Mark Cahill - I disagree

First let me say I listened to 'being a light in a dark world' and his audio book 'one thing you can't do in heaven' Ilike them both and until yesterday I agreed with him. I especially like the way he offers students money to witness and shows them that if they would do it for money then they love money more than God, if they won't witness for eternal rewards. (you'll have to listen, he explains it much clearer)

Anyway he says that you cannot fail in witnessing because there are only three responses; you either get
a)rejected and therefore store up eternal rewards,
b)leave them wondering and therefor plant a seed
and c)get them saved.

again I am being a bit simplistic here.

He says the only way to fail is not to witness.

Good point but is it possible to witness a false Gospel, even if you do it in all sincereness?

Is it possible to have God call you to go out and preach but do it in your own strength and therefore bring dishonour to God?

When (like yesterday) I go out and preach and fluff it, ramble on simi-coherently being distracted by people around and fumbling over bible verses, am I doing more harm than good?

I would love to give up street preaching, I really find it difficult but I use that as an excuise to say I'm not doing it in my own strength, and it's the Devil trying to shut me up.

I'm trying not to go on feelings, like 'I didn't think that went well', but I do often get disheartend afterwards.

Is this normal?

I do fast, pray and seek God for a word before I go out, I pray afterwards for the people who listened or received tracts.

But am I dishonouring God by not being eloquent or clear enough.

I would like your comments and experiences, I'm not looking for praise, and it's not written in false humility. I would just lkie to know about the struggles of others.

I have prayed about this and I often get verses like; 'go and preach' and 'they continued to preach the Gospel'. So I do think I'm on the right path. Is there something missing, or more I can do?

I've yet to really understand the phenomenon of faithfully delivering the gospel, yet somehow feeling like one goofed the entire thing up. It's a strange and common thing amongst preachers. I've yet to meet a preacher who always feels good about the message they just delivered. My pastor once told me that just when you think you are being the least effective, that is usually when you are being the most effective. But then again, there are moments in preaching where one feels as high as a kite. Why this happens? I don't know.

But I have determined this in my heart, that when I preach, I don't even preach unto my own approval. I simply preach for the approval of Him who called me. We can't let the good times or even the bad be the ground of our confidence in carrying out the work of Him who has called us. If we know that we know that we know God has called us to a specific task, we must simply be faithful in what we set our hand on the plow to do, and then to do it with all our might.

It is possible to go out and preach and do so in your own strength. I know one time I was going to do such, and God warned me that if I went where I proposed in my heart to go, and say what I planned on saying, that I would go in my own strength. This is why we need to be sensitive to leading of the Spirit of God, and go in His power.

For a prophet like Ezekiel had no hope of resurrecting that valley full of dry bones in and of himself. Merely sermonizing the bones, and giving them a good person test would not do the trick. Rather, it took a life giving word that issued straight from the very throne of God in order to raise up those bones to life. Thus, when we preach, we should only aspire to preach out of the divine life that God has placed inside of us. And if we have no word that issues out of that place, then we must be content to go through silent periods.

Furthermore, though you might develop a habit of regularly going out to minister in the streets, don't let your habit dictate what you will do. If such a pattern is of the Lord, then go with it. The more I lean on God and trust in Him to guide me in regard to my own ministry, I have actually found of late that I go out and street preach less. In fact, though I consider myself a street preacher, I've not actually been out to preach in over half a year.

I'm simply waiting on God's timing to send me out yet again. And until then, I'm keeping busy by simply being faithful in all that I do, sharing my faith with people at work as the Lord leads, and then conducting a Bible study at a local homeless shelter. It's funny the seasons God brings one through. I believe I will be going out in the near future to preach open-air again. But for right now, I don't.

I've yet to really understand the phenomenon of faithfully delivering the gospel,

Bless you KJ. I appreciate this statement.

MC

I have found in my own life the primary reason I feel I rambled on or lapsed into stupidity is because I tried to share beyond what is mine.

I call what is mine the revelation of God to my heart.

