A Party in Heaven

Bible Study was over.  It was about 8:15 PM as I walked to the front door of the church to lock it. There stood two teenage girls. They asked if they could come in. One said she had never been in a church before. “Sure,” I replied, ”go ahead and look around.”  I went to my office for a few moments and then looked into the sanctuary to see if they were still there, only to hear the quiet sound of crying.  I found them on the front row.  An hour later, both left with a Bible. They had talked about their sense of futility and readily listened to the good news about God’s amazing love showed to us through Christ Jesus.  The girl who hadn’t been in a church before said, through her tears, “I want to live here! It full of peace in here.”   They had no way to know they were a direct answer to prayer. Wednesday morning I prayed, “Lord, give me the opportunity to share the Gospel with at least one person today.”  He sent two!

As I drove home, I rejoiced;  no more like shouted like an old-time glory preacher! The day was complete. God used me to give hope and open the door to Life. Nothing compares to that.

Much of what we call ‘evangelism’ in the Church is really salesmanship! We learn techniques to capture interest, pitch designed to lead the person to a conclusion, and press hard for a close – to pray the ‘Sinner’s prayer.’  It does not feel right to me.  It smacks of manipulation and seems out of line with the clear declaration of the Scripture that the Spirit of God must be the active agent. But, there is a part for us. It begins with prayer and continues with readiness.  If evangelism (our churchy word for sharing the Gospel of Christ) puts you off, probably you are reacting to a method.

Here’s how Jesus led people to the Truth.  It’s a familiar story that has no manipulation, no pressure; just opportunities. He met her where she was, heard her story, answered her questions, and the Spirit brought revelation!  "When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” …

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.  … ”

 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am he.” Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him." (John 4:7-30, NIV)

Are you praying for opportunities to share Jesus’ message? When He brings people to you, are you ready to love them in His Name and point them to Him?

Here’s a word from the Word.  Pray that the Lord would allow you to cause a party in Heaven today. “Imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she’ll call her friends and neighbors: ‘Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!’ Count on it—that’s the kind of party God’s angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God.”  Luke 15:8-10 (The Message)