Market Outreach '06

Brothers and sisters,

Beginning this Saturday (the 13th) I will be picking up the ministry that began last summer at the Fredericton Farmer's Market. This will be started and carried on every Saturday at 11:00am until the end of August. What I would love to see is the local family of Christ come out and spend the vast majority of the day in evangelism, prayer and fellowship. I know this sounds idealistic, because at this time I cannot even see the body of Christ here coming together and doing something like that (how very sad)... but as William Carey has said: "Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God." I want to see Christians come together in one mind and accomplish something in this city.

If you have a desire to see lost souls won for Christ, to strengthen your witnessing skills, to build up courage and boldness in sharing your faith, to spend time in prayer for the city and to be in fellowship with other believers, then please come and help! The Lord can use whatever you offer to Him, and even the presence of supporting believers can turn the tide of the day. Only let this be your agenda: to win souls for Jesus.

Saturday's, at 11:00am, we will meet in the parking lot behind the Playhouse theatre. From there, Lord willing, we shall proceed mission work at the market using preaching, one-on-one witnessing, tracts, paintboards, singing... whatever the Lord may use. Following this we can have lunch together and fellowship one with another, and perhaps afterwards carry on the mission in downtown Fredericton. And if we may go even further... if the Lord wills we could even hit the bars in the evening, spreading the gospel light against the dark deeds of the night. Though this seems impossible to pull off, I will trust the Lord to get the job done. Whatever befalls, receive honor Lord Jesus!

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)

The Making of a Minister

"Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead.)" - Galatians 1:1

The Pharisee, Saul, was an impressive man. I speak from a human perspective: "Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless." (Philippians 3:5-6) If any man would be deemed qualified for the work of the ministry, our church boards today would vote unanimously. A brilliant scholar of the Scriptures, zealous, ostensibly spotless in godly piety... in modern Christian credentials the parallel might have appeared as such:

-born into a godly Christian home
-son of a long line of pastors
-touching the Scriptures, fundamental
-concerning zeal, active in numerous church programs
-touching Christian behaviour, blameless

Wouldn't such a man certainly be qualified for the ministry of the gospel? He would indeed in man's sight! When Samuel visited the home of Jesse searching for a king who would lead God's people, he took one look at handsome and tall Reuben and said in his heart, "Surely this is the one!" But God saw otherwise. We learned from this story that God sees what man does not see, and that God will choose whom He will: "But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7) It is not brilliance, talent or outward excellence that God is looking for in a man.

But wasn't Saul chosen by the Lord? Yes indeed, but hear the words of Paul, the new creature: "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ." (Philippians 3:7) And: "But by the grace of God I am what I am." (1 Corinthians 15:10) His calling in Christ was not because of who he was or what he had done. He spoke from experience when he said to the brethren at Ephesus: "That [ye have] put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that [ye have] put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24) Off with the old man and his estimations, and on with the new! Paul was a new man in Christ Jesus, having been given a new mind to see spiritual things; a man chosen to be a minister before the Lord.

What then makes a minister, and what then should we think towards men filling this office? Do we look for university degrees, or even fiery Christian zeal? These things are commendable and beneficial, but they in themselves do not make a minister. They certainly didn't for Paul. So what then is the qualification? It is simply: the gifts and calling of God.

"At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister." (Acts 26:13-16)

"I have appeared unto thee for this purpose: to make thee a minister!" This is what distinguishes the called from the so-called; the anointed from the self-appointed. It is the the Lord Jesus Christ who decides, who chooses, who sets apart men for His purpose. "Paul, an apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ." (Galatians 1:1) It is not men that make ministers. Not of men (those chosen), nor by men (those who choose); but only by Jesus Christ.

Did the Lord use Paul's abilities? Yes. His keen intellect? Absolutely! But we have now a new man: broken, humbled; and called, not because of his great skills, not because of his great zeal, not because of his social standing, but because of the mercy, grace and sovereignty of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ toward this once ignorant man (1 Timothy 1:13). Paul was made a minister, and had absolutely nothing to boast about. This is why he could he say, "Paul, an apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:1), and this is why he became the outstanding minister that he was, for whom we so gratefully give thanks and glorify God.

