An Economy on Life Support
Our tax system is one that encourages people to lie, cheat, and steal, and it is also a way for our government to hold over our heads the threat of our freedom. If we were to go to a National Sales Tax, we could take away all the loop holes for people to cheat the system. Whenever someone made a purchase they would be paying their share of taxes. The rich would pay more because they spend more, and the poor would pay less because they would spend less. But why would the more than 400 attorneys that are presently in Congress get rid of a tax system that is so complicated you need lawyers to interpret it? They won’t. Congress likes to keep things complicated so that they are then needed to deal with the complications. You should not need a CPA to pay your taxes, but you do. Congress likes to keep everything complicated. Well there is one thing they have kept simple. Their pay raise every year. They have that arranged so that it will take effect every year without fail unless they vote for it NOT to happen. The way they have it set up is a way that allows them to say that they did NOT vote for a pay increase. The truth is every Congressman can say that he did not vote for a pay increase and yet it would still take effect.
They do not take part in the same health care system we do. They set themselves apart from the rest of us This was exemplified in the 80’s when so many of them were caught kiting checks. Something that would land you and I in jail
This sounds like I am blaming Congress. No, I am blaming you and I. Because every election cycle we each vote for the one that promises to give us the biggest piece of the pie. The truth is, there is only so much pie, and every ingredient used to make that pie comes from you and I and, unfortunately our children’s future as well.
The sad thing is that this sick economy will NEVER be well again as long as those attending to it continue to put band-aids on severed arteries. They will only slow the bleeding, but we continue to bleed nonetheless.
We need to abandon politicians and elect true leaders. Unfortunately I am not sure that can be done one congressional seat at a time. The future looks bleak, and at times I think that this house of cards just might have to totally fall apart before we can begin to build it on a solid foundation again
Ken Callis – Former Political Consultant
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So long Google AdSense…
I tried to make some money to support IrkTheEnemy using Google AdSense. It seemed pretty innocuous so I let it run for a while.
Today I noticed an ad for an apostate church and a dating site for Muslims.
I am not sure if I made any money, but I do not want to have that kind of stuff on IRK.
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Letter from an attorney
confirmed to be from this attorney
these pages are jpeg’s so click on the image to bring it up without the text it overlaps
Born St. Louis , Missouri , August 21, 1944
Bar Admissions:
North Carolina, 1969
U.S. District Court, Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina , 1969
U.S. Tax Court
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
Education: Wofford College , 1966A.B.
Mercer University, 1969J.D.
Phi Alpha Delta
Vice-Justice, District XIV, 1968 – 1969
Professional Associations and Memberships:
North Carolina and American Bar Associations (Member, Sections on: Administrative Law; General Practice; Litigation)
26th Judicial District and North Carolina State Bar
Mecklenburg County Bar Association
American Association of Justice
North Carolina Trial Lawyers Association
Captain, U.S. Army, 1969-1971, Vietnam
National Defense Medal, 1969
Republic of Viet Nam Service Medal, 1970
Bronze Star Medals (2), 1971
Assistant District Attorney, Mecklenburg County , 1971 – 1974
Charlotte Chamber of Commerce
Chairman, Board of Trustees Providence United Methodist Church
Board of Directors, Alexander Children’s Home
Board of Directors, Charlotte Culinary Institute
Wofford Alumni Executive Council
Scoutmaster, Boy Scouts of America
Board of Directors, Boy Scouts of America of Mecklenburg County
Board of Directors, Girl Scout Council
Life Member, National Eagle Scout Association
Life Member, Girl Scouts of America
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Make Mine Freedom
This is a great cartoon that will make you think about what is going on today. It was created in 1948 but it is timeless.
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A letter to the editor
an email i recieved:
Written by a housewife in New Brunswick, to her local newspaper. This is one ticked off lady.
‘Are we fighting a war on terror or aren’t we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001 and have continually threatened to do so since?
Were people from all over the world, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from the nation’s capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania ?
Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn’t they?
And I’m supposed to care that a few Taliban were claiming to be tortured by a justice system of the nation they come from and are fighting against in a brutal insurgency.
I’ll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.
I’ll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere belief of which is a crime punishable by beheading in Afghanistan
I’ll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg’s head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.
