August Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, remains our main concern and calling.  We have been going out proclaiming the Gospel in open-air meetings, at the marketplaces, on street corners, from shop to shop, and one on one.   There are no huge crowds, yet we cannot forget, or neglect the bible pattern of making disciples, of labouring for fruit that endures. We should never tire of encouraging people to walk in a way which brings glory to the Father and which is pleasing to Him.   For how long should we do this?  I think of Psalm 71:18  So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.

Bible Study PERSUADING and CONVINCING

Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

What is meant by the phrase, warning all people.  While the immediate meaning in English that comes to mind may be to warn of a threatening danger, or the coming judgement, or warning of hell, this is not actually the intended meaning the apostle Paul wants to communicate here.  Rather the word warning here is more accurately rendered as ‘call near’ or admonishing every man.  It includes to bring to attention things that the hearers don’t usually think about. It also includes to persuade and to convince them.

The Persuading Part   Our persuading should always be done in kindness, showing how much the Lord has done for our hearers and the depth of His love towards them. We must preach there is only one true and living God, and only one name by which we can be saved Jesus Christ.  We persuade by preaching the whole Gospel of Christ proclaiming every branch of it.  Teaching them to believe in Christ Jesus for salvation, to take hold of His righteousness for justification, to place their faith in the blood of Christ and in the sacrifice of Christ which alone can pardon and remove our sin.  We must include and encourage our hearers to observe all things commanded by Christ, and to live soberly, righteously and godly.

The Convincing Part. People need to be convinced of their sinfulness and the power and danger of sin.  Convinced of the terrible state of being lost without the Lord, the terrible state of dying without Christ.   To convince them, and show them, that all this world has to offer is temporal and fading away and will decay and perish.  While the Kingdom of God is an Eternal Kingdom.  We preach God’s Word clearly and entirely.  The Lord then by His Spirit will convince and awaken their hearts.

The Lord is alone the Saviour.  The role of the Holy Spirit.  We must remember we are co labourers together with Him.  2Cor 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.  We proclaim the Gospel, while the Lord alone, by His Spirit is the one who truly convinces of the need for salvation.  Without His convicting power, people simply aren’t really convinced.   John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.  It is the Spirit of God who pricks the hearts when they hear the gospel.  It is He who causes people to say what then must I do to be saved?

When we think that God is faithful to be present, convincing, and convicting in every outreach conducted with an eye to the glory of God this inspires us to do our part.  Our duty is to be faithful proclaiming the Gospel, faithful to go out into the highways and byways compelling people to come to Christ.

Bible and Book Projects.    

We continue to widely distribute Bibles.  The Word of God is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105) Bread that sustains and nourishes our souls.  I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (John 6:35.)  As the writer of old says it’s a medicine for every one of life’s ailments a balm for every pain and yet much more, the way of salvation is clearly revealed in God’s Word.  Surely nothing else could be more valuable and of great help, than to get a Bible into the hands of as many people as possible.     We have found a reasonable supplier for Bibles here in Kenya.  If you would like to help with Bibles kindly get in contact with us.  BOOKS. While I was at our home church, Bethel Baptist in Bath I picked up a little book by Dr Peter Masters 7 Certain Signs of True Conversion.  Conviction of sin, understanding Scripture, the family bond, discovery of prayer, a new heart, an initial measure of assurance, attacks of satan.  I immediately thought how this booklet would help so many who claim to be saved but sadly show forth no fruit, and no signs that there has been a true work of God in their lives.  Metropolitan Tabernacle in London kindly allowed us to print this book in Kenya and we have distributed hundreds along with other titles by the same author.  There is much to still do but we have made a start.

London Reformed Baptist Seminary.  I’m in my 2nd year of the Seminary.  The course is 4 years in total.  How this course continues to inspire me to preach Christ and continue the work of evangelism to win souls, and to contend for the faith.  It’s been wonderful to study the bible doctrines and to see how Scripture all jigsaws and fits together.   The course re-emphasises the old paths of reformed biblical Truth combined with enthusiastic evangelism.