A Sign Among Us - Chapter 11 - Those Around Us

Mid Term Goals - Those Around Us

'Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.' Ephesians 5:14-17

In the last chapter we talked about Short-term goals. They are for us and spreads out to those loved ones in our household. Mid-term goals, those around us, just outside that circle, which we touch. That person I work with and spoke to every day for six months and still did not know he was a Christian, and I gave no evidence that I was either. That person I worked with for two years and saw every day and was joking with in the parking lot yesterday, woke up this morning to have a heart attack, and died. He was the same age as my father. My father who is still doing ok, but still does not know Jesus as his savior. His wife, my mother, the grandmother to my children, also not knowing Jesus, has a void in her heart that cannot be filled with vodka.

Our mid-term goals are for those around us. Do we plant a seed and expect it to sprout up tomorrow? Do we plant a kernel or corn to only reap a kernel of corn? What should I do? I do pray for them. I have told them about Jesus. They know about Jesus, they were at my wedding, which at the time I am writing this was five years ago.

Wedding Day

Let me tell you about that special day, we had at our church. There were ten people up on stage, Sister Agnes at the piano, and one hundred and thirty five of our friend and loved ones in attendance. I want you to picture it. That was ten in each row, going back thirteen rows. That church was pretty full. Pastor gave a powerful message on, 'the wine in new vessels.' When the invitation was given he counted about fourteen people with hands in the air. Fourteen of our friends and loved ones asked Jesus into their hearts. I was crying.

Can I tell you something else? To this day, I still do not know who one of those people were. Do I think they lied? Do I think Satan wants them to doubt their salvation and not grow? Yes. What is my goal? What is my mid-term goal that I am making with you right now between you and the Lord watching? I have to ask those 135 people, individually, one-on-one, 'remember our wedding, remember the words of the Pastor, did you put your hand up indicating that you asked Jesus into your heart and want to go to heaven?' Please pray for me to follow through on that goal.

What is your mid-term goal? I don't know. Do you have a mid-term goal? Can I give you one? Plant seeds. You are already doing it right now and may not know it. You are planting seeds. Some of you are watering your seeds, and some of you are pruning them and plucking out the weeds. Planting seeds, what do you mean? They see you every Sunday. You get in your car around 8:300 in the morning. They know you aren't going to a sporting event dressed like that. They know you are not going to work. You are planting seeds. They are watching you. That is a good seed. Some of you are watering it. 'You said you would come to church with me some day, why don't you come with us next week? Why don't you come with us tonight?'

Planting Seeds and Watering Them

I didn't like praying in public with my friends the first few times. In Ponderosa, somebody might see me and know I'm a Christian. Bingo, now you get it. What about at work? Well my family is not with me to keep me honest. I'll just sit here with my friends and thank you right here Lord, real quiet like with my eyes open. I don't want them to laugh. Would I rather have them go to hell?

Be proud, set a goal for yourself, I am going to invite one person to church next week. I am going to pray at the cafeteria with my eyes closed, with my head bowed in submission to the Lord.

Confession

One Sunday evening service the congregation was asked a question? The guest pastor asked us how many people here already have loved ones up in heaven waiting for them. I noticed everyone's hand went up, except for the row I was sitting in. Becky, Jennifer and myself didn't have any saved relatives who have died.

I have prayed that my grandfather asked Jesus into his heart. He was at the end of his life. He had a couple strokes and he was pretty bad. He was in his hospital bed, all alone and not very coherent. I prayed for the Lord to open his ears and help him to understand. I asked grandpa if I could pray with him. I remember his eyes motioning 'Yes.'

I prayed aloud with him. I prayed that he was receptive to prayer. I will not know until I am in heaven. Again, I pray you plant seeds and water them. We do not know who our lives and our testimony is going to touch. Lord I pray that you open a door, and guide my words so I can water those seeds that have been planted in my parent's heart, so Jennifer, Cody, Autumn, Becca and Jordan have Grandparents in heaven.

'...Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.'

Planting seeds. Reaching out to those just outsid our circle. I told you before that my parent's aren't saved. I may not be able to reap that harvest. I believe all of us have loved ones and certainly friends who are not saved. Just like I may not be the person the Holy Spirit uses to bring my parents to the Lord, the same may be true for your loved ones.

We are forming relationships, I think of them as planting seeds. We do not know who our relationships are being formed with. Let me give you an example. The relationships we form with a new stranger may be the factor that brings someone else's loved one to the saving knowledge of jesus. I pray the relationship you are forming with people might someday bring my parents through a church door and I commit to you that I will deliver the best testimony I can outside those doors to possibly, one day, form a relationship strong enough to bring one of your relatives through those doors that you are praying for. We do not know whom our lives are toughing. I challenged you in the last chapter to jump. I am asking you now, please don't stop reaching out.

What did we read earlier in chapter 10? '...my word...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...' and what has the Lord previously revealed to you? '...I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it...'

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