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Benoni Bulletin 03-26-06
"Bring Your Brother with You"
Several years ago, Brother Adair Chapman was the pulpit-preacher for the
Garland Road congregation in Dallas, TX. When he was hospitalized with a
bleeding ulcer, the elders there asked me to preach in his place for a month or
more. Adair was a fine speaker at a great congregation! It was a wonderful
challenge for me as a young preacher (as I was then, believe it or not!!) The
article (shortened a little) which follows appeared in a publication he edited
some years later in 1999 with the above title. I found it timely. I hope that
you do, too. [Incidentally, when Andrew first discovered Jesus and began
following Him, the Bible says, The first thing Andrew did was to find his
brother Simon and tell him--'we have found the Messiah' (that is, the Christ).
And he brought him to Jesus" (John 1:41-42).]
" If unbelievers are ever won, it will be one by one. The words of Joseph to
his brethren seem almost prophetic: "Ye shall not see my face except your
brother be with you", Genesis 43:3. [Some] individuals, even with very little
local encouragement or support, realize an individual responsibility and are
trying to follow the New Testament example of personal evangelism. Reaching the
lost for Christ may be the subject of planning and discussion around conference
tables, but confessions are never heard and baptismal waters are never stirred
until someone goes forth to tell the message of the Saviour.
The execution of the Lord's commission in Mark 16:15-16 requires personal
contact. God has ordained that through human instrumentality men, women, boys
and girls are brought into the Kingdom (Romans 10:13-17). When Philip asked the
Ethiopian if he understood what he was reading, an unusual truth was expressed
when he replied, "How can I unless someone guides me?" (Acts 8:3). Almost twenty
centuries later, honest seekers after the truth in Jesus Christ still need
someone to teach and guide them. When this is done, conversions will result and
the angels rejoice as those who are taught confess, "I believe that Jesus Christ
is the Son of God" (Acts 8:37--KJV)
Notes such as the following are encouraging: "We grew up in a small country
church and for several years after we obeyed the gospel, we thought it was only
the preacher's duty to win souls. I regret that we were not taught in our
younger days how to win souls. We would like to learn how to effectively win
souls". There is no magic formula. One preacher claims his method beats all
others, and he has patented the steps or procedures he uses in one-on-one
sessions with the lost. If we had such a procedure, we wouldn't patent it, but
would spend our last cent trying to give it away.
It is not necessary to have a full mastery of the Bible in order to be
effective. Some who regularly write to tell of their successes in difficult
mission areas are new converts whom we first reached through field evangelism,
the radio or tape ministry. They knew enough to tell others what to do and to
point those things out in the scriptures, but they also are able to tell what
the Lord has done for them and is able to do for others. It is for blessed hope,
peace, pardon, joy and relief from burdens impossible to bear that the world
cries today and was crying when Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
It is a sad commentary on our professed faith if we have nothing to tell others.
"Will You Not Tell it Today?" Give the gift of THE GOSPEL". (APC)
Some people believe that if we just display a good example of Christian living,
folks will become Christians automatically. I have never known of a case where
someone became a Christian without being told about Jesus (cf. 1 Peter 3:1-2)
but that good Christian example removed many barriers of resistance of an honest
heart who was seeking Jesus. It paved the way for many a sympathetic listening
ear. The book of Revelation says many times, "He who has an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit says . . ." Share the Word, my beloved brethren. The world needs
it more than ever before in my lifetime. Love you all, Al
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