Hell, yes!

"but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh" (Jude 1:23, NKJ).

OK, it's time for some serious talk. Remember the compulsory talk you had with your kids about the 'birds and the bees'? It was a killer, but it had to be done. So here's another 'hot' topic... hell.

Watch this video The Bible makes over 150 references to a real hell; Jesus often talked about it. Our doctrinal statements validate it, but do we really believe in it? After all, talking about an eternal place of separation from God is a very uncomfortable subject.

When you hear about the reality of hell, do you discount the messenger and label the message as radical or imbalanced? Or are you challenged to be more intentional about sharing your faith with those who do not know Jesus? We tend to avoid that which makes us uncomfortable: writing our own wills, getting regular physical check-ups, talking about death, or sharing our faith. But thinking about hell is something we should never avoid, because souls are at stake.

Thinking about hell actually motivates us to share our faith with more urgency. In fact, General William Booth, the founder of The Salvation Army, was quoted as wishing that everyone could dangle over hell for one hour, held only by a single thread, for then we would live differently.

Statistics tell us that around 87.5% of Americans believe in heaven, but only 74.6% believe in hell (Word Press poll). But I'm guessing that the people who believe in the existence of a real Biblical hell are a lot less. Why? It's simple. Our actions sometimes defy our doctrine. For instance, what if our neighbor's house were on fire and we knew we should save them, but we didn't. Every second someone dies and a soul goes into eternity. And every month that we live without sharing our faith reinforces our denial of an eternity that includes both heaven and hell.

If you knew your unsaved friend would certainly die in 24 hours, wouldn't you at least try to lead them to the cross of Christ? (Hint: Our answer to this question helps us know what we really believe.) Wouldn't a doctor be held liable if he knew you had cancer and didn't tell you? How would you feel? Questions like these help us know what we confess to believe.

Here's the point. Jesus told us that our world is suffering from a terminal disease... sin. He has entrusted us as His followers with an assignment to lovingly warn the world about the effects of its sin. But His command goes unfulfilled when we choose to be silent. I, myself, am ashamed to know how many opportunities I have intentionally missed. Thank God for His grace in helping me become a more effective and intentional witness.

It's time we begin to take action on our beliefs.
It's time to cherish each of our days as a gift best lived for God and for others.
It's time to celebrate Easter everyday by telling others how Jesus has changed our lives.
It's time to make hell mad ...and heaven glad!

Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org

P.S. General William Booth, the founder of The Salvation Army, was quoted as wishing that everyone could dangle over hell for one hour, held only by a single thread, for then we would live differently. Perhaps this powerful video on a man's journey to hell and back will have a similar effect. It's called "23 minutes in Hell"

Returning to the Great Harvest

Once again I'm leaving for the great harvest field of India. My heart is filled with great anticipation for thousands of people to be saved and healed by the power of the one true God, Jesus Christ.

Will you please pray daily for the Oasis team as we travel May 4-18?

Prayer is the best investment you can make. We desperately need prayer to cover us, our families, our health, our protection, and our spirits. Pray that the strong anointing of the Holy Spirit will rest on Darrell Dobbelmann, myself, and the Oasis team as we minister with the people of India.

In this two-week trip, we will...

• Conduct two 5-day open-air Gospel and Healing Festivals
• Facilitate two 3-day Ignite the Fire Training Seminars for Pastors and Christian Leaders
• Dedicate four newly constructed church buildings
• Dedicate 20 fresh-water wells that have been drilled in villages without clean running water
• And interview three more national evangelists, for a total of 30

Would you also pray for the final funding for our national evangelists? One of our goals this year is to have support raised for 30 full-time national evangelists from India. Each evangelist is currently winning an average of 7,500 people per year to the Lord--around $1 a soul. We now have funding for 29-1/2. We only need to raise another $3,750. If God would lead you to be a part of making this happen, please call us at 763-425-9355 or visit oasisworldministries.org/donate.

Thanks for your prayers. For specific prayer requests, visit oasisworldministries.org/prayerrequests.

As we pray for others, God begins to send His favor back to us!

Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org

Learning to Laugh at Ourselves

It was laughable that Abraham and Sarah would have a child now. After all, Abe was 100 years old, and Sarah not much younger. What would people think? This was so out-of-the-box that God would give them their promised son at such a ridiculous age, that they decided to laugh along with God. So they named their son 'Isaac'... meaning 'laughter.' Yet God was fulfilling His promise to give them a son who would influence the whole world.

