"The Washing of the Disciples Feet"

by True Believer

Each year at Passover many Christian Churches will gather together with their basin tubs and actually wash someone else's feet. It seems this has become a tradition in these Churches. I myself have to admit that I also have partaken of this tradition twice in my own life, but with that being said, it also must be said that I never really felt quite right about doing it, as I knew in my heart, this is not what Christ wanted us to do.

Well, again the Lord has been faithful to me and revealed the true meaning of what it meant when He washed the disciples feet before Passover, and now to be faithful, I must share it with the world.

We must go to the Book of John, one of my personal favorites, to pick up the story of "The Washing of the Disciples Feet."

In John 13 v 5 we read that after Jesus prepared Himself for what He was about to do it says, "He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciple's feet, and to wipe them with the towel in which He was girded."

So here it is set, He has poured water into a basin, and has started the process of washing their feet, but when He comes to Peter, He actually gets some resistance. We see this in John 13 v 6, it says, "Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord are You washing my feet?"

To which Jesus replied in John 13 v 7, "WHAT I AM DOING you DO NOT UNDERSTAND NOW, but you will know after this."

I ask, since people are still doing this same exact thing today, washing each others feet, does this also mean that even today, almost 2000 years later, that people still do not understand the true meaning, like Christ said at the time? Yes, that is what it means.

Now what we all need to take notice of here is this, that the disciples had eyes that they could see with, they could see Jesus kneeling before them and washing their feet, so it would seem that they would know exactly what Jesus was doing to them right, I mean they are looking right at Him.

But even though they could see Him, He still tells them, you do not understand what I am doing to you. In other words, there is a hidden truth to what is taking place at this time, but it will not be revealed to you until you receive the Holy Spirit, and then you will understand what I did to you.

Before we go on, we have to go to Colossians 3 v 2, it says, "Set your mind on things above (Spiritual) and not on things of the earth (Physical).

This is why the disciples did not know what Jesus was doing to them, even though they could physically see that He was washing their feet, they were still in the physical mind, but as we know, it is the spiritual meaning that is important, it is the spiritual meaning Christ wants us all to understand, and so therefore, we must follow the commandment to set our minds on things above, the spiritual things, and then we will be able to understand what Christ was doing when He washed their feet.

It truly takes the Holy Spirit to have these truths revealed, I cannot stress how blessed I feel when the Father reveals these things to me. I know that these revelations are not for my benefit though, they are for the peoples benefit that will read and hear the revelations, I am just a vessel.

Now let us get into the true depth of the Father's word to bring it all into clear focus for all who may read this, so all can know without a doubt that this is true bread, a true revelation from God the Father.

First, we have to stop focusing on the physical man Jesus, and start focusing on the spiritual man Jesus. We have to find out who and what He is and was spiritually.

In John 1 v 14 we can see it says, "And THE Word became flesh and dwelt among us."

And, if we go to Revelation 19 v 13 we are actually given His spiritual name, it says, "His name is called, The Word of God."

This is what we must focus on, that it is the Word of God that is doing the actual washing of the disciples feet, literally. Let us now look at John 13 v 8 to see Jesus reply to Peter, He says, "If I do not WASH YOU, you have no part with me."

Now remember who and what is doing the washing, The Word of God. Christ says plainly, that if I do not wash you, or us, that we have no part in Him. Let us continue.

Let us look at John 15 v 3 now and see what Jesus said to the disciples. He said, "You are already clean because of The Word which I have SPOKEN to you." This verse may just be in your footnotes as a tie in scripture, I bet it is, because it is in my Bible.

But now here we can see, that Jesus is plainly telling us, that it is the Word of God, or better yet, the Spoken Word of God that cleans us. Now again, remember who Jesus is, He is, The Word made flesh, He is, The Word of God.

What we must realize, is that Jesus, the physical word, picked up the physical basin of water, and then physically washed their feet.

But what Jesus is showing us by this physical example is this, that we are to take the Spiritual Word, which is the true Living Water, and Speak it to others, as to Wash them with it, as in Washing others with the Washing of the Water of the Word.

Here is a more detailed explanation. We see who Jesus is, He is The Word of God. Now this Word of God is also referred to as something else, and we see this in Jeremiah 17 v 13, it says He is, "The Fountain of Living Water." This is what the Word of God is, the Living Water, and this is what Christ is also, but in the flesh.

Remember, physical water in the basin, the Living Water is the Word of God.

If we will now go and read Ephesians 5 we can read the verses where it talks about how Christ loves the Church, let us read Ephesians 5 verses 25-26. They say, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for her that He might sanctify and Cleanse her with the Washing of Water by the Word."

Ok, I hope it is coming into focus now for all who are reading this.

The physical Christ, the Spiritual Word, gives us a physical example of washing the feet of the disciples with physical water, Christ of course being the Spiritual Water, Living Water, and then tells us plainly that it does not mean what we would think it means, even though we can actually see Him doing it.

We also have seen that Christ cleanses us by the Washing of Water of the Word, just as He told the disciples in John 15 v 3.

Now let us go and see what Christ says in John 13 v 15, He says, "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you."

Now we already know by Christ own words, that He does not mean wash each others feet physically as He just did, He plainly told us that we do not know what He is doing at the time He was actually doing it, washing their feet.

So what Christ is telling us, is go and Wash others with the Word of God, as in The Washing of Water by the Word. This is what Christ did to them and us, He came and washed them just as He washes us by the Words He spoke, the Words of the Father.

In other words, He is telling us, go and share the gospel with others, as in, go and wash others with the words of eternal life, just as I washed you with the words of eternal life. Can all see it now? I hope so, let us continue now, as to really drive home the true meaning of "Washing the Disciples Feet."

As Jesus is washing their feet, Peter of course says not only my feet, but my hands and my head. Jesus of course replies back to him in John 13 v 10 and says, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet but is completely clean: and you are clean, but not all of you."

Of course we know why they were clean, Christ told us so in John 15 v 3. But now why are we considered clean if only our feet are clean?

It is because that is what we use to spread the gospel, or at least what the disciples used, they did not have all the technology we have today, they actually had to use their feet.

Let us look at Ephesians 6 verses 14-15, they say, "Stand therefore having girded your waste with Truth (Psalm 119 v 151), having put on the breastplate of Righteousness (Psalm 119 v 172), and Having Shod Your Feet with the preparation of the gospel of Peace (Psalm 119 v 165).

Please check all scriptures, but what we must take notice of, is that we are told to shod our feet, as in use them to spread the Word of God.

If we will now go to Isaiah 52 v 7, it says, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the Feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings good tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, Your God Reigns."

This is why we only need to keep are feet clean, because they are used to spread the Word of God, which in turn, Washes those who hear us. 1st Timothy 4 v 16

We must also realize that the more we share the Word of God with others it also cleans us more and more as we do it too. Romans 10 v 17

A real good scripture to explain this is Proverbs 11 v 25, it says, "The generous soul will be made rich (In Spirit), And he who Waters will also be Watered himself."

As in, when we wash others, we are also washing ourselves. And all this washing is being done with The Word of God we speak out of our mouths, just as Christ our example did.

We also see Christ says in Mark 6 v 11, "And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your Feet as a testimony against them."

That testimony to those who will not hear us is this, I will use my feet to spread the Fathers Word, and your words, which represents the dust, I am leaving here with you, as I want no part of it on me, not even on my feet.

So I hope all can see what I see, what the Father has revealed regarding Christ washing the disciples feet. It truly has and had nothing to do with what people are still doing today, actually taking their water basins to church and washing someone's feet.

I ask, is Christ turning to the Father and saying, Father, they still do not understand what it means when I washed the disciples feet, even though I clearly told them that it does not mean what they think it means.

And the Father says back, yes Son, they still do not understand, but I wish they did, because more people in the world need to be truly cleaned by My Word, more people need to be Washing others by speaking My Words to them.

