Three Ways to Tell God Thanks.

We have all heard the saying, "He has done so much for me that I don't know how
to thank Him." Let's take a look at three easy ways: 1) Be faithful. (NIV) 1 Samuel
12:24 says, "But be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your
heart; consider what great things He has done for you." Be faithful to God in all
things. Show your faithfulness by attending services regularly, by giving of money
or time, and by doing what the Bible commands us to do. This not only is a way to
be faithful to God, but is also a way to teach your family. The Bible says "Train up
a child in the way it should go and they will not depart." 2) Be diligent. (NIV)
Proverbs 13:4 says, "A sluggards appetite is never filled, but the desires of the
diligent are fully satisfied." Whatever we do for God being big or small we need
to do it with our whole heart. It doesn't matter if you teach a Sunday school class,
drive the van, or clean the toilets you need to do your work at 100%. Because
when you are doing these things you are doing this unto God. 3) Be responsive to
His presence. (NIV) Psalms 150:6 says, "Let everything that hath breath praise the
Lord." Nobody is excluded from worshipping God. We are all commanded to do
so. There should not be a service that goes by that we do not worship our God.
Our worship is not based on our feelings, but it is based on Him being worthy. It
is a sad day when we talk more to our friends in church then we do to God. If God
is the center of our lives surely we can focus on Him three times a week at our
church services. When we worship God this also creates an atmosphere for new
people to be born into the kingdom. We have what people want and are looking
for. NOW is the time for the true church of the living God to stand up and be the
church God has called us to be. Yes, being faithful, diligent, and responding to his
presence tells God thank you. However, it also tells Him we are doing what we
are created to do. If we ever get these three things down, God will give us the
revival that He intends for us to have.
Gene Brown
Youth Pastor

What does it mean to win a soul?

            There is a lot of talk in Pentecost today about soul winning.  I agree that it is a necessity.  I also believe that very few of us are truly doing all we can to win the lost.

            However, there are some misconceptions as to when a soul is actually won.  Just because someone says they want to go to heaven and are baptized doesn't not mean they are won.  That is not what the Great Commission is all about.

            Let's examine the Great Commission.  Matthew 28:19-20 says "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy ghost:  teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world."

            Lets look at four key words in these verses:  1. Go!  That doesn't mean to set in a building and wait.  The harvest is ready, but the workers are few, so just go!  2. Teach!  Teach them the Acts 2:38 doctrine!  3. Baptize!  Now that you have taught them, they should see their need to be baptized for remission of sins.  4. Teach!  Once you obeyed the second key word to teach again.  Matthew 28:20 "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.

            Getting people to say they want to go to heaven, then rushing them to be baptized, even getting them to talk in tongues, is not the goal of a real soul winner.  Rather our goal should be to make them disciples.  When they become disciples you know you have won them. 

            I don't know about you, but I want to be a true soul winner.  Someone took the time to reach and teach me and I want to do the same for others.  How about you?