Sharing the Gospel with Everyone

 

Missionary Jim Kilgore

 

There is an adage that says that there are only two certainties in life: death and taxes. But when you think about it….this familiar cliché’ is not entirely accurate. With the right deductions and a good accountant, many people have managed to avoid paying any taxes at all. But everyone will face the ultimate certainty that we all die. Death is an unavoidable reality for all people. 

The rich die as well as those that are poverty-stricken.  The rich man in Luke 16  died just as the beggar Lazarus had died. The educated as well as the illiterate face death.  Children died as do the elderly.  According to the following website,  https://www.quora.com we learn these facts about death. 

• 3 million people die each year
• 151,600 people die each day
• 6,316 people die each hour
• 105 people die each minute
• This means that each time your heart beats, TWO people slip off into eternity.

 

I often ask people I meet what I consider to be the most significant and important question in the world. “If you were to die today, are you 100% certain that you would go to Heaven, or would you honestly say, I just do not know?”    Why ask a such a question?  Because of the clear teaching of Scripture on the CERTAINTY of death, yet the uncertainty as to WHEN each person will die.   Hebrews 9:27 warns us of death and facing God in judgment. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”  I firmly believe that Jesus could remove all Christians from this world at any second (I Thessalonians 4:13-18), but until that happens, man will continue to die.  Therefore, God cautioned us to “…Prepare to meet thy God…” in Amos 4:12.   

 

Death is No Respecter of Persons

I have seen the young as well as the old die.  No one knows the day nor the hour of their death, so God implores each person to make the spiritual preparations today.  II Corinthians 6:2, “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation.)”

• The following message was sent to me by a godly friend in India.  “One of my students, a 10-year old girl went to be with the LORD for eternity today, just now. She trusted and accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior during the VBS (Vacation Bible School) conducted in our school last year, (Nov.6-10, 2017).”  I asked the cause of her death, and his reply was “Cause of death is unknown! A sudden death, black spot spotted all over her body.”  Her funeral will be tomorrow, January 6, 2018, in India.

 

• This is the second 10-year-old to die in the last 12-months that I am aware of.    In the Philippines, I was soul-winning with a pastor when we came upon a casket.  I asked to go and have prayer with the family. As we approached the home, we noticed there were two caskets.  The one we saw was the 38-year-old husband and father.   The second coffin was for his ten-year-old son that died that tried to save his father’s life.  The son tried to rescue his father from the electrocution.  But the young man was likewise electrocuted while pulling the wires off his dad.   Both died from the incident.     I am uncertain as to the spiritual condition of the father and his son, but at the casket, God allowed me the opportunity to lead six adults one of whom was the wife and mother, to Jesus Christ.  The events of that day led me to thank God for all the parents, grandparents, godly teachers, and youth-workers investing in the spiritual welfare of our young people. 

• We seem to think that death only invades the ranks of the elderly and aged.  Yet at the age of 38 death wrapped its ugly arms around my first wife, Cathy Kilgore.  I am so grateful that as a CHILD Cathy had made her decision to accept Jesus Christ as her only hope of going to Heaven.  II Corinthians 5:8 reminds us of a blessed and comforting truth.  “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 

 

• I was in Bohol, Philippines four years ago when I took three people to go soul-winning with me.  The first house closest to the church had three people sitting in their yard.  We were invited to sit and talk with them when I turned the conversation to spiritual matters.  All three made their decision to accept Jesus Christ as their only hope of going to Heaven.  None of us sitting there knew that the elderly lady would die just three weeks later.  I learned of her death from her Grandson that is a Baptist Pastor in Cebu, Philippines.  He wrote, thanking me “For doing what he SHOULD be doing, sharing the Gospel with my family.” 

 

• Three years ago, in Crawfordsville, Indiana, USA, I went to visit a man in the hospital and was honored to lead him to Jesus Christ only to learn that he died two weeks later.  We just do not how much time a person has so we must share the Gospel daily.  The opportunities surround us to evangelize those that may not know how to prepare to meet God.  They are crying out as the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:30-31, “…Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

 

•  She Died 24 Hours Later.  Over one year ago in Hong Kong (2016), I had scheduled a meeting with a 35-year-old lady that was a friend of one of our Church members.  This meeting was to take place on Skype at 10:30 am Asian time.   At 10:15 some of her friends came to her asking her to attend a birthday party celebration with them.  She agreed and told our church member the following, “Please  tell the Missionary that she will meet him the following Sunday at 10:30 to hear How to go to Heaven.” 

 

• I was flying to Tokyo’s Narita Airport during 2017 when our plane nearly crashed due to the severe weather and high turbulence.  People were screaming lime one would in a horror movie.  I looked into the faces of many screaming and hysterical people.  The lady sitting next to was doing the sign of the cross.  We had seconds before the crash that seemed inevitable. But God in Glorious Grace spared each life aboard the plane.  As we landed roughly, the Pilot did a magnificent job of preventing the plane from crashing.  Once we were safe, all of the passengers on board that I could see was clapping like their favorite team had just won a championship.  I turned to the lady sitting next to me and asked her if she had died would she had gone to heaven.  She said, probably not. I asked her if I could tell her how she could know, but she said she was okay. 

She represents so many people.  She had just stared death in the face, and God allowed her another opportunity to make her decision for heaven.  Like King Agrippa, she was ALMOST persuaded to become a Christian but chose to reject the Son of God for Salvation.  Acts 26:28, “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”

 

WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH JESUS CHRIST?  

In Romans 10:13 God has made you a PROMISE.  The promise is conditional upon your willingness to sincerely call upon Jesus Christ in simple faith, receiving what He has done for you while on the Cross, to pray your sin debt.  Romans 6:23b, “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

 

 

 

UNDERSTANDING BEFORE MAKING A JUDGMENT

UNDERSTANDING BEFORE MAKING A JUDGMENT

Proverbs 18:13:  “He that answered a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” 
 

Far too often this proverb is confirmed in our daily interactions with other people. How often have we been swift to share our opinion on a matter before hearing all of the known facts that were available?  People today scarcely will listen to another individual before they cut the person off from speaking and immediately share their thoughts. An opinion is often given before one even has enough information to voice their thoughts on the subject.
 
Sometimes we’re like the couple who were with some friends when the subject of marriage counseling came up. Mary said, “Oh, Tom and I will never need marriage counseling. We have a great relationship. He was a communications major in college and I majored in drama. He communicates really well and I just act like I’m listening.”

It appears this was the case with the friends of Job that were quick to condemn Job before hearing the facts.  Elihu, on the other hand wisely restrained himself from giving his opinion until he had heard the matter.

Notice the wisdom in Job 32:10, 11: “Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion. Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.”   He seemed to be wise enough to understand. Proverbs 18:13:  “He that answered a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.”  Christians must learn to carefully listen to and weigh the facts before making a reply.

There was an individual in the Bible that had employed a young man by the name of Joseph.  Joseph was a godly man and Scripture states that “…his master saw that the LORD was with him…”  (Genesis 39:3).
 
