You can see the Russellites displaying their literature in Kaitaia – Saturday market and Commerce Street – and in Mangonui.

The Russellites attacking the  doctrine of the Deity of Christ. Belief in the Deity of Christ is essential to salvation.

Is seeing the Russellites out there not a challenge for the members of the body of Christ? I am challenged.

Literature display in Mangonui

AT THE BEACH

Recognizing the young person on the picture in our local paper yesterday, (The Northland Age, Thursday, May 5, 2016), who died in a two-car crash made me understand better the title of the slender volume called “You never meet anyone by chance,” written by Ernie Klassen.

“YOU NEVER MEET ANYONE BY CHANCE.

In Matthew 10:32 the Lord Jesus Christ says, “‘Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.'” (NIV)

The Authorized Version says “confess”.

I have here also the New Testament in Contemporary English and there it says in Matthew 10:32, “If you tell others that you belong to me, I will tell my Father in heaven that you are my followers.” WHAT A PROMISE!

The Collins Concise Dictionary tells me that “belong” means to be the property or possession of someone or to be bound by ties of affection to someone.

“You never meet anyone by chance.”

I have met the person who died in the two-car crash mentioned at the beginning, but I don’t know how clear I was with my confessing of the Lord Jesus Christ. I know I have much to learn in telling others that I belong to the Lord Jesus Christ and what the Lord has done for me.

At the same time the Lord Jesus Christ says also: “‘But whoever disowns me before men, I will also disown him before my Father in heaven.'” You find those words in Matthew 10:33.

“YOU NEVER MEET ANYONE BY CHANCE.”

P. E. stands for Personal Evangelism!

A beautiful Flower

“The men of Israel  were subdued on that occasion, and the men of Judah were victorious because they relied on the LORD, the God of their fathers.” – Second Chronicles 13:18

Followers of the Lord Jesus Christ have many opportunities to acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ before men. (Matthew 10:32)

In my conversations with people yesterday in MANGONUI I told people what the Lord Jesus Christ means to me.

Thinking about my Personal Evangelism – PE – yesterday three slender volumes come to my mind. One of the little booklets is written by Friedrich Meisinger and is called MEINE KANZEL IST DIE WELT. (My Pulpit is the World)

Mangonui yesterday

 The two other books are  the work of Ernie Klassen. He used to be one of my teachers at Bible school. That was long ago in Germany. He did not teach the subject Personal Evangelism, but it seemed to me that he always talked about the Lord Jesus Christ to people. Uncle Ernie, as we called him, visited us while working in Kaikohe as missionaries, and he is now in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In one of the booklets he lists the 6 Facets of encouragement in Personal Evangelism. Here they are: I. Use the Word and the unfailing promises of God. II. Something is bound to register. III. Angels in heaven rejoice. IV. There are no true atheists. V. Peace on earth only if we have peace with God. VI. Conscience is always on our side.

I must read the booklets Smile, laugh, and live the Abundant life (Reflections on life-style evangelism) and You never meet anyone by chance again!

I had conversations yesterday in Mangonui with individuals and at one stage there were three listeners. It is surprising how many people one can reach in one day.