Evangelism, what exactly is it?

Is it by gently telling people about Jesus, sharing your faith (whatever this means?), or screaming loudly at them that they must repent or face eternal damnation?
Some think that it is by the charm of a preacher that does the converting. If that be so, then another man with more charm could come along and unconvert! Not so with God the Holy Spirit, when He does the converting, there will be no unconverting. So how much 'work' must we do when witnessing to the lost? Is there a "silver bullet"? no, of course not! Nevertheless, as a 'young' believer I reasoned that if I could 'persuade' by the route that I came to the Faith, then that should do the trick. But I very soon learned this was not the case! There is not a "one size fits all" formula. It is a fact that Arminian preachers/church men always boast about those who "raised their hands" at an altar call meeting. They do this as if it were by their efforts that souls were saved! A fleeting glance at the "wheat and tares" parable in Matthew 13 should dispel this nonsense once and forever.

There is also this stupid notion that some will "want what you've got!" In other words because you are such an exemplary loving Christian character, they will want to be just like you, so the reasoning goes! They are supposed to 'see' Jesus in you coruscating outwards! Certainly the Scriptures admonish us to "walk ye in Him" Colossians 2.6 and we ought indeed to "walk, even as He walked" 1 John 2.6. But this is after we believe, it is not meant as an evangelising tool! (read the contexts). If it were by our 'shining example' of holy living, that we could convert people, then by this measure Jesus failed most miserably!

The Scripture says "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" Romans 10.17. This is true, but how many verses does it take to do it? one, seven, three hundred, or more? As said above, there is no formula. In the gospel accounts we see that Jesus just said "follow Me" and Matthew instantaneously dropped what he was doing and obediently and meekly followed Him, Matthew 9.9! But then, He was the living Word; He was "the Word made flesh" John 1.14!

So how much Scripture must we preach to convict a sinner that he is hell-bound unless he repents and believes? God's written word is described as a "hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces" Jeremiah 23.29; in other words it will do the job it was sent to do! Those names that were in eternity past written in "the Lamb's book of life" Revelation 21.27 will  believe, for they will repent and believe, for their names are "written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Revelation 13.8. But is not this pre-destination and election? undeniably it is. Charles Spurgeon that great evangelical preacher of the 19th century said of this doctrine "Men and women are more scared of pre-destination/election than if they were to come face to face with a lion"! But why is this? didn't Peter deny his Lord? yet Jesus was faithful to him, even unto death on the cross! Peter subsequently learnt this lesson, for he wrote; "..give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall" 2 Peter 1.10. (my emphasis). For myself, as with many others, I find the doctrine of election to be most humbling; why did God chose a wretch like me? why shine the gospel light on an undeserving criminal such as me? It makes absolutely no sense! But, by His grace alone He did shine it upon me! I heard, for "My sheep hear My voice" John 10.27!
"...make your calling and election sure" (my emphasis). God supplies those names He put into His "book of life" with His saving grace; "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" Ephesians 2.8, "who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." 2 Timothy 1.9.

As a child I experienced poverty, and at times there was very little money about, and it seemed to me at school that all my classmates had everything, and I had nothing. Every Monday morning at registration the children would be called up one by one to pay for the weeks school meals, but not me; I qualified for free school meals. This made me feel inferior, I felt really ashamed, also being brought up in a single parent household (my mother). They had brand new bicycles/mopeds/motorcycles, I had none.
To cut a very long story short, After leaving school and finding employment for a short time, I 'fell' into my business (second hand cars) and by the time I was in my mid twenties I'd earned enough money to buy two houses outright in an expensive Cotswold town. I wasn't wanting for anything and could buy any car I wanted. But by the time I was in my early thirties I felt really hollow, I remember just thinking "what's life all about? you live, eat and die!" I started to think about eternity.