Potiphar heard an accusation against Joseph, which led him to rush to judgment and ultimately condemn an innocent man.    Potiphar, heard the report of his wife, and immediately assumed that what was spoken to him was true.  How often good people have been hurt by those rushing to judgment.  Potiphar failed to gather the facts before jumping to a conclusion about Joseph.  
 

A Teacher Began Her Story . . .

 
A cruise ship met with an accident at sea. On the ship was a couple with an infant. Making their way to the lifeboat, they realized that there was only space for just one of them left. The lifeboat was drifting away and it would be a miracle if either could jump into it. At that moment, the man pushed the woman aside, grabbed the baby and leaped onto the lifeboat himself. His wife stood on the sinking ship and shouted just one sentence to her husband.

The teacher stopped and asked, “What do you think she shouted?”   Most of the students excitedly answered, “Why did you do that? I hate you!”
 
Now, the teacher noticed a boy who was silent throughout and called on him to answer. He replied, “Teacher, I believe she would have shouted, ‘Take care of our baby!'”
 
The teacher was surprised, asking “Have you heard this story before?”  The boy shook his head, “Nope, but that was what my mom told my dad before she died from cancer.”
 
The teacher lamented, “Your answer is correct. The cruise ship sank. The man went home and brought up their daughter single-handedly.”
 
Many years later after the death of the man, their daughter found his diary while tidying his belongings. It turns out that when parents went onto the cruise ship, the mother was already dying from a terminal illness. At that critical moment, the father rushed to the only chance of survival for the sake of their child.

He wrote in his diary, “How I wished to sink to the bottom of the ocean with you, but for the sake of our daughter, I can only let you lie forever below the sea alone.”

The story was finished, the class was silent. The teacher reminded the children that we should never focus on the surface and judge others without understanding them first.
 
Proverbs 29:11:  “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.”

Ecclesiastes 5:2: “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.”

Proverbs 15:28: “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.” 
 
In closing this Bible study, it must be pointed out that even God, who is omniscient (all-knowing), gathers the facts as an example to us before making His determinations. 

God examined Adam before pronouncing judgment upon him (Genesis 3:9-19).  God came down to Babel before casting His sentence and confusing the languages,(Genesis 11:5).    God even came down to before the destruction of Sodom, (Genesis 18:20,21).

I Samuel 2:3, “Let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.”

Deuteronomy 32:4, “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”
 

If You Judge, Investigate Thoroughly

Why God? And Why Now?

Missionary Jim Kilgore

 

Romans 11:33: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

Some of you right now are hurting. Some of you are struggling with problems and the pressures of everyday life. Some are facing deep-seated fears about the future. Some have recently lost a Family member that you loved dearly. The pain seems almost unbearable at times. You try to remain strong, yet you feel so weak. You wonder how much more you can take. You wonder how much longer you can hang on.

Some begin asking the questions, “Why God? And Why Now? Why does everything seem to be ripping me apart? God, Why me? What have I done that has made you Do these things to me?

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In April, I wrote about Devastation: “The News That you NEVER Expected To Hear.” I dealt with our Biblical responses to a tragedy in our lives, and how we might Glorify our Lord in the midst of devastation.

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Listen to me very carefully. God NEVER does anything to You; God is always doing things FOR you!  The songwriter reminds us that “God never moves without purpose or plan.”

Ron Hamilton WROTE the song of great encouragement called “Rejoice in the Lord” to those that are wondering Why God? And Why Now?

“God never moves without purpose or plan
When trying His servant and molding a man.
Give thanks to the LORD though your testing seems long;
In darkness, He giveth a song.

I could not see through the shadows ahead;
So I looked at the cross of my Savior instead.
I bowed to the will of the Master that day;
Then peace came, and tears fled away.

Now I can see testing comes from above;
God strengthens His children and purges in love.
My Father knows best, and I trust in His care;
Through purging more fruit I will bear.

O Rejoice in the LORD
He makes no mistake,
He knoweth the end of each path that I take,
For when I am tried
And purified,
I shall come forth as gold.”

By Dr. Ron Hamilton

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You might want to read the second part of my April message: “Devastation: The News You NEVER Expected To Hear.”

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God and He Alone Knows Why Everything Happens

“And his ways past finding out” (11:33c). Matthew Henry has a helpful word about this. The main things God wants us to know are clear and plain. They are he said, like a highway open for all to travel. But the judgments of his hands are dark and mysterious. That road is closed forever to us.

We must not pry into the mysteries of God but rather bow before him in adoration for things we don’t understand. Then he added this sentence: “God leaves no footprints behind him.” You can’t tell where God has been or where the Almighty is going. He leaves no track or trail that we can follow.

That means that many things will happen in our lives that we simply will not understand. Sickness, violent crimes, sudden financial reversals, divorce, broken dreams, cancer, death. The list is endless and heartbreaking.

If God Had Come To You 17 Years Ago And Said, ‘I’ll Make You A Bargain”

A few years ago Michael Gartner wrote in USA Today about the sudden death of his 17-year-old adopted son Christopher. “He died on Thursday. He was a healthy, robust boy on Tuesday. He got sick on Wednesday. And he died on Thursday.” Then he said, “You would have liked him. Everyone did.” Father and son didn’t look alike at all. Michael Gartner is five-foot-eight and weighs 160. Christopher was close to six-four and weighed around 300 pounds. “He looked like a cement block with a grin.”

He died of a sudden attack of juvenile diabetes. Despite heroic medical efforts and fervent prayers, Christopher was suddenly gone. “It is awful and horrible and sad, and no words can comfort his four grandparents, his brother and sister, his friends or his parents.”

The day after he died, a friend called and said the only thing helped get him through the tragedy was the wise counsel of a good friend. “If God had come to you 17 years ago and said, ‘I’ll make you a bargain. I’ll give you a beautiful, wonderful, happy and healthy kid for 17 years, and then I’ll take him away,’ you would have made that deal in a second.”

“And that was the deal. We just didn’t know the terms,” Michael Gartner said. He’s right. That’s always the deal. And we never know the terms in advance. God gives us life, health, happiness, our children, our friends, and says, “Enjoy it while you can. Someday I will come back for them.” And we never know the terms in advance.

Only God Knows Why Things Happen. Most Of The Time We Can Only Wonder

And even if we knew the Reason God allowed something to happen, other than to conform us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29), would the explanation satisfy?

I Have Learned Through The Years That I Cannot Live By Explanations, But I Can Live By God’s Promises

 

Introducing Jim Kilgore Ministries

Assessing and Analyzing Weak Performance

 Missionary Jim Kilgore

 

How many times have the Pastor, Director, or Supervisor agonized over a performance problem in the Church or Business?   During the interview process, all of the questions seemed to be answered correctly;  the attitude seemed to be so positive;  and you were convinced of a solid, “Better than Average” work ethic. 

Yet as time went on you noticed the enthusiasm waning;  the performance objectives simply were not being met;  and you even discovered that this individual was just “putting in their time.”  Yes, they displayed a lot of Activity, yet so little Accomplishment. 

