HIDDEN SALVATION?

Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter. -Spurgeon

Matthew 5:14, Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

What a compliment, “You wear your Christianity on your shoulders.” Isn’t that the way it should be? Shouldn’t everyone you come in contact with know you’re saved and on your way to Heaven? Shouldn’t you be telling friends, family, and the folks in your neighborhood what Jesus has done for you? You cannot be saved and not tell others what Jesus has done for you! You can’t play hide and go seek with your salvation! You will always lose if you’re saved!

Simply put, One cannot be saved and someone not know about it!

ECHO HIS WORD

Blessed is the man who having nothing to say, abstains from giving us wordy evidence of the fact. -Eliot

Proverbs 19:20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

So often we have some problem that may arise in our lives. Maybe it is physical needs, medical needs, or even spiritual needs. We hit each one of our friends up for advice trying to find some peace and comfort. The answer is right before us all the time-- Trusting in the Lord.

When we give advice or counsel to those in need we should be like a canyon, we should echo what the Word of God says. You see there is nothing good within any of us except Him. Instead of opening our mouth with empty vain words, we should be studied up and prayed up ready to echo the Lord's message!

Are you facing some unexpected problems? Are you searching for peace in your life? Do you have a friend that is looking to you for answers in their life? No matter where we stand- giving advice or receiving it our guide should be: Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Cast That Gospel Net

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.

Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Notice Jesus didn’t say, “Follow me, and I will build you a bigger house”. But I believe your finances will better if you do. He didn’t say, “Follow me, and I will keep you out of trouble” But I believe that if you live by His Word, the choices you make because you do, will keep you out of trouble. He didn’t say, “Follow me, and I will keep you healthy.” But I believe if you do, you will live a healthier life.

A lot of people would have you to believe Jesus came to make you happy, to give you your best life now, or to fill your pockets with all the money you want. That’s not what He came for! What Jesus said was, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” He told His parents, “I must be about my Father's business.” Each of us needs to be about our Father’s business. We need to be casting the Gospel Net out into the waters of whosoever will praying God would give the increase!

BE MISSION MINDED

A man's feet should be planted in his country, but his eyes should survey the world. –Santayana

Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. Psalm 96:3

There are so many opportunities to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We should start in our homes, going out into our neighborhoods, and then to the uttermost parts of this Earth. We should leave no ear untold or heart impacted about the saving power of Jesus. It should be our life’s goal to see many to come to know Him as Saviour! Oh, you can’t go? That’s okay, support those who can! Give to Missions! Pray for Missionaries! Pray for the field God has called them to!

There are still many who have never heard the Good News! Will you be Mission Minded being part of the solution or will you be on the other team?

NO GAMES

            No time for games, we have the Great Commission to accomplish!

But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Acts 26:16-18

            Some people want to argue over what color the carpet should be in the church. Some people want to complain the Pastor didn’t acknowledge their service. Some people would rather fuss and fight over simple things in the ministry rather than doing what God has commanded us to do! There isn’t any time for that mess! Grow up and get over it! Get busy sharing the Good News! People are lost, dying, going to Hell! Love your Saviour enough to set aside the petty differences you may have with someone so you can tell someone about the Him!

PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

            You will never make a missionary of the person who does no good at home.  He that will not serve the Lord in the Sunday school at home will not win children to Christ in China. –Spurgeon

            John Harper was a Scottish preacher that is best known for his last message. While the Titanic was sinking he proclaimed to many of those on board, “Are you saved?” If the answer was “No”, Harper shouted, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Harper continued to go from person to person until He slipped under the waves for the last time.

            Brother Harper should be an example to each of us. There is truly no greater message we can proclaim than the Good News of the Gospel!

THE DEVIL DOESN’T WANT YOU TO

The devil doesn’t care if you hear the Word of God, he just doesn’t want you to do it.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22

Many come to the Lord making a profession of faith but yet they never do anything for the Lord. They weep, tell all, and in their heart sincerely mean what they say but yet for them to share the Good News of the Gospel, it doesn’t ever happen. They come to church, sing the congregational music, give their tithe, and they may even sing in the choir but they never tell anyone else about what Jesus has done for them, Why does this happen? I’m not sure. Did they truly get born again, I don’t know. Scripture says, “…whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” But what I am sure of is that the devil doesn’t like anyone saying anything about Jesus!

Will you be the voice of God? Will you proclaim the Good News of the Gospel? Or will you continue to be silent while sinners die and go to hell? Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

CAN I GET A WITNESS?

No doctrine of the Christian religion is worth preserving which cannot be verified in daily life. –Watson

We have three different witnesses upon this planet to guide one to salvation;

One is God’s creation- “…I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke 19:40

            While God’s creation points us to the creator, that is all it can do. It cannot rebuke. It cannot correct. It cannot save. But, if a lost man looks at creation and says “Where is thy God?” It shows the depth of man’s depravity.

One is God’s people- “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.” Acts 5:20

            While the crowning of God’s creation is man, man cannot save anyone. We can rebuke, correct, and point lost man to the Saviour but God gives the increase.

