Several times during his administration the past president of the United States gave a full pardon to some prisoners.Their criminal records were completely wiped clean as though their crimes had never existed. They were then set free to enjoy the benefits of their brand new beginnings.

This is a picture of what happens when a person becomes “born again” as stated in the Bible in John 3:3 and 1 Peter 1:23.

A new creation

The Bible says it very clearly this way: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17)

Declared righteous

At the moment a person becomes “born again,” God completely forgives their past! He no longer remembers their past sins as though they never happened! He then declares them to be a righteous person!

“Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:1)

“Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life! And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Rom. 5:9-11)

Benefits for the righteous

There are wonderful benefits for the righteous in the form of God’s promises! Look what the Bible says about the righteous person.

“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, ‘The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.’” (Psalm 92:12-15)

They will

• Flourish like a palm tree

• Grow like a cedar of Lebanon

• Be planted in the house of the Lord

• Flourish in he courts of our God

• Bear fruit in old age

• Stay fresh

• Stay green

• Proclaim great truths about the Lord:

This is because

• "The Lord is upright”

• “He is my rock”

•   “There is no wickedness in Him”

Claim the above promises for yourself!

They are for those who are saved. For those who have believed and confessed Jesus as their savior.

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom. 10:9-10)

“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.” (Acts 1:8 ESV)

Here are a few ways you can distribute gospel tracks

1.     Hand them to people - The most logical and most effective method of distributing gospel tracts is to simply hand them to people; especially to those who you already know and have a positive relationship with. They are usually the most receptive. Always keep some in your pocket and watch and pray for opportunities the Holy Spirit will direct you to. For instance, one day I was in a big hotel attending a business conference, and I got into an elevator to go to a meeting held on an upper floor. Stepping in at the same time was a well dressed businessman with a briefcase. He reached over to push the button for the floor he wanted and then he said to me, “Are you going up?” And I said, “Well yes, I am. In fact, this morning I got up, I am prayed up, and I’m ready to go up. How about you? Are you going up?” He laughed and said, “I can’t say that I am ready to go up. I wish I had your confidence.”  I then reached into my pocket, retrieved a gospel tract and handed it to him with a smile. I said, “This little pamphlet will explain how you can be absolutely sure you will go up!” He laughed, took it from my hand and said, “Thank you, I will read this.” We then reached his floor and got out. After he had left the elevator, I prayed a little prayer for him. I prayed that he would read the tract, that he would be drawn by the Holy Spirit, and that he would  pray to receive Christ. 

2.     Mail them to people – Include them with letters and cards to your family and friends. If you own a business you can put them in with business correspondence such as with invoices, statements and payments. By the way, you get up to one ounce of weight for a first class postage stamp. That amounts to 5 pages of normal weight letter-size pieces of paper and one standard #10 business size envelope. Most business correspondence is only one page so you have all that extra room available to use at no extra charge. The gospel tract you tuck in gets a free ride!

3.     Leave them in places where they may be found. As I travel around the country, I have discovered that most hotel rooms have Gideon Bibles in their drawers and/or other religious books there, such as the Koran. I tuck a tract inside their front covers where they may be discovered later by other travelers. Other good places to leave tracts are along with your generous tips at restaurants and for the hotel room-maid when you check out after your stay. When I travel in my RV I leave them at rest stops and other places I visit along my route, especially where literature is generally left for visitors. 

4.     Include them in shipments – I print and ship “People Can Be Recycled, Too!” Gospel tracts to many automotive recycling companies who include them in every shipment. They, too, get a free ride with every customer order. 

5.     Have them displayed at your business in a prominent location - perhaps at the front counter, or in waiting areas: “Free, take one”. 

Our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit

“Because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.” (1 Thess. 1:5 ESV)

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isa. 55:11 KJV)

Yesterday I shared about preaching the Word using gospel tracts. The following story, which has been around a long time and the author is unknown, tells the story of how a child was used in a miraculous way when distributing his last tract. (Warning: Get out some tissue!)