I’ll care when the cowardly so-called ‘insurgents’ in Afghanistan come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques and behind women and children.
I’ll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.
I’ll care when the Canadian media stops pretending that their freedom of speech on stories is more important than the lives of the soldiers on the ground or their families waiting at home to hear about them when something happens.
In the meantime, when I hear a story about a CANADIAN soldier roughing up an Insurgent terrorist to obtain information, know this:
I don’t care.
When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank:
I don’t care.
When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and ‘fed special food’ that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being ‘mishandled,’ you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts:
I don’t care.
And oh, by the way, I’ve noticed that sometimes it’s spelled ‘Koran’ and other times ‘Quran.’ Well, Jimmy Crack Corn you guessed it,
I don’t care!!
If you agree with this viewpoint, pass this on to all your E-mail friends.? Sooner or later, it’ll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior!
If you don’t agree, then by all means hit the delete button. Should you choose the latter, then please don’t complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great Country!? And may I add:
‘Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Soldiers don’t have that problem.’
I have another quote that I would like to add, AND……..I hope you forward all this.
One last thought for the day:
Only five defining forces have ever offered to die for you:
1. Jesus Christ
2. The BritishSoldier.
3. The Canadian Soldier.
4. The US Soldier, and
5. The Australian Soldier
One died for your soul, the other 4 for your freedom.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO PASS THIS ON, AS MANY SEEM TO FORGET ALL OF THEM.
AMEN!
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Swine Flu Vaccinations
I have been getting emails and reading blogs a lot lately about the swine flu vaccine.
typical email excerpt:
No one should take the swine flu vaccine-it is one of the most dangerous vaccines ever devised. It contains an immune adjuvant called squalene (MF-59) which has been shown to cause severe autoimmune disorders such as MS, rheumatoid arthritis and Lupus. This is the vaccine adjuvant that is strongly linked to the Gulf War syndrome, which killed over 10,000 soldiers and caused a 200% increase in the fatal disease ALS (Lou Gehreg disease). This virus H1N1 kills by causing a “cytokine storm”, which means that it cause the body’s immune system to overreact and that is why it is killing young people and is a mild disease in the elderly. (The elderly have weakened immune systems.) This vaccine is a very powerful immune stimulator and carries the real possibility of making the lethality of the virus much greater.
One’s best protection is vitamin D3. One should take 5000 IU a day now and when the disease begins to spread increase the dose to 15,000 IU a day. Vitamin D3 modulates the immune reaction, reducing the chance of an overreaction and stimulates the body to produce what are called antimicrobial peptides, which are powerful killers of viruses that does not involve immunity. This is dose related, which means the higher the dose of vitamin D3 the better the protection. Fish oils (the best is Carlson’s Norwegian lemon flavored fish oil) also reduce immune overreaction. One teaspoon a day should be sufficient. For severe symptoms, one teaspoon twice a day. Antioxidants of various kins also help-this includes, quercetin, curcumin, grapeseed extract, vitamin C and natural vitamin E. A good multivitamin/mineral such as Extend Core is also essential.Feel free to spread this around. People need to know how to protect themselves..
Russell
RUSSELL L. BLAYLOCK, M.D.
Dr. Blaylock is a board certified neurosurgeon, author and lecturer. He attended the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans and completed his general surgical internship and neurosurgical residency at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston , South Carolina . During his residency he ran the neurology program for one year and did a fellowship in neurosurgery after his residency. For the past 25 years he has practiced neurosurgery in addition to having a nutritional practice. He recently retired from both practices to devote full time to nutritional studies and research.
Politicolnews.com says:
Baxter Drug Company Obtain Patent –
1 Year Before the Swine Flu Epidemic
The Baxter drug company obtained a patent on the swine flu one year before it was in existence.
