John 7:17

"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12-13

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20 (Check out some more verses on this)

Choose life, choose the way of love too. Jesus is the way. Love or feelings of love here are not God, but God indeed is love and he chooses to love you and me daily regardless of how flawed we are. 

But what do you even mean by “free will”? Free is “the capacity of a conscious mind to make decisions and choices without any external constraints or coercion.” That’s what it is. God has a mind and is conscious; He has the capacity to make decisions and choose (He has volition, like you have); He does not answer to any authority anywhere, is not limited by any external constraints, and cannot be coerced or bribed like our politicians have been. Therefore, based on this definition, you and I can easily say, yes, God certainly possesses free will.

No one, no where tells God what to do: “Who has appointed Him His way, And who has said, ‘You have done wrong’?” Job 36:23 nasb

God was not required to create at all: in Revelation 4:11 we read, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” What’s the point, Kurt? It’s this -- the act of creation itself was the result of God’s free will. 

Sometimes people get mad at and blame God for things he never did, and even choose to go away from him. And sometimes people far away from him, choose to come to him. When you have problems or pain or anything easy or hard to deal with, I say choose to run to him and to a healthy Bible teaching church that puts him first, not away from Him.  

You know that sometimes good wisdom comes from age and sometimes not. There are a lot of old educated fools. If you are young and not yet wise or not so young at all, you can choose to ask the Source of good wisdom. Go for it, choose life. 

We all can ask -- it’s easy as pie. I don’t mean ask for that inferior type of worldly wisdom. Who needs that? None. 

"If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open." James 1:5-8 msg

“If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; he will not resent it.“ tlb

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. kjv

You can knowgod.orgwww.godlife.com/gospelwww.facebook.com/ShareJesushttps://www.pinterest.com/kurtwvsThanks Got QuestionsPhotos by Jon Tysonwww.fish4souls.org

Have ya been distracted away, or wandered some? Get back.. close.

 Have ya drifted?  Drift no more. 

“Don’t fret and worry—it only leads to harm. For the wicked shall be destroyed, but those who trust the Lord shall be given every blessing.” Psalm 37:8-9 

Take some time today to just wait upon the Lord to hear, and build up your intimate relationship with Him. Yeah, see if He would speak to your heart as you prayerfully open His Book again.  

Without growing weary (like in that well doing), you have persevered thus far and endured many things for the sake of His Name. Let your heart be filled with hope again, with grace, with truth, with JOY and with songs. Keep your focus on you first love, Jesus (Revelation 2:4). 

Toss not what’s holy or those pearls of yours so to speak down before those spiritual swine and dogs -- cuz they as some sheep even do.. like to bite. Listen, some people enjoy living closed without any assurance. They’re not interested in even looking at what’s so or at any evidence (you know, like our low and high US courts. Matt. 7:6). 

No (spiritual) compromise! No time for it! Avoid the lying media, there’s so much of it in many locations (BTW CNN is now being removed from our International Airports YAY!). 

Lean not on your own understanding when you see so much go sideways, south or whacko. Trust in the Lord and praise Him, beloved, that He will indeed cause all things to work together for good to those who love God. 

God can bless again -- nothing is impossible with Him. Wasn't peace in the Middle East also considered impossible. (2 Chron 7:14)  If you’ve taken a stride from your first love’s side, ditch all the disappointment, discouragement and shame and begin to doubt your doubts -- do like that Beatles song and get back! Live stark (strong). Get home before dark.

“Jojo was a man who thought he was a loner
But he knew it couldn't last
Jojo left his home in Tucson, Arizona
For some California grass

Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back Jojo

Go home

Get back, get back
Back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Back to where you once belonged
Get back Jo!“ 

Get up, stand, walk again -- get back! And bring a friend back. God is still waiting with open arms and says, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chron. 7:14

Repent and repeat your first works. You were born to walk empowered, and in victory! In God's Spirit. You know this Spirit -- I say His first name is Holy.   

Live not as a wandering or stumbling generality, but as a meaningful specific in the will of God for you. Choose to live intentionally and well connected. Be well, too many are spiritually sick today. God has a good plan and no matter what small-minded people do, they can't thwart it. 

Have ya felt scared, empty, lonely or afraid to die at times? Have ya drifted spiritually? Have you been distracted away, or wandered some?  Get back.. tight. Yes, closer than ever before.