[color=6600CC]Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.[/color]

Our tesimony is the greatest tool we have. When we share what Christ has done for us we are speaking from a firm foundation because we own what we are saying.

We get into trouble when we think we have to answer all their questions. When questions come up that we don't know the answer to we are better off to say I don't have all the answers, I just know what He did for me. And tell them exactly what He did for you. If the person tries to get over into a battle of words we should end that conversation, with love, stating our own testimony and withdrawing in peace for another day. We can tell them we know someone with more wisdom and understanding than we have and if they would like to know more we will arrange a meeting. This will open a door for further ministry. Arguing points should never be a part of witnessing.

I recently read a statement that Jesus just spoke the truth, He never defended it because the truth speaks for itself. He left the hearer to mull over the truth and receive it or reject it.

by KingJimmy on 2007/2/2 5:03:01
My pastor once told me that just when you think you are being the least effective, that is usually when you are being the most effective.

I often feel, when I have finished, that I would like to start all over again!

In Revelation it says that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Thus, whenever Christ moves in our hearts to testify to another about the work He has done in our lives, we can be confident that even though we aren't giving a "thus saith..." that what we say is in keeping with the Spirit that spoke through the prophets. Personal testimony about the work Christ has done in one's life is indeed the greatest form of witnessing one can do.

Anytime atheists and the like try to argue with me about God, or why I believe what I believe, I simply share what God has done in my life, and they are forced at that moment to either dismiss me or consider what I say. Whereas if you get into goofy apologetical arguments about philosophical and scientific proofs of God, you'll never accomplish squat for the sake of the kingdom of God. For nobody can be won through such silly arguments. Oh, I know this might hurt some feelings. But it is the truth.

And indeed, Jesus did have a "take it or leave it" attitude when he preached thus, for, as one possessing Divine authority, He was in no way under obligation to forcefully prove what He said. He simply let the truth speak for itself.

I often feel, when I have finished, that I would like to start all over again!

Indeed, such in part is probably what drives one to want to preach again.

I had gotten stirred by the sermons by Mark Cahill and others last year. Around May, I had purposed to share the gospel with one new person a day, which I did for 30 days. Except for 3 days (not that I was counting ;-)) I had shared.

What I learned from that it is possible to be stirred in the soul and witness out of my own resources and methods. Of course, I was praying and seeking God, but much of that I can look back now and see was an Ishmael--an attempt to fulfill God's heart without a barren womb (of Sarah). Evangelism is a miracle of God. We thank God that we get a high privilege to co-labor with God and proclaim it, but it is very possible to try to produce something naturally which God desires only to produce supernaturally by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Now I am ever desiring to see the open door, but I am much more conscious to focus upon the Lord, and as I am in union with Him, the burden He has for souls becomes mine. King Jimmy made a good point about seasons. Jesus had a 30-year season of being at home, submissive to parents and working faithfully at a carpenter's bench. All the while multitudes were going to hell. Yet He could wait until the Father's timing to go forth, and in communion with His Father, He accomplished everything needed that the world lacked.

In Him,

Ken

Indeed, if we are not careful we can give birth to an Ishmael with our ministries. And you know what the interesting thing is? That God still blessed Ishmael! So, just because you experience some measure of blessing in some manner in whatever ministry God has given you doesn't mean it is necessarily of God. I think this is the danger of simply sticking to various methods of evangelism, and doing it every single day or often.

As has been pointed out, the enemy of the best is often that which is simply good. Therefore, if you are following the leading of the Spirit, you might go through seasons of simply waiting and saying nothing. Remember, it was many years before the child of promise was born to Abraham.

KingJimmy wrote:
Indeed, if we are not careful we can give birth to an Ishmael with our ministries. And you know what the interesting thing is? That God still blessed Ishmael! So, just because you experience some measure of blessing in some manner in whatever ministry God has given you doesn't mean it is necessarily of God. I think this is the danger of simply sticking to various methods of evangelism, and doing it every single day or often.

