GOD’S WORD FOR AUGUST 28

We are reading from a daily devotional  called “Running To Win” written by Erwin
Lutzer  and the late, great D.L.
Moody.   Erwin Lutzer is a light in our
day as D.L. Moody was in his.  Besides
his many ministries, and many books, Pastor Lutzer was Senior Pastor at Moody
Church in Chicago for 36 years and now serves as Pastor Emeritus there.  He is 
Chancelor and a former professor at Moody Bible Institute, where he
taught Theology and Ministry, and now has numerous radio teachings.

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AWAKE AND BRIGHT

Ephesians 5:14

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will
shine on you.”

D.L.MOODY:

If the lost are to be reached by the gospel of the Son of
God, Christianity must be more aggressive than it has been in the past.  We have been on the defensive long
enough:  the time has come for us to
enter on a war of aggression.  When we as
children of God wake up and go to work in the vineyard, then those who are
living in wickedness all about us will be reached:  but not in any other way.  You may go to meetings and discuss the
question: “How to reach the masses,” but when you are done with discussion, you
have to go back to personal effort. 
Every man and woman who loves the Lord Jesus Christ must wake up to the
fact that he or she has a mission in the world, in this work of reaching the
lost.

ERWIN LUTZER

I find it refreshing that Moody, who spoke to crowds of
thousands of people without a microphone, would say what all of us know:  The best method of evangelism is personal
evangelism. One-on-one relationships are most often used to build bridges for
the gospel.  Mass evangelism has its
place, but it should never be a substitute for friendship, interaction, and a
sacrificial commitment to the needs of others. 
It is not just words, but deeds and personal credibility.

Remember, the unconverted are walking in darkness but think
they’re walking in light.  The gospel
shows us who we really are, just like sunlight which illuminates reality.  Everything exposed by the light becomes
visible for it is light that makes everything visible.

As believers, we should walk in the light of God’s truth not
only for ourselves, but to witness to others. 
Jesus spoke of letting our lights shine so that others might see our
good works (Matthew 5:16).  That cannot
be done very well in a  meeting.  It always comes down to individual
relationships.

PRAYER

Father, I ask that my light may shine brightly.  Please let me make connections and for
relationships that will have eternal consequences.

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Acts 13:47

For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,

‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,

that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’

** *

Mark 16:15

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the
gospel to the whole creation.”

** *

Acts 20:24

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to
myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from
the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

** *

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of
God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the
Greek.

** *

Psalm 105:1

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;

make known his deeds among the peoples!

** *

Romans 10:17

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of
Christ.

** *

1 Peter 3:15

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always
being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the
hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.

** *

Luke 4:18

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed.

** *

1 Corinthians 15:1-2

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached
to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being
saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in
vain.

** *

2 Timothy 4:2

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season;
reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

** *

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