Reach Out!

[0:00] We're going to go to John 1.

[0:26] ! Do we believe that?

[0:41] Really? It seems that many don't act like it's a priority, that mission, that souls are a priority. Some seem to not have that heart. For many, it seems they miss that mission that God calls all of us to.

[0:57] And friends, I want to press that point today that we all have a part to share in our Lord's mission. And in his passion too. The mission is now.

[1:09] God uses people. And human souls must reach human souls. It's not likely that it will send an angel to save someone, to impart a message to them.

[1:22] It's not likely. But it is biblical that God's people will reach the lost. That is biblical.

[1:33] God uses people. And so every believer I put to you, every one of you, of us, everyone has that awesome privilege and the responsibility to share his or her faith.

[1:46] That means you and me. It really is. It's the people in this building. It's the people who are in this reach of this message. It's everyone who can get a hold of this truth.

[1:59] Souls are a priority. And every believer has a message to deliver. Friends, God's method is men and women. It's people. John the Baptist had this mission.

[2:11] We go to John 1. John the Baptist had this mission to be that witness, that channel. Channels only. Just that. That's all we are, isn't it? We're that.

[2:22] Channels only. It's his awesome power that does the working. And John 1, we read of John the Baptist. John 1 verse 6. It says, There was a man sent from God.

[2:35] A man sent from God. All right. Channels only. Blessed Master, yeah.

[2:47] John the Baptist. Just a man. A mere man. But more importantly, a man who was what? Sent from God. There was a man sent from God.

[2:58] His name was John. And the same came for a witness to bear witness to the light that all men through him might believe. So, John the Baptist had a mission.

[3:08] And friends, we are likewise part of that mission. The mission of John is our mission. That we might be a witness to bear witness. To bear witness of that light. The light of the world.

[3:20] The Lord Jesus has planned to reach the world as men and women. As people. As through us. John, it says, came for a witness. He came as a witness. Now, to define the word witness, we know the word witness could be put as someone who, by explanation and demonstration, gives audible and visible evidence of what he has seen and heard without being deterred by the consequences of his action.

[3:48] Now, brother Jesse shared in part of his story. You've got a story too. We've all got a story. A testimony. A story to tell of God saving us.

[3:59] And it's different for every one of us. And yet it's the same, isn't it? It's his grace. It's faith. Our Lord called John in 535 a burning and shining light.

[4:10] That's what he wants you and me to be. To burn. To shine. To glow. And we are ambassadors. We have a wonderful message to impart. Given to us. Given through us.

[4:20] That's what he wants. He wants us to give it out to others. And friends, God cares for souls. I think sometimes we miss that as we walk about our lives. Do we put God's spectacles on, as it were?

[4:33] If you had some glasses to put on. God's specs. And see through the lens of his eyes. To see through his eyesight. Eyesight. The people all around us are living souls.

[4:45] Never dying souls. And God cares for souls. Think of the souls in your life. Every soul matters. Some people scarcely seem to think of souls.

[4:55] Not even of their own soul. There was a story told of a young fellow sitting on his father's knee. And the young chap said, Pa, is your soul ensured?

[5:08] And he said, why do you ask, son? And the boy said, I heard Uncle George saying that you had your house insured. Your life insured. But he did not believe you had thought of your soul.

[5:21] He was afraid you would lose it. Won't you get it insured right away? And it's true, isn't it? We can care about all the matters of life. And yet our soul can be neglected.

[5:32] And time came that the father did seek and find that assurance for his soul. That his soul's well-burnt being was made, found in Christ.

[5:44] He found that peace with God. Friends, the love of Christ constrains us to think of souls all around about as we go about our lives. To agonise for them. To have a burden for them. As someone has put it, it's evangelism.

[5:56] It's the sob of God. It's the anguished cry of Jesus as he watches over and weeps over that doomed city of Jerusalem. It's the cry of Paul as he cries, I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ.

