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"THE
CONVERTING POWER OF TRUE HOLINESS"
By Francis Frangipane
Web:
http://www.frangipane.org/
Email:
comments@frangipane.org
 One
of the most common verses in the New Testament reads, "and great multitudes
followed Jesus." The gospel of Matthew alone mentions over twenty distinct
instances when vast numbers of people traveled great distances to be with
Christ. People saw in Jesus meekness, unlimited power, and perfect love.
If we would win souls, people must see in us this same Jesus.
When People Saw Jesus
"And Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, 'I feel compassion for
the multitude, because they have remained with Me now three days and have
nothing to eat.'" Matthew 15:32
There were two occasions when Jesus fed the multitudes. The first event
occurred in a desolate region of the Judean wilderness, and it lasted one
day. During the second event, the multitudes had been with Jesus for three
days without food on a hillside near the Sea of Galilee.
The impact Christ had upon the local Jewish society was unprecedented! Their
entire economy stopped. No one picked over or sold vegetables in the marketplaces,
goats were not milked, gardens were left untended, and relatives watching
little children did not know when the parents would return! For three days
nothing at all was normal.
They Left All
These local communities left all when they heard Jesus was near. Without
forethought, without packing a donkey, without so much as taking extra food
or telling those who remained at home when to expect them, four thousand
men, plus additional thousands of women and children, spontaneously followed
Christ to a "desolate place." Perhaps ten thousand or more people left their
villages, but we read of no one complaining that "the service was too long,"
or "the weather too hot" or "the message was boring." Whatever they lacked
in comfort and convenience was overshadowed by the glory of being with Jesus!
How wonderful it must have been to be with Jesus! The first time Christ
fed the multitudes, the people were so overwhelmed they conspired together
to "take Him by force, to make Him king" (John 6:15).
Such was Jesus. But a problem exists among many of us. People who do not
really know God's Son seek to represent Him to others. Instead of testifying
of His wonderful works, they testify only of their religion. The unsaved
do not see Jesus. They hear about church, they are told sin is wrong, lusts
are evil, and drunkenness a terrible shame, but they do not see the wonder
of the love of Jesus. Yes, these things are wrong, but people must meet
the love of Jesus before they will abandon their love of sin.
Called to Silence
Plainly, Jesus called a number of people to silence concerning Himself.
There were some whom He told, "See that you tell no one" (Matt. 8:4, also
9:30, 12:16). Others He outright forbade to speak, even though what they
spoke was truth (Mark 3:11-12). Still others He warned would be doing great
works, yet He neither sent them nor spoke to them, nor did He ever know
them (Matt. 7:22-23). Indeed, there were even those of whom He warned whose
zeal for converts took them over "sea and land," yet their proselytes became
"twice as much a son of hell" as they themselves were (Matt. 23:15).
It is not our goal to discourage any from witnessing, especially when the
need is so great in our society. Still, we must realize that what we are
routinely - in attitude and deed - is a living testimony that, without our
premeditation, is "known and read by all men" (2 Cor. 3:2). A "witness"
is not just that which is "said"; it is that which is seen. If we will draw
men to Christ in heaven, they must be eyewitnesses of Christ in us. But,
if we have flagrant sin or self-righteousness, our witness is non-effective.
Let Your Light So Shine
Light, in the Scriptures, symbolizes the out-raying purity of the Holy God.
When our hearts and subsequent actions are pure, the light of God's Presence
shines through us into this world. It is with this in mind that Jesus tells
us to let our light shine before men in such a way that they see our good
works and glorify the Father (Matt. 5:16).
If good works glorify the Father, then bad works bring Him dishonor. Paul
tells us that the "name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles" because
of the sins of those who fail to represent Him (Rom. 2:24).
King David was a great witness of the Living God to his generation, but
when David sinned his witness became a reproach. In the 51st Psalm, David's
prayer reveals the right attitudes necessary to truly witness for God. He
prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit
within me. ...Then I will teach transgressors Thy ways, and sinners will
be converted to Thee" (Ps. 51:10-13).
