I AM A 'SHOGUN'

I AM A ‘SHOGUN’

BY DR. MERVYN ABREO

         

          At the death of the Shogun, his son felt totally inadequate to step into the shoes of his father.

          A Shogun in ancient Japan was a hereditary military governor. While the emperor was a mere figurehead, the Shogun wielded actual power over the country.                                       

                             

                                                                        

          James Clavell, in one of his novels based in Japan of yesteryears, narrates how, the young son and heir was terrified at the prospect of taking the place of his father, who had been a powerful and dynamic personality.                                                           

           So he goes off by himself and is sitting all alone on the hill side, when a poor man comes and asks him for some dole money. He is irritated, and asks him as to why he is worrying him about something so trivial in nature, at a time like this, when he, as well as the entire country, were going through such a grave crisis.

          And the poor man replies, “Because I used to always go to your father. But now, YOU are the Shogun!”

          Realization hits him, and he boldly goes and takes command.

                                                        

          When Jesus was crucified and buried, the same happened to His disciples.

           But after Pentecost, they boldly stepped into Jesus’ shoes.

          We too have gone through our Pentecost.

                                                             

          So let us boldly go forth and take command!

         EVANGELIZE! GO FORTH AND MAKE DISCIPLES , BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF................ 

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Dear friend,

          I look forward to getting your feedback. Do write in to me at:

                                        drmervynabreo@gmail.com

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JESUS AND HIS EVANGELISTS

JESUS AND HIS EVANGELISTS

BY DR. MERVYN ABREO

SAMARITAN WOMAN AT THE WELL:

          She was one of three harlots of the New Testament who was convicted, and saved to by Lord Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 55:11. ‘’......so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

     It achieves conviction which leads to repentance, and salvation.

     Or, it brings about rejection, which leads to condemnation.

THE REAPING HARLOT: It was her new title because she turned from a harlot into an evangelist (John 4: 4-30).

          Initially the dialogue between Jesus and the Samaritan woman is about water. But, while Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit, she is still thinking in the natural.

          It is only when Jesus speaks of her multiple sexual partners that she realizes that He is no mere man. And while on the topic of worship, when Jesus reveals that He is the Christ, she is convinced, and rushing back to the town, testifies about Him.

          And many of the Samaritans from that town believe in Him. (John 4:39-42).

          She goes from a harlot to a believer to an evangelist.

DEMON—POSSESSED MAN: (Luke 8:26 – 39).

          After being delivered by Jesus, the man wanted to go with the Lord but was instructed to return home and evangelize.

LAZARUS -- THE BEGGAR: (Luke 16:19-31).

          There is nothing wrong with being rich, but one should be gracious to the poor. In Jesus’ story, the rich man becomes an evangelist after his death, wanting to go back and preach to his brothers, who were still back on earth.

US: Are we obeying the Lord’s command to “go forth and make disciples………”

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Dear friend,

          I look forward to getting your feedback. Do write in to me at:

                                        drmervynabreo@gmail.com

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DO EVANGELISTS NEED TO BE PERFECT?

DO EVANGELISTS NEED TO BE PERFECT?

BY DR. MERVYN ABREO

          One day a young man was brought to me with a problem. His wanted to leave the Church because his pastor had been rude to him.

          There are many such people who have turned their back to the Church just because their priest or pastor has hurt their feelings.

                                        

          I asked him, ‘If you had to receive a phone call from America, and the caller informs you, “You dirty Indian pig, you have won just 10 million dollars in the sweep stake.” What will you do? Will you refuse to collect your winnings because he insulted you? Or would you run and collect what is rightfully yours?’

          Do what the cow does. It initially swallows everything, only to regurgitate and spit out what is useless and swallow the useful stuff

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REJECT THE MESSENGER TO REJECT THE MESSAGE:

          This is what usually happens in most cases when an evangelical message is delivered, either from the pulpit, or personally on a one to one basis.

          It happened even to the great evangelist Paul. In Acts we read how the Governor Felix was afraid when Paul spoke about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come.

          So in order to appease his conscience, he sent for Paul on a number of occasions because he  “………was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.”           And this went on for two years. (Acts 24: 25 – 27).

THE EVANGELIST AND PERFECTIONISM:

The evangelist is under the scanner of three different persons!

1) THE PERSON BEING EVANGELIZED TO.                                                                                                                                                           

 

          
            As per ‘Isaiah 55:11. ‘’ so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

               It either achieves conviction in the one who is receiving the Gospel message, which leads to repentance and salvation.

          Or it brings about rejection which leads to condemnation.

2) THE EVANGELIST:

           He should boldly evangelize, unaffected by what people think or say, always keeping in mind and often reminding himself: “I am not a sinner, but a saint who sins occasionally!”

3) GOD:

           The evangelist is His child empowered by the Holy Spirit to do His bidding. And it is the sole responsibility of God, and God alone to evaluate and judge his or her performance!

          In God’s eyes he or she is perfect: ‘………..For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.’ (Ephesians 1:4).

          So who is anyone to pass judgment on His servants?!

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Dear friend,

          I look forward to getting your feedback. Do write in to me at:

                                        drmervynabreo@gmail.com

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HOLY SPIRIT EVANGELISM!

 HOLY SPIRIT EVANGELISM!

BY DR. MERVYN ABREO

          Whenever we evangelize to someone, we are addressing his mind. However, we should always remember, that evangelism is never on the intellectual level alone. His spirit has essentially to be involved.  Many people fail to be effective evangelists because of this very reason.

 TRIPARTITE MAN IN A THREE DIMENSIONAL WORLD

 MAN IS MADE UP OF: A body, a soul and a spirit.

 The soul in turn is made up of: an intellect, a will and emotions.                                                      

          Sometimes, only the intellect or mind may be involved. For example, a person may make up his mind to change his religion for financial gain.

          This is only a superficial change. Because the real change or conversion takes place only in the spirit- and effective and life changing transformation can only be done under the power of the Holy Spirit.

          Or a person may change their religion because he or she may have fallen in love with a person of another religion. Here the decision is based mainly on emotions.                                                        

          Yet again, a change may be forced on someone because of religious persecution. Here the will overshadows the intellect and the emotions.
                                                     

ACTION/REACTION: When you give the Gospel message, one of two reactions have to take place:

          Conviction or condemnation, i.e. either the person accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior, and is saved.

          Or the message is outright rejected, and the person condemned for all eternity.

THERE IS NO THIRD POSSIBILITY:

 THE LORD SPEAKS “so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it,” (Isaiah 55:11).

 HOLY SPIRIT GUIDED EVANGELISM:
                                                   

          This is the most effective and best type of evangelism.

          The Holy Spirit leads you to a particular person, puts the right words in your mouth, and literally does everything, except appear to that person and speak to him or her personally.

          For this type of evangelism, you need to spend prime time with the Lord. But the results are fantastic, and you truly become one with the Lord, and enter His core group, along with Moses and Elijah, and the three disciples, as it happened on the Mount of Transfiguration.

‘DEATH BED EVANGELISM’:                                                            

            Whenever you evangelize to someone, do so as though the person you are evangelizing to is going to drop dead the very next moment. This gives a depth and feeling to your words, and your sincerity and seriousness will greatly help.

(To gain more knowledge read, “Seventh on the Mount with Jesus”).

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Dear friend,

          I look forward to getting your feedback. Do write in to me at:

                                        drmervynabreo@gmail.com

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