Here is part of the patent information and Baxter are nothing if not prepared for this ’swine flu’ outbreak if the wording in this 2008 US patent application is anything to go by:“In particular preferred embodiments the composition or vaccine comprises more than one antigen…..such as
influenza A and influenza B in particular selected from of one or more of the human H1N1, H2N2, H3N2, H5N1, H7N7, H1N2,H9N2, H7N2, H7N3, H10N7 subtypes, of the pig flu H1N1,
H1N2, H3N1 and H3N2 subtypes, of the dog or horse flu H7N7,
H3N8 subtypes or of the avian H5N1, H7N2, H1N7, H7N3,
H13N6, H5N9, H11N6, H3N8, H9N2, H5N2, H4N8, H10N7, H2N2,
H8N4, H14N5, H6N5, H12N5 subtypes.”“Suitable adjuvants can be selected from mineral gels,
aluminum hydroxide, surface active substances, lysolecithin,
pluronic polyols, polyanions or oil emulsions such as water in
oil or oil in water, or a combination thereof. Of course the
selection of the adjuvant depends on the intended use.
E.g. toxicity may depend on the destined subject organism
and can vary from no toxicity to high toxicity.”Here is an additional excerpt from that patent:
The addition of Formaldehyde and UV irradiation methods in swine flu vaccine
**** Baxter Patent filed in 2008.This is very much a planned epidemic, and the toxicity of this vaccine is dangerously high with the ingredients not even approved by the FDA.
BAXTER PATENT ON SWINE FLU VACCINE OBTAINED IN AUGUST 2008
Patent Number: US 2009/0060950 A1
The adjuvant called MF-59 Contains SQUALENE which can cause:
Lupus
Multiple Sclerosis
Rheumatoid ArthritisVery assuredly MF-59 WILL damage your immune system so that you cannot fight future illness. Animal studies show that this ingredient MF-59 has killed animals only 1 in 14 animals survived in a study. The ingredient is not approved by the FDA but the N1H1 is approved by the FDA. Does this make any sense in a rush to get billions of dollars sold to the US government in a fear campaign.
Most people know by now that these vaccines contain harmful ingredients namely:
Mercury – destroys brain cells
Aluminum- toxic and destroys immune system
MF-59 – kills animals and remains untested in humansSQUALENE is linked to the tests done in the Gulf War Syndrome where the Veteran Affairs Department admits that soldiers were inoculated with the ANTHRAX VACCINE just for one year from 1990 to 1991. These soldiers developed deadly auto-immune diseases in great numbers and the ALS, Lupus, Transverse Myelitis, Blindness and other major illness from those very vaccines that were predominately tested on the US soldiers as guinea pigs for science.
I cannot imagine any reason to get a vaccination for the swine flu. What I have seen is a tremendous hype in the media to push this vaccination. There is probably a great deal of money at stake in this: money for vaccine, money for treatment of iatrogenic diseases that result from the vaccine.
Count me out! Anything the government is pushing like crazy after granting immunity from lawsuits to the manufacturer is nothing I want in my body!
other links:
us news and world reports – comments
Squalene as an adjuvant on Wikipedia
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The picture says it all…
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The Judgement Seat…
looking at the judgement seat.
1 cor 3:11-15 2 cor 5:10 rom 14:10-12 1 Thess. 4:14-18 Rom. 14:10-13
sanctified
col 3:24 matt 25:21
unsanctified
1 cor 3:15 matt 25:12
we will see where this leads
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Cross references:
1 Corinthians 9:24 : Phil 3:14; Col 2:18
1 Corinthians 9:24 : Gal 2:2; 5:7; Phil 2:16; Heb 12:1; 2 Tim 4:7
1 Corinthians 9:25 : 1 Tim 6:12; 2 Tim 2:5; 4:7; Jude 3
1 Corinthians 9:25 : James 1:12
1 Corinthians 9:26 : Heb 12:4
1 Corinthians 9:26 : 1 Corinthians 14:9
1 Corinthians 9:27 : Rom 6:19
1 Corinthians 9:27 : Song 1:6
1 Corinthians 9:27 : Jer 6:30; Rom 1:28; Heb 6:8
2 Timothy 2:5
Cross references:
2 Timothy 2:5 : 1 Cor 9:25
2 Timothy 2:5 : 2 Timothy 4:8
I Cor. 11:31, 32
Col. 3:4
Mark 8:34-38
To judge self is to lose the self-life, and find the Christ-life (Gal. 2:20).
· To judge self is to no longer be self-conscious, but become Christ-conscious (Matt. 28:20).
