ISEMA Newsletters
Fireworks for the Lord
By Rev. Gerald Sutek, from the S.W.A.T. Team for Christ Newsletter (Box 849, Rossville, GA 30741, (404) 866-8826)
I am very happy to have been associated with the public ministry and soldiers of the Lord operating in the theater of Frederica, DE. The First Baptist Church there, pastored by Sam Ingram, has a large platoon of public ministers who regularly fight the battles in the area. The church is located on the major N/S highway 40 miles north of Rehoboth Beach DE and Ocean City MD which are very popular resorts this time of the year. On the 4th of July the traffic returning from these resorts creep by the church and are given a very effective witness. From blocks away the gospel signs begin and continue like Burma Shave signs up to the church lawn on which is parked Jim Richardson’s gospel truck, which is totally laden with scriptures.
Bro. Richardson [stands] on the front platform (built for preaching) waving his Bible and preaching occasionally. Then follows other public ministers with signs and vehicles of various degrees dedicated to publishing the Word. On this last 4th of July they were rewarded for their faithfulness when a 19 year old Catholic young man pulled out of the traffic and asked them just what they thought they were doing. A few minutes later he possessed the same Holy Spirit as they did and was not only headed home but ultimately to heaven. Two other young boys playing in the church yard were won to the Lord because of this strong public witness. Believe it or not there are still preachers out there that do not believe that public ministry is of much use to the ministry today. May the Lord have mercy on their fear and ignorance.
The Beginning of Wisdom
by Larry Rosenbaum
Two years ago, I watched a video of the revival that is taking place in China. In the midst of tremendous persecution, millions of people are coming to Christ in that nation. These people pray for hours with great intensity and faith, and are seeing many miracles, including reports of people being raised from the dead. Thousands have been imprisoned for their faith, under conditions that we can hardly imagine, and some are still being martyred.
But the thing that impressed me most about this video was seeing many of these Christians holding church right out in the street, worshiping the Lord openly and witnessing boldly to others. How strange! In China, Christians witness openly and boldly, even though they may go to jail or die. But in America, Christians are afraid to witness.
Dennis Balcombe, the missionary who made this video, gave the reason for their boldness. The Chinese Christians fear the Lord. Jesus said, “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” Matt. 10:28. The Chinese Christians do not fear the police who can imprison or kill them because they fear God. American Christians are uncomfortable with the concept of fearing God. We tend to think of this as an Old Testament concept.
But the concept of fearing God is as much in the New as the Old Testament. The Greek term “phobio/phobos” is as strong as the Hebrew word “yare/yirah.” Three times the word is translated “terror.” “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” 2 Cor. 5:11. What was Paul talking about here? First, he knew that those who do not know Christ are headed for the torments of Hell, so he persuaded them to avoid that horrible fate. Second, he was concerned about his own fate when he would one day appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10).
In an earlier letter, Paul had written, “Though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel” 1 Cor. 9:16. And surely he remembered the words of Jesus who said, “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father” Mark 8:38.
It is Paul who said “I am not ashamed of the gospel” Rom. 1:16. He warned Timothy that “God has not given us the spirit of fear…be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of the Lord” (2 Tim. 1:7-8) and “preach the word of God urgently at all times, whenever you get the chance, in season and out, when it is convenient and when it is not” (2 Tim. 4:2,5 LB). Timothy, like many of us, was often fearful of witnessing to others, and Paul had to encourage him to witness boldly and consistently, even when it was not convenient.
A person who is truly saved will show an enduring change in his life that will be demonstrated by good works (Eph. 2:10). The scriptures teach that the truly saved person will consistently confess Christ before men, with his words as well as his life style. “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before the Father…but whosoever shall deny me before men, him I also deny before by my Father” Matt. 10:32. The Greek verbs for confess and deny are aorist and constative, indicating an entire life of confessing or denying, not a single one-time event (such as a sinner’s prayer or baptism). “If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus…you shall be saved…with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture says, Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed” Rom. 10:9-11.