He is saying, I wish they would have listened to me when I told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." Matthew 9 verses 37-38

We must always remember, it is the inside of a person that the Lord looks at, it is the inside person that needs cleaning.

And folks, there is no other thing in the world that can clean the inside of a person besides the Word of God. Of course Christ being the very physical representation of the Spiritual Word, we could say, that people need to be washed in Christ, as long as we know who He is spiritually.

Remember now, the physical water may clean the outside of the cup, but the Living Water cleans the inside of the cup, and that is where the Lord looks, at the inside.

He is saying, as I have washed you, now go and wash others. As I have shared this water with you, go and share this water with others, yes, even take it to a little child.

As were told in Proverbs 25 v 25, "As cold water (Even a cup) to a weary soul, So is good news from a far country." In other words, the good news is just as refreshing to a weary soul as a cup of cold water, yes, even to a little child. Matthew 10 v 42

So for those of you who have been washing someone else's feet year after year, and really never wanted to do it, guess what, you do not have to any longer, in fact, if you do, your only telling Christ you still do not understand what He was doing.

And there is no reason for that now, as the Truth has been given regarding this subject matter, the Hidden Truth, the Spiritual Truth. So stop washing people's feet, and start washing their whole bodies with the Washing of the Water by the Word, as in, share the good news.

I hope this revelation has been a blessing to those who may have been led to it by the Father, it sure has been a blessing to me, but then again, all things the Father gives me is a blessing in my opinion.

So now in conclusion, please all remember this truth, we must stop focusing and believing what we see with our eyes, and start focusing and believing with our hearts. Blessed is he who has faith in what he cannot see. Amen
About the Author

A Lover of Truth

DO ANGELS LIVE AMONGST US?

by Linda Preston

You may not know it but there's an angel looking out for you, who's waiting for you to get in touch. We all have our own, special guardian angel that travels with us throughout life's journey and loves and protects us unconditionally no matter what mistakes
we may make. Our guardian angel is a powerful being of light and responds to our call the moment we ask for assistance. History is peppered with sightings of angels, usually in response to some great need by man. During the First World War soldiers afraid for their lives before great battles reported sightings of angels. The most famous sighting was in August 1914, at Mons, in Belgium when the British Army was involved in a desperate clash with overwhelming numbers of German troops. It was reported that an angelic army came to their aid and brought hope and comfort to the men so that they were able to successfully defeat their foe.

How many times have you heard stories of dramatic rescues or near miss death incidents when the person surviving the incident was reported to say " they felt that someone was watching over them and keeping them safe" So you might ask how would you know if there was an angel with you? Your guardian angel can appear in many different forms. Many people 'sense their presence; some hear them, whilst others encounter them in dreams and visions. Your angel is around you at all times; but do not wait until you have a time of crisis or sorrow to contact them. Invite this heavenly being to became part of your daily life now. Your angel is waiting to be called upon to help you in any way you need. You can also ask for help for those you care about who may need help. So here are a few tips on how to get in touch:- Each morning and night find a quiet place. Sit in a comfortable position with your back held straight. Ground yourself by visualising roots extending from you deep into the earth. Take a few deep breaths until you feel relaxed and calm and then sent out a thought to your angel about any needs you may have. Gradually open your eyes. I have found that usually and often in the strangest way your request is fulfilled more quickly than you can imagine. Believe and you will get a powerful response. Each time you commune with your angel, your relationship grows stronger. Let your intuition guide you along this fascinating spirtual pathway and you will find there are truly angels living amongst us. Your life will never be the same again.

copyright Linda Preston 2007

see also: REAL ANGELS SITE

Worship: A Meeting With God

Author: Charles M Smith

During the 1980's, and well into the 90's the Church experienced a worship explosion that some called a Worship Revival, a Worship Renewal, and others just referred to it as new thing. It was in fact a large part of an overall restoration movement that was taking place during this time period, which also included the restoration of the prophets ministry. The prophet was the voice of God to the people of God. A large part of the Prophets Ministry, particularly when we study the old testament, was to teach Gods people his laws and statues,to make sure the people worshipped properly and to call them back to proper worship when they got off.

