By Michel Sove
Luke 10:7 (NIV) “Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.”
Last week I introduced you to Pete, the man of peace I met as I frequented the local McDonalds. Once I established a relationship with him I continued to go to McDonalds and build on that relationship. I went there daily and one day I noticed Pete was not there and I heard he was in the local hospital.
I went to visit him in the hospital and it was there I shared the Gospel with him and at that time he said, “I don’t believe that stuff.” I was disappointed but I continued to visit him and show care for him. Soon after, he ended up in a nursing home where I continued to visit him.
I sensed he didn’t have long to live. I had the children at church sing a song on tape and dedicate it to Pete. When I played it for him he cried and was deeply touched. The next day when I came to the nursing home he was sitting on the edge of the bed and said, “I wish I could start my life over again.” I told him he could. Jesus wanted to give him a fresh start.
It was then I shared the Gospel again and he opened his life to Christ. I told him as long as I live I would tell his story. Ten days later he died and because I had built this relationship with him, his only living relatives asked if I would preach his funeral. Not only did I preach his funeral, all his friends from McDonalds were there to hear God’s story, which was now Pete’s story. It all began by asking God to guide me to a person of peace and doing what I sensed Him leading me to do. Here are some additional lessons learned:
People are not projects – Stay with them even if they initially reject the Gospel. Show them you care and that you are a friend regardless.
Pray and don’t give up – Continue to pray daily for the person and keep looking for opportunities to give a verbal witness.
Faithfulness leads to greater opportunities – As you faithfully love and serve this person of peace God will give you opportunities to share with others related to this person.
There is something about staying with a person, staying in a neighborhood. We apply this principle to our cell groups as well. We do not move from house to house but establish a presence in the neighborhood. We want to influence the neighborhood and not just one person. Start praying for eyes to see the person of peace and when God shows you, stay with them and expect great things.
Comments?
Michael
Korean translation (click here)
Portuguese translation (click here)
Spanish translation:
Encontrando a la persona de Paz – Parte 2
Por Michel Sove
Lucas 10:7 (RV) “Y posad en aquella misma casa, comiendo y bebiendo lo que os den; porque el obrero es digno de su salario. No os paséis de casa en casa”.
La semana pasada le presenté a Pete, el hombre de paz que conoc él que frecuentaba el McDonald’s local. Una vez establec una relación con él yo continúe yendo a McDonald’s y constru una relación. Fui all todos los das y un da me di cuenta que Pete no estaba all y me enteré de que él estaba en el hospital local.
Fui a visitarlo al hospital y fue all donde compart el Evangelio con él y en ese momento él dijo: “Yo no creo eso”. Estaba decepcionado, pero segu visitándolo y mostré preocupación por él. Poco después, fue a parar a un hogar de ancianos donde segu visitándolo.
Sent que no tena mucho tiempo de vida. Le ped a los niños de la iglesia que cantarán una canción en una cinta dedicada a Pete. Cuando la toqué para él lloró y se conmovió profundamente. Al da siguiente, cuando llegué al hogar de ancianos él estaba sentado en el borde de la cama y me dijo: “Me gustara empezar mi vida de nuevo”. Le dije que poda. Jesús quiere darte un nuevo comienzo.
Fue entonces cuando compart el Evangelio de nuevo y él abrió su vida a Cristo. Le dije que mientras viva contaré su historia. Diez das después murió y porque yo haba construido esta relación con él, sus únicos parientes me pidieron si podra predicar en su funeral. No sólo predique su funeral, todos sus amigos del McDonald’s estuvieron all para escuchar la historia de Dios, que era ahora era la historia de Pete. Todo empezó cuando le ped a Dios que me guiará a una persona de paz e hice lo que sent y me llevo a él. Estas son algunas de las lecciones aprendidas:
• Las personas no son proyectos – Quédate con ellos, incluso si inicialmente rechazan el Evangelio. Demuéstrales que te importa y que usted es un amigo de todos modos.
• Ore y no te rindas – Continúe orando diariamente por la persona y sigue buscando oportunidades para dar un testimonio verbal.
• La fidelidad conduce a mayores oportunidades – A medida que amas y sirves fielmente a esta persona de paz, Dios te dará la oportunidad de compartir con otras personas relacionadas con esta persona.
Hay algo acerca del quedarse con una persona, alojándose en un barrio. Nosotros aplicamos este principio a nuestros grupos celulares también. No nos movemos de casa en casa, sino que establecemos una presencia en el barrio. Queremos involucrar el barrio y no una sola persona. Comience orando por ojos para ver la persona de paz y cuando Dios te muestre, quédate con ellos y espera grandes cosas.
¿Comentarios?
Michael
Wow, what a powerful story of ministering to those God places in our everyday path. Praise God for your heart of love and obedience! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing this with us, I was very blessed.