TOP TEN Reasons Why Believers Do Not Evangelise

  1. GIFTINGS EXCUSE.

“I am not an evangelist.”

Yes, not all may have the gift of an evangelist, but it is incumbent upon every believer to be Christ’s witness.

Act 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

  1. CALLING ISSUE.

“Not all believers are called to evangelise.”

It sounds like this statement is over the edge, if not dangerous. It would be a theological suicide to lay claim of this excuse. It’s just absurd to have eternal life and not tell others about it. In reality? Every believer is a witness.

Act 8:1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Act 8:4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

3. WASTED TIME

“The Lord determined already who will believe the gospel—so no need to waste time and exert an effort.”

I could not imagine 65 Westerners, mostly students, thought that going to Manila, the Philippines in 1984, was a waste of time and resources. They resolved that the young people from Ubelt that time were worth their efforts.

Mat 18:12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?
Mat 18:13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.

  1. FEAR FACTOR.

“I am afraid that I might say the wrong thing and be rejected.”

The next time I smell that fear lurking, I will remind myself that God has already overwhelmed it with power, love, and self-control.

2Ti 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

  1. APOLOGETICS MATTER.

“I may say the right thing, but I might not be able to refute what others will say.”

I surmise that the ability to give an account of our faith, no matter how hard it is to prepare, has something to do with a heart full of the fear of the Lord. Truly that fear is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 9:10).

1Pe 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to provide the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

  1. REPUTATION CONSCIOUS.

“I don’t like to be tagged as Jesus fanatic or religious bigot.”

I remember this statement, “Everyone’s fool for something, but, question—‘whose fool are you?'” I want to make it my goal, by the grace of God, for Christ to remain famous in and through my sphere of influence.

Mat 10:32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.
Mat 10:33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

  1. EVADING PERSECUTION.

“I don’t want to be persecuted or be the target of bullying.”

As a believer, one might as well accept the fact that suffering for the sake of Christ and his gospel is inevitable.


2Ti 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,

  1. SOVEREIGNTY DILEMMA.

“God will save people, whether I preach or not.”

Statements like this could be right and wrong at the same time. ‘Right’ because there’s nothing God can’t do regarding saving someone. We have heard stories upon stories of people who have come to know Christ in a sort of weird way. But ‘wrong’ because he already laid out the basis for his mission—through his redeemed ones.

Rom 10:14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
Rom 10:15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

  1. INADEQUATE TRAINING.

“I am not trained enough.”

The one that matters most in preaching the gospel of Christ is that we, too, have been a recipient of that same good news. Any attempt to propagate the things of God without getting acquainted with the person of Christ would tantamount to becoming like the ‘sons of Sceva’ (Acts 19:14-15). But is there still a need for training and equipping? Ephesians 5 has already answered that.

Mat 10:19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.

  1. MATURITY MYTH.

“I am not mature enough.”

Nothing will be accomplished much if we all have to wait for our maturity to be realized before we move. I firmly believe that maturity comes as we do the work of the ministry. Notice that ‘ministry’ (v. 12) comes first before ‘maturity’ (v. 13).

Eph 4:12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
Eph 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

I am pretty sure that there would be more excuses out there why believers do not preach the gospel.

But remember—a grateful heart can not be silenced.

“Acts of God”—Interruptions Beyond Control

WHEN AN EXTRAORDINARY interruption by a natural cause happens, people would start to ask questions that has something to do with God allowing such a thing to occur. If he is such a good and just God, why would he let such a thing? One would hear the echo of this type of inquiry around meals or in coffee shops.

A day before the Taal eruptions (Sunday, January 12, 2020), I heard a family conversation of a person’s struggle in trying to comprehend why a good God would allow the bush fires in Australia. My concern towards the person increased all the more the next day when Taal erupted and covered Tagaytay and the nearby towns with ash fall. And around the dinner table that Sunday night with some of our dear pastors, it made me remember the general content of Dr. Broocks’ email to me almost seven years prior.