David the sweet psalmist of Israel who was also a prophet instructed Gods people to: Ascribe to the Lord,O sons of the Mighty,Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to his name;Worship the Lord in holy array(Psalms 29:1-2).

The Prophet Hosea calls Gods people back to the worship if the true and living God with the following instructions: Return,O Israel, to the lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to Him, Take away all iniquity, And receive us graciously, That we may present the fruit of our lips(Hosea 14:1-2).

With the restoration of the Prophets Ministry and a new emphasis on the prophetic realm, it became necessary to change the way the church was worshipping - and make no mistake it changed powerfully as the spirit of the Tabernacle of David (Amos 9:11) began to manifest among those who were open to receive what God was doing. Many congregations abandoned the hymn books and opted for a fresh Holy Spirit inspired approach to Worshipping God with new songs and new sounds. The traditional organ and piano sound was upgraded with the sounds of guitars, synthesizers, drums and various percussion instruments and even horn sections. Many began to experience the manifested presence of God like they never had before in the corporate gathering. Several major record companies and worship publishing entities emerged whose mission was to fuel and resource the church in its new commitment to worship God in a fresh new biblical way. But was all of this a true visitation of God? Was it a true restoration movement in worship? Absolutely!

Are We Worshipping our Expressions or Worshipping God?

As it has happens so often in the history of the church we can very easily lose sight of the pure and simple essence of why we do what we do, particularly as it pertains to worship. Too often we get caught up in the mechanics of what God is restoring and miss the essence of what he is restoring. In my own personal walk I have discovered how easy it is to miss the point.

One of the the most obvious mistakes we made in the worship Movement of the 80's and 90's was when we began to call the expressions: singing, clapping, playing our instruments, dancing etc. worship. Certainly I am not saying that these expressions are not important that would be going to an extreme because there are to many biblical instructions in the word of God that encourage and even command us to express our worship in these ways. I am simply pointing out that the expressions in and of themselves are not true worship and when we fail to understand this what started as a fresh wind of worship can easily become just another lifeless religious form. In the words of one modern Psalmist of our day we must return to the Heart of Worship. One of the most powerful examples of a worshipper in the bible was Abraham. I never read where Abraham sang to God or played an instrument yet he understood the essence of what it meant to Worship God. In Genesis 22:2 God calls Abraham to a meeting and God is very clear that the purpose of this gathering is to offer a sacrifice and God is very specific that the sacrifice is to be his only son Isaac. What a request! This text is pregnant with so much revelation; however, for our purposes lets focus on one specific point. In Genesis 22:5 Abraham makes a powerful statement, And Abraham said to his young men,Stay here with the donkey,and I and the lad will go yonder; and we will Worship and return to you. Wow! Abraham understood that what God was asking him to do was to come and Worship Him even though the offering of worship involved the sacrifice of his only son. The word Worship appears in the scriptures for the first time in this verse it means, to prostrate ones self in homage to royalty or to God in humility and in reverence. The emphasis of this basic definition for worship is not on any external expressions; rather it defines the heart attitude and the heart position of the worshipper before God. So then acceptable worship is not determined by the songs we sing, but rather by the condition and position of our hearts as we sing.

Worship is giving God what he wants

What did God really want from Abraham? Did God really want him to sacrifice his son? Was there something more profound in Gods request of his servant? In Genesis 22:10-12 we read, And Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said Abraham, Abraham! And he said Hear I am. And he said, do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son from Me. Right as Abraham (the willing worshipper) was about to carry out what he understood to be his worship requirement, God stops him, why? He had already given God what he wanted, which was a willing heart. Through Abraham we see three aspects of a worshipping heart.

1.Reverence - his heart bowed in respect and homage to God and his request.

2.Obedience -his heart was willing to do what God requested and required.

