We Need to Focus on Soul Winning Again

Some live for the moment, and others live to make history. But there will come a day when every moment, and even history itself, will be consumed by eternity. Only what we do for eternity has actual purpose.

Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. (Colossians 3:2, NLT)

Lately, the Holy Spirit has had me thinking about the destiny of the soul. I’ve also wondered what it might take to see believers, on a mass scale, focus again on the practice of soul winning.

I believe in ministry to the saints.

I believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

I believe in prophecy.

I believe in healing, deliverance, and good works.

Yet I can’t help but wonder: what good does it do to feed a man today who goes to Hell tomorrow? What good is it to minister healing to someone’s body without ministering salvation to their soul? What good does it do to cast out someone’s one demon if they eventually go to Hell with all of them? What good is it to prophesy someone’s future if that future doesn’t include Heaven?

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t show kindness and charity to the unsaved. On the contrary, good works often open doors for the gospel. I’m not saying that good works don’t please God or matter in the moment. And I would never stop praying for the sick, operating in the spiritual gifts, and casting out demons - at least not while I’m on this earth.

But my question is “What about souls?”

It’s wonderful that we have our Christian gatherings, revival services, fellowships, conferences, worship events, and meetings. It’s great that there’s Christian media, e-courses, music, and more. But what about the lost?

In all of our charity, in all of our power demonstrations, in all of our Kingdom building - let’s not forget about souls.

Practice evangelism. Identify ministries that focus on soul winning and support them. Encourage others to do the same. We have a world to win.

What does it profit a man to win the whole world yet lose his own soul? What does it profit the Church to wow the world yet lose its soul?

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Watchmen on the Wall

In the Bible, watchmen were individuals who were assigned to watch over a city or a military base. Usually, watchmen would be posted on a high wall or tower, so that they could see the enemy coming from long distances. The watchman’s primary assignment was preventing surprise attacks from surrounding enemies. Were the enemy to attack, the watchmen would sound the alarm.

Biblically speaking, you are a watchman on the wall. 

Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is their own fault if they die. They heard the alarm but ignored it, so the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives. But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn’t sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths.’ (Ezekiel 33:4-6, NLT)

As spiritual watchmen, you and I have been assigned to preventing attacks of the enemy. We sound the alarm by proclaiming the gospel message, and the need is urgent. 

Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. (Isaiah 58:1, KJV)

We are the watchmen of the night, the spiritual light in darkness. Though each man and woman is held personally accountable by God, you and I have the responsibility to preach the gospel to them.

For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16, KJV)

Don’t abandon your post. Don’t neglect your assignment. Don’t allow the enemy to take the city. Sound the alarm. There is a very real threat out there, and we must lovingly warn all. Be a watchman over your home, over your community, over your school, over your workplace. God holds us each responsible for our assignments.

This is a spiritual battle for souls. Take your position, stand strong, and preach the gospel. The hour is late, and time is running out.

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Master the Media: 3 Keys

Could there be demons talking to you through your screen?

Day after day, people sit glued to streams, hashtags, and trending news. Demonic media networks and companies spread their poisonous deceit and viral fear through screens and speakers. By captivating the eyes and the ears of a generation, they captivate the soul of a generation. 

Day and night, they manufacture their lies. Even if something isn’t so, even if reality contradicts their narratives, they can convince the undiscerning through emotional repetition. Before long, their lies that contradict God’s Word and reality are believed by the masses, and the masses act as extensions of the media - spreading fear and demanding conformity; or else you’ll be shamed, attacked, cancelled.

And the children of darkness are in sync with one another. 

Movies, music, tv shows, online videos, podcasts, radio broadcasts, articles, and various forms of entertainment - it all aligns. Like a choir of demons singing one grand number, all branches stay on message. Sadly, some believers sing the harmony - they sing the messages of the secular on their social media platforms, in daily conversations, and even from the pulpits.

They push immorality and call it progress. They stir up division, spread fear, mock God’s Word, and push for the advancement of anti-God, anti-Biblical agendas. 

No doubt, the world is effectively using media.

And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. (Luke 16:8, KJV)

Media is a powerful tool, and it can be leveraged by any cause. Media is not evil in and of itself. So media can be used for the advancement of the gospel. Thankfully, we live in an age where media can be used by just about anyone.

So I want to give you 3 simple keys to mastering the media for the sake of the gospel and the Kingdom of God. You can use your platform - large or small - to help spread Biblical truth. 

