Hi Everyone
Here’s this month’s Gone Fishin’ Newsletter.
Every month a team from our fellowship at Calvary Wellington heads out to our regular fishing holes – the Naenae Market and Hillary Court shops, or the Hutt Riverbank Fruit and Vege Market. There we share the Gospel to those in our immediate community.
Once a month I publish a simple newsletter that is distributed to the fellowship (or for anyone else who stumbles across this website), as a way of encouragement, and as a tool to equip us to be better evangelists.
You can read the last Field Report from 18/2/23 here.
Enjoy!
Gone Fishin’ Monthly Newsletter – March 2023
“For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places. He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.” (Ps 18:34).
Hi Everyone
It was awesome to see a big turnout for our first outreach last month! If you’ve always thought about coming out witnessing, but don’t know how or where to start, come along and pair up with one of us!
You can read the report of the last outreach here.
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One reason we justify not evangelising, is fear. Fear can be a huge paralyzing monster if we let it.
Yet, hundreds of times in the Bible we are told “Do not fear”, “Fear not”, or “Do not be afraid”.
We think it’s an easy thing for God to say – he looks down from eternity on our circumstances – and sees us like ants, scurrying about, going about our business. Nothing scares Him because He is infinitely bigger, infinitely stronger – well, just infinite!
But although He doesn’t have to, He does care about us. He doesn’t leave us defenseless, in fact, He leaves us Himself:
“For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?”
What a great starting point – to know that when we are overwhelmed with the weight of fulfilling Great Commission – that God is an immovable rock, a fortress in whom we can run to and be safe!
But we still need to face the world, as we have a message they need to hear.
For this reason, God upskills us. We can’t go into battle empty-handed and naked, so he makes provision:
He arms me with strength
First, I am given strength. Strength, though, doesn’t come by willpower alone. A soldier must take time to train, otherwise he will not last the distance. My strength comes from devouring his Word and applying its’ principals to my life. The more I know about God, the more I know my enemy. And the more I know my enemy, the more I can combat his ways.
There are almost as many false ways and religions as there are people in the world. The more I learn, the more prepared I can be to understand their cunning nuances on the afterlife, and counter with the truth.
He makes my way perfect
If I am grounded in my training, no matter what comes next, it will be perfect. He masterfully moves every obstacle from my way, to make my path clear. I can walk with confidence.
Every conversation can go a multitude of directions, but the main destination is salvation through the Gospel. It is amazing how you can segue any conversation towards Christ. God is orchestrating every conversation towards this goal. It is our words, in perfect conjunction with His will, that gives Him the glory he deserves. Regardless of the outcome, God is always glorified.
He makes my feet like those of a deer
The deer moves fast – something it needs to do to avoid its’ enemy’s sharp fangs. The deer’s hooves are designed to grip, giving it the ability to change direction suddenly, and put his pursuer off.
My feet are shod with the Gospel of Peace. They allow me not to run away from my enemy, but towards him.
Christ tells us that “…the harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few” (Matt 9:37). For this reason, I need to be on the lookout for those to share the Good News with, moving from person to person as fast as I can, before time runs out, and I am too late!
He sets me on my high places
The high places are where the enemy can see me but cannot get to me. He thinks I am vulnerable because I am exposed, but eventually realises I am in the safest place I can be. His arrows cannot reach me, and so he gives up in frustration.
The sinner believes he can entrap me in a conversation with his bold theories, delivered with all the charm of a seasoned thespian. But my training has honed my thinking in line with God’s Word, placing me always on the theological higher ground. Humbly, I don’t get enticed to lower my thinking to his, but rather wait for him to concede, or surrender to God.
He teaches my hands to make war
A soldier doesn’t just put on battle gear to play dress-up. Sooner or later, he will be required to wield his weapon – the one he has been trained to use – to combat the enemy. Blood must be spilled. Souls must be rescued from the grip of the tyrannical enemy, into the rest of the Captain’s stronghold.
My weapon is the sword of God’s Word. When I devour and apply it, and through God’s guidance, lives can be rescued from the strong grip of Satan on the unbeliever’s heart. Souls are saved through the already spilled blood of the crucified Saviour. Sinners are pulled from the fire, and delivered to their rest – an eternity in the bosom of the one who orchestrated the battle plan!
I pray you use these words from Psalm 18 to steel your heart, put aside your fears, and get into the battle!
I’ll see you at my place at 10am for prayer before heading down to the shops!
Blessings,
Craig.
Witnessing Tip: Perfect love casts out all fear!
One other way to conquer your fear is to love your enemy.
You will always want to rescue your loved ones from hell!
