Consider Jesus' response in Luke 13:

Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. "Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

Continue praying and reading the Word adn God will tell you what this young man needs to hear.

"For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak."

Also, pray about urging him to come to Christ because Christ is excellent and worthy of our adoration; not necessarily what for he will get (or avoid) by surrendering his life to Him.

God bless,
Matthew

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Matthew

Hey Mathew

I immediately thought of the scripture in Romans9, “17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted F36 to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,”

Pharaoh was a really bad guy but he was not a glitch in the plan which God then scrambled to fix. It also made me think of the parable of the wheat and tares (Matt13:24-43). At some point the early church faced Saul as its biggest tyranny, but through the grace of God he was transformed from Saul to Paul; tyranny to Saint; tare to wheat. As Yodi said, the eternal perspective is what is important. Still having said all that we do not win men over with wisdom of words (1Col1:17). Praying is really the best thing we can do so that the peace of God which transcends all understanding may be with him.

In Christ

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James Gabriel Gondai Dziya

Thanks to all of you.

Truely God is good. On his own apart form my asking him, the student I have been speeking of came to me last friday and asked "how do you repent. I know I need to, but how do I?"

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[ 8:28 Some manuscripts And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God] who[ 8:28 Or works together with those who love him to bring about what is good–with those who] have been called according to his purpose.

Is it not wonderful that we can rest in the truth of Scripture!

matthew

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matthew bauer

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Mike Balog

What a stirring thread! The enemy is seen for who he is and sin for what it is at times like these. In such times the mind is afforded a great opportunity to change. Repentance means first of all to change your mind. What the video must have shown is sin in all its madness. The gruesome end of all that the devil desires for those who were made in the image of God. Satan is headed to hell to be quarantined for all eternity for such a disposition.

Tophet is the root of the word for hell in the bible. It was a place where babies would be placed on the outstretched arms of a metal idol that had a fire lit inside. People sacrificed their children to false gods in this way. We learn from scholars that the horrific deeds of the children of Israel who would place their children on the red hot arms had to be drowned out. Hence, the Hebrew word "Tophet" signifies the beating of drums. As I recall it was Josiah who cleaned this area up and made it a trash dump. You may know it as the valley of Hinnom- or possibly Gehenna. A place that burned with trash outside the city continually. What a picture of hell- the place where the devil and his angels are to be quarantined. Why? because of the madness and rebellion against a God that is holy and wholly good.

To repent- is to change your mind about sin and Satan and this world and TURN and follow Christ. If you follow Satan you will end up where he is going. If you follow Christ you will end up where He is going. Some people's mind never changes about sin and Satan. They would follow Christ for fear of the fires of hell, but as our sister's pointed out- some need to hear God's goodness- they have already seen much of the reality of sin.

You have to humble yourself to follow Christ. You have to be willing to sell out to Him and be purchased by His blood for His glory and service. You have to confess your sins and turn from them. And not just turn away from sin- you must turn TO GOD. Many are repulsed by sin- but refuse to 'take God's hand' (as it were) as they turn to walk with Him. When you truly turn to God as the Holy Spirit draws you- you will be Born Again according to John 3:3. You will become a new creature- with new desires. Desires that are in keeping with God's personality in place of what they used to be which was the devil's personality.

Some walk with God with their head turned back to sin. Remember Lot's wife. She was told not to look back on Sodom and she looked anyway and became a pillar of salt. When we look back to sin we become salt that has lost its savour.

Repentance is simply wanting God and not sin. Change your mind about sin and turn to God. Love Him where you once loved sin. Think about Him where you once thought about sin and self. Love him with all your heart- where you once dedicated the whole of your life to sin.

So much more to say. Please check out some of the notes form from "The Repentance God Requires."

God Bless,

-Robert

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Robert Wurtz II

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Mike Balog

Well that's great news about your student! Thanks for the update. And I agree with the importance of prayer rather than such an emphasis on winning this kid over with words. God will give you the words to speak, but it's the Holy Spirit that can affect his heart. Keep us posted.

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Yolanda Fields