Every Creature…
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47)
COMMENTATORS AND GREEK TRANSLATIONS agree that, “every creature” means “every part of creation.” Its use in the Gospels limits its application to the “people” part of creation. It does not apply to rocks and frogs. It applies to people for whom Christ died and whose standing with God is offensive to His holy nature. Every creature needs to hear the gospel. It is God’s will.
WE HUMAN BEINGS TEND TO FOLLOW IN THE PATH OF SATAN. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (Isaiah 14:12-14) Unsaved people want to leave God alone and want Him to leave them alone because He gets in the way of what they want to do.
ISAIAH WROTE: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6) Solomon wrote: For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. (Ecclesiastes 7:20)
THE NEW TESTAMENT CONFIRMS THAT WE ARE ALL SINNERS: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23) Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (1John 3:4) Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4:17)
BUT GOD LOVES US AND WANTS TO FORGIVE US OF ALL OUR SINS. That’s why the Gospel of Christ is good news! That’s why we need to tell every creature about the death, burial and resurrection of Christ from the dead. So, how do we “go into all the world and tell every creature?” Jesus prayed for His disciples and He prayed for us:
I PRAY FOR THEM: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. (John 17:9) Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; (John 17:20)
WHEN I WAS SAVED AT THE AGE OF NINE, I already knew what God said about “every creature.” My mother carried me to church in her womb. I had heard preaching for nine years. I was one of those creatures. Everyone I meet is one of those creatures. The disciples did not go into all the world. They could not. We cannot go into all the world. But, a little part of the world is around us and we encounter people that Christ died for. We can tell them what Jesus said. When we go into a store, we cannot talk to everyone there. We can possibly talk to one. How do we go about it?
I BEGAN WITNESSING TO MY SCHOOL MATES THE DAY AFTER I WAS SAVED at age nine, October 1943. I didn’t have a clue on how to go about it. I did it anyway and learned a few things as I went along. I never did become an expert. I’m still learning. One of the best and simplest booklets on personal witnessing is by Bill Fay: “How to Share Your Faith Without an Argument.” https://discoveryseries.org/courses/how-can-i-share-my-faith-without-an-argument/ Go to this link and download the booklet, free. At the top of the page, on the right, there will be an arrow pointing down. Click on the arrow and your computer will let you select a place to put it. I downloaded it and put it in my “Books” folder. It’s a PDF file and is free.
THE FIRST THING I DO IS TO ASK GOD TO SHOW ME WHO TO TALK TO and to lead me in how to go about it. A question is the best way to open a conversation. “May I ask you something?” (Get permission to talk to the person.) “When you were little, did your mother take you to Sunday School?” Or, “Do you have a Bible in your home?” Or, “The Bible says It is appointed unto man once to die and after that, the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Do you suppose there’s anything to that?” If the contact must be short, it’s important to have a gospel tract to leave with them. If you don’t have a tract, talk anyway. Ask them if they have a Bible at home. Ask them to read John 3:16. I’ve done this many times and plan to do it many more times as God gives me breath.
BEGIN BY USING JUST ONE OR TWO OPENING QUESTIONS (ABOVE) and getting used to it. Ask fifty people if you need to; just ask one question. You have sowed a seed. And then gradually add another question to your approach. If there is opportunity, work your way toward John 3:16. I have discovered that a good number of people 30 and younger have never heard of John 3:16 (in the Bible belt.)
I USE JOHN 3:16 A LOT AS THE TALKING POINT. It’s what Jesus talked to Nicodemus about. This is seed sowing and it can be done very well in most public places where you are meeting people. “Do you know what the best-loved Bible verse has been in the whole world for the past two thousand years? (John 3:16) I have had many interesting short conversations about this question. Quote the verse if possible. If you get started by opening a conversation, in a short time it will be as natural to you as discussing the weather. Double-dog dare you! Ω
Read Through the Bible in a Year
MAY 20, 2019 – MONDAY
A.M. 1 Chronicles 1-2 P.M. John 7:32-53
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)
Good Verse to Memorize:
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)
Song for Today:
The Blood of Jesus (4:34) (Collingsworth Family of Six-The Mother is a very fine pianist)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU7DSCkEdY0
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