You were at a loss for words.  What has happened, you asked yourself? What started with high expectations has turned into what might become a “Big Bust” if things do not change, and change rather quickly.

Now you find yourself in a quandary.  What shall I do now?  What are the next steps that must be taken?  I do not want to fire this young preacher?  Yet if his performance does not improve, what choice will I have?

These are some fair questions you might be asking, however they are three questions that I have earned from “Experience” to ask, and then prayerfully answer. 

As a leader, you compromise the team by failing to address poor performance. When I noticed someone had developed a pattern of poor work, I would ask the following questions about the individual.  You must as well.

(1)   Are they ‘In Over their Heads’?   If so, TRAINING is the Solution

• If I determine that someone is, it is ‘over their heads,’ it is at this point that I ask myself the following question.  Are they in this position because it is a matter of ‘Skill or Will?’

•  If it is a ‘Will’ issue, then I will discipline the individual and provide a development plan to improve performance.  If it is a  ‘Skill’ issue, then I will provide additional training.

(2)   Are they Sitting in the WRONG Seat? If so, TRANSFERRING is the Solution

I ask myself, “Do I have the right person sitting in the wrong seat on the bus?  Someone may have abundant ability, and yet still perform poorly if they are in the wrong position. If this is the case, consider the possibility of transferring them to another role, that may be much better suited to their natural strengths.  Perhaps they are not suited to be your Youth Pastor, but you believe they could perform very well as your Evangelism Pastor.  This is a position you might consider for them, and you might well see them excel.

(3)     Are they Unwilling to Change?    If so, TERMINATION is the Solution

It’s Not Your Job to “Fix” Every Under-performer. This sounds so harsh, but the hardest lesson in leadership for me to accept over the years has been to accept that I could not help everyone to become a top performer.  I could teach, train, coach, motivate, but in some cases, we must finally admit that we made an unwise selection choice. 

Years ago I had inherited a full-time Assistant Pastor that was a definite under-achiever. There is no doubt but that he had the spiritual gifts, talent, and ability to succeed in this position.  However, he simply was not performing well at all.  He would often be at home when he should had been at work.  So I was faced with a critical decision concerning him.

 I was forced to ask each of the above questions, and determined that he possessed  a Will issue rather than a Skill issue.   We needed to move on in different directions, but as friends.

As leaders, we put faith in our people; we care deeply about those in our charge, and we definitely believe in their ability to grow and contribute. For these reasons, we can sometimes be tempted to help under-performers more than is wise. We think that by devoting extra attention to them we can lead them to succeed. However, while we are responsible to them, we aren’t responsible for them. Ultimately, only they can make the changes needed to bring their performance up to a satisfactory level. 

 

As a Leader, How do you Determine Whether Spending Extra Time Coaching an Under-Performer Will Be Profitable or Pointless?

Jesus Was Constantly In Pursuit Of Lost Souls, Are You?

Jesus Was Constantly In Pursuit Of Lost Souls, Are You?

Luke 19:10,   Romans 10:1

Missionary Jim Kilgore

Romans 10:1, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” In this verse of Scripture Paul reveals his love of lost souls. It is what he lived for, and ultimately was worth dying for. His love for lost souls consumed his heart and mind each day. II Corinthians 5:11: “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”

Paul had the same passion for souls as he knew to be true in our Lord. In Luke 19:10 Jesus said, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” This was the reason for Jesus leaving the splendors of Heaven and coming into this world of woe. It was to pay the sin debt of a guilty world, and to open up Heaven for any and all that will sincerely call upon Him (Romans 10:9-13).

The Call of Evangelism

On December 14, 2014, I prayed and asked God if He would help me to share the Gospel with at-least one person every day, for the rest of my life. I realize that my time is short, and therefore I must do all that I can while I can to reach this world for Jesus Christ.

To become like Jesus is to focus on what Jesus focused upon during His earthly ministry.  He cared about the unsaved.   Jesus Christ desires that all people come to repentance.  The proof is that Jesus tasted death for every man, Hebrews 2:9 states, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

The Bible states in 1 Corinthians 7:29: “But this I say, brethren, the time is short.”   This means that your time is short and that my time is short.  The time is short!  It also means that in light of this truth, you and I MUST do all that we can while we can for the cause of Christ.  We must not delay; we must not meander;  we must not approach the work of Christ as though we have many years left .

We have a Biblical obligation to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to each unsaved man, woman, and child.  But why the urgency?

• Did you know that each time your heart beats two people have slipped off into eternity?   
• This means that 125,000 souls died every day!
• Furthermore, this means that 875,000 enter either Heaven or Hell every week.

Again, the Bible says, “the time is short.”  I once heard a godly preacher reveal a rather startling fact he had read from a magazine article.  It said, “only 2% of the world’s population claims to have placed their faith in Jesus Christ and expect to go to heaven on the basis of what Jesus has done for them. If this article is accurate, it would mean that 98% are going to hell when they die!!  John 14:6 says, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” 

What a tragedy to reject Christ and spend eternity separated from God when it does NOT need to happen.  The Bible emphatically states in II Peter 3:9: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

At the rate the modern Church is winning the lost to Christ, it would take over 4,000 years to win each person IF we had the ability to stop all births and all deaths during those 4,000 years. What a shameful fact. Ezekiel 33:8 says, “When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”

Scriptural Motivations To Be A Soul-Winner

The Desire of Jesus Christ is a great motivator to win souls.    Luke 19:10: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost

The Love of Jesus Christ is a great motivator to win souls.    II Corinthians 5:14: “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died  for all, then were all dead:”

The Teaching of Hell is a great motivator to win souls. Paul was willing to go to hell for his country if it would have saved them, which of course, he could not. Romans 9:1-3: “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.”  

It was Charles Spurgeon that once said, “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and un-prayed for.”  Oh dear God, create this deep agony of soul into our lives.”  

How Committed Are You To Spreading the Gospel?

It takes passion and commitment to move a cause forward. Others have to vividly see this in you or they simply will not believe you and follow your persuasion. We often go about our mission in life in a routine manner.  In what do you believe?  Is there a Hell? Is there a Hell? Is there REALLY an honest to goodness place where right now, people are burning, and begging, and falling, and screaming?   Is there a Hell?

If so, How committed are you to your cause?  Will your present level of commitment be enough? These are important questions to ask yourself.

 

The Story Of Charles Peace

“Sir, I do not share your faith.  But if I did – IF I believed what you say you believed – then although England were covered with broken glass from coast to coast, I would crawl the length and breadth of it on hand and knee and think the pain worthwhile, just to save a single soul from this eternal hell of which you speak.” ~Charles Peace

Charles Peace was a career criminal in England in the 1800s.  He committed frequent burglaries and was eventually convicted and hanged for assassinating a man. 

Charles made the statement above to a preacher that visited him just prior to his execution.  It was the preacher’s job to give Mr. Peace the opportunity to confess his crimes and save his soul prior to his execution.

