Today’s post appears jointly with Thinking Out Loud, where it published as Rejoicing With The Angels.
NIV Luke 15:7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
This is the verse that is indirectly responsible for the phrase:
“All the angels in heaven rejoice when there’s a soul saved.”
That particular phrase does not appear in scripture.
The principle does appear in scripture.
Two recent stories at Christian Post were worthy of more than a simple line and link in the Wednesday Link List.
The first one I saw was a report that 1,251 people were saved at New Spring, Perry Noble’s South Carolina church. I know not everyone reading this (or writing this) is 100% sold on all Noble’s methods, but even if this statistic were exaggerated by a factor of ten, this would still be reason to rejoice.
Meet your new brothers and sisters.
But another story at CP a day earlier reports that 11,000 people — out of a crowd of 650,000 — were saved at a two day Evangelistic rally in Ponta Negra Beach, Amazonas state in the northwest of Brazil, conducted by that country’s well-known televangelist Pastor Silas Malafaia; a name most of us have never heard before. Again, a rather round number; but why doubt that something extraordinary happened.
11,000! The Christian world should stop and party.
To our newest members of the faith family: Welcome!
I once heard someone say that each Christ followers should — at the very, very least — ‘reproduce themselves’ spiritually by leading one person to Christ in their lifetime.
Have you led someone to Christ? I know at this point many will want to cite this verse:
NIV I Cor. 3:6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.
This verse is used to justify the idea that some people plant seeds while others are ‘harvesters;’ the people who get down to asking the question that brings someone to a point of decision. But I think this dodges responsibility and makes bringing someone to faith someone else’s job.
If you haven’t had the joy of being in the spiritual delivery room — of witnessing a new birth take place — let me challenge you. Not 11,000 people, not 1,251… one person… and here’s the extra impetus: Before this year is through.
Read more at Passing the Blessing Along
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