The Tannery

An Account of My First Laborings at the Tannery
Further Labor at the Tannery
Simple Gospel on a Cold February Day
Salvation in the Streets!
Soapbox Smashed, Nearly Beaten
More Fruit at the Tannery
"Will You Pray for Us?"
The Lamb Slain from the Foundation of the World
Three Men Going to Hell
The Daily Gleaner

Revival Forum

This will be a thread dedicated to the subject of revival.

-What is revival?
-How does revival happen?
-Examples of revival?

Post any questions or comments that pertain to revival and let's discuss this rationally, reasonably in the Spirit of grace. May God add His blessing!

Entertainment

Today's western Christians are saturated with entertainment. At this point I can see no distinction between believer and non-believer. Entertainment pervades our Christian lives. When we are at home we seek to be entertained. When we are at church we seek to be entertained. And all the while Jesus Christ weeps for the thousands of lost souls who perish all the day long. "The Lord is... not willing that any should perish..." (2 Peter 3:9) Oh, how I wish that we that are living would also not be willing that any should perish! How our lives would be different!

"Woe to them that are at ease in Zion..." (Amos 6:1)

I believe one of the biggest crimes of humanity is to soak yourself in entertainment while men and women go to hell and you have the answer. Have we no shame? What will we say when we stand before Christ on Judgment Day and have lived a life of selfish indulgence? Did Jesus die for a people like this? Did Jesus want His Church to be drunk on the fun and games of this life? No! "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit." (Ephesians 5:18) I speak to all Christians who entertain themselves in excess: Cease this sin and be filled with the Spirit!

Leonard Ravenhill said once, "Entertainment is the devil's substitute for God's joy." I say, "Entertainment is for those who have nothing better to do." What is entertainment? It's when you are bored and need your flesh to be stimulated. It's when you have nothing better to do but sit around and watch sports and worldy TV shows. Why not read the Word? Pray? Sing songs to the Lord? Get out of your house and be a witness for Christ? Clothe the naked? Heal the sick? Encourage the brethren?

If you put the letter 'a' in front of a word it reverses the meaning. For example: a 'thiest' is one who believes in God. An 'athiest' is one who does not believe in God. The word 'muse' means to think. The word 'amuse' means to not think... Will we, the body of Christ, shut our eyes and ears to the cry of the lost simply to be amused by the passing pleasures of this fading life? The most intelligent thing a person can do is serve the Lord.

God needs radical men and women who will run the race faster than any other contender. God needs soldiers who don't get entangled in the affairs of this life. God needs Christians to throw off the world and the lust of the flesh, and serve Him in newness of the Spirit, with ALL the heart, ALL the soul, ALL the mind and ALL the strength.


*(Sorry, I must clarify for everyone what I was trying to say above because I see it was badly put, for this I apologize:

First of all, I am working now this summer, and so I only have a short 15 minute break to post, so this particular post I rushed very quickly and didn't get to say all I wanted to. I have only 15 minutes to pull out my Bible, type up my thought, and find a picture! I apologize for this hasty post.

Okay, now I know full well the word 'amuse' doesn't actually mean to not think! This is obvious! This was actually more of a joke, something humorous just to make a point. I hope this clarifies things. Sorry for the confusion.

Secondly, I really didn't get to expound on the thought I had. For one, I know all forms of liesure is not wrong. The main point I wanted to say here was against EXCESS LIESURE. The key is excess. I believe the western church is saturated in entertainment and liesure, so much so that we waste so much time. Time is wasted on things that are acceptable, but become wrong due to excess. However, a lot of time is consumed on things that are not good for us: bad TV shows, music, etc. This is worldly and I strongly speak out against it.

Again, I am terribly sorry for the lack of clarity in this post, and I hope everyone can read this comment and see what I was trying to say.

God bless,
-Eli)