Musing – Why are some “Professing” Christians possibly not “Saved”?

 Hebraic Musing – Why are some “Professing” Christians possibly not “Saved”?

This is also a reminder to consider what it takes to witness thoroughly.  Have you encountered folks who claim to have responded to an altar call in earlier years, but there doesn’t seem to be fruit in their lives!  We wonder if they are really “Saved” if there doesn’t seem to be evidence.  Was there an adequate foundation and/or understanding to support the “Confession of Faith”?  The Salvation prayer often consists of response to a simple message.  “You need to be ‘Saved’; Jesus died for my sins; Thank you Jesus my Savior; Hallelujah, now I’m saved!”  Is that an adequate understanding?  Was the Holy Spirit involved in their “experience”?  What are some foundations of our Faith that might be missing?

Creation:  Do we really understand who God is?  My personal testimony was founded on three questions learned at age 5.   Q. – Who made me?  A. – God made me.   Q. – Who is God?  A. – God is the Supreme Being who created all things.   Q. – Why did God make me?  A. – God made me to worship Him; and to praise Him forever.  That’s pretty basic!  

Sinfulness of Mankind:  In order to “repent” of our sins, we need to recognize our own need “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23 NIV   Is the candidate truly recognizing their sinfulness and are they repentant?  Going to church, praying, stopping some sins, being baptized, etc. does not save us!  One needs to recognize the Gospel message thoroughly; evidenced by meaningful repentance.

Death:  Our inevitable and the default destination is HELL!  Only a blood sacrifice can save us, thus we need to recognize of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross was for our sins.   We need to realize “and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7b NIV

Resurrection:  Jesus Christ told us in advance of His Resurrection.  “… Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 NIV And His resurrection was eye-witnessed!  Thus, we have the Hope of Glory!
Everyone dies, including Buddha, Mohammed, Joseph Smith, etc. but we know that not all will be resurrected. 

Baptism:   Jesus called for Christians to be baptized as a public sign of their acceptance of Christ’s blood sacrifice.  “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” Matthew 28:19 NIV   The act of Baptism is a public event for the new believer to publicly declare his/her acceptance of Jesus Christ as their Lord.

Moment of Change:  The central words in a Christian’s testimony are typically the tearful description of the moment the person knew their life had changed.  “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 NKJV   Many Christians can remember the exact moment when they were saved: the date, the time of day, the exact location, the people involved, the circumstances leading up to the moment of decision, etc.  They recognize they were changed in that memorable moment; at which time the Holy Spirit became their guiding light and their LORD.

Points to ponder

Can the “Professing” Christian describe what happened at their moment of salvation?

Is it worth our time to assure that a Salvation candidate understands thoroughly?

How important is immediate discipleship?    or
What was your level of understanding when you accepted Jesus as your Lord?

Today is “Election Day!”  BTW - Who did you elect as your Lord?

♫  What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought Since Jesus came into my heart;
     I have light in my soul for which long I have sought, Since Jesus came into my heart. ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                November 5, 2024  “Election Day!”
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

*  Inspired by a message from our Youth pastor, Chris Cooper, at Immanuel Baptist Church on 10/13/24

Musing – Did you know that Jesus prayed for you?

 Hebraic Musing – Did you know that Jesus prayed for you?

John 17 starts with “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said…” John 17:1 NKJV   As apostle John remembers Jesus’ prayer; this is at the end of the five-chapter message (in red letters!) that Jesus gave to His disciples.  In chapter 17 Jesus wraps up his long prayer to His Father with this prayer for himself, His Disciples, and for All Believers (That includes you and me!).  What was on our Lord Jesus’ heart?

What was His prayer for Himself?   “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.  And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.  I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.  And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.’”  John 17:1-5 NKJV

What was Jesus prayer for His Disciples, like John and like you and me?  Remember that we are, or should be, His disciples, but we weren’t there.  What was Jesus saying to us, His disciples in vs. 6-19:
 - they have kept Your word   v.6
 - they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You   v.8
 - they have believed that You sent Me   v.8
 - I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours   v.9
 - keep through Your name those whom You have given Me,  that they may be one as We are   v.11
 - that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves    v.13
 - that You should keep them from the evil one     v.15
 - Sanctify them by Your truth    v.17
 - As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world     v.18

Apparently, there is a job Jesus expects us to be doing!

Now let’s understand what Jesus prayed for you and me (and all Believers) in verses 20-26!

v.20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;” i.e. Not praying for just the Apostles, but also for us believers to come!  You and me!!!!

v.21 “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us,”  How can we achieve that “oneness” that Jesus is asking for?   

v.22-23 “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”  That’s a lot of LOVE!!!

v.24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”  Jesus is looking forward to us joining Him in heaven for eternity. PTL!

v.25-26 “O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.  And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”   What kind of Love was Jesus calling for?

