Be Instant in Season, Out of Season

Let this be an encouragement to all my brothers and sisters in Christ and let all the Glory be for God.

Last weekend September 20, 2009 Johan and I went to Zakhe Agricultural College to attend the school's church service. It was also the last service for the Third Term as the short vacation would commence shortly. To our surprise we were asked to come up on stage by Mr Manyoni, who was to preach that day, who surpringly told the congregation that as we were visiting he would hand over the service to us to conduct the preaching of the Word and bring a message that God has asked us to share! Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season: (2 Timothy 4:9), the Apostle Paul exhorted Timothy. Why should it be any different for us? Wow, how will God glorify Himself? Johan did an introduction before handing the preaching over to me. Gulp!! No - i was merely the vessel for God to use. It is not i that preached. God's Word does not need my input - God's Word speaks for itself.

The Scripture preached was Luke 16:19-31 - The Rich Man and Lazarus. It was preaching from the text, explaining exactly what our Lord Jesus was saying about a real place called heaven and a real place called hell and those real people being Abraham and Lazarus in heaven and the rich man who found himself in torment in hell. Standing before the school of about a hundred in attendance and using the text of a real heaven and a real hell, the Word of God spring boarded into asking the questions - What will happen to your soul once you die? And where are you headed? God is good in providing the words you are to speak. There is only one Gospel and the Holy Spirit will faithfully preach the Good News. From there God's Law was held up as a mirror into which the congregants could look and be examined - the Ten Commandments was working its work. The Law was expounded upon from One through Ten and then the Grace and Mercy of God was preached that sin can only be forgiven through the love expressed upon the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ to life by sinners repenting of their sin and trusting in Jesus Christ - letting Him be both Lord and Saviour. Blessed be the Wonderful Name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. May God be always glorified as our sovereign, majestic and Holy Father and God of gods, Lord of lords, a great God (Deuteronomy 10:17).

On Saturday September 28, 2009 as a family we decided to treat the Shange family to an outing at Midmar Dam - 25kms from Pietermaritzburg. For Phillip's family it was for some of them a first time they had been to the dam. While there Phillip saw some fishermen at the water's edge and said we should go over.

Iqbal and Dominique - fishers from Pietermaritzburg

Arriving there we found Iqbal (Muslim, ex-Christian) and Dominique (professing Christian). We started in the natural speaking about fishing and then became fishers of men by bringing up the Spiritual things of God. We took them through the Good Person Test and it was while we were going into the Gospel of Grace that the Muslim man asked me to show him that Jesus is God. I preached the supernatural birth of Jesus Christ - God revealing Himself in the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin named Mary (Luke 1:34,35) - a birth never to be repeated again. His name Immanuel - God with us (Matthew 1:23) and when I asked Iqbal if this made sense he said it did. The reason of Jesus going to the cross made more sense to him and his friend. Dominique even told some of their friends that were trying to call him away to "possibly get up to no good" that they must go ahead without him. This allowed us to answer some of his questions he posed to us - types of music that a person listens to? drinking? smoking? making copies of Cd's? etc. From the questions being asked we knew his conscience was at work accusing him (Romans 2:15). It was a wonderful time witnessing at the edge of a dam as fishers of men.

The fishermen down yonder at the water's edge (above) and some yachts (below)

The next day, Sunday September 27, 2009, I fetched Phillip and his family from their home in Imbali BB Township and was hoping to attend a service in the township known as France where Phillip had been asked to preach. On arriving at his home he told me that I was to preach. At first I told him I was coming to hear him preach. Long story short, as it was, I preached again. Thank you Lord.

The entrance to the building in the France Township where we gathered as the Body of Christ (above) and some of our brothers and sisters (below)

This is something I had not expected; yes - preaching on the streets, but to assembled congregations!! Thank you Father. Thank you God. The Scripture texts were Matthew 7:13-23 and Luke 16:19-31 which were perfect leading into the proclamation of the Law and the Gospel of Grace. Before we entered into the hall, there was a service in progress where a church known as the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ were finishing up. This particular schism is exactly that. Here in Africa there are so many schisms created where everyone wants to be "a General and no-one wants to be a soldier". Their doctrine is also not Biblically grounded and they allow alot of the world to permeate their behaviours - smoking, drinking, fornication, etc. and yet they call themselves "apostles of God". This is utter blasphemy!! I can only think that God allowed me to confront their pastors as they came out of the hall - within ear shot of their congregants - as I asked them to stay behind and listen to the sermon. Their "pastor" said that his congregation had already heard the Word of God and that they have received enough water and were well fed. I suggested he stay to hear the sermon and listen to the true Gospel as you can never get enough water for "out of his belly will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38). It was at this point that he told me that if I had to pray to God He would tell me that He had already spoken through this pastor. It was at this point that he told me that he is God. I rebuked this impostor and told him that he is not God and that he needs to hear the true Gospel. Little did I know at the time but one of this imposter's congregants had overheard the "discussion" and he decided to come in while we were singing praise songs and hymns to God. He sat silently at the back to hear what was to be preached.

