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October 7, 2018 3:00 pm
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Harvest messages are brought to you by harvest partners to receive free email daily devotions or to become a harvest partner, please visit us online@harvest.org you know everyone loves power, especially in America, but enough are all where a super power.
People are always into the biggest the bad is the fastest. I think guys especially like power for sure you get a bunch of guys together and it has visited there in the gym and it will be long until a competition starts right.
That's is the way of men on the other day I was in the gym of the guy and I challenge them to a person of competition want to point out these 20 years younger than me and I don't want to see one by one, but know if I have lost 30 of my strategy I would've said all great you be this 65-year-old man, aren't you proud of yourself with them when I when I said all you would just beat by 65-year-old man, but I'm up to 100 crunches a day. Right now pretty impressive. Nestlé's princes are great and let you know that if you get guys together around the car and somebody comes with a fast car. Everybody wants to look under the hood.
You know how much horsepower does that car have no we may never use it but we loved to brag about horsepower. I read that Dodge is a new car and now the challenger demon and it has listen to this 840 hp. You don't know Debbie Denson say nobody needs 845. Basically a street legal dragster because you were this 62.3 seconds and they say it even kinda pops a wheelie. Very practical thing when you're driving around at the mall right that's a lot of horsepower for sure. And then there's other kinds of herbicides that there's processor power during the computer processor power. How many kids you have that much storage do you have in that you know and and this is a good time to be a nerd. By the way I'm so affected is truly the revenge of the nerds because we need them so badly. We really don't need the car with 820 words per we need the guy to help us set up our Netflix account or get our iPhone program or get your computer working again right so porting the power of all kinds in our culture will the Romans they were really in the power they were known for power all share the Creek said their philosophy, but Rome had power and lots of it. There was no military force on the face of the earth more powerful than the legions of Rome. They were feared around the planet.
When Rome would conquer other nations, and then take people as slaves of Rome could exert their power, but they could not change the human heart, they were powerless to do that. The Roman world is full of violence and corruption then and infected reminds us a little bit of today. Did you know that a room had a very high suicide rate. That's interesting because we have a very high suicide rate in America as well. This can be indicated by the top three words that are typed into search engines on Google late at night. The three words are porn lonely and suicide at some set up porn lonely suicide.
Suicide rates in America have risen 25%, 45,000 Americans take their lives every year. This despite the fact that antidepressant use is up but it doesn't seem to be helping the National suicide prevention lifeline saw calls calls doubled from 2014 to 2072 this is a recent history just a few years because of the suicide hotline of doubled and I think this is only made more clear when you hear of celebrities taking their own lives in one week.
As you recall, fashion designer, Kate Spade, and CNN personality Anthony Bourdain both took their own lives by suicide and tragically in the same way by hanging ice on X are being interviewed on television and he himself admitted to struggling with suicidal thoughts, so he traveled around the world and interviewed experts trying to understand why do people feel so despondent they want to take their own lives.
And here is what he concluded. And I quote he says we have natural physical needs.
We need food, water, shelter, cleaner, and those are taken away were in trouble really fast. Anyone on the say there is equally strong evidence that people are very strong psychological needs and I would expand that the spiritual needs. He says you need to feel you belong. You need to feel as though your life's meaning and purpose. You need to. People feel that people see and value you and finally he said you need to feel you of a future that makes sense that here's my response are not all of these needs met in a relationship with Jesus Christ and the answer is yes and that is why we need to get this message out and we come to Paul's very well-known statement here in Romans 116.
I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the great cripple. How many of you are not ashamed of the gospel razor. You're noticing very good alright how many of you have ever personally share the gospel razor. Great. How many of you have the privilege of personally leading someone to Jesus Christ razor. While it's quite a few of you, and you know that is not the national statistics I read recently that 90% of Christians have never led a person to Jesus why do you think that is the answer is the devil is in the details for sure because one thing we know about Satan is he does not want you to share your faith with anybody and he will do everything he can to keep you from doing it know this when you get out there and say I'm not ashamed of the gospel and you start looking for opportunities to engage people in evangelistic conversation you are going to face satanic opposition and one shape and one way shape or form.