You see, the credibility of our witness is lost when sin rules in our lives.
The world has heard too many Christians give testimony to a life they are
not living. They cause multitudes of people to think Christianity does not
work.
How to Know When to Witness
"But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make
a defense to everyone who asks you...for the hope that is in you, yet with
gentleness and reverence." 1 Peter 3:15
Many Christians are told to witness for Jesus. Again, we would not discourage
your witness for Jesus; rather we seek to encourage you to live for Him
as well! Let people see Him in you before you testify. There are Christians
who publicly sin in the work place: they lose their tempers and do bad work,
they are often late or heard complaining about management and job conditions.
Yet, they feel compelled to give their testimony. They profess to know God,
but by their deeds they deny Him (Titus 1:16). A "voice" in their minds
compels them to "witness for Jesus." Sometimes that voice is the Holy Spirit,
but more often it is not. Undaunted, they are sure it is from heaven, since
they feel "guilty" until they witness and feel "good" afterward.
There is one sure way to know if the voice urging you to witness is from
God: If the voice speaking to you is the audible voice of someone who has
seen your good works and is asking about your way of life, that voice has
been inspired by God. When people see Christ in you - in your patience when
wronged, your peace in adversity, your forgiveness amidst cruelty - they
will ask about your hope.
The Seed of Reproduction is in Your Fruit
If your conversion is genuine, you found a love for Jesus that is, in itself,
a witness of His life. Unfortunately, we often seek to lead people into
our religion instead of to Christ. How often we seek to convert our family
and friends into a particular church structure. People must be led to Jesus,
not merely to church.
Let us always remember, Jesus wants to reach people, not drive them away.
How does God expect us to do that? First, let us make sure our conversion
is real, that we have truly given over our lives to Jesus Christ. Then,
determine to bear the spiritual fruit of love and humility in your life.
In the Garden of Eden the Lord placed trees with "seed in the fruit." Remember,
beloved, the seed that has power to reproduce life is in the fruit. If you
would like to see the life of Christ reproduced in your loved ones or friends,
walk in the fruit of the Spirit, for the power of reproduction is in the
seed and the seed is in your fruit. The fruit we must display comes from
the Tree of Life, which brings "healing of the nations" (Rev. 22:2). It
is not in the tree of knowledge of good and evil - legalistic laws, judging
what is wrong in people.
A Sure Sign
Should you sin or stumble before them, which we all do at times, repent
both to God and to those you have sinned against. A sincere repentance to
an unsaved person is a sure sign that God is both real and in control of
your life!
Parents: do you want your children raised for Christ? Do you want your words
to impart eternal life? Walk in the fruit of the Holy Spirit. As your children
are nourished by the fruit in your life, the seeds within your fruitfulness
will reproduce in your family the same qualities. Would you convert your
spouse? Your parents? Your friends? Walk in the fruit of the Spirit, in
love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness. Those who know you will find your
life very attractive, for through your life they will see the holy life
of Jesus.
Adapted from
Holiness, Truth
and the Presence of God
By Francis Frangipane
Web:
http://www.frangipane.org/
Email:
comments@frangipane.org
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"Holiness, Truth and the Presence of
God"
By Francis Frangipane
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A Penetrating
Study of the Human Heart and How God Prepares it for His Glory
This book,
Holiness,
Truth and the Presence of God, is not a book for everyone. It
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"The
Days of His Presence"
By Francis Frangipane
$10.00 Book |
A great shaking
is occurring in the church and unscriptural divisions are all crumbling
like houses of clay in an earthquake; God is rumbling through Christianity!
What remains will be our devotion to Christ.
The Days of His Presence is a trumpet call. It not only heralds
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Feel free to
order
online OR by phone (1-8.6.6-881-0477)
http://www.elijahshopper.com/detail.aspx?ID=459
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