Preaching Jesus Christ

I was reading my friend Tracy Tyson's blog earlier today and saw he had a video by Paul Washer.  I went Heartcry's  website and watched a few other.  There are some really good clips there.  I'm posting three below that I enjoyed.  They're only about 10 minutes each.  There all good but I enjoyed the first one the most.

All Men Are Born Evil (including you)

Jesus Christ is Not a Yuppie's Accesory

The Real Meaning of the Cross

     We had another great outreach last Wednesday.  It was a long day too.  We where there for about 8 hours; Praise God. I think the word is slowly getting out about us being there.  There were about twice as many children there and more adults as well.  We pulled into the Village at about 10:30.  When we pulled up there were a handful of kids and adults.  Some of the kids go to school in the morning and get out at noon.  So once school let out many more kids and parents began to show up.  We had prepared a large cooler of rice and beans and brought some fruit.  We probably had enough to feed over a hundred people.  Some of the children would come up three and four times for more food.  Lisa, Hannah and Hadassah served the food throughout the day.  For us it's been such a blessing to see our kids want to help serve and taking joy in it. While the kids where eating Josef used this opportunity to share with the adults about not working for food that perishes but for food which endures to everlasting life.  It was a good message to help them focus on what's really needed and important.  I see so many people involved in either feeding the poor or medical "missions" and they fail to preach the Gospel.  They fail to tell men of their sinful condition, the consequences of their sin, the righteousness of God, the judgment to come, and how to be saved.  Instead they take care of their temporal needs and withhold from them the very truth that is able to save their soul.  So in essence, they make them feel better while they're on the road to hell.  What a horrible thing it would be to stand before God on the day of Judgment and see all the people that you help with material things and see them cast into hell because they died in their sins..especially when you claim to have the truth that is able to save them.  I would rather see someone hungry and sick and be given the Gospel than see someone full and well and have the Gospel withheld from them.  But Praise God we can do both! 

     After the kids finished eating we did a bible study with the kids.  We used the flip chart again and went through the first two pictures.  It starts out with the creation account and with Adam and Eve sinning against God and being banished out of the garden.  We would teach them God's word and then ask them questions.  Some of the children knew some of the history of Genesis and were eager to answer.  It was great to see them want to learn.  We then taught them about humility.   How God resist the proud but gives grace to the humble.  How if we are to be like Jesus we are to be a servant like He taught us.  How the first shall be last and the last shall be first.  We then told the kids we had brought them all some toys and to line up behind the car.  And of course, like all kids - with sin bound up in their heart - they proceeded to race to be the first in line before everyone else.   We then talked to them about preferring each other more than themselves and started the BACK of the line to hand out the toys.  Now of course we know that all the kids were selfish as they raced to the car for the toys.  It just happened that those at the back of the line were slowest.  Never the less, it was a good teaching tool and we pray the Lord would use it to help them remember what we taught.  After we finished teaching the children Lina passed out the clothes we brought.  We brought a lot of clothes so it took a while.  We also brought some of the blankets from our house to give out.  It gets really cold here at night sometimes and the houses down there really shouldn't even be called houses.  We took the blankets over to this girls house and met her parents.  It's probably one of the worst houses I've seen down there.  It's this two room shack with two beds and a refrigerator.   The floor was pretty much just dirt.  There were about 4 kids and three adults that lived there.  I didn't see any blankets anywhere so it was good to be able to give them some. 

     At about 4p.m we went over to the house of a couple that had come to both of our outreaches.  They are both believers and wanted us to have a bible study at their house.  We went there and had a bible study with them and a few other people who had been at the outreach.  This lady who's house we were at has been preaching to Lucy before we ever came to the village.  She told us that the day we showed up Lucy told her something amazing that just shows the greatness and Sovereignty of God.  Lucy's known in that area for wanting to help the children.  The morning before we showed up she said she heard a voice say to her "what does it matter if you help these children and you yourself don't know God".  Then later that afternoon we pull into the village just happen to meet her!  When we pulled into the village we pulled over to ask someone about the village.  We saw a lady walking up the hill with her son.  And it was Lucy!  It's amazing to see how the Lord directs our steps and is in complete control over everything!  So back to the bible study...   I shared some from 1 John 1, shared some of my testimony, and about seeing Christ by faith.  Josef finished the study by sharing about seeking God by the means He's provided.  It was a really good time.   Though out the day we also had three other, unconverted, people tell us they would like us to start coming to their house and teach them about Jesus.  It's such a joy to see people say they want to know about Christ.  I'm really looking forward to these home visits and believe God is going to give us many more. 