My Last Tract: (Author Unknown)

Every Sunday afternoon, after the morning service at their church, the Pastor and his eleven-year-old son would go out into their town and hand out Gospel Tracts. This particular Sunday afternoon, as it came time for the Pastor and his son to go to the streets with their tracts (it was very cold outside as well as pouring down with rain). The boy bundled up in his warmest and driest clothes and said, "OK Dad, I'm ready." His Pastor Dad asked, "Ready for what?" "Dad, it's time we gathered our tracts together and go out." Dad responds, "Son, it's very cold outside and it's pouring down with rain." The boy gives his Dad a surprised look, asking, "But Dad, aren't people still going to Hell, even though it's raining?" Dad answers, "Son, I am not going out in this weather." Despondently the boy asks, "Dad, can I go, Please?" His father hesitated for a moment, then said, "Son, you can go. Here are the tracts. Be careful son." "Thanks Dad"!!!  And with that he was off and out into the rain. This eleven-year-old boy walked the streets of the town going door to door and handing everybody he met in the street a Gospel Tract.

After two hours of walking in the rain he was soaking bone-chilled wet and down to his VERY LAST TRACT. He stopped on a corner and looked for someone to hand a tract to, but the streets were totally deserted. Then he turned toward the first home he saw and started up the sidewalk to the front door and rang the door-bell. He rang the bell, but nobody answered. He rang it again and again but, still no one answered. He waited but still no answer. Finally this eleven-year-old trooper turned to leave, but something stopped him. Again he turned to the door, and rang the bell and knocked loudly on the door with his fist. He waited, something holding him there on the front porch. He rang again, and this time the door slowly opened. Standing in the doorway was a very sad looking elderly lady. She softly asked, "What can I do for you son?" With radiant eyes and a Smile that lit up her world, this little boy said, "Ma’am, I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU, and I came to give you my very last Gospel Tract which will tell you all about JESUS and His great LOVE." With that he handed her his last tract, and turned to leave. She called to him as he departed, "Thank you son! And God Bless You!"

Well, the following Sunday morning in Church, Pastor Dad was in the pulpit and, as the service began, he asked, "Does anybody have a testimony, or want to say anything?" Slowly, in the back row of the Church, an elderly lady stood to her feet. As she began to speak, a look of glorious radiance came from her face as she said, "None of you in this church know me. I've never been here before. You see, before last Sunday I was not a Christian. My husband passed on some time ago, leaving me totally alone in this world. Last Sunday, being a particularly cold and rainy day, it was even more so in my heart as I came to the end of the line where I no longer had any hope or will to live. So I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic of my home. I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof, then stood on the chair and fastened the other end of the rope around my neck. Standing on that chair, so lonely and broken-hearted, I was about to leap off when suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell downstairs startled me. I thought, 'I'll wait a minute, and whoever it is will go away.' I waited and waited, but the ringing doorbell seemed to get louder and more insistent, and then the person ringing also started knocking loudly. I thought to myself again, 'Who on earth could this be? Nobody ever rings my bell or comes to see me.' I loosened the rope from my neck and started for the front door, all the while the bell rang louder and louder. When I opened the door and looked, I could hardly believe my eyes, for there on my front porch was the most radiant and Angelic little boy I had ever seen in my life. His SMILE, Oh, I could never describe it to you!!! And the words that came from his mouth caused my heart, that had long been dead, TO LEAP TO LIFE as he exclaimed with cherub-like voice, 'Ma’am, I just came to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU.' Then he gave me this Gospel Tract that I now hold in my hand. As the little Angel disappeared back out into the cold and rain, I closed my door and read slowly every word of this Gospel Tract. Then I went up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn't be needing them any more. You see, I am now a Happy Child of the KING, and since the address of your church was on the back of this Gospel Tract, I have come here to personally say THANK YOU TO GOD'S LITTLE ANGEL WHO CAME JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME AND, BY SO DOING, SPARED MY SOUL FROM AN ETERNITY IN HELL."

There were now no dry eyes in the church. And as Shouts of Praise and Honor to THE KING resounded off the very rafters of the building, Pastor Dad descended from the pulpit to the front pew where the little Angel was seated. He took him in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably. Probably no church has had a more glorious moment. And probably this universe has never seen a Papa that was more filled with love and honor for his son - EXCEPT for One - this FATHER also allowed His Son to go out into a cold and dark world. He received His Son back with joy unspeakable, and as all of Heaven shouted Praises and Honor to THE KING, The FATHER sat HIS BELOVED SON on a Throne far above all Principality and Power . . . and every name that is named . . .

