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May 14, 2020 2:00 am
Standing up for and speaking out about our faith can sometimes feel awkward and intimidating. In the message "Unashamed!" Skip shares several reasons why Paul the apostle only had readiness and enthusiasm when sharing the gospel.
This teaching is from the series Heart & Soul: A Study Through Romans.
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All I can say is this guy is unstoppable. He was not intimidated by a single human being, or situation. Nobody I both admire Paul and convicted by him every time I read such a singular intimidated person religious leaders of Jerusalem did not intimidated the political rulers of today. I did not intimidated the intellectuals of Athens did not intimidate him.
The Caesars in Rome did not intimidated because I'm not ashamed of the gospel sharing the gospel with others can view intimidating and not the apostle Paul who build units when sharing it with those he encountered today on connect with Skip Heitzig shares how you can overcome the fear of sharing your faith and encourages you to behold messenger just like Paul the apostle, but first we want to tell you about a resource that gives you real insight in the origins of marriage and the family. The book of Genesis contains some of the most iconic Bible stories. There is no deep spiritual significance and pain to those familiar stories in the creations to discover how much God loves his creation.
Now he considers humankind's crowning achievement in this way the quality and the very first we find got planted once would help you uncover first book of the Bible by sending us to apply to what you can understand just get a fresh look at a deeper understanding of the story of the very foundation can understand the book of Genesis. Same generous gift of $35 or more to help expand the vital teaching outreach device so called out to get your copy of this site will be 800-9218 88. You can also get online securely connectwithskip.com/on the Bible is full of God's promises to you and 50 thankful he will carry out those promises don't have to fear can help share this promise is found in Scripture with even more listeners like you by giving a gift to keep these encouraging messages going out. Please come now to get 892 1888 that 892 1888.com/donate.com/donate. Thank you. As we join Skip Heitzig to put today's teacher here in Romans chapter 1, when I first became a believer I really wanted to share my faith with my friends. The only problem was my friends.
They were all excited about me talking to them about my experience with God and because I knew that to be true.
I clammed up a bit. I was afraid I thought that I could just display for them the message, and that would be enough. So I had a bumper sticker on my truck is kind of a hippie bumper sticker that give Jesus a chance, which doesn't really convey much of a message is like a chance to do what and then I will wear a T-shirt so II had a tie-dyed T-shirt and this is, this was not retro tie-dyed. This was you know the real original era of tie-dye and have been named the real one at the name Jesus on the front so's I tie-dyed T-shirt Jesus.
So I thought well that that'll get their attention and you know they look out in the ego is either Jesus to them or because I'm from Southern California. It was like all that my cousins Jesus's name on the front by chewing so it didn't really do a whole lot in advancing the cause of the gospel or I can't just invite them to a concert. Maybe not tell him what kind of a concert.
This is really cool music you love it, but I don't really say much more than that, but I knew the time was coming when I actually had to open my mouth and share what I believed with people so I I distinctly remember the afternoon when I first tried this out and I prayed that God would fill me with his spirit and I just walked up to this coworker of mine who is the manager of the gas station where I worked and I just started talking and I was so petrified I think I've talked quite subversive until I sort of got my bearings and then I found that I had a little bit of boldness to distorted rising up I must've thought that God would be mad at me if I didn't talk instead of seeing the gospel is a treasure. I thought is a task is a great story about famous violinist named Fritz Kreisler he was Austrian, he would travel around and plays music. He was very renowned at the time and in his travels in one city, he came across an exquisite violin, and he thought I must have been violin he couldn't afford it.
So he didn't bite. He left to raise the money to buy the violin.
Once you raise the money. He went back to the town found the manual and the violin offered to buy it but the man delivered the sad news that he had already sold the violin to a collector. Fritz was undeterred, found the collector offered to pay the money and the collector said I cannot part with what he called my most prized possession. The violin Fritz Kreisler was disappointed, but as he turned to leave he asked the collector.
Would you mind if I played the violin before it is consigned to eternal silence in your collection collector searcher will I care have added so Kreisler took the violin began to play such an inspiring song.
The collector was so moved by what he heard. He said I have no right to keep this to myself.
It's yours.
Take it into the world and let the people here it that's our message.
We have such a treasure. We need to let the people here.
It's not a task to treasure more than a duty.
It's sheer delight. It certainly was Depaul where looking at two verses in Romans chapter 1 verses 16 and 17. I've entitled this message unashamed and I'm playing off the statement made by Paul in verse 16. Let me read this verse with you, but let me go back if you don't mind.
Verse 13 I would like to get the context, let me just tell you that Paul is writing this letter. He has some opening remarks he tells them I've heard about your faith. I'm planning to come and see you.
I tried to in the past I was unable to. But I'm I'm in a get there. Verse 13 he writes.
Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you but was hindered until now that I might have some fruit among you also just as among the other Gentiles.
I am a debtor both to Greeks and barbarians, both too wise and too unwise. So as much as is in me I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also, for I am 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 Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith as it is written, the just shall live by faith. But that's quite a statement.
I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.
It's quite a statement because think of all that Paul had been true up to this point he had been snuck over a wall at Damascus. He had been stoned and left for dead Atlas truck.
He had been beaten up, arrested and put in jail in Philippi, he has been chased out of Thessalonica, he was laughed to scorn in Athens.
He was nearly torn to pieces in Jerusalem, all because he preached the gospel after all of that goes. I can't wait to come to Rome and do it again and you read that go are you nuts. Why was that well all I can say is this guy is unstoppable. He was not intimidated by a single human being, or situation. Nobody I both admire Paul and and convicted by him every time I read anything by Paul who, such as singular on intimidated person.
The religious leaders of Jerusalem did not intimidate him. The political rulers of Judeo did not intimidate him. The intellectuals of Athens did not intimidate him. The Caesars in Rome did not intimidate because I'm not ashamed of the gospel.
Why is that how could Paul be so eager to engage in the very exercise that got him jailed, beaten up and left for dead scorn that over and over again. Why did he find such joy in I'm glad you asked that I give you five reasons why Paul was not ashamed he was not ashamed. First of all because it's good news. Every time you read the word gospel in your mind say that means good news that's were gospel means good news is that I am not ashamed of the good news about Jesus Christ. I mean, why be ashamed about. Good news right this good news or not ashamed of it. Let's say, God forbid you had cancer, but was successfully treated, so much so that you saw the doctor and he gave to you. The good news that it was now in full remission, or if you lived in a country at war with another country in the war had decimated your population. Fathers and sons were killed because of it and then suddenly one day you heard good news. The war is over.
Or let's say you had gone to the store a few weeks back you had a little bit extra cash and you decide to buy one lottery ticket then you heard the good news.
Your number is the winning number in any of those scenarios. Do you go on to tell anybody. Are you kidding you tell everybody it's in remission and tell everybody the wars over tell everyone you won the lottery.
If it's good news you're not ashamed by that some people read what we just read and they think what just the very fact that Paul said I'm not ashamed of the gospel must admit he may have been struggling with being ashamed or embarrassed of the gospel going to Rome. Why would that be a limit to be a couple reasons. Think of going to Rome in the year 60 A.D. this important city. It's sheer size and� And pomp could be very intimidating look around and you think nobody needs to hear what I say here they got altogether is not a need in the world that they have first time I ever visited Rome many years ago. It was overwhelming to assist major European capital others. Antiquity, their history, archaeology can see the forum of the Coliseum and besides that, there's so many tourists from all over the world after all this is Rome shopping is out of control and the food is you can't find a bad meal in that city like it's illegal to have a bad meal.
It was just sort of overwhelming but 2000 years ago Rome was much more than just another cool European capital. It was the center of the universe.
In Latin it was called Comput Monday head of the world capital of the world center of influence. The heart of civilization. It was in Rome that the Roman Senate would gather in the forum and debate issues that would affect the world. People from all over the known world were interested on the news coming out of Rome because they knew it would affect them so it would easy be easy to be intimidated by the sheer size and power of Rome.
There's another reason not everyone saw the good news is good news that most people back then, like today thinking it's bad news me tell you why. Back then the gospel was identified with a poor Jewish carpenter who got crucified where's the good news in that the Romans didn't like the Jews, the Romans conquered the Jews, the Romans occupied Judeo and they invented or or they took crucifixion and impose crucifixion on the very worst of criminals who were notorious against the Roman Empire that you got crucified, so why put your faith in a dead Jew who was crucified where's the good news in that Rome had great religions. Great philosophies great philosophers who needs this. Who cares about this gospel. In fact, you may not know this but the pagans in Rome referred to Christians by the word chaos atheists met interesting is they that called Christians, atheists, yet they call it maybe is not because they rejected God but because they rejected their gods to Rome would be okay if you bring your Christian God and to Rome and it's one of the many gods and goddesses of the Roman Pantheon. Great. But these Christians were so exclusive and myopic and only worship the God who sent his son to die on a cross from them and rejected all the gods and they were given the name atheists something else. Many in Rome, called Christians, cannibals because of a misunderstanding over the meaning of the Lord's supper's association with the body and blood of Christ. So with those things in mind. You could see why somebody might be a little hesitant to preach the gospel in truth be told, the gospel is unattractive and repulsive to a natural unsaved person. It's not good news at all and still the same way today and it's unattractive and repulsive because it exposes man's sin. It speaks about their lost condition and so it strikes a blow to human pride in human ego, and because it does that people react to it adversely, they criticize it they scorn it there angry with it. They show their contempt against it. They argue against it and because they do we Christians grow silent, we become embarrassed about our message. Even though Paul says it's good news and I think you'll agree that part of the greatest roadblock to sharing our faith to be verbal about her faith refrained it's fear levels is the fear of man brings a snare.