From start to finish it was sweet fellowship in the presence of Almighty God. The preaching was perfect allowing God's Word to speak - not perfect because of my efforts. I have nothing to boast in the Word that went forth. Phillip translated the Scriptures as I preached once again - I am not surprised - the Word transcended any words I could ever speak as the Law and the Gospel of Grace spoke the Truth to their consciences. At the end of the sermon I asked the congregation if there were any questions when our silent guest, Mr Dlamini broke out in praise praising God for the Word spoken. He had heard the falsehoods preached before at the previous "apostles" of God service and now was praising the Word preached at this service. We sing praises to God Most High.

Be instant in season, out of season.

On the UKZN (Pietermaritzburg) Campus

A while ago whilst we were out on Church Street evangelising during our lunch break, Mark McDonogh was approached by a young African man named Mpho and his girlfriend. They enquired why we were on the streets and Mark explained to them that we were evangelising and he also witnessed to them. Regardt Reynolds, Neville le Roux and myself were out with Mark that day, and later Mark told us that the two persons he spoke to were Seventh-Day Adventists from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg) Campus. They had asked him to bring a team of evangelists to the campus to show them how to evangelise the way we do and to be a part of the outreach they would be undertaking.

We agreed, and made them aware that we would gladly attend to preach the Law and the Gospel of Grace. This not only gave us an opportunity to witness to many students - and yes we also have the atheists / agnostics who believe in evolution here in South Africa, too - but it was an answer to prayer as we had been hoping to get on campus someday. We also told the ministry leader Mpho, who was hosting us, that we would not be there under their denomination. We were there to preach Jesus Christ and uplift His Holy Name.

That day arrived on Tuesday September 8, 2009 and we had some wonderful God-given conversations with many students. Although we never had a full-time cameraman available, you will get the feel of a day well spent preaching the Gospel on campus for the first time by us newbies.

Johan with students under a tree - I had taken the guys to the left through the Law and the Gospel earlier.



Mark and Johan preaching the Word.

Regardt witnessing to a student while his wife Lynette and their son Leonard are seated nearby on the grass.

Preaching the Law and the Gospel of Grace using their sound equipment.



Some students only too happy to receive and show off "The Little Book of Big Questions" Gospel Tract.

The Seventh-Day Adventist Student Movement members praying some of the prayer requests placed in "prayer boxes".

Please check out the following link from the website CARM why Seventh-Day Adventism is a cult religion / denomination. Their doctrine is not biblical in all respects according to the inerrant infalliable Word of God.

Please pray for the Adventists that they will come to repentance and faith in the only true and living God - Jesus Christ as both Lord and Saviour.

Ten Shekels and a Shirt

The Bible Verse - Judges 17

Free Will Decision ~ It is a Myth 2 of 2

Were you born and conceived in sin? Were you spiritually dead? What happened to bring about the change? Was it a voluntary decision of your free will that you should bring yourself to spiritual life from spiritual death?

The Bible Verse - John 6:29

Don't Go For Free Will ~ It is a Myth 1 of 2

Think about the Old Testament Saints Adam, Able, Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, David, Sampson and many more. Their free will did not save them and providentially provide for them. Neither does our supposed free will do that for us today. Without the intervention of God in our lives we would be lost.

The Bible Verse - Deuteronomy 32

Free Will -- A Slave

And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. ~ John 5:40

Man Has No Free Will

There has been much theological debating going on down through the ages, of which some of the most hotly debated subjects concern man's free will and God's sovereign election and predestination of His saints. The doctrinal wars of the Calvinists vs. the Armenians have raged on and we find that the Armenians hold to the doctrine that man has a free will in his salvation. (At this point let me say I follow the doctrine of The Bible - I am neither a Calvinist nor an Armenian.) This and other denominational issues have resulted in further schisms being created along the way – which has lead to a divided people holding fast to one or another interpretation of what man has perceived to be his correct interpretation of the Holy Scriptures and how the readings should be understood, preached, taught and applied.