There may be SOMEONE reading this, who is also going through a dark, cold, lonely time in your soul. You may be a Christian, for we are not without our problems ~ or you may not yet know THE KING? Whatever the case, and whatever the problem or situation you find yourself in, and no matter how DARK it may seem, I want you to know that I just came to tell you ~ JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU! He really does! Receive His love right now! ~ Author Unknown.

Therefore…

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.” (John 1:12-13 NIV)

“…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9 ESV)

A prayer for salvation

The following is the prayer Billy Graham used in leading millions to Christ throughout the world. You can make it your prayer. 

“O God, I am a sinner. I’m sorry for my sins. I’m willing to turn from my sins. I receive Christ as savior. I confess Him as Lord. From this moment on I want to follow him and serve Him in the fellowship of His church. In Christ’s Name, Amen”

If you prayed this prayer, tell somebody! And please let me know at [email protected]

“The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” (Psalm 68:11 KJV)

What are gospel tracts?

The dictionary defines a tract as “a piece of writing expressing a strong belief, usually about religion or politics.” Therefore, gospel tracts are pieces of writing expressing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Fulfilling God’s command to “preach the Word” 

We’re commanded in 2 Timothy 4:2 to be ready to “preach the Word” at all times. People usually think of preaching as a spoken sermon, but there are many preaching methods. One way to “preach the Word” is through the use of gospel tracts which is the gospel message in written form usually on a small piece of paper or a pamphlet or booklet. I found one of them in a glove compartment while out partying with some friends over 50 years ago. We had stopped at a liquor store to get some beer. While my friends were in the store I rustled through their glove compartment for some matches to light a cigarette. I didn’t find matches, but I did find a small booklet with the title on front that said, “This Was Your Life!” It explained how Jesus had died on the cross for my sins and how I could pray and receive Him as my personal savior. I prayed that prayer and instantly my life was changed! I don’t know how that booklet got into my friend’s glove compartment (he wasn’t a Christian) but I’m glad it had been put there, because God used it to bring me to Jesus Christ. 

Where to get gospel tracts

• Chick publications: https://www.chick.com/ 

• Good News Tracts / American Tract Society: https://goodnewstracts.wordpress.com

• Gospel tract: “People Can Be Recycled, Too!” Below is link to a gospel tract I put together for the automotive recycling industry which I had worked in for many years in a business capacity. It’s called, “People Can Be Recycled, Too!” Many thousands of them have been printed and distributed broadly. Many automotive recycler companies include one in every product shipment. Even though created with auto recyclers in mind, they are used by many others who like the concept of people being “recycled to a new purpose” by Jesus. The digital version can be easily shared with anyone electronically. Feel free to share the link!

https://www.mikefrench.com/recycledpeople

Therefore…

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9 ESV)

“Let the redeemed of the LORD say so….” (Psalm 107:2 KJV) 

Fulfilling God’s command to “preach the Word” 

We’re commanded in 2 Timothy 4:2 to be ready to “preach the Word” at all times. One of the ways to do this is through the use of telling your own conversion story. Or, stated another way, by giving your personal testimony. Testimonies, often in the form of testimonials and endorsements, are given all the time in advertorials and commercials by satisfied customers sharing their positive experiences with products and services. This form of advertising is proclaimed by many experts to be the greatest form of advertising method there is because it’s so powerful and effective. Famous celebrities and athletes make millions of dollars in endorsement revenues because of it. A great example of someone using this method in the Bible is the Apostle Paul. He loved to give his testimony because he knew that there is a tremendous power in the word of a personal conversion story. He shared his testimony three times in the Book of acts (see Acts 9:3-20; 22:5-16; 26:12-19). Another great example is from a man who had been healed by Jesus from blindness (John 9:25). Religious leaders tried to trap him with religious questions but he didn’t argue with them. Instead, he testified to them by replying with, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” People find it hard to argue or refute someone’s personal story. 

How to prepare a personal testimony

“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)

Why have testimonies? - To witness to the unsaved. To give a first-hand proof of a satisfied customer. To be a blessing to, and to encourage other Christians.

