Faith Free Will Baptist Church

Archive for the ‘Testimony’ Category

*HOW TO BECOME BETTER STEWARDS OF THE GOSPEL*

(Matt 28:16-20)

*Jesus not only has given the church power, but also a great responsibility.

*The word “steward” carries a great meaning: One who watches over the affairs of another.

(I Cor 4:1,2  Read)

*The Apostle Paul was clear in these verses that the saints have a great responsibility, that is to be faithful in the handling of the things of God.

*In (Luke 12) Jesus gives a parable concerning a wise and faithful steward and their reward (vs 48). Some of you have talents and are not using them.

*Unknown writer once wrote “A Christian is a mind thru which Christ thinks, a heart thru which Christ loves, a voice thru which Christ speaks, and a hand thru which Christ helps”.

With this said, “How can we become better steward of the gospel?”:

(1)    Know the gospel

(II Tim 2:15  Read)

*In these last days that are filled with false doctrines, I believe it is of utmost importance for Christians to know why they believe as they do.

* I cannot stress enough the need for us to read and study the bible daily.

*There are two main cults with false doctrines in the US.  In a survey taken from these two, they admitted that most of their growth comes from people in mainstream churches.  Who are they: Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses.

Question:

1)      What do you know about Jesus’ life?

2)      What do you know about why He came?

3)      What do you know about His death, His burial, His resurrection?

(Acts 17:10,11 Read)

(2)    Live the gospel

(Matt 5:13-16  Read)

*What good is it to say we believe the gospel if it does not bring a change in our lives, how we live, why we do or don’t do certain things?

(I Cor  4:9   & Col2:6   Read)

*People, families are watching how we live, how we handle things: some will mock us, but some will take notice we are true to living for Christ.  (I Pet 3:16  Read)

(3) Love the gospel

(Psalms 119:97,103,105  Read)

*I know I’ve talked about reading the bible, but do we love God’s word, do we see its work in our lives, do we see the necessity of it?

*Job who experienced such troubles as losing his children, his possessions said this : (Job 23:12 Read) .

1) Do we love it enough to think on it daily? (Psl 119:11 Read)

2) Do we love it enough to let it direct our life’s decisions?  (Psl 37) The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.

3) Do we love it enough to attend preaching?  (Rom 10:17  Read)

(4) Give the gospel

(Matt 28:20  Read)

(Psl 107:2  Read)

*Isn’t it amazing the many things we tell people about that comes into our lives?

1) Announce our engagements in getting married

2) Announce the birth of a baby

3) Buying a new car or house

*But yet we struggle with telling others of Christ.  (I Pet 3:15  Read)

Have you asked God to help you be a good steward of the gospel?

*THE LOSSES OF LOT*

(Gen 19:15-25)

It is tragic to see people lose things due to some great trouble that can sometimes come into our lives.

*You pick up the paper or see on the TV a family that lost all their possessions due to a fire or tornado or some other terrible event.  And if you have a heart, you are saddened for them.

*But more heartbreaking is to see a Christian brother or sister lose those things God has blessed them with thru sin and spiritual neglect.

*Sometimes Satan makes things look so good that we don’t take time to count the record and see there are more losses than gain is listening to his lies.

*Sin never adds but subtracts, takes away the blessings of God.

*In talking about Lot the Apostle Peter says: (II Pet 2) “That righteous Lot was vexed by the wicked living of those in Sodom and Gomorrah”. But as we will see Lot lost something very precious in his life, as do some Christian who slides backward from God.

(1) Lot lost his faith

*Lot was the nephew of Abraham who the bible calls “The Father of Faith” and “The Friend of God”

*There can be no doubt Lot knew about the things of God thru Abraham.

1) He knew what it was to talk with God

2) He knew what it was to worship God

3) He knew what it was to feel  God’s  presence

Yet Lot lost faith in God.

(vs 17-19 & 30  Read)

*Lot feared the place of protection God had established but also he feared Zoar the place he had chosen.

*Fear comes from the devil (I John 4:18 ) “fear hath torment”

(II Tim 1:7  Read)

*How tragic to see Christians lose faith, confidence in God and His word.

(2) Lot lost his finances

(vs 16  Read)

*In (chpt 13) we not only see Abraham was rich but also Lot.  God had richly blessed them both.

