Newsletter and Blog article I recently wrote for (Pentecostal Powerhouse - pphfamily.net )
Newsletter and Blog article I recently wrote for (Pentecostal Powerhouse - pphfamily.net )
Welcome to the 2nd Season of Healing Waters – The Podcast!
I am LaDonna Sanders, your Host!
Before we go into this week's devotional, I want to tell you about my recently released book Healing Waters! The book is for anyone in a faith fight, especially those challenged physically. This 60-day devotional will refresh your faith in God and remind you that God wants you well in your mind, body, soul, and Spirit!
Go to Amazon and type my name Ladonna Sanders - Healing Waters, to get your copy today! Now let's see what good news our creator has to say today on Healing Waters - The Podcast!
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Winning Souls for Christ
By LaDonna K Sanders
Jesus Christ Wants You! The recruiting office is open, and your charge papers are ready! In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus said to the eleven, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Jesus did not say that the task would be easy; His promise in this assignment was that they would not have to do it alone. His Holy Spirit would be with them every step of the way. This charge and promise have not changed; as believers in Jesus Christ, we are yet commissioned to tell the world about Jesus and how much God loves them!
Proverbs 11:30 says, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise."
Wisdom is the soundness of action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment. (Oxford University Press)
Winning, in general, involves strategy and execution. When armies go to war, success is usually determined by who had the best course of action. Winners have studied their opponents and practiced their approach repeatedly to sharpen their skills. Winners have learned how to take instructions and follow those in authority because they understand that their leaders, coaches, and Generals have a better view of the situation. Like players in a game or soldiers in a war, our perspective is limited in this commission to make disciples. We need the wisdom of God. He alone knows what is in a person's heart (Acts1:24). God, the creator of heaven and earth, is infinite! He is our spiritual General, and he fully understands the spiritual warfare at play! The Lord knows and sees all; He has invited us to come to Him for wisdom.
James 1:5 says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraided not; and it shall be given him." If we seek the Lord in prayer, God will give us the insight we need in life and show us how to be effective witnesses for Him. So, friends, as we approach the task of soul-winning, let us first lay our lives and plans before God in prayer and ask Him for wisdom.
Father, we thank you today for the grace and mercy you have shown us. Lord, we thank you for Jesus, our Savior; we thank you for your love. Father, forgive us and cleanse us today from all unrighteousness. Set us free from everything that hinders your will in our lives. Set us free from fear and inhibition and give us holy boldness to speak the truth in love. Father, today we ask you for wisdom as we endeavor to share who you are and your great love with others. Please help us to listen and empower us by your Holy Spirit to be effective ambassadors for you. Lord, as we approach lost and hopeless people today, give us discernment and help us be attentive listeners! Lord, soften their hearts, and help them be open to receiving Your Word! Set them free from all deception, removed the veil from their hearts and the scales from their eyes. Help them, O Lord, to see, understand, and receive your love in the person of Jesus Christ! Lord, help us remember that some plant, some water, but you, Lord, give the increase in Jesus' Name, Amen!
Now it is time to survey the environment and the opposition. Remember, winners, study their opponents. In Matthew 9:36-38, Jesus tells His disciples that the harvest is vast! He says multitudes wander around confused, helpless, and harassed, like sheep with no shepherd. Jesus tells His disciples to pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His harvest. In this post-pandemic era, people desperately need a rescuer; some are unaware of what Jesus has to offer and how much He loves them. It is our job as believers to tell others about Jesus! Your participation in this harvest is vital!
The Bible tells us that the environment is hostile. Satan, the enemy, the God of this world, the tempter and great deceiver, whose goal is to kill, steal and destroy, has blinded the minds of those who believe not. Therefore, we must not be fearful, insulted, or deterred by those who are not receptive or interested in what we must share about Jesus. Instead, we are commanded to preach the word, be watchful, endure affliction, and do the work of an evangelist! God has promised to be with us! He has given us an arsenal of weapons (The Word of God, Prayer, Praise, The Name of Jesus, Fasting, The Blood of the lamb, Our Testimony, Thanksgiving) to use in this spiritual war. (Supporting References: Matthew 10:16-42; Luke 10:19; John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 4: 3-4; 2 Timothy 4:1-5)
In this endeavor to win souls for Christ, we must practice our approach, sharpen our skills, and develop a plan (course of action). Benjamin Franklin says, "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail." (Goodreads, Inc.) Please consider the following:
Know What You Believe
We believe the Bible to be the inspired and only infallible written Word of God. (Church of God in Christ, Inc. ) Therefore, the Bible is our highest reference for Christian living. It is God-breathed and reveals God's will, plan, and purpose for man.
