|
Outreach Primer
by Soldier Brent
Gaines
Some of these ideas aren't my own but let's
just give Glory to God for them all. Okay? Okay. I'm going to
try and talk from some of my experiences and I hope y'all can
learn from what God has done in me.
I don't really think outreach has some
great secret. If there is one I don't know it and please tell
me! I think it is all about love. Sometimes I had (sometimes
still do) a hard time evangelizing and ministering to people
experiencing homelessness because the world and the enemy put
up barriers in my heart. These barriers withheld God's love
from splashing out of me. I wanted Holy Spirit to do a cannon
ball and splash everyone around me but He seemed unable to do
so. What was holding me back from being used by God? After
some self reflection I found I had a lot of barriers. So I got
these barriers, I meet Jesus, He doesn't like barriers, and He
knocks them down. That brings me to this…
Let Jesus tear the walls down!
If you want to reach people at high risk
(whatever that means) you have to acknowledge the fact that
there is some prejudices and stigmas probably somewhere inside
of you. If not praise God for your sanctification. So spend a
moment to think about what that looks like for you. What can
keep you from helping and talking to anyone at anytime? Race?
Gender? Body odor? Accent? Facial hair? Clothing? What is
holding you back from allowing God to use you in a mighty and
powerful way?
ADMIT.
Admit to yourself and God what that thing is that's holding
you back from sharing God's Love. For me it was fear. I was
afraid. I was scared of people experiencing homelessness. It
feels weird admitting it. I can't tell you why exactly. Most
likely because the world had trained me to believe if I hung
around people like “that” they would cause bodily harm to me.
Like I go to hand some one a sandwich and ask if they need
prayer and I get stabbed. I can tell you I have given out a
few thousand sandwiches and it's never happened. Someone did
pull a knife on me today under a bridge but in a playful,
South Carolina, just making sure you know I have one kinda
way. No biggie. How did I overcome this fear?
BELIEVE.
I had faith my God, Creator of the Universe, God of Brent,
would protect me. I knew that He would prepare me for whatever
I would meet and also cover me. It wasn't an instant faith. It
took time and I wasn't a very trusting person. I noticed this
awesome thing start happening eventually. The more faith I had
the more God moved! How amazing it was/is/will be. I ask God
to move a mountain in my life and its freaking gone. I had
more mountains then the Himalayas, I tell you. Praise God He
destroyed them all! With each step of faith and each miracle I
became less afraid. I don't hope God will protect me. I KNOW
HE WILL. Plus even if I did get a black eye taking prayer
request how awesome would that be.
CONFESS.
I confessed. I told God that I had all these nasty yucky walls
in my heart. They were keeping me from loving the unlovable
and they had to go. I heard Jesus can break every chain, move
mountains, surely He can handle my walls built on lies. I need
to just repent. So...
I repented, repented from all the lies that had built a
stronghold inside to keep God's Love and Divine plan for my
life from happening. Examples? God please forgive me for
believing the lie that someone's situation determines their
worth. God cast out the lie that these people can't be saved.
God bind up the lie that I can't make a difference. See - not
so hard :-). Through the work of Holy Spirit I shut the door
to the enemy. He was no longer welcome to muck up my
relationship with God or others. Now that I had a relationship
with God, He smashed to bits my walls. I was free to allow God
to use me to build His kingdom if... I was obedient.
I was/am obedient to God. Now I had this
great relationship with Christ. I'm asking Him stuff and He is
asking me stuff and it is AWESOME! There is this unexpected
thing happening though. I ask Jesus to do things but He also
asks me to do things. Not because He makes me do it but
because it’s the relationship we have. I'm like, "Jesus do you
mind laying your hand on my daughter as she sleeps and healing
any brokenness and fear she experienced today." In my divine
imagination He is there and totally does that because He is
Jesus and is able to love and heal like a hurricane. I notice
also though He is like, "Hey Brent, that man sitting on the
stoop of your administration office is in desperate need of
someone to show they love him. You know that guy everyone
walks past and won't make eye contact with because he smells
of mildew from the rain two nights ago, his beard is a bit
long, he walks with a limp. Go tell him that I love him dearly
and I died for his sins that he may know me the way you do."
Assuming all your/my walls is busted up because Jesus tore
them down, this shouldn’t be a problem. Remember the ones that
tell you your words aren't good enough, he won't listen to
you, he seeks to hurt you, and he has already had enough
chances. Without those in your way you are free to listen to
Christ.
God spoke some truth in my life I want to
share. I had a very difficult situation in my life and I
asked, almost pleading with, Jesus " Where are You in this
situation?! I look everywhere for Your face Lord. Where are
you moving?! Do you even care?" My Savior smiled and whispered
to me, "I'm in you and you are in me, and we are in this
situation. If you choose to drift away from Me or not set My
example then nobody will. Wherever you are and I'm in you My
Love and Light will shine into this darkness. If you fall away
or run you will prevent that which we both desperately
desire." I ask you where are you seeking Jesus? Is He also
seeking you there as well to be His Light? It's in His nature.
Is it in yours? I heard once "God wants to go super on your
natural!!!" Glory to God and Good News to Others
|
