Category: Kneemail

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise. (Proverbs 11:30)

The fruit of an apple tree is apples. The fruit of an orange tree is oranges. The fruit of a Christian should be other Christians. The natural result of a life dedicated to Christ is to win others to Him!

Andrew Murray said, “There are two types of Christians; soul-winners and back sliders!” If we are not winning others to Christ, there is something wrong with our dedication to Christ. We should win souls because this was Christ’s mission to earth. Jesus said, “I am come to seek and save that which is lost.” His number one purpose in life and death was to bring salvation to every person in the world. He provided the salvation then He commanded us to take the message to the rest of the world. Our primary purpose in life … above every other goal … should be to win people to Christ.

We should win people because we love Christ. He said, “If you love me keep my commandments.” He said a few verses later, “If you do not love me you will not keep my commandments.” (John 14:15 & 24) Our love for Christ should motivate us to make our number one commitment to win others to Him.

We should win them to Christ because we love them. When we discover a new restaurant that is fantastic we can’t wait to tell our friends about it. If we see a movie that impacts our life, we recommend it to all our friends.

When we have discovered the One who forgives sin, gives peace, comfort and strength for daily living, offers a plan for a super-abundant life, brings the only escape from Hell and the gift of everlasting life here and in Heaven! We ought to enthusiastically tell others how they can also have this exciting gift for themselves!

Each of us—where we are, with what we have, can be used to spread the Gospel. Through our words, actions, and sometimes non-action can be salt and light! You don’t have to be “called” into “full-time” ministry.  You can do mighty things right where you are!

[bctt tweet=”Each of us—where we are, with what we have, can be used to spread the Gospel. Through our words, actions, and sometimes non-action can be salt and light! You don’t have to be “called” into “full-time” ministry.  You can do mighty things right where you are!” username=”scotthumston”]

Although my “professional” life is dedicated to proclaiming His message to others  (and I often feel unworthy to be in His service) but by His grace He called me and praise the Lord, He is blessing with many souls for Christ!

However, I am seeing “reaping” because many others have “planted and watered.” Most have been in the hearts and prayers of loved ones for years. Others have been witnessed to many times by Pastors and church members. Most have been invited to the Crusade by concerned friends.

And YOU have been instrumental … more than you can know … by providing the prayers and finances to make this ministry possible and potent for the Lord. Thank you for the “TEAM/PARTNERSHIP” relation you have with this ministry!

Here are some great resources to help you share the Gospel:

http://www.cru.org/train-and-grow/training/free-apps-to-share-your-faith.html

Sharing His Wonder,

He Lost it, and when he did, he gained much more.

My wife and I attended a funeral the other day for an extended family member. It was not a sudden loss, for all who knew him knew his passing might be near.   The minister did a good job and shared some details of this man’s life. In describing him, the pastor shared the transformation that the man experienced about three years prior to his death. At that time, he had had a very serious illness and ended up in the hospital on what was thought to be his death bed. But he didn’t die. He recovered! And his recovery led to his transformation. The minister stated, “He lost it.” Not an angry temper kind of “lost it,” but he lost “it”—the angry temper itself.

I’ve lost it (my temper, frustration, courage,) in many ways–with my children, my wife, my friends, even with strangers. Many of us have. Many of us lose these things on a daily basis. When these things have more control of us, than we do of them‚ that’s when things can take hold and become habit and even sin.

So, what can we do about losing it? We can really lose it! We can give it to God. The gentleman whose service we attended spent a lot of wasted years—and it was a near-death experience which caused him to evaluate his eternity. Everyone who knew him seemed to be in agreement that his last three years were his best. Our lives should be better each year that we grow, live, and become more Christ-like.

As the minister spoke, I couldn’t help but think about my own life—as most of us probably do when attending a funeral. Although I want my last years to be “better,” too—think of all the good that could have come from his life—or your life—if we lose it—and are transformed by His grace. In the New Testament book of Matthew, Jesus Himself says, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” (16:25). It shouldn’t take a near-death experience to wake us up to the fact that we have a rather short existence in this world, and that we need to be transformed by grace sooner than later!

We can lose it—and give it to Christ. Today.

What things in your life can you—should you—lose for good?

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Every year as Christians around the world celebrate the resurrection of Christ, many practicing Hebrew people celebrate the Passover.  In fact, it was the Passover Seder meal, that Christ (a Hebrew Rabbi) was celebrating as he gave the Last Supper to his disciples. There is much symbolism in the Passover Seder meal—much foreshadowing of Christ’s death and resurrection.  Here’s some words from friend, Jeffery D. Miller on this topic:

“At the center of every Seder is matzah, unleavened bread. While this is one of the elements commanded by God, it is a tradition to place three pieces of matzah in a pouch with three sleeves, so that none of the pieces touch each other. The middle matzah (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is removed, broken in half, and a piece is wrapped in white cloth, set aside to be brought back later. Wow! What a picture of the burial and resurrection of our Messiah”

“Yeshua held up His piece of unleavened bread (it’s full of tiny holes-so it won’t warp when baked), the symbol of sinlessness which was pierced, saying “This is my body,” He hadn’t been pierced yet, but He knew it was coming.”

Learn more about Jeffrey D. Miller ministries, here.

I hope you have a wonder-full Easter celebration.  He has Risen! Risen, indeed!

