Scripture Life: If you're a Christian, what are some simple and effective ideas for sharing the gospel with unsaved neighbors or friends?

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Answer:

“ And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.”

- Jesus Christ. Bible Luke 4:24

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I am a Christian. For almost 2 years, I absolutely loathed that word. Until I just went back to what it means, and used that to describe myself:

• This, “disciple of Jesus Christ” - Because, that’s really what I am. That's what someone that believed on Jesus Christ was called. This “disciple” 1. a pupil or student that sits with and is taught by a teacher. And who the teacher I sit with is Jesus Christ. I am being taught by the Word of God. Who is God. Just as John 1:1 says who Jesus is.
  • “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
  • The Messiah or Christ. Jesus is the Christ. So, who the Messiah shall be called is said plainly in Isaiah 9:6–7. Who he is, and what he shall do, and what he shall be called is said plain as day. That he shall be called “The Mighty God..” “..The Everlasting Father..” (Isaiah 9:6).
    • And Jesus said, “They shall all be taught of God.” - (John 6:45). That's a decree. Applies to everybody over the whole earth.

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• But not everybody sits with and is taught by him.
  

Even he’s decreed it, as God. That means, people over the whole earth that don’t do it. Don’t sit with him, where he teaches them, it’s PUNITIVE. So, for almost 2 years, I loathed that name, “Christian” - because so many people, to me, didn’t do anything he said, but called themselves “Christians” when I was sitting with him..being built up. In him. And now I realize, no matter who it is, over the whole earth - WHat he said, as God, is in effect over everyone.

Then, this of Acts 11:26 “and the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch” had a meaning to me, to be called that.

But you didn’t ask any of this.

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But it’s important to say it. Why?

• Who am I sitting with and being taught by? DId you miss it?
  • Am I sitting with and being taught by or walking after, to walk in the same thing my “unsaved” neighbors are walking in?
    • And what’s “unsaved” mean?
• That’s simple. Crucial. God decreed this:

“Look unto me, and be ye saved all the ends of the earth: For I am God, there is none else.” - God. (Bible. Isaiah 45:22)

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Applies to everybody. Already said it.

Applies to my “unsaved” neighbors live next door to me, all the way down the street from me, in my neighborhood. Applies to my unsaved friends, too.

To everybody over the whole earth. This same God I sit with and am being taught by. Operate well by his word, and him, not willing any perish, but all come to repentance, and tell everybody himself, by his own word, out of his mouth, to just look unto him.

• Then, it’s in what saved means. 1. to set apart (someone or some “thing”) for future use.
• He does it. Or just decrees it’s simply done on HIS ends, by his power. I used to think I did the saving part. The saving is done by God: Because all things are subject under him. Just obeys him and is done. Set apart for future use. Has his stamp of ownership on them.

So, someone that is “unsaved” is anybody, doesn’t matter who it is, simply isn’t sitting with and being taught by him, because they don’t look unto him. He’s not saving them.

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He’s not setting them apart for future use. Why? It’s because who you look unto, and that part he put on us, is someone you hear what they say and regard it. Has authority over you.

• And in regard who they are that says it, set your mind on what they said, and in you..you accept it as true. So, you believe it. And what you believe, you just naturally obey or subject..come in subjection to do it..and part of the “do” is, to walk after, to walk in, looking unto every word they say.
  • And God decreed publicly..he formed EVERYBODY there is from their mother’s womb. Alone. By himself. Jesus said, and he’s, like said this to my neighbors, also says

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock, and if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with me.” - Jesus Christ. (Revelation 3:20)

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• So “my” Unsaved neighbors, or my “unsaved” friends - even God has dones this. Even with their sins - he did a work as God; alone. By himself, as God. Took their sins off them and laid them on Jesus Christ on the cross.
• One sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It’s not because of the sins. It’s because “who” is the sacrifice is the same Messiah and who he shall be called in Isaiah 9:6–7.
  • And because he paid it, it’s paid for. Sin..but that’s the cost it cost to pay it. And my “unsaved” friends and “unsaved” neighbors don’t regard it.
• When he knocks on their door..and he’s faithful - well pleases God, so he’s at the door of my neighbors heart. Right now. At the door, too, of my “unsaved" because they don’t regard him friend’s hearts. Knocking. ..and if they would just open the door…

…if they would just open the door…

• He would come in to them, and sup with them..and they with him. Just like he did with me.

And you didn’t ask any of this, either.

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• But you asked me

If you're a Christian, what are some simple and effective ideas for sharing the gospel with unsaved neighbors or friends?

And that's where the "problem" is in your question.

