Assurance of Salvation

ASSURANCE OF SALVATION
 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

I spoke today with a brother serving Christ in a West African country. He told

me that he had asked over 1,000 people if they knew where they would spend

eternity after they died. Of the 1,000 people he asked, many of whom

attended church each Sunday, only seven reported that they knew they would

live eternally with Christ because of what He had done for them. The rest

reported that they were not sure where they would spend eternity or that they

knew, in fact, that they would spend eternity in hell. My brother was quite

concerned that many who were going to church did not have assurance of

salvation in Christ.

So, my word of encouragement today is that we can live in this broken world

knowing for sure that we are children of God, joint heirs with Christ, forgiven,

justified believers who have a new and eternal life in Christ. We need not fear

death or hell.

I found assurance of salvation when I was 13 years old. I have lived in that

assurance for the last 55 years. Here is how I found it. I told a brother in Christ

that I wasn’t sure that I was a Christian. He opened his Bible to 1 John 5:10 and

read these words to me:

Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not

believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the

testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given

us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever

does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Then the brother asked me, “Dean, do you have the Son of God in your life?” I

thought for a moment, and then I said, “Yes. I have trusted Jesus as my Savior.

He lives in me.”

Then the brother read again from 1 John 5:11, 12: “God has given us eternal

life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life.” Next, he asked,

Dean, do people who have the Son of God in their lives have eternal life? I said,

“Yes.” Then he asked me, “Do you have eternal life?” I said, “Yes, I have Jesus;

I have eternal life.” Then, the brother confidently told me, “Dean, you can go

from this place and never doubt that you are a child of God, a Christian who

has eternal life.” And do you know what? I did go from that place with full

assurance that I am a child of God and that I have eternal life. I have

experienced many fears since that time. But I have never been afraid of going

to hell or being separated from Jesus. I have him and He has me.

Do you have assurance of salvation in Jesus Christ? You can. Do your disciples

have assurance of salvation in Jesus Christ? They can too. Please, without

delay, share with them the wonderful truth about assurance of salvation from

God’s word found in 1 John 5:10-12.

I’m Dean Davis, praying for a church in every African village and that each

person in those churches will live daily with full assurance of the saving

presence of Christ in them, the hope of glory.

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #AssuranceOfSalvation

Steward Leadership - Parable of the Faithful and Wise Steward Part 2

       This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders.

This year, I have begun a series on steward leadership. One author defines a steward as “someone who manages resources belonging to another person in order to achieve the owner’s objectives.”

Today we continue our study of the parable of the faithful and wise steward found in Matthew 24:45-51 and also in Luke 12:42-48.

In summary, Jesus told this story to teach his disciples that our actions reveal what we truly believe. Those who obey God will be rewarded, whereas those who disobey God prove themselves to be unfaithful and hypocrites by their actions.  It also teaches that Jesus; followers must live in constant readiness for His return.

We concluded our last episode with a warning to avoid being what Matthew describes as a “wicked” steward. You may recall that in my initial podcast in this series, I shared 5 common themes from Jesus’ parables on this topic. Here are those first two again.

1. Character matters

2. Stewards have an obligation to account for their stewardship

In the parable, we see the final consequence for the wicked servant. “The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Yes, our character matters, and we will be held accountable for our stewardship. Further, we must live in constant readiness for our Master’s return.

Before closing, I want to add some thoughts from the final portion of the Luke 12 account. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” That’s the last half of verse 48.

On a personal note, that admonition has been a great motivator for me for many years for I feel that much has been entrusted to me. I was born into a Christian family; I’m at least fourth generation Christ follower. I had access to excellent education and good health care. I’ve been blessed to be part of strong local churches and to enjoy a good career.

One could say that I am privileged. The Apostle Paul made a similar admission; you can read about that in Philippians 3:5-6. This topic was quite controversial in America just a few years ago when some claimed that I should apologize for my privilege and renounce it.

Instead, I embrace my privilege and endeavor to raise others up to a similar condition. I’ve been entrusted with much. I desire to steward that well, to raise others up, and to meet the requirements of my Master. I invite you to ponder this thought.

In our next episode, we will continue our study of steward leadership. This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters and leaders.

A Great Multitude

       Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

A great day is coming. A wonderful day is before us. It’s a day that was

foreseen more than 1,900 years ago. It’s a day of great rejoicing! Listen to the

words that the apostle John used to describe this coming great day:

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one

could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before

the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were

holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,

who sits on the throne,

and to the Lamb.”

