The bible tells us that every human being is oppressed by several factors: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit which is now at work in those who are disobedient” (Eph 2:1-2).  Sin brings death and destruction to our lives.  Sin comes from the world.  But why is the world so powerful as to be able to destroy lives?  The world is energized by Satan.  How can we attain victory over Satan?  Satan is not defeated by human exertions but only by the gospel.

Luke 10 records for us that Jesus once sent seventy-two disciples two by two to preach the gospel.  Upon return from this evangelistic expedition, the “seventy-two returned with joy and said, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name’” (Luke 10:17).  Jesus sharpens the meaning of the success of their evangelistic effort: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18).  Only the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ can  set mankind free from the harassment of the evil one Satan.

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, take pity on the people whom you love—give them a chance to hear the gospel!  No matter how happy a person may look, regardless of how wealthy or healthy that person is, the bible says, he is under the harassment of sin and Satan.  The Lord Jesus once said to Peter: “Satan has asked to sift you all as wheat.”  As in agriculture, one separates the wheat from the chaff, Satan wants to tear Peter apart—destroy his life.  Satan controls the life of your loved one with the purpose of destroying his life, take away his happiness, make him live in sin and then make sure he perishes in hell for eternity.  For that reason I say, have pity on your loved one, your family members and your friends.  If you truly love them, you must bring the gospel to him.  Only the gospel can remove Satan’s strangle hold on your loved one and free him to receive eternal life.

For the past two Sundays, about 30 brothers and sisters in the Lord have been training hard under our kind trainer Brother Joseph Kai.  They will be singing two songs: “I Have No Sin!” (in Chinese) and “My Jesus Fair” (in English).  I heard them practice—they sing very beautifully.  Rev Goh Seng Fong will then preach in English and I will translate it into Chinese.  There will also be a program for children so that adults can hear the gospel without distraction.  We have engaged a teacher who is trained in child evangelism to teach the children.

“Maybe tomorrow,” you say.  But there may not be a tomorrow for some people.  This is a fact of life.  Misfortune and death strikes anytime.  Do not assume that you’ll always have tomorrow to share with him or her the gospel.  “But he or she is not ready,” you may retort.  There is no better time to share the gospel than today.  Paul says: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Rom 1:16).  The power of God can penetrate even the hardest of hearts.  What you need to do is to pray, make wise plans, and invite.  Then trust the Lord to bring him to church.  We depend not on our own strength but on God to move hearts to come: ‘“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty” (Zec 4:6).  Love your friend.  Save his soul.  Bring him here on 6^th September 2013, 8pm.