Impeach.. With No Good Reason, C e n s o r, And D e s t r o y ..It's What Those of This World Do To People. 

Those of this corrupt world system want and seek to make you into a digital-non-person, believer.

Listen, it's about what's true, half true, and not true at all. What will ya do about their comprehensive scheme to marginalize conservatives, to silence all our voices, and to destroy our lives? Truth itself hangs in the ballance today -- fiction is masquerading. We need a good b a t t l e plan of our own huh. Hearin’ Dinesh D’Souza’s good podcast. 

What steps can you take in the USA or where you live? My advice for ya? First, get back, get back to where you once belonged.  

(Thanks for the pics Matt Hardy) Fish4souls.org .. City .. Country .. MeWe .. Gab

I like today -- this moment!

There's never a need to live disgruntled, ticked-off, or angry at God or people. Nope, never! Wars keep happening outside, because too many people still exist with unaddressed-war inside their hearts. Duh. Together, we've got to fix that!

Guard your thoughts, your hearts and your habits.. diligently.  Wise thought-choices and habits will keep you real close to the Lord.  Tight spiritually and right with the Father.  Best place to be -- in His will and Word.

Would you pray something like...

Dear Lord Jesus.. I mean Jesus of the Bible.. Since You are alive and love me as the Bible clearly teaches.. then please forgive me now, come in and be Lord. I turn and trust in you as my Savior. Wash me all the way, show me why I was created. Fill me with the Holy Spirit -- I want all you have for me, and want to do what you want me to do. With you being my Helper, I won't be ashamed or embarrassed to walk with You..and Home by your side. Take the lead and feed.. me and others through me. Send a biblical revival in great spiritual Awakening here again. Let it begin with, in and through me. Amen.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10 nkjv

We've only had a white Christmas four times where I live in Dallas, but this one.. it can be a white Christmas for you. Yup, white as snow! What a gift! Why uber-complicate it all, when really you can receive, and give out the Gospel very uncomplicated? The Gospel is simple enough for a child to grasp -- turn, trust and connect with your very best Friend.. forever. On His terms. Think about it, it's the worldly fake news haters, deceived folk including cultists, and religionists who complicate it all, but God has never been religious or confused.

GOD LOVES YOU GOBS, NO FAR MORE THAN THAT!

The Bible says, "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"

Stuff called sin..it just doesn't need to stay in the way. 

The problem is that...

ALL OF US HAVE DONE, SAID OR THOUGHT THINGS THAT ARE WRONG, HURTFUL TO GOD.

This is called sin, and our sins have separated us from God, from enjoying fellowship with Him.

The Bible says "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." God is perfect and holy, and our sins separate us from God forever. The Bible says "The wages of sin is death."

The good news is that, over 2,000 years ago...

GOD SENT HIS ONE AND ONLY SON JESUS CHRIST TO DIE FOR OUR SINS.

Jesus Christ is the sinless Son of God. He lived a sinless life and then died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. Yep, "God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us."

Jesus rose from the dead and now He lives in heaven with God His Father. He offers us the gift of eternal life -- of living forever with Him in heaven if we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Me." There are indeed many ways to God.. standing before His holy judgment seat, but there's only one way to get into heaven and that's through Christ, thee door in.

God reaches out in love to you and wants you to be His child. The Bible promises, "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe on His name." You can choose to ask Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and ask Him to come in to your life as your Lord and Savior.

IT'S A GIFT TO RECEIVE. Your heavenly Father holds His Gift out for you. 

WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE GOD'S FORGIVENESS? Theres zero charge to you for this Wonderful gift. Yes, it's totally free, so you can walk and live totally free. Hurt people tend to hurt people, but healed Christian people can be used of Him to heal people. God uses free people to free other people.

If you want to be forgiven inside, (can happen by faith) simply decide to receive God's Christmas Gift. Accept Christ as your personal Savior, trusting Him to help you now turn from your sins. You can humbly come to Him; you can pray asking Him to become your Savior and Lord at this moment. Would you pray a prayer something like this:

"Father God, thanks for sending Jesus here. 

Lord Jesus,

Thanks for voluntarily coming here, for loving me and for having a good plan. 

I believe you are God the Son -- the holy Son of God.