The devil's objective is to blind and buying people for life. Again, the devil's objective is to blind and the buying people for life. Second Corinthians 44 it says Satan is the god of this world has blinded the eyes and minds of those that don't believe there unable to see the glorious light of the good news they don't understand the message about the glory of Christ, so our mission should be decide to accept it. Q Mission impossible theme is to lovingly engage these people with the gospel because second Timothy 223 says, perhaps God will change these people heart these people's hearts, learn the truth and they will come to their senses and escape from the devil's trap with a been held captive by him to do whatever he wants that we need to redouble our efforts to do that because you know America right now seems to be coming apart at the same we are so divided, that certainly are shown itself in the confirmation of Judge no justice Brett Cavanaugh, the divide in our nation and we see gender divide we see racial divide. We see every kind of political divide. Of course, and it seems to be worse than it's ever been. We see how we ever going to put this back together again.
It's not a political solution.
It's a spiritual solution. We need another Jesus revolution. We need a spiritual awakening. Listen to this. The world needs to hear the gospel like Christ change them, but the church needs to live the gospel and give an example for lost people and you know when you stop and think about it. Jesus put some pretty unlikely characters together in his home team. The disciples we think of the disciples like they're standing a little pedestals and they never made mistakes.
Nothing could be further from the two. They were extraordinarily ordinary people just like you just like me. Jesus called one guy called Simon the zealot, and he put them together with another guy known as Matthew the tax collector funeral, the culture of the time. That doesn't mean a lot.
Simon the zealot.
What is that mean the zealot is. I mean he was very excitable and drink red bull all day long known as zealot is a word that speaks of someone who is dedicated to the violent overthrow of Rome you could call him Simon the anarchist Simon perhaps even the terrorist Simon the seller and then there was Matthew the tax collector, Matthew was a Jew also known as Levi and he was sort of a turncoat from his own people. His fellow Jews collecting taxes for the occupying force of Rome so here you have a guy that's in collusion with Rome and you of another guy that's dedicated to the violent overthrow of Rome and Jesus says that the two of them.
You guys get along and love one another. But Jesus brought these people together in their lives changed James and John there called the Sons of thunder. You don't get I handle like that for nothing if they are around today, they would definitely be outlaw bikers.
I think you hear Monroe rumble and then 5 miles away that if a Pinger handlebars that cruise and they would have those leather vest tabs up and down their arms and of course have the obligatory wallet on the chain as all bikers do, and then another minimum night for their belt. They would come and sit down at you and want to mess with these guys. On one occasion they wanted to call fire down on the city because the city was not receptive to the message of Jesus slightly overkill and had one of those brothers, John and James and John went from being the son of thunder to the apostle of love. Only God can take a son of thunder and turn them into an apostle of love. Only God can take a Saul of Tarsus, the Christian killer and turn them into the great apostle Paul.
The author of the gospel were looking at together and that is why Paul said, I'm not ashamed of the gospel, the former Saul of Tarsus knew of God could reach in anyone can be reached and so to this powerful church in Rome. Paul writes this epistle are really a letter and we should be glad he wrote it because it was this was his desire to go to Rome, but he was able to go when he wanted to go so I wrote them a letter. Now we study this letter together. Romans is the most basic comprehensive statement of what the gospel is in all of the Bible in a logical, systematic way. Paul knocks down every argument against the gospel and he shows that Christ and Christ alone as our only hope in both the first and the 21st century in any century to follow or really know about the first Jesus revolution if you will.
Jesus himself started it and pass this message on to his disciples to go on the wall the world and preach the gospel.
So let's read now from Romans chapter 1 or read verses 8 to 16 and I'm reading from the new King James version. Paul writes, first, I think my God through Jesus Christ for you all. So we know Paul was southern for y'all that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world for God is my witness whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers. Making requested by some means.
Now at least I may find a way in the will of God to come to you, for I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift underline that phrase will come back to it impart to you some spiritual gift that you may be established continues on that is that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me know. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers of it (the cumbia, but was hindered until now that I might have some fruit among you also underline that to come back to it. Just as among the Gentiles. I'm a debtor both to Greeks and the barbarians, the wise and unwise and is much as it is in the I'm ready to preach the gospel to all who are in Rome, for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Britt is the power of God's salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the great bar in it is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith apposite as it is written, the just shall live by faith. While go there some truth there trying to take a drink from a fire hydrant right it's just a lot. Truth, in our way.
