R1659 The Believers Proclamation

God has an encouraging word for you and me today through the Bible-based teaching of Dr. Don Wilton about the Believer's Proclamation. We're headed to the book of Colossians, chapter 1, beginning in verse 28 with Dr. Don Wilton, well-known author, evangelist, pastor, seminary professor, and I pray that you'll just open your heart to him as your friend and teacher today.

As we study the book of Colossians, we're gaining insight on this particular proclamation that each of us have as believers and how it changes the way we live our life on a daily basis. As we study the word together, know that we're available for you. We'd love to pray with you and for you anytime. Our prayer line is 866-899-WORD. That's 866-899-9673 or meet us online at www.tewonline.org.

That's www.tewonline.org. And now today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton. We're going to be in Colossians, chapter 1, and just verses 28 and 29. This is what Paul said. We proclaim Jesus admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom in order that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end, I labor, struggling with all God's energy, which so powerfully works in me. This is a remarkable verse, two verses of Scripture, and it essentially brings to a culminating point three very important questions that I think Paul is asking in behalf of people just like you and me.

Here are these three important questions. The first question that he asked in this particular text is, what do I do as a believer? Paul in verse 24 makes a statement. He said, I just want all of you to know that I rejoice in my sufferings, in what I do for the sake of the church. He answers a question that I need to know about, that you need to know about.

We give our hearts and lives to the Lord Jesus. The next question needs to be, well, what do I do? Paul had a resume for him, for him.

He had been shipwrecked and bitten by snakes and hounded out of one city after another, starved half to death, maligned, and all the things that he went through. So he answers the question, what I do. The second question Paul answers is simply this, why I do what I do.

What is this? Why, Paul is explaining in the next verses in verse 25, he tells us why he does what he does. Why he was willing to suffer. Why was Paul willing to go all the way to the point of his execution? And what he was saying is, listen, what I do is I suffer for the sake of Christ, because I love you with the love of the Lord Jesus. But then he explains the second question, and that is why I do what I do. And he tells us in verse 25, simply put, because God called me to do this.

It's by God's commission. I'm compelled, it carries with it a beautiful compulsion, doesn't it? How do you explain how much you love somebody? I see so much love among people here. Your love is very palpable, do you know that? You can feel it. I'm talking about you. You folks really know how to love one another.

Would you like to explain that? Why do you do what you do? It's a deep thing. And you know, Paul was saying to the people there, listen. What I do is I'll do anything for you, I'll give my life for you, because Jesus gave his life for me. But why I do what I do is because God did it for me and called me to do the same thing for you.

Right? And then the third question that he answers is, how do I do what I do? Now, some of you may need to turn to the next person and say, explain to me what the past is trying to say here. Because you're going to get how do you do mixed up in this one way backwards and up the next way.

So the third very important question is how do you and I do what we do? And so now we're going to get to verse 28. Because in verse 28, Paul tells us, he tells the church at Colossi something. He says, we proclaim Jesus.

Thank you very much. I want to share with you today the believers proclamation. See that little word in verse 28.

I want to explain that to you for a minute. Because there are two applications in the Bible of the word to proclaim, to announce, to speak out. And we're going to talk about that, Jesus.

The first application is to preachers like me. And Paul was one of those. And I'm going to show you a little shift here, because if you all take a look back in verse 24. What is the personal pronoun there?

Everybody look at that in verse 24. He says, now I rejoice. Who was he talking about? What does I refer to?

Him. So you and I as believers, we begin with the I, with me. But did you notice the shift in verse 28?

He goes from I to we. We proclaim. All of a sudden he looks at all believers and he says, don't you for one minute think that the proclamation of the gospel is relegated only to those who preach the word. Proclamation is the call to all believers to be engaged in the activity of witnessing the gospel. Gospelising the gospel.

And all of a sudden in verse 28. He reaches out and he gives the whole congregation of believers this wonderful hug. From his pulpit in a prison. To the congregation and he embraces all of them and he says we.

So I just I just want to say something to all of us very quickly. If you were to ask this question, how do other people. Get to hear about Jesus. How do they do that? How do people receive here? How do people do this? Well, there are so many ways and we can incorporate this all into the word proclamation here. People feel Jesus. Some of you are doing that right now. Because of that incredible time of worship.

You're feeling him aren't you? So how how do how do people come? What is we proclaim?

People. Feel it. It doesn't even begin with us. And I just want to say to you today, my friend, if you feel it right now. Pay God attention. He's knocking at your heart's door. I want to invite you to give your heart to Jesus. I'm just inviting I'm helping you to recognize that.

Greatest thing you will ever do is turn your heart and life over the Lord Jesus. How how do people come to know Christ? Well, some people read it.

Read it. This word is amazing. You know, I love I love the way in which people sometimes you can just get up and read the word of God. You know, I have a friend who every day. Sends me a verse of scripture. Just one verse of scripture.

I get it on a text. And every day. Just one one word. And that combined with all the other ways in which you can just read the word of God. And God will speak to his word is powerful. And it's sharper than any two edged sword. So how do people come to hear about Jesus?