Sometimes we get way too serious, starchy and stiff when it comes to God's promise to make us His witnesses. Maybe we need to learn to laugh at ourselves a little. After all, isn't God ordering our steps (Proverbs 16:9), just like Abraham and Sarah? If we need a good laugh, just look in the mirror! God has chosen US to be His ambassadors?!

Picture this likely conversation in heaven:

God: "Gabriel, I am going to challenge Tom Elie to share his faith everyday. You see, Tom has a problem, while he speaks to thousands from pulpits and international stages, he is scared to share his faith one-on-one. I know it seems odd that fear would rule him, but it's true. Even though he is afraid of failure, he is deciding to run right at his fears. And I will run with him."

God: "Gabriel, he doesn't know it yet, but this decision to share his faith daily will transform his life... and many others. Let's watch Tom together... this will be fun."

Someday we will get to watch heaven's videos of our life's metamorphosis. We will watch ourselves going from timid, to tender, to tenacious... and we will all laugh along with God!



Let's start now. Here's a hilarious video I found called Linebacker Evangelism. Let's learn to laugh at our shortcomings. God is!

Laughing while learning,

Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org

The Culture of Self

"And take heed to yourselves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares"(Luke 21:34).

Have you ever met someone who likes to talk about themselves? I have... me.

I enjoy talking about personal experiences in the past, and vision for the future. Maybe all of us do to a degree. Some people focus continually on their problems. But being consumed with ourselves is both dangerous and addicting.

I wrote the above verse in the old King James version, because I wanted us to see the word 'surfeiting.' It means 'given to continual overeating.' Does that describe us? We are a generation given to consumption in many areas. And once this is a habit, then it becomes an entitlement. Soon we deserve all the 'goodies' of life, and we deserve even more. We never compare ourselves with half the world that earns $4/day or less, but with our neighbor who has something we don't.

Today let's repent for selfishness, and all that comes with it. Jesus has called us to a higher call. He said if we lose our life we will find it. Let's pray.

Let's pray for ourselves.

Dear Lord,

I am sorry for being so focused on myself and my needs, which are often just greeds. Forgive me for laying down my cross instead of daily taking it up. Forgive me for demanding my own way, and judging others in my heart as not as good as myself. This is simply pride, and I repent. Change my heart. Show me how to learn something valuable from every person I meet by listening more than speaking.

Let's pray for our city and country.

Dear Lord,

We humble ourselves today, and acknowledge that any good thing we have is a gift from you. Any good thing we have accomplished happened because You gave us the ability to make it happen. Forgive us for our prideful and independent spirit. Help us be agents of change in our city by humbly giving all the glory to You for any good in us.

Let's pray for the global advance of the gospel.

Dear Lord,

You warned us to not be consumed with ourselves, lest we lose track of Your soon return. Awaken the eyes of not only the unreached, but especially of the reached, to see again the urgency of the hour. Bring the worldwide church back to their first love again. Revive us, so we will be like the virgins who had their lamps full of oil, eagerly waiting your return. In Jesus' mighty name we pray, amen.

Releasing God's Favor

"The goodness of God leads men to repentance" (Romans 2:5).

I recently heard evangelist Ed Silvosa say something insightful and yet simple. He remarked that if we want to get favor with unsaved people, do them a favor!

Jesus also said it, "Whatever you would like men to do to you, do also the same to them" (Matthew 7:12). And again, "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31).

The first thing we should do is pray. Pray that God will show us how to love others without expecting anything in return.

The next thing we should do is to find a way toreach out to unsaved people with a favor. Here's some ideas:

• Go out of your way to ask questions about their family
• Look for unexpected ways to bless them
• Offer authentic compliments
• Show neighborly hospitality
• Take them out to eat

An unexpected act of kindness will be remembered long after the act is finished.

Recently a family friend came up to me, looked me in the eye, and said something that both impressed and blessed me. "You have a marvelous son,"she said. Then she went on to give specific examples of the character traits she saw in my son. It made my day! But I was also reminded of the tremendous power of thoughtful words. Later as I told my wife of this incident, (since it's her son, too!) I said that we should try harder to make our words an unexpected, but true, gift of love.