And thanks for dying on the cross in my place -- for all my wrong-doin's, wrong thinkin's, or wrong sayin's (sins). You know what I mean.

Please do forgive my sins now and give me the gift of eternal life.

I ask you in to my life and heart at this time.. to be my Lord and Savior.

Help me grow. Use snd keep me. I want to serve you always."

Today is the day. Now is good. 

Q. So..did you turn from sin to Jesus? Did you pray this (above), or a prayer like that? Great! Wonderful -- yes, congrats! Go tell someone stop this. Facebook.com/shareJesus

Perhaps you repented and believed on Christ long ago, but somehow took a stride from your Master's side ..or just got distracted.  Come back to. Turn back to Him. If feelin’ a bit melancholy this season of Noel.. look away from Christmas.. to Christ. Give me a second chance? Return to Jesus, He fully understands you. 

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.“ Isaiah 26:3 

Too many are depressed and thinking about loved ones and years gone by. If that’s you, please get some help -- it’s there for you. 

The Bible says, “You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character,
Because he trusts and takes refuge in You with hope and confident expectation.“

You know commercial Christmas really tries hard to deliver on its promise to you..we see so many ads and so much spent on em.. but it just can't do it. It can’t make you happy or fulfilled. It can’t fill up that empty or really lonely place inside your heart and life. Religion can’t deliver on it's promises either. Christ can, on His! Come to Him now. 

Q. How are you doin' this season? If you’ve been feeling a pensive sadness inside, or some sorrow with no easy or obvious cause.

Nearly 30,000 people die by suicide each year, and the rate of attempted suicide is much higher—so much so that there is an estimated one attempted suicide per minute. Worldwide, suicide claims more deaths than accidents, homicides, and war combined. And many cases of suicide, particularly in the elderly, go completely undetected and unaccounted. Get help now. Hey, if you feel like selfishly throwin' your life away (which would deeply hurt people), just throw it to Christ. He is your Living Hope. Jesus can comfort, regenerate, restore, revive or heal your broken heart and mind. Don't cut it off!

Life or death B4 ya Sport--choose life!

I love 3, 16, 17, 18--those are numbers of hope.

When you get time, go check out the whole context of those numbers. Someone attached them to some words that impacted my life like no others words have. 

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3, emph. mine).

Question: Would you like to hear the basic Gospel Message? You just did. Those are God’s words--100% true regarding this most important subject. 

"God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble." Psalm 46:1

Who can save you, help you, provide for you, free you, mature you, empower and guide you like God can? None, nowhere. Nope none other. So why not call out to, and put your trust in Him today?

The Gospel is about turning and trusting.. in Jesus Christ. Simple as that. I'm married and God has only two basic things for application for married folk--love and submission. I am to love my wife like Christ loved the Church. Well for this union with God it's the same--love and submission. Loving Him and going with His will over mine. He knows what's best for us. I turn to Him and I trust Him... even more today than I did before. Turning from sin and we've all blown it at some time or another, and believing in Christ--God's only provision for our sin. He loves us so much.

I remember when I first heard the Gospel Message in SoCal near Newport Beach for the very first time. I had attended a traditional church for over 18 years and was never once told the real Gospel according to what God says in the Bible.. yes, until I was almost finished with high school.

*Relief. A huge one. What a relief to find Jesus! Let me explain.

You were created to know..in a very personal meaningful way..the God who created you—yes, to have a friendship relationship with God, through His dear Son, Jesus Christ. Okay. Are you ready for this? Perhaps you have a question for me first?

So how does one start such a relationship with God? Well, here’s how…

*Realize that you are a sinner.

No matter how good a life we try to live, we still fall miserably short of being a good person. That is because we are all sinners. The Bible says, "No one is good—not even one." We cannot become who we are supposed to be without Jesus Christ.

*Recognize that the Person of Jesus Christ who died on the cross for you and rose from the dead on the third day just like He said.

The Bible tells us that "God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while were still sinners." This is the Good News, that God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die in our place when we least deserved it.

*Repent of your sin. Turn away from and forsake all sinning.

The Bible tells us, "Repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away." The word repent means to change our direction in life. Instead of running from God, we can run toward Him.

*Receive Jesus Christ into your life.

Becoming a Christian is not merely believing some creed or going to church. It is having Christ Himself take residence in your life and heart. Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in... " If you would like to have a relationship with Christ, simply pray this prayer and mean it in your heart.

"Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me. Amen."  

Now is the time for us to continue on with Him the very same way... by faith. facebook.com/shareJesus

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

Eight Factors In Communicating What You Believe

Like me, do you like the cross? Perhaps you are open to sharing your faith about the cross in a way that doesn't come off as cross at peeps ..or cursed? 

Do you mind if I ask a few questions to stir up your pure thinking? 

Right now are you half-hearted or whole-hearted in living for Christ (I mean the Bible Jesus)? 

Is the Holy Spirit grieved or pleased inside of you.. or is He in you at all?

Do you stubbornly stay in a status quo, ineffective, or socially acceptable dead church? Are people being won to Jesus in your church? Does your pastor ever witness to unbelievers outside the four walls of that building or does he have a "Do as I say, not as I do" attitude? May I ask what your attitude is like? 

Real Christians might hate a strange caricature of evangelism that is not even biblical, but all real Christians love biblical evangelism as Jesus did while here on earth.. and all Christians are indeed called to witness to lost people.   

Have you chosen worldly people or spiritual, soul-winning Christians as your best friends? 

Do you date those with mere said-faith or with saving faith, single person? 

Who do you flirt with those who are other than your spouse, believer? Stop now.  

Do you have spiritual maturity along with an ambitious, balanced faith inside.. instead of a selfishly ambitious, imbalanced or immature faith? Do you aggressively seek the Lord in prayer with an earnestness in you, instead of living rudely or uber-aggressively towards other people? Do you have a passion for Jesus or are you distracted and apathetic?

Have you done your homework in memorizing verses and in studying Christian apologetics and in Spirit-led intercession? Are you ill-prepared for their honest questions? Do you want to.. or know how to communicate what you really believe concerning Christ, believer? Hey, be yourself in Him and do these things:  

1.) Effective communication begins with believing prayer and a real burden inside of a Christian? Do you really care for people? How often do you pray or through the net..or a baited hook? Do you love the lost today?

2.) We must be culturally relevant. Why are we still answering questions people are no longer asking?

3.) Arrest the interest of your listeners! Paul did that. Sure, it's a sin to be dull in witnessing due to neglect of your primary ministry (to God) and vertical relationship!  

4.) Preach the Word to lost people. Paul also did that. God primarily saves people by using real Christians to preach the Gospel ..even in our day (you don't have to do this in a pushy, lame, preachy sort of religious way). God ain't stiff or religious.  

5.) Make sure your preaching is biblical, because God's Word will not return void …even though yours and mine will. Illustrations are fine to open a window so light can shine in, but why build a message upon an illustration instead of upon the Word of God? Preaching the Word is where the power is. Razzed dazzle won't save anyone. I don't need to make the Bible interesting, because the Bible is already very interesting and relevant too! I don't need to control others even a little, or impede the work of the Spirit for one second..ever!

6.) Brag on Jesus Christ instead of on you, or on your denomination, your pastor, your favorite band, or church etc. Have the cross in your Message. No excuses. Explain about the blood of Jesus at Calvary and what actually happened on the cross. Define Bible terms that are not easy for em to get. Charles Surgeon told people to make a beeline to the cross when they speak. In our attempts to cross over, we sometimes forget to bring the cross over. Forget not! Be not ashamed of Christ's Name or of the cross no matter what the scoffers say! Our aim is not to be vogue or cool with the world.

7.) Preach the whole Gospel. Tell em the bad news (all have sinned and there is a real Hell for unrepentant sinners..) and the Good News. Paul told people to repent (yeah, this turning to God away from all inner sin,  and wrong doings or sins of omission). Explain how to do this carefully. Many say there are too many Hell-fire and brimstone preaches today. False, where are they? When was the last time you heard one preach? I haven't seen one in years. The prob—there's too many Christians that add to the offense of the Gospel and also too many feel-good preachers today who leave out certain truths that are hard to hear. They fail to compassionately warn people that are headed for wrath and judgment ahead.

8.) Leave the results in the hands of God. Give people an opportunity but never force or pressure em to say "yes" to Christ.