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the

four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and

worshiped God, saying:

“Amen!

Praise and glory

and wisdom and thanks and honor

and power and strength

be to our God for ever and ever.

Amen!”

(Revelation 7:9-12)

What a great day! A multitude. A huge multitude. The crowd of people is so big

no one can count it. And it’s not just any crowd; it’s an enormous crowd of

people who have found forgiveness in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who by his

shed blood and resurrection victory over death grants pardon for sin and

salvation to all who trust Him.

The people of this enormous crowd are not just speaking one or two languages;

they are speaking every language from the whole world. They represent nations

and tribes: every nation and every tribe.

Where did they come from and what are they doing? They come from

everywhere. But, more importantly, they come to Christ and they stand before

his throne praising him because Jesus’ disciples in every generation went out

and proclaimed the Good News. The multitude is before the throne of God for

two reasons:

1) Because Jesus paid it all so that they could be saved.

2) Because his followers multiplied evangelists and disciple-makers and

cross-cultural workers to carry the Good News to every nation, tribe,

people and language.

This scene of the multitude before the throne is a future event. It was revealed

to John in a vision about 1,930 years ago. This scene cannot yet take place, in reality,  today because there are still some tribes and peoples without a single

person who has a white robe cleansed in the blood of the Lamb. Our job is to

multiply disciple makers so that the Revelation 7 scene before the throne

becomes a reality as soon as possible.

So, my brothers and sister, keep making disciples who make disciples; keep

crossing cultural barriers to make Christ known.

This has been Multiply! And I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this

encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #Revelation7 #AGreatMultitude

Pray and Rely on the Holy Spirit

     Hello, this is Multiply a podcast to encourage village, church, planters, and leaders. I am Brad Snowden.

 Brothers and sisters, what a joy it is to serve the Lord and a beautiful calling to plant churches. We are blessed to see villages transformed with hope as Jesus touches lives. This calling can also have seasons of great challenge for our outward man. We want to be successful and see what is in our hearts become reality. It is a beautiful part of our walk with Christ when he lays upon our hearts, the work that he wants to do. It is an exciting time for church planters because you can almost see what it is going to look like before it even starts. This is a powerful part of God‘s plan for those you are serving. 

This very moment can also be one of the greatest challenges as well. I found that as a pastor these seasons brought me to a place of struggle, I knew what the Lord had birthed in my heart, and I could envision all of it. Yet this is where the problem was, I did not know who was going to catch the vision that God had given me. I did not know how it was ever going to become fruitful or even how we could pay for it. 

The battle was not about experiences or what I had learned from the teaching that I had received. There is nothing wrong with living out what was taught to us or even what we have experienced before. The problem came when I would depend on these parts of me and not on a fresh revelation from God. 

The greatest victories God ever allowed me to experience came when I said I do not know how you are going to work this out. I do not know who is going to walk with me to see your work be done. Oh Lord, I need you to help me to understand and accomplish this work that you have called me to do.

 James 1:5 says If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, it will be given to him. The Lord does not look down on us for saying, I do not know what to do or to say I am struggling with knowing my next steps. God‘s word says to simply and humbly ask, for we have a merciful provider that can open our eyes to see. The Lord wants to open up our ears to hear the Holy Spirit whisper, “This is the way walking in it” We can rely on the still small voice of the Holy Spirit that will give us a fresh understanding of what God wants to do in us and through us. Oh, church planter, our victory comes when we ask and rely on the Holy Spirit to do the work. This has been a word of encouragement for village church planters. Who will you share this with today? God bless you.

Are You Faithful?

      Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

Faithfulness is one of the greatest attributes of any man or woman who follows

Christ. A faithful person is steadfast and true. A faithful copy is just like the

original. My heart fills with joy and hope when I meet men and women who

have served Christ for a long time without wavering.

Peter instructed his followers saying, “Each of you should use whatever gift you

have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various

forms.”

Are you faithful?

A faithful disciple passes on to others what he has received from his teacher.

And he passes it on with integrity. A faithful disciple does not corrupt the

meaning of what he has been given.

The Apostle Paul’s instruction to his disciple Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2 is

probably the second most quoted scripture passage in VCP after the Great

Commission. These words are our marching orders as we work by faith to plant

a church in every African village by 2050. Paul said to his disciple Timothy:

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many

witnesses entrust to faithful people who will also be qualified to teach others.”