Can I encourage us to ask people about themselves before we talk about ourselves?

Let the first nine words from our mouths bring life."It's so good to see you," or "I've been hoping I could see you again to tell you how much I appreciate you," or "It's always a joy to run into you," or "You're looking younger every time I see you." Well, don't stretch the truth too much, but you get the point. The Bible tells us that 'faith without works is dead.' Let's model a living faith by doing unexpected favors for people.

Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org

What is God's Will?

"I delight to do Your will, O my God" (Psalm 40:8a).

My teenage years were great... filled with fun, friends, and loving parents. But one question seemed to never leave me... 'God, what is Your will for my life?' What career should I choose, whom should I marry, where should I live, and what school should I attend are all major decisions for which I have needed God's wisdom!

As a ninth grader we were assigned to write about three possible career choices that interested us. I remember mine clearly... an evangelist, an FBI agent, and a policeman. They all seem to have lots of excitement. And in retrospect, it's interesting that all three involve helping people find justice.

We all want to know our God-given purpose. But at times, our steps seem uncertain like walking up an icy, slippery sidewalk. Some people live their whole life searching for God's will.

So how do we know God's will? Let's take a look at David, who was a man after God's own heart. Listen to how he describes his quest:

"I delight to do Your will, O my God" (Psalm 40:8).
"I do not restrain my lips" (Psalm 40:9).
"I have not hidden Your righteousness in my heart" (Psalm 40:10).
"I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation" (Psalm 40:10).
"I have not concealed Your loving-kindness" (Psalm 40:10).

David found that if he delighted in God with all his heart, and helped others find God's love, he would be in the will of God. Did you get that? David was determined to share God's love with others; he was not ashamed that Jehovah was his God! After that, he seemed confident that God's will for life's specifics would eventually become clear. Affirming this he wrote, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 34:7). In the book of Psalms David repeatedly reminds us how we find the 'sweet spot' of God's presence when we give ourselves to disciplined prayer.

When we make God the main thing, everything else seems to work out.

Luke was also clear as to the will of God: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself'" (Luke 10:27). Matthew said it right. "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). So we can conclude that if we continuously pursue these main two goals, God's favor and wisdom will be extended to us for every other decision.

So, what's God's will? Let's follow the examples of David, Luke, and Matthew. Love God passionately today, but don't hold it in your heart. Let it out through your lips. Declare the glory of God both privately and publicly. Don't confine his glory to a church service or seal it within your heart. Reveal His magnificent, life-changing glory through your life to others!

It's God's will.

Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org

Inch by Inch Evangelism

If the disciples learned any two lessons from the feeding of the five thousand, it was this:

LITTLE BECOMES MUCH WHEN IT'S IN THE HANDS OF GOD.
GOD USES ORDINARY PEOPLE TO ACCOMPLISH THE EXTRAORDINARY. Mother

Teresa was said to have told someone that God wanted her to build an orphanage. They asked her, "how much money do you have towards this project?" She answered, "Seven pennies." They responded, "You can't build an orphanage for seven pennies!" She answered, "I know I can't, but I can with seven pennies and God!"

Let me ask you 3 important questions: Why are we so quick to dismiss impossible thoughts concerning evangelism? Why does our flesh automatically try to shoot down any thoughts of really reaching our communities for the Lord? Why do we so easily listen to the negative reports instead of God's promise to be with us?

I will tell you one of the main reasons: FEAR OF FAILURE.

Someone was asked how they accomplished such great things in their lifetime. They responded, "INCH BY INCH IT'S A CINCH. YARD BY YARD IT'S HARD." Let's stop listening to the voice of fear. Let's patiently do the task that God has set before us. If we stay focused and do something daily to reach our goal, we will, by God's grace, reach it!

That's why I like to challenge myself to SHARE MY FAITH EVERYDAY. Some days I miss great opportunities, but most I don't. I have found such joy in taking one day at a time and letting my testimony be heard one person at a time. And with God's help, I have seen happen what I thought impossible. I have had the privilege of praying with 16 people to receive Jesus in the last six months outside of my evangelist role.

How did it happen? Intentionally sharing my faith daily in my world, inch by inch.

Intentional for souls,

Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org