F4S: Plead Christ's Cause and leave off pleadin' all causes that you're not called to plead.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Plead Christ's Cause and leave off pleadin' all causes that you're not called to plead.

You've undoubtedly read about Charles Finney I'm sure. He was a 29-year-old lawyer who felt so concerned about his soul's salvation that on October 10, in 1821 he sole away to get alone with God in a wooded area outside his house. 

While he was there prayin' guess who showed up? It was the Holy Spirit who did and he had a real conversion experience. He points us to Christ who regenerates people. Finney penned: "The Holy Spirit.. seemed to go through me, body and soul.. Indeed it seemed to come in waves of liquid love." Did his life change? 

Well, the very next day a potential client came to Finney for some legal representation, but Finney responded to him with these words: "I have a retainer from the Lord Jesus Christ to plead His cause and cannot plead yours." And you know the rest of the story. Finney later left his legal practice, entered the ministry and passionately led many others to Jesus Christ. When you think about it, Christ himself is the only soul-winner - the One who can save - but Christ chose to use an ordinary person.. Charles in this work and the Lord in a unique but biblical way also wants to use you as well.   

The apostle Paul basically had the same type of thing happen to him. Have you been born again? If so, are you witnessing of Jesus' love by your life, attitude, deeds and words? Yes, Paul was also called to plead the Lord's cause to lost people. He penned, "I am appointed for the defense of the Gospel" (Phil. 1:17). Of course God doesn't need our defense, but the word translated "defense" here was employed in the first century for an attorney pleading his case in a court of law and guess what. All believers are called to witness.. to boldly share the Good News of Christ's saving grace. Love all, and look for unbelievers who will take a moment to hear the Scriptures. I dare you if I may cuz you can do this. I encourage you to pray, confess, get right with God by faith, be sanctified and while being perfected, but before you're a perfect person, go tell. Be ready to give a defense to those who ask.

Jesus said, "First take the PLANK out of your eye, then you can see clearly to help your brother take the SPECK from his eye" (Matt. 7:5, emph. mine). Visit facebook.com/ShareJesus