#1 Focus

By honing in on one simple message, you can become more effective in spreading the truth. Complex, nuanced ideas are difficult to spread, because people don’t really pay their attention to you for extended periods of time. Stick to a simple message, and if what you’re preaching requires more detailed explanation, break up that explanation over several posts, videos, and so forth. Give them one step at a time. 

Find a message that God has graced you to spread, and then focus. 

#2 Repetition 

As we’ve learned recently, even if something isn’t true or based in reality, if it is repeated often enough, people begin to believe it. So how much more power will the truth have if it is repeated? Preach the truth, and preach the truth consistently.

Don’t let up. Speak up, spare not, sound the alarm. Repeat, repeat, repeat - in many forms, in many ways - repeat. When the truth is repeated, it always eventually breaks through. 

#3 Boldness

Today’s social media mobs will cry aloud anytime you declare the truth. If you want to see demons manifest, just post something that’s Biblically undeniable yet unpopular in today’s culture. They’ll use guilt to try to make you feel bad for speaking truth. They’ll use intimidation to try to make you feel afraid to speak the truth. They’ll use confusion to make you second guess the truth. This is why boldness is needed now more than ever.

Know the truth, and then declare the truth - boldly. No half measures, no hesitation, no damage control, no apologies. 

Speak it. If God is for you, who can be against you? Now, more than ever, we need to spread Biblical truths and ideas. Now, more than ever, we need to establish Kingdom dominion. Now, more than ever, we need to preach the gospel. Let’s never lose our focus. You are a messenger of Heaven. Your message is the gospel. It’s time to speak up.

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Establishing the Kingdom of God

A kingdom is a king’s dominion - the place where a king’s will is carried out. Wherever God’s will is being accomplished, God’s Kingdom exists.

Now, there are two perspectives on the Kingdom of God that seem to contradict one another.

On one hand, we have those who recognize that the Kingdom of God is not of this world. This is true. 

Jesus tells us so:

Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36, NLT)

On the other hand, we have those who recognize that we are to bring the Kingdom of God to this earth. That is definitely true. For when teaching on prayer, Jesus said this:

So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:9-10, NLT)

The Bible clearly teaches that the Kingdom of God is both other-worldly and something that should be established on earth. Do we have a contradiction here? By no means. Both realities of the Kingdom can be true at the same time. The Kingdom of God is both then and there, and here and now. In fact, the Kingdom is also within you.

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21, NLT)

Because the Kingdom of God is then and there, we don’t need to worry - we know our futures are secure. Because the Kingdom of God is here and now, we don’t need to wait - we know our authority works here too.

The Kingdom of God isn’t supposed to stay anywhere; it’s supposed to go everywhere. 

It’s tempting to sit idly by, to become discouraged and say, “There’s nothing we can do; we know the world will inevitably get darker.” But it’s precisely because the Kingdom of God is not of this world that we ought to work to establish it in this world. That’s what God desires - otherwise, why would Jesus pray for it to be so?

So how do we establish God’s Kingdom? It’s through the preaching of the gospel.

When a soul is saved, the heart and mind are transformed. When the heart and mind are transformed, character is transformed. When character is transformed, behavior is transformed. Change the individual, and you change the family. Change the family, and you change society. Change society, and you change the world. 

But the eternal soul is the priority. Focus on the main thing, and everything else follows. Salvation must come first. Our message is Jesus.

Then, as a person begins to truly understand and know the Word, they adapt to Kingdom Culture. Kingdom Culture brings forth things like a sense of personal responsibility, a strong work ethic, honor for authority, order in the family unit, harmonious marriage, compassion for the weak, the sick, and the suffering, and love for one another. Kingdom Culture also rids us of worldly mindsets like envy of and hatred toward the successful, all forms of racism (which is demonic), moral relativism, hedonism, elitism, and even the disregard for human life. Under Kingdom Culture, nations thrive and prosper.

But remember, it’s about souls; it’s about people. The Kingdom of God is established in people, and people shape the world around them.

So we must stay focused on the gospel. The preaching of the gospel keeps us focused on the eternal while also establishing God’s Kingdom in the earth. The preaching of the gospel cuts right to the root of human evil - which is sin. 

Establish the Kingdom by spreading the gospel. May God have dominion - in heaven, in earth, and in you.