Taal Crater Jan 30, 1911. Photo taken 109 years ago. Courtesy of JohnTewell (flickr.com)

I had a similar experience when Janssen and I went to Tacloban in the aftermath of the super typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan. Nineteen days after that fateful day, we got the chance to see the situation up close. Around that dinner table, a well-to-do gentleman asks a question directed to us after we were introduced as pastors. He first gave a premise that he never shed a single tear when his father passed away. Only in Tacloban that he cried a bucket of tears as he has seen bodies of babies taken out of the rubbles every day.

“Pastor, if God is good, why would he allow these things to happen? Don’t get me wrong; I am not an atheist. I can not comprehend such a God letting babies perish with their lives still ahead of them. I see bodies of babies every single day since I was here!”

Answers started flying all over the place. I have never seen such highly opinionated individuals in one table! When it was my turn, I just asked his email address so I can send my answer to him since I will have a run the next day with the evacuees together with the running priest, Fr. Robert Reyes.

Before going to bed, more like a mat on the floor, I immediately send an SOS message to my friend, best-selling author (God’s Not Dead, Man Myth Messiah, and the Human Right) Dr. Rice Broocks via Direct Message on Twitter.

(10/27/13, 11:28 PM) Rice, I am currently in Tacloban. Yes, the worst hit by Haiyan/Yolanda. About to sleep approaching midnight here. I have a question over dinner: If God is such a just God, why were these innocent children die such a violent death? (Talking about kids who didn’t survive Haiyan). What is your initial answer to this logical question? [My email: ____].

Rice’s response to my DM came the very next day via email. And since the Taal eruption is still fresh in the minds of the people, I decided to revive my decade-old inactive website, so I can have a platform on which I could post Rice’s response.

Here is Rice Broocks’ epistle to the running pastor:

Ferdie,

I just got the DM [Twitter’s direct message]. 

There is no easy answer to the impact of natural evil.

Here are some thoughts:

1) Just like the rain falls on the righteous and the unrighteous, so do the floods and other natural calamities. Believers and unbelievers are all affected. 

2) We live in a fragile world, yet the Universe at large is a vast dark, hostile place.

The fact that we have so few of these disasters is a miracle. We live on an island of life amid a dark, cold universe. 

3) Earthquakes, typhoons, and volcanoes serve a purpose. They help regulate the earth’s temperature and make life on earth possible in many ways. 

4) At the same time, we have the capability as humans to anticipate such impending calamities and minimise and even avoid loss of life in many cases. We have come a long way in this area yet.

We are called to take dominion over the earth and given the ability to reason with God to accomplish this. (What if a man were like all the other animals? We wouldn’t even be aware of what happened. We would be defenseless and response-less).

Just as the islands and landmasses have appeared suddenly out of the water, they are, therefore, dangerous places to live. 

No one would build a town at the base of an active volcano, yet we live in vulnerable places.

5) None of that eases the pain when it comes to human suffering, especially involving children. It is the most vexing reality of all. However, there will be stories of miracles and divine intervention. God didn’t stop the natural order from taking place, but He stepped in and helped many. 

God acts during such calamities while not suspending the potential damage of such events. 

6) He stands ready to hear our cry for deliverance. Even before and during such disasters as well as comfort the survivors. Also. God personally cares for humanity through His people. The people who survive will experience a continual outpouring of love and grace. We can also be comforted in the thought that God instantly brings children into His presence in Heaven where there is no more fear, pain, or abuse. They are safe for eternity now.

7) Without God, we have no hope against even greater calamities. God’s promises have kept our planet safe for billions of years, if not, we would have been taken out a long ago.

Imagine a white cue ball on a pool table where all the other balls are moving around, and the white ball never gets hit for 4 billion years!

May God grant us grace and wisdom to help and make a difference in people’s lives.

On another note, Ged was a real help. We are hoping he can come back from Jan-May to finish the school year. We hope to know if he’s returning ASAP. If not, we would love to consider someone else from the Philippines.

Praise God that Manny won!

I gave him Micah 7:8 a year ago. He has texted me twice since the fight.