[6:10] For my brethren, my kinsmen, according to the flesh, he had such a deep burden for his people. Evangelism is the heart-winning plea of Moses. Oh, this people have sinned.

[6:21] Yet now, if thou wilt, forgive their sin. If not, blot me, I pray thee, out of the book which thou hast written. Moses had a burden. It's the cry of John Knox, give me Scotland or I die.

[6:33] It's the declaration of Wesley, the world is my parish. It's the sob of parents over the prodigal child, weeping in the night. Friends, our Lord was moved with compassion when he saw souls.

[6:45] We should look at souls as he would look at them. The word compassion in the Gospels is only used of our Lord Jesus. And it means stirred at that deepest level, that compassion.

[6:58] May God give us a passion, a compassion, that he would use you, his people, as those witnesses, like John, going out as bearing witness of that lie that all men might believe.

[7:13] So what is witnessing? Witnessing, we can all witness in different ways. I know we were talking yesterday, the folk going out, door knocking. That's one way to witness. And we'd love to see others join that number.

[7:26] Sometimes there's few in number. But there's power there amongst the few. There's channels only. There's awesome power, friends. And I was reflecting. I was going to know some of the monsters are quite new and a bit finding our feet, scarcely having words to find.

[7:43] And it's by that kind of mentoring, that coaching, that coming alongside and just observing and learning that we can get more stronger in our own gumption to tell, to share.

[7:56] And you might say, look, I don't know what I would say. You can still come. Just tag along. You don't have to say a word. And you can be a part of that witnessing. And as you watch, you learn.

[8:09] And as you go, he'll give you grace. And he'll give you power to tell your story, to share your heart, to give your witness.

[8:20] I'll call forward another witness now. Philip is one, who the Lord Jesus called. And it tells of him in John 1.43, that fundamental witness of introducing people to the Lord Jesus.

[8:34] That's witnessing in a nutshell, isn't it? It's introducing others to our Lord. And the Lord called Philip, and then he used him. It says the Lord called Philip to follow him.

[8:46] In verse 43 here, the day following, Jesus would go forth into Galilee and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, follow me. And now Philip was of the best side of the city of Andrew and Peter.

[8:57] And it says, verse 45, Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

[9:19] The Lord found Philip, Philip found Nathanael, and he introduced the saviour to him. Our Lord's got a way of getting our attention, and he finds us wherever we are.

[9:32] And he uses us, like he used Philip in here, simply to reach another soul, one by one. God will find a way for his word to reach ears.

[9:43] There was a funny story about a man in Wesley's day, when Wesley the evangelist was reaching a city. They would have these meetings, and there was an ungodly tavern keeper, who, he liked music, so he thought he'd go along and listen to Wesley's meetings, just to hear the singing.

[10:04] He liked to hear the singing. But he resolved that he would not listen to the sermon. So he listened happily to the singing, and he sat with his head down and his fingers in his ears. But when God wants to speak to a man, so he has his ways.

[10:19] A fly flew on the man's nose. And so he had to take his fingers out of his ears. And he had to drive that fly away from his nose. And he heard nine words that changed his life.

[10:32] As he unblocked his ears for that moment, from that instant of time, he heard Wesley say this, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And from that moment, he had no rest in his soul.

[10:46] And he returned the next night and listened intently and was converted. Friends, God's got a way of opening our ears to hear, that we would have ears to hear, and that we would hear.

[10:58] And so you are the ones that impart the word. You are the one, the communicator of that message. You've got a message to deliver, saint of God. Trust in God to use you, as his messenger simply tells, only to be that messenger of his word, to take the message of the gospel to others.

[11:18] And evangelism, it's not about winning an argument. It's not about having a debate. It's about presenting the saviour. It's that vital message of the gospel.

[11:30] Evangelism, it's not about winning an argument. It's about presenting the gospel. And the gospel, friends, the gospel, the good news, is a message of hope. Peter tells about this in 1 Peter 3, verse 15, where he writes this in 1 Peter 3, verse 15.

