Week of June 14, 2009

Weakened by malaria and hampered by a tropical ear infection that made it difficult to hear, I stood greeting the Nigerian believers as they filed out of their little church. What happened next was about to tax my failing strength to the limit. A book I had written had gotten into the hands of a man in Lagos, Nigeria, and through the simple "ABC's" of the Gospel in the back of the book, he had received Christ. I had attempted to disciple him by mail from upstate New York, where I was a pastor, and taught him to use the "ABC's" to lead others to Christ.

A - All have sinned. (Romans 3:23)
B - Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 16:31)
C - Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus. (Romans 10:9)

Two o'clock one morning, I had received a phone call from Nigeria. This brother reported that he had gathered together 500 people whom he had led to the Lord. He requested that I come to Nigeria to set the church in order. This I did, both in Lagos and in the jungle village three hours away.

It was there that I was confronted by the Juju priest who deceived and controlled the village with his demonic powers and miraculous signs. I debated with him over his belief that Satan is good and that he was only doing good. In my physically weakened condition, I came to the end of myself and experienced what Paul was told by the Lord in 2 Corinthians 12:9, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is my perfect in weakness." In an instant, this Juju priest came under conviction, stopped arguing with me and surrendered his life to Christ. The next day scores of people watched as we walked ten kilometers to the river to baptize him, along with about a dozen other believers. The next day he and the new pastor canvassed the village from morning to night, leading 28 more people to Christ.

Greater is He that is in you than those who disguise themselves as angels of light.

1. Are there "angels of light" that are more subtle than a Juju priest deceiving people today?
2. According to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, what is the "Gospel?"
   
3. Is the Gospel really as simple as "A", "B", "C"?