Thank you for carrying the banner of the Evangelist. I would love to come back and do a national Evangelists conference. 

You and I could co-host, and both speak and train them.

Thoughts?

Blessings, 

Rice

To folks who are having second thoughts about the goodness of God, may this serve as a resource, especially during times of extraordinary interruptions—acts of God.

So as we discover God’s kindness, may we be able to experience the reality of it—all the time!

Top 10 Anti-Biblical Discipleship Quotes

CHECK these quotes regarding biblical discipleship:

1. “I’ll take care of me, and you take care of you, and will get along better that way.” Independent Spirit.


2. “As long as your belief is correct, I don’t care how you behave.” Antinomianism.

3. “As long as you are sincere.” (Ignorantia Legis Neminem Excusat) Ignorance.

4. “Not now. I am not ready, yet.” Fear.

5. “What’s good for you might not be good for me.” Relativism.

6. “Been there, done that.” Arrived.

7. “Jesus makes no demands on me.” (Since Jesus is either dead or just a baby) Religiosity, Philippine-Version.

8. “Whatever feels good, do it.” Hedonism.

9. “I like your Christ, but I don’t like your Christians.” Burned.

10. “No one’s qualified enough to disciple me.” Pride.

If you have additional suggestions, they would be greatly welcomed.

Jump in!


Covid Impact: Taking the Gospel Out of the Box—as in Outside the Church Premises

IMAGINE THE IMPACT of Covid 19. We are forced to take the gospel out of the box—church building.

Photo Credit: godtv.com* Wuhan Christians Preach Gospel on Streets Amidst Nobel Corona Virus Outbreak

Here are the top ten reasons why it is so:

1. FAMILY. People are confined in more intimate familial settings. So there could be a more sincere conversation amongst members of the family; conversations that could lead to spiritual matters.

Act 16:31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Act 16:32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

2. TIME. People are restricted for an extended period. A month-long (enhanced) community quarantine from March 15- April 14. So much time in our hands.

Family living room worship service.

3. LOCATION. People are staying in a stationary area (i.e., the entire Luzon, mind you), therefore the conversations amongst loved ones and small cluster of relationships could progress and can dive into more about the meaning of life and its eternal implications.

Photo Credit: Politics.com.ph*

4. TECHNOLOGY. People are in a better time when the online technology is in place on a massive global scale.

5. ACCESS. People have more access to videos because of the proliferation of smartphones.

I took the liberty to cut and paste this Viber message from one of our long time Victory group leaders: “Hello! I just want to share…natutuwa ako kasi yung mga unexpected ko na tao mag-watch ng online service nag joined. Officemate ko sa una kong work, my aunt from US, my HS friends, college classmates na nasa cruise ship, sister ko, tito ng ex-bf ko. Kahit ubos load ko, still grateful for this online service. Yung mga yun unexpected na nag-join. Thank you Lord!”

6. DESPAIR. People are asking questions that are leading them to seek life’s meaning—all because of Covid.

I heard of a story of one of BDO’s vice presidents that after watching our morning prayer (Monday, March 16), she said this, “I told my officers and staff that we would have corporate prayer at 9 am. Please pray for me. I am planning to share what Ptr Ferdie shared today at the 7 am prayer mtg.*”

7. BORDERLESS. People are connected extensively in social media and that a worship gathering live streaming could make fellow believers be reconnected regardless of where they are around the world.

8. EAVESDROPPING. People from the outside world can now look into the fellowship and worship of the people of God that they can also declare, “truly God is among you.”

1Co 14:24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 1Co 14:25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

After last Sunday’s online sermon, one of our volunteers has this to say: “Share ko lang. I saw one of my college orgmates join the live. He is an agnostic and I’m sure hindi accident na he clicked the video and joined in. I hope we also include them in our prayers as we see people who do not usually go to our church join in our live videos. Grabe, God is still in control. Praying for everyone’s safety and peace of mind.”