3. Faith -his heart believed God he trusted the integrity of God and he believed that God had a plan in what he was asking. He believed that God was able to even raise Isaac from the the dead after the sacrifice and his heart was settled and at peace concerning this (Hebrews 11:17-19).

Abraham certainly was not a Perfect man but his willing heart of worship earned him the title the Friend of God (James 2:23). Worship has nothing to do with what we want it has all to do with what God wants.

The psalmist David discovered that more then religious forms and rituals God desires a broken(humble) spirit and a contrite heart (Psalms 51:16-17).

Getting back to the Heart of the Matter

Our Lord Jesus Christ who is the object of the Churches affections sums up the meaning of acceptable worship when he said, You Shall LOVE The Lord Your God With All Your Heart, And With All Your Soul, And With All Your Mind (Matthew 22:37).

I have discovered that God more than my songs or my music, wants my heart. Jesus died to have My heart, My whole heart not just on a sunday during a worship service. True acceptable Worship is the daily pursuit of God. It is a deep spiritual and intimate connection with the God of heaven and earth and this is the reason why we were created. It has been aptly stated that: The Chief end of man is to Glorify God and to enjoy Him Forever; this speaks of relationship not religious ritual. I am grateful for all of the advances that we now enjoy in our corporate worship experience. It is all relevant and all needful to support and enhance the atmosphere of our corporate gatherings, but what is more needful for us as Worshippers and facilitators of Worship is a fresh revelation of God and his desires. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will give all of us a renewed understanding of the words of Christ when he said, But an hour is coming and now is,when the True Worshippers shall Worship the Father in spirit and in truth;for such people the Father seeks to be his worshippers. God is a spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.

God is raising up an army of passionate lovers burning with desire to Worship Him acceptably and intimately, those who are zealous for the advancement of his Kingdom in the earth. He has instructed me to invite you to come to a meeting with Him. The Spirit says come and renew your passion to Worship God.

Charles M. Smith is a psalmist, worship leader, songwriter, author and full time Minister. He is the founder of CMS Ministries and Clearzone Music Inc. In addition he serves as the National Director of Worship for the Liberty Temple International Network of Churches.

For more information and to recieve our free newsletter and E-courses
on worship and victorious christian living Email us at: cmsministries@aweber.com

also visit http://www.cmsministries.org

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5 Keys to Reading and Understanding the Bible

by Ferrel Kenda

Do you often find yourself questioning someone's interpretation of a particular Biblical passage? Do you desire to find a deeper understanding of what the Bible really says? Does your Bible reading leave you with more questions than answers? If so, here are some helpful tips that will make your reading more enjoyable and meaningful. Whether you are participating in a daily reading program, preparing for a Bible study, or hoping to gain insight on a particular subject, there is a wealth of wisdom within the pages of "the greatest book ever written."

1. Keep it personal. Religious beliefs and convictions are very personal matters. Ask three people for their interpretation of a scriptural passage and you will get three different responses. That explains why there are so many denominations within the present day church. No one can tell you what you should believe, and you are solely responsible for your own actions, responses, and behaviors. Choose a Bible translation that suits you. If you find the King James Version too difficult to retain your focus, check into other translations that are available. The Bible should not be a "chore" to read.

2. Read regularly. You can't expect to master rocket science by picking up a book "occasionally." Read the Bible regularly and it will come alive for you and your understanding will increase dramatically. Try to choose a time and place that you go each day. Soon this routine will be a highlight of your day and you will look forward to the rejuvenation that comes with the time spent in the Word.

3. Prepare. You should prayerfully ask God for guidance and insight into what you are reading, and listen to your inner voice for direction. Have faith that your prayers and questions will be answered. Some find it helpful to listen to inspirational music before reading in order to focus their attention on spiritual matters. Choose a quiet place free from distractions and try to clear your mind of pressing issues that may cloud your thinking. Deep breathing and relaxation techniques are beneficial exercises that will help you to focus more clearly on your reading.