When Jesus physically left the earth after His resurrection from the dead, He told the disciples to wait there in Jerusalem until they received the full power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Then (and only then) they would be witnesses for Him throughout the world. (Acts 1:4-8) First must come God’s Power, then comes the effective and fruitful ministry.

“All things (do) work together for good, to those who love God.” (Romans 8:28)

Almost everyone, Christians, non-Christians, scientist and astronomers have been captivated by the unique way the Star of Bethlehem led the Magi to Jesus. Most have tried to determine a date about the time of His birth that an unusual convergence of several stars might have produced what appeared to be one big special star.

Others have thought that perhaps this was some special comet or other natural phenomena that may have been in the sky at that time.

Those ideas don’t seem to be true in the light of what the Bible has to say about that star. If it had been an unusual marvel or wonder visible in the sky, everyone in Israel would have placed some special significance to it. However, the indication is that only the Magi saw this in their homeland. God prepared a special supernatural star to guide them … a star visible only to those whom God wanted to see it.

The Bible states that they saw this star in their home country, somewhere to the east of Israel. It was strong enough leadership (NOTE that they were WILLING to follow God’s leadership) to direct them to the homeland of the Jews but evidently was not visible to them as they arrived in Jerusalem, the capital. They assumed that the King of the Jews would be born in that city, but the star was obviously not with them at that time because they inquired within the city as to where the King was born. The Biblical “scholars” of that day told them what the Bible had to say about the birth of the Christ.

The Magi immediately left for Bethlehem. When they got to Bethlehem, the star appeared to them again. That star could not have been as far away in the heavens as even the moon because it led them to an exact spot where our Lord was at that exact moment. Could any object way up in the sky lead anyone to one special location? No! This had to be LEADERSHIP FROM THE LORD … VISIBLE ONLY TO THOSE WHO WERE SEEKING IT!

How can these truths be applied to our life living in the 21st Century? First of all, the Magi were obedient to the first leadership of the Lord. We often miss the second and third parts of His leadership because we do NOT listen to and OBEY the first leadership of God. The Magi ACTED on that first leadership by leaving the security of their home country to make that journey to a strange land. Often we KNOW what God wants us to do but do not act on it and obey Him.

Then for the Magi there came a time when the star was not visible, so they just had to continue to TRUST GOD’S LEADERSHIP-even in the dark.

Have you have ever heard, this: “Never doubt in the dark, what God has shown you in the light!”?  During this period in which the “visible” leadership of God was not present, the Magi went to the Bible.

The theologians of Israel told them that the Bible said the Christ was to be bom in Bethlehem. Then the Magi ACTED on that Biblical leadership and went to Bethlehem. (It is significant that the Jewish theologians, who knew the Bible best in those days, did NOT act on its leadership.) When the Magi ACTED on THIS Biblical leadership, God again made the supernatural star visible to them to lead them to the exact place where our Lord was. The Lord gives us leadership … then when we have been obedient to that leadership, He again gives us more leadership which may not have been visible until after we have obeyed His first leadership.

May you have a extraordinary Christmas season!

Have you noticed that among your fellow Christians, no one else seems to have the problems and difficulties that you face?

One of the most remarkable discoveries for me has been that we all face the same problems, temptations and difficulties!

The first truth is happiness is not based upon circumstances but rather upon our relationship to Christ. Our faith in Jesus is what determines our inner joy. Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the (Holy) Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control.” When we are in right relationship to the Lord, ALL this fruit is automatically produced in and through our life … by God’s Holy Spirit.

The second truth is that victory does not come from “a bed of roses” … it comes on the battlefield. You only experience real spiritual growth by working through the difficulties and sorrows of your life. However, as Christians we think that any opposition or difficulties that come to our lives are punishments from God (or persecution from Satan). Yet those things may just be things that God is permitting to come into our lives to help us build spiritual muscle. I know some Christians, who are so upset when things do not go the way they think it should. Yet it may be that the Lord is trying to build spiritual muscle in those individuals.

The third truth is that we should not try to compare our lives to others. God’s plan for another person is NOT His plan for your life. The choices we make and the way He wants to deal with us make for a “tailor-made” plan for our life that is unique in all eternity. To attain the highest degree of joy and satisfaction, we must make our choices based upon God’s instruction given to us in the Bible.

The fourth truth is that when we look at other Christians, be aware that they are doing the same thing we usually do in pub lic … they are “putting their best foot forward.” Simple because they are not telling you all their problems and begging for sympathy does not mean that they are not also facing problems.  Social media posts-never tell the whole story, for anyone.

Don’t feel as if you are the only one facing problems. Claim by faith the victory that Christ wants to give you over those problems. God tells us, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common unto man: but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able; but with the temptation will also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV. Then in 2 Corinthians 2:14) 

November 26, 2014

So, tomorrow is another Thanksgiving!? Boy, time’s a-flyin’! I hope this month has been good for you and your family. There’s so much strife and sin all around us-many of us do need to be reminded to stop and be Thankful.

I am thankful for you-my supporters, friends, and clients. Thankful that you believe in this work to help me (and you) carry out the Great Commission.I am thankful for our country-despite turmoil, strife and struggles.  I am thankful for my freedoms.

I am thankful for my family-despite turmoil, strife and struggles! :o)  I am thankful for a loving wife and amazing children.

I am thankful to an almighty God-who despite my turmoil, strife and struggles-loves me in an incredible, amazing way.

It’s your turn; count your many blessings, name them one-by-one. I guarantee if you write them down-you’ll feel incredibly blessed!