Ixtheus Christian Devotionals

According to Jesus, then, referring to the parable of the sower and the soil, each person we meet is at a different level of spiritual preparedness. It is up to us to pray for the wisdom to discern where they are, and to do the correct thing to help move them along to greater spiritual growth. Here are some things we can do as our part of this process...

1) Pray for the person's salvation:
 According to scripture, no person can believe in Christ unless God draws them first. It is then up to us as intercessors, to pray that God would open up their heart and remove the blindness from their eyes. This is a spiritual activity which God does in answer to prayer, or as a result of His own purposes. 
  
{John 6:44}  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day......
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{Psa 65:4}  Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and causest to approach unto Thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
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{Job 42:8}  Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you(intercede for you) : for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.
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{1 Sam 12:23}  Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
{24}  Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you.
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{Col 1:9}  For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
{10}  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
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2) Pray that satan would be bound.
One of the things you need to pray for is that God would bind Satan for you..bind Satan from blinding this person which keeps them from receiving the Light of the Gospel. According to Job chapter 1, Satan is always under the control and limitation of God the Father...he cannot do any harm unless God has first allowed it.. (this is called God's permissive will)

{Job 1:8}  And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and departs from evil?
{9}  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
{10}  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
{11}  But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
{12}  And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
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{Mat 12:28}  But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
{29}  Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

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{Isa 55:8}  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
{9}  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
{10}  For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may  give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
{11}  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it 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.
 

3) Allow Christ to live His life through you..as a silent testimony

2 Cor 2:14-17a (TLB) But thanks be to God! For through what Christ has done, he has triumphed over us so that now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Gospel like a sweet perfume. 
{15} As far as God is concerned there is a sweet, wholesome fragrance in our lives. It is the fragrance of Christ within us, an aroma to both the saved and the unsaved all around us. 
{16} To those who are not being saved, we seem a fearful smell of death and doom, while to those who know Christ we are a life-giving perfume. But who is adequate for such a task as this? 
{17} Only those who, like ourselves, are men of integrity, sent by God, speaking with Christ's power, with God's eye upon us....
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{1 Pet 3:1b}  that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the behavior of the wife (the witness, in this case)
{2}  While they behold your innocent behavior coupled with fear.
{3}  Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
{4}  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
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{Gal 2:20}  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
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4) Be an unashamed public witness to Christ

Read your Bible in a public place- you may find that you dont even have to say a word..just sit at a table in the lunchroom or library and study the Word..people will come up to you and want to know what you are doing and why...and this can provide your opportunity to witness.
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{John 12:32}  And I(Jesus), if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me.
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{1 Pet 3:15}  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
{16}  Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
{17}  For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
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5)  Study and learn the scriptures..Be ready to answer the questioners, as Christ would, using appropriate Bible verses.

{Col 4:5}  Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
{6}  Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
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{John 14:26}  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (please note: The Holy Spirit cannot bring scriptures back to your memory if they are not in your memory in the first place. Be willing to memorize scripture for appropriate purposes)
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6) Practise hospitality and kindness and real concern for their well being... not only to your chrsitian brothers and sisters, but also to them which need the Gospel, as a demonstration of the love of God to them. Invite them out to lunch, on you, not expecting anything in return. Then sit back and listen to their life story and problems...and offer them the help which the Savior brings.
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{Titus 1:7}  For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker(punching with the hand or fist or a hammer) , not given to filthy lucre (dishonest gain);
{8}  But a lover of hospitality(greek=fond of guests), a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
{9}  Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers(contentious skeptics).
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{Rom 12:9}  Let love be without dissimulation(hypocricy, phoneyness). Abhor that which is evil; cleave(adhere) to that which is good.
{10}  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
{11}  Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
{12}  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
{13}  Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
{14}  Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
{15}  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
{16}  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
{17}  Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
{18}  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
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7) Don't be pushy...use patience and faith in God's Working 

{Psa 37:7}  Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
{8}  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
{9}  For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
{10}  For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
{11}  But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
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{Psa 51:10}  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
{11}  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
{12}  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
{13}  Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
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8) Know how to explain the plan of salvation to a person. Be willing to give your own personal testimony Very good explanations of the plan of salvation may be found at the following web sites. Learn the basics, and be able to explain them to an unsaved person.

  Ixtheus Ministries Homepage     http://www.execpc.com/~ixtheus

  The Four Spiritual Laws   http://www.ccci.org/laws/ 

  The 4 Spiritual Laws in 67 Languages     http://www.ccci.org/laws/languages.html

  God's  Simple Plan of Salvation in 17 languages    http://www.missionaries.org/lifegate/gsps.html 

  Steps to peace with God (from Billy Graham)      http://www.theway.billygraham.org/steps1.asp
 

9) Be prepared and willing to disciple the new convert to christian growth-  
Recognize that repentance and accepting Christ, is only the first step in the Christian life. Your job is to help bring that person to maturity in Christ. This includes spending time with the new convert, and pouring into them the treasures that the Lord has taught you .

{2 Tim 2:1}  Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
{2}  And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
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{Eph 4:11}  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
{12}  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
{13}  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect(mature) man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
{14}  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
{15}  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ...

May your life and ministry be blessed as you serve Him......

In Christ...brother bob.......<><

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IXTHEUS CHRISTIAN DEVOTIONALS
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God Bless You.....brother bob.......<><

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