4. Take what you read literally. God is not the author of confusion. This is the owner's manual for life on earth. He would not give you a roadmap that you could not understand. After slowly reading (and re-reading) your selected passage, ask yourself these questions: What is the main subject of this reading? Who is speaking? What is being said? To Whom? What is the key verse? Does this passage contain a command for me to obey? Does this passage reveal anything I see as a stumbling block in my own life?

Does this passage relate to you or your situation? Is there something in the passage that needs to be incorporated into your own life? Answer these questions as truthfully as possible and see what direction this takes you.

5. Use resources. Many translations will contain references to other correlating scriptures in order to clarify or reiterate the main point. Some will have scriptural notes explaining the circumstances in greater detail. Many contain dictionaries, maps, weights and measures conversions etc. A concordance is an invaluable searching tool that will list the passages which contain any word or phrase that you may wish. Commentaries are great resources that go into detailed explanations concerning each passage. These will assist you in better understanding the cultural and spiritual aspects of the scripture, but keep in mind that it is one man's opinion. The best online resource that I have come across is called E-sword. It is a downloadable Bible that can be customized with different translations, concordances, dictionaries, and commentaries. Translations can be viewed side-by-side for comparison and notes can be saved within the file. Although this is a free resource, some translations charge a small fee. (see resource box for info) Online Christian forums and chat rooms have ongoing discussions about many of life's questions. You may get some helpful insights, as well as different viewpoints about any number of topics.

After using these 5 tips, you should have a better understanding of the Bible, and a better relationship with God, not to mention the people around you. You will begin to gain the wisdom of the ages, and who knows, you might just find more than you were looking for.

About the Author

You can find E-sword and other great resources HERE!

Ferrel Kenda is an internet webmaster and author sepcializing in marketing and promotion.

A divine appointment

by Mike Fletcher

When God keeps that divine set appointment with us in heaven, Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:10 that we will appear that ALL MUST appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Now there is a lot of confusion about that place. Judgment seat translates into Greek as bema, which in its simplest definition means a raised platform reached by steps. In the Greek culture that Paul wrote from and to, bema referred to the elevated platform on which victorious athletes received their crowns even as we say today in the Olympic games.

In the New Testament, it was used as the judgment seat of Pilate or of Herod. There was even a bema in Corinth where unbelieving Jews unsuccessfully accused Paul before the Roman governor Gallio. So a person brought before a bema was to have their deeds examined for the purpose of recognizing and punishing wrongdoing or rewarding some achievement. And that's what the Bible means, too. Unbelievers, those who don't follow Christ, will have their sins exposed and be punished before the judgment seat of Christ. The Bible clearly, all too clearly, tells us that. There will be, it says, much wailing and gnashing of teeth at the bema for, says the Bible, the fate of non-believers is eternal damnation in hell everlasting punishment for sins which will be exposed by God's penetrating justice.

Now Christians will also go before the bema. But Christian believers will NOT be judged for sin at the judgment seat of Christ. Why? Because our sins were dealt with at the cross. Jesus, our very judge, paid for those sins with his blood. They are gone, Blotted out, Forgotten. Paid for.
So what will happen to us at that judgment seat? The full truth about our lives, our character and actions as a Christian will be made clear to each believer. Each one of us will discover the real verdict on our ministry, our service, our motives. All hypocrisy and pretense will be stripped away.

As Samuel 16:7 says, God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearances, but God looks at the heart. The writer of Hebrews put it this way: Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. That's another part of our divine appointment. The things we did with shallow, self-serving motives will not please God. That's the bad Paul refers to, stuff that means or counts for nothing, things which may not be sinful per se but things which had no eternal value, like working our way up the corporate ladder, earning all sorts of degrees, accumulating wealth, getting better at golf, morally neutral things. The things so many of us spend so much of our time pursing.

The things that are considered good at that bema, that judgment seat, are the things we do that DO HAVE eternal value, things done with a motive to glorify God. That's the divine ordained allegiance we are to have to bring him glory by our lives. At that judgment seat, we will be rewarded for those deeds, deeds good and pure and pleasing to God. We don't know what those rewards may be other than, glorious. But they await us. That is a certainty.