· To judge self is to no longer be self-controlled, but to become Christ-controlled (Acts 9:6).
· To judge self is to no longer practice self-esteem, but to esteem others better than self (Phil. 2:3). To judge self is to become selfless.
- It is a most humbling thought to know that some day the believer will face all of his works, “good or bad”. Some will be ashamed (1 John 2:28) and “suffer loss” not the loss of salvation, but the loss of rewards
(1 Cor. 3:11- 15). So whatever you do, do it to the glory of God (Col. 3:17).
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#15 – How To Witness Effectively
“How To Witness Effectively”
Introduction to Master Study Outline 15
One day as Jesus walked by the sea of Galilee He saw two men, Simon, called Peter and Andrew, his brother. they were fisherman. “And He said to them, ‘Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men’” (Matt 4:19). Soul winners are made, not born. Therefore, to be an effective witness, you must be taught, trained, and motivated by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus took three years to teach and train His disciples in the art of soul winning. After His resurrection He instructed them to stay in Jerusalem and, “wait for what the Father had promised” (Acts 1:4-8). When the disciples asked Jesus if the time had come for Him to restore the kingdom of Israel, He answered, “It is not for you to know times and epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses…”
On the day of Pentecost, the hundred and twenty received power to witness; and any believer who will acquire the know-how can be an effective soul winner.
He can know that he and the Holy Spirit are a witnessing team. Peter said, “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him” (Acts 5:32). Therefore, when you witness remember that “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you” (1 Cor 6:19, 20).
When you witness, trust the Holy Spirit to do three things:
· Illuminate the mind of the unbeliever. All lost souls are in spiritual darkness (2 Cor 4:3, 4).
· Stir the heart of the unbeliever. As Peter preached Christ the listeners, “were pierced to the heart” (Acts 2:37).
· Move the will of the unbeliever. The prodigal returned home when he came to his senses and said, “I will get up and go to my father” (Luke 15:18).
You may be up-to-date in all modern techniques and technologies of soul winning, and able to quote the necessary Scriptures without a flaw; but if you do not evangelize in the power of the Holy Spirit, your soul winning efforts will be ineffective.
Approach this last Master Outline Study (How to witness effectively) with an open heart and receptive mind, willing to be made fishers of men.
Index of Master Study Outline #15
I. The Importance of Witnessing
Read: Rom 10:13-17
II. The Qualifications of a Witness
Read: Col 2:6, 7
III. The Approach
Read: John 1:40-42
IV. The Follow-Through
Read: Matt 13:3-8 and 18-23
V. How to Share God’s Plan of Salvation
Read: Acts 4:12
VI. How to Give the Invitation
Read: Rev 22:17
VII. How to Follow Up
Read: Acts 2:41-47
I. The Importance of Witnessing
Read: Rom 10:13-17
… for “Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved” (Rom 10:13). Do not lift this text out of context. There are three questions in verse 14 that must be considered along with verse 13, they are:
· First question, “How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed?” The answer is, the lost cannot call on the Lord to be saved until they believe:
o “That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
o And that He was buried,
o And that He was raised on the third day according to Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:1-4).
· Second question, “And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard?” The answer is, the lost cannot believe in Him until they hear the good news of salvation.
o The eunuch had to hear to believe (Acts 8:26-39).
o Paul had to hear to believe (Acts 9:1-18).
o Cornelius had to hear to believe (Acts 10:1-48).
o The Philippian jailer had to hear to believe (Acts 16:25-40).
· Third question, “And how shall they hear without a preacher (witness)?” The answer is, they cannot hear the good news of salvation without a witness.
o Three thousand were saved at Pentecost because the 120 witnessed.
o The eunuch was saved because Philip witnessed.
o Paul was saved because Stephen witnessed (Acts 7:54-60)., and Jesus the God-man witnessed, and Ananias witnessed (Acts 9:1-18).
o Cornelius and his household were saved because Peter witnessed.
o The Philippian jailer and his household were saved because Paul and Silas witnessed.
o You were saved because someone witnessed to you!
According to the word of God, the lost cannot be saved without a witness. They must have a witness to hear, they must hear to believe, they must believe to call, and they must call to be saved. But they cannot call until they believe and they cannot believe until they hear and they cannot hear without a witness.