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The Fire of Evangelism

In the Old Testament, the enslavement of the Israelites is a prophetic picture of humanity in sin. The human race wallows under the oppressive darkness of sin. Sin strips all of its prisoners of dignity, divinity, and destiny. Deep within, the soul of every person cries out for freedom, for deliverance. And we serve a God who can hear those cries. 

Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law when he came to encounter the Holy Spirit. One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.” When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. I am the God of your father— the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God. (Exodus 3:1-6, NLT)

Here we see the fire, the Holy Spirit’s presence, appear before Moses. A voice speaks from the fire. Then, God declares His ability to see and hear the suffering of His people: 

Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of My people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering” (Exodus 3:7, NLT)

Moses then discovers that God had chosen him to be used as the instrument of deliverance. 

The fire of Heaven, the Holy Spirit, burns for the salvation of the oppressed. He can hear their cries. 

There is no one on earth more passionate about the winning of the lost than the Holy Spirit. He desires to break the chains of sin from every soul. He is the Spirit of Evangelism. 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me every- where—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8, NLT)

What happens when the Holy Spirit comes upon you? The same thing that happened to Moses when he encountered the fire of God. The same thing that happened to the early Church that spread from Jerusalem and to the ends of the earth. They became witnesses. They became vessels of deliverance. 

A sign that you have experienced a true encounter with the Holy Spirit is a passion to win souls. After coming into contact with the fire of God, Moses was determined to see God’s people go free. Up until that time, he had spent decades in the mundane. 

All it takes is one touch from the Lord, a single moment with the Holy Spirit, to set your heart ablaze for the lost. When you spend time with the Holy Spirit, His heart becomes your heart, His desires become your desires. You begin to see what He sees. You begin to hear what He hears. 

Can you hear the cry of the lost? Can you hear the cry of the drug-addicted, longing to be free from self-hatred and bondage? Can you hear the cry of the broken families, searching for a reason to hope again? Can you hear the cry of the suicidal, the self-righteous, the fearful, the perverted, and the prideful? Can you hear the cry of a sin-bound people? 

The Holy Spirit can. And when you come near to Him, your being also will be set aflame with a passionate love for the lost soul. You will burn with a holy dedication. You will become burdened with divine compassion. Your heart will ache with spiritual anguish. Everything in you will live to see just one more soul set free. 

Like Moses, you’ve been appointed as a deliverer. You’ve been sent to a people. You’ve had contact with a fire. The Holy Spirit is the Fire of Evangelism. 

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Preach the Gospel

It’s easy to look at the state of the world - the moral, spiritual, and intellectual decline - and become discouraged. Everything seems to be getting darker. All of the systems of the world are becoming more anti-Christ. Many people are being given over to demonic deception - they’re losing their minds, their collective grip on reality. 

In these times, it’s tempting to throw up our hands, look to the Heavens, and say, “The evil is inevitable. There’s nothing we can do.” Yes, Jesus told us that in the last days perilous times would come, but He never said that in the last days the gospel would lose its power.

We must rise and tell the world. We must declare the finished work of the cross, the cleansing power of the blood, and destructive power of sin. We must warn the wicked, and we must boldly call for repentance. 

It’s a good thing to edify the body, but who will rise and win the lost? We have enough conferences. We have enough e-courses. We have enough church events and self-congratulatory pageantry. But what about the preaching of the cross? Whatever happened to the message of salvation? 

Church, it’s time to get back to the simple message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

There are many problems in this world, but there is only one real solution. The answer is the same as it has always been: Jesus is the answer for the world today.

So we mustn’t get distracted by the many causes that call for us to rally. Feed the hungry, yes. But what good does it do to feed a man today who goes to Hell tomorrow? Feed the hungry. Care for the poor. Stand up for the weak. Rescue the abused. Do good. But while you’re doing good, remember that without the gospel message, the clear and simple truth, all of our efforts will be of temporary impact. 

Want to make a real difference? Then don’t just change lives, change eternities. 

God is looking for someone who will boldly call for repentance from sin, for someone who will declare that Jesus is the only way. The gospel message is simple: God is holy, man is sinful, Jesus alone is sufficient, salvation is free, and consequences are eternal. Jesus will give you His eternal life in exchange for your temporary one.

I know our message isn’t popular, but it’s powerful. I know our message isn’t trendy, but it’s truth. And, yes, our message is offensive to some, but it is the only message that truly saves. Our message is the most important message to have ever been declared. 