*In (chpt 14) we see Lot lose his entire possessions  due to an enemy King taking all his goods.  But Abraham gets them back for Lot.

*But in (chpt 19) when God brings judgment we see nothing taken by Lot as he flees nor restored back to him.  As a matter of fact the only thing mentioned taken out by Lot is the wine he got drunk with.

*God desire is to bless His children thru His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.

(III John 2) “Beloved I wish above all thing that thou mayest  prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth .

*To that one who has drifted away from God, your soul is no longer prospering:

1) You have lost the riches of joy

2) You have lost the riches of peace

3) You have lost the riches of fellowship with God. God wants to restore you.

(Rom 8:32  Read)

(3) Lot lost his family

(vs 14,26,36  Read)

*Lot’s family had no confidence in his warnings.

*Lot’s family had no confidence in his leadership.

I believe Satan is working overtime to destroy the family.

To disrupt and corrupt the home: adultery, divorce, sanctity of marriage, rebellion, overcomes many homes, even Christian homes.

*The bible say “Husbands love your wives, wives submit to your husbands as unto the Lord, children obey your parents “.

*How sad it is to see a Christian father or mother backslide on God and lose their testimony with the family.

*Trust broken, love hurt: all because of drifting away from the Savior.

(4) Lot lost his fruitfulness

(chpt 18:32  Read)

*Abraham knowing God was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah pleads for their mercy: From 50 to 10 righteous and God would not destroy them.

*According to (II Pet 2:8) they only needed nine more righteous souls and they would be spared.

1) Sodom could have had a testimony if Lot had not compromised.

2) Sodom could have had more time to repent if Lot had prayed for them like Abraham did.

But Lot’s life had no effect on anyone. Does yours?

1)      Has anyone found Christ because of your testimony?

2)      Has anyone been encouraged to draw closer to Jesus because of your testimony?

(Phip 4:9) Apostle Paul said “Those things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do and the God of peace shall be with you”.

*BUT SATAN HINDERED US*

(I Thess 2:18)

America has faced many enemies in our short history: Germany in WWI, Japan in WWII, Vietnam, Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the heartless terrorist of this generation.  But there is an enemy craftier, more hateful, and more destructive than any this world has ever faced.  He is the enemy called Satan, the devil whose ultimate goal is to bring God and any associated with Him down.

*In spite of the persecution and affliction the church at Thessalonica was doing quite well.  But in the text, we read how Satan successfully hindered the men of God at they attempted to reach more people for Christ.

Today I want us to notice how Satan hinders the unbelievers from coming to Christ.

(1)    He hinders by afflicting Christians

(Vs 14,15  Read)

*There is no doubt in my mind that Satan is behind the persecution and afflictions of the Church.  Both physically and spiritually.

*We also need to realize the Lord allows a certain amount of liberty in this.

*The best example of this is in the life of Job.

*Probably no one suffered more in such a short period of time than Job.

(Job 1:13-19)  Reveals two losses to Job:

1)      Property and servants: Job lost 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 she-donkeys plus servants.  In one day Job was completely bankrupt.

2)      Sons and daughters

(Job 2:7  Read)

*We cannot begin to understand the agony he must have been in.  Surely there was one who could offer a world of comfort, one he had know for many years, one who had seen him live for the Lord and encourage him to trust God.  But look at the word of his compassionate wife  (Job 2:9)

*The wealth and health preachers today say if you are sick you have no faith, but let them say that to:

Paul who said to Timothy “Take a little wine for his stomach sake”  (I Tim 5:23  & II Tim 4:20)

Paul who left Trophimus sick in Miletus

Paul who said Epaphrodutus fell ill and almost died  (Phil 2:25-30)

(2)    Satan hinders us from doing the work of God which would benefit us

(Matt 26)  Peter, James and John go with Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane.  Our Lord is in great distress in (vs 38) He tells them “watch with Me” after praying He returns to where they are and finds them sleeping (vs 40) “What could ye not watch with Me one hour” but notice what else He says (vs 41  Read)

*The Lord wants you to witness, read His Word, pray each day, attend church and do His good works and you would like to do those things.  You’ve mad promises to yourselves to serve God more faithfully.

1) You intend to talk to someone you know about Christ but something hinders you.

2) You want to come to more church services but something keeps coming up.