In communicating my faith, I've had to learn the hard way at times. There were times when I wanted to stay in the "secret service" in the army of God and never speak. There have also been times when I spoke too soon. I am no expert at all. But listen, it'll help any of us to THINK before we speak:

T = is it True? H = is it Helpful? I = is it Inspiring? N = is it Necessary? K = is it Kind? If it ain't then simply hold your peace n don't think it or say it. 

Real Christians: 1) Believe in Him, 2) Act like Him, 3) Think like Him (according to the Bible), and 4.) Speak like Him (Jesus).

Not a flawless prayer here, but would you pray something like this... "Dear Lord, I want your mind to be in me. I want to feel what you feel for lost and saved people. Need more love. Please refill me (and us) with your Spirit and help us  know all the counsels of Your Word as we keep working our way through the entire Book. Hungry for the plain unchanging truth—need no new revelation when I've got the old! Please ignite or reignite zeal, godly passion, and holy fear inside of us.. not for our glory but for your glory and praise! Am serious as a migraine, only in a positive way. If some of us (including me..) currently have a plank-eye and have been vainly busy workin' on the speck of sawdust in another's eye, then help me or us get a clue n stop it! Never wanna talk down to people or be a hypocrite! Yup, aid us so that we can actually get that log out ..by the right choices and true repentance. You can empower and equip any of us. Please be Lord and make me more than a believer—make me a disciple that's pleasing to You. Make me like You.. and make us  useable today Please privilege us by using us this week. Open doors. Give blazing sound friends, potency of yoke breaking anointing, ongoing straightforwardness, and a harvest. Wanna sow seeds and reap as You have done. Yes, bless us with godly wisdom, discernment, and keen insight added in there too. Show us how to better employ the gifts that you've given us. Got more for us to work with? Who cares what the misinformed or half-ignorant church folk might say? Won't be stop by what money-hungry abusers of the gifts have done—those whacked Chrismaniac-charlatan-showmen who prostitute the things of God for gain. I love all charismatics and other Christians, but give us more godly character, deep convictions, steel-backbones if You will. Grant me a burden inside—a supernatural heart-felt concern for people in need no matter their color, history, or status! Wanna close the deal so to speak when the time is right ..but please let it be sooner rather than later.. and help me do my part to helping to bring closure on Your Great Commission! Please kindle a fire inside of me again and in us so that we will all burn as red-hot believers, instead of as chilly cold, lukewarm, carnal, or merely religious nominal Christians. Please use us to teach and preach the Bible accurately in a tactful… in a bold way that makes it so clear. Am so ordinary, but You are extraordinary and do extraordinary things through plain people like me. Thanks for Your ginormous love and patience. Sanctify, purify.. help us simplify and apply! We want a right spirit. Wanna be motivated by your agape love and one day hear You say "Well done!" In Jesus Name. Amen." 

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Q: Where Can I Find “The Sinner's Prayer” In The Bible?

You can't… unless you have some weird modified non-authoritative Bible.

"OK then, can we find anything similar to that traditional form prayer in a normal Bible?"

Good question huh!

It would sure be a good study to look at huh. There are many verses that address what this prayer speaks of.   

But Christians and religious leaders have been notorious over the years for using terms and concepts that simply are not biblical in their attempts to "make a convert," and we need to be aware of this.  

Am I saying that every Sinner's Prayer is unbiblical?

 

No, and sinners (like me) do need to pray/communicate with God. We can all start where we are.  

I like what the Apostle Paul said better, "But what saith it? The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed" ~Romans 10:8-11, kjv

Christians often hear a pastor, a church or a fisher of souls (a witnessing believer) tell a potential convert or visitor of the Sinner's Prayer.

In fact we tend to do this so much so (especially in the last five decades), that many have come to believe that the Sinner's Prayer is God-breathed and of canonical origin. I've met people that want to memorize the exact wording verbatim just like they would the 23^rd Psalm (and some forms of it appear to be more biblical than others).

The God of the Bible does want every person to repent of their sins ..for all have sinned and broken God's holy laws. He clearly wants all to believe in Jesus Christ His only sinless Son. This is Scriptural. Being water baptized saves no one, but it is commanded for believers as they identify with Christ's death, burial and resurrection.

But the fact remains that there is no rote prayer or formula found in Bible called the "Sinner's Prayer" nor is there any prayer taught, recommended, given by an Apostle that could be used in every salvation experience.

