Sermonette
#1.
Evangelists
have their work cut out for them. Local laws and statutes, not forgetting
community protection groups, keep us out by shaking the book at us.
"Don't preach here... it's the law!" I guess some
of us can get around almost anything, like my good friend and mentor
Pastor Mike, but I speak for people like me who are just too anal-retentive
not to follow the rules... even if it means missing a good chance
to witness to someone in our own back yard.
Large,
loud crowds and bars and stadiums and concerts and the like are just
too scary for most of us. So, what do we do and where do we
go? "How can I go "into the world" and share
the good news of Jesus Christ when I'm afraid?"
Not all
of us can become the evangelizing warrior my Son is or have the intestinal
fortitude that Pastor Mike has... but we all have a warm market. My
pal Jeff wears Christian T-shirts to work and they always strike up
conversations and questions. I carry a bible with me and read it in
public... or a popular book like "The Prayer of Jbez". People
can't help but to comment on what you are reading... especially if
they are familiar with the text.
Don't
forget Church. Most people who go regularly on Sunday profess
Christianity but are not really "born again". Never bowed
the knee because, well, "I'm private with my faith" or "I'm
not quite ready yet". Churches are resplendent with people like
that who are just ripe for a good, well choreographed, evangelistic
approach. Yes, even your church is filled with lost souls.
A barrier for
evangelism is "how dare you judge me" or "how do you
know who needs saved and who doesn't?" Sorry folks but
the bible tells us to judge. How else are we to know or even have
the guts to approach someone if we don't discern their position with
God. My Son, the warrior I was talking about previously, asks
folks strait out... "how are you with the Lord?" Is
that cool or what.
1 Cor. 2:11-16
For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's
spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts
of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of
the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what
God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words
taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing
spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit
does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they
are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they
are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments
about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:
"For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct
him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
We are
saved so, even though we live in the flesh we walk in the spirit (Romans
8). The spirit discerns for us as God judges all people. Kinda
like our own little "judgment radar" supplied by the Holy
Spirit... who is God. So that gives us the right... or should
I say "the ability" to judge weather or not a person needs
to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. But, my friends, let us also
not forget the bad news. 196,000
people are led to Christ yearly yet only about 13,000 do any thing
about it at all. Why? Because we are witnessing evangelical fluff.
Easy to accept if it's all good.
We need to be
honest and forthright with the information we give the unsaved. That
is, where will you, your mom, dad, brother, sister or kids go if you/they
die? To Hell. Hades. Eternally separated from God and all who
have accepted Him. Gnashing of teeth (indicating massive everlasting
frustration) and all else the bible promises you will suffer. For
ever. Also, don't forget the suffering and evil stuff that will happen
anyway, even though we have accepted Jesus as our personal Lord and
Savior. No one ever said that we will always "have a nice
day". When I got saved, the Lord decided I was not a good
steward of His money... so He took it all away and I am to praise
him for it... as I did... because the Holy Spirit within me let me
know why I needed to do so and what good it did and how the Lord appreciates
the praise and demands our worship 24 hours a day.
This is
not a "smoke 'em if 'ya got 'em" religion. I's not even
a religion. It is belief in the Truth. And sometimes it is difficult
and unpleasant. We suffer and are ridiculed and called things like
"hypocrite" and "know it all" and "intolerant".
1 Peter 4:16 says "If you suffer as a Christian, do not
be ashamed but praise God you bear that name". Kinda says
it all.
This is
how we need to spread the Truth... with truth... realism. "Are
you ready to become a Christian because I can almost guarantee that
It will be the most difficult decision of your life and a very arduous
adventure". Salvation seems to be the only positive about
the experience. Well "duh!" 2 Tim. 2:10 "Therefore
I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain
the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory". Eternal
glory isn't so bad a gift considering we are here for but the "twinkling
of an eye" anyway.
Salvation.
Saved by grace (God's love) only so that no one can boast. You see...
the big deal is that when we die and go to heaven, we are all sinners
in the eye of the Lord. He can't see past our sin. We just don't meet
his criteria for entrance into the pearly gates. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...
but wait... If you are a Christian and accepted Christ as your personal
Lord and Savor and suffered as a Christian and kept the faith, which
was a gift anyway, Jesus will be standing there beside you and will
speak to the Lord on your behalf. "Father", He might
say, "this person here believes in me. They know you sent me
to suffer and die on the cross so their sins can be forgiven and taken
from them as if they were perfect... like me. I see no sin here.
It has been taken away by my suffering and I would appreciate it if
you would let them in".
"Welcome.
Your mansion has been prepared for you as my Son requested.
I see by your good works that I used you 5 times to bring someone
to the kingdom. Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter
into your reward."
More
to come.
Blessings