When we truly fear God, we will walk in holiness and will boldly witness to others. We will not fear persecution, imprisonment, death, loss of reputation, or allow any obstacle to prevent us from reaching as many people as possible with the gospel. “Fear of man is a dangerous trap, but to trust in God means safety” Prov. 29:25. God, forgive us for the many times we have been ashamed of you, and failed to confess you before men. Put your fear in our hearts, that we will obey you and persuade others to turn to you!
Coming Events
June 30-July 8 SOS-San Francisco. $50 including partial meals and housing (fee can be waived). Special guests Ray Comfort, Steve Gregg, and Chuck Girard. Contact SOS Ministries, Box 27358, Oakland, CA 94602, (510) 531-5325..
June 30-July 5 Fourth of July Outreach. Washington, DC. $85 including food and housing. Contact Power of Jesus Revivals, Box 5414, Rockville, MD 20855, (304) 258-6253 or (814) 725-9332.
July 6-15 Jesus Loves You-New York. Contact Abounding Grace Ministries, 740 E 6th St., New York, NY 10009, (212) 614-0370.
July 16-23 and August 13-20. Challenge ’95. Two weeks of intensive evangelism in New York City. Contact Teen Challenge, 444 Clinton Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11238, (718) 789-1414.
July 24-28 Reach Atlanta Outreach. Contact Rescue Atlanta, Box 965039, Marietta, GA 30066, (404) 924-0201.
July 26-29 Congress on the Holy Spirit and World Evangelization. Orlando, FL. Contact Orlando ’95, Box 2201, Lindale, TX 75712, (903) 882-1995.
July 28-30 Minneapolis Outreach. Contact Forerunner Ministries, Box 6084, Minneapolis, MN 55406, (612) 722-0751.
July 31-August 4 Miami Outreach. Contact Rescue Atlanta (address above.)
August 7-11 St. Louis Outreach. Contact Rescue Atlanta (address above.)
August 27-28 Fourth Annual Notting Hill Carnival, London, England. Europe’s largest street festival, comparable to the Mardi Gras. Contact Gary Lukas, 67 Melfort Rd., Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 7RT, 0181-684-1603.
September 28-30 National Street Ministries Conference, Dallas, TX. Contact Scott Hinkle, Box 30642, Phoenix, AZ 85046, (602) 661-6406.
SOS MINISTRIES is looking for two men with a desire to learn about and do evangelism to live in their ministry house. For more information, contact SOS Ministries, Box 27358, Oakland, CA 94602, (510) 531-5325.
FORWARD EDGE is sending outreach teams to Guatemala, Nicaragua, the Crow Indian Reservation, Romania, Kazakhstan, Israel and China this next year. Most outreaches are about two weeks long. Fees are $300-2500 depending on distance. For more information write or call them at 15121-A NE 72nd Ave., Vancouver WA 98686, (360) 57 57 574-EDGE.
A Final Word
1995 is half over, so we are offering 1994 ISEMA memberships at half price until the end of the year–$10 for individuals and $17.50 for churches and ministries. For $5 extra you can have a Street Ministry Directory.
One of the purposes of this newsletter is to be a forum for discussion of matters of interest to those involved in evangelism. We welcome your comments concerning the teaching in this issue on street preaching or anything else. Let us know of other issues you would like discussed in this newsletter. Also, please send us a report of any outreaches you are involved in, so we can include it in this newsletter.
Our Tape of the Month is “Revival in China” by Dennis Balcombe. Dennis has been a missionary to Hong Kong since 1969 and has been visiting and ministering to Christians in Communist China since 1979, making over 450 trips to the mainland. During that time, over 4 million Bibles have been given to Chinese Christians through his ministry. In this teaching, Rev. Balcombe talks about the fear of God as it relates to the revival in China.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum