Our Lord’s Mission
For me, Christmas is a wonderful time to contemplate God’s love in sending His Son Jesus Christ to save us from our sins. Truly, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who leaves the 99 to search for the one lost sheep. “For the Son of man is come to seek out and to save that which was lost.” Jesus Christ came to earth on a mission: to seek out and save the lost. He has given us the same mission. What a privilege it is to follow in His footsteps. Sadly, many professing Christians care little about reaching the lost.
Christmas is a great time to witness, as people seem to be most open to the gospel at this time of year. They are looking for the “Christmas spirit.” What they need is the Spirit of God, the true Christmas spirit. While New Year’s Eve is a time of drunkenness, New Year’s Day is a time for resolutions and self-examination about where our lives are heading. This can also be a great opportunity to witness. One year I witnessed at a New Year’s Eve party and prayed with a young man to receive Christ as the clock struck twelve.
I`d Rather be Witnessing
Not long ago people started putting bumper stickers on their cars telling everyone what they`d rather be doing than driving down the road. “I`d rather be skiing, swimming, boating, etc.” It may not make the best slogan for a bumper sticker, but I`d rather be telling people about Jesus. And I`m not the only one.
We have a regular Friday night evangelism team in San Francisco. When we gather together for prayer at the end of our witnessing session, almost everyone has a big smile on their face and is filled with excitement about what took place that night. This happens not only when we get to lead someone to Christ but even on nights when most people don`t seem to be interested in listening. Witnessing is fun. This is one of the best-kept secrets in the Christian world.
Most of the streets we go to on Friday nights are party streets. People go there to have a “good time.” Yet we are having the best time of anyone. It`s great to approach someone who is trying so hard to have fun, but is miserable, with a big smile on your face and tell him how to really party. We have the truth. We know why we are alive. We have a personal relationship with our Creator. Our life has a purpose and direction. Our conscience is clear. And we are doing what God created us to do.
Witnessing is profitable. Many people today are seeking to get rich. People envy the movie star or business executive with abig mansion and lots of money. Yet we Christians are the richest people on earth. Every time we go out witnessing, we are accumulating eternal treasures.
Witnessing is easy. The early Christians didn’t take witnessing courses, yet they turned their world “upside down.” There`s only one book you need to read: the Bible. Some evangelism classes make witnessing seem complicated. We come away from them thinking that we need a lot of special knowledge and techniques to witness effectively.
Witnessing is easy, very easy. It`s as easy as opening your mouth, and most of us find that very easy to do. All you need is to know Jesus, be filled with His Spirit, open your mouth and start talking. Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses.” (Acts 1:8)
If witnessing is so much fun, so profitable, and so easy, why don`t more Christians witness? That can be answered, for the most part, in one word: Satan. The Devil is holding a lot of people captive, and he is determined not to let go of them until they end up in Hell. His main worry is that Christians will tell them about Jesus. So he has launched an all-out effort to prevent this from happening. And his efforts have been highly successful. One study indicated that 90% of all Christians never witness to anyone.
How does Satan do this? Basically, by lying to us. He gives us many different excuses for not witnessing. He tells us it`s ineffective or we`re too busy or sick or whatever excuse will work. Most of us who witness on Friday night find ourselves under satanic attack. Often we won`t feel good on Friday afternoon, or something “important” will come up that keeps us from witnessing, or the car will break down, or our mind will be troubled by temptations.
Only when we refuse to be swayed from our commitment to witness, and actually get out on the streets and start witnessing, do we experience the great joy I talked about earlier. I think that if Satan and his demons were bound up for three months, such a wave of evangelism would come forth from the church that the entire world would be evangelized. How long will we continue to listen to the Devil`s lies, and allow him to keep us from doing God`s work, and experiencing the victory and abundant life Jesus intended for us?
Coming Events
In this column, we will include SOS-sponsored outreaches. As space permits, we will also include major outreaches and evangelism conferences around the nation.
Saturday December 2, 9, and 16 12-4 PM. SOS Christmas Outreaches, 5th St. and Market, San Francisco. Dec. 2: “SALT” worship group from Alder Ave. Baptist Church, Fremont. Dec. 9: Open Bible Church, San Francisco worship group. Dec. 16: New Life Christian Church, San Lorenzo, worship group. Call (510) 531-5325 for more information.
December 31-January 1 Rose Parade Outreach, Pasadena, CA. Contact Sondra Berry Young, Box 3044, Newport Beach, CA 92659, (818) 683- 0569.
February 16-21 Mardi Gras Outreach, New Orleans. Contact Heart- Fire Ministries, Box 14031, Milwaukee, WI 53214, (414) 445-9490 or Rescue Atlanta, Box 965039, Marietta, GA 30066, (404) 924-0201.
EVERY FRIDAY 7:30 PM. Take Him to the Streets. Meet at Vineyard, 7th St. and Harrison, San Francisco. Call (510) 531-5325 for more information.
A Final Word
In the October newsletter, I wrote about Lifeline long distance and gave you the wrong phone number. The correct number is 800- 800-7550 (not 7500). Remember to include SOS Ministries code, 30323. They are a Christian-run business, they provide the same conveniences as other long distance companies at rates 4-15% below AT&T’s standard rates, and give back 10% of your bill to SOS Ministries. You can call them directly, or indicate your interest on our response card and we’ll mail you information.
Please pray for those who have written us in response to tracts this past month: Dylan, Emilio, Iain, Victoria (S.F.), Harry (Daly City), John (Martinez jail), and Elizabeth, who mailed us a response card all the way from the Philippines! Please pray also for Rick, age 17. I met Rick on Haight St. two weeks ago. He had been living in the Haight-Ashbury discipleship house for over a month. He had left a week before without notifying anyone. After I spoke with him and prayed with him, he decided to return to the house. He stayed five days and left again.
Our Tape of the Month is “He Went with Them” by Dr. Sam Sasser. Dr. Sasser is known as the apostle to the Marshall Islands. He ministered there for over 20 years, and this nation is now the most evangelized nation on earth, with 80% of the population saved! Dr. Sasser suffered from coral poisoning on these islands, and he was very ill for years before going to his reward this past month.
Come join us for one of our special Christmas outreaches on Saturday December 2 and 16 (see Coming Events section). Let’s follow our Lord’s example, and seek out and save those who are lost.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum