“Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." (Matt. 9:2 NIV)

Most Christians are missing out!

Many of God’s followers have never had the joy of bringing someone else to the knowledge of a personal relationship with Christ. There are many reasons for this. Some are simply oblivious to their responsibility to share the Good News. Others would do so, but they do not know how, so they don't even try, although many clear opportunities may actually come their way. Some believe it's the exclusive responsibility of the clergy, not them. Then, there are those who are simply afraid to share their faith with anyone at all, like my friend Mary Beth. She attended my soul winner’s class at her church, mainly as something to do because she pretty much attended everything the church presented, no matter what. I taught the group how to use a little booklet to lead someone to Christ. It has Scripture verses and steps they could use to share Jesus with any interested person, and it even has a little prayer they could pray with anyone who wishes to invite Jesus into their life. It is a simple step-by-step tool. Anyone could easily use it to bring someone to Jesus… accept Mary Beth, as she exclaimed very sincerely. She told me she simply couldn't and wouldn't, because she was too shy, was an introvert, and quite frankly, was just too afraid to do it, period! I told her that once she knew how to bring someone to Jesus, He would provide the opportunity for her to do it. She just shook her head, laughed and said, “Mike, you're wonderful! You can easily share with anyone. That’s your personality, but it's not mine. I will never be able to do it!”

About a month later I saw Mary Beth at the county fair

She was sitting next to another woman and they were watching our Gospel Music program. I was the MC of the event made up of individuals and groups who were taking turns singing gospel songs. One of the singers was a black woman named Mildred Wynette. She had just finished a rousing version of the song, “Jesus got a hold of my life, and He won't let me go!” Her presentation was lively, animated and enthusiastic. After she finished the song, Mary Beth came up to me and said, “I just can't believe it! I was sitting next to a lady over there on the bench, and we were both tapping our feet to the music in enjoyment. The woman said, ‘Wow, you can sure feel the Lord’s presence when that lady sings!’ And, I said, ‘yes, you can. Are you a Christian, too?” And she said, “No, I'm not! I don't know how to become a Christian. I don't go to church and no one has ever explained what I should do to become a Christian.” And I said to her, ‘Oh, it's so easy to become a Christian! Let me show you this little booklet I just got at my church that explains it so clearly. I then took the booklet out of my purse and shared the simple steps with her. At the end of the booklet was the little prayer and she gladly prayed it with me! She invited Jesus to be her personal savior right then and there! I just can't believe it, I just led someone to Jesus!” I said, “Mary Beth, you’re wonderful!”

Be prepared to share!

Mary Beth thought she could never share Christ because she was shy. But, she was mistaken! Once she knew how, God set up the opportunity for her to use what she knew. The main reason most people don't share Jesus, is because they wouldn't know what to say if they were asked directly by someone who wanted to know. Don't let that happen to you!

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV)

Here is the simple plan, similar to what Mary Beth shared: www.mikefrench.com/recycledpeople

“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.” (Gal. 6:1 NLT)

It breaks my heart to often see fellow believers attack another brother or sister in Christ who may have failed in some way, or who they disagree with theologically. It shouldn't be that way! Ever! It's, unbiblical, unrighteous, unkind, divisive and destructive to God's kingdom work! Christians must support and help one another.  "If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand." (Mark 3:25 KJV)

Christians should NOT be devouring one another!

“But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.” (Gal. 5:15 ESV)

No one is perfect! 

Understand that no one is perfect and all stumble and "fall short.” (Rom. 3:23).  Therefore, always be kind and forgiving as Christ has forgiven you!

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32 ESV)

Kindness leads to repentance

 "Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? (Rom  2:4 NASB)

Outdo one another with genuine love!

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” (Rom. 12:9-13 ESV)

Have sympathy,  brotherly love  and a tender heart!

“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:8-12 ESV)

Your love for one another is the proof! 

"Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." (John 13:35 NLT)

 “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” (Rom. 8:11 NIV)

God has poured out His Holy Spirit on you abundantly!

“God poured out the Holy Spirit abundantly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior.” (Titus 3:6)

The Spirit brings life and peace!

“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” (Rom. 8:6 NIV)

The Holy Spirit teaches you!

“The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you.” (John 14:26)

The Holy Spirit helps you proclaim His message boldly,

“When they finished praying, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim God’s message with boldness.” (Acts 4:31)

The Spirit's presence in you is for the good of all!

“The Spirit’s presence is shown in some way in each person for the good of all.” (1 Corinthians 12:7)

The Spirit helps you to pray with power

“In the same way the Spirit also comes to help us, weak as we are. For we do not know how we ought to pray; the Spirit himself pleads with God for us in groans that words cannot express.” (Romans 8:26)

“But you, my friends, keep on building yourselves up on your most sacred faith. Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Jude 1:20)

“For in him we live and move and exist.” (Acts 17:28 NLT)

We are His workmanship

“For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph. 2:10 NIV)

You belong to God!