9. PRODIGALS. People who have been away, whether by neglect or by choice, can now be without excuse to come back home as the Holy Spirit brings them into the fold.

One of our pastors had been ministering to his parents for quite a while. Last Sunday, as an OFW assigned in the Middle East, his dad watched the online worship as his son ministered the communion, corporate prayer, the altar call, and the benediction. I am still wondering how a dad would respond to a son’s plea to surrender to Jesus. What a moment when the son did the altar call for people to come to Christ.

10. MISSION. People in the church should embrace the fact that by being in this technological age, they might as well accept the inevitable reality that they are virtual online missionaries. We could truly be accessed and be ‘present’ in every corner of the earth. Well, as long as there is a wifi or an LTE.

Hab 2:14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.

I can‘t help but revisit a passage of scripture in Genesis. I know Covid 19 may not necessarily be man made per se, but nevertheless appropriate for this discourse:

Gen 59:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

My prayer too would be “that many people should be [made] alive” by the gospel of Christ, “as they are today.”

#ThanksAMillion

#GoodNews2020

_______________________

SOURCES CITED:

Gayle, Rhoda. Wuhan Christians Preach Gospel On Streets Amidst Novel Coronavirus Outbreak. 10 February 2020. https://godtv.com/wuhan-gospel-novel-coronavirus/

Politics.com.ph

How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count The Ways*—possibly a thousand times over. Since it’s our 29th, let me cite some.

1. I love how you have come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ way back in ‘84.

Judy’s baptism. July 1984.

2. I love how you’ve carried yourself in confidence and beauty that genuinely made me nervously smile every time I try to look at your direction. 

3. I love how you’ve shared your life with other young women in discipleship unabatedly. 

4. I love how you said ‘yes’ to me when I proposed marriage to you on February 14, 1990. I am thoroughly grateful for the gift of marriage He has given to both of us. 

5. I love how you’ve been showing honor to your parents, especially to my mother-law up to this day.

6. I love how you’ve taken good care and love our daughter even the first time we laid your eyes on her on April 25, 1992. 

 

Cutie baby Elizabeth

7. I love how you would even plan ahead of time whether to have a dad-daughter dates or simply attend her recitals in ballet, piano, school singing, and dancing activities, going to her “Moving-up” ceremonies, and graduations from elementary to the university.

8. I love how you’ve made sure that we would have a great community with our neighbors in Mandaluyong that enhanced great childhood memories for Elle. Calling Bea M. and Matthew M.

9. I love how you have agreed with me to let a professional driver teach Elle by enrolling her in a driving school. I don’t know why. 

10. I love how you would do you heart-to-heart talk with her and imparted to her your love for learning—reading books. 

11. I love how a television screen has not been a central feature in the house. And you’ve maintained it that way all these years. That explains the love for learning and book reading. 

12. I love how you’ve handled yourself despite being surprised when we had Philip after 12 years of waiting. 

 

Relaxing Philip

13. I love how you’ve maintained composure amid that one month of Philip’s hospital confinement.

14. I love how you’ve found ways to be self-taught and have taken the initiative in handling our son’s condition. The few trips we had to Singapore made us more confident to raise a child with special needs. 

15. I love how in the midst of this, you’ve agreed with me to be Elle’s chaperone for her 18th birthday US trip ten years ago instead of her going alone on a backpack. Just because I watched the movie “Taken.”

16. I love how you’ve supported me and asked me direct questions of why I run ultra-long distances. I knew you liked my answer—“adventure,” but you controlled yourself and just simply said, “mid-life crisis!”

17. I love how you’ve been doing a balancing act on me in my running. When I go extreme in my training, you tell me to slow down. But when I started becoming a couch potato, you would almost kick me out of bed to make sure I get to see my running coach again. 

18. I love how you’ve given me support to run different races. From the first one, 10k, then 21k, to my first marathon—“Takbo para Sa Pasig.” 