This we proclaim. They feel it. They read it.

Yes, a good one. They see it. You know, sometimes you and I are the only Bible anyone will ever read.

People see it in us. Now, that's a big challenge. It's a challenge.

Why is that a challenge? Because we all live this life, don't we? And you and I all face the challenges. We all get bothered. We all get frustrated. We all talk. We all do. We all relate. We all have feelings.

We all have emotions. You know, some of the greatest proclamation that ever takes place is just the way you live out your life. Because people see it. They see it in you.

I'm just one person standing up here today. May I say this? I hope this comes across for so many of my friends I know.

You actually don't have to tell me you're a Christian. I got it. How? You just see it. It's in your life. You're different.

See, you cannot be a Christian and be the same as you were before you gave your life to Christ. Forgive the interruption. We'll be back with the completion of today's message from Dr. Don Wilton, The Believer's Proclamation in just a moment. But Dr. Don's allowed me to interrupt to remind you we're here for you. We'll have to pray with you anytime, day or night at 866-899-WORD.

That's 866-899-9673. You'll always reach one of us happy to listen and pray and connect you with great resources at 866-899-9673. Dr. Don's also given me permission to share with you something that's happened just recently. A remarkable challenge gift has been offered to the ministry of the encouraging word. If we come together and together we raise $300,000, there'll be an additional $200,000 added to the ministry and it will empower us to go on the largest network available and to literally double the amount of people that will hear this biblically based teaching. Perhaps you've never given to the ministry before. I would encourage you to visit our website www.tewonline.org.

Maybe you've read Dr. Wilton's book about Saturdays with Billy. You know of his close relationship with Dr. Billy Graham. But one of the things that he encouraged us to do and we've done from the very beginning is be a part of the ECFA, Evangelical Council on Financial Accountability.

You'll discover that at www.tewonline.org and you'll know this. We are committed to take everything that you give and use it to lift up the name of Jesus. We began this ministry many years ago with 120 people giving $2 a week.

Every gift matters. Maybe $2 a week is all you could do. But maybe some of you could be a catalyst to this gift and make that $2,000 a week.

The important thing is not the amount of money. The important thing is if you believe in this biblically based preaching that Dr. Wilton shares every single day in this ministry that you would consider getting involved either on a monthly basis or a one-time gift. 866-899-WORD is the number to call to share your gift right now.

866-899-9673 or meet us online at www.tewonline.org. Now back to today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton. There's a change that's taken place, right? I didn't say perfect, right? I didn't say perfect. I didn't say that at all. I remember one time visiting with Dr. Billy Graham and his oldest daughter, Gigi, whom I love so much, told us a story about how Mr. Graham, this is Dr. Billy Graham.

He wasn't feeling all that good one day and evidently whatever happened. But Ms. Ruth Graham turned to her husband, Mr. Graham, in front of obviously the people that were telling me and said to him, oh, be quiet, Billy, and die like a Christian. I didn't say that. I'm quoting Gigi here.

All right? You know, I always loved that because it's so true of all of us. But people see it in us. They see it, and then number four, which is very apropos to where we are in Colossians, how do people come to know Jesus, hear about it? They feel it by the Spirit.

They read it in the Bible. They see it in our lives. But I think what Paul is trying to say is don't discount the fact that they hear it from us. What it means is to speak up. It means to speak out about Jesus. It means to speak about Jesus. And it means to speak to people about Jesus.

Now, let's just try and get a little bit of a handle on this. He says we proclaim. Paul is not suggesting that all believers should come up to the pulpit and preach it. He's not saying that.

Because God gives to each one of us individual giftedness. We all are participants in the feel it, the read it, the hear it, the see it. But he's saying to us, we are partners together with God the Holy Spirit in the very act of proclamation, which is speaking up and speaking out and speaking about and speaking to. And to try and help us get a handle on this, he says this proclamation of Jesus, of telling about Jesus, we proclaim him, Jesus, carries with it two distinct directives. And he tells us what they are there in verse 28. He says, first of all, when you speak about Jesus, it carries with it admonishment. This is it.

Just listen now. It carries with it. What carries with it? What I say is admonishing. No, the very gospel itself carries with it admonishment. What is the gospel of admonishment? What am I proclaiming when I'm speaking up about Jesus? To admonish means to reprimand or to warn. What Paul is saying here is that you cannot speak about Jesus without accepting the fact that we are being warned that without him we're lost. Excuse me just a minute.

Here it is. What he is saying here is there's no middle ground when it comes to the gospel. This is not if maybe you feel like it and maybe, you know, one day, you know, God loves everybody and ultimately everyone's going to heaven. Bible doesn't say that.

That's an admonishment. Jesus met with Nicodemus, who was a very fine gentleman. Nicodemus came out of the top drawer. He's a very religious man, and he came and he said to Jesus, tell me this, proclaim this to me.