3) You want to tithe your income but your car broke down, or plumbing went bad.

4) You want to read your Bible daily but get busy and the day ends without you doing it.

*Satan will do his best to make you sleep when you should be watching, praying or working.

(3) Satan hinders us by keeping us from spreading God’s Word

(I Thes 2:16  Read)

*Satan will go to great lengths to keep you and I from sharing Christ with others.

*The ACLU and others will go to great lengths to keep the Gospel confined in the four walls of the local church.

*Several years back, a dean at Stanford University began to pressure Christian groups on campus to stop the practice of witnessing to other students.  He was angered not by the content of the message but the practice of telling others.  His opinion “You are implying that a person’s beliefs are inferior to your own.  It is self-righteous, biased and intolerant”.  Is it self-righteous and intolerant to want to see others know the joy of Christ and escape Hell?

(4) Satan hinders by sowing tares among the wheat

(Matt 13:25,39  Read)

Two questions:

1)      What is a tare?  It is a poisonous weed that looks very similar to the wheat.  At the beginning you can’t tell them apart and by the time they have grown together it would endanger the wheat if you try to separate it.

2)      What is a tare in the church?

*It is unsaved church members and unfortunately we may have some in this church.  They come regularly, they speak words which insinuate they are Christians.  But outside of these walls, their words, their deeds prove otherwise.

* How sad that the Holy Church of Christ is made to look hypocritical, a fake because  those professing to be Christians are seen staggering down a street in drunkenness .

*I cannot always see the difference between the tares and wheat but God can.

(5) Satan hinders the unsaved by stealing the seed or Word of God

(Luke 8:11,12  Read)

1)      He will try to keep your heart unprepared to receive God’s Word.  Got along with spouse all week till Sunday and argued all the way to church.

2)      He will try to keep you from hearing the Truth when it is offered.

Keep you daydreaming or occupied with something else in church.

Story is told of a minister that was preaching a church that had a wall pipe organ and he said “ I don’t know how many pipes are in the organ”.  A man hollered out “53”.

How to Discourage the Devil

James 4:7

If there is anything the devil and I agree on, it is the fact that he hates me and I hate him.

* We often hear people talk of their battles and struggles with our #1 enemy. Tonight let’s expose him and discourage him.

Who is the devil?

* He is a real person. He was created an Angelic being: Ezekiel 28  Full of wisdom and perfect in his ways, until iniquity was found in him.

Isaiah 14  Tells us pride swelled up in Lucifer’s heart and he tried to overthrow God. He was defeated and cast out.

Luke 10:18  Jesus said He saw Satan fall.

Notice his characteristics:             A Liar   (John 8:44 )

An Enemy   (I Peter 5:8,9)

The Tempter   (Mark 1:12,13)

A Hypocrite   (II Corinthians 11:14)

A Hinderer   (I Thessalonians 2:18)

An Oppressor   (Acts 10:38)

An Accuser   (Revelation 12:10)

1.            Prayer discourages the devil.

(Philippians 4:6)

Never give up praying, God is not deaf, He will answer, Wait upon the Lord.

2.            Soul-winning discourages the devil.

(Matthew 4:19)

We have our orders: (Matthew 28:19,20)

3.            Tithes and offerings discourage the devil.

God gives the saints a glorious promise if they will be faithful in their giving: (Malachi 3:10)

4.            The Word of God Discourages the devil.

(Hebrews 4:12)

When the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, the Lord replied “It is written”

Read (Romans 8:31)

Beloved, when the devil tries to discourage you for your past failures, we remind him of his coming future.

(Revelation 20:10)

*REVIVAL IN THE BONE YARD*

(Ezek 37:1-14)

Brief overview:  Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem three times:

First time: many taken captive including Daniel and went to Babylon

Second time:  many taken captive including Ezekiel

Third time: King Zedekial taken with many others

*They had been incaptivity for 50 years.  God had told them thru the prophets they would be in captivity  for 70 years because of their sins.

*Ezekiel was approx. 25 years old when taken into captivity, at the time of the words we read he was about 30 years old.

1) Could Israel survive?

2) Would God keep His word?

Ezekiel give us several spiritual pictures to look at:

(1) A picture of Israel

*The Lord takes Ezekiel to a place overlooking a valley filled with dry bones and asked him a question.