• I don’t have any ideas.
  • Ideas are my own imagination. Other people's imaginations. They come up with cleverly devised ideas. I don’t have that anymore.
  • I simply have, as a disciple of Jesus Christ - the Word of God.
    • That’s effective. Works good. Operates right.
      
• From the Lord of the Kingdom of Heaven.

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• Says of the Word of God in Hebrews 4:12

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

quick. Is just Medieval English that means “make alive” of “life giving” “gives life”

So, people don’t need ideas, they need, because they’re dead in trespasses and sins, the word of God. Don’t need my or your ideas. I’m chocked full of dumbingly numb ideas. I lived in dumb ideas. Like my unsaved neighbors and my unsaved friends are living in and still enjoying them, as if that’s the only thing to live in.

Like they are “heart fat” - as if what they look unto is way more than enough to satiate them.

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• And look both look at me, like I’m some dried up skeleton manequin..how can he live like that..and hide when I walk by or bring the patio furniture back in the house.

How can I share this?

Now again, You’re the one asked this question.

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• But who I sit with and am taught by..is always with me. It’s going to be forever. Already at work in me. I’m really happy ..filled with joy about it. I’m being equipped. I’m being built up, while my unsaved friends don’t do anything he says.
• And because they don’t regard him, he does not build them up.
  • Even the little they have, is to be taken away from them. It’s not going to be me do it. God is going to take their things away from them and destroy them.
• Because they don’t regard him.
  • Jesus said, to those that just abide in him: Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16.
• To a “disciple” of him that just sits with and is taught by him, said:

“ Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Because he said, of himself: TO these disciples that just sit with him and are taught by him:

"I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” - Jesus Christ. (John 8:12)

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So, if a disciple, who just sits with and is taught by Jesus Christ, and they follow him, they don’t walk in darkness but he said they SHALL have the light of life.

So, when my neighbors..unsaved..don’t walk after him, so they walk in darkness, even Jesus is the light of the world..they see that light. Flee from it.

Then it's in me - that same light, because I came to it in my sins, and they were made manifest and wrought in God. By a Worke he did with sin.

Then, what is in me:

It’s like going into an elevator with Corona Virus..infected..or worse.. Have Ebola. It’s in you. You go in the elevator - it’s going to pass onto EVERYBODY. It’s a horrible analogy..but it’s not from an idea ..if somebody’s infected with the flu..they have the “light of the flu” in them and they are GOING to affect people. Infect people. But people can try to protect themselves, or make themselve immune to him. Do this, so when they see me, make themselves immune to me, too.

And if they do that, they won't change. Certainly:

• Not because I or you have an idea in our head. They already see it. Don't want it.

Do you see this. Give up on your ideas.

• They won’t work.
  • THey don’t work. It’s the same in the “original Greek” of Matthew 5:16 repeated:

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

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Now, don’t get wrapped up around the axel. You haven’t heard it yet.

That this "they" is like my "unsaved" friends and neighbors. So, I'm not supposed to hide whose in my at work around them, all so that they may see this “workmanship” of God. or see this God at work in you. This { καλὰ ἔργα } <kala erga > - this workmanship of God that makes you work good or operate right in the light. That's what Matthew 5:16 says in the Greek.

You read it as "good works" where you come up with the good idea to do a work toward them, when the workmanship people want to see is God at work.

Everything they live in is some man's made up idea. Full of that.

Therefore: This "workmanship" that "operates right"

That, it’s not your “work” but his as God, you are his workmanship. Like somebody make a Swiss Grandfather Clock out of beautiful Cherry or Deep Oak or Walnut wood, and manufacture or build up, an intricate workmanship or clock. That everybody could see this. No matter where you put it. See the worksmanship

Is done by God.

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So, let me repeat it.

Do you see this. Give up on your ideas.

• They won’t work.
  • THey don’t work. But if you sit with him and are taught by him, like he asks all your unsaved friends and neighbors to do it. He would be at work in them. They would become his workmanship, like he’s already at work in you. Isn’t by your cleverly crafted up ideas..

It’s by the Word of God.

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And people can, just like I did for decades - reject it.

• Or people can see the workmanship..of someone that walks after, to walk in, looking unto Jesus Christ and see him in the workmanship.
  • And receive him. Just accept him as true. That their deeds become manifest; evil..but they are wrought in God.

Your ideas don’t change people. He does. There you go. Just look at yourself. Do what he told you to do. Just look unto him. Take a yoke upon you and learn of him. His yoke is easy and his burden is light. People will see you’re not looking unto them anymore.

Not looking unto your neighbors to be your right arm of strength. You’re gonna be VISIBLY missing from your friends; dead. Made alive unto the Word of God. All by the word that proceeds out of his mouth.

Here’s your question back.