What is this? What must I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said to him, Nicodemus, you must be born again unless there's the admonishment, unless you are born of the Spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Now, folks, that's just as direct as it gets. That's an admonishment.

You see that? Folks, you might say to me, Dr. Wilton, just tell us straight. Listen, when you speak about Jesus, don't tiptoe around the gospel. Just share Jesus.

You don't have to get in people's faces. Just proclaim Jesus. Spirit of God does his work, but it carries with it, secondly, the directive to teach. Teach. That's what he says there, teach. That little word, teach, there's a beautiful word. You know, I think of all the wonderful teachers we have and coaches.

You think in our church, all the Life Group teachers, discipleship teachers, and so it goes on and on and on. It's fantastic. Tonight with Seth Phipps, I've been invited to be in the hangar with all our parents.

Parents are such wonderful teachers of their children. It carries with it. He says we proclaim.

So let me put a ribbon around this, so to speak. If in fact every believer is called upon to be part of the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus. What are the four demands of proclamation?

You ready for this? These four things have to take place according to the scripture. Number one, focus. Stick to Jesus. Point everything to the Lord Jesus. You know, even Paul who wrote this, he said, I save to know nothing among you excepting Jesus Christ and crucified. You know, my friends, as soon as you take your eyes off Jesus, you sink.

Just go and look at one of the brothers. They were on the Sea of Galilee. Peter, the original incredible hulk. And the wind was blowing and Jesus said, come to me. And he got out.

And we know that incredible story. As soon as he took his eyes off Jesus, down he went. That's what he's telling us. Focus. When you proclaim Jesus, focus, church, focus. Keep your focus. What is one of the things that the world is wanting the church to do today? Lose our focus.

Hello. Distractions are everywhere, aren't they? You can get pulled into a sidewalk so easily. Distracted. Keep focus. Number two, conviction. Conviction.

That word conviction is a wonderful word. Be convicted about who Jesus is. Be convicted about the word of God. Be convicted about the gospel. Be convicted about the life change. Be convicted about the fact that one day when we die or if Jesus were to come again, that we're going to be transported by the angels to be seated at the feast table of the king. Where does that conviction come from?

It comes from God's word by the affirmation of his spirit. Be a man. Be a woman of conviction. You don't have to preach.

You could be the most soft spoken person in the world. Some of the greatest conviction you ever see comes from some of the most quietest people ever. Conviction is not loud. Conviction is not the ability to move around. Conviction is not a coat and tie. Conviction is not all the trappings. Conviction comes from the heart. It's a very precious thing and you've got it.

You've got it. Use it. Let your conviction come out. Be convicted.

Number three is reliance. The third demand of proclaiming is reliance. You and I can't do that, but the Spirit of God can. Be fully reliant on the Spirit of God. Bible tells us when you give your heart and life to Jesus, you have the Spirit of God. You don't get bits and pieces of the Spirit of God. You are indwelt by the Spirit of God and rely on the Spirit of God. Paul many times said, you know, in my weakness I'm made strong because of Christ in me.

Greater is he that's in me than he that's in the world. And number four is purpose. That's the fourth demand of proclamation. Purpose. You know, he has a wonderful purpose here in the end of verse 28. He says, so that we may present.

Look at that. Everyone perfect in Christ. Have a purpose. Be purpose driven in your proclamation. Be purpose driven.

Be desirous of. I'm asking God to help me even in my weakness to be very, I want to be purpose driven today. And what's my purpose drivenness of proclaiming the gospel so that everyone may be presented perfect?

Perfect? How can anyone be perfect? This is because of the fullness of Christ. It's Christ in me. It's the imputed righteousness of Christ. Because when you and I in our imperfectness receive Christ, his Spirit comes into us and we are encased by the fullness of the Spirit. We are in Christ. That is the perfectness of Christ. And that's what Jesus does for us. Would you bow your heads with me today?

This is why this is so exciting. This is why today I have such a privilege of inviting you to give your life to Christ. And I want you to give your heart to Jesus. As the pastor said, today could be the day to give your life to Jesus Christ.

It's as simple as an honest prayer with God. I'd love to lead you in that prayer right now. Lord Jesus, I realize that my sin has separated me from you. And so, God, I turn my back on my sin and I ask you to be the controller, the CEO of my life. Lead me, God. I believe you are the Son of God. I believe you died on the cross for my sins and raised to newness of life.

Lord, you're alive. And I ask you to lead me. In Jesus' name I pray.

Amen. You know, Dr. Don often reminds us that it's not the words but the attitude of the heart. And if in your heart you're ready to say yes to Jesus Christ or rededicate your life to Christ, we would love to celebrate with you and give you some free resources that all you need to do is call and ask for. 866-899-WORD is the phone number. Jot it down.

Store it in your cell. 866-899-9673 and let us know that you've given your life to Christ or rededicated your life. We would love to meet you online as well at www.tewonline.org. That's www.tewonline.org. While you're there, sign up for the free daily devotional from Dr. Wilton. That's online at www.tewonline.org. We would love to connect and we would love to encourage you.