(vs 3 Read)

*The Lord tells Ezekiel that these bones would live again.  Israel had been in the graveyard of captivity but they will live.

*A literal fulfillment of (vs 14) took place on May 14th, 1948 when Israel became a nation.

*God has been gradually bringing them back to their homeland.

1) In 1948,  650,000 Jews

2) Today,  4,750,000n Jews

Notice this scripture also is relevent for today

(2) It is a picture of some churches

*Several years ago an article in the paper told the story of a woman named Carrie Springfellow.  She was taken to Porter Funeral Home in Springfield, Ohio after being pronouced dead at a local hospital.

When the bag was unzipped to put her on an embalming table, whe made a sound.  She was alive.

1) Are some churches dead or dying?

*George Barna wrote a book dealing with how a church dies.

1) Inadequate leadership

2) Old blood: Not reaching young people or middle aged people

3) Spiritual heath

*Meaning a church is growing lukewarm or cold.

*We must understand without the Holy Spirit we are nothing.

4) We cannot live a successful christian life is we are powerless.

*The Bible is filled with those who tried to do God’s work without God’s power.

(II Kings 4)  Gehazi

(Judges 16)  Samson:  1) seven green thigs, 2) new ropes, 3) seven locks of hair

(Rev 2,3)  Church at Ephesus was loveless and didn’t know it.  Sardis was lifeless and didn’t know it.  Loadicea was lukewarm and didn’t know it.

5) The main reason for power

*There are those who proved what can be done when God’s power is used.

1) How can David defeat Goliath?

(I Sam 17)  (vs 47) “for the battle is the Lord’s

2) How can a Gideon defeat Philistines?

(Judges 6)  (vs 12)  “The Lord is with thee”

3) How can Samson kill 1,000 Philistines

(Judges 15)  (vs 14)  “and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him”

*We cannot borrow the world’s programs for building a great church: (Ps 127:1) “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it”.

(3) It is a picture of Pastors

*Ministries of the Gospel can sometimes get discouraged and find themselves in the valley of dry bones.  We need the support, the prayers of those we love and who love us.

(Exodus 17)  Aaron and Hur hold up Moses’ arms.

(4) It is a picture of a christian

*What are the signs of a dying christian?

1) No burden for souls

*Sadly some feel as long as we are meeting the budget and keep people happy, we are satisfied.

2) No hunger for God’s Word

*If there is anything which separates the pulpit of 1900 and 2008, it is the preaching of the Word of God.  One could preach for 1-2 hours and people loved it.  Some even read their sermons:  Jonathan Edwards “Sinners in the hand of an angry God”, 100’s wept in pews and called out to God for mercy.

3) No hunger for christian fellowship

*Would you rather hang around the unchurched or the churched?

4) Joy of the Lord is gone

Where’s the shouting, the clapping, the testimonies?

*A man was visiting a chruch and as the choir was singing he got happy and began shouting.  A deacon went to him and told him to quiten down.  The man replied “I can’t, I’m saved” to which the deacon replied “Well, you didn’t get that here, so be quite.

5) No willingness to serve with sacrifice

*It seems to me that our service to the Lord is becoming a matter of convience.

1) What are we teaching our children about the importance of church?

2) What does our testimony tell our neighbors about what’s important in our christian life?

(5) Can these bones live?

*I know we all have had times in the Valley of Dry Bones.

*But we can be revived, we can be a living vessel for the Kingdom of God.

Are there any willing to ask for the breath of God in their lives?

PART 1: MIRRORS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE – GOD’S DECALS

PART 1: MIRRORS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

*GOD’S DECALS*

(Gal 2:20)

Mirror means: That which reflects and give a true description.

*Over the next few weeks, it is my desire to challenge us to see our christian life as a mirror in which you can see yourself as others see you.

*Apostle Paul said “the life which I now live in the flesh”

*When Christ saved us, He did not move us into some spiritual world where our presence is not seen by natural man, but right opposite.  (John 17:15) Jesus prays that God would not take His disciples out of the world but would keep them from evil while they were in the world.

*In (I Cor 4:9) The apostle Paul says in plain lanuage that God has placed us in the center of a theater for all men to see.

*With this in mind, I want us to ask ourselves a question:

Am I a decal for God?