Points to ponder

How does it feel to have Jesus praying an “Intercessory Prayer” for you?

How important were Jesus’ words, that John remembered them 50 or so years later?

Is there a job Jesus is expecting you and I to be doing?

Maybe John’s frequent sharing of the Lord’s Scripture was good for his memory!!!

♫  Oh, How He Loves You, Oh, How He Loves Me, Oh, How He Loves You And Me.  ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                   October 29, 2024
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Musing – Is “Soul Winning” also in the Old Testament?

 Hebraic Musing – Is “Soul Winning” also in the Old Testament?

Ezekiel, the Watchman, reminded the people of their responsibility to preach rightly about the sin of wickedness.  And he talked of the consequences if they do not preach rightly!  Might that still apply today?

Here’s what Ezekiel had to say about our responsibility.  “When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, … that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.  Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, …, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.”  Ezekiel 3:18-19 NKJV   What is our responsibility?   You might want to read that again!!! 

And there are more forms of witnessing found in the Old Testament:

·      Daniel 12:3 “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”  NIV

·      Psalm 1:3 “He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.” NKJV

·      Psalm 126:6 “He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him.” 

·      Proverbs 10:5 “He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.”

·      Proverbs 11:30 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.”

·      Ezekiel 3:20 “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand.”

·      Ezekiel 33:6  “But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.”

Why did Almighty God choose to start His outreach ministry on earth in Israel?  Israel was at the crossroads of early trade routes; trade between the nations of the World, whether North to South or East to West flowed through Israel!  Thus, the Land became the ideal location to introduce Almighty God to the World.

Our pastor’s favorite “soul-winning” story is about a shoe salesman sent to Africa to develop a new territory.  The salesman came back in a week frustrated saying “They don’t wear shoes there!”  So the company sent another young salesman, and a week later they got a message from him saying “The opportunity is great here!  Everybody needs shoes!  Send me more inventory!”  Does this need explanation?

And this is worth repeating.  “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30 NKJV

Points to ponder

How would you feel if someone in Hell were to say to you – “Why didn’t you tell me?

Does Soul Winning sometimes require “Tough Love”?

If you witness and they say “No”, did you plant a seed for them to consider?

BTW, how many times did you say “No” before you finally said “Yes” to LORD Jesus?

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                October 22, 2024
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired by my Pastor Tom Hatley’s September 22, 2024, message.

Musing – How might God react to America’s misbehaviors?

 Hebraic Musing – How might God react to America’s misbehaviors?

Reading through the accounts of the nation of Israel in the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah I ran across too many repetitive responses from God like this one.  “Through your own fault you will lose the inheritance I gave you. I will enslave you to your enemies in a land you do not know, for you have kindled my anger, and it will burn forever.” Jeremiah 17:4a NIV   I wonder if that might apply to America?

These words caught my attention because we tend to think of God Almighty, and especially Jesus, as loving.  We tend to forget that chastisement is an act of love, but not always recognized as such.

This was Jeremiah’s explanation of how and why the LORD felt He had to deal with His beloved Jerusalem. “People from many nations will pass by this city and will ask one another, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this great city?'  And the answer will be: ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God and have worshiped and served other gods.'” Jeremiah 22:8-9 NIV   Wow!  Doesn’t that sound like it would apply to America today?!?!  And if so, what might be ahead for us?

Revelation 18:1-3 describes an angel giving Babylon a final warning as they were about to get what they deserve.  Then verses 4-5 warn us, God’s chosen.  “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.”   Does this mean Time’s up?  And/or, Christians, hold fast to your faith?  Or do not take the “Mark”?

What is the “Mark”?  What are we saying when we take it?  How might we take it?  “A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.”  Revelation 14:9-11

I repeat –  What is the “Mark”?  What are we saying when we take it?  How might we take it?

In how many ways might we find ourselves “Worshipping the beast”?  What is the “Beast”?

What should we to be doing?  Scripture answers in vs. 12 “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.”  Are we prepared, ready to endure?

And here is the reward!   “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4  

Final thought!  If you don’t want to believe the above message, or you want to ignore it, then these words above are like Jeremiah’s warning.  “Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.” Jeremiah 26:15

Points to ponder

What is the “Mark of the Beast”?

If God does not punish America, will He owe Sodom & Gomorrah an apology?

Will God judge differently the Nation, the Church, or us individually?

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                   October 15, 2024
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Musing - How can we help Young Children to know God?

 Hebraic Musing - How can we help Young Children to know God?