So, since this was the first Jesus revolution. Let's find some take away points. If you're taking notes number one if you want to be a Jesus revolution Christian should be known for your faith if you want to be a Jesus revolution Christian or a believer like those of the first century you should be known for your faith.
Look at verse eight. I think my God through Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
It wasn't easy to be a Christian in Rome. Rome was of course it the capital of the Roman Empire. It was a center of power huge population lived there around a million people.
Caesar Nero was empower Nero was insane. He toward the end of his reign went out of his way to destroy Christians. In fact, it was Caesar Nero that sent Christians to be covered in animal skins into the arena's to be killed by wild animals for sport in the entertainment of the people that were in attendance. It was Caesar Nero that literally covered Christians with kids and let them on fire and use them to light his own garden as he rode around runaround. It is Sherry.
Yet this church of Rome did not just survive, they four-inch and not only did they flourish for the impact of the Roman empire and affect the impact of the whole world.
That is why Paul says you're known for this around the whole world. Are you known for your faith. If we were to pull people that work with you that live near you that know you and we were to ask them if this person a Christian with a say. Oh yes, no question about it. It's a good thing to be known as I've said before, if you are arrested for being a Christian with there be enough evidence to convict you and I'm in good evidence that harvest Crusade, bumper stickers, so that's a good thing. I'm all for that unnumbered to if you want to be a Jesus revolution Christian, you need to be using your spiritual death. If you want to be a Jesus revolution Christian, you need to be using your spiritual gifts a diverse 11.
I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift that you may be established mentioned last time that God gives spiritual gifts to each one of us and if someone gives you a gift.
Should you not open it. I love to get gifts for people and I'll get a gift for my wife occasionally. Maybe you haven't wrapped up in a box I don't wrap it myself because I have no wrapping skills of all that goes for wrapping gifts and hip-hop as well. No wrapping skills, but so give this typical Kathy I got this for you may be routed a meal or something since it okay and shall set it aside either meal I might open open all open it later after dessert. No, no, not after dessert open and now I'm so excited. I think you're really going to like it.
So here's God in companies is I've given you a gift. I've given you gifts will you open them now are you going to sort through my wife.
One of the bus of this one, but are you going to just leave them sitting there until after dessert.
Amen. Open those gifts that God is given you their spiritual gifts of the agreement told first Corinthians 17. We should not come behind in any spiritual gift as we wait for the coming of the Lord no later Romans 12 Romans 12 628, Paul talks about these gifts. He says we have different gifts, according to the grace that is given to us of a man's gift is prophesying, let her do it in proportion to his faith. If it serving but it was Sir Vince teaching let them teach if it's encouraging relative encourage it's contributing to the needs of others in a give generously of his leadership, let him govern diligently an event showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully noted says we have different gifts we all have gifts that God has given know when you become a Christian US Christ to come in your life you asked him to fill you with the spirit and empower you with the spirit, she will install and you are instilling you. I should say gifts from the spirit you need to find out what those gifts are and start to use the wife because these gifts of this prayer that God wants to give are not toys to play with their tools to build with other weapons to fight with. Let me repeat that again, these gifts that God wants to give you, and it's on the screen are not toys to play with their tools to build with and weapons to fight with. Maybe God is giving you the gift of being an evangelist. I remember when I was a young Christian I went down to see Billy Graham preached in the stadium and affect.
I was already beginning my ministry at that point and I watched them preach. I was so amazed I love dancing all this people accept Christ, and I went forward to. I was already Christian, but I just wanted a closer look at Billy Graham and there he was, that I thought that's what I want to be when I grow up I never thought that I'd be preaching in the stadium but I just felt sort of a connection to that gift that he had and I thought I think God wants me to do that.
I think God wants me to tell other people about Jesus. But the problem is we think an evangelist is just a guy in a pulpit, preaching, and that can be an evangelist, but some of the best evangelists I know don't help pulpits, they don't trust her churches there just folk out there who love to engage people in evangelistic conversation, I introduced you recently to my friend Barry McGuire, not the singer, another Barry McGuire. This is from McGuire's car wax. It's his family that started the company varies a very successful businessman. He's not a preacher per se, but I'm telling you when I hang out with Barry McGuire. He puts me that Shay, he engages everyone in evangelistic conversations.