*Sam Bass tells the story when at 7 years old, he would take his matchbox cars and paint them different colors.  One day his mother asked him why and he replied “Mom, I want them to look the way I want them to look”.

*Question: Does anyone know who Sam Bass is?  He is considered one of the best artists in Nascar.  He had designed over 350 paint schemes for drivers like Bobby Alisson, Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon.  He calls them 200mph paintings.

*Others call the cars 200mph billboards.  When a company sponsors a Nascar vehicle they are investing 15-20 million dollars.

*Recent statics say:

1) Hood and real quarter panels cost about 20 million dollars to put an ad on.

2) Smaller, lower rear quarter panels cost over 1/2 million dollars.

*Botton line is for this investment sponsors want to be sure their name can be quickly and clearly seen.

*Think: If God’s blessings on your life were embossed on you like a decal, what would people see?  What would they read?

*Since you as a christian are a walking advertisement for the Lord, notice some decals that should be clearly seen in your life.

(1) Decal #1 would read “Designed by God”

(Psalms 139:14)  “for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are thy works”

*He made you by His power.

*He redeemed you by His blood.

*He has given you skills, abilities, talents that is needed to fulfill His plan in your life.

(With all this in mind: What would you call a car that didn’t have doors, a backseat or passenger seat, hearter or A/C, brake lights or headlights, cruise control or a horn?  You would call it a race car.

*These cars are stripped down for racing, they are designed for the role for which they are intended.

*You may long for certain abilities you don’t have: a voice for singing, or an outgoing personality, or eye catching beauty.

*But God has designed you.

*We possess the best in body and soul which God will fulfill His plan with.  God can use the wealthy as well as the poor, or a King as well as the fisherman.

(2) Decal #2 would read “Fueled by Love”

(Rom 5:5)  “The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us”

(Eph 5:14)  “For the love of Christ containeth us” :controls urges  (Eph 5:2) “walking love”

*Missionary Sam Jones went to evangelize to the Vietnamese people.  One morning he awoke to find his house had been robbed.  He went to his office and it had been robbed.  He went to the police and found out they were in on it.  He was warned not to cause problems or his family could be hurt.  He became furious at the very people he was seeking to win to Christ.  One day a taxi driver commented “you must like these people to spend 10 years here”.  He went home that night but could not sleep. God began speaking to his heart and said “my son you are not in Vietnam because you love the Vietnamese people, you are here because I love them, I want to love them thru you”.

Beloved: We need God’s high octane fuel of love.  He wants to love others thru us, thru you.

(3) Decal # 3 would read “DGS=Divine Guidance System

(Prov 3:5-6  Read)

*Nascar vehicles don’t have navigational systems.  Why? All they do is go around in circles.

Darlington is eggshaped only 1 1/3 miles.

Daytona is triangular only 2 1/2 miles.

*Becasue we don’t drive in circles,some cars have GPS=Global Positioning Systems to help us get to the right places.  Christians, you have DGS=Divine Guildance System.

(Prov 3:5,6)  I have never known God’s system to fail.

(4) Decal #4 would read “Faith Installed Shock-Absorbers”.

*Even with God’s guidance we will encounter rough spots on this journey.  (Read Heb 11) it says by faith, by faith, by faith.

*Our Lord will never fail us no matter the struggles.

*Are your decals showing?

PART 2: MIRRORS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE – TURN ON THE LIGHTS

PART 2: MIRRORS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

*TURN ON THE LIGHTS*

(Matt 5:14-16)

Imagine a world without Christmas lights.

*To do that you would have to go back in time before 1882.

*Question: How many know who Edward Johnson is?  Maybe his boss’s name rings a bell : Thomas Edison.

*Johnson was his associate who invented electric Christmas lights.

*He put a string of 80 small brightly colored lights together, which blinked, and put them up inside his front window.

*Johnson not only had neighbors staring inside his window, but newspaper reporters walked in and out of his house to write articles about them.

*Electric Christmas lights did not immediately become a great success due to two reasons:

1) Few people had electricity

2) Those 80 bulbs cost over $100.00

*In 1910 General Electric mass produced them at an affordable price.

(Before sharing three thoughts , notice light and Christ)

*Nothing expresses the mission of Christ better than lights.

1) In the OT the golden candle stick in the Temple was a type of light signifying that the coming Messiah would be the light of Israel and the world.