    The guy who live in the home we had the bible study at is a believe who sometimes preaches to the prostitutes in the area.  Most of these towns and villages are filled with gangs and prostitutes.  As he was telling us about preaching to them I was thinking about what Jesus said about sinners and prostitutes coming into the kingdom of God before the Pharisee's.  And how not many wise or noble or mighty called but God chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise (1 Cor 1:25-27).  I've talked with so many people who sit in a church week end week out and yet remain unconverted.  They look down on the lowly, the poor, those heaped up in visible outward sin and fail to see the wickedness in their own heart.  They become religious Pharisees not realizing they are shut out of the kingdom of God while God is everyday accepting the very ones they themselves look down on (Luke 18:9-14).  But Praise God He can save a self righteous Pharisee too if they will humble themselves and repent putting their faith solely in Christ to save them.  The offer of Salvation still remains available to "whosoever" will believe.  But we know that even with the offer of Salvation made available not many wise, noble, or mighty after the flesh are called. 
    All in all it was another great outreach.  We continue to see grace of God in our own lives and it being manifested to those we are preaching too.  Lord-willing we'll be able to start some of our home visits soon.  We plan on going back this Wednesday.

On Saturday we took the kids to the beach for a about and hour or so.  The beach is only about 10 minutes from where we live.  It's also still cool enough outside that you don't have to worry about seeing half naked people walking around.  Hannah and Hadassah had a really good time.  However, Ethan just cried most of the time.  He was afraid of the waves.  He was certain that they were going to keep coming and eventually get him wet.  There was a man with some horse so we let Hannah go for a Horse ride.  It was Hannah's first horse ride so she was excited.   Hadassah wasn't quite ready to get on the horse though.  She was content with just petting it. 

On Sundays we usually go to the open market.  It's a great place to buy meats, fruits and vegetables.  It's just a few minutes from our house and gets really crowded.  Today we went there early, to avoid the rush, and bought most of the food for the next outreach.  It's pretty amazing that we could buy enough food to feed about 75-100 people for about $25.  And not only can we feed them but we can preach to them about the one who can give them Living Water and teach them about the true Bread that came down from heaven.  And when I think about how much money I've spent on myself before just going out to eat I realize how foolish I've been with my money so many times.  Jesus says in Luke 12: "Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  It says what it says and Jesus is always true.  Where your treasure is is where here our heart is..no matter how much we try to justify ourselves.  Now I'm not saying it's a sin to go out to eat.  But I do believe we would spend less money on ourselves if we really had eternity in our eyes.  I'm thankful to God for making these truths real to me since we've been here in Mexico.  God is good.

  

Lastly I've been reading a book by A.W. Pink called the Attributes of God.  It's been really good.  Pink is right when he says:  "That God is great in wisdom, wondrous in power, yet full of mercy, is assumed by many to be almost common knowledge; but, to entertain anything approaching an adequate conception of his being, his nature, his attributes, as these are revealed in Holy Scripture, is something which very, very, few people in these degenerate times have attained unto".  I'm still reading through the book but it's really helped me to think on God..not His gifts, or evangelism, or the church, or any ministry, just God Himself.  I've include the first chapter in the link below (it's available free online).  It's called "The Solitariness of God".  He talks about how God has always been complete, perfect, self sufficiant, and needing absolutely nothing throughout eternity.  Nothing adds to His glory and nothing takes away from His glory. God did not need men, or angles, or heaven to be complete.  He wasn't lacking fellowship or needing worshipers.  He is God. 

