Abba's Own. David R. Lumsden
and Discipleship
11 Spiritual Warfare and the Occult
12 Social Order and Solution
13 The Yielded Life
14 Know, Understand and Do the Will of God For His Delight and your Enjoyment of Him14 a: Know, Understand and Do the Will of God14 b: Continued- The Will of God
15 Prayer15 a: Prayer Continued
16 Sample Sermon Outline 16 a: Sermon Outline Continued
17 The Call
FOREWORD
Many churches today want to be attractive and relevant. They offer a buffetof programs and events designed to help people spiritually. They work diligently on marketing campaigns and catchy slogans togain a larger following. What the church needs most is a clear understanding of and commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And that accurate understanding only comes from the Scriptures.
In David R. Lumsden’s book, ABBA’S OWN, the reader is equipped to share the Gospel accurately by understanding it theologically. Christ has called His followers to “make disciples of all the nations”(Matt 28:19). But how can the church fulfill this mission if its understanding is foggy? This book gives the Scriptural foundation and practical encouragement to declare God’s life-saving truth. It is the truth that sets us free(John 8:32).
David Lumsden is careful to “rightly divide the word of truth,”(2 Tim 2:15), since only the accurate knowledge of Scripture can lead us to salvation, (2 Tim 3:15). This book will help educate laity, church leaders, and soul-winners in evaluating their direction and focus, and it will assist every Christian to better handle the Scriptures in sharing the Good News to others.
Since every Christian is given the mission to “make disciples”(Matt 28:19) and “preach the gospel,”(Mark 16:15), we need a clear understanding of this message from the Scriptures. That is what David Lumsden does in this book. You will find the content helpful and thoroughly biblical. There are many things that the church can do, but accurately sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ is what it must do, and this high quality book will help you on this mission.
Pastor Kevin Williams October 2018
PREFACE
ABBA means “Daddy” with reference to God. ABBA’S OWN means God’s children born-again spiritually of God the Holy Spirit. Are you certain that you are one?
Throughout the world, non biblical philosophy is being taught as if it were Christian truth, leading people to hell. One such teaching was presented to the primary subject of our study by two pastors, which threw him into confusion, leaving him in doubt of his salvation for a large portion of his life.
He knew them well since he worked with them. One summer day, they stepped up to him and said that he may be saved, but he does not have the Holy Spirit in him. This is a non biblical point of view not representative of the deity of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Upon hearing this expression during interviews with the subject, the author was prompted to write ABBA’S OWN so people can know that they are saved, are known by God in Judgment Day, and have a place reserved for them in Heaven, not just hope they have a place in Heaven. Do you know the biblical warrants not only pertaining to your own salvation, but to justify claims used in soul-winning? True biblical faith depends on these biblical truths.
Dear reader, you must know the fundamentals of the Faith of the Bible, not of what someone misleads you to believe is biblical, but is not; and to discern and be certain that you are saved. When influencing others, you are certain of presenting to them the truth of God’s Word so they are saved out of the pit also. Read this book and you will know for certain in your heart that you are going to Heaven to live with God for eternity. This book is a toolkit for soul-winners so you will be confident in your effectiveness in soul-winning for God’s glory.
David R. Lumsden,
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada,
September 2018
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Without the varied strengths and encouragement by many, to whom the author is deeply indebted, this thesis would not have been possible. Dr. Lloyd Powell was a longtime friend, who received Christ in his hospital bed two weeks before he made the transition to eternity. Dr. Terry Law set a significant model of earthly fatherhood. Dr. Mark Durie taught how to understand and dialogue with the followers of Islam. I thank Dr. Lyle Buyer, Pastor Sharon Harewood, and Pastor Greg, who have been faithful to pray for me in God’s ministry of reconciliation, preaching, andsoul-winning. I thank Mr. Darrell Prims of the Scholarship Bookstore, Edmonton, AB whichhas been a valuable resource manager, providing resources at discount prices for my literature review. Armin and Dan Mantei deserve gratitude for being strong encouragers for my thesis. Dan has recently set out on the road to reach for his Ph.D. He is a genuine scholar. Armin is a mightyprayer warrior for my ministry of preaching, and soul-winning, and an informant on the Christian view of international affairs. Ervin Loeppky and the author spent hours discussing theological issues over a cup of coffee at various restaurants.
Pastor Kevin Williams of the Meadowlands Baptist Church and, a professorwith Foundation Baptist College in Edmonton, Alberta, is recognizedfor his consistent biblical preaching and teaching on the fundamentals of the faith in Jesus Christ. Mr. Walter and Mrs. Selma Epp, of Edmonton, AB, have been uniquemodels of a Christian life built on the fundamentals of faith in Jesus Christ.
The entire Royal Alexander Hospital and Glenrose Rehabilitation Center’s doctors, nurses, social workers, and staff along with therapists in SROP (a special rehabilitation program) receive gratitude for assistance given to Marvin in recovery from damage due to an embolic ischemic stroke. I am thankful to God for working through Peter Grundler, the chaplain at Glenrose, by opening a door for Marvin to preach the fourth Sunday of every month to encourage the patients, and for converts added to the Church.
Dr. Frank Moore deserves recognition for visualizing the lack of preparation of pastors for soul-winning and for realizing the nature of and handling spiritual warfare, then allowing me to write this thesis, which incorporates those issues.
Dr. Larry Keefauver was a wonderful counsellor on the Publishing Enterprise.
Ash Davies, CEO, and the Tablo Team are remarkable and are greatly appreciated for their professional work in publishing the book.
I am grateful for Justin, CEO, of Klevr Technologies Limited, who has assisted with the repairs and smooth running of my computer throughout the writing of my thesis. Also, I am grateful to Doug and Paulina, IT techs from the Philippines working for Microsoft, who helped, at short notice, to retrieve my entire thesis from cyberspace. On separate occasions, they installed new software (better than the first system) and guidelines for use, which would improve production, in the keeping of end notes, illustrations, and the means to remove the ‘little foxes’in the software system.
Doris Lumsden, my prudent wife, and our children have been fiercely loyal and kind to me. Doris is an avid reader of historical fiction; I am thankful for her proofreading of some of my thesis. There are many others I have met, but have forgotten their names. The young college student, volunteering for the Hospital library, helped me access Clinically Oriented Anatomy by Moore and Dalley, and Cecil’s Essentials in Medicine by Andefou et al. Donna, the head Librarian at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Center, helped me with resources for teaching Aphasiacs.
God (Elohim/Jehovah), for His control of all events, and all His opportunities given for ministry gets all the credit for He is the perfect manager of my life, the ministry of reconciliation and, the thesis. He is truly worthy of all worship. My Father in Heaven is Majestic Glory. May His Kingdom come quickly.
FIRST THOUGHTS
Are you sure you would be known by God if you were to go into eternity today? Are you sure your spiritual leader has been leading you to Heaven? Are you certain if you were to attempt to soul-win