He is always looking for ways to share the gospel and he'll go to all kinds of very interesting settings with a lot of nonbelievers present and I'll tell them about his faith in Jesus of a crisis done for him. I received a letter the other day from a lady who actually works as a sheriff and it sounds to me like she to is an evangelist. Let me read you her letter she says I became a Christian in high school and was baptized at your church in Riverside at the age of 19. Shortly after I became a deputy for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
I work my way through the ranks and I find myself not working as a sergeant in the very city or I once patrolled is the deputy.
As a result, I find myself reunited with the same laws and neglected drug addicted souls from 15 years ago this world she writes is not been kind to them. I felt very convicted to cover these people by prayer, by name, and attempt to bring them to Christ for the salvation and the hope only he can bring Jesus by listening to your radio program on my way to work I been encouraged by your word to do the work that God has called me to do for him tonight. I was not only able to share the gospel with a broken drug addicted woman, but she was open to be led to Christ. I was a bit unprepared for the last part I found myself not being able to remember the prayer to lead people to Christ. Unfortunately for me, what a short video on your website. I was able to play for her. We both watched and she prayed the prayer and I for her.
I'm encouraged to reach out to others that this world has given up on and I also am going to be better prepared next time I know that not every contact will in this way the night or in this way as it did tonight but I want to continue to water implant being insured. God's word does not return void and she concludes by saying I'm praying for a Jesus revolution then amazing letter.
So next time you get arrest. I know you get arrested a lot pray. It served no seriously, here's a lady who has a career in law enforcement. She's putting it on the line for the gospel. Understandably, this could jeopardize her career to engage people like she has but who else would reach these people in the state. I love the way she's taking the platform God is given her and using it for his glory U of a platform as well so yeah sure there's a gift of the evangelist with other people or more of the detail their intimate new shop by the way, I know I'm not one of those people.
But they love all of that that might be a person was a spiritual gift of hell. Or maybe you like to see people learn and grow spiritually. Maybe you of the gift of teaching maybe you always see what's wrong that a person's life. You might have the gift of criticism always at son of the Bible.
Too bad for some because they think they have that gift and it's not a gift but there is a gift of exhortation I teacher tells me how to do it. Someone with the gift of exhortation makes me want to do innocently literary critics positing Scripture in teaching me what it says and I I understand it better. But then there are certain people you listen to and I get motivated, I think, oh, now I want to go into that. That's a gift of exhortation sometimes is a corrective nature to it, where you tell someone's this is a quite right, but you do this really well. Let me encourage you pay if you have this gift use at the gift of exhortation maybe like to take people in your home and freedom. Bless them freedom bless them.
Maybe what the gift of hospitality, finding your gift to God is giving you all your gifts and begin to use them.
Point number three a Jesus revolution Christian is a fruitful Christian, a fruitful Christian verse 13, Paul says I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I often plan to come to you but was hindered until now that I might have some fruit among you also just as among the other Gentile looking for some fruit without fault is basically saying you guys know you pears and apples and oranges because I'm really the fruit no-no. He is talking about a different kind of fruit it's spiritual fruit. Actually, the Bible uses that word a lot to describe different things that you're taking notes. Listen to this, a change in your behavior and character is fruit is called the fruit of the spirit in Galatians 522 says the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness and goodness and faithfulness.
You know, I know some people that are theologically astute. They know a lot, but they're not loving people I know other people that don't know that much good men there just full of love.
Can we have both generally have our teaching rights but be loving, caring people. Jesus said by this shall all men know you are my disciples, that you of love one for another. Back in the days of the Jesus movement. We used to have a song we sing together. Love love love love Christians. This is your call love your neighbor as yourself are God is love. It's a wonderful thing to have this fruit in your life number two offering our praise and worship to God is a form of spiritual fruit offering our praise and worship to God is a form of spiritual fruit.
Hebrews 1315 through Jesus. Let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of our lit to him the fruit of your lips so you know sometimes and we of worship, and I'll admit I look around a little bit and some people are worshiping their their hands lifted up their singing every word. Other people are just there tightlipped.