Apparently, the preacher provided this type of service for the prison regularly.  It might have become somewhat routine to him.  Apparently, this was obvious to Charles Peace.  The reverend’s passion and commitment to his faith obviously did not shine through to Charles.  He was not convincing.

My Question To You Today Is Simple: Would You Crawl Across Broken Glass In Order To Share the Gospel?

 

Hell is a PLACE

• It is as real as heaven.
• If you knew a restaurant’s food was poisonous, you would start up a campaign to warn people against the danger! Hell is as real as any restaurant, and the danger is much greater!
• If you knew a road in this town had a drop-off in it that would always result in certain death, you would take steps to warn people! Hell is as real as any road a person may travel, and the danger is greater!

Hell is PAINFUL

Look at the horrors of that place! Look at the flames! Look at the tormented souls! Look at them scream and gnash their teeth in pain!

Do you want people to suffer there because you are too scared or too tired to go soul-winning?

Hell is PERMANENT

There is no escape once a person goes to hell.   It is forever! There is no rest! There is no refreshment! There is no retirement! There is no review of one’s sentence! Imagine the agony, the utter horror, the perpetual pain from being in eternal torment.

Hell is PREVENTABLE

No one HAS to go to hell, but MOST people WILL go to hell! We must warn them!

 

The Beginning of My Evangelism Journey

I faced the stark reality of this truth when at the tender age of 20, God spoke to my heart about rising from my bed and going to the local hospital in order to witness to a man.  I had worked hard all week long and quite frankly, I was exhausted.  I promised God that I would visit this man in the morning.

God again pressed this man upon my heart.  I knew God what god wanted me to do, but I was lazy and did not go.  I went to the hospital the next day as I promised God I would do, but when I asked to see the man, I was told that he had died just a few hours before my arrival.

Ezekiel 33:8 screamed out at me as clearly as if you had screamed it at me.  I looked at my hands and became overcome with emotion as I knew that I now had to live with the blood of a lost man forever.

All I could do was to cry out to God for forgiveness and it was then that I made a solemn vow to pass out Gospel tracts and witness to anyone He led me to.

Will You Witness? Or Will You Support Someone That Is?

What about you my dear brother and sister in Christ?  Will you look at your hands and ask yourself the question, “Do I have the blood of those in hell upon my hands?”  Will you not also commit your life to the winning of the unsaved to Jesus Christ?

My question to you is: how long, if ever, has it been since you have personally won a lost soul to Christ?

Another personal question, would you know how to win an unsaved person to Jesus if one asked YOU to?

If not, I would like to help you.  Please leave me a contact number and I can teach you how to win a soul to Jesus.

JimKilgoreMinistries@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/jim.kilgore1

 

 

 

You Possess The Truth; But Does The Truth Possess You?

By Missionary Jim Kilgore

Recently I listen to an audio book on the missionary journeys of David Livingston, the great Missionary to Africa.   This man was so loved that when he died at 4am on May 1, 1873, the People of Africa wanted to bury his body in one of the villages.   Once it was determined this could not happen, they asked if they could have his heart and bury his heart in Africa, the country that he loved so well.  

May the words that you now read pierce deep into your heart. May this Missionaries account of his conversation with a Tribal Chief never escape your soul. For this is what BILLIONS might well ask at the great White Throne Judgement before being cast eternally into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:14,15).

Missionary Livingston was to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the. As was their tribal custom, whenever a new subject was brought before them, they wanted to ask questions about the new subject. He was to speak on the Love of Jesus Christ for all people. The Chief asked to be taught about a future judgment, so Dr. Livingston spoke of the great White Throne Judgement.

The Missionary started be reading and teaching on Revelation 20:11: “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away ; and there was found no place for them.” Then he explained Revelation 20: 14-15 which says, “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.“

Did Your Forefathers Know of This Judgment?

Sayshell the Chief exclaimed, “You startle me! These words make all of my bones to shake. I have no more strength left in me. Chief Sayshell asked, “Did your forefathers know of this judgment? Your forefathers were living at the same time as my forefathers.” Yes, they knew of this very well. They knew, and they clearly understood about the judgment of every non-believer. Then he spoke the following words that should burn deep into the heart and soul of every Christian, Pastor, and Missionary on deputation. “How is it, the Chief ask, that your ancestors did not send them word about these terrible things sooner? They ALL passed away into darkness, without knowing where they were going.”

 

Do You REALLY Believe What You Say You Believe?

From this question, I ask every Christian, each Pastor, and every single Bible-Believing Church in the World, regardless of your financial blessings, “Is there a hell (Luke 16:19-31)?

Is there a future judgement awaiting every unsaved person after the 1,000 year millennial reign of Jesus Christ on the earth (Revelation 21:8)?

Do you believe there is a Heaven so wonderful that every person that accepts Jesus Christ by faith will live eternally with Him (Romans 10:9-13)?

Is it really true that Jesus Christ became the only sacrifice for man and shed His blood as the only payment for man’s sin debt (Hebrews 2:9)?

Is it also true that everyone that does not receive Jesus Christ by faith will die and be cast into outer darkness (Matthew 22:13)?

Is it also true that each lost person will spend their eternity in a place where there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 22:13)?

Is it likewise true that God desires that EVERY person learn of the atoning work of Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:9)?

Do you honest to goodness believe in these doctrinal truths? Have these truths gripped your heart and soul? Oh my, how many people will exclaim at the Great White Throne Judgment, “Psalm 142:11, ‘’No man cared for my soul.”

Meet Shammy, a Lady That Came to Jesus While on Social Media

I humbly share a story of a lady living in a middle-eastern country.  Her name is Shammy. I first met this lady as she requested my friendship in Facebook through only one common friend. We talked for maybe three minutes when I asked her the most important question in the world. Shamsa I asked, if you were to die today, are you 100% sure that you would go to heaven, or would you have to say, I just do not know? She said that she was not sure. After 1:15 minutes on Facebook, this middle-eastern lady called upon Jesus Christ, and Him alone, for the salvation of her soul.

The next day she asked my permission to copy our conversation, as she greatly desired to share this glorious news with the people in her country.   Since no one had told her the truth about Jesus Christ and Heaven, in all of her 33 years of life, she wanted to make sure that others could hear and make their decision, based upon the Word of God. By the Glorious Grace of God, she won 108 souls to Jesus in less than two weeks. Altogether, she has teamed with our ministry to win over 3,000 people to Jesus Christ during 2014.

How Many People Like Shammy Would Go To Heaven If You Would Be Willing To Take The Gospel To Them?

She had written the following words to me: “No one ever asked me the question about where I would spend eternity until I met you on Facebook. I am so blessed with the visit I had with Missionary Jim as this conversation led me to submitting myself to Jesus Christ and then sharing the Gospel to others. My life was enriched, and was given far greater meaning since the day I have realized my need for Jesus Christ!”