Faithful people, reliable people, trustworthy people. People who will act as

good stewards of the message of hope they receive.

Are you faithful?

Are you the kind of person Peter was talking about when he described faithful

stewards who use whatever they have received to serve others? Or, are you an

unfaithful steward, one who receives gladly but shares slowly? It’s not easy for

me to ask this question because I know so many of you who work diligently to

pass on what you learn about Christ and about how to minister in the power of

the Spirit. I see your faithfulness. Nevertheless, I ask the question, “Are you

faithful?” because we must examine ourselves by the standards of God’s word.

A faithful steward hears the word from his teacher, a faithful steward in dialog

with the teacher works and struggles and prays to understand the word. A

faithful steward puts the teaching into practice in his or her own life and

ministry. A faithful disciple teaches others.

Are you faithful? Am I faithful? Let’s be sure that we apply and pass on without

delay the things we have learned from our faithful teachers so that our

disciples may teach others also.

I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #Faithfulness #PassItOn

Steward Leadership - Parable of the Faithful and Wise Steward Part 1

      This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders.

As this is a new year, I have begun a new series on the subject of steward leadership. One author defines a steward as “someone who manages resources belonging to another person in order to achieve the owner’s objectives.”

Today we continue our study with the parable of the faithful and wise steward found in Matthew 24:45-51 and also in Luke 12:42-48.

In summary, Jesus told this story to teach his disciples that our actions reveal what we truly believe. Those who obey God will be rewarded, whereas those who disobey God prove themselves to be unfaithful and hypocrites by their actions.  It also teaches that Jesus' followers must live in constant readiness for His return.

Jesus asks this in verse 45 of the Matthew version, “Who then is the faithful and wise servant [in the Luke passage, this word is translated as “manager”], whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?”

I would suggest we see here that:

* Faithful servants, or stewards, have been placed in charge of others. Leadership, or the oversight of people and/or ministry activities, is a privilege and a calling of our Master. The steward did not appoint himself to the role; the master did.

* Faithful servants, or stewards, give the other servants “their food at the proper time.” (The Luke passage says he give them their “food allowance.”) As leaders it is our responsibility to provide for the needs of those we lead.  In VCP, their “food” may be vision, encouragement, motivation, instruction and training, feedback or many other things.  Good and godly leaders also need to provide these things “at the proper time.”

The parable continues in verses 46 and 47.  “It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.” Jesus teaches – as He did in the parable of the talents – that those who obey God will be rewarded.  In my introductory episode of this series, I shared 5 themes of Jesus’ stewardship parables. One of those themes is that faithful stewards advance, and we see this demonstrated here.  

At this point, I will refer to the Luke version where we read in verse 45. “But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk.” From this bad example, we see that faithful stewards must avoid complacency, and we must maintain discipline.  

In our next episode, we will continue our study of the faithful and wise steward. This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters and leaders.

Everyone Heard the Word of the Lord

     Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters. 

The founder of One Mission Society was a man named Charles Cowman. Once Jesus got hold of Cowman’s life, he had a passion to make Christ known. He was strongly motivated by Mark 16:15 where Jesus instructed his followers to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Cowman wanted every person to hear the Good News. One of the greatest achievements of this founder of OMS was to organize a “Great Village Campaign” that took the gospel to every home in Japan between 1912 and 1918. Cowman knew the love of God for every person and so he worked to make sure every person heard the Good News of salvation in Christ.

Sadly, even today with all the technology we have, it is rare that every person in a province, district, or country has heard the Good News of salvation in Christ. But the book of Acts tells us about one remarkable two-year period in which a whole province heard the word of the Lord. Paul was in Ephesus in what today is the country of Turkey. Acts 19 tells us he was teaching in the synagogue about the Kingdom of God. Listen to Acts 19:9,10:

“But some of [those at the synagogue] became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So, Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.”

What? Paul teaches in a lecture hall for two years and everyone who lived in a large Roman province hears the word of the Lord?  How did that happen? The text gives us three clues.

Clue number 1: God did extraordinary miracles through Paul.  This surely got the attention of many people who would not have otherwise listened to the Gospel.

Clue Number 2: Paul had disciples with him as he taught and ministered in the lecture hall. Disciples are not just learners; they are apprentices. Disciples do what their teacher does. Paul argued persuasively about the Kingdom of God and so did they. Paul led discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus, and no doubt, his disciples, his apprentices also led discussions about Jesus in other parts of the province of Asia.