“So faith (saving faith) comes from hearing” (Rom 10:17). We are not born with saving faith; it comes only when we hear the gospel. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that every born again child of God obey the great commission to evangelize, to go with the gospel!
II. The Qualifications of a Witness
Read: Col 2:6, 7
A qualified witness is one who is:
1. Established in the faith. To be established in the faith is to be rooted and grounded in God’s Word. Peter said, “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Pet 3:15).
The fifteen Master Outline studies i this Bible study were prepared to help establish you in the faith. Study them, carry your Bible with you and take advantage of every opportunity to ponder a portion of one of the great doctrines. They will give you a foundation on which to build a strong faith (2 Tim 3:16, 17).
2. Saved and knows it. I know that I am saved because God tells me so in His Word and God cannot lie.
We have the:
· Witness of the Spirit (Rom 8:16).
· The witness of the Word (1 John 5:13).
· The witness of faith “The one who believes in the the Son of God has the witness in himself” (1 John 5:9, 10).
3. Separated. Paul said that he was “set apart for the gospel of God” (Rom 1:1-16). This is positive separation and Paul analyzed it as:
· A holy desire to share spiritual gifts (verse 11).
· A holy purpose to bear fruit (verse 13).
· A holy obligation to pay a spiritual debt (verse 14).
· A holy eagerness to share the gospel (verse 15).
· A holy boldness to exalt the cross (verse 16).
To be separated unto the gospel is to share the Good News with the lost (see Master Outline #11, Section #3).
4. Filled with the Holy Spirit. “Be filled with the Spirit” (Eph 5:18). We are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit (see Master Outline #11, Section #4). Evidence of the Spirit-filled life as seen in the early Christians:
· They spoke the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31).
· They witnessed with great power (Acts 4:33).
· They witnessed with great grace (Acts 4:33)
· They shared their wealth (Acts 4:34-37).
· They worshiped in unity (Acts 2:42-47).
· They suffered persecution (Acts 8:1-4
· They glorified in tribulations (Rom 5:3).
· They sang in prison (Acts 16:25).
· They loved and prayed for their executioners (Acts 7:54-60).
· They rejoiced to suffer shame for His name (Acts 5:41).
They were accused of:
· Filling Jerusalem with the gospel (Acts 5:28).
· Upsetting the world (Acts 17:6).
The 120 Spirit-filled Christians witnessed on the day of Pentecost and the people were:
· Bewildered, that is, they were mentally arrested (Acts 2:6).
· Amazed, that is, they were mentally frustrated (Acts 2:7).
· Marveling, that is, they stood in mental awe (Acts 2:7).
· Mocking, that is, some mentally reacted (Acts 2:13).
· Inquiring, that is, some mentally acted (Acts 2:37).
The gospel proclaimed in the power of the Holy Spirit will motivate the hearer to act or react.
On the day to Pentecost three thousand acted as evidenced by repentance and baptism, while others reacted mocking.
No one, but no one, ignored the witness of those Spirit-filled believers!
III. The Approach
Read: John 1:40-42
There are two ways to approach the prospect.
The first is:
· The direct approach. This approach can be used when witnessing to:
o A relative. Andrew used the direct approach to bring his brother Simon Peter to Christ (John 1:40-42).
o A friend. Phillip the apostle used the direct approach to bring Nathanael to Jesus (John 1:45, 46).
o The concerned. Jesus used the direct approach to win Nicodemus (John 3:1- 1).
o The seeker. Paul and Silas used the direct approach to lead the Philippian jailer to Jesus (Acts 16:19-34).
The second is:
· The indirect approach. This can be used when witnessing to: o A stranger. Jesus used the indirect approach to witness to the Samaritan woman (John 4:7-26). o The religious. Phillip the evangelist used the indirect approach to lead the Ethiopian eunuch to Christ (Acts 8:26-39).
The method in either case will vary according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Whether you use the direct or the indirect approach, be sure to follow through until you have presented God’s plan of salvation and invited them to accept Christ as their personal Savior.
IV. The Follow-Through
Read: Matt 13:3-8 and 18-23
The parable of the sower illustrates the importance of the follow-through. Only one fourth of the soil was ready for the seed, so only one fourth of the seed brought forth fruit. Jesus explains the parable in (Matt 13:18-23), and we learn that:
· The sower is the witness.