How many people like Shammy would go to heaven if you would be willing to take the Gospel to them? Does this not remind you of how concerned God was over one lost soul standing in his chariot in a desert called Gaza, by whom we only know him as “The Ethiopian Eunuch?”

God placed such great value on that ONE soul that he removed Phillip from Samaria, where he had been preaching the Gospel (Acts 8:5), where many were turning to Jesus Christ and led him into the desert to help a seeking sinning understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 8:6, 12, 14, 25). He was able to explain the Scriptures and present the Glorious Gospel to the Eunuch. Thank God, he responded to the Gospel and was saved.

Church history tells us that this man took the Gospel and spread the Gospel through-out all of Africa following salvation in the desert of Gaza. Wow! Who could had known the impact this one soul would make for Jesus Christ.

It is the same with this middle-eastern lady. How many Missionaries could reach these precious people like Shammy if you would give sacrificially each month to those that are willing to go and whom are even now reaching many with the Gospel

Let us see the biblical principle presented by Jesus, used by the Missionary Philip, and subsequently used by this Missionary in winning Shammy to Jesus Christ.

 

The Biblical Pattern for Evangelizing the World

1. Jesus said that we are to present the Gospel Clearly (Matthew 28:19; John 14:6; Acts 4:12).
2. Phillip went and presented the Gospel (Acts 8:30, 35). Eunuch was Seeking Truth (Acts 8:31), but needed someone to explain the Gospel to him (Acts 8:28-31).  I was able to present the Gospel to Shammy through Social Media. She, like the Eunuch, was seeking Truth!
3. Jesus taught that the new convert is to follow the Lord in “Believer’s Baptism” (Matthew 28:19c).   Phillip baptized the man that had just received Jesus Christ (Acts 8:38-39).    Shammy was baptized in a water hole in her middle-eastern country, thus identifying her with Jesus Christ. This of course could mean death when you identify with Jesus in this particular Country.
4. Jesus said that we are to continue teaching or training the new Believer (Matthew 28:19d).  Although there is no record of who taught the Eunuch during his early days of becoming a becoming a Christian, but Church historians tell us that this man spread the Gospel through-out Africa.  

I believe that discipleship is a divinely given duty, as stated, for example, in the Great   Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Having said this, I must also point out that God sometimes provides for the training of men apart from the typical means. Saul, for example, was trained by God in the wilderness, and not by the apostles.

So, too, this Ethiopian was not trained by Philip or by any other Christian, so far as I can tell. In these exceptional cases, God will meet the need.

Shammy and I met every Friday on Skype (a video conferencing outlet) for 90 minutes each week, for sin to eight months to train her in the Word of God.

This is what we are all called upon to do. But the Missionary MUST get to the field.   How will you help? Each Christian has a personal responsibility to either go, to pray, or to give financially so another may repeat this process for Jesus Christ.

There Is An Urgency In Your Getting Heavily Involved In Missions

1. First, the time is short (I Corinthians 7:29).   Therefore, you must do all that you can while you can.
2. You could have less than 24 hours to live. Luke 12:20 is giving You a severe warning, “But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? “  

Why now?   Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die , but after this the judgment:”

You simply do not know the day nor the hour that you will die.   Therefore God has warned you to make your preparations to meet Him before you die (Amos 4:12).  

Therefore God even told you WHEN you should make your spiritual preparations in II Corinthians 6:2, “For he saith , I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold , now is the accepted time; behold , now is the day of salvation).”  

 

1. Jesus could return at any moment to snatch all Believers out of this world (II Thessalonians 4:13-18).    Jesus  will come as a thief in the night  (Matthew 24:43;      I Thessalonians 5:2).

One day you WILL stand before Jesus Christ as a Christ at what the Bible calls “The Judgement Seat of Christ” (II Corinthians 5:10). Every Christian WILL appear before Jesus Christ and give account of how faithful we were in the things of God (Romans 14:12).

It will be an awesome event to look into the eyes of Jesus and wish they you had done more. What possible explanation can you provide for NOT giving to get Missionaries to the field?

The greatest thought in my mind, is my personal accountability to God! It will not matter what I “Wanted” to do, but what did I actually do and what was my motive in doing it?   I cannot say that it was impossible for me to carry out the Great Commission when He personal commanded every believer to try and reach the World with the Gospel (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; John 20:21; Acts 1:8).

Obedience to these commands are not Optional, they are Orders to be Obeyed. And God expects each of us to be faithful in our obedience (II Corinthians 4:2). You Possess The Truth; But Does The Truth Possess You?

 

You Will, At The Judgement Seat Of Christ Say, “Thank God That I Did, Or, I Wish That I Would Had”

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The Glorious Grace of God

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Luke 23; 42, 43: “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

We once again return to Calvary. Calvary, the most sacred and significant place in the world. Calvary is the place where Jesus Died that you might Live. Calvary is the place where we see Man at his Worst while seeing God at His Best. Calvary, where the royal, rich, and red blood of our Sinless Saviour was shed so that wicked, vile sinners could make peace with God through His Son Jesus Christ.   Calvary, the place where the Angels in heaven wept while the Demons in hell were rejoicing.

Let us remember the first words of Jesus while hanging upon Calvary’s cross. We strained to listen as Jesus prayed for those that had just clamored for His crucifixion; then they placed the crown of thorns upon His head, and drove the thorns deep into His scalp.

Listen as the Son of God prays for those that spit upon Him; He prayed for those that had pummeled their fists into His face; He prayed for the one that thrust the spear into His side. In Luke 23:34: “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do …”

As the crowd stood gazing upon the One they had wanted to hang and suffer on the Cross, they stood beholding the excruciating pain of God’s only Son (Luke 23: 35). They had now started the mocking, the ridicule, the gambling for His clothing, the taunting to save Himself.   But this was NOT in plan of our Gracious God.

Finally the crowd heard a small conversation taking place between all three that were hanging on the cross. What were they saying? Each wanted to get closer to hear this monumental conversation that would have eternal consequences for both men on either side of Jesus (Luke 23: 39-43).

These words speak loudly and unmistakably of the Glorious Grace of God. Neither man had a right to ask Jesus to forgive them. They were both guilty, condemned men. They were convicted thieves.   Yet, God in His grace listened to each man and responded accordingly to each one.

The Clearest Picture Of Salvation By Grace In The Entire Bible

Grace is the unmerited, and the unmeritable favor of God. Grace is God NOT giving to man that which he deserves. If you and I received that which we deserve, we would all be burning and suffering in hell this very minute.   No, these men did NOT deserve God to even listen to them, let alone answer their prayers.

An Example Of God’s Grace

When a person works an eight-hour day and receives a fair day’s pay for his time, that is a wage.   When a person competes with an opponent and receive s a trophy for winning, that is a prize. When a person receives appropriate recognition for his long service or high achievements and good performance, that is an award.

But when a person is not capable of earning a wage, can win no prize, and deserves no award, yet receives such a gift anyway, it is a good picture of God’s unmerited favor. This is what we mean when we speak of the Grace of God.