It is the meddling of man in his feeble attempt of trying to interpret God's Word and sadly persuading men to be duped into following their doctrinal views that has caused catastrophic division in and amongst professing believers. Heresy and the heretic has crept into the church building and they are even out on the streets where religious cults are peddling their lies dressed up as Truth in the precious Name of Jesus Christ or cultic religions lacking repentance of sins and trusting in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour (Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and the like fall in this category). There can only be one right way, One Truth. Any other doctrine and gospel being preached that does not appear in the Holy Word of God - in The Bible - is a lie that the devil is using to deceive the masses. His tactics and deceptions have not changed ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God's Commandment not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16,17; 3:1-7), when they listened to the lie of the devil.

The Apostle Paul, writing to the churches of Galatia, warns the brethren that there is no other Gospel!

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another: but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. ~ Galatians 1:6-10

Scripture has many references to keeping the doctrine of God's Word and for this reason let us look at what the Word of God says. As I read Scripture it is evident that God is sovereign, we, in our fallen state, are reprobates and man was created by God to worship Him, to bring Him all the glory and to praise and worship His goodness and His justness. What is interpreted as "man's free will" is nothing more than man wanting to still hold onto self. Man's will is rebellion against God. The only reason why man thinks he has the will to either accept God or reject Him is because man reads into Scripture what man is to do in isolation of Scripture and not reading it with other Scripture. The reason why man calls upon the name of the Lord and confesses and repents of his sins and believes in his heart is as a result of the goodness of God, His sovereign grace and mercy being extended to sinful man. When God calls and draws man to Himself, man doesn't reject God out of a free will. It is because he knows nothing else but rebellion against God which looks as if man is rejecting Him. The natural response to God touching an evil wicked man and showering His grace and mercy on the sinner will result in the wretched sinner falling upon his knees and calling upon the name of the Lord in repentance - not because man had free will to decide, but because this is the natural reaction for a man when God reveals His holy, righteous, perfect mercy to a filthy law-breaking criminal - an unregenerate evil sinner.

In humility, let us hear what God's Word says (emphasis is mine) -

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. ~ John 10:27-30

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. ~ John 15:16

And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. ~ Mark 13:20

To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ~ Romans 1:7

... that I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; that I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. ~ Romans 15:31,32

He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. ~ Matthew 26:42 (If Jesus came to earth to do the will of his Father, what gives man the right to think he has a free will to choose to accept or reject God. Man is reprobate in his fallen state that he is unable to make any valid decisions of his own accord).

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ~ John 1:12,13

And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. ~ Acts 21:14

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. ~ Ephesians 5:15-17

For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. ~ 1 Peter 2:15,16

... that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: ~ 1 Peter 4:2,3

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. ~ 1 Peter 4:17-19

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: ~ 1 John 5:14

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ~ Matthew 7:21

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God, Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. ~ John 6:44,45

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:14

Scripture reveals that none seeks after God. If none seeks after Him then how can man have a free will to accept or reject God? God has given us the Ministry of Reconciliation (see 2 Corinthians 5:11-21) to be "Ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20). The Truth is God is the Reconciler not man.

... there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. ~ Romans 3:11

And I seek not mine own glory: there is one who seeketh and judgeth. ~ John 8:50

... for false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. ~ Mark 13:22

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient. ~ Romans 1:28

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith: prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. ~ 2 Corinthians 13:5-7

The word reprobate(s) according to the Strongs Concordance means - useless, worthless, deceitful, mean, common, pitiable, inefficient, miserable, cast away, rejected one. To be honest these descriptions do not give credence to a person who could decide right from wrong by free will. The last Word is - God was, is still and always will be Holy, Righteous, Faithfull, Good, Sovereign and Just and "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

The Agony of Hell

Are you loving enough to share the Gospel? Are you lovingly confrontational in the preaching of the Kingdom of God as Jesus was during His earthly ministry? And are you letting Jesus do so still Today? Are the unbelievers going to deny the existance of God? And are 'luke warm' professing believers going to hold fast to a soft gospel? Today, while it is still Today, Repent and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is your only hope. We are, as the Apostle Paul said, "which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 whom we preach warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus; 29 whereunto I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily" (Colossians 1:27b-29).

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness: but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18)

If you are unable to listen through this player, please listen at this link.

This sermon was first listened to by me at CBC Evangelism.

Biblical Gospel and Evangelism ~ Paul Washer

Be blessed by sound preachin' and teachin'.