[11:46] He's talking about witnessing again. He says this, But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Now get right with God yourself. Know the Holy. Know the Holy One in your heart.

[11:58] Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. And then it goes on and be ready. Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

[12:16] Just unpack this for a minute if we can. We need to be, it says, ready. Be ready. Always ready. Ever ready.

[12:28] Be ready. To have an answer for every man. Friends, there's so searching. There's so many questions. Think of what's going on in the world today. People, their minds are boggled by what's happening.

[12:41] And there's this hopelessness, this fear, this cloud of unknowing that seems to fill people at this moment.

[12:53] And this hopeless world, honestly, there is hope. There is hope in this hopeless world. And people will ask you about that hope. Are you ready?

[13:05] Ready. Be ready. And be ready, it says, to give an answer. It says your answer should be a reason. Your answer should be a reason, not an opinion, not a suggestion, but a reason.

[13:21] You are a witness with evidence. Our faith is founded not upon human circumstance or viewpoint. It's founded upon the truth.

[13:33] This is the foundation. This is the reason. God's compelling word. This is the evidence. You're a witness. We're evidence.

[13:43] And friends, our faith is founded upon that foundation of truth. We've got solid grounds for what we hold to. So be ready, it says.

[13:56] Give a reason. Not an opinion, a preference, a suggestion. Your own thoughts. You've got a reason. You've got something that's reasonable.

[14:08] It says, come now, let us reason together, sayeth the Lord. It's reasonable. It's rational. It makes sense. Even rationally, it makes sense. And you're a witness with evidence.

[14:20] And then it says, give your answer with meekness and fear. Now, we don't go out pompously or arrogantly or having some superiority over others.

[14:32] We go out humbly. Because we're channels only. That's all. There's nothing about us that we can claim credit to.

[14:43] It's simply meekness. Meekly, we should go, in other words, gently. Give your witness gently with patience, with humility. Don't be a brash, a braggart, a bully.

[14:59] Be meek. And answer with fear. With fear. You know, tremble, tremble, tremble. With fear. Speak from that sense of the holy God.

[15:10] Of this godly truth. Of this God-fearing heart that he puts inside of you. That these are eternal truths to handle and impart. These are holy treasures. This is holy truth.

[15:21] And we should tremble. And we should answer with fear. From that God-fearing heart. And we want to relay this hope that we have to other human hearts. Friends, these blessings are too important to keep to ourselves.

[15:35] We are channels. Channels only. And we have a message to deliver. And so, this is a message that we have, the world desperately needs. And even if they don't want to hear it, God will make them hear it.

[15:47] If God works so, he will work it. That they will hear it. And he'll lead us to the ones who have ears to hear. Friends, the point is, we need to move from the seats to the streets.

[15:59] We have to move from the seats to the streets. This message has to get out of these four walls. And it's your voices that will carry it forth.

[16:10] Every day, we are all sowing seeds. And human hearts are the soil. The seed is the word of God. Our Lord has come to seek and to save the lost.

[16:25] That's the point. And friends, what a mission that he came. He says, I've come to seek and to save the lost. He's transferred his mission to us. I like to think that his mission continues.

[16:38] And it's through human vessels, human channels. And he has all authority, it says. He has all authority, all power in heaven and earth. And he has said, he's dispatching you.

[16:51] He's calling you and he's dispatching you. He's sending you forth. And he promises to always be with us. So, don't think that you are somehow not qualified or not able.

[17:03] That's a lie from the devil. You are duly authorised. This book authorises you. The author of this book authorises you. He says, go. Go.

[17:15] You are duly authorised. So, do we care for souls? That's the point. Do we think of that as our heart would be tender towards God and seize every opportunity that he presents to us?

[17:31] So, friends, sharing our faith, it should be the normal thing for us to do. It's almost like an elementary thing. When you become a Christian, it's the next logical thing is to tell what God has done for you.

[17:46] It's to share that answer, that reason, that hope with meekness, with fear. And witnessing for Christ can take many forms. As we know, we've got our organised door-knocking effort.