 

Throughout His ministry, Jesus had been “the Friend of Sinners” (Matthew 11:19). His antagonists derided Jesus for this. They mocked Jesus by saying, Since Jesus loves sinners so much, and they were His companions in life, we will give Him the privilege of dying with them. Little did they realize that Jesus was actually dying FOR them and not merely WITH them (II Corinthians 5:21).

 

Let Us See What Each Person Represented While Hanging On The Cross

• We see one man dying IN his sin; one man dying OUT of his sin, and of course Jesus dying FOR sin.

• We witness one man Scoffing Jesus; another man Seeking Jesus; and Jesus Sacrificing Himself as the ONLY sacrifice for sin His Father would accept.

• We witness one man making a decision to go to Hell; the other man making his decision to go to Heaven; whereas Jesus is providing the only HOPE that any will have in gaining entrance into Heaven.

 

Placing Your Faith in Jesus Christ is Your ONLY Hope of Going to Heaven

  One man went to heaven because he placed his faith Completely in Jesus Christ.   He finally understood the truth found in John 14:6: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”   This man did not deserve to go to heaven any more than you and I do, but he made the correct decision. He placed his faith in Jesus Christ as his only hope of going to Heaven.

While in India in May of 2014, I realized just how big idol worship was in this great land. There are over 330 million false gods various people worship.   Yet, 1,287 came to Jesus Christ during this missionary journey, understanding that Jesus Christ is the ONLY name whereby men MUST be saved (Acts 4:12).  What made the difference? Simply preaching and presenting Jesus Christ, and His atonement for man’s sins.

 

Jesus Christ Wants EVERYONE To Go To Heaven

Now there were two sinners hanging beside Jesus while He was paying for the sins of the world (John 1:29). As joyful as Jesus was in one responding to His sacrificial work on the Cross, He was just as broken for the one that literally saw what the Son of God was doing for all people, yet chose to reject the Work of Christ.  

I Timothy 2:4 reminds us that God wants YOU to be saved and go to heaven. “Who will have all men to be saved , and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” I Timothy 2:6 teaches us, “Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”

There is no one that Jesus will not forgive and thereby save and take to Heaven. I Timothy 1:15: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

 

Here What The Repentant Sinner Understood And What He Did To Go To Heaven

 

1. He understood his Condition.   He knew that he was a sinner. He knew that he deserved his punishment, both in this life, and the life to come.   He knew that he deserved hell. Romans 3:10 reminds us that that: “There is NONE righteous, no not one.” Romans 3:23 is clear about the spiritual condition of us all when Paul declared that we have ALL sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

 

2. He understood God’s Provision. He finally grasped that Jesus Christ was doing, not only for him, but for any and all that might call upon Him in faith. Luke 23:41: “And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds : but this man hath done nothing.” God’s PROMISE is found in Romans 10:13: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord SHALL BE SAVED”! This is a promise from God.

 

3. He understood that HE must make his Decision.   It was his decision to call upon Jesus Christ. It was His decision to place his complete faith in Jesus and Jesus alone.  It was HIS decision to ask Jesus to save him.  II Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  

 

In light of this, what was the response of Jesus towards this sinner calling upon Jesus for salvation? Luke 23:42, 43, “ And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Jesus promised to take him to heaven.

The same promise by Jesus is offered to you as well. Romans 10:13 is a promise from God to you, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord SHALL BE SAVED.”

 

Will You Call Upon Jesus Right Now, Placing Your Faith In Him; Trusting In His Grace?

 

If you do, please email me at: JimKilgoreMinistries@gmail.com and I will send you some free Bible Study materials to help you as a new Christian.

How Deeply Do We Christians Really Care About Global Missions?

How Deeply Do We Christians Really Care About Global Missions?

This is a parable about how we so often focus in certain areas with the Gospel and yet we neglect the vast majority of the people in the world. Years ago someone told me, “The Good news of the Gospel is ONLY Good news IF it reaches them in time. I believe this old story from 1979 should shed light on the Churches failure to reach the Unreached.

 This is a Mission’s Parable about Lost People and Putting Global Evangelism Statistics and Numbers in Perspective.

  

   Are you familiar with the parable Jesus told about the lost sheep? Here’s one on a similar note except that it’s about the RUINED apples from a potentially PLENTIFUL harvest.

    Once upon a time, there was an apple grower who had acres and acres of apple trees. In all, he had 10,000 acres of apple orchards.   One day he went to the nearby town. There, he hired 1,000 apple pickers. He told them:

   “Go to my orchards. Harvest the ripe apples, and build storage buildings for them so that they will not spoil. I need to be gone for a while, but I will provide all you will need to complete the task. When I return, I will reward you for your work.”

    “I’ll set up a Society for the Picking of Apples. The Society — to which you will all belong — will be responsible for the entire operation. Naturally, in addition to those of you doing the actual harvesting, some will carry supplies, others will care for the physical needs of the group, and still others will have administrative responsibilities.”

    As he set up the Society structure, some people volunteered to be pickers and others to be packers. Others put their skills to work as truck drivers, cooks, accountants, storehouse builders, apple inspectors and even administrators. Every one of his workers could, of course, have picked apples. In the end, however, only 100 of the 1,000 employees wound up as full-time pickers.

    The 100 pickers started harvesting immediately. Ninety-four of them began picking around the homestead, (Local Missions). The remaining six looked out toward the horizon, (Global Missions). They decided to head out to the far-away orchards.

    Before long, the storehouses in the 800 acres immediately surrounding the homestead had been filled by the 94 pickers with beautiful, delicious apples. The orchards on the 800 acres around the homestead had thousands of apple trees. But with almost all of the pickers concentrating on them, those trees were soon picked nearly bare. In fact, the ninety-four apple pickers working around the homestead began having difficulty finding trees which had not been picked

  As the apple picking slowed down around the homestead, Society members began channeling effort into building larger storehouses and developing better equipment for picking and packing. They even started some schools to train prospective apple pickers to replace those who one day would be too old to pick apples.

  Sadly, those ninety-four pickers working around the homestead began fighting among themselves. Incredible as it may sound, some began stealing apples that had already been picked. Although there were enough trees on the 10,000 acres to keep every available worker busy, those working nearest the homestead FAILED to move into unharvested areas. They just kept working those 800 acres nearest the house. Some on the northern edge sent their trucks to get apples on the southern side. And those on the south side sent their trucks to gather on the east side.

    Even with all that activity, the harvest on the remaining 9,200 acres was left to just six pickers. Those six were, of course, far too few to gather all the ripe fruit in those thousands of acres. So, by the hundreds of thousands, apples rotted on the trees and fell to the ground.
     One of the students at the apple-picking school showed a special talent for picking apples quickly and effectively. When he heard about the thousands of acres of untouched faraway orchards, he started talking about going there.

    His friends discouraged him. They said: “Your talents and abilities make you very valuable around the homestead. You’d be wasting your talents out there. Your gifts can help us harvest apples from the trees on our central 800 acres more rapidly. That will give us more time to build bigger and better storehouses. Perhaps you could even help us devise better ways to use our big storehouses since we have wound up with more space than we need for the present crop of apples.”

