Tell Someone!

Even though it is a Christian’s duty to evangelize, I believe many of us never understand this concept. If you believe anything Jesus said, you would know that Hell is real. I know many never focus on this topic and love to talk about God’s grace. However, if Heaven is real so is Hell. If we don’t share the Gospel, many people will be lost. We (me, anyone reading this, or anyone claiming to be a Christian) all have a responsibility to tell someone about Jesus. Of course many of us will never reach thousands, but maybe if you reached one person, they could reach thousands. Each one reach one! Many people stress missions, and I completely believe that they are important (Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8). However, do not feel you must go to other countries and totally overlook those right next door to you.

What are some things that stop us from evangelizing? I’ll give a few and tell you why to not let them bother you.
1. Fear! Fear of rejection, fear of not knowing what to say, fear of people attacking us and saying our God isn’t real.
- If someone rejects the Gospel, they rejected Jesus not you. Stop taking it personal! Just go to someone else. Everyone will not believe. Jesus saves not us, so plant the seed and move to someone else.
- Don’t know what to say? Share your testimony. Many can reject scriptures, but they cannot reject God delivering you from anxiety, porn, self-hatred, bitterness, drugs, alcohol, homelessness, etc. Your testimony is someone else’s deliverance.
- If they do not believe, that’s fine. Perfectly fine! God saves. Just pray for them.

2. No time! I’m busy with school, work, the family, etc. Many will not like this, but honestly those are poor excuses.
- We find time for television, mall, phone, and many other things that we are interested in. You do not find time for God’s work, you make the time!
- Many of us use social networks. People read our tweets, statuses and definitely see our tumblr and Instagram pictures. Many of us will never win a soul unless we shape up what we put on social media. The apostles did great things without any technology, it is time that we use these things as assets and not liabilities for someone’s spiritual growth. I can not follow someone who claims to be Christian and they seem to be more worldly than a nonbeliever. Let’s get it together guys!

3. We just do not care to!
- Any man who thinks he’s on the way to Heaven and does not want others to go with them does not have the right to say they are Christian.
- Jesus was compassionate. He loved, rebuked and helped. Why can’t you just tell one person that Jesus loves them? Just invite them to church and let God convict them haha, but seriously. Be bold and caring enough to win some souls!

Ask yourself these questions?
- Has anyone ever told you they will come to church or become a Christian because they admire the way you live?
- Have you been able to get someone to come to church this year, and if so are they still there?
- Living like the world will not draw any unsaved, so do you live like Jesus in every aspect of your life?
- Do you tell people at school and work that you are a Christian (even when they are homosexual/lesbian, atheist, Muslim, etc.)?
- Do you treat people of different beliefs with equal respect?

And do not worry, answering yes does not mean you’re better than anyone or self righteous. Answering no does not mean you are a sinner and headed to Hell. However, all of us could do better trying to win people to Christ. Jesus did not die for us to turn His church into a modeling contest, a carnal concert, or a place for self righteous people to stay in their bubble. Ministry is not only in church, ministry is when you go outside the church and then face battles. Ministry is when people look at you funny, but you still smile and share Jesus. Ministry is when people do not believe and do not care, but yet you serve them.

I know many really don’t care to hear me or believe me, but it has never been about me. It is all for His glory. Let’s go share the Gospel!

And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:15)

- Tovares Grey

God is Listening

One thing that every Christian must do, even though we sometimes avoid it, is to pray. Some pray for hours, some for minutes, some none at all. I understand in prayer you may be wondering, “okay so ummm, I don’t hear God and I’m done talking so I’ll just get up now”. Many of us won’t say those words, but our actions show it. We all must know that prayer is a dialogue, not a monologue. Sometimes we have to sit and wait on God to speak. We must learn to listen and not just speak in prayer.

Prayer is not fulfilling a religious duty, but it is seeking guidance from God. Lack of prayer shows that you have it all figured out and do not necessarily need God to guide you. We need to develop a passion for prayer. Many seek the pulpit and popularity, but only those who pray will ultimately have a connection to God. Ministry without prayer is useless. Jesus prayed for hours, sometimes all night, and it was all because He understood He was nothing without His Father’s strength to guide Him. Jesus was dependent of His Father to do anything, we must develop that same mindset that we must seek God before anything (John 15:4). Jesus worked miracles in seconds. Was it because He was God in flesh (John 1:14)? No, but because He consistently separated Himself to pray (Luke 5:16).

One of the most discouraging things to go through is to know that God is able to do something, but to be in a state where you don’t see any results. God says He is a healer, but you are sick (Isaiah 53:5). God promises to provide your needs, but you aren’t able to provide or meet certain requirements (Philippians 4:19). There are many different situations that you will find yourself in that will tempt you to question God. Never forget that God is bigger than your problems, and everything you go through is for your good and for God’s glory (Romans 8:28). Righteous people go through much problems, but God will deliver (Psalms 34:19).

Why pray?
- Prayer shows that we need God’s direction (Proverbs 3:5-6).
- God is sovereign, but He gave man authority on the earth. Therefore, He cannot work for us if we do not ask Him to (John 14:14).
- We do not understand some things, but God can give us knowledge (James 1:5).
- We talk to people we love often. We do it to get to know more of them, why not talk to your Creator often? (Isaiah 55:6)
- God wants to hear from you. We cannot always depend on others to pray for us, we need our own relationship (Luke 13:27).

Prayer is essential, not optional. You may feel as though nothing is happening yet, but you just have to be persistent (Luke 18:1-8). God loves to hear from you, will you give Him a few more minutes, hours, or maybe even your life?

“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” – Martin Luther King

Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Who Gets More Time?

The easiest way to tell what a person loves is by checking where they spend the most time, money, and their talents. Everyone may not believe in God, but everyone worships. Some worship Jesus, while others worship other gods, their boyfriend/girlfriend or spouse, their car, homes, education, music artists and actors, models, or social networks. Sad to say, but many of us worship ourselves. Of course none of us bow down to these things or people (at least I hope not), but we worship them because we dedicate most of our time to them rather than to God. Am I saying God wants us to wake up and pray/read our bible until we fall asleep? No, but He surely shouldn’t have to compete to be in our schedule. God wants to be in control of our entire life not a part of our life.

So let me propose a question to you: who or what do you worship? Please don’t just say “God, duh. Next question.” Rather, please examine your busy schedule and see if it is centered around God. Let God be the most important part of your day or get the most devotion. Of course we all have things to do like work, school, take care of family, etc. but that’s no excuse to give God a few minutes of a day that He did not even have to give us. We should start trying to spend more time with God than with our television. That person you love may be great, but they do not deserve more time than the Man who thought you were to die for, Jesus! We often go through our “busy schedule” and find time to squeeze in the mall, phones, social networks, gossip, sin, gym, and then we give God the five minute prayer before a meal or bed (even though we are already half asleep).

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; (Psalms 63:1)

By no means am I saying that “my priorities are set, I spend time with God for hours and I am perfect”. I am doing my best to give Him more time, as we all should. When we look at this previous verse we must understand what David was really trying to convey. David was in a literal wilderness! When in those types of conditions you’re without proper nutrition, any friends around, etc. Take Jesus for an example, after fasting in the wilderness, He was very hungry after (Matthew 4:2). However, despite David’s condition, he said he wanted more of God. David had an hunger for God, knowing that more of God was all that matters. He did not care about himself, but his mind was on getting more from God. Even though David committed adultery, he was considered as “a man after God’s heart” (Acts 13:22). It is not about your mistake, it is about your willingness to get up and seek God again. David was in constant pursuit of making God his number one priority.

Here are a few questions that I want us to read and answer truthfully. Do not be in denial, God knows the REAL you.
- Do we care more about winning souls to Christ or about our followers on social networks?
- Are we focused on living a life acceptable to God or one that conforms to society and makes us not looked weird or called “too holy”?
- Are we giving more to God with our tithes and offering than we do to the mall?
- Are we giving God leftovers or our best?
- Are we serving God with gladness or out of guilt, obligation, and fear of Hell?
- Do we know more lyrics than we know scriptures?
- Do we reach for our phone or bible when we get up?
- Do we pray for others or talk about them?
- Do we shout louder in praise or over a sporting event?
- Is Instagram more interesting than prayer?

There are so many questions that we can ask ourselves, but this is not to make us feel guilty, ashamed, or even say “you don’t earn salvation, you accept it”. This is about us willing to boldly forsake our worldly ways and pursue Christ. After all, God does not want most of our life, He wants us completely surrendered to Him. What can God do with someone who only wants to worship Him in a church setting? God cannot use a cyber Christian, God wants full time obedience. Worship the Creator, not His creation. People and things should never get more time and appreciation than God. Be grateful for everything you have, but do not make God feel as though you no longer care about Him. Jesus died for us, we should live for Him. Jesus did not die for us to go to church on Sunday and live like He doesn’t exist the rest of the week. What are you hungry for? Fame? Money? Love? Respect? None of that matters if you gain it and lose your soul (Matthew 16:25). Seek God now while you can, our days are limited. Let’s stop wasting it focused on the wrong things.

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6)

- Tovares Grey