As has been pointed out, the enemy of the best is often that which is simply good. Therefore, if you are following the leading of the Spirit, you might go through seasons of simply waiting and saying nothing. Remember, it was many years before the child of promise was born to Abraham.

So can I use this a a valid excuse not to go out? or is the Devil trying to stop me.

It's like trying to pray when you don't want to or don't feel like it but you force yourself to do it to discipline your life to the will of the Father. Is my preaching doing me more good than the people I'm preaching to, i.e. am I being trained or prepared or disciplined (not meaning told off!)?

That my friend I do not know. That is ultimately something only God can show you. Seek His face, hear His voice, and be led by His Spirit. He'll show you.

all,

Spurgeon used to walk away from the pulpit thinking he was the worst thing that ever happened to the ministry. His wife would post Scriptures above his bed to encourage him to get up, as he felt so depressed and useless.

The bottom line is this, and we so easily skip over this. After Jesus was annointed by the Holy Ghost, he was immediately taken into the desert to by tempted by the devil. Why should it be any different. If you preach the gospel in truth, you will undoubtedly come under spiritual attack.

Being driven to your edge, to brokenness, and desperate prayer is part of being God's messenger.

I have been encouraged by God's simple word "go" as well. I just had to learn the meaning of "tarry" to balance it out.

You are not alone, and you are not abnormal. I had a dear brother tell me early in the ministry that Satan was going to try to corner me and make me feel like I was the only weirdo that felt the way I do out there. Sometimes Satan is still somewhat successful, but I just continue to focus on Christ, and being obediant to the Lord, and know that it is not by flesh that is getting anything done, but according to the power of the Spirit that works in and through me.

God bless you on your journey.

hello allhavesinned,

I don't know if you'll ever see this message, but even so, I'm still going to send it.
I know how you feel. There are some things that I can tell you that might help.
First, let me tell you where I'm coming from.
I agree with Cahill. I think the question that you're asking is, "is there ever a time when it's better to NOT preach the gospel?"

I remember there was a time when John Westley tested himself, he decided not to share the gospel with anyone until he 'felt' like it. He had gone through the entire day and at the end of the day he noticed that he had not shared the gospel with anyone. He decided then that if gospel preachers went by what they 'felt' then they would never preach the gospel. Even Paul said that he was 'terrified' when he preached. (This coming from Paul???) But yes, he was terrified. So we really can't go by our feelings.

However, there is something that you can do to feel better about it. STUDY STUDY STUDY the gospel and seek God. Perhaps you will still fumble over verses, (Paul said I came to you speaking like a bumbler... ok I' paraphrasing a bit, but that really is what he's saying.)
Moses, didn't speak well either, but he faithfully delivered God's message. That is what we must do.

Perhaps you're placing too much of the responsibility upon yourself. You need to step back and realize your puny little role in all of this. It is GOD that does the saving, not you, or your great presentation, or your fancy words. I could write down the most eloquent message and have you memorize it, you could go out a give the greatest, clearest, presentation of the gospel ever given, and NO ONE would get saved. NO ONE! Why, because you did not place your faith in GOD to do it, you placed your faith in YOUR ability and the greatness, and smoothness of the speech. God will not have you place your faith in anything but HIM.

Is there ever a time that a humble man speaking on behalf of God should ever be silent? The answer to that question, YES! When it is not done in LOVE, PURE LOVE. Not necessarily for the hearers, but for Christ Himself, and out of that love for HIM, should come the love for others.
Don't go by your feelings. Go by LOVE.

Read 1 cor. 13 and look at how far disconnected love is from feelings.
Not by feeling, but by LOVE.

2 Timothy 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, [b]and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
[/b]

to me its like this, i make myself ready, i study i pray i say Lord send me, show me your will. I want to be "clean vessel ready for him to use" .

He may not use it or he may use it, its up to him. Maybe he make me a street preacher? maybe he send me as a missionary? or maybe he will have me become a intercessor in the secret for him. Whatever he wants me to do i want to be ready . But if does not use me i don't want to run around without him trying to do Gods work with my own power. I believe we really have to "stay in Jerusalem" until we receive power to go out.