I'm Following Jesus – Page 1642 – Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

King James Bible Study – “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34

Date: Friday, October 25, 2019
Chapters: Luke 10
Message: Those Who Win Souls Are Wise

Hello My Friend,

I thought I was saved when I was a teenager, I use to spend summer afternoons at a church across the street from my house. A woman, whom I will never forget, Charlotte Kirkpatrick, would teach us about Jesus, and I would help her with the smaller kids. She use to tell us of her husband who died and was miraculously brought back to life, but I do not remember her telling us that we need to ask Jesus to save us. Of course, I was Catholic back then so, we were taught works over grace, and that may have been the reason why I do not remember her saying it. Years later, sitting on the sofa, watching of all people, Joel Osteen, I did ask Jesus to come into my heart and save me. However, it was not until several years later that I actually put the two together, finally on September 16, 2006 I understood it all, confirmed my faith, and got baptized to prove it. We are going to face Christ one day, and while our works have nothing to do with our salvation, they do reach the lost with the Gospel, without us even knowing it. And this is why we, who are saved, all appointed to preach the Gospel. “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” – Proverbs 11:30.

“and he that winneth souls is wise.” Soul winning, that is what it is called when you teach the Gospel of Christ to someone. Jesus instituted soul winning before He even gave His life for us. It began with the twelve disciples, but as the crowds drew bigger, Jesus began sending more out. He appointed seventy more disciples to go out into the cities and town, preaching the Gospel. At this point, what they were teaching the need to repent by accepting that Jesus is the only way to heaven.

“After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” – Luke 10:1-9.

“And heal the sick that are therein,” Did you know that even the day you are saved happens at the precise time in your life? Jesus knows exactly when you are ready to not only believe in Him, but fully accept Him as your Saviour. The reason I do not remember her telling me about salvation is because my heart was not ready, but Jesus was preparing me for September 16, 2006 so that I can be His witness. Who are the sick? The sinners. We all have a disease within us that in incurable by any human ability, and that is sin. There is not one thing we can do on our own that can save our lives. Jesus, the Great Physician, made a way for us to be cured, and that is with His blood. He died on the cross a sinless death, becoming the only redeeming, atoning, peace offering sacrifice necessary to cure this disease. Upon receiving Him, His blood is applied to our soul, removing every bit of that sin, and curing it from death (Mark 2:17). You see, those who refuse to admit they are sinners will not be cured unless they humble themselves, admit they are a sinner and need Jesus to save them (Romans 10:9-10). As Jesus sent out the seventy, He starts upbraiding the cities who rejected repentance by their faith in Him. They return, boasting of all they had done, but Jesus was not impressed.

“Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” – Luke 10:13-20.

“Notwithstanding in this rejoice not,” There is a song, Faces, “I dreamed my life was done. I stood before God’s Son. It was time to see what my reward would be. With love He reviewed my life, to count what was done for Christ. For that is what will last eternally. See I’d done my best to share that Jesus really cares, and he would save if they just believe. Oh, but seldom did harvest come, and so few did I see won until the Lord said, turn around and see. Then he showed me the faces of the ones who’d come because of me.” Receiving Christ, and reaching the lost with the Gospel is the best, most rewarding, and important job that we will ever have. As a result, we can become prideful, boasting about all the power we have in us, having had all these people saved. Let me tell you, pride throws a wrench in the gears of the most successful soul winner because it brings them up to the level of Christ. Of course, it is exciting to see a head bow and accept Christ as their Saviour, but it is not us that saves them, Jesus does. Whether or not it is one or a thousand, we lead them, Christ is the one who saves them by their faith in Him alone. And, it is our humble actions that lead them to Christ (I Corinthians 3:5-8). As Jesus was speaking, a lawyer stood up, asking Him a question, tempting Him.

“And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.” – Luke 10:25-33,36-37.

“this do, and thou shalt live.” So, if you love the Lord thy God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and love your neighbor as you love yourself then that means you will love Jesus. You cannot love God and not love Jesus as there is not one person who can get to God without Jesus. There is a war between you and God (Genesis 3:15) because you are a sinner. Jesus is the Mediator between you and God, that means, Jesus is the negotiator, He stands between you and God, and if you believe in and receive Him, then your sins are pardoned, meaning they are forgiven, you are no longer guilty of your crime, in fact, He removes them all together, and you are able to stand before God as though you never sinned. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” – Hebrews 9:14-15.

“they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” Eternal inheritance, becoming a child of God. Through a visit with a woman named Mary and her sister, Jesus shows us that our faith supersedes our works. “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:38-42.

“But one thing is needful:” You can serve God all you want, but unless you know Christ as your Saviour He does not know you. There is a difference between being a creation and a child of God. A creation is the act of causing to exist, a woman can give birth to a baby, but that does not mean that she is a mother. A child is one who is the product of another; or whose principles and morals are the product of another. A child of God is one who is born again, spiritually renewed and adopted by God solely by their faith in and acceptance of Jesus Christ. “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” – Ephesians 5:2-5.

Today’s Prayer: Jesus, I want to be a witness and testimony for others to see the amazing life that they too can have when they place their life in Your hands. I know the devil, and his wolves are on my back and waiting for me to fall, but by Your power I know I can remain standing. I have confidence in knowing that Your Spirit in me is more powerful than anything the devil uses to pull me down, and he cannot defeat me because my name is written in heaven, and for that I rejoice. Thank You Lord, for all the joys, sorrows, and tears you place before me so I can be Your witness and truly be blessed by telling my neighbors about You. In Your name Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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