In presenting the truth of the gospel, offending people is not our goal, but neither should it be our deterrent. I’d rather offend someone into Heaven than comfort them into Hell. People aren’t turned off to the gospel because of the truth within the gospel. That’s just an excuse. People are turned off to the gospel because they love darkness, rather than light.

Preacher, if people can continue to love your message while also still living in sin, it’s time to start preaching the gospel. 

Believer, preach the truth the of gospel. Preach salvation. Preach Jesus. There is no other message, and there is so little time. 

Preach the gospel to everyone.

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The Power of Pentecost

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere--in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8, NLT)

The power that has been given to us from on high is for the purpose of worldwide evangelism. Jesus promised that we would be witnesses. Whatever we lack in witness is made up for by the power of the Spirit. To the timid, He gives boldness. To the weak, He gives power. To the overlooked, He gives authority. The power that comes upon us makes us persuasive and magnetic proclaimers of the gospel.

No believer can say, “I don’t have what it takes to win the lost.” Every believer has been empowered to share the gospel with effectiveness.

While the Spirit’s power within us enables many spiritual manifestations and acts, the Spirit’s power upon us has been given primarily for the winning of the lost.

Allow Him to work through you. Look for an opportunity today to be a witness.

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Eternity Matters

Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
Colossians 3:2, NLT

Nothing matters, except for that which impacts eternity. When all things have finally come to an end, when even history itself is forgotten, only the eternal remains.

That is why the Church must remain focused on the eternal. The gospel must remain our central message, because it doesn’t just change lives - it impacts eternity. There are many wonderful messages, projects, and causes that are worthy of attention; however, our primary message must be the gospel.

Feed the hungry? Yes. Meet earthly needs? Absolutely. Involve ourselves in social reformations? Sure. But we must not be swept so far into social cause that we forget about eternity. Charity and good works must aid our spreading of the gospel, not replace it. The Church’s first priority should be the preaching of the gospel message - backed by good works, yes; but definitely and clearly spoken with words.

What good does it do to feed a man today who enters eternity without Christ tomorrow?

Let us continue to preach about the blood of Jesus, repentance from sin, Heaven, Hell, and eternity. If we don’t preach the gospel, who will? If we don’t address the issue of the soul, who will? Keep an eternal focus. Keep preaching the gospel.

Souls hang in the balance.

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Jesus Said to Go!

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” – Mark 16:15

We often wonder about the perfect will of God. Should we? The mandate is clear. Our Lord has commanded us to go into the world and spread the gospel. Use every gift. Use every resource. Use every moment. Go! The Father wants souls. He sowed His Son that He might receive sons and daughters; and Jesus deserves to reap the reward of His suffering.

To preach the gospel, God has called you.

You may be asking the Lord, “What is your will for my life? What am I supposed to do?” You’ll be happy to know that the answer is quite simple. It’s not complicated or difficult to understand. God’s agenda in the earth is the spreading of the good news about His Son.

So it stands to reason that God’s will for your life is the participation in this global evangelistic effort. You may not know what job you should work at, what region you should live in, who person you should marry, or what school you should attend. But you do know that whatever it is that God reveals concerning those details of your life that you are to aid in the spreading of the gospel.

What should we do while we wait for answers concerning the specifics of our lives? We should involve ourselves with the spreading of the gospel. Do what is the clear will of God (spread the gospel), and, in time, God’s will for your life concerning the details will be revealed. In other words, while you wait to hear from God on the uncertain, involve yourself in the certain. You may not have all of the answers or every direction from God. But, in the meantime, you do have this clear command: Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

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How to Change the World

Begin to talk about changing the world, and you’ll be met with cynicism, skepticism, mockery, and disdain. But be totally convinced of this: it’s possible to change the world.

“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes–the Jew first and also the Gentile.” – Romans 1:16

Look around at everything that is happening in our world. How does it make you feel? Fearful? Grieved? Powerless?

Observing all of the global ills that infect mankind, it is easy for one to become frustrated, hopeless. What can be done to solve these complex and intensifying issues?

The answer, as it has for centuries, remains the same: the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is God’s power in the earth. It is His method of global transformation. The gospel is more powerful than most believe it to be, and the world is smaller than most believe it to be.

