Hey Romans 1212,
I recently replied to a different thread you have created, in which you acknowledged that you live in continual defeat by sin.
If you don't have victory, I don't see how you are going to convert anyone. What do you have to offer that an unbeliever would want? Does an unbeliever want to live in defeat as well?
Unless you have true joy in your walk and continual victory over sin, you'll never truly convert anyone to God. You may succeed at bringing a few people to church and getting them partially converted, to live lives of defeat like you are living, but what good is that?
My suggestion Romans1212, is to first find victory in your own walk, before you try to convert others. I say this with 17 years experience under my belt. Christians don't live in sin, and if they do they aren't fully converted yet. But it's a process, so don't get discouraged.
Let's look quickly for some scripture to back up what I'm saying:
Ezek 36:
20And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land.
If we claim to be Christians but are living defeated lives, we profane God's holy name. Trust me, I've done more profaning of God's holy name in my 17 years than you want to hear about. But wait, keep reading, because God has a promise for us! He promises that He will "cause us to walk" according to His commandments:
21But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.
22Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
23And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
25Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
26A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Does God cause you to walk in obedience Romans1212? No? Then you are still lacking power to do God's work. What then ought you to do in order to receive power?
Luke 24:
49And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Therefore, what we must do, is lock ourselves spiritually into the upper room in Jerusalem, and tarry until we are endued with power. Learn about God. Learn about His goodness and His ways. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added.
What? Wait? Seek first God's righteousness? What does that mean? Does this mean that our efforts at holiness are not God's righteousness? Is God's righteousness a free gift that is given when we stop trying to be righteous ourselves?
Phil 3:
9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
So yes and Amen! God's righteousness is a free gift given to those who tarry for it, and who renounce their own efforts at righteousness.
God bless,
Quest