Mike Fletcher is a pastor from a church in the Midwest with a passion for personal lifestyle evangelism. He is a founder of Online Christian Shopper, (www.onlinechristianshopper.com), a popular Web shopping site specializing in unique Christian T-Shirts, Christian jewelry and Christian gift items.

Jesus-Teachings In Personal Evangelism by Glen Williams

by Glen Williams

Do you ever get the feeling we Christians have lost touch with our evangelistic mission? I ministered in "evangelical" churches for 11 years and never felt like there was much concern for the poor lost people who don't know God. There was a lot of talk about how bad it was "out there" but precious few were willing to go "out there" to make it better. This article is to help us take a closer look at the evangelistic character of Jesus so we can become more like Him to help a sick and dying world.

Christian Evangelism-More Walk Than Talk: The Bible portrays a highly religious Israel eagerly awaiting the Messiah so they can have their eternal bliss and those "heathens" can be punished. It reminds me of what I've seen in many churches, today. But, take a look at how the New Testament portrays Jesus. A friend of sinners! Seeking the lost! A doctor for the sick! In fact, the only people He ever preached against were those religious people who considered themselves, "the chosen." No wonder they crucified Him! We tend to think of ourselves as "the chosen" and preach against "sinners" as if we're somehow better than them.

When we do go out to "save" people we often end up doing more arguing than loving. Take a look at how Jesus reached people. He loved them! He was right there with them in their hurt. He joined them at parties. He touched them and He let them touch Him. He forgave their sins before they even asked. He had compassion on them. Where is our compassion? I have a 1-question compassion test!. You can use it to survey yourself and those you fellowship with, to see if you share the love of Jesus or the religion of Pharisees. Here comes the test: If he were seeking the help of Jesus to straighten his life out, would you welcome into your church a pedophile? Reaching people with the love of Jesus is more walk than talk. If we're going to be the salt and the light of the world, we must be willing to lose the robes of the Pharisees and judges and become friends of sinners.

Evangelism Teachings of Christ: Jesus taught that our good deeds would be a light that leads people in the world to praise God. Since He teaches later in the same sermon about giving, I get the impression He's talking here about things we actually do for people. Maybe not so much what "the Church" is doing, but what are you doing? Is there someone who needs their lawn mowed? Do they need to be taken to a doctor appointment? Can you carry their groceries for them, or just let them go ahead of you in line? Do they need help with their schoolwork or just someone to sit at the lunch table with them? Let's open our hearts to things we can do wherever we are to shine the light of good works, so people will praise our Father. Jesus taught that we are to love each other, our neighbors and our enemies...that love is the whole Law and it is how the world will know we are His. He told us to go into the world to make followers of Him, not to use Christian churches, clubs, aerobics, fitness centers, restaurants, concerts, etc. to shelter ourselves from the world. Jesus said we would "be" witnesses...it's who we are, not what we say that matters. 1 John says "God is love...in this world, we are like Him." It's clear from the New Testament, if we just forget religion and live the love of Jesus, people won't avoid us...they'll ask how to get what we've got.

Love In Action-Who Jesus Is: Jesus isn't a religion. A Savior isn't someone who says, "I'm gonna let you drown unless you follow my rules." The Savior, first, saves us from peril and then teaches and helps us to avoid peril. A Redeemer doesn't say, "Earn the price of your own freedom." Instead, He pays the price, not expecting anything in return. A Deliverer is an action figure, not just a talker. The word "Gospel" means good news...not condemnation. If we Christians are to spread the Gospel in a way hurting people can respond, then we must become love in action...that's what Jesus teaches about evangelism...that's how we follow Jesus...it's who He is.

About the Author

Glen Williams is Webmaster at http://www.web-church.com and CEO of E-Home Fellowship (EHF), Inc. He is an ordained minister who has been active in Christian ministry since 1989, counseling and helping people live in Christ. You can comment on his articles at Web-Church Christian Forums.

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