· 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
We believe that there is only One God, eternally existent and expressed in three persons: God, the Father, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit. (Church of God in Christ, Inc. )
God, the Father, our good shepherd, is the creator of all things, and He should be worshiped, adored, and obeyed.
· Genesis 1:1-28; Psalm 19:1; Psalm 95-96
God, the Son – Jesus Christ, Our Savior and mediator, sacrificed His life to redeem humanity.
· John 1:1-34; John 3:16-17; Philippians 2:6-11; 1 Timothy 2:4-6
God, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, and our Comforter is the one who guides us in life and empowers us to do God's will!
· John 14:15-18, 26; John 16:7, 12-14; Acts 1:4-8, Acts 2:1-4
Be Prepared to Explain the 4 "Ps" - (Romans Road to Salvation)
The Problem – Sin
· We all have a sin problem, and sin separates us from God and brings judgment.
· Romans 3:10; Romans 3:23
The Penalty-Eternal Damnation
· If we remain in sin, the penalty is death, an eternity in Hell, and everlasting separation from God.
· Romans 5:12; Romans 6:23a.
The Provision – Jesus Christ
· The provision is that Jesus suffered an excruciating death on the cross, was buried, and rose from the dead to pay our sin debt.
· Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins!
· Romans 5:8; Romans 6:23b and John 3:16
The Promise – Eternal Life
· The promise – If we repent of our sins, confess our belief in Jesus Christ, and accept Him in our hearts, we will receive eternal life.
· Romans 10:9-10; Romans 10:13
Be Prepared to Tell your Faith story!
Organize your thoughts, and write them down, highlighting how accepting Jesus Christ has changed your life. Then, in two to three minutes, be able to talk about God's love, grace, and mercy in your life.
· Revelation 12:11 – "And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb, and the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." (NKJV)
Have a Plan, a Course of Action!
Pray
· Start your day by asking God to give you spiritual awareness and discernment.
· Ask God to deepen your love and compassion for people and help you see people the way He sees them.
· Ask God to give you the courage to start conversations with your unsaved family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and strangers.
· Ask God to lead you into conversations that lend opportunities for you to share your faith.
Start a Conversation
· As you interact with people throughout the day, be present, listen to them, and ask open-ended questions to learn who they are and what they need. Jesus observed and listened and offered a solution at the appropriate time (Luke 24:13-32; John 4; Matthew 8:5-13).
Listen
· When we listen to people, they feel heard and valued. (Cuncic) When people realize that you genuinely care about them, they will begin to share more. That kind of verbal exchange and engagement will yield the necessary information; you need to offer the appropriate prayer and biblical (scripture-based) solutions and support.
· As Christ ambassadors, we need to pray for and look for opportunities to share the gospel with others.
Love Draws
· Jeremiah 31:3 – The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore, with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. (NKJV)
Satan is the enemy, not people. When you engage lost, suffering, hopeless, and lonely people, please keep that in mind. They yearn to be loved! They do not know or understand that God loves them and gave His Son, Jesus Christ, for their freedom and salvation. 1 Peter 4:8 tells us, "And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins." Friends, God is love, and His expressed love towards us draws us to Him! He gave us Jesus out of love, and Jesus sacrificed His life on the cross out of love. The language of soul-winning is love. God wants to make His appeal to this dying world through us, and that appeal must be made in love.
Remember, God, the creator of heaven and earth, is on our side. He has a better view of the situation, and the Lord is willing to give us the wisdom, guidance, and courage we need to win souls for Christ! Do you know what you believe? Can you explain the problem, penalty, provision, and promise? Are you willing to share your faith story? Can you be an attentive listener, a friend? Will you go and speak the truth in love? My friend, will you allow God to love the hurting and the hopeless through you? It is time; the harvest is waiting! It is time to accept your assignment, take your position, and prepare yourself to win souls for Christ!
James 5:20 says, "let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins." (NKJV)
Church of God in Christ, Inc. . Statement of Faith. 2015-2022. 11 May 2022. <https://www.cogic.org/about-us/statement-of-faith/>.
Cuncic, Arlin. What Is Active Listening? 13 February 2022. Dotdash Media, Inc. . 11 May 2022. <https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-active-listening-3024343>.
Goodreads, Inc. Benjamin Franklin Quotes. 2022. 11 May 2022. <https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/460142-if-you-fail-to-plan-you-are-planning-to-fail>.
Oxford University Press. Oxford Learner's Dictionaries. 2022. 15 May 2022.
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Don't forget to Go to Amazon and type my name Ladonna Sanders - Healing Waters, to get your copy of my new book today!
Thank you for listening, and remember that God loves you, and he wants you well in your mind, body, soul, and Spirit. God Bless!