                               THE SOLITARINESS OF GOD

Here's a short video of our outreaches...

Greetings Saints and Family!

As you all know we are now living in Mexico.  Its been a while since I blogged so I thought I share some things since we've been in Mexico.

Like I have shared before, we never had a passion to minister in Mexico but know for sure God has called us here for a time.  It is a step out of our Jerusalem and into Samaria.  Definitely has been testing ground and much refining on me, and I can see how the refining is needed for God to trust us with greater works and sending us beyond our Samaria.

The hardest part for me living here is not living in a poor country, but not being able right now to share the gospel verbally.  Lina is the only one in our group who speaks Spanish.  She's our interpreter, but more Joseph since that's his wife.  Sean and I haven't found an interpreter for us.  That something you have to choose wisely, making sure the interpreter is a true christian who will interpret the true gospel for us.  I really don't care to find an interpreter.  It seems to me I would put a burden on them to follow me around and witness with me, so Sean and I just ordered Rosetta Stone.  Rosetta is suppose to be one of the best tool to learn different languages quick and easy.  Do pray for us that God will enable us to learn the language quickly.

Don't get me wrong, serving the lost has been great, but when you meet so many people who are lost you do desire greatly for them to hear the gospel message that will save them!

Mexico is definitely different from America.  The hearts here do seem more soft than those in America.  I can understand why Jesus says to preach to the poor.  The poor are usually more desperate to hear about the hope in Christ than those who have plenty.  Usually those who have plenty are so comfortable and prideful in their riches that it blinds them to their wicked heart.  Similar to the pharisees who Jesus rebuked.  They look so holy and nice on the outside, but Jesus who can see the heart rebuked them for their greed and lust, exposing their wicked heart.  Such people who are deceived by outside appearance will not cry out to Jesus.  Their good works will blind them from their depraved vile hearts.  Oh, may God expose their motives so that they may see that even their best works are filth!  For those who have not been awaken and born again cannot have pure loving motives.  For all good works without His Spirit are rooted in selfishness, greed, and lust.

Isaiah 64:6
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

Not that we are not to minister to the plenty.  There has also been pharisee types that God has saved!  But surely Paul did say in 1 cor. 1:26-27 that not many wise, mighty, and noble are called, but HE HAS CHOSEN the foolish things of the world.........

God resist the proud and gives grace to the humble. There is hope still for the prideful and living in plenty/greed........ Humble yourselves in the Lord and he will lift you up!

Psalm 10:17
LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble;You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear,

Psalm 18:27
For You will save the humble people,But will bring down haughty looks.

Luke18:9-14
9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Notice the pharisee spews out HIS OWN goodness and never admits nor sees that he's a wretched sinner!

I thought Texas had bad billboards, but it isn't as bad as Mexico!  That was definitely a trial for me!  Having children, I do not want their minds defiled by these pornographic pictures and thinking that this is what women should dress and act like. Sean and I are having to tell them a lot while in the car to keep their heads down.  We know that such images, if giving into deep thoughts WILL defile your mind and its our duty to protect our kids from such obvious vileness.  Sean and I have shared with them why they are not to stare at these images and taking them to proverb where it speaks of the harlot women, to beware of her devices because she will lead you to hell, but we are careful not to make them pharisees.  We want to warn them of these things, desiring them to hate evil and love righteousness,  but also give them a brokenness for those who are bound in iniquity.  Helping them understand that those who are lost are bound in their sin and that Jesus is the only one who can awaken them to truth and set them free so we must preach the gospel that can save them and that those whom Jesus draws will hear (john10:2-4).  We must show the love of Christ to them and share the gospel, but not to have any fellowship with darkness (2cor.6:14).  Please do keep our children in your prayers.  We are praying about moving to a different area.  Somewhere that is not too close to the main blvd.  where most of the pornographic pix are and we have heard many gunshots at night.  We hear police sirens EVERYDAY.  Our kids are use to the gunshots and sirens though.  It doesn't scare them anymore.  We know God has lead us to this apartment for right now.  We got to be a witness to a Jehovah's witness guy name Aaron who use to live in the apartment we are living now and it does seem that the house we were going to move in was more for Joseph and Lina who really do have more of a passion for that neighborhood.  Joseph and Lina are now living in the house that Sean and I was going to move into at first.  I did have a dream a couple of weeks ago that Sean and I looked for a new place and the lady told me that I am approved to move in to this new place.  I hope that means that God gave us His approval to find a new place.  If we are approved by God to do so then God will provide us financially for a new place!  The apartment we live in cost $260 with water.  Usually finding a small house to rent cost a little more, but not too much more, unless you are like many Americans and want a better looking house.  Then you will be paying $600 and up.  After seeing the houses that many people live in at the village we minister at, it makes our little apartment seem like luxury!  So, we are very thankful with what we have and thank God for giving us hot water! Sean and I would still like to minister in that area and you can find more people speaking English on the main blvd. but we don't care to live in it or close to it, for the care of our children.  Yes, as a mother this has been my biggest trial (with the dirty pix) since being here, but I have learn to give it to God and trust Him or else I would be one fretful mother and that would make it worse.

