Dear Friends,
This week two men and one woman prayed with me according to the pattern of Luke 18:13 & Romans 10:9.
The woman is in her late 50s. She attended the college Bible study at the invitation of her cousin. At the end of the Bible study, I gave the common invitation where I invite anyone who does not believe in the resurrection of Jesus to come and speak with me so that they can be saved that same day. Afterwards, the cousin came up and introduced us, and said that, “She’s not saved. She needs to hear about Jesus.” I was happy to oblige. I took the woman aside to a quieter part of the church, and I gave her the gospel. Forty minutes later this woman was confessing to being a sinner and proclaiming the resurrection, with many tears. She is set up in daily reading of the scriptures and in Bible study with Barbara Lloyd. Barbara, who is already discipling six other women, was overjoyed to get another.
Mark 7:33
“Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself,” (to conduct the healing).
The next was a man in his 30s, married, several children, living on the west coast, a graduate of a US Military Academy, served as an officer for 8 years, now in the private sector. He had written:
Hello, I’m agnostic. I grew up orthodox but I am having a difficult time finding anyone who can help me settle my doubts, which are rooted in my scientific reasoning. Thanks. Best
After speaking for one hour, he was ready to pray. I set him up with Burt Brink, a former Academy man and retired fighter pilot, for discipleship.
The third was a man in his 30s from Argentina. He wrote,
Hello Dr. Tour, my name is ______ and I’ve watched some of your lectures and debates, which I find interesting. I’ve seen you invite those who “don’t believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ”. Even though I don’t particularly believe or disbelieve it in a literal sense (this would be a historical fact and I have no means to ascertain its validity), which is what you seem to be pointing towards, I am curious as to see what your reasoning or insights are. Are you talking in a material sense or something of a spiritual nature? Thank you very much for your time.
After speaking with him for 10 minutes, I realized that he was a very smart man. He was aware of his “own darkness,” which he said himself, and that is a great place to begin with the gospel.
1 Timothy 1:15
“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” (among whom Paul was foremost).
So, if the Lord could save the foremost sinner, it must be much easier to see just the regular darkened sinner saved. It was. After one hour, he was praying the prayers and confessing the Lordship and resurrection of Jesus. I have committed him to Chuck Lloyd to arrange for discipleship.
I was happy to witness these salvations. I know no greater joy than to see a sinner get saved from the darkness of a living hell. I could do this every day and still never have enough.
Luke 15:7
“I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
God bless,
Jim Tour