No hand raising for them.
Looking up, looking down, looking up way would you do bring for some fruit when I don't sing very well, so the prettier lips verbalized take with your wife. You guys love my wife so much I love her love. Tell her you idiots verbalized that she can read your mind.
You do have the loving eyes or the wife. So yeah, that's right, who said that one white said that but yet is your husband with you your number okay Lord just were not to go there but joking but you know verbalize it to God and fully God doesn't know the fact is, God can see your heart, but he want you to verbalize your praise. That is a form of fruit pulses over to see fruit in your life so that would be the change in our character. The fruit of the spirit that would be our praise and worship offered the God and thirdly giving our finances to the work of God is a form of fruit because Paul writes Philippians 416. Even in Thessalonica. You sent a once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift but I think the fruit that abounds your account. Listen, spiritually fruitful Christian are generous Christians. And we miss about getting we think were losing our money when in fact we are investing our money because it's not your money. It God's money because you belong to God, I belong to God. The Bible says you're not your own.
You been bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body. I'm only giving back to God what he first gave to me and when I give I received interest in heaven. Spiritual fruit to your account, the Paul's, alluding to hear means you laid up treasure in heaven. The look you don't have to give anything if you want to. I don't know what the problem is, but whatever you bring up two subjects. Sometimes Christians get defensive or disconnect. One of them is evangelism and the other one is giving of your finances, why, why are we in comfortable way. I think the reason is is because these are areas we maybe we can they may be areas that were not participating it.
So here's what I want to say to you, let you off the you don't think give anything. Don't give anything. You don't have to ever share your faith to get your you feel better now.
But here's the point. Do you want to have an eternal reward waiting for you in heaven are not just when you leave this earth to take any of your cool stuff with you.
Not even your Dodge Demon with 800+ horsepower your kids going to get in the driver then the wall or something so but when I invest in the work of the kingdom of God. I know it will be waiting for me on the other side of spiritual fruit in heaven. That's right, you receive an offering know we arty did that. Okay. Point number four. We should've the wish of the change that Sam is stupid preacher widow. I know point number four. Jesus revolution Christians are people who preach the gospel and that brings us to verse 16.
Again, I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.
It's a power of God's salvation for everyone who believes of the Jew first and also for the Greek now Paul was fearless when it came to proclaiming the gospel he saw what happened in his own life without God transported Kim and he wanted it to happen for others, but if we are honest, we don't do this is often as we should.
I don't do this often as I should. In the goal know Greg you must go everywhere and preach to everyone known. I miss opportunities just like you do.
I've never told the story publicly before but years ago I met George Harrison ever heard him one of the Beatles right case on the Beatles fan anybody like the Beatles project some anyone hate the Beatles to Heath get up but I've always of the Beatles and anyone I I'm in the war.
I am on the island of Maui and over in the Hano which asserted the other side the very tropical side of Maui.
It's a beautiful place to visit. There's not many places to stay is like one general store. One restaurant, and I knew that George Harrison lived over there and so I went over there with Kathy, my wife and I said well you know Mabel running the George Harrison Excel and does so were sitting in a restaurant in her back is to the door and I Isaac oh Kathy George Harrison's walking and running up take charge over your career charts. She says she turned around course was in there. There were in another places it only gives George Harrison hey George, in arrears, he looks around wasn't stop doing that sober sitting down at the beach and I bite back to the stairs and Kathy's sisters coming down the beach Pieces.
George Harrison is walking down there right now as I write you because I'm not kidding. I said my back to this estate, down here. My what it to run very well, a living breathing pedal and he sat right behind me. I'm sitting I'm struggling I'm so nervous and I thought what a waste.
Say when we say no and he's talking there is some guy ended its deal loans will close a little like this in the Liverpool limo.
The Beatles citizens lovely fab funeral of launching the new adjustment in the document attached so I look in my little backpack and would only have I have a Beatles cassette. This marks it in time, a cassette, how many of you have never heard of a cassette. You can find cassette players on eBay somewhere. Check them out. Vinyls made a comeback. The cassettes yet but anyway so I have this cassette of the Beatles and I grabbed the cassette and I turn around the George essays it high. I love the Beatles and I have your good said he just looks at me doesn't even like respond to me like I don't even exist turned back around key so little later on we went back up the stairs and were getting ready to leave me standing there so I walk up to start talking to and were just chatting away in an now you're saying thinking Craig to share the gospel with George Harrison.