“But you belong to God, my dear children.” (2 John 4:4 NLT)

“Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it.” (Deut. 10:14 NASB)

“The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all it contains, You have founded them.” (Psalm 89:11).

Therefore, serve the Lord!

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” (Rom. 12:11 NIV)

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Col. 3:17 ESV)

“We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” (2 Peter 1:19 NIV)

A few years ago, I was remodeling a room that required putting up a few pieces of wallboard cut at odd angles. This was not a big challenge because it was a matter of measuring accurately and cutting the material carefully. I followed the rule of “measuring twice and cutting once” to assure no mistakes. I cut the first piece and then held it up to the place it was to be nailed to. But, to my surprise, it did not fit! I was sure I had measured correctly before cutting it! I had even written down the measurements before cutting. I rechecked them and they were correct! So, how could my angles be off? Then I decided to check the accuracy of my tools. The tape measure was correct, so that wasn't the problem. However, the t-square I had been using to cut with was off by a quarter of an inch! Somehow it had gotten bent, so anything I would use it for would be wrong! Now I understood why it hadn't fit and how to fix it. After getting an accurate t-square, my cut pieces fit perfectly.

Use the Word of God for accuracy!

In the same way, if your personal belief system or philosophy of life which you are using to base your decision-making process on is not biblically accurate, the results could be undesirable. I have a friend who told me many years ago that he made his life decisions based on Shakespeare's words, “Above all, to thine own self be true.” It may have sounded good to him, but it is not a Biblical concept. In fact, it's the exact opposite of God’s many commands about putting other’s needs ahead of yourself. Sadly, his unbiblical philosophy led to many negative consequences for him over the years, including failed marriages and problems with his business and children. His life could have been so much better had he based his decision-making philosophy on God’s Word, such as this verse: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matt. 7:24 NIV)

God’s Word judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12 NIV)

It will throughly equip you for every good work

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:15-17 NIV)

“Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” (2 Kings 19:18 KJV)

It’s easy for God’s people to look around at so much negativity in the news and get discouraged. You may be surprised to learn that feeling alone and discouraged is nothing new. The prophet Elijah thought he was the only one who had remained faithful to God. He went into a cave to sulk about it. But God found him there and asked him a question.

“What are you doing here Elijah?”

There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."

God replied to Elijah

“And do you remember God's reply? He said, "No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!" (Rom 11:4 NLT)

The fact there were 7,000 other faithful servants had to be encouraging to Him! And, there are actually millions of God’s servants all around you! So be encouraged. You have a lot more brothers and sisters than you think!

“In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice.” Rom. 11:5 NASB)

“So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure.” (Psalm 32:11 NLT).

The glad game

Hayley Mills won an Academy Award portraying the infectiously glad orphan in Walt Disney's "Pollyanna" (1960). She played a game called “the glad game” where she would find something to be glad about even in the most negative situations. Her attitude and game affected everyone in her town in many profound ways. According to Pollyanna there are 800 ‘rejoicing texts’ in the Bible. And she said that God must care an awful lot about being glad or He wouldn't have included so many verses in the Bible about it. I haven't counted them, so I don't know exactly how many glad and rejoicing verses there actually are in the Bible, but I do know there are a lot of them! And I do know it's very good to focus on the positive side of things. Here are just a few glad and rejoice verses. Of course, there are hundreds more.

Rejoice always!

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again”: Rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4 NIV)

Serve God with gladness!

“Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing.” (Psalm 100:2 NASB)

Rejoice in everything you put your hand to!

“There you and your families will feast in the presence of the LORD your God, and you will rejoice in all you have accomplished because the LORD your God has blessed you.” (Deut. 12:7 NLT)

Rejoice in your salvation!

“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.” (Psalm 13:5 NIV)

Rejoice in His Love!

“I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.” (Psalm 31:7 NIV)

Rejoice in His Name all day!

“They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness.” (Psalm 89:16 (NIV)

Rejoice because the Lord comforts and is compassionate!

“Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.” (Isa. 49:13 NIV)

 “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:6-7 NIV)

Because we have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above!

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:1-3 NIV).

You have been brought to fullness!

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.” (Col. 2:9-10 NIV)

You are one with Him in Spirit!

“But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.” (1 Cor. 6:17 NIV)

“The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.” (Psalm 34:19 NIV)

He is faithful! 

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” (2 Thes. 3:3 NIV)

He provides a way of escape!

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (2 Cor. 19:13 NIV)

So, do not fear!

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isa. 41:10 NIV)

Be strong and courageous!

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deut. 31:6 NIV)