The Power for Witnessing

Note: If you want to copy the Roman Road please go to my pinterest post at the following: 
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/375346950167867896/

 Dear Readers,

My last two blog posts were about power, one about false power, the last about “True Power” that identified three men who are now either gone, or in the last stages of their lives that brought to bear true power.

One major way that power is manifested today is the power when the Holy Spirit comes on us…and Jesus specifically stated that the power is for witnessing for him. See Acts 1:8:

He replied “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people everywhere about me—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

So I want to help us to become more confident in witnessing. One tool is the Roman Road which is pictured above. My wife used this tool just yesterday to lead another lady to the Lord. 

The picture I got off the internet, but I developed the accompanying Steps and Actions. I hope and pray that you it meaningful. Perhaps you can copy and paste it, print it, and carry it with you to help you when you get the chance to use the power for witnessing.

See you next time,
Arlen

True Power

Dear Readers,
 
My last blog post identified three men who claim to be the long awaited Messiah, and the false power they possess.

Tonight I watched a video about another three men who worked together to proclaim one man as the true Messiah and they changed the world with the true power of God.

I was brought to tears when watching a Bill Gaither documentary which highlighted Cliff Barrows’ life as the song leader for the Billy Graham Crusades. I attended the Billy Graham Crusade in 1993 in Columbus, Ohio, and was involved as a counselor at Cleveland Municipal Stadium in 1994. Mr. Barrows was getting older then, but he still showed vibrancy leading the songs.

Twenty years later in the 2014 documentary Mr. Barrows was full of the joy of the Lord. But at 83 years old he has a cane to walk and is obviously going blind, which I confirmed via the internet. He lamented the loss in 2013 of his long-time cohort, the famed bass soloist George Beverly Shea. They both had worked alongside Rev. Graham since the late 1940’s.

Lastly there is Billy Graham, the famed evangelist, who is in failing health at the age of 87. He was a dynamic speaker who never lost his zeal for proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He teamed with Barrows and Shea to form a trio of what I would expect is the longest running evangelistic team ever to not break up in over 60 years. They developed a bond of friendship that could never be broken. A funny moment was when the three together sang “This Little Light of Mine”. Rev. Graham acted as the fall guy who could not sing a lick. He was the “no” guy when the other two sang “Won’t let Satan put it out”.

I marveled at the humble Mr. Barrows now with so many physical ailments, and then see videos when he was younger and leading stadiums of up to 100,000 people in glorious praise to God. I looked at the Billy Graham Crusade itineraries in cities all over the world and marveled that three men could have such an impact with literally millions coming to Christ.

These are three men that have true power that comes from the Holy Spirit of God.

See you next time,
Arlen

False Power

Dear Readers,

Recently I watched videos of different men in various parts of the world that proclaim that they are the long-awaited Messiah.
 
A recent documentary showed Sergey Anatolyevitch Torop, aka Vissarion, who is a former Russian police officer and former member of the Red Army. He lives in a beautiful mountainous setting in Siberia. The video shows followers walking several miles up a mountain to witness their messiah. The crowd waits in rapt anticipation. Finally, Vissarion strolls down from the top of the mountain with majestic music playing in the background. He then sits on a stone platform to address his throng.
 

Alan John Miller, aka Jesus, is the leader of Divine Truth. He is a former information technology worker in Australia who claims he is the reincarnation of Jesus of Nazareth, and whose partner is Mary Suzanne Luck, aka Mary Magdalene. Miller and his followers have recently purchased almost 600 acres upon which he plans to build a Divine Truth International Center on the eastern coast of Australia. He puts out many Divine Truth videos. “Jesus”, and “Mary Magdalene”, his cohort, seem like an easygoing couple who anybody could trust.

Raymond Howard-Lear, aka Lord Rayel, is from Chicago. He testifies via a series of videos that he is the long awaited messiah who was revealed on May 21, 2011, as he was transported, extra-terrestrially, to Jerusalem. Lear, a former political candidate and leader in Chicago’s Guardian Angels (civilian group to protect the streets of Chicago) is unlike the other two men mentioned above who talk in person on videos. Lord Rayel seems more a cyber Messiah, who has developed a series of long videos using many news clips and dire music warning of disaster to people who do not follow him.

It’s difficult for me to understand the “innards” if you will, of a person going to such lengths and putting forth such energy to gain a following. How does a person keep up the facade for years and do they ever get tired of their own charade?

And the people that follow such men, what drives them? People travel for thousands of miles to glimpse them, and many stay on as devoted followers. They give their entire lives and resources to please their masters.

I think that Vissarion and Miller, aka Jesus, take a risk of showing their flaws when they speak publicly. Vissarion acts more ethereally, and tries to portray a likeness of Jesus. Miller acts more like the “common man”. Lord Rayel, on the other hand, perhaps knows his flaws and does not speak in public. He is like the Great Oz behind the scenes orchestrating a convincing imagery of power. Oh, for a Toto to expose his deception!

I think these men, and in the case of “Mary Magdalene”, who is a woman, crave power. Perhaps they have not been successful in their pursuits in the world of work, and they perceived, maybe from childhood, that they have a degree of charisma and can use it to gain a following and the power that comes with it.

They, however, have been led astray, and have succumbed to a lie of Satan that instead of just wanting to be like Jesus, they want to be Jesus. Jesus predicted it in Matthew 24:24.

See you next time,

Arlen