No, why not because I'm an idiot because I was too starstruck. I was too nervous and I missed a great opportunity. You see, and we all miss opportunities only alright so learn from that and next time as I can visit George all you need is low, but you need call to lobbyist tonight who knows what I would've said medic beat me the death of one of his guitars. I don't know but don't miss those opportunities. Don't be ashamed of the gospel of Christ.
Why do we not share her faith. Number one may be fear of rejection and failure, fear of rejection and failure on skip bomb.
I would've the right words, maybe not. But what is success in evangelism. Listen to what I'm saying. What is success in evangelism is that results I had 20 people to Christ. The notches on my belt right here. See Nona success is faithfulness. Success is faithfulness to give the message of the gospel because only God can convert a person not you and not me. So my job is to share the truth and that the respond praise God that they don't. Well, at least I did my job because in that final day when I stand before Jesus, he will not save. Well done, good and successful servant know he's going to say well done good and what faithful servants will be faithful.
That's how you measure success.
I've use this illustration before but I'll use it again because I only have four illustrations but let's say that you had cancer and obviously you wanted to be cancer free. So you are a medical scientist and you spent hours and hours and hours and hours and years and years working for a cure. One day you came up with one.
Amazingly, it was one pill you took one time and so you tried it on yourself, you're instantly short of cancer. Now my question is would you want to share that cure with any body else. I think you would, I think you would go first to other people you would met at the hospital were also fighting cancer and use would share it with them. Listen we have something more powerful than even a cure for cancer is wonderful as I would be because you can be cured of cancer, but you're still going to die, but this is the message that says you don't ever have to die. You can live eternally.
That's the message of the gospel. Don't be ashamed of it. We need to get it out to people but we don't we don't wife will maybe were embarrassed to talk to a complete stranger.
You're uncomfortable. One of the top tears most people have is a fear of public speaking, so the idea walking up to a person you've never met before, or standing in front of a crowd of people and telling them something terrifies you okay. I understand that but there are times when your message is more important than your fear of crowd. Let's say there was a fire and you wanted to warn you, will I have a fear shut up. Warn people yell fire and tell them to get out we talking about if sometimes the message is more important in your personal hey not. And so when you have something were saying that you transcend your discomfort.
Well, I'm afraid that if someone might ask me a hard question.
I don't have the answer to guy, but the answer you're ready, you might want to write this down if someone asked you a hard question here is the answer.
I don't know.
That's okay. I don't know the good question I like to get back to you and but here's what I do know just pivot right back to what you know and be better prepared next time like that that but he said I'll be better prepared next time that's all learn from. But see, the point is, you do know more than you think you know it's like that one guy who was blind and he was healed by Jesus and they tried to engage him in the theological debate asking this man of Jesus was a sinner or not.
I love this guy just these is what whether he's a sinner or not.
I don't know but I know this much.
Once I was blind but now I see you you know that don't you. You can tell people about what Christ has done for you while you say I don't need to reach. I'll be including example. Let's pray please be a good example. But Jesus did not say going all the world to be a good example is going to all the world and preach the gospel. Listen good examples will not bring people to Christ but good examples can open the door for them to articulate the faith because you earned the right to be heard. So yes, be a good example, but use it as a springboard to share your faith and I'll tell you why there's power in this message. Pulses are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God's power and explosive power. In fact, the word that is used here for power is from the root word. Due to missed from the Greek Alfred Nobel overheard him. He's formed the Nobel Peace Prize and Alfred Nobel love people don't know this about uncreated dynamite and in fact he had this incredible invention with this explosive power and he didn't know what to call it. So we went to a friend who knew Greek and he said what is the Greek word for explosive power, this transcendent newness to them it's okay.
I want to call this dynamite and the reason the Nobel start of the Nobel Peace Prize which is best known for is because he was known at that point for the guy who invented dynamite that was being used in warfare. At that point and didn't want to be known as the guy who invented dynamite sewing for this please price at the point of it is dynamic explosive so there's explosive power and this is the key in the simple message of the gospel don't change it.
