The Sales Pitch *

       In the last 50 years or so I have bought & sold a lot of things – cars, boats, campers, art, real estate, etc. But it’s a sure thing I am not a salesman. The only sale I made as an “official salesman” was a vacuum cleaner, & that single transaction was cancelled by the customer the next day. I couldn’t sell ice water to citizens of hell. And a pet peeve of mine is the street salesman (person). One desperate looking lady selling post cards in Shanghai put the cards in my hands. I gave them back to her; then she threw them at me! I could mention the timeshare sales pitch where a team of high pressure & SMART salesmen play with their subject’s minds & have numerous answers for your every objection, &  then say things like “what is holding you back?” Here’s a few tips for dealing with the rank & intrusive sales pitch:
- terminate the salesperson (not legal, proper or righteous)  
- cuff & gag him (or her)
- sit & cry like Stan Laurel (if you are an actor)   
- tell them “You are ruining my day . . .” then pass out.
- run & hide  
- cave in & buy the product
      So, is the preacher a salesman? Or is he just blowing out “much ado about nothing.” I will admit the minister, priest, evangelist is dealing with an abstract product – it can’t be titled, measured, held, felt, etc., & Jesus basically left this planet 2K years ago . . . But I believe in this “product” & could “sell” Jesus. I would pay to do it (which is the case – time, computer & printer maintenance, paper, internet fees, etc.) >> This is why “buying” Jesus is such a good DEAL:

-  Jesus Christ is Deity & has Divine prerogatives: Omnipresence, Power to forgive sins, Power to raise           the dead, Judge of man’s eternal destiny. (see “Was Jesus God” link 97)
-  Jesus is the only one that can & does see various evil contortions coming at us and shield us from them      BEFORE we know they’re coming. This is a nugget of truth associated with His Omniscience (& love).          He can violate the laws of TIME because He invented those laws. (John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:15-20)
-  Jesus is the only one who has deliverance power available to get rid of clinging monkeys. Not Buddha,          Mohammed, Gandhi, Joseph Smith, etc. who are all still rotting in their (holy?) graves . . . It is no secret     that drugs, booze, laziness, & various kinds of craziness can & will depart from us as we realize just           WHO we are walking with, and draw on His power. (Invisible Support link 159) “But to all who received        him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.” John 1:12
-  Jesus is that personal friend of Proverbs 18:24 “There are friends . . . but there is a friend who sticks      closer than a brother.” An old divine said this, “He who has Christ as a friend has an All-Mighty                  friend.”  J. C. Ryle   And, that Robin Williams voiced genie in the cartoon classic “Aladdin” said, “You          ain’t never had a friend like ME!” Well, Jesus is better, and He is real.
-  And Prayer is an intense benefit of walking with Jesus Christ I believe new Christians have a special          priority with God & get MORE answers & goodies more quickly than average believers. See “What is            Prayer” link 37.
-  Jesus is the “Shepherd” of Psalm 23 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want . . .” Everybody knows        that passage, but not this one: “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him.      It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear        the yoke in his youth.” Lamentations 3:25-27
      Well, there’s a lot of raunchy “sales pitches” around, but the sales pitch for “buying” Jesus & His Way is not only legitimate & Biblical, it’s also the best “merchandise”. AND as touching the “abstract product” that can’t be titled, measured, held & felt, etc, actually in the parameters of FAITH & SPIRITUALITY, all those things are possible. And we do have the written Word which is not abstract at all, it's just a very special Book loaded with interesting stuff.  “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:30 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”  The resurrected Jesus Christ said that.  Revelation 3:20   Choose Jesus & His Word, they are Alive. See also “Concerning Resale” link 89.

Many other interesting titles:  www.gospelnotes.org                                                       * * F. J. Stone * *  
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* This G-note analogy may be a little controversial, and my critics may think I’m off a bit too, but you can’t please all the people all the time.