How did I come to believe in Jesus as Saviour? Well, one thing I do know, is that it was certainly not instantaneous! It wasn't until I was about 42 that I believed, and then it was a gargantuan struggle until I really believed! There was no one verse or three hundred verses! no "altar call" that did it, but just a continued 'search', though I do remember something happening to me on one occasion, that I hadn't experienced before or since. No signs and wonders, angelic visitations or a sight of Jesus that many claim, no, just a feeling of being completely overwhelmed; like being run over by a bus, but without any physical damage! I then realised for the first time that the cross was no "cunningly designed fable" 2 Peter 1.16!
I had heard that Jesus could save, but now I really believed it. Nevertheless life goes on.

Back in the latter part of the 19th century there was a very contentious debate raging in Scotland between two reformed Calvinist Church ministers by the names of Dr's Horatius Bonar and John Kennedy. It came to be because Bonar's younger brother Andrew (also a reformed Calvinist minister in Scotland's Free Church) invited the famous American Arminian preacher D.L.Moody to preach in Edinburgh/Glasgow. Moody was also heavily influenced by J.N.Darby's dispensational pre-tribulation rapture teaching. Both Bonar's were pre-millennial, as Moody indeed was, but not pre-trib like the American! Kennedy, being post millennial, was no doubt very perplexed by the Bonar's pre-millennialism!
This brought the wrath of Kennedy upon the Bonar's, for he abhorred the Arminian gospel!
I have read the book "Evangelism A Reformed Debate" which narrates this rather unfortunate episode in the history of Christ's Church in Scotland, and though the Bonar's and Dr Kennedy were all staunch Calvinists (as I am!); how can we object to an Arminian preacher who preaches salvation by God's grace alone? Is this not also Christian/Calvinistic doctrine?  Arminianism is thoroughly unbiblical, but nevertheless, those who hold to it's teachings seem to have a far greater and fervent desire for the lost to be saved from "the wrath to come" Matthew 3.7!

My verdict on this "debate".
I hate Arminian 'theology' with every bent of my body, for it relegates God to the whims of man, and 'theologically' it can be proven to be utterly unscriptural, nevertheless let us not despise those in times past, or today who are prepared to preach salvation by God's grace alone.
I believe Dr Kennedy's theology to be 100% Bible based to a fault! (post millennialism apart). Likewise the Bonar's!
But when it comes to preaching God's Word (Christ) we should develop the Arminian 'way' as it were!

The gospel of Christ should be given "free course" 2 Thessalonians 3.1.

The Water Cycle

Most people, and I would think also the vast majority of professing Christians would believe that rain is caused by the evaporation of the seas, rivers and streams which then rise back up to the clouds to cause it to rain. The 'scientists' have a much more in-depth 'explanation' for this process known as the "water cycle".

What does God say about this false science?

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" 

Isaiah 55.10. (My emphasis).

Or, in modern English my paraphrase would be; 

"When the snow and rain comes down from the clouds, and doesn't return there, it waters the earth making it bud so that we have seeds to plant, that we may eat."

There is a big 'water tank' above our clouds, in fact it is above the firmament, for Genesis 1.7 says that there are also "waters which were above the firmament". The earth didn't see any rain until the time of Noah's flood, when "the windows of heaven were opened." Genesis 6.1. It was then that I believe clouds came to be. Clouds are not mentioned in the Bible until we get to Genesis 9.13 when God made a covenant with Noah by setting "My bow in the cloud".

By Whose will are we saved?

By Whose will are we saved?

John 1.12-13: 

"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

Now, I believe if you were to ask a twelve year old child of average intelligence to read the above Scripture and ask "by whose will are we saved?" the answer would be "God's".

Why then do so many struggle to believe that it is God that makes the difference? Or as Paul asked "For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?" 1 Corinthians 4.7 a.

As Luther so rightly said regarding man's 'free-will', "free-will is a name for nothing". Yet we make 'choices' from our 'free-wills' every day! We can chose to be downright disobedient if we want to, yet our sovereign and wise Creator will overrule our wills so His "will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Matthew 6.10! This last verse is part of the "Lord's prayer" recited by countless people the world over, yet just how many have really believed it?

There are many accounts in the Bible that demonstrate the fact that it is God who is in control. The account of Haman and Mordecai in the book of Esther so clearly reveal this. It was Haman's will to have Morecai hanged on gallows specially constructed for the occasion, yet it was God's will that Haman would be hanged thereon!