Let’s not get caught up in the debate, rhetoric, anger, and confusion. Instead, let us boldly and lovingly proclaim the truth that can change the hearts of men and women. Don’t get sidetracked. Preach the gospel. Support the message. Make disciples. That’s how to change the world – that’s how to truly change the world.

The answer is not in historic quotes, political strategy, social programs, passionate debate, or acts of unjust violence. The answer has always been and will continue to be Jesus. Pray? Sure. Better yet, preach! Proclaim the truth. Declaration of the gospel is God’s method of changing the world. Continue to preach the gospel – it is God’s power to save souls. What can wash away our sins? What can make this world whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

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I Will Not Be Moved

The demonization of Christianity is an important aspect of the secular culture’s “progress”. Disagreement will be labeled as intolerance. Truth will be labeled as hate. Reason will be dismissed as callousness. And adherence to the scripture will be criticized as ignorance. Even so-called believers have begun to participate in the agenda. They critic a caricature of what the Church is, while embracing their own special form of lunacy.

I promise you – I will not be moved. Every day I am seeing believers in my generation convert from the madness and commit to sound Biblical truth. Every week, I witness the multiplied, accelerated expansion of the Kingdom of God. And, more importantly, we are taking the gospel to tens of thousands of people via media and television every single week. I am seeing young and old respond to it. And I’m only one of millions of God’s servants.

The message is simple: Because of His love, Christ died to save you. Therefore, repent of your sins and put your faith in Jesus.

I won’t stop preaching it. If I should become a lone voice in the desert, I won’t stop declaring it. I will take a stand for righteousness, love and truth. Will you stand with me for Christ?

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” – Romans 1:16

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The Holy Spirit: Heaven’s Greatest Evangelist

I had just finished presenting what most would consider to be a typical evangelistic invitation. All across the room, heads were bowed, and eyes were closed. Adding to the cliche call to repentance, I stoically instructed, “I don’t want anyone looking around the room right now. This moment is just between you and God.”

The music played while I pleaded, but after the passing of several awkward minutes, not a single person responded to my heartfelt invitation. I was tempted to dismiss the matter and transition to another portion of the service. However, before I made the switch, the Holy Spirit gently nudged me in a different direction.

In my spirit, I sensed His desire for the people to begin praying in the spirit – praying in tongues.

Following the leading of the Holy Spirit, I instructed the people to begin praying in tongues. They lifted their hands and began to do so.

While the people prayed, just after the first minute or so, I was bombarded with negative thoughts, bothersome lies of the enemy.

The first thought that assaulted my mind was this one: “This will only terrify the unbeliever! You’re not supposed to pray in tongues in front of unbelievers.”

Whether that suggestion was directly from the enemy or from some misguided theologian I had heard, there was still a disruption within me. But the Bible says this concerning the gift of tongues:

“So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers.” - 1 Corinthians 14:22 (NLT)

I overcame that worry and encouraged the people further, “Keep praying in the Holy Ghost.” It was my way of pushing back against the inner conflict.

Another thought rushed at me: “Believers shouldn’t all pray in tongues at once. This is disorder!”

But the Bible says…

“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” - Acts 2:4 (KJV) Emphasis Mine

We continued to pray in tongues.

About two minutes had then passed, and we were all still praying in tongues. Still the enemy resisted what God was trying to do and attempted a final deception.

“This is bizarre. How are you going to reach people if you’re allowing something so odd to take place?”

It was right around this time that a man about my age came walking down the aisle and toward the stage upon which I stood. He was visibly shaken. With tears streaming down his face and his mouth shaking with prayers, he walked right up to the platform, fell to his knees, and began to weep.

At this point, I calmed the crowd and stepped down to converse with the man. I said, “Hey there, look up at me for a second. I’d like to talk with you.” When he looked up at me, his eyes were still filled with tears, and his face was red from sobbing.

I asked him, “Can you tell me why you’re crying?” I put the microphone to his mouth and waited for his response. What he said touched my heart.

“Because”, he explained, “I’ve been trying to find God for so long. And tonight, he found me.”

The church began to cheer and worship the Lord. And right there, in front of us all, that man gave his heart to Jesus and was born again.

What couldn’t be accomplished by human effort was accomplished by the work of the Holy Spirit. That happened several years ago, but the lesson I learned in that service has been cemented into the foundation of my faith and ministry.

Dear reader, I had, at that point, been in ministry for a few years and had grown accustomed to the almost systematic approach to evangelism. Thankfully, I have a friendship with the Holy Spirit that guided me to embrace a more effective flow of ministry.