Don't alter it. Don't take away from it don't add to it, just proclaim it and stand back and watch with garbled I've been amazed time and time again in every setting.
You can think of large and small, with very open audiences very close audiences, even hostile people and I'm sure this message and I've seen how the gospel penetrates the most hardened heart and goes into the most unexpected places and brings about the most extraordinary results. My job is to not be embarrassed by it not be ashamed of it. Just proclaim it and that's over all called to do well if you wanted to sum up what I think we've read here in Romans one, I think the theme is sharing you share your spiritual fruit you share your spiritual gifts you share your finances and you share your faith and if you do that you'll be a Jesus revolution Christian. But we do like to share about your childhood.
Who wants to share a member when I was a kid, I had little toy trucks called Tonka trucks. Anybody remember those they still make about their plastic that's lame. My more mental and I ran into each other in tentative and gravel interpreted. They lasted forever fact I played with them this morning. No, I wish I was as though Adam exited probably be collectible by you when you give it toyed with child or donate to a child or a cupcake or something so happy I got the others all happy and then you use the dreaded word, share it with your little friend then want to share. We don't want to share. We got our cupcake what I want to give you some of ever I want it all for me know God wants us to share these things with and let me say in closing, I want to share this with you eternal life is a gift.
It's a gift from heaven. I love how the Bible calls it the unspeakable gift, which is another way of saying indescribable is no way to describe the awesomeness of this gift God offers a complete forgiveness of your sin. We will not know the meaning and purpose of your life yell of the guaranteed insurance and when you die you will go to heaven. He says here's my gift for you when you take it not don't sell heaven after dessert open it now Raven rip off the paper take the gift out of the box and enjoy it and I want to offer you this gift of forgiveness today because are some that are joined as who maybe don't have a relationship with Jesus Christ you don't know what it is to say for sure that you go to heaven when you die you. You have even had those despondent, perhaps even suicidal thoughts and yourself you're looking for Hope you're looking for meaning you want to know that someone loves you and cares about you. I'm here to tell you you are love and you were cared about by Jesus Christ himself, by all these people around you that are followers of Jesus. Don't give up hope. I want you to embrace hope, hope has a name and it's Jesus come into your life and forgive you of all of your sin and if you've never asked them in your life, whether to do it right now as we close in prayer atop our heads everybody praying father, thank you for your word to us now. Thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross in our place bearing our sins, then rising from the dead. Now I pray for any person here who does not yet know you help them to see their need for you and help them become to you and believe our heads are about in her eyes are closed or praying together. How many of you would say that a great pray for me. I want Jesus to come in the my life. I want him to forgive me of my sin. I want to receive this gift of eternal life that you been talking about.
Pray for me that your desire. If you want Jesus to forgive you of your sin if you want the gift of eternal life.
If you want to go to heaven when you die wherever you are, would you lift your hand up and let me pray for you raise your hand up saying I need Jesus. Today, wherever you are appreciated they got bless you raise your hand upon you want Christ in their life. God bless you.
God bless you compass you all over the room. I see Hans going up as yours. One of them. Maybe watching the screen right now, would you raise your hand up even though I can see you through the screen. The Lord sees you right where you are. Raise your hand and say yes I need Jesus Christ today. Pray for me. Anybody else if you ever raise your hand yet lifted now the bless all of you. Naaman asked if you would please everyone to be that razor can want to understand your feet, and I'm a lead you and a prayer. Stand your feet and were gonna pray together you the razor can. Even if you did not, but you want Jesus Christ to come in your life you want him to forgive you of your sin. Let me pray with you, stand up, you heard me right.
Stand up and others are standing by the way, so you're not alone just stand up to pray and settle this right here right now I would one more moment anybody else.
You want Christ to come in your life you want this hope that we've talked about today stand the let me lead you in this prayer the site that Deputy let that lady in all right all of you standing pray this prayer out loud after me again as I pray pray this prayer right where you stand out loud.
Pray this now, Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead. Jesus come into my life. I choose to follow you from this moment forward as my Savior and Lord is my God and friends in Jesus name I pray, amen. Let's welcome those. But