Ministering Advice

[HoT-MetaL]

Afternoon everyone.

I was after some advice on a subject that I feel completly stumped about.

I have a friend who is addicted to gambling, fruit machines in particular. From the beginning I have warned him about the dangers of fruit machines (my grandfather gambled two houses away on them) and now he has taken things to far. Recently we all went out and he ended up crying over the fact that he had lost so much.

The problem is that I really dont know how to minister to the guy. He is of nominal faith, and preaching to him I feel will not help at all.

My immediate reaction was to condemn him and say 'we told you so.' But how would Jesus handle this situation? Also, I will only see him a few times in the next week - we are both moving to different parts of the country.

God Bless, metal.

 

[woobadooba]

Afternoon everyone.

I was after some advice on a subject that I feel completly stumped about.

I have a friend who is addicted to gambling, fruit machines in particular. From the beginning I have warned him about the dangers of fruit machines (my grandfather gambled two houses away on them) and now he has taken things to far. Recently we all went out and he ended up crying over the fact that he had lost so much.

The problem is that I really dont know how to minister to the guy. He is of nominal faith, and preaching to him I feel will not help at all.

My immediate reaction was to condemn him and say 'we told you so.' But how would Jesus handle this situation? Also, I will only see him a few times in the next week - we are both moving to different parts of the country.

God Bless, metal.

I know this may sound indifferent, but sometimes you just have to let people fall flat on their face before you can offer to help them up.

However, you said that there wouldn't be any sense in confronting him on the issue because he is of a nominal faith. Truth is, people who never believed in Christ have given up gambling, so why wouldn't your friend do the same?

Don't base the power of your witness on an assumption. It could be that you are wrong. It could be that if you confront him on the issue and offer sound reason for him not to keep wasting his money away thus, that he might just heed your advice.

Never underestimate the power of the Spirit!

And maybe he just hasn't really thought things through, and needs someone to give him a little push in the right direction of thinking.

 

[IKTCA]

I would like to add just one thing to Brother Woobadooba's post. If your friend agrees (this is big if), cast our the unclean spirit from him for him. Eventually, it will ruin him, and make his family miserable. For missing one opportunity of ministering healing and deliverance, many lives get ruined. That's the intent of the evil spirit.

How to lead him to let you pray for him you need to learn from the Lord yourself, since you are the one to minister. If you seek, the Lord may even lead him to ask you to pray for him.

Rupert

Do not underestimate believer's mind, even a marginal believer. He has a deep pang in his conscience.