Today’s Devotional – October 1st (The Greatest Evangelistic Crusade!)

By admin On August 30th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – October 1st

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The Greatest Evangelistic Crusade!

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So, just what is the world’s greatest evangelistic crusade? Is it at some big stadium, where tens of thousands of eager fans listen to their favorite evangelist? Or perhaps it’s one of those Christian TV networks?

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Maybe that’s it! Yes, by watching Christian TV, it does not take long to notice that evangelism is constantly being preached. And to be sure, evangelism is a very important aspect of the Christian life!

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TBN – Orlando Crucifixion – Wikipedia – Share-Alike License

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PAUL’S GREAT DESIRE!

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But when reading the writings of Paul, for instance, the great percentage of his writings has to do with transforming one’s life into the image of Christ. And only a small percentage is devoted to evangelism.

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Listen…“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PaulT.jpgdung, that I may win Christ, And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” Philippians 3:8, 9

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Well, if you watch Christian TV, you might get the idea that Paul’s chief desire was to evangelize! But the fact is, evangelizing others took second place to the evangelizing of his own soul! But listen again to Paul’s testimony… “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the Prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13, 14

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No, Paul did not assume that he “had already arrived”, as the saying goes! No, Paul took the position that he needed to run, so that he might win the Prize. Yes, Paul needed to die a deeper death to self, and to know much more about Jesus, and to be raised unto a greater resurrected life! 

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Paul the Apostle – Artist – Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier – circa 1500s – Wikipedia – public domain

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WHY THE DISPARITY?

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Now this devotional is not attempting to diminish the importance of evangelizing the world! No, but the question to be answered is, why is there such a disparity between what is preached on Christian TV and what is preached in God’s Word? Why does Christian TV spend so little time exhorting Believers to conform their lives into Christ’s image and casting away our world-loving ways?

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Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

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MOST CHRISTIAN MEN…

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Now for those who don’t think there’s a need for more Bible exhortation to heart purification, listen to this! 

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The Christian Post Website cited a recent survey which found that Christians view pornography at the same rate as unbelievers!

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In other words, the survey found that  the majority of Christian men view pornography on a regular basis! That’s incredible, isn’t it?

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And so, with those kinds of percentages, one must conclude that Christianity is in big trouble with God! 

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Internet addiction prisoner – cropped image – wikipedia – creative commons lic.

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MANY SURPRISED ON JUDGMENT DAY!

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Listen to Jesus… “Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity!” Matthew 7:22, 23

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As this above passage reveals, there will be many on that Day, who went about trying to save others, and yet neglected their own soul’s Salvation!

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SHINING-LIGHT EVANGELISM

http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficheiro:Transfiguration_bloch.jpg.

Now, there is an evangelism which is by far more superior than merely telling others about Jesus!

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Listen… “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” Matthew 5:16

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This above verse presents a principle which tells of an evangelism which happens when we have Jesus shining His light out from within us!

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Transfiguration – Bloch – Wikimedia Commons – US Public Domain

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WORTHLESS EVANGELISM

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Sadly, there are many church-goers who love to tell people about Jesus. And with a big smile and open arms they invite someone to attend their church. But the same people, when treated unfairly or insulted, slighted, or do not receive what they bargained for, will mostly react the exact same way the unbelieving world reacts! Anger, rudeness, demanding repayment, and other unchristlike behavior!

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Listen… “But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?” 1st Corinthians 6:6, 7

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So here we see a concept which the Bible often repeats! “Why do you not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?” OK, so we lose a few hundred dollars! Don’t we believe that God can make up for that loss? Or even a few thousand dollars! Is God short on funds?

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Birds in a One-sided argument – Flickr – Andrea Westmoreland – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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I WILL REPAY, SAITH THE LORD!

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Listen… “Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.” Ephesians 6:8

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This, and many other similar passages assure us, that if we faithfully deal with others in a Christlike way, God will take care of our needs!

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Helping the homeless – cropped image – wikimedia – share-alike license

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WITNESSING IN TRIALS

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The Book of Daniel repeatedly recounts the trials of Daniel and his three friends. And because these four persons dealt with trouble in a Christlike manner, many of the heathen were converted as a result! And Daniel and his three friends didn’t even engage in any evangelistic tours! They simply remained faithful through each and every trial that came their way!

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Daniel and lions – wikipedia – US public domain – by Briton Riviere

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THE GREATEST EVANGELISTIC CRUSADE?

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So in answer to today’s signature question, just what is the world’s greatest evangelistic crusade?

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Simply put, the greatest evangelistic crusade is whenhttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_040327-N-1261P-058_Navy_Chaplain,_Lt._Marc_Massie_assigned_to_Naval_Mobile_Construction_Battalion_Seventy_Four_(NMCB-74)_studies_his_Bible_for_an_upcoming_service.jpg a Christian begins to fully engage in the process of purifying the heart, with the goal of transforming his or her soul into the perfect image of Christ!

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The point to today’s devotional is this! Time will be much better spent, devoted to hiding the Word of Christ in our heart, and purifying our heart, than by mere talk! OK, so if one is retired and has much time, then do both! And most Christians can give far more money to foreign missions, than they now do!

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But a Christlike character will bring many more converts into the body of Christ, than any amount of good words will ever do! And a life of constant prayer and Bible contemplation will move mountains, than no amount of good words can ever do!

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Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Christian_Martyrs_Last_Prayer.jpg

TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to conform my life into Thy image! Help me to eliminate all my selfish pursuits, and instead, make as my life’s devotion, the purification of my heart…

The Christian Martyrs Last Prayer – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Five Wise Virgins Stars” or you can also read… January 10th (Why Doesn’t My Christianity Work?)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

.picture - soldiers of the cross - armor up!

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

 

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FINALLY WALKING UPWARD INTO THE HIGHWAYS OF ETERNITY

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Day by day, you will find yourself walking, like the Disciples, spreading the precious Gospel seed wherever the Spirit leads. Taking the lovely name of Jesus, with every word spoken. Walking through this sin-darkened world, witnessing to those who take notice that of a truth, Jesus is present within you. Even like faithful Enoch, walking through the highways and byways of life in this world, spreading the Gospel-seed of unpretentious love. Day by day, you will become more and more closed in with God. Moment by moment, your heart will become intertwined with God’s heart, eventually two hearts beating as one heart.And just like Enoch, when the appointed time of sojourning on earth is finally done…you will walk onward…and upward…and into the highways and byways of eternity. (“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” Genesis 5:24).

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ThomasCole-Pilgrim of the Cross at the End of His Journey wikimedia US public domain

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Castor and Pollux & The Mystery Ship of Scripture”

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TOMORROW:

“October 2nd (Come Out of Her, My People! Big Buildings!)”

Church – Milano Duomo – 1856 – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. 

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THIS IS STUDY #272 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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