In the 19th Century the very effective evangelist, Charles Finney, popularized the so called Sinner's Prayer. It was simply according to his passionate style and God really blessed Him as he preached the Word of God. Can you find any traditional altar calls, sinner's prayers or individual requests for Christ to come in and take the throne of one's heart in the Bible? No.

I often like to ask, "Would you pray something like this..?" It's because I want to give people an opportunity to trust Jesus, to pray something that would agree with the Bible and yet still have their own customized prayer come from their heart rather than mine. It's going to be their "walk of faith with the Lord" and I want no one thinking they are converted by or to Kurt.

Jesus is the ultimate Fisher of people. He alone is the only one who can save someone. Uncle Ben's wild rice converts, but the Lord is the only One who can get you to the uber-primo Destination God has for you. Am I saying that all people will be saved? No.

I don't believe that everyone who has responded to an altar call, who has shaken a preacher's hand, who has filled out a card and said a Sinners Prayer has been born again of God's Spirit. There must be true repentance involved. And I am not saying that "Altar calls", cards or hand-shaking is bad in and of themselves. In fact, I've been in way too many church services.. open air and inside buildings ..that never give sinners an honest opportunity to turn away from their wrong and destructive lifestyles to the only Savior.

Don't like that! After pure worship, what is the Church for? Too many smug religious people all dressed up in white etc, are still playing church, but it's all just a show, a political center, a social club, a major turn-off for visiting unbelievers who can smell the hypocrisy almost a mile off.      

The Bible doesn't tell us that people are good. It tells us that people are sinful and separated from a united harmonious life in God. It teaches that, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). And there are lasting consequences for being spiritually whacked (sinful).. "The wages of sin is death" [spiritual separation from God] (Rom. 6:23).

As some people have expressed their feelings about this prayer in the past, I certainly won't tell you that the "Sinner's Prayer" per se is a negative thing!

Please let your Sinners Prayer agree with the Bible, let it remind you that you are spiritually bankrupt—a needy sinner who must come to God on God's terms rather than on your own. I did this in 1977 and haven't regretted it for one moment.

Let your prayer be one of honest belief and repentance. Let it be a time for reverent reflection, contrition, and full confession. No need for beating yourself up over and over again or for Protestant or Catholic penance.

Let your sincere crying out to the Lord for His undeserved Salvation be earnest. Make it your own plea from the heart (in your own words) for His greatest help and miracle!

Church folk and Christians are known worldwide for buying books about angels, blessings, self-help and prosperity, but all other blessings and miracles from the Lord do not compare to His great Salvation! Never forget that.

Perhaps you're thinking, "Sinner's Prayer.. huh? Kurt, what are you even talking about with this? What is a typical Sinner's Prayer?" Here's one…

Dear Lord Jesus:

Thank You so much for your sacrifice on the cross at Calvary. Please forgive me for all of my past sinful thoughts, attitudes, and behavior. I do repent of the sins that I know I've committed and for the ones I don't know about. Please make me alive with a right spirit. With Your help, I want to change and grow. Please use and begin sanctifying me into the mature kind of person that you want me to be. Fill me with your Spirit and write my name in the Lamb's book of life. I know I am not worthy; but, I willingly accept You as my Lord and my Savior today. Thank You for this wonderful blessing of Salvation! Amen.

"Kurt, why do people pray that prayer anyways—what's their motivation?"

Well, because they realize that God really cares about them even though they've messed up, that Jesus is the only real and permanent fix to that.. if you will, that the devil and his minions (fallen angels) literally hate them and seek to destroy them, and also because they simply want to live foreverandeverandeverandever enjoying friendship and family in Heaven! They want to have life during life here and now as well. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Me" (Jn. 14:6, notice that He did not say "I am a way among many ways").

The Bible also declares, "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" (John 3:16, niv). They can see that apart from a born again relationship with Christ, there is no eternal or meaningful life. Jesus Himself said, "I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly" (Jn. 10:10).

How much love? "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). How many friends have done that for you and are alive to talk to you about that today? God says, "Christ died for our sins..He was buried..He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures..He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred.." (1 Cor. 15:3-6).

Christian, tell the Lord that you are available to be a witness for Him. Let Him prepare your heart as you regularly steal away to listen to His words and intercede for your friends. Ask Him to empower you and lead you every day when you can remember this (yes, it's ok to be filled and refilled with His Spirit).  

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