    With so many workers and so few trees, the pickers and packers and truck drivers — and all the rest of the Society for the Picking of Apples living around the homestead — had time for more than just picking apples.

    They built nice houses and raised their standard of living. Some became very conscious of clothing styles. Thus, when the six pickers from the far-off orchards returned to the homestead for a visit, it was apparent that they were not keeping up with the styles in vogue with the other apple pickers and packers.

    To be sure, those on the homestead were always good to those six who worked in the far away orchards. When any of those six returned from the far away fields, they were given the red carpet treatment. Nonetheless, those six pickers were saddened that the Society of the Picking of Apples spent 96 percent of its budget for bigger and better apple-picking methods and equipment and personnel for the 800 acres around the homestead while it spent only 4 percent of its budget on all those distant orchards.

    To be sure, those six pickers knew that an apple is an apple wherever it may be picked. They knew that the apples around the homestead were just as important as apples far away. Still, they could not erase from their minds the sight of thousands of trees which had never been touched by a picker, (This is the DEEP, DEEP burden on my heart.  People in the MILLIONS are dropping into hell without EVER hearing the Gospel.  Oh my soul is so heavy as I look into the faces of those people whose countries i try to evangelize.  Don’t they deserve a chance to hear the Gospel at least once?).

    They longed for more pickers to come help them. They longed for help from packers, truck drivers, supervisors, equipment-maintenance men, and ladder builders. They wondered if the professionals working back around the homestead could teach them better apple-picking methods so that, out where they worked, fewer apples would rot and fall to the ground.

    Those six sometimes wondered to themselves whether or not the Society for the Picking of Apples was doing what the orchard owner had asked it to do.

    While one might question whether the Society was doing all the owner wanted done, the members did keep very busy. Several members were convinced that proper apple picking requires nothing less than the very best equipment. Thus, the Society assigned several members to develop bigger and better ladders as well as nicer boxes to store apples. The Society also prided itself at having raised the qualification level for full-time apple pickers.

    When the owner returns, the Society members will crowd around him. They’ll proudly show off the bigger and better ladders they’ve built and the nice apple boxes they’ve designed and made. One wonders how happy that owner will be, however, when he looks out and sees the acres and acres of untouched trees with their unpicked apples.

Original version appeared in Let’s Quit Kidding Ourselves About Missions, Moody Press. © 1979 by The Moody Bible Institute. Edited and revised by Howard Culbertson.

My Dear Friends, “Untold Billions REMAIN Untold”

 

What will you do more than what you are currently doing to reach the World for Jesus Christ?  Please email me at JimKilgoreMinistries@gmail.com  We are Going Global with the Gospel!       

Please visit our Mission’s Ministry page at https://www.facebook.com/JimKilgoreMinistries

 

HOW CAN WE DO MORE FOR MISSIONS? Understanding Faith Promise Mission’s Giving

 

How can we increase our ability to do more for missions? How can we do our part to send more Missionaries to the field so they can start winning souls?   How can we “find the money” to support missions?     These are questions that good Pastors and Church leaders are asking continually.

So often these good Pastors are requested by many good, sound, and Biblical Missionaries to come and present their ministries to their Churches.   More often than not, this is the dreaded reply, “Brother, I would LOVE to have you, but we are experiencing tough times and we simply do not have any extra money for missions. As a matter of fact, we are struggling to maintain support for the ones we already have committed to.”

I am sure that most of these Pastors are troubled with telling us Missionaries these facts. So what is the solution? When I was a pastor I held a Faith promise Mission’s Conference each year. The results were amazing. Each year we were able to do two things. First, we were able to increase the support of our existing Missionaries (many Missionaries lose a lot of support while they are on the field), and we were able to ADD new missionaries to our Mission’s Team.

On my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/jim.kilgore1), I raised a heart-searching question that I think is vital for missions advancement.

Two Crucial Questions to Ask of Yourself, and of Your Church

 

*   What exactly are YOU and your Church doing for Global missions?

*   Second, have you increased your efforts for Global Missions in 2015 from 2014?

 

The way this can happen is by holding Yearly Faith Promise Mission’s Conferences. This did so much spiritually for our Churches.   Tithes increased as people learned the Biblical basis for giving; Mission’s dollars dramatically increased year after year; and even our offerings increased as a result of our faith Promise Mission’s Conferences. A side benefit was that our Churches came as close to revival after such a meeting as ANY meeting we ever had on our yearly calendar.

FAITH PROMISE GIVING is relatively new to some Christians and many people have misunderstandings about its meaning.  In this study, we will teach on the Biblical basis of faith promise missions and answer some key questions that people have asked. Hopefully, this will prove of assistance to all.

 

WHAT IS FAITH PROMISE GIVING?

Answer: Faith Promise Giving is trusting God, by faith, to enable you to give extra money, above your tithe, to the mission program of your church.

 

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF FAITH PROMISE GIVING?

Answer: According to II Corinthians 10:15-16, it accomplishes a 3-fold purpose.

     *   It increases the faith of the believer and the church body collectively.

     *  It enlarges the mission outreach of the church accordingly

     *  It reaches more people with the gospel of Jesus Christ that are in the regions beyond.

 

HOW DOES FAITH PROMISE GIVING WORK?

Answer: God gives us the plan of Faith Promise Giving in II Corinthians 9:6-10.   This is it. You pray and ask God how much He would have you to trust Him to give to the work of missions. As God impresses a certain amount upon your heart that He would like to give through you, then you promise to give that amount by faith. THAT IS FAITH PROMISE GIVING!! The promise is found in  II Corinthians 9:6, “He that soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly, but he that soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully.” In verse 8, God said, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in every good work.” God will simply use you as a channel in order to give what He would have you give to the work of world-wide evangelization through your church.

 

WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAITH PROMISE AND TITHING?

Answer: Tithes are taught in the Bible and are based upon your known income; they are to go to the work of the local church. A FAITH PROMISE GIFT is NOT your tithe nor part of your tithe. FAITH PROMISE GIVING is letting God use you as a channel to place extra money into His work!  You ask God how much HE wants You to trust Him to provide through You.  When He places the amount upon your heart, you make your promise to Him by faith!!! New participants can start at any level.

[Involvement is what is most important. Even if only a small amount per week, you are doing something regularly for worldwide missions!  HOWEVER: You shouldn’t give to Faith Promise unless you are first tithing.]

 

WHAT IS THE BIBLICAL BASIS FOR FAITH PROMISE GIVING?

Answer: In II Corinthians 8 and 9, we find the principle of giving by faith. It is referred to as a grace. II Corinthians 8:3 says they gave “to their power” and then “beyond their power”. “To their power” refers to the regular tithe. “Beyond their power” refers to giving more than they could afford or beyond their limits of ability. They gave and trusted God to supply “all their needs” II Corinthians 9:8.

 

IS A FAITH PROMISE GIVING A COMMITMENT CARD THAT IS SIGNED?