· The seed is the word of God.
· The soil is the heart.
We also learn that there are four types of hearts. They are:
· The hard heart; this is the wayside soil, fertile but hard.
· The shallow heart; this is the stoney soil, fertile but depthless.
· The worldly heart; this is the thorny soil, fertile but possessed.
· the understanding heart: this is good soil, fertile and prepared.
The lesson here is a simple one if we expect the seed, the word of God, to bear fruit, the heart must be made ready. The hard heart must be broken; the shallow heart must be given depth; the worldly heart must be taught that the things of this world are temporal (Mark 8:36, 37). This requires time, work, and patience.
V. How to Share God’s Plan of Salvation
Read: Acts 4:12
There are seven simple steps to take in sharing God’s plan of salvation:
· Share your personal experience of salvation. Don’t give your life story. It should not take more that a few minutes to tell how the Lord saved you. As you come to the close of your testimony, bring out your Bible and say, “May I share with you God’s plan of salvation that changed my life?”
· Now share fact number one, “It is a fact that God loves you.” Read (John 3:16-17) and the study notes with them. When you come to the close of the study notes, say something like this: “Will you now admit that God loves you?” Lead them to admit it, if you can. This will get them involved in the plan of salvation.
· Now share fact number two, “It is a fact that you are a sinner.” Read (Rom 3:23) and the study notes with them. When you come to the close of the study notes, ask them to admit that they are a lost sinner. When they admit that they are a lost sinner, say something like this, “Isn’t it wonderful? God loves you even though you are a sinner!”
· Now share fact number three, “It is a fact that you are now dead in sin.” Read (Rom 7:23) and the study notes with them. When you come to the close of the study notes, ask them to admit that they are dead in sin. When they admit that they are dead in sin, say something like this, “Isn’t it great? Even though you are a lost sinner, dead in sin, God loves you!”
· Now share fact number four, “It is a fact that Christ died for you.” Read (Rom 5:6) and the study notes with them. When you come to the close of the study notes, ask them to admit that Christ died on Calvary for them. When they admit that Christ died for them, say something like this, “Isn’t it wonderful? Isn’t it great that God loves you so much that He died on Calvary bearing your sins?”
· Now share fact number five, “It is a fact that you can be saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.” Read (Acts 16:30, 31) and the study notes with them.
· Now share fact number six. Lead them to call upon the name of the Lord in prayer: for “Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved!” Read (Rom 10:13).
When you come to the close of the study notes, be ready to ask them to accept, by faith, Christ as their personal Savior!
VI. How to Give the Invitation
Read: Rev 22:17
To give the invitation is to invite the person witnessed to, to, by faith, accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior
After reading the above verse (Rev 22:17) you can simply say something like this, “Will you kneel with me in prayer as I ask the Lord to save you, right here and now?” Don’t wait for them to get on their knees; you lead the way!
· If they will not kneel with you, don’t force it.
o Pray a short prayer that the Lord will convict them of sin and bring them to repentance.
o Get up and make an appointment to return for another witness session.
· If they kneel with you, ask them to accept Him now, by faith, by praying with you (repeating after you) the following prayer:
“Lord Jesus, I know You love me, because You died on the cross bearing my sins. Thank You, Lord, for revealing to me my lost, sinful condition. I confess that I am a sinner, dead in sin, and cannot save myself. I do now, by faith, gladly accept You as my personal Savior, and thank You, Lord, for eternal salvation. Amen!”
When you have finished leading them in the prayer, stand up, shake their hand, or preferably give them a hug (Christians are big on hugging!) and say something like this, “Welcome aboard! Upon the authority of God’s Word you are now a child of God!”
VII. How to Follow Up
Read: Acts 2:41-47
When you have led a soul to Christ your responsibility does not end. You have a spiritual baby, and that baby needs help if it is to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are some things that you can do to help the new Christian to grow spiritually.
· If they don’t already have one, give them an “Open Bible” (we prefer the New American Standard “Open” Bible) which is simply a Bible that contains a good study guide (like the one that this entire study has come out of), a Biblical Cyclopedia, a Concordance and a lot of other very useful and fascinating study aids.