What should a testimony consist of? - A testimony is the account of a personal experience with Jesus Christ. 

Where to give your personal testimony - At special events and programs. During witnessing opportunities with family, friends and strangers. Where you are invited to speak. 

Some don’ts - Don’t be too wordy, beat around the bush, or emphasize how bad you used to be. Don’t speak in glittering generalities. Don’t speak critically or negatively about any group, church, or individual. Don’t give the impression that the Christian life is a bed of roses. Avoid mannerisms when you speak, such as rubbing your nose, jingling coins or keys in your pocket, swaying, clearing your throat, and using verbal ticks such as “uh’s”, “likes”, and “you knows”.

When asked to give your testimony - Share with loving enthusiasm in the power of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18). Speak loudly and clearly in a natural, relaxed tone of voice. Smile often! Ask God to give you a happy, radiant face. Memorize your testimony and practice it until it becomes natural.

Outline for preparing your testimony

1)    Before I received Christ I lived and thought this way:

2)    How I received Christ:

3)    After I received Christ these changes took place:

4)    A pertinent or favorite verse by which I might close:

Therefore…

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Col. 4:6 ESV)

“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20 ESV)

“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.” (Rom. 1:16 ESV)

“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.” (Acts 1:8 ESV)

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2 Tim. 4.2 ESV)

The above passage is a command, not a suggestion! 

You must preach the Word, and do so “in season and out of season”. That means you must be ready (prepared) to do it any time, whether it’s convenient or not. 

But what if you cannot preach?

You may say that this command doesn’t apply to you because you cannot “preach”. But, preaching comes in many different forms, methods, styles and formats. The dictionary defines preach this way: “to make a speech about religion in a church or other public place; to deliver a sermon; to write or speak about (something) in an approving way; to say that (something) is good or necessary.” Preaching can be verbal, written, acted out, illustrated, taught, explained with visual art or music. It can be personally demonstrated and explained in many different ways. St Francis of Assisi, the Italian Catholic friar, church deacon and preacher, said, “Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words.” The obvious point he was making is that you don’t have to actually speak out the message verbally to share the gospel. You can simply go about living your life in the best way possible so as to shine your light before others so they will see Christ. Jesus said it this way, “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16 NIV)

Effective ways to “preach the Word”

Over the next few days I’m going to share a number of effective ways you can “preach the Word”, Beginning with how to share your testimony. 

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7 ESV)

The above passage is loaded with many exciting and wonderful promises that we can claim personally and rejoice about! Just look at 12 of them! 

In this passage we learn…

1)     God is loving and kind to us.

2)     God has appeared to us as our savior. 

3)     God has saved us. 

4)     God saves us by His mercy and not by any works we have done. 

5)     God saves us by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. 

6)     God has poured out His Holy Spirit on us richly. 

7)     Jesus Christ is our Savior.

8)     He has justified us (the word justified means “just as if I’d never sinned”). 

9)     He has saved us by His grace (that’s unmerited favor). 

10)  We have hope.

11)  We are heirs with Jesus. 

12)  We have eternal life. 

Therefore…

“Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!” (Psalm 31:19 ESV)

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6 ESV)

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Eph. 6:18 ESV)

What to do: 

 Don’t give up, keep thanking God for providing answers, and thank Him in all circumstances! “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” (Col. 4:2 ESV) 

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess 5:16-18

Therefore…

Rely on the Spirit of God in prayer. This is a tremendous truth: “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will” (Rom. 8:26-27). We have the Spirit’s help in praying. At the times of our deepest depression or sorrow, those times when we feel that we “just cannot pray,” we have the comfort of knowing that the Holy Spirit is actually praying for us! What an amazing God we serve!

Quote:

“I think Christians fail so often to get answers to their prayers because they do not wait long enough on God. They just drop down and say a few words, and then jump up and forget it and expect God to answer them. Such praying always reminds me of the small boy ringing his neighbor's door-bell, and then running away as fast as he can go.” - E.M. Bounds

“Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7 ESV) 

What to do:

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.  In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” (Eph. 5:22-33 ESV)

How to love your spouse

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Cor. 13:4-7 ESV)