[17:59] That might be too confronting, it might seem to you, when you first think of it. But actually, in a way, it's not really so daunting.

[18:12] It's not really. It's one soul at a time. It's one doorstep at a time. It's one home at a time. It's one heart at a time. And, yeah, there's different ways.

[18:24] Different ways we can minister. Witnessing can take many forms as you witness for Christ. One such way is in a response to a direct question.

[18:39] As we see in Philippians, sorry, in Philippi, as the Philippian jailer was there in Acts 16, from verse 29, the time was where there was an earthquake.

[18:50] The Philippian jailer was there with Paul and Silas, and the prisoners were breaking out. And he called for a light and sprang in and came trembling. And he fell down before Paul and Silas, and it says, verse 30, that he brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

[19:06] I want to be saved. How can I be saved? What must I do to be saved? And they said simply this, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.

[19:18] Simply that. The answer is believe. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Believe on Him. Trust entirely in Him. Find your saving in Him.

[19:29] In His saving. Trust the Lord Jesus Christ. So that was a direct question. Another way to witness is sometimes a direct approach.

[19:40] A direct approach. There was an evangelist. People know his name, D.L. Moody. He was walking down a Chicago street one day, and there was a man leaning against a lamppost, and the evangelist put his hand on the man's shoulder and asked him if he was a Christian.

[19:56] And the fellow raised his fist and angrily exclaimed, mind your own business. Moody said, I'm sorry if I've offended you, but to be very frank, it is my business.

[20:10] And we must be about our Father's business. Friends, people will get offended. They will think, oh, you've got your religion, I've got mine, or that's my business.

[20:23] We have a business. We have a mandate. We have a calling. We have a response. A responsibility to be His witnesses.

[20:37] We must go and teach. Go and read. Go and make disciples. This is our imperative. It's His final instruction. Go. G-O. It's the first two letters of the gospel.

[20:49] It's go. It's His commission. It's our commission. And it's one of the most simple and straightforward commands of our Lord Jesus. You can't really kind of misinterpret or wrangle around that one.

[21:01] He says, go. Go. If we're not going, it's a problem. There's a Christian mission called the Order of the Mustard Seed, and Count Zinzendorf founded this.

[21:12] And this mission had three guiding principles. Be kind to all people. Seek their welfare. Win them to Christ. You know, really the ultimate mission of any Christian endeavor, any Christian cause really, is to reach.

[21:28] To win. To touch souls. To see souls saved for Christ. It's important also when we think of witnessing, to be a witness.

[21:39] To be a witness. In Philippians 1. 27. Paul says, Only let your conversation, which we could understand to mean your way of living, your way of life, your conduct.

[21:55] He says, let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ. So let that way that you conduct yourself in your life be fitting. Be becoming.

[22:06] Match up. Not conflict. So when we speak, our lives will line up with our lips. And our lips will line up with our lives.

[22:17] We won't be a false witness. We'll be a faithful witness. There won't be a conflict with the faith we profess and our conduct how we live.

[22:28] They line up. So we need to be salt and light in our world. And authentic Christianity means to have that message to share. And you might be hearing all this and say, look, I'm hearing this and in principle, in theory, I agree.

[22:43] But you don't know my circumstances, the people I work with, the people in my life. You know, I'd be better just zipping the lip and not saying a word. God will give you strength.

[22:57] Don't hold back. Take tensile, simple, baby steps. Take the challenge and do it.

[23:10] Do it. Just do it. Honestly. Now, I can look back to my younger life as a young Christian and in the school places I was of students still and of classmates that, you know, they were open about their faith, misguided faith.

[23:28] And it challenged me to counter that with the gospel. And it's about stepping out of the comfort zone and being willing to let God use you as a channel, channel only.

[23:45] And witness to those people close to you. It tells of a man in Mark 5. He was delivered from devils. And the Lord said, Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but said unto him, Go home to thy friends and tell them, How great things the Lord have done for thee and have had compassion on thee.

