Category: Discipleship

“I don’t know nothing ’bout birthin’ babies!”

by Dale, posted in Discipleship

I’m not a big fan of the movie,  Gone With the Wind, but I always chuckle when Prissy says, “Oh, Miss Scarlett, I don’t know nothing ’bout birthin’ babies!”  Let me turn that around and ask you, “Do you know anything ‘bout birthin’ spirirtual babies?”  Now, I realize it’s the Spirit of God that regenerates the unbeliever (Titus 3:5-7), but how much have you been around new-born believers?   If you have, you are going to hear such things as:

“Man, I am so happy!”

“I want to learn everything I can from the Word of God!”

“Wow! Jesus has saved me and forgiven me of all my sins!”

“I used to be high on drugs, now I’m high on Jesus!  It’s wonderful!”

“I want to save everybody!  I want to tell everybody about Jesus!  He changed my life!”

“Today, I slipped and used a curse word, but as soon as I did, the Spirit convicted me, and I asked Jesus to forgive right then and there!”

These are the words of a new believer in Christ; a newborn spiritual baby!  There is nothing better than to watch a sinner be transferred from the power of darkness into the kingdom of God’s dear Son (Colossians 1:13), and then to see their response in the days to come!  They don’t have all the “right” words or do the “right” things; they are just happy to be set free from sin, death and hell!!  They once were lost, but now they are found (John 15:1-10)!!   Their enthusiasm and joy is infectious!  Lord, give us more new spiritual babes to raise the level of our own gospel witness and the level of our own joy.  May we know something and experience the joy of “birthin’ spiritual babies” (Matthew 28:18-20)!!

What An Absolute Awesome Moment!

by Dale, posted in Discipleship

“Pastor Cunningham?”

“Yes.”

“This is Sarah.  I’m calling from Smithville, VA.  My pastor gave me your name.  I have a relative that was injured in a domestic dispute on Sunday and is in the local hospital.  Would you or someone in your church be able to visit him?  I’m not sure he is born again.”

“Sarah, I happen to be in the same town that your cousin is in.  I’ll be glad to see him.”

“Wow, Pastor Cunningham!  God answered my prayer so quickly!!”

After ending our conversation and completing the business at hand, Denise and I headed to the hospital.  Upon entering Rich’s room, I was greeted warmly by this hurting man in his 20’s.  I shared with him who I was and asked if he had a cousin named Sarah, and that she had requested that I visit with him.  That bit of information was the ice-breaker.  After talking about the reason for his injury, I asked, “Do you have any spiritual beliefs?”  He said, “Yes.”  Then I inquired, “Who is Jesus to you?”  He said, “He’s the Savior.”  I then asked, “If you had been killed last night, where would have gone?”  He said, “I’d be in hell right now.”  Despite several interruptions, I was able to share the gospel with him and answer his questions.  As we proceeded through the plan of salvation, his desire to know more increased.  He listened intently.  After 15 minutes or so, he looked at me and with tears in his eyes said, “Can I receive Him right now?”  And with that, he reached up, clasped my hand, repented and prayed to receive Christ as his Savior and Lord!  What an awesome moment!!  There is nothing more wonderful, more precious, and more joyful than to see a contrite sinner humble himself and receive Christ as his personal Savior!!

May I add that after writing yesterday’s blog, my heart is overflowing with gratitude and joy in the blessed privilege of pointing a dear young man to Christ.  Indeed, people are everywhere!  People who need the Lord!!  Just make yourself available.  God knows where they are.  He can connect you with them so you can share the blessed way of salvation.  The Gospel still works!  The Gospel still saves!  Oh the joy of watching an individual be transferred from darkness to light by the grace of God(Colossians 1:13)!!  What an awesome exchange!  What an awesome moment!!

(By the way, I’ve changed the names and locations.)

Colossians 1:11-14           Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

They’re Everywhere

by Dale, posted in Discipleship

Yesterday after the service, we did something that I am grateful does not happen very often.  Since Andrew and Allison wanted us to look at an apartment with them, we ate our Sunday dinner at a restaurant.  We usually eat at home which is our preference. Nevertheless, on this Sunday, I’m so glad we ate out.  There they were, everywhere . . . people.  One that stood out in the crowd was our server.  She had a most pleasant personality and a ready, “ . . . and I’m here to take really good care of you.”  And that she did.

When our meal arrived, I said to our server, “All of this has come from the good hand of the Lord and we are going to thank Him for it by prayer.  How can I pray for you?”  After a moment of silence and tears starting to well up in her eyes, she said, “I’ve made some bad decisions and messed up. . . I need prayer.”

Yes, you see, they are everywhere; people.  People who are hurting.  People who need the Lord.  People who need someone to listen to them.  People who are so empty.  They come in every form and fashion.  They come with baggage from their past.  They have broken hearts, broken homes and broken lives.  They are everywhere.

As we were so vividly reminded last week in our revival meetings, people bring people to Christ; people point people to Christ.  Who’s serving you at the restaurant?  Who’s scanning your groceries? Who’s standing in line with you at the checkout?  Who’s taking your payment for your gasoline?  Who’s next door?  Who’s sitting next to you at the ball game?  People.  They are everywhere.

This dear server listened as we shared Jesus with her.  She acknowledged that she was a true believer, but had run away from the Lord.  The tears continued.  We left her with a tract, a word of encouragement and the offer to reach out to us in the future.

Yes, they are everywhere.  Who’s standing next to you right now?  Who will cross your path today?

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.  Then saith He unto His disciples, “The harvest truly is plenteous” (Matthew 9:36-37a).