My salvation testimony started at age 6 when I started first grade in a Catholic School; I proficiencied kindergarten!  (>:     The first lesson in the Blue Baltimore Catechism* consisted of three questions and answers; and these are the Q & A’a still locked into my memory to this day.
 - Q. Who made me?               A. God made me.
 - Q. Who is God?                  A. God is a supreme being, creator of all things.
 - Q. Why did God make me? A. God created me to worship and praise him forever.

I never forgot those questions and the answers.  They were instrumental in drawing me to Jesus 33 years later! 

Why can’t this simple teaching be taught to children as soon as they can comprehend?

And the most relevant Biblical reference is the account of Jesus Blessing Little Children! “Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:13-14 NKJV   This was just after Jesus had said “… it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” In vs. 18:14

And in Luke 18:16-17 Jesus told the adults, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.  Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”   Did Jesus just say to us that we need to have “child-like” faith?!?!

Since we’re talking about children getting to know God, and then Jesus, what does the Bible say about the salvation of souls of children below the age of accountability?  And for that matter, the salvation/souls of persons in a foreign land who do not hear the name of “Jesus”?

What did God say to the people when Joshua was to lead them into their Promised Land?  “Moreover your little ones and your children, who you say will be victims, who today have no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in there; to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.” Deuteronomy 1:39   God recognized they “have no knowledge of good and evil”.    Hmm…yet they shall inherit the “Promised Land”!

Remember when King David was mourning the sickness of his child?  What did he say when he found out the child died?  “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?  But now he is dead; why should I fast?  Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.’” 2 Samuel 12:23 NKJV

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4 NKJV

And one more verse to consider.  “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,” Romans 1:20 NKJV   Can Almighty God be recognized in creation?

Points to ponder

At what age might children start thinking about the three Q & A’s above?

Might sharing these three Q & A’s open the minds of young children?

At what age or situation did you start thinking about God?

♫  Jesus loves the little children, All the children of the world. Red, and yellow, black, and white,
            They are precious in His sight.  Jesus loves the little children of the world. ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                   October 8, 2024
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

* Baltimore Catechism - Lesson One --- THE END OF MAN

1. Q. Who made the world?
           A. God made the world.

2. Q. Who is God?
            A. God is the Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things.

3. Q. What is man?
            A. Man is a creature composed of body and soul and made to the image and likeness of God.

6. Q. Why did God make you?
            A. God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him for ever in heaven.

9. Q. What must we do to save our souls?
            A. To save our souls, we must worship God by faith, hope, and charity; that is, we must believe in Him, hope in Him, and love Him with all our heart.

10. Q. How shall we know the things which we are to believe?
            A. We shall know the things which we are to believe from the Catholic Church, through which God speaks to us.

11. Q. Where shall we find the chief truths which the Church teaches?
            A. We shall find the chief truths which the Church teaches in the Apostles' Creed.

12. Q. Say the Apostles' Creed.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
   born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
   from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
   the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.
Amen.

Musing – Have you shared your Testimony? Here’s mine.

 Hebraic Musing – Have you shared your Testimony?  Here’s mine.

My name is Joe Brusherd.  I’m a retired CPA, Int’l consultant and been a CFO for a variety of  companies.

Some 80+ years ago I grew up in Cicero, Illinois, as the oldest of eight children.  After college, my career started as a CPA.  My wife and I raised six children which has since multiplied to a family tree of 49!

For the first 37 years of my life I had a limited understanding of God; never tried to figure out God’s purpose for my life despite these Three Questions and Answers from my first grade catechism class that stuck with me:

Q. – Who made me?                          A. – God made me.
Q. – Who is God?                              A. – God is the Supreme Being    who created all things.
Q. – Why did God make me?           A. – God made me to worship Him; and to praise Him forever.

During those years my selfish ways, my anger, my unclean thoughts plagued me; and in desperation I agreed to go on a Marriage Encounter weekend to enrich our marriage, which desperately needed enrichment.  After that experience in 1976, I became a curious seeker of the God I had known as a child.  I enjoyed the fellowship with other couples.  One couple I especially admired and respected, Bill and Mary Blessing, had something I wanted, and they frequently referenced their “Cursillo” experience. 

On a Thursday in August 1977, friends of Bill Blessing drove me the 80 miles for a three day “Cursillo” retreat.  As I got out of the car I asked, “Aren’t you coming in?”  They answered, “No, we were just giving you a ride” and they drove off.  That act of sacrificial love was just the beginning.

On the second day a priest, Father Tony Tascheta, spoke and his message, presentation and style was awesome. I kept thinking that he missed his calling; he should have been a VP of Sales!  I was in a daze, so we went to the Chapel.  As we walked into the Chapel, I saw Father Tony Tascheta on his knees praying and thanking Jesus for all the words Jesus had given to him to speak to “the men out there.”    

My knees gave out and I found myself kneeling, crying crocodile tears into a puddle on the terrazzo floor and crying almost out loud “Jesus Christ, you are real.  I need to learn more about you.”  

At that moment I knew I would never be the same.  The peace in my inner being was unimaginable.  I no longer had feelings of desperation that resulted from knowing I was a sinner and, most of all, that I had been trying to hide by sinful ways from God, my Creator.

At the closing ceremony we entered big hall; I saw Bill and Mary Blessing in the audience.  They had cut their vacation short to be there for me.  I fell apart.  As part of the closing ceremony, we each had to stand up as the Holy Spirit led and tell what the weekend meant to us.  Eventually I went to the podium, froze, fell apart and finally blurted out “I talked to Jesus!”  That’s all I could say.  It was not much of a speech, but it meant volumes to me.  I was never so choked up in my life.

Very late Sunday night the Blessings gave me a ride home and I immediately woke up my wife and said, “Peggy, guess what happened to me on the weekend?”    She said, “What?”     I told her, “I talked to Jesus!”   And she said, “Does that mean you are ‘Born Again’?”    I answered, “I don’t know what you call it.  All I know is that I talked to Jesus. …  And I want you and all the kids to experience what I experienced.”   She smiled as she replied, “Too late Joe.  We already have.  We’ve all been praying for you.  (…for 10 years.”)

That was in August 1977.   I was 39 years old.  I know how blind a man, a husband and a sinner can be.  I found out why Jesus told Nicodemus “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”    That’s how Jesus came into my life.

And since my family was already “Saved”, it’s now my job to save the rest of the world as evangelist/teacher.

Points to ponder

What’s your Testimony?  I’d really like to read it!  (Yosef1@cox.net)

Do you have it in written form, ready to tailer to the situation?

“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.” Matt.10:32

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                   October 1, 2024
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”    Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Musing – What does it take to become a “Soul Winning” Church?

 Hebraic Musing – What does it take to become a “Soul Winning” Church?

This question assumes that your church wants to reach the world.  And if not, then why not?  Jesus reminds us that “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”  Matthew 5:13 NKJV   How to become Salt and Light?  Notice that one needs to be Salt before one can become a Light!  If a church is not Pro-Life and Pro-Family, are they really Salt?  What is Salt?   Seasoning; Antiseptic, Lasting, Taste.

How did the Apostles reach the whole known world so fast after Jesus’ death?  What started in Acts 2 and is to be continuing today?  When the day of Pentecost came “Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:3-4 NKJV  And the crowd “were all amazed and marveled.” v.7    Where have we seen Fire falling before?  God has been known to make His presence known by fire; here’s a few examples:

·         Moses called. “…Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush.” Ex.3:2

·         To Moses at the mountain. “… and the mountain burned with fire to the midst of heaven, …And the LORD spoke to you out of the midst of the fire.” Deut.4:11-12

·         God answered Elijah with fire on Mount Carmel. “Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, … all the people saw it… and they said, “The LORD, He is God!” 1 Kings 18:39

·         At the Dedication of the Temple “When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.” 2 Chron 7:1

·         “David built there an altar to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on the LORD; and He answered him from heaven by fire on the altar of burnt offering.” 1 Chron.21:26

·         Priestly Ministry Began when “… the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people, and fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering … people saw it, … fell on their faces.” Leviticus 9:23-24

As a result of the disciples being on fire and filled with the Holy Spirit, what happened?  Peter, a fisherman by trade, preached his first sermon to the diverse crowd.  “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”  Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”  As a result of Peter’s speaking the truth, “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” Acts 2:36-37&41

Later, Peter preached and was arrested in Solomon’s Portico after a lame man was healed. “However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.” Acts 4:4

Those were examples of mass “soul winning”; but sometimes we work individually as in the classic account of Phillip’s creative encounter with the Ethiopian Eunuch.  An opportunity – “Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go near and overtake this chariot.’”  Not only did Philip explain the path to salvation, but the Eunuch’s decision also was followed up with immediate baptism!  BTW, to this day, Ethiopia is renowned as a Christian nation!

The account of Annanias & Saphira confirms that God wants us to use Salt to get Light.  “…And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.” Acts 5:10-11

Points to ponder

If you witness and they say “No”, did you plant a seed for them to consider?

How many times did you say “no” before you finally said “yes” to LORD Jesus?

Was Jesus speaking to you or someone else when He said
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”?

How do you feel when someone makes Jesus their Lord after you opened the discussion?

  Where is your mission field?  Are you a saltshaker?

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                   September 24, 2024
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired by Pastor Tom Hatley’s September 8, 2024 message