[24:04] Go home and tell your friends. It can't be the hardest place to minister, to witness, can't it? Your home. To your loved ones, your family, your children, your friends, your spouse.

[24:18] Go home and tell them. Tell them how great things the Lord has done for you. And it says he departed and began to publish in Decapolis, the Ten Cities, how great things Jesus had done for him.

[24:31] And all men did marvel. It's telling what God has done for you. And as we witness, we're telling others what he has done for us. Simply that. Just tell your testimony.

[24:43] As we see through Acts, Paul recounts his encounter with the Christ in various settings. And he adapted it to his audiences at Mars Hill, in the circumstances, in different places, Jerusalem.

[25:02] Amongst the different ones that he ministered to, the message he adapted to those he reached. And likewise too, it's telling a story, the wonderful things God has done for you.

[25:14] And as the woman at the well, the Samaritan woman in John 4, verse 28, it tells how she invited people to come to the Lord as well. It's simply that.

[25:25] Young people too. You might be hearing this and might think, I'm still at school. It doesn't stop you from being a witness for Jesus. It says that Jesus came. She trusted his word.

[25:38] She was saved. And then she went out immediately. It says, verse 29 here. She says, come see a man which told me all things that ever I did. It's not this to Christ.

[25:50] Come and see this man. Come and see him. Come and meet Jesus. Another way is our witness is our testimony. As we talked about, likewise John 9, there was a man.

[26:00] Once he was blind, he says, and now I can see. Once I was blind, now I can see. Once I was lost, now I'm saved. And he testified of that. Likewise the apostles in Acts 4.

[26:12] We can't but speak the things we've seen and heard. We can't help it. We've got to tell someone. We've got to speak the words. We've got to tell what we've seen, what we've heard. We've got to tell of others, of the Saviour.

[26:26] And so we're all that. Everyone, every believer is a personal witness of God's work in their own souls. And that testimony is that effective tool we can use. People cannot deny the living evidence of the truth.

[26:39] We're witnesses after all. We've seen that which we've seen and we've heard what we've received. We're telling that we've got that evidence that Christ has saved me.

[26:50] And I want to tell you of his great grace. And we can witness by reasoning from the scriptures. As Paul stood on Mars Hill in Athens. And he made reference to things that they could understand.

[27:03] And he pointed to the one true God. As he talked about their superstitions. He pointed them to the true. As he stood on Mars Hill it says. He says, He men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are two superstitions.

[27:18] He started from where they were and he pointed them to the Saviour. He reasoned from the scriptures. And friends, we can witness as our faith is lived out. As well, you might have that testimony, that quiet testimony of your life lived out.

[27:34] That it's real. That you're a real Christian. You're not some pretense. You're not some half a Christian that you put on a show. And it's not lived out.

[27:44] But you're living it out through your life. And such one is the woman called Tabitha. Or Dorcas. It says of her in Acts 9.36. Of her faith it was lived out.

[27:56] It was real. Now there was a job for a certain disciple named Tabitha. Which by interpretation is called Dorcas. And this woman was full of good works. And armstings. Which she did. So Dorcas here.

[28:08] Or Tabitha. She was also known. Was this woman. She was full of these godly good deeds. Which she did. She impacted her city by those deeds of kindness.

[28:19] So we too. We can likewise see our impact. We can be impactful through the life that we live. The things that we do. People will notice that. Let your light so shine.

[28:30] That may glorify your Father. Which is in heaven. So we can witness also by the power of the Holy Spirit. Really that's the ultimate power source that we have.

[28:41] Because we depend upon the Lord. It's not our own training or learning or skill or abilities of flesh. But it's the empowerment of his Holy Spirit. As he says that we should wait to get the power.

[28:54] And then go and be his witness. So seek his power to empower. To fill. To supply. To enable. To empower. Depend upon the Lord.

[29:06] And as you witness pray. Pray for souls. Pray for a burden for souls. Those loved ones are on your heart. Remember them in prayer.