Its been real nice living very simple.  I like it a lot.  No stress, no pressure to live the "American dream" that puts you in much bondage to all kinds of evil and greed.  No worries about the cares of this world to choke the life of Christ out of you.

Its been really neat to minister to people who are not just physically hungry but also spiritually hungry.  We had bible study a couple times with some of the people in the village and its really neat to see that the message of the cross does not offend them, but encourage them, unlike many American Christians who we have preached the cross too have been very offended with the message of the cross which is the very basic of Christianity.  Not taking it as an encouragement and exhortation, but taking it as negative because they are not ready to loose their life for Jesus.

The area God has lead us too seem very ripe for harvest!  The kids are really neat and not shy at all, but will come and hug you and talk to you.  You can tell they like being around us.  I practice my Spanish a lot with the kids.  They won't make fun of me when I sound like a Texan trying to speak Spanish :)

I wanted to share some of my trials to let you know it wasn't all easy for me, but mostly it has been good and I do really enjoy living in Mexico more than Texas, believe it or not!  It feels good to be stripped of pleasures of this world and be conformed to the things that Christ takes pleasure in!

I want to thank those who have prayed for us. Sean and I covet your prayers!  It is so important for the saints to pray for one another.  Let us not be deceived, there is a spiritual battle and our warring is not physically, but spiritually.  Be watchful and prayerful saints knowing we can do NOTHING WITHOUT THE LORD,

Luke 21:34
[ The Importance of Watching ] "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.


BUT ARE ABLE TO OVERCOME EVERYTHING THRU HIM!

1 John 5:3-5

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Saint,look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith!  Meditate on His love, how He the King of Kings humbled Himself, becoming like man, endured much suffering, and continually making intercession for us to set us free and being able to overcome to the end!  Meditate on His word that is so rich in hope, great exhortation to move His Elect forward and the spiritual promises that is ours!

God bless you, saints.  May His word dwell richly in you and that depth of His love and wisdom be deeply revealed to you.


IN Christ,

 

