Dealing with Me
Evangelism: Sharing Christ to a Lost World • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 4 viewsIf we want to evangelize a lost and dying world for Christ, we must first begin the fight in our war room.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
We ought not to regard the Christian church as a luxurious hotel where each Christian may dwell at his ease in his own inn, but as barracks in which soldiers are drilled and trained for war. We should not regard the Christian church as an association for mutual admiration and comfort, but as an army with banners, marching to the fray to achieve the victories for Christ, to storm the strongholds of the foe, and to add province after province to the Redeemer’s kingdom.
- Charles Spurgeon
How does one prepare for war? How does one prepare to storm the strongholds of the enemy? How does one win souls for Christ? It all begins in our personal walk with the Lord. It all begins and founded on the time we spend with God, daily? Through personal study of the Word of God and prayer to God, we are strengthened, prepared, and sharpened.
Opening Passage
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And one who is wise gains souls.
Outline
What is a Quiet Time and What Does it Look Like
The necessity of God’s Word (God talking to us)
Growing up, we are taught acrostics. An acrostic is a poem, word puzzle, or other composition in which certain letters in each line form a word or words. These acrostics are used to help us memorize or remember important points and answers. Timothy K. Beougher, within his work, Invitation to Evangelism: Sharing the Gospel with Compassion and Conviction, gives a great acrostic that helps us remember the necessity of God’s Word within our daily quiet time. It’s more than just reading the Word of God, but through this acrostic, we realize that it is the application and doing of the Word of God that is of utmost importance.
As James writes, But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceives themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was (James 1:22-24 NASB).
So, what is the acrostic that Beougher uses? It is the word, SPACE.
S = Sin
As we come to God, through His Word, we are often confronted with unrepentant sin. If we are to get the most out of our time in His Word, our relationship with Him, and be of utmost usefulness to God in kingdom service (evangelism), we must learn to repent of our sin. Many of our prayers are not being heard because of unrepentant sin within our individual lives.
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. 2 But your wrongdoings have caused a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
The Word of God itself, illuminated through the Holy Spirit, reveals to us just who we are. Which is why we so often tend to not study the Word as we should.
12 For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
As we study the word, let us be about allowing the Word to search our heart and show us the need for repentance. As the Holy Spirit illuminates the sin in our life, let us repent of and confess that sin to find forgiveness and restoration.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
A famous Puritan pastor, Richard Baxter, spoke on the importance of addressing sin in our own lives before trying to lead someone else out of the grip of sin. He wrote:
Take heed therefore unto yourselves. He notes that before we can take heed to others, we must first take heed to ourselves. He writes, Content not yourselves with being in a state of grace, but be also careful that your graces are kept in vigorous and lively exercise, and that you preach to yourselves the sermons which you study, before you preach them to others.
Not only, do we need to address and repent of sin in our life, we need to begin standing on and claiming the promises of God.
P = Promise
22 let’s approach God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
As you read through the Word of God, underline them, mark them, but move beyond the marking or a notating of a promise of Scripture, let us learn to stand firm on those promises. When God says, we can believe it.
18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to hold firmly to the hope set before us.
We must address unrepentant sin as God shows us this sin. We must begin to claim the promises of God, and for some, if not all, we must begin to address our attitude.
A = Attitude
How can we truly say that we are changed, if inwardly we are not? As one is baptized, we always say that this is outward expression of an inward change. This should be true. Paul writes to the church at Corinth:
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
But have we changed? Is our outward appearance changed, but inward man is the same. If so, then we are not saved but became an even greater example of hypocrisy. If we are truly saved, then our attitude will change. As our inward man changes, so does outward man. As Paul writes
16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day.
As we begin to confess sin, claim the promises of God, and change our attitude, we must also commit to the commands of God.
C = Command
How many of are hearing the same question that Jesus asked the crowds
46 “Now why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
If we truly love Jesus and He truly is our Lord, then we will be obedient to His commands
15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
As Adrian Rogers once said,
to know Him (Jesus) is to love Him. To love Him is to trust Him. To trust Him is to obey Him. And to obey Him is to be blessed by Him.
E = Example
Follow proper examples within your life and avoid those who have shown improper behaviors and attitudes. As Paul writes
1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
As he also warns
5 holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these.
Not only do we need a proper time in the Word, we also need prayer (us talking to God).
The necessity of Prayer (Us talking to God)
Several years ago, while attending seminary at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, I was introduce to another acrostic for prayer. I’ve used many times both during personal and corporate prayer services. It is always a fresh reminder and guide to my prayers. It is the ACTS Prayer Model or acrostic. So what is the ACTS Prayer Model?
ACTS Prayer Model
A = Adoration
Adoration is defined as deep love and respect, worship or veneration. Brothers and sisters, God is worthy of all adoration. When we come to God in prayer, let us learn to give the all the glory, honor, and worship that belongs to Him alone.
13 And I heard every created thing which is in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, or on the sea, and all the things in them, saying, “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion forever and ever.”
12 saying, “Amen, blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
C = Confession
As we read through the Word of God, we begin to pray, God will convict us. What do we do during this time? We do as David did and ask God to search us and to show us who we truly are.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart; Put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there is any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.
When God shows us where we are sinning and rebelling, let us repent of that sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
As we adore God and we are reminded that He forgives and forgets our sins, let us learn to be thankful in return. Let us learn to give, not only praises, but thanks as well.
T = Thanksgiving
1 Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His mercy is everlasting.
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
After we adored God, addressed sin in the camp, and shouted accolades of thanksgiving, then let us come to God on behalf of others.
S = Supplication (Intercession)
1 First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
18 With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,
How Do You Get the Most Out of Your Quiet Time
I’ve been asked many times throughout my time in the ministry, what is the best method for quiet time. Often, I have replied, having one. You cannot go wrong with simply spending time with the Lord through His Word and Prayer. However, we must also remember, like anything else, methodology, is at times, just as important as what we are wanting to accomplish. So, what are some steps that we can do to get the most out of our personal quiet time with God and not waste that time. Most, would say they would rather spend 15 minutes of quality time with God than 15 minutes of quantity time. I would agree with this. Of course, I would like to ment far more than 15 minutes a day with God, but this is just an example. I would submit to you quality time is more important than quantity time. I would further submit to you, they’re no exceptions to this rule, in any case.
While we do not have acrostic for how to getting the most out of our quiet time, we do have a few points to consider.
We must set aside a specific time
We must set aside a specific place
We must be specific in our preparation
We must be specific about our reading
We must be specific in our writing (journal)
Conclusion
I conclude with a quote from Beougher...
A daily quiet time fuels our witness as it refreshes our heart and our mind with the Lord and his Word. And yet a daily quiet time is not a magic bullet. If circumstances prevent you from beginning your day with meaningful communion with Christ, it does not mean that day is a failure or that God cannot use you to impact others. And beginning the day with God must be followed by walking with him moment by moment throughout the day.