The Four Laws. *Each symbol represents one of the laws. This is a tool we used to guide us when sharing the Gospel.
1. The heart.
God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.
2. The division.
Because sin entered the world, relationship between God and man was separated.
3. The cross.
God gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to take away our sins, and because of that we can have a relationship with God – and we can live out the wonderful plan that God has for us.
4. The question mark.
Will you make that choice to receive Jesus Christ as your own, personal Savior today?
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This month in Ecuador was challenging, but rewarding.
As mentioned in my last blog, prior to this month, I never shared the Gospel with a nonbeliever. But as of today, there’s been a handful that I have had the opportunity to share it with… And I know that this is just the beginning of something God is stirring in my heart to make part of my lifestyle. To spread the Good News.
What started off with uncertainty and fear, ended up becoming just the opposite: sharing with certainty and with boldness. I thank God for allowing my team and I the opportunity to work alongside CRU this past month – learning different tools for evangelism to spark up spiritual conversations and lead people to Christ. Whether or not we witnessed prosperous results in each encounter, I fully believe God used each of us to plant seeds and stir up the hearts of those we had the opportunity to speak with at the Universities here in Quito.
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“Physical obedience brings spiritual release,” says Jentezen Franklin in his sermon called “What Happens in the Unseen World when You Fast and Pray?”
…What are your thoughts on this statement?
A primary example of someone in the Bible that had a lifestyle of prayer and fasting was Daniel. The high officials couldn’t find any complaint against him; they decided that the only way they would find something against him was if they found it in connection with God. So, they made a law that no one could petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to king Darius. Of course, that didn’t stop Daniel. He continued to pray three times a day to God. Prior to this, Daniel also fasted. He said no to his worldly desires (certain foods, etc.) so that God would find him even more desirable.
Wow. Giving up our own desires so that we can be more desirable to God.
Then the high officials came to the king and told him that Daniel “pays no attention him and continues to make his petition three times a day.” As a result, he was thrown into the lion’s den. Guess what the king’s reaction was as he was throwing him into the den? “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” He said. That’s not all. He went back to his palace and spent the night fasting.
Think about that. King Darius himself, who put him with the lions in the first place, fasted that night that Daniel might be delivered.
“Physical obedience brings spiritual release.”
Daniel was fine. An angel was with him and he was not harmed.
I believe his prayers, all of the times he spent fasting, they made a difference. I believe God had favor on Daniel and delighted in Daniel and had a plan for him to be delivered and used for His glory. And because of his physical obedience through prayer and fasting, God was with him.
Another example of physical obedience leading to spiritual release is found in Exodus 18, where Amalek comes to fight Israel. Every time Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed… and whenever he put his hand down, Amalek prevailed. Aaron and Hur held up his hands and they remained raised until the sun went down. Israel defeated Amalek that day.
I bring these stories up because this month was a month of being intentional on praying daily and fasting weekly. It’s not always the easiest thing to do, but I know that my physical obedience will bring spiritual release. Showing God the willingness to give up physical desires so that He can work in miraculous ways.
Oftentimes we might limit ourselves to getting closer with God because we fear He might give us something we can’t handle or too much responsibility. But rather, I believe that the closer we get to God, the more protection we have from Him and His angels.
Think about this: in a battle, who is most protected? The soldier, a private, or the general? The general. Higher closeness with God, higher angelic protection. So, don’t fear getting to know God and obeying what He asks of you, because in the end, you’ve got His army protecting you.
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^CRU.
^Team denim.
^When key-volunteer challenge turns into sharing the Gospel.
^Team Valor’s last night with CRU leaders.
Acts 13:2-3 states,
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”