“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:” - 1 Corinthians 2:4

I believe in speaking in tongues, but this article isn’t about speaking in tongues. I believe that the Holy Spirit is Heaven’s greatest evangelist (as was exemplified through my story), but this article isn’t just about His evangelistic grace. This article is about choosing to depend upon the Spirit’s ability over our own.

When I write that we must never rely upon systems and programs, I am certain that you, dear reader, will enthusiastically affirm such a truth.

But ministry and spiritual living can become so familiar to us that we enter a place of human effort, often, without realizing it. In fact, almost everyone who is relying upon human effort for ministry and spirituality is doing so without realization.

After all, who really decides, “I think I’ll do it my way instead”?

No, most believers wouldn’t so much as dare to so blatantly reject or stifle the work of the Holy Spirit. So if one does stop depending upon the Spirit, he does so unknowingly. I would even go as far as saying that most believers would become offended at the suggestion that they have moved away from the Spirit’s method of ministry approach. But many have. None of us would do so willingly, so we must open ourselves to the question, “Have I begun to rely upon my efforts instead of His?”

In that Church service, I was battling very subtle, very nuanced suggestions of the enemy – or possibly of my own flesh. Yet, I, in all of my practiced presentation and expended effort, couldn’t present Christ in a way that compelled the lost to surrender in humble repentance at His feet.

I may have worn the title of “evangelist”. Furthermore, I may have even led several hundreds to Christ at that point in my ministry.

Who cares? That didn’t matter.

What mattered was my surrender to His leading. What always matters is obedience to His gentle, guiding voice. He is, after all, Heaven’s greatest Evangelist. No one can present the Glory of the Person of Christ like He can. No one can convict a soul of sin as the Spirit does. In matters of ministry, He is masterful.

The Holy Spirit is not just the greatest evangelist; He’s the greatest pastor, teacher, prophet and apostle. When we carry out our ministry tasks with His aid and conscious of our need for His enabling, a profound and powerful grace comes upon us. There is a certain, unique dynamic to Spirit-led ministry. So we must model our approach, not after the approach of men and women who have gone before us, but after His unique and responsive direction as it pertains to each moment.

Without the Holy Spirit, we begin to rely upon systems and strategies. Yesterday’s revival can so easily become today’s religion. Men have a way of systemizing everything.

But there is no substitute for the genuine power and presence of the Holy Spirit. You cannot duplicate His craftsmanship. We have to stop limiting His timing to our Church calendars and schedules. We need to stop confining His power to back rooms and “special services”. Methods cannot replace miracles. Programs cannot replace power. Structure cannot replace Spirit. And our pursuit of attendance should never become more important than our pursuit of the anointing.

The truth is that the world is hungry for the very thing from which much of the church has shifted away. People want the supernatural, and only the Holy Spirit can bring it to the Church.

The Holy Spirit is the greatest Church builder. Nobody can win souls, build a church, or expand God’s Kingdom better than He. If we will embrace His leading, humbly submit to His expertise and seek His guidance, then we will embrace a better way to be God’s Kingdom. For He is not a liability; He’s our only hope at drawing men to salvation. He’s our only hope of building disciples. He’s our only hope at properly presenting Jesus.

Be practical, yes. Gain wisdom from leaders, yes. Be organized and orderly, yes. But never prioritize any of that over what the Spirit of God can do.

Want to build people in the faith? Follow the greatest pastoral anointing in the earth – the Holy Spirit.

Want to draw crowds? Obey the enabler of the miraculous, the Holy Spirit.

Want to build a church? Consult with the One who built the Church of Acts which is the model Church. Consult with the Holy Spirit.

Want to win souls? Be graced by the Holy Spirit, Heaven’s greatest evangelist.

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Simply the Gospel

There are those who think that all Christians are fakes, that we don’t really care about souls, that we don’t really obey God. I strongly disagree with those lies.

I know that you care about souls and the state of the world.

And, when looking at all that is happening in our world, it’s quite easy to become discouraged and concerned. All of it seems to add up – the political unrest, the economic instability, the moral decline.

Think of all that has been discussed in the last few weeks alone: ISIS, the “Gender Debate”, the persecution of the Church. Add those problems to the long list of issues that are pressuring the Church, and you might feel overwhelmed.