One is God’s Word- “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39

            Friend, the greatest witness we could ever have is the Word of God. It tells us where we came from, where we are going, and what to do about it. You ask, “Where’s that?” Well friend, according to the Word of God we were all created in His image; perfect, wholly, and sinless. Yet, because of man’s own choice, sin entered in the world. The only cure for this sin was the Lord to send His only begotten Son- Jesus to redeem us from our sin.

             Have you seen His creation? Have you heard His people cry out the Good News of the Gospel? Have you read His Word? Have you been saved? If not- why not? If so- PRAISE YE THE LORD! Can I get a witness?

PREACHING WILL HAPPEN BEFORE REVIVAL COMES

            Though we live in a reading age and in a reading community, yet the preaching of the gospel is the form in which human agency has been and still is most efficaciously employed for the spiritual improvement of men.  --Daniel Webster

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

            Programs, programs, get your programs right here! That’s what it seems like in today’s churches. But what did the early church center the ministry around? It wasn’t programs, popular plays, or even pretty buildings; it was the preaching of God’s Word. We see preaching in the book of Acts time and time again; Acts 8:4, 8:12, 10:36, 11:20, and many more. It’s what Peter did and what God used to save more than 3,000 in Acts 2. And it’s what He will use today if we are going to see revival!

How do you feel about preaching? In order to have revival in your heart, your home, in your church there must be the preaching of God’s Word. Don’t forsake what God loves and is pleased with!

 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.—1 Corinthians 1:21

JUST FIVE MORE MINUTES

You can rest tomorrow, for there is work to be done today!

Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. Psalm 116:7

Monday is here again. The alarm clock’s snooze button has been hit at least three times if not more. One eye is glued shut and it doesn’t want to cooperate. Your face is almost a permanent part of the pillow. You question, Do I get up or do I call in sick? Do I roll over and say, “Forget it!” Or do I get up, get ready, and go on in to work?

Child of God, we only have one answer; Just do it. No, don’t roll back over! Get up and go on in. The Lord will sustain you just like He has ever since you began to work. What He did last Monday, He can do again today. So, take that shower, put on that uniform, do your devotions, pray, eat a good breakfast, and head on in. God, may just give you someone that needs to hear the Good News today! Are you ready for it? You can rest tomorrow, for there is work to b e done today!

GO VISIT SOMEONE TODAY!

Whatever God gives you to do, do it as well as you can.  This is the best possible preparation for what he may want you to do next. –Macdonald

A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies. Proverbs 14:25

We have opportunities every day to be a blessing to a lost, dying, and hurting world. Unfortunately, many of us are so wrapped up in worldly events we don’t have time to do anything for the Lord. We have to take the kids to ball practice, the car to the shop, mow the yard, catch up on some sleep, all the while there are people hurting in this world. They are lost in their sins and trespasses. They are dying and will go to hell unless the Good News of the Gospel is shared with them-- unless they get saved!

How will the Gospel get to them? God says, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” It says for us to take the Gospel to them! So will you join me today? Will you tell someone about Jesus? Will you give them the opportunity that was afforded to you? Will you be a true witness by going and visiting someone today?

AND THEN THE LIGHT BULB CAME ON

I suppose they say of me, 'He is a radical; he is a fanatic; he only has one idea.'  Well, it is a glorious idea. - D.L. Moody

            Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:13-14

            As we are looking forward to that glorious appearing of Jesus Christ there will be those scoffers that rise up and have something to say about the message. We are not to concentrate on those insignificant weasels that would have the whole world to go to hell in a hand basket. We are to continue on with the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the message; He came into the world as a babe in a manger but would die a sinner’s death on a tree to redeem mankind. He came seeking to save that which was lost. And you and I get to watch the “Light Bulb” of salvation come on in their life as we proclaim that message. We may be a radical and some may call us a fanatic but God has given us the privilege to spread the Good News of the Gospel! What a thought! What an idea!

OPEN YOUR LIPS!

The Multitude Wondered, Mary Pondered—but the shepherds went out yonder and shared the Good News of the Gospel!

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. Luke 2:20

            Do you remember when you first got saved, you wanted to tell someone? You couldn’t keep quiet! You had the joy of the Lord deep down in your heart and you had to share it? You had the joy that passes all understanding and you wanted others to know about it as well? I imagine when the shepherds saw the baby Jesus they had to tell it as well! I don’t imagine the shepherds just moseyed back to their field quietly. I imagine they were pretty excited as scripture says, “glorifying and praising God”. I don’t imagine they were whispering, “Praise God”. I imagine they were quite loud as they returned, “Hey, the Messiah is born!” Hey, our Saviour was born this day in Bethlehem!” “Hey, Praise God!”

When was the last time you opened your lips and shared the Good News of the Gospel? When was the last time someone heard you say, “Praise God!”? If it’s been a while, why not start this new week off by telling someone what Jesus has done for you!