[29:18] Lift them up to the Lord. Have that burden for the lost. There was an old deacon in a church leading prayer. And he used to say this phrase quite often when he prayed.

[29:30] Oh Lord, touch the unsaved with thy finger. It was a kind of spiritual slogan. A stereotype kind of phrase that he uses.

[29:41] Oh Lord, touch the unsaved with thy finger. And as he prayed one day. As he prayed this kind of prayer again. He stopped short. And people wondered. Oh, are you okay? What's wrong?

[29:51] They thought maybe he struck ill. And then he said, no. I'm okay. But something seemed to say to me. Thou art the finger. We pray for people.

[30:02] We pray for the Lord. Lord, touch them. Lord, reach them. Lord, bless them. Give them the gospel. And he says, well, you're the one. That I'm going to use.

[30:15] To touch them. You are the finger. You are God's finger. So pray. Pray for souls and take action too. Prayerfully take action. Look for opportunities.

[30:25] Friends, here's a little poem someone's put together. Make me a witness. Think of these words as we're coming to the close here.

[30:38] Make me a witness, Lord. Listen to these words. Make them your prayer. Make me a witness, Lord. So faulty I am weak.

[30:48] My trembling word can scarce be heard. So loud my failings speak. Make me a witness, Lord. Subdue my will to thine.

[30:59] That led by thee in leek accord my lamp may brightly shine. Make me a witness, Lord. That all at home may see a constant daily growth in grace and glory.

[31:11] Give to thee. Make me a witness, Lord. To those I daily meet. That I may be thy messenger. In neighbourhood and strength.

[31:23] Make me a witness, Lord. With every talent given. And let my treasure all be stored in deepest vaults of heaven. Make me a witness, Lord. By gift and prayer and pen.

[31:35] In native land and far abroad. Telling thy love to men. Make me a witness, Lord. And use me in thy way. Those sacrifices we applaud. Tis better to obey.

[31:46] Make me a witness, Lord. Thou needest even me. How strange that I can aid afford when captives thou wouldst free.

[31:58] Make me a witness, Lord. That souls on thee may call and glorify thy name adored. O Jesus, Lord of all. It's a great prayer, isn't it? To make me a witness, Lord.

[32:09] Give me the strength. It's not my own. I don't have the words. I don't have the courage. I don't have the answers for every difficult question that I might face when I seek to witness.

[32:23] Yet, Lord, make me. Make me a witness, Lord. The Lord calls us to intentional witnessing, too. We've got intentional witnessing in this church. It's locked into the calendar.

[32:34] It's on the schedule. If you're not working Saturday morning. Come and join us. Intentional witnessing. Have that intention. In your day-by-day. In your day-by-day witness of your life.

[32:45] In your everyday. Be an intentional witness. But you'll look for those opportunities. And you'll take them. To have that real urgency. For pressing the claims of Christ upon the lives of the unsaved.

[32:58] Friends, it stands of the time where the parable message came. In parable form of the urgency. As we see the great supper invitation.

[33:12] And the master says to the servant. Go out into the highways and hedges. To compel them to come in. That my house may be filled. And the message here in this parable.

[33:23] Is of the urgency. Of the hour. Of the limited time constraint. Of the importance of this work. And I know the sign amongst our number.

[33:43] You might be limited. You might be limited. There's some shut-ins that might be watching this. And there's difficulty for them to even get out of their house.

[33:54] At the moment. You can write letters. You can send emails. You can reach out. There's nothing stopping any. Every one of us from doing something.

[34:06] We've all got the message to deliver. And don't find excuses. Don't make excuses. No. They won't wash with God. Pray.

[34:18] Take action. I think. I mean. Even the Jehovah's Witnesses. In their misguided seal. They're not door knocking at the moment. But they're writing letters.

[34:31] Can you write a letter? Can you? If they can do it. To send their false gospel out. What can we do? Surely. What are we doing?

[34:43] You know. People are telling me. They're getting these letters from Jehovah's Witnesses. Handwritten letters. They're taking pains. Spread their false gospel.