(Isa 9:2,6A  Read)  The Lord Jesus brought light into a dark world.

2) NT apostle John opened this gospel by declaring Jesus.  (John 1:4)  “In Him was life, and the life was the  light of men.”

*In the Gospel Jesus declared (John 8:12 Read) “I am the light of the world”.

Notice three thoughts about light:

(1) Light destroys darkness

A)*Some scholars declare there is no such thing as darkness.  Their view of darkness is simply the absence of light.  Yet what I have noticed is when light comes, darkness flees.

*Missionary E. Stanley Jones said “When I met Christ, I felt that I had swallowed sunshine.”

(John 3:19-21  Read)    (II Cor 4:3-6  Read)

*The story is told of a man who setting on a bed, lights a candle and begins eating dates from a bowl.  He took a bite from one and noticed a worm in it.  He threw it away and took another but noticed a worm in it also.  Again, he threw it away, took another and realized it had a worm too.  Giving thought to this he realized he would not have anything to eat if he continued in this way, so he blew out the candle and ate the rest of the dates.

*Too many people love sin so much they’d rather swallow their sins and wallow in darkness, than to turn on the light of Christ.

B)*Light defines Christians

(Eph 5:8   &  Philippians 2:15)

*Beloved: As you work in your yard, as you pass your neighbors, as you walk down a grocery store aisle: You’re a mirror designed to reflect the light of Christ.

(2) Our light should shine in the streets of our city.

(Matt 5:14,15  Read)

*How far should the light of this church shine?  The light should not reach the rich only, the influent, the high and mighty who can dignify our services with their presence. But as our Lord Jesus reveals our light: it is to also shine to the prostitutes, to the homeless, to the multitude of hurting and troubled.

*The darker the night; the more noticeable when our light shines brightly.

(Prov 4:18)  “But the path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

(3) Light does not honor itself but brings honor to what is present.

(Matt 5:16  Read)

*I hear people say when they enter a home or church “what beautiful lights”, but I believe the true beauty is what the light reflects.

*The Lord Jesus has given us a name:  Light

“ye are the light of the world”

(Prov 20:27)  “The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord.

Jesus wants to reflect His glorious light thur you.

So turn on the light and light up the darkness.

PART 5: MIRRORS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE – TONGUE-TIED

PART 5   MIRRORS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

*TONGUE-TIED*

(Joshua 1:9)

Have you ever heard the phrase “has the cat got your tongue”?

*We all have probably had times when we could say something for Christ but had difficultly speaking.

*Sometimes we feel guilt because of our difficutly in talking to a family member or real close friend about the Lord Jesus Christ.

*Dr. Wilbur Smith, a christian book writer who trained many christian workers, made a very heartbreaking statement in his book titled “Before I Forget” that all of us could probably make.” I should through the years have been more faithful in witnessing for Christ to many of those whose friendship I have enjoyed.  I was told a few years ago, a dinner was given in Tokyo in honor of Billy Graham.  He found himself seated beside the crown prince of Japan.  Mr. Graham turned to him and asked “What do you thing of Jesus Christ?”  Dr. Smith continued to say “I am afraid that for myself; I have let many conversations continue without my asking that greatest of all questions”.

*Beloved: I’m afraid alot of us feel that same regret.

*Why does the cat get our tongue when it comes to speaking up for Jesus?

(II Kings 7:9)  “We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings and we hold our peace.”

Notice some ways that will help us find our voice to speak up for the Savior:

(1)  Ask God specifically to fill you with His Spirit.

*Do you remember how tongue-tied Peter was on the night Jesus was betrayed?  He had several opportunities to speak up for Christ that night but instead his voice failed him except for curses and denials.

*Yet in great contrast when he was filled with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost “he spoke the word with boldness”.  When he was threatened with punishment “he declared that he could not help but speak the things he had seen and heard”.  (Acts 4)

*If you are a christian the Holy Spirit lives in you.  Ask God to fill you to overflowing.

(Eph 5:18,19  Read)  (I Pet 3:15)

*Remember the words God spoke to Joshua:  (1:5) “As I was with Moses so I will be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee”.

*Remember the words of Jesus.

(Matt 28:20)  “Lo, I am with you alway even unto the end of the world.”

(2)  Develop a burden

(Prov 14:25)  “A true witness delivereth souls.”