19. I love how you’ve embraced my plan to do trans-Pilipinas, multi-day for 44 days of running 50 kilometers a day. 

20. I love how you collaborated with volunteer Victory pastors who took upon themselves to be part of my crew, to contact local officials to be prayed over, running clubs to be able to run side by side with me in almost every city along Maharlika Highway from Mindanao to Luzon. 

21. I love how you’ve refreshed me when you showed up with our kids at Acacia Hotel just to meet up with me since I have never seen you and been running across the Philippines for more than 30 days.

 

Happiest family moment.

22. I love how you have prepared Philip to welcome me back home after the grueling Run50. 

 

The boy Philip is the happiest. Glad that dad is home.

23. I love how you have kept pushing me to finish the book Pastor Steve has assigned me to write. Even Walter Walker, who co-wrote with me, saw your sacrifice in helping get it done. He then convinced me to write the dedication of the book just for you. 

RUN Book Cover. Now available via Amazon on Kindle Edition and Paperback. This book is dedicated to our RealLife scholars and fellow donors.

24. I love how you would wake up very early in the morning just to help me get a Grab taxi on your app so I can catch my out-of-town morning flight. 

25. I love how you conscientiously assisted your daughter to have a memorable wedding that everyone’s raving about. 

 

With Pastor Steve and Debra

26. I love how you have been the kin keeper of the Cabiling home that even Philip would, at times, remind everyone that its time to pray already before going to bed at night.

27. I love how you’ve exemplified generosity in our home. At times people would thank me for the check that we gave them. Hmm, no wonder why you would ask me sometimes to sign extra checks! Seriously, there are times when your number is higher than the amount I thought of. I am blessed to have a crazily, generous wife. 

28. I love how strong you are in facing adversity for almost three decades; at times, you have become my barometer. Indeed you’re a woman of strength.

29. I love how you would prioritize your daily devotion to Christ in prayer and the Word, and that explains 28th.  

Christmas 2019

Judy, we have come a long way. 

I know God has something more that He has in store for both of us. 

And every time I see you, I am reminded of God’s grace in my life. 

 

My ever dearest, Judith.

Happy Anniversary!

I love you.

_______________________
Browning, Elizabeth Barrett. 1806-1861. How Do I Love Thee (Sonnet 43).

TOP TEN Reasons Why Believers Evangelise

1. The Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of many

Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

2. The ultimate motive to preach the gospel—to please God

2Co 5:9  So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

2Co 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

3. Knowing that we will all face God someday—in holy fear, we persuade others

2Co 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 

2Co 5:11  Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 

4. The love of Christ compels us to preach the gospel to everyone

2Co 5:14  For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;

2Co 5:15  and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

5. Given a ministry with a message of reconciliation

2Co 5:18  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 

2Co 5:19  that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 

6. The Spirit’s power poured out upon us to be his witnesses 

Act 1:8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 

7. The right thing to do—letting others benefit from the good news

2Ki 7:9  Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come; let us go and tell the king’s household.” 

8. Answering the call of the harvest— laborers sent out to the field 

Luk 10:2  And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 

9. Obeying the call of heaven—personally yield to the mission of God

Isa 6:8  And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” 

10. Moved by the call from hell, we respond to the gospel’s appeal today

Luk 16:27  And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house—

Luk 16:28  for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’

Luk 16:29  But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’

Luk 16:30  And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’

Luk 16:31  He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

“Do not muzzle an ox while it is treadi

“Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” #Deut 25. O.T. “oxen” = N.T. “pastors” 1Cor9.9, 1Tim5.17-18. AMAZING.

“As part of your equipment have somethi

“As part of your equipment have something to dig with” #Deut 23. God is interested in the DETAILS of our lives.

“Make tassels on the four corners of th

“Make tassels on the four corners of the cloak you wear.” #Deut 22. NOTE TO SELF: As His ppl, we are SET APART for God.

“anyone who is hung on a pole is under

“anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse” #Deut 21.Thank God that CHRIST was hung on a tree & has become a CURSE for us .

“When u go to war against ur enemies…

“When u go to war against ur enemies…do not be afraid of them, bec the LORD ur God will be with u.” #Deut 20. God fights for His people.