Encouraging Fruit

Encouraging Fruit

- February 13, 2021

An email came in as an encouragement from my Father through the message of an inquiring sister who yearned to serve the Lord but needed a guiding hand in order to start. We were scheduled to do outreach just near our place, but since every soul God sends our way is of utmost importance we quickly changed venue to accommodate her. She stood with us as we read the scriptures in public and handed out tracts.

God is amazing. This daughter of God's story is amazing. Amazing as to how Father has preserved her faith, and steered her into the right direction of understanding, despite having no permanent church to fellowship with. She attends a small gathering for now, and as we interviewed her, her answers aligned perfectly with our convictions. She does not think and walk the way the modern church does. May it please the LORD to groom her with His sanctifying truth, and we may share in her growth.

I met Jeffrey while we were sitting inside an eatery waiting out the short drizzle. He looked more in need of food than of short change, and this presented a perfect opportunity to give him the bad news of sin, and the good news of the gospel. But Jeffrey has never heard of the name Jesus. He isn't religious, and he isn't an atheist either. He simply does not know.

Articulating any idea for that matter, especially in this kind of situation, takes careful consideration of choosing the correct words, and the use of practical examples to effectively communicate what I wanted to tell him. At least he understood the difference between the good and the bad, what the conscience is, and what consequence entails. He needed to understand that he was lost, and how separated from God he was. This covered almost the entire duration of our conversation. Only then at the end I was able to present a concise version of the gospel.

He obviously struggled to understand, and answered incoherently at times. I tried as much as I could to explain what sin is, but I cannot presume that he accepted the pearls I have given him. Presenting the gospel is not a checklist. It is an engagement in war for the mind of man. More often than not, the sickness is so severe that the medicine is automatically rejected. And he was clearly not in the right state of mind - spiritually. Only the LORD knows. His face is on my mind as I write this.

Comments

Kletos Covenantal Ministries is a small house gathering of Christians inside Brgy. Batia, Bocaue, Bulacan standing solely on the absolute authority, sufficiency, and inerrancy of God's Holy Word by the power of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God, the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are Presbyterian in church polity. We adhere strongly to the Westminster Confession of Faith (Larger and Smaller), the Athanasian and Nicene Creeds, and the Heidelberg Catechism. Our emphasis is on prayer, experimental/experiential preaching, the active proclamation of God's word in public, catechism, and daily intentional Family Worship in the homes.

Who I Am

I am a husband, and a father.

I am a mere recipient of my Father's mercy by the gracious merit of my Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ of God.
An unprofitable servant.

Raised as a Roman Catholic, lived like a demon for 24 years in that religion, became a "Christian" and joined a rich church twice, while living as a hypocrite for 19 more years, 14 of those in adultery. Finally found by Christ out of his own good mercy, convicted of my severe offenses, I realized I was helplessly lost. Regenerated and renewed according to the will of God through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Granted the gift of repentance and faith. Was saved. Washed in the blood of the Lamb. Passed from death unto life. Justified. Dying daily in sanctification. Soon to be glorified.

I pray in God's mercy that I may endure to the end carrying His name, proclaiming His kingdom, and preaching the good news of Christ's salvation, the good work of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, and the victorious power of the Resurrection unto sanctification which is in Christ Jesus, to all who will believe and behave the gospel.

I do not believe Christ saved me to merely hide inside a church building to be a good member, but He enlisted me to be a warring soldier for His kingdom to come; nor do I believe the Holy Spirit indwells in a believer and lets him live as the same old person prior to being saved. If, despite my service, the most Sovereign Lord assigns me to hell at the end, then I have no merit of my own to present to him for myself, other than that which is found in Christ. Though I deserve His justice, I can only plead His mercy. Regardless, God is still truly worthy of all service, worship, and praise.

I am in no way superior, more good, or better than the person I meet on the street. The only difference is I fully realize that I am a guilty criminal before God and that I rightly deserve to die under his justice, yet by His mercy and grace He forgave me - and so I am eternally grateful for this act of kindness that no good act in my entire life can ever truly repay. The common "churchian" knows this, yet has no evidence for it. I am of no such company.

Out of gratitude, I willingly set out to fulfill the Great Commission of proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus Christ where all the fishes are - out on the street. Faithfully declaring the clear Gospel of repentance unto salvation, which is able to save to the uttermost, the newness of life in Christ, the persecution that comes with such profession, and the terrifying wrath & judgment of God to come upon the sons of disobedience.

If I lift Him up therefore, He will in turn draw His elect to Himself, thus glorifying the Father, who deserves the reverence He demands from all people and creation. May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward for his suffering.

Grace alone.
Faith Alone.
Christ alone.
Scripture alone.
For the glory of God alone.