[34:56] What are we doing? Sitting on our hands. There's an urgency. Friends. Honestly. There's an urgency. And believer.

[35:06] Every believer. Has this message to deliver. Someone has put it. The spirit was not sent for our enjoyment. But for our employment. Some people say.

[35:18] Oh. I'm so spiritual. They make a big show about the spirituality. But he's given us his spirit. To empower us. To go. That's the whole point.

[35:28] Of the Holy Spirit. He enables us. By his spirit. The spirit isn't sent for our enjoyment. But for our employment. Honestly. We are weak.

[35:39] But he is all powerful. And it's his enabling us. That makes us his witness. I don't know how I can impress this more strongly. Than I'm trying to.

[35:52] We are weak. But he is all powerful. You've got no excuse. You've got no excuse. To not be his witness. Because he's empowered you. The church is not meant to be a parking lot.

[36:03] But a launching pad. That's what we're meant to be. This is ten. Nine. Launching pad. You can only take one thing with you. When you die.

[36:13] It's been said. Souls. That's the thought isn't it? One thing you can take with you. You can't take nothing. On this earth. But you can take other souls.

[36:25] In the sense that those of you introduced to the saviour. Thank God. As loved ones. You can say. Yes. Thank God. This one came. Because I reached.

[36:35] Him or her. I told him or her the gospel. And she or he. Trusted Christ. And what a blessing to think. They'll be in heaven. Thanks to your faithfulness.

[36:46] In just being a channel. A channel only. You can only take one thing with you. When you die. Souls. I started off this time. By making two statements. Souls.

[36:57] Souls. Are a priority. They are. And. Every Christian. Has a message to deliver. Every Christian. Has a message to deliver.

[37:07] Do you believe that? Really? Let us make our. Our central mission. Honestly. People of God. This is not to condemn. Or to. Put a weight. But to.

[37:18] To take it off. He'll empower you. He'll give you a word. He'll make you ready to give an answer. For the reason. The hope that is in you. With meekness and fear. He'll make you like John. To be a witness.

[37:30] To be a witness of that light. He'll give you the grace. He'll give you the gumption. He'll give you the. Unction. He'll give you the. Employment. And the.

[37:40] Resources of heaven. Are at your disposal. He'll give you the. Peace. And the wisdom. To. Respond. To reach. To touch. Channels only.

[37:53] Just be a challenge. Let's pray. Lord. We thank you for the. Wonderful gospel. Which is. Your grace. To man. Lord. The saving. Of souls. Is your. Mission.

[38:04] Still. You've come to seek. And to save. The lost. Lord. Help us to be a part of that. In our. Small way. In our. Limited. Ability.

[38:15] Lord. Yet with your. Divine. Enabling. Lord. We pray for everyone. Here today. Pray that each one. Might. Count souls. A priority. In their life. Every soul.

[38:28] The people they know. The people they meet. Souls. Every one of them. Lord. Help us to have that heart. And help us. Lord. To. Understand. We've all got a message.

[38:38] To deliver. And we have to deliver it. Each one. It's. Each individual's. Responsibility. To be the messenger. The delivering. Person.

[38:49] Of that message. Lord. Help us. Pray for us. Any. In the hearing of this. Have yet to trust you. That they'll have that. Encounter.

[39:02] With you. That we can. Know you. Save you. Save you. To save us. Lord. To save us from our sin.

[39:13] To give us new life. Thank you for that wonderful truth. That saves our soul. And Lord. We want to impart it. We don't want to keep it to ourselves selfishly. But we want to tell others to.

[39:24] Give us wisdom. Give us wisdom. To seize the opportunities. In work place. In home place. In life. To take every chance.

[39:36] And every opportunity. And to not let. Opposition. Deter us. We must not. Let.

[39:47] Opposition. Deter us. Lord. Help us. To brace. For that. And to plough on. Help us to find the good soil.

[39:58] That will receive your word. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. Amen.

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