*Perhaps we would be bolder if we could imagine a lable across the foreheads of the lost which reads “For whom Christ died”.

*Maybe it would make them easier to love and share the gospel with.

(Ps 126:5,6  Read)

*The Lord can use a stammering tongue better than a silent one.

(3) Memorize some bible verses

(Prov 7:1-3   &   Joshua 1:8   Read)

*Start with (John 3:16)

(Rom 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9,10)

(Eph 2:8,9)

*The Word of God is alive, quick and powerful.

*We spend alot of money in a year on junk.  What if we purchased inexpensive NT Bibles to give to those we witness to or those God would lay on our hearts?

(4) Commit to faithfulness

(Prov 25:25)  “As cold water to a thristy soul, so is good news from a far country.”

*Put church attendance in the proper place of your life.  Why?

1) You will hear messages that will help us personally and others we share it with.

2) Let’s stop complaining about those who only attend in the AM and pray for God to burden them to attend in the PM.

Pray not to be tongue-tied.

PART 6: MIRRORS OF THE CHIRISTIAN LIFE – PASS THE SALT

PART 6:     MIRRORS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

*PASS THE SALT*

*If we have been given all the resources we need to carry our Lord’s message far and wide, and if we are completely equipped to fulfill the Great Commission, why do we keep it within the four wall of our churches?

*There is power in the presence of Christians that spreads and sets into motion the grace of God.

*Understanding that lets us understand this: The Gospel is not something that we only come to church to hear; it is something we go from church to tell.

(Matt 5:13   Read)

*In Jesus’ day salt was more valuable than it is today.  Roman Empire was known to use if for currency, and workers were often paid with it.  Our word “salary” comes from the Latin word “salarium” meaning “salt”.

(Notice the reasons why Jesus taught us we are salt.)

(1) Salt prevents decay

*In biblical times when people had no ability to freeze or refrigerate food.  Salt was used to preserve and prevent decay.

*Without the salt of dedicated Christians our society leads toward decay.

*The bacteria of evil is everywhere and without the presence of Christians the decay would take over this world.

*Our forefathers knew this:

1) In 1774 Rev. Jacob Ducle began each session of the Continental Congress in prayer.

2) In 1787 Benjamin Franklin proposed that it continue each and every day in prayer.

3) From the East of the US Senate chambers is the Latin phrase “Annuit Coeptis” meaning                     “God has favored our undertaking”.

4) On the South entrance are the words “In God we trust”.

5) Calvin Collidge our 30th president said “The foundation of our society and our government rest so         much on the teaching of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these

teachings were to cease”.

*Today there are those who are making every effort to push out Christianity. (ACLU: Take God’s number out of government, schools, sports.)

*But don’t give up : You might be the only Christian in your work place or classroom or sports team.

(Remember that your influence may keep someone from falling into spiritual decay.)

(2) Salt provides flavor

(Job 6:6  Read)

Jesus said “Ye are the salt of the earth”.

*But here’s the problem: when it loses it’s flavor, it is no better than dirt.

*As salt, we Chrisitans have a distinctive character and abilities:

1) We should have the best writers.

2) We should produce the best movies.

3) We should be the most censorious.

4) We should be the hardest workers.

5) We should be the most forgiving.

(Col 4:6   Read)

(3) Salt promotes thirst. (Try eating a potatoe chips without a drink.)

(Ps 42:1)  “As the hart panteth after the waterbrooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.  (Vs 2)  “My soul thristeth for God, for the living God.”

*As a Christian, does my life make people thristy for God?

*Henry Stanley, a journalist, said of missionary David Livingston in Africa, “If I had been with him any longer, I would have been compelled to be a Christian and he never spoke to me about it at all”.

(4) Salt permeates food

*Permeates means: to spread thru every part.

Jesus said ” Ye are the salt of the earth”.

*Just a touch of salt can affect an entire dish of food.

*Some say “But what can I do?  I’m just one person”.

Take note of (Acts 27) Paul, Luke and Aristachus were apparently the only three Chrisitians among 276 people on a ship bound for Rome.  For awhile those people disliked them but their attitudes soon changed when their lives were saved from certain death by these three Christians.

Two Questions to Consider:

1) Are you making your presence felt?

2) Isn’t it time we got out of the salt shaker?