And, as it goes for being overwhelmed, perhaps you’re facing troubles that are all your own. Perhaps you’re facing financial trouble, the sort that never seems to end and makes you wonder, “How long is this going to last?” It may seem like one thing after another.

Maybe you’re having problems in your ministry, your church, your health, your emotions or even your own home.

It’s so easy to become distracted…

It may seem like there are just too many problems to address.

This isn’t so.

Jesus said, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” - Matthew 6:33

While watching a news broadcast with my wife the other day, I became stirred in my soul. I looked at all that was happening, all that seemed to be changing for the worse.

Every time a new topic or problem would get talked about on the news broadcast, I would say, “I should do an episode on that!” My wife could see that I was eager to make a positive difference for the Kingdom. (this has happened a couple time with us)

But I’ll never forget what she said to me in my moment of frustration.

She looked right at me and said, “You’re not called to address all of those problems specifically; you’re called to just preach the gospel!”

I realized that she was right.  (And the women said, “Amen”)

We don’t need to go around trying to fix every moral problem. We don’t need to complain, debate, boycott or get angry. We just need to un-apologetically preach Jesus with the power of the Holy Spirit.

We need to stop trying to trim the branches and get right to the root of our world’s issues – the problem of sin.

For that, there is only one cure. The gospel is the cure-all. Wherever it is received, the gospel changes everything.

Sure we should work to make practical change in our world, but our primary focus must be the preaching of the gospel.

The preaching of the gospel is the greatest cause of all time!

The gospel is the only cause with eternal effects. If we’ll focus on preaching the gospel, everything will be made right, as people repent and turn to Christ.

Just preach Jesus!

Does our world have troubles? Of course.

So preach Jesus.

Are you concerned about the economy? Just preach Jesus, and prosperity will follow righteousness.

Are you worried about radical Islam? Just preach Jesus, and Truth will prevail.

Are you saddened by our nation’s moral decline? Just preach Jesus, and He will bring deliverance.

Don’t worry about your future. Don’t worry about your needs. Don’t worry.

Seek first the Kingdom of God, and everything else will be alright.

Don’t worry about your personal struggles. Just focus on your job here in the earth – the spreading of the gospel.

When we focus on the gospel, God takes care of the rest.

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No Other Way

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” - John 14:6

Either we believe Jesus’ claim to exclusivity or we don’t. Christ Himself has told us that there is no other way to God.

I am concerned especially for my generation when it comes to boldness. It seems that my fellow millennials have been raised in a culture that champions tolerance over truth. It’s almost as if we are to believe that if something is offensive that it is, therefore, untrue. Many would rather avoid offense than deception. But nothing is untrue just because it is offensive, and nothing is true just because it is offensive. An idea’s ability to agitate or offend has no effect on its truthfulness.

Disagreement is not hate. The belief in truth is not bigotry. Exclusive claims are not intolerant.

This culture, with hypocrisy, will applaud the individual’s journey to find and live in their “own truth” yet disdain the one who says they’ve found it. It seems to me that the spirit of the age celebrates the wandering journey to find truth while condemning anyone who has actually reached the destination.

Why?

It’s because, so long as man is wandering, he is never settled. And so long as he is never settled, he never finds truth. And as long as he hasn’t found truth, he is free to do as he wills.

But you, fellow believer, must not fall for such nonsense. Be bold. Be sold. Be convinced of the truth that Christ proclaimed. He is the only way to Heaven, to God, to Truth. All others are false. That’s the truth.

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Cast Your Net Again

“One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.’ ‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.’ And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!” - Luke 5:1-6

Perhaps you’ve been believing for the salvation of certain loved ones. You’ve preached to them, conversed with them and maybe even argued with them a little bit. Still, there seems to be a resistance, a worldly stubbornness. When believing for the salvation of someone who resists the drawing of the Holy Spirit, it’s easy to become discouraged and disappointed. It can seem as though your prayers aren’t making much of a difference.

But, as Jesus encouraged the disciples, I want to encourage you to cast your net again. Each time you cast your net – evangelize – you are taking a step of faith. And you never know which cast will yield a great catch. Don’t give up. Don’t be discouraged. Keep casting your net, and, eventually, the miracle of salvation will occur. Your loved ones will come to know Jesus – it’s just a matter of time and prayer.

Your efforts are making a difference, whether you see it that way or not. For it is impossible to accomplish nothing in prayer. God’s Word does not return void, and your evangelism is making a difference.

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