I wish that I were able to honestly say along with Paul. I'm not ashamed of the gospel. I agree with. I read ago yeah but to be really honest. There have been times where I've just been flat afraid of being rejected by people I don't want to be called on intellectual I want people to know I can get to all that reaction. It's tough to do that but it's such good news that if if you can get a person just to hang with the message long enough to receive the Savior behind the message live forever to be forgiven of their sins are going to have abundant life now and again I have the promise of heaven forever.
At such good news in the long run. The buses are not ashamed good news. A second reason why Paul says I'm unashamed is because not only is a good news but it's God's power were 16. I'm not ashamed of the good news of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation. Why be ashamed of power. Rome love the power they boasted in power. They were conquerors affect the Roman legions were considered the most powerful fighting force in the world at that time that the best training that the best weaponry and they would enforce social order by military power.
Rome love power. In fact, Rome was so powerful that when Caesar Augustus got a whim and I think I'm gonna take a census of the world just making that statement because the whole populations to move for people to leave where they live in go register in their town of origin. That's why Joseph and Mary did what they did because of that order by one man who was so powerful and when that senses was given.
It revealed something interesting.
It revealed there were 55 million people who were the subjects of Rome.
That's power. Rome love power. It was said that when the Roman Emperor got moody or angry or agitated the kings and kingdoms tumbled.
I got all Caesar's in a bad mood. Everybody got set on edge, but with all that power there was something missing.
With all that power to show they were powerless to save you couldn't change one's soul for eternity.
With all that Roman power.
They were strong militarily.
They were weak, morally one of the philosophers of Rome named Seneca said Rome is a cesspool of iniquity. One of its most famous poets, poets, juvenile is said Rome is a filthy sewer into which the dregs of the Empire flood will no wonder then Paul said, I'm not ashamed. I'm not ashamed because I have but one message that can change people's lives. I am the one message that is the power of God to salvation.
Rome might have its power, but they can change his soul message that I bring can I not ashamed of that you keep in mind the Paul had a track record of seeing the gospel already change several cities that were considered wicked cities like Corinth, emphasis Thessalonica Antioch basidia on and on and on. He'd already seen it. There is going.
Can't wait to let it loose in Rome's power that knows the way it is written, not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power not it has the power not it's a story about power.
It is power. It in and out of itself is powerful enough to accomplish God's purpose in a fallen world, polluted by sin. You see, the gospel was so powerful that it could change Saul of Tarsus in enemy of Christianity into Paul the apostle is powerful. The gospel was so powerful it could take 3000 people in a single day, the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem and change their minds, change their thinking and say yes to Jesus is so powerful that thousands responded during the first great awakening, thousands more during the second great awakening and thousands more during the Welsh revival and thousands more during the Moravian revival and it moved to .2 million people to get up out of their seats and walked out onto different fields throughout the ministry of Dr. Billy Graham who preach the simple gospel over the years I've seen the power of the gospel. I've seen in my short ministry wink wink thousands upon thousands upon thousands of lives changed because it is the power of God to salvation. It's powerful enough to convert scholars like Augustine, Martin Luther, CS Lewis, the one-time atheist of all atheist Anthony flew Dr. Francis Collins, who headed the Human Genome Project powerful enough to change entertainers like Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Alice Cooper, Brian head Welch and a host of others. I've seen a change. Murderers, I never forget the day I got a letter from a guy whose name I recognized was from a prison it was from a guy named David Berkowitz.
David Berkowitz unfamiliar with that name.
That's back in the 60s there was a gun in the son of Sam. He was a mass murderer.
He was a serial killer back in New York that was him. He's right anything I listen you every day on the radio. I've given my life to Christ.
I'm in prison I went to visit him and spend better part of the day with him and that prison in upstate New York and marveled at a man who said all here for the rest of my life. I deserve to be here, but I many use my platform to share with other prisoners how to get there.
Only God can do that. The power of the gospel that Skip special message from the series. Part you Skip to tell you how you can help keep these messages coming your way to help connect others to God.
I just want to say thank you, thank you for being a faithful listener to connect Skip it's thanks to the grace of God and generous folks like yourself that were able to expand the reach of this radio program far and beyond what we would be able to achieve on our own, and I want to invite you to help us reach even further so you and many more people can hear these Bible-based teachings and experience the transforming power of God's word. Here's how to give a gift: 800-922-1888, 892 to 18 TD. You can also give online connectwithskip.com/that's connectwithskip.com/donate. As always, thank you for your partnership to into my shares. I have the same passion and excitement about sharing the apostle Paul.
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