Clue number 3 that helps us understand how every person in a province heard the word of God: The disciples, like Paul, were filled with the Holy Spirit.

What about you? Will you take up the challenge to help every person in your county or district or province hear the Word of God? Will you follow the examples of the Apostle Paul and Charles Cowman? If you long for all your neighbors to hear and understand the Good news, meditating on Acts 19:1-11 would be a good way to start. Be filled with the Holy Spirit; pray for the sick; equip and release disciples. Trust God for a great and wide impact from your Gospel ministry.

I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #AllHeard #Apprentices

Be A Model of Multiplication

     This is Daneille Snowden. Welcome to MULTIPLY, a podcast for Village Church Planters, Pastors, and Christian leaders. And today we will talk about being a model of multiplication.

To model someone is to be an example for imitation. It also means to shape or fashion into an image. In addition, the verb multiplying means to increase in number, especially greatly. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” [1 Corinthians 11:1]

Some may ask, how does this work? How can I increase and even be multiplied? My promise scripture lately has been the Old Testament verse in Zechariah 4:6b which says, “…it’s not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” We complete this work by declaring the truths of God’s Word. That God’s Word will not just simply abide in us but be used to plant many seeds into the hearts of people. It’s important to remind ourselves that the soil of man’s heart must be prepared and cultivated to receive this seed. In so doing, the rich anointing of the Holy Spirit ignites the soul and produces (or multiplies) abundant fruit. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? The difficulty of this task is our part of surrender and obedience. As well as, for us to keep going forward and to not give up.

In  Mark 8:34 Jesus said– “…Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” This is Who we model after and how we do so! This is completed by following Jesus closely, by abiding in Him and His presence. We accomplish this by denying our comforts (as we always trust that the Lord will care for us and our needs), and lastly, we are to TAKE UP our Cross and follow His leading and example.

I look back at my life in the ministry and note how I have seen throughout the years,  a simple person just living out an obedient and devoted life. Did I always accomplish what the Lord called me to do? No, I didn’t. Did I give up? Well, to be honest, there were times I sure wanted to. But Jesus and His endearing love would press my heart and give me His heart for the lost souls of this world. I can tell you, that over and over again; Jesus takes my hand, ensures me of His strength and together we continue to love others into the Kingdom of God!

Will you do the same? ‘Follow me, as I follow Christ!’ And we all shall become fishers of men!

This has been Multiply, we hope you were blessed by this Word today! Please share this with others, also find us on our website: vcpencouragment.org, and on social media - Encouragement for Village Church Planters. 

Thank you, and God Bless!

The Word of God Kept Spreading

 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters. 

One of the most remarkable statements made about the first church, the church founded by the Apostles in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, is found in Acts 5:42:

“Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.”

Even when life is going well and problems are few; it’s hard to keep doing an important activity without interruption. For example, I knew that designing the New VCP materials was my most important task in ministry starting in 2019. But, as hard as I tried to focus, I was distracted and pulled away from lesson design. Finally, in December I was able to complete my part in that project when I submitted the Term 8 lessons. 

It’s hard to keep doing an important activity without interruption. But, the church at Jerusalem “Never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.”  As you know from your study of the nine activities of a healthy church, evangelism is essential. The church at Jerusalem understood that. So they never stopped proclaiming the good news of Jesus.

Persecution did not stop them. Acts 5:40 tells us that the Jewish leaders flogged the apostles and ordered them not to speak it the name of Jesus. But they found a way. In the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching.

Internal conflict in the church did not stop the Jerusalem disciples from proclaiming God’s word. When there was a division between the Greek-speaking believers and the Hebrew-speaking believers over the distribution of food for widows, the church, led by the apostles, quickly found a solution. Acts 6:7 tells us what happened after the division of food distribution was solved. It says:

“So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.”

Nothing, but nothing stopped the Jerusalem church from telling the good news about Jesus. And nothing should stop our churches either. If there is one activity we must keep doing, its share the Good News.

So keep training and retraining your people to use the four Seed Sower tools and the Three Circles gospel presentation. One training is not enough. Keep sending them out in your village and in neighboring villages. Keep showing the Jesus Films. Schedule projector use well so that the projector does not sit idle in someone’s home when it could be proclaiming the good news in a village that has never heard.

If your church, like the Jerusalem church “never stops teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah” your church will experience growth and expansion as well.

I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #NeverStopTeaching #GoodNews