Answer: NO. A commitment is made between you, your church, and God. Once you make that commitment, you are obligated to fulfill it. The Faith Promise is made between you and God and the only person who will knock on your door is God. No attempt is made to collect a FAITH PROMISE. It is a matter between you and God.

 

HOW DO I MAKE A FAITH PROMISE COMMITMENT TO JESUS CHRIST?

Answer: Faith Promises are usually made at the close of the mission’s conference. After praying about it, each person marks the amount (weekly) that they feel God wants to give through them. These cards are turned in unsigned and are used by the church only to determine how to plan the giving for the coming year. Do not ask others how much they give.

 

WHEN SHOULD I GIVE MY FAITH PROMISE? BY THE WEEK OR WAIT UNTIL GOD GIVES IT TO ME?

Answer: Scripture teaches us that we should purpose in our heart and then we should so give. Paul says that it is giving by faith and trusting God to meet your needs. Luke 6:38 says, “Give and it shall be given unto you; Good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, shall men give unto your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal, it shall be measured to you again.”

 

Faith Promise Giving Causes One’s Faith in God’s Ability to Increase

 

It motivates the believer to trust God more in every phase of their lives. It leads to the kind of faith that says to the mountain, “Be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea, and it shall be done.” “Should I try Faith Promise Giving?” God invites you to experiment. II Corinthians 9:13 says, “While by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God…unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto ALL MEN.”  

 

You Can Help Us Reach the World for Christ Through Faith Promise Missions Giving

For those who have already been involved and are continuing a pledge: the challenge each year is to grow in faith. Please consider an increase in your promise for the sake of lost souls, and as a step of ever increasing faith!

I would encourage you to prayerfully consider what God might have you to do, as a Church, or as a Christian that believes in starting Churches in many different countries across the world.  

 You may help support this ministry, and the pastors starting churches with us by following this link to our website and going directly to our “Contribution’s Tab.” 

www.JimKilgoreMinistries.com.

 

Then you may support this ministry and or support a National Preacher.   We need your help to start more Churches.  

In early 2015, a Pakistani Evangelist told me that he had 100 men that feared no one but Jesus Christ, and who would live for soul-winning and starting Churches ready for my word to assist this ministry. I need YOUR financial assistance to move forward in a country that is 96.4% Muslim.

 

Will you help us today to reach those that are not being reached for Jesus Christ? We have an open door, but doors in these countries do not remain open long. NOW is the time to walk through this door in Pakistan.  

Again, please visit us at:   www.JimKilgoreMinistries.com.

 

 

Untold Billions REMAIN Untold

Revival: We Will Pray, or We Will Fail!

Psalm 85:6 is a prayer for revival.  It asked God, “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

I firmly believe that America needs a revival.  You need a revival.  I need a revival; Our Churches are in desperate need of a revival.  Most families are in dire need of a revival. We need revival! We must have revival! Revival is no longer an option.  It is something we must have!

 

Questions Each Christian Must Seriously Ask and Answer

 

• Do you REALLY want to have a revival? 

 

• Are you willing to pay the price to obtain a Heaven-sent revival?

 

•  Are you willing to humble yourself, and pray, and seek His face, and turn from your wicked ways? (II Chronicles 7:14).

 

•  Are you willing to allow the Holy Spirit to perform spiritual surgery upon your proud, and independent heart?  

 

• Are you willing to submit to the painful process of Biblical repentance of allowing the Holy Spirit to Break up your Fallow ground?   

Hosea 10:12: “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. “  Fallow ground is ground which at one time was fruitful, and productive.  But over the years a certain hardness has settled into the soil and now the ground is barren and fruitless. This is the true condition of most of our hearts, my fellow Christian.   If we REALLY want to have revival, we must start his process individually before it can sweep across America Nationally.  We can no longer say that America is sinful until we see the exceeding sinfulness of our own person sin that has contributed to the demise of this GREAT Country (Romans 7:13).

Some Are Questioning, Will God Send a Revival to America?

 
The answer is an emphatic ‘YES’.  God can, and will send revival when you and I are willing to pay the price to obtain one. 

There Are Many Reasons Why God Has Withheld Revival From America

 

1.  The reason we’re not having revival may be that we have not been praying for one.  Or, if we are praying for a revival, are we praying with the faith to believe that God ‘Can’ send the revival we so desperately need?  James 4:2 reminds us that “we have not because we ask not.”

 2.   James has taught us that when we pray.” we must ask in faith, nothing wavering…    (James 1:5-8).  1 John 5:14, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:”  We know that it is God’s will to send revival, so we may ask boldly and confidently, expecting God to grant our desire, (Psalm 37:4). 

 

3.   And yet is still possible to ask, and to even ask in faith, yet not obtain.   James 4:3 makes this very clear, “Ye ask , and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”  This is simply praying with selfish motives.   In revival we need to be concerned about the Glory of God and not so life will be easier for us as believers in America. 

        At this point, I want to ask you, why do you want to have a revival?  What are your real reasons for desiring revival?  What are your motives for seeking revival?

4.     Sin will prevent God from doing that which is obviously His will to do, which in this case, is to send a revival to us.     

God said to Moses, after he had heard the cry of Israel in bondage, Exodus 3:7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows.”Yet years later, speaking this time through the Prophet Isaiah,  but about the same people, God had this to say about their prayers:  “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear,”  Isaiah 59:2.    

We must now take time to do what David did in Psalm 139:23-24 and invite the Holy Spirit to search (ransack)  our hearts and for Him to reveal any and all of the wickedness in our hearts.Here we see the position of God with regards to the prayers of his chosen people Israel, both prayers were made by his people, and it was a cry unto the Lord, but we see God being favorably disposed to one, while to the other one he hid his face.For every prayer that is presented, God, who is the Omnipotent one has the ability, the power and the resources to fulfill them (Philippians 4:19, Jeremiah 32:27). 

But such prayers must first of all get his attention. Even the enemy of our soul knows this simple truth, and this is why his attack on the prayer life and the prayers of believers is either to get them out of their prayer closet through discouragement, or simply to set up road blocks in order to intercept and derail their prayers.So our job is to remove those barriers and clear the way for God to listen to, and then move in response to our prayers.  James 5:15 has reminded the believer that  “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”   We need to have prevailing prayer which is prayer that gets that which is asked of God.
 
In a revival, the hearts of God’s people are broken in repentance and genuine humility, the Lord’s people come together in love and service, and the Lord’s work of ministry, giving, witnessing, and missionary activity moves forward at lightning speed.

Oh may we all pray this prayer so fervently, and yet so sincerely from the depths of our hearts:

Lord, Send a Revival,
Lord, Send a Revival,
Lord, Send a Revival,
And let it begin in me.

A friend of mine in Alaska and I have recently started a new Facebook Group Page at:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1604847593061820/),  which we have called: “We MUST Have Revival in America.”  You may join us by hitting Like on our page.  We will keep you informed on topics concerning revival and updates on what is happening across America.