Thomas Nelson also publishes “The Christian Life New Testament” which contains this bible study. This is a small new testament that you can carry in your pocket.
· Lead them to a New Testament church. (Invite them to yours!)
o Take them to church and sit with them.
o When the invitation is given by your Pastor, ask them to go with you to make their public profession of faith in Christ (Matt 10:32).
o Arrange with your Pastor to get them baptized as soon as possible.
· Start them out right:
o Point out that we have a “Now Salvation”.
o Stress the fact that they need to obey the Lord in all things.
o Teach them how to pray effectively on a daily basis.
o Teach them to read and study their Bible on a daily basis.
· Explain the Master Outline system of study that we have been using. o Show them how the Outlines work.
o Be sure to show them how to look up each Scripture reference when they are studying.
o Help them through the Master Study Outlines.
· By the time that they have reached Outline #15, they should be in a church, and have a solid doctrinal foundation on which to continue to grow spiritually.
· Encourage them to evangelize and to witness. “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so” (Ps 107:2 OT).
At this juncture, the new Christian should be fully prepared to “go with the gospel!”
You have accomplished a great thing! Now, don’t rest on your laurels, go find another lost soul! 
On to study # 1 – The Bible – the word of God
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#14 – God’s Plan Of Salvation
“God’s Plan Of Salvation”
There are seven facts revealed in God’s plan of salvation, and as you study them, keep in mind that this is God’s plan-not man’s-it is God’s. There is no other plan that can save your lost soul and make you a child of God (Acts 4:12).
All roads may lead to Rome, but all religions do not lead to God and salvation. There is only one way, and that is God’s way; and God’s way is a person, and that person is His Son the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6).
God’s salvation is threefold:
· First, Christ appeared on this earth to save you from the penalty of sin, by putting away your sin by the sacrifice of Himself on the Cross (Heb 9:26).
· Second, He appeared in heaven, in the presence of God, after His resurrection, to save you from the power of sin (Heb 9:24 and 1 John 2:1, 2).
· Third, He will appear again on this earth, the second time, as “Lord of lords and King of kings” to save you from the very presence of sin (Heb 9:28).
Now come to the seven facts of salvation with an open mind and a receptive heart, that God may bring salvation to your soul!
Index of Master Study Outline #14
I. It is a fact that God loves you
Read: John 3:16
II. It is a fact that you are a sinner
Read: Rom 3:23
III. It is a fact that you are now dead in sin
Read: Rom 6:23
IV. It is a fact that Christ died for you
Read: Rom 5:6-8
V. It is a fact that you can be saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
Read: Acts 16:30, 31
VI. It is a fact that you can be saved and know it
Read: 1 John 5:10-13
VII. It is a fact that you are now a child of God and you are to obey Him
Read: Acts 5:29
I. It is a fact that God loves you
Read: John 3:16
It is an eternal fact the God loves you with and everlasting love that cannot be fathomed; it is so boundless that it can only be known by faith.
The little word “so” in John 3:16 is most expressive. It gives you some concept of the magnitude of God’s love. God so loved you, that He gave His only begotten Son, to be made sin for you, that you might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor 5:21).
Jesus Christ was made that which God hates: sin-that you might become that which God loves: righteousness. Because God so loves you, you can exchange your sins for His righteousness. Could you ask for greater evidence of love? Calvary is proof that God loves, and longs to save you.
Before going to the next fact, admit to yourself that: “God loves me!”
II. It is a fact that you are a sinner
Read: Rom 3:23
What is sin?
· Sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4).).
· Sin is unbelief; it calls God a liar (1 John 5:10).
· Sin is active rebellion against God (1 Sam 15:23 OT).
· Sin is passive rebellion against God (Is 1:2 OT).
· All unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:17).
God, who cannot lie, said: “All have sinned.” “All” includes you! You have sinned against God by thought, word, and deed. You have committed sins of commission and sins of omission. In the sight of God, you are a lost sinner.
Before going to the next fact, admit to yourself that: “I am a lost sinner, because I have sinned.”
