Recent Blog Entries
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Super Apostles from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. The Apostle Paul made three long mission trips preaching the Gospel from city to city (click on map to enlarge). His home base was Antioch, and he traveled to Berea and back. It was rough work. Paul was beaten repeatedly, stoned, left for d... -
Set a watch, Yahweh, before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips. Psalms 141:3 WEB.David prayed that the Lord would set a guard over his mouth to keep him from saying things that he should not. James said, "If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as w...
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Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more. He said to them, "Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and behold, your sheaves came around, and bowed...
Teach a Man to Fish
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Jesus said to them, 'Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men.' Immediately they left their nets, and followed him. Mark 1:17-18 WEB
While growing up, I spent a lot of time on the rivers near my home in South Carolina. The black water of the Waccamaw was just a few miles away and fishing and hunting were a normal part of everyday life in the country. Bait selection was imperative, crickets for bream, night-crawlers for catfish, minnows or lures for bass. A good fisherman always went prepared.
You also have to use different tactics according to your quarry. When fishing you try and entice a fish to take the bait. You put something in front of them that looks good, appealing, a lure, something that they desire and would want to eat. Using the wrong bait will get you nothing but ignored. The fish willingly go after the right bait when it is presented and become hooked. If you make much noise you will drive the fish away, and if the lure does not look good they will never go for it to begin with.
In hunting you pursue your prey, often with the help of barking dogs and other hunters, depending on the quarry. The prey does not willingly submit either. It is being chased or ambushed and their only desire is that you would leave them alone.
God knows the difference between hunting and fishing as well, and there are different seasons for each. He told Jeremiah: 'Behold, I will send for many fishermen,' says Yahweh, 'and they will fish them up. Afterward I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them from every mountain, from every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks' (Jeremiah 16:16). In Jeremiah, He gave Israel a chance to come willingly by having fishers 'lure' them. Afterwards He sent the hunters to force them.
Jesus said that He would make us 'fishers of men', not their hunters. We are to make Jesus look good, appealing, something people would want. If they do not willingly take the bait then move on. Do not pursue them like a hunter as you will just drive them away. No means no. The prodigal son's Father did not chase him down with a Bible yelling at him, but instead was there waiting for his return when he came to his senses (Luke 15:17). Make Jesus look good and do not be offensive or scary when you share your faith with others.
Prayer: Father, I thank You for Your grace and wisdom. Help me know what to say at the right time and keep me from driving those away that would come to know You. Help me find a balance in my life. Please walk with me and talk with me today, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
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Quite a concept!!!!
Amen.
thank you father for the words you give me to fish for your children hallelajuh amen
Amen Pastor Dion! We need to give little morsels of bait to lure them, just enough to attract their attention and then let God reel them in.
amen
One nebhore met older women two grown children well tried make friend of her she was so intresete making friends who belived in God so I accecpt that she so kind to me want her be my friend thankyou devonal .
Jesus is the way, truth and the light; who would not want to follow him. Thank you Father in Heaven for sending your Son as an atonement for our sins and as the peacemaker for mankind. Amen!!
amen
Amen, and Thank you Pastor Todd for your daily faithfulness
Amen.
Amen, Lord continue to hold my hands in yours, and lead me the right way. Thank you Jesus, thank you pastor Todd for this wonderful message
Amen ♡
Amen
"Make Jesus look good and do not be offensive or scary when you share your faith with others." I always give my nieces, nephews, grand children a whisper in their ear when we see each other "ALWAYS PRAY'
This message really hit home. My son and daughter-in-law, whom is Muslim, constantly say to me that our God is the same God. I have tried gently (or so I thought) to explain the difference that our God is not the same God. It came to the point a few years ago that my son asked me to no longer discuss religion with them as I am upsetting my daughter-in-law. Of course I agreed but, since then I have been upset because they don't know the truth and will not listen to the truth.
Pastor Dion, this article has awakened me to be prepared for when they find the truth. I feel so much better as it is more important to show them love and patience than to try to make them see the light. I will continue praying for them and turn this over to the Lord.
Thank you for sharing this article!
God Bless you and thank you!
Your post is similar to my situation. it's so very painful for me when my daughter tells me she is at best an agnostic.
Hi Debbie, I have five who grew up in church or accepted Christ in church. I heard someone say.."they hear about thei father's God but on day they will meet Him and He(Jesus) will be there God. Veil on eyes does not help. When thy are drawn to Him & seek Him to find Him & receive Him then it is for sure the veil is off. The different soils talked about in Matthew then seem to show up in my adult kids & can take another path which then I believe the Lord draw them again. Yes, my heart too is waiting too yet even though I try to put one foot in front of other till then for I know ultimately they are in God's hands.
Amen
Excellent advice. I pray to know what to say AND do to bring others to Christ.
Great insight!
Amen. Praise God! Thanks Pastor Todd! Father, I thank You for Your grace and wisdom. Help me know what to say at the right time and keep me from driving those away that would come to know You. Help me find a balance in my life. Please walk with me and talk with me today, in the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
I love your words of teaching the Divine word pastor. I get it! Thank you so much. Amen!
Thank you dear Pastor, for the great message!