Lisa

By the Grace of God we had an great outreach last Saturday.  Praise the Lord!  After spending Friday night in prayer for the outreach Myself, Lisa, Josef, Lina and a brother named Chewie all met at Josef's house on Saturday morning.  We cooked up enough Spaghetti to feed about 50 people and had bags of clothes to take with us to the village.  We headed out to the village and arrived at about 1:00.  Lucy had told us she wanted to do a bible study and would also have children there to feed.  When we pulled up there were 20-25 kids and a handful of adults just waiting for us outside of Lucy's house.  Brother Chewie gave a short message to introduce us to everyone and then we fed the kids.  Josef then preached the Gospel for out 45 minutes.  It was really good.  Just a basic overview of the Gospel - from Genesis to the Death, Burial, Resurrection of Christ, to the Judgment to come.  The best part of the whole day though was after the preaching.  Chewie took the kids and preached to them from a Gospel flip chart we have.  It's collection of pictures that takes you from Genesis to the Judgment.  It's very effective and gives a good visual to the bible passages being explained.  While Chewie was teaching the children Josef, Lina, Myself and Lisa had a bible study with 4 adults.  Josef was doing the teaching and taught out of 1st John Chapter 1.  He explained the Gospel and what a Believer in Christ looks like.  He preached against Catholicism and about having a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.   It was a really good study.  In fact, Lucy's boyfriend showed up just before the bible study and and joined us the whole time.  He seemed to be coming under the fear of God but stayed through the whole study.  Lucy, though, was coming to tears as Josef preached about Jesus.  It seemed like the Lord was really working in a couple of the adults and that their hearts were softening up to the Gospel.  By the time we were leaving the sun was starting to set.  It was good day.  The Lord Jesus Christ was preached to all!  We were able to teach the children about Jesus, teach the adults about Jesus, and set up a time to come back.  We'll be going back on Wednesday morning.  We're going to feed the children before they go to school.  Lucy told us that many of the children go to school without eating.  Sometimes for days.  She said some of the children will just pass out in class from hunger.  So were going to feed the children in the morning before school, do a bible study with them, then preach out in the village during the day, and have another bible study with adults in the evening. 

I just received about 500 Spanish Gospels of John so we'll be using those for outreach.  We're also in the process of getting some tracts printed up in Spanish.  Lord-willing we'll have those in a week or two.  While passing out clothes many of the children asked if we had blankets.  In fact, many of them wanted blankets instead of clothing.  It gets really cold here in the evenings and at night time.  Most homes, including ours, do not come with heaters or a/c's.  We were able to pass out all the blankets we had.  If you have any blankets or Spanish bibles they could really use them in the village we are preaching in.  Josef had three Spanish bibles on him which worked out perfect for the outreach.  It's exactly how many we need.  One of the adults had a bible and we were able to give the other three one of their own.  Most of the people in the village are so poor they couldn't afford a bible if they wanted to buy one.  If you'd like to help supply Spanish Bibles or blankets I'll put my mailing address in CA at the bottom where you can mail them too.  They would be a real blessing to those we are preaching too.  

I have some photos of the outreach: you can view them here:   OUTREACH PHOTO'S

For those who have been praying - THANK YOU!  And please, continue to pray, above all that Christ would be Glorified and men would be saved!

Mailing Address:
416 W. San Ysidro Blvd.
L-158
San Ysidro, CA  92173

We had a good day yesterday.  We went to visit the village we'll be preaching at on a regular basis.  It's about 30 minutes from where we live.  It's a very very poor village.  You'll see children as young as 2 or 3 year old just walking around with other children with no parents in sight.  When we pulled into the village we met a lady who told us about the village and opened up her home for us to start having bible study at.  This lady, her name is Lucy, is an unregenerate lady maybe in her 40's who's living in adultery.  She was telling us how many of the children will go to school and faint in class because of hunger.  She also said the village is full of gangs, violence, and not to come after dark.  We asked her if any Americas minister there and she just kinda laughed and said "no,..Americans don't come back here".  Lina was able to tell her why we were there and she was very joyful.  Lina then began to talk with her about her sin and the Gospel.  The lady was very eager to listen and wanted us to come back and teach her and some others God's word.  We'll be going back this Saturday to feed, preach on the streets, and then have a bible study.  It was just amazing to see how God directed us every step of the way!  I was reminded again of Proverbs 16:9:
                      A man’s heart plans his way,
                      But the LORD directs his steps.

Please keep us in prayer for this weekend .. and for Lucy, that God would open her heart to believe! (Acts 16:14)  The whole place seems like fertile ground just ripe for a harvest!  Praise the Lord!

Below is a link to some photos of the village and a link to Josefs Newsletter. 

                                    VILLAGE PHOTO'S

Josef's Newsletter:  http://www.puregospeltruth.com/february2008.html