III. It is s fact that you are now dead in sin
Read: Rom 6:23
You have already confessed and admitted that you are a sinner. Now God would have you know that “… the wages of sin is death.” You are dead in sin until you accept Christ as personal Savior. The Apostle Paul said, “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins” (Eph 2:1). To be saved is to be made spiritually alive in Christ.
What is death?
· Death is spiritual separation. Your sins have separated you from God; you are dead in your sins.
· Death is physical separation. It separated the spirit and soul from the body.
· Death is eternal separation. If you remain lost in your sins, you will stand before God at the great white throne judgment. And there your sins will separate you from the mercy of God forever; this is Hades (Rev 20:11-15).
You know that God loves you, and that you are a sinner-dead in sins.
Before going to the next fact, admit to yourself: “I am dead in sins.”
IV. It is a fact that Christ died for you
Read: Rom 5:6-8
He died for those who are unlike God; this includes you! “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8).
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor 5:21).
Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like sliver or gold …but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (1 Pet 1:18, 19).
For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit” (1 Cor 15:3).
In light of these wonderful Scriptures, will you now thank God for His great love in sending His Son to bear your sins in His own body on the cross, and admit to yourself that: “Christ died on Calvary for me!”
V. It is a fact that you can be saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
Read: Acts 16:30, 31
The Philippian jailor asked Paul and Silas: “Sirs, what must I do to be Saved?” The answer was quick in response, and positive in content: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.” Paul and Silas preached the gospel to the jailer and those in his house; they believed and were saved.
What is this gospel that saves when believed?
· First, it is: “that Christ died for your sins.”
· Second, it is: “that He was buried.”
· Third, it is: “that He was raised on the third day” (1 Cor 15:3, 4).
Jesus Christ the God-man died for you, was buried for you, and rose form the dead for you; and is now at the right hand of the Father interceding for you (1 John 2:1).
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16). The gospel is the power of God for salvation only when you believe. Your faith in Jesus Christ releases the power of God that saves your soul.
The man born blind received physical sight by a miracle; but, spiritual sight came when Jesus asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “Lord, I believe” (John 9:35-38). Salvation came to Thomas when he believed and confessed, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:24-29).
When you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Rom 10:9, 10).
Accept Him now by faith, and pray this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I know You love me, because You died on the cross bearing my sins. Thank You, Lord, for revealing to me my lost, sinful condition. I confess that I am a sinner, dead in sin, and cannot save myself. I do now by faith, gladly accept You as my personal Savior, and thank You, Lord, for eternal salvation. Amen!”
VI. It is a fact that you can be saved and know it
Read: 1 John 5:10-13
“… that you may know that you have eternal life… ” (1 John 5:13). Upon the authority of God’s Word, you can be saved and know it. Your faith in God’s infallible Word is your assurance of salvation. “He who believes in the Son has (present tense) eternal life” (John 3:36).
The Bible is a book of certainties. It strengthens convictions, and establishes beliefs. God would have you know:
· That you are now a child of God (1 John 3:2).
· That you have been made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor 5:21 and Rom 10:1-4).
· That you are now a new creature in Christ (2 Cor 5:17).
· That you are now a son and heir of God (Gal 4:7).
Could you have greater assurance than is found in God’s infallible Word? “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matt 24:35).
VII. It is a fact that you are now a child of God and you are to obey Him
Read: Acts 5:29
“We must obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29). You now belong to Jesus Christ. He is your Lord and Master, and “no one can serve two masters” (Matt 6:24). Determine now to obey your Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, in all things:
· Unite with a New Testament church. “And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).
· Follow Him in the ordinance of baptism (Acts 2:41).
· Join a Sunday school class (Bible Study), and study the Word with God’s children (2 Tim 2:25).
· Attend the worship services of your church (Heb 10:25). You need the preaching of God’s Word and Christian fellowship.
· Be a faithful steward (1 Cor 4:2). All that you are and have belong to God. “… you are not your own. For you are bought with a price …” (1 Cor 6:19, 20). As a faithful steward, you pay God His tithe (Mal 3:10 OT). The tithe is one-tenth of your income, and it is the Lord’s (Lev 27:30 OT).
· Make time in your daily life to pray and read God’s word, that you may grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
On to study # 15 – How to Witness Effectively
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