Preach It!

Romans 15 talks about the calling to preach the gospel where Christ is not known (v. 20). I love the way that Paul presents it here simply because he is working so hard to bring the gospel to anyone who hasn't heard it.

ANYONE!

He doesn't go and look for people like him to share the gospel with the lost...

He doesn't go to 'safe places' to share the gospel with the lost...

He doesn't go TO CHURCH to share the gospel with the lost...

He doesn't wait to go through a 'class' on the 4 spiritual laws, the Roman road, etc. in order to share the gospel with the lost...

Those that don't know Christ are not just in some distant, far away land. They aren't just in another part of the state or the country.

The lost are right next door to you and me. The lost are in our own families in some cases. The lost work right beside you in the office. The lost are right beside you in the classroom. In other words...the lost are RIGHT HERE! And you and I need to be sharing the gospel with them wherever they are!

You don't need any special training to share YOUR story with someone:

• You need to be convinced of your relationship with Christ.
• You need to have an understanding of the Word of God that impacted your life.
• You need to have the courage to share that story with anyone who needs to hear it.

Notice what I didn't say. You don't have to be 'well read' or use big words; you don't have to know the Word inside out, forwards and backwards; you don't have to wait for someone to send you out. You simply have to be WILLING to SHARE your encounter with the Living Christ.

In other words, don't be afraid to PREACH IT wherever it needs to be shared. Let God sort out those who will hear and those who won't. You can't save them anyway. All you can do is LEAD them to an encounter with a God who loves them.

The question is are you willing to do this one, simple thing? PREACH IT!

Have a great and happy Thanksgiving!

WHAT Do You Believe?

If someone were to ask you, "What do you believe?", could you answer it?

Would your answer point to Jesus and His power in your life?

Would your LIFE back up your words?

John 14:23 simply says, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to Him and make our home with Him."

So think about that for just a minute:
1. If we truly love God, we will do what He says, what His Word says, what the Holy Spirit prompts us to do. That means we'll be influenced by Him in all our decisions, in all of our choices and it will show in our actions. Hmmmmm.....

2. If we truly love God, then HE makes His home in us. If that is true, then our lives are a direct reflection of His power, His passion, His mission, His purpose and His love, grace, mercy, conviction - ALL of who God is. Hmmmmm......

So, church, do our lives reflect any of this? Or do we look just like the world, and at times worse than the world?

Pastor, does your life reflect this? Or do you look the part on Sunday and on group night, but the rest of the week you just blend in with the crowd?

Fathers, does the way you shepherd and lead your home reflect the kind of father figure God is to us? Or are you lost in the cultures idea of what parenting, leading in the home should be?

What about you? If someone were to ask you what you believe, would your life be able to back it up - without words?

IF we believe in God and believe He IS who He says He is, then our lives HAVE TO be a direct reflection of that belief. Anything less is nothing short of hypocrisy.

On my face before an amazing God!