I'm going to continue Philippians tonight.
It's an interesting passage we're looking at tonight, and there's a lot to be said about it.
It's good to see everybody. I know it's been probably a busy day on campus, and the fact that you're here just shows that you really want to learn the Word of God and really apply it to your life.
And I pray that it does that tonight.
I hope that you leave walking away feeling challenged and encouraged and pushed a little bit.
So, an introduction. I'll give you a brief introduction to this, but I think the focal point of what we're going to talk about is in verse 12 of what we just read.
I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the Gospel.
And Paul is explaining this in such a way to where he's like, my imprisonment or my time here that I'm in Rome, don't feel bad about this.
Because it's worked out for the greater good or the advancement of the Gospel.
God has used it that way.
And no matter what circumstance you find in, we're to be proclaiming Christ to a lost world.
And no matter where you are in your life, not looking to do something later or when things work out a little better for you.
It's like wherever you are is where God has you right now, and He wants you to be proclaiming the Gospel.
And a focus, a really interesting thing we're going to look at in this first verse is where He says, has really served to advance the Gospel.
That word advance is a really, really awesome word.
It's a military word.
It means like how, like when an army was on the march, people would have to go in front of the army and like clear the way.
They'd have to cut down trees, cross rivers, and do all these things so that the army could move forward.
It's the kind of context that that's kind of used in.
Paul is like saying that that's happening with the Gospel.
And, you know, I mean, I guess one of the best illustrations you could give, at least on earthly standards, I guess, I could talk forever about this.
I'm not going to.
Those of you who know me know I like stuff like this, but I'm resisting talking about the whole night about this.
But imagine that you and I lived back in 200s BC, and I told you, okay, I want you to organize an army from several different nations,
most of which nations don't really like each other too much.
They all speak different languages.
I want you to build an army of these people, train them,
and I want you to march over 1,000 miles over rugged wilderness across rivers.
And if you deal with, like, the native peoples there, you're just going to have to fight them and defeat them and keep moving on to the goal.
And then eventually you're going to have to cross the Alps, cross those mountains in a really cold part of the year.
And once you do that, after you've kept everything together, I want you to go down towards Rome,
and I want you to, like, defeat or annihilate 10 Roman legions numbering around 70,000 men.
You think you can do that?
1,000 miles, like, going over all this rugged wilderness, and that actually happened.
A general that a lot of people know about today, he's studied and admired over tons of different military campuses.
Hannibal actually did this.
He united people from many different nations and brought them together for a common cause, which was to fight against Rome.
And Rome had devastated his country, which was Carthage.
It was in North Africa at the time, modern-day Morocco area.
And they had, you know, his father had fought against them.
It was just a hatred to be, well, he just brought up to be just hating Rome.
And so he was out to destroy Rome, and he did that.
He gathered around 38,000 infantry by 8,000 cavalry, and he began this march.
And about, he crossed over the land, he crossed over the Alps, and, like, eventually, he also had 37 war elephants.
I forgot to answer, bring that up.
That's pretty crazy.
But he crossed over many different rivers, and one river, it was a huge river, he had to cross his army.
On the other side of it, there was a large number of Romans he had to fight, just on the other side of the river.
He was able to do that.
He crossed them over in, like, rafts.
When they landed, they just came around and, like, defeated the Romans.
And he went through the Alps in the northern part of Italy.
He crossed the Alps in, like, freezing weather.
He cut through the mountains, pretty amazing, and made his own roads.
And then he came down, and he faced a Roman army, about 70,000 or so.
And he, it was known as the greatest defeat in Roman history.
Around 70,000 men were killed at Cannae.
Pretty crazy victory for Hannibal.
And so, no matter what the obstacle was, like, he was just, didn't care.
He was going to face it and overcome.
And how crazy this must be for us to even hear about something like that.
But it's really garbage compared to what God has done since the beginning of creation to bring man, you know,
back into a relationship to himself and sending Christ to reconcile us to God.
And God has committed, like we talked about this last week, to his saving purpose no matter what it takes.
He will accomplish what he set out to do.
He'll begin the good work that he began, and he will finish it.
And so there's no power.
I want you to turn.
There's a few places to turn tonight.
Isaiah 40.
Hold your hand in Philippians, but turn to Isaiah 40.
But no power in this world or in the spiritual realm will stop God's advancement of the gospel.
He promises that he will achieve it.
One day he will have a people from every nation, tribe, and tongue worshiping Jesus.
And Isaiah 40, go to verse 3 and see if this passage sounds familiar to something in the New Testament.
This is 7,000 years before Christ.
And it says,
This is what John the Baptist quoted.
He's like, I am that voice crying in the wilderness, and the Messiah is here, and he's going to move forward.
His kingdom will not have an end, and God will have his glory on this earth.
So Paul understands this, that God is committed to his saving cause,
and that no matter where he finds himself, even while he's being imprisoned in Rome,
he knows that it's for the advancement of the gospel.
So, we're going to look at four different things that Paul brings up here,
as far as what does the gospel do to us, to those around us,
and that's kind of what we're going to focus on.
But number one is, sharing the gospel affects your soul.
Like as a child of God, as a believer, as a follower of Christ,
sharing the gospel is good for your soul.
It affects your soul.
So, he recognized that the power of the gospel was being released by his imprisonment.
And he knew that God had sovereignly brought him there every step of the way.
And he knew why he was there was for God to advance this cause.
And he didn't complain.
He didn't say,
I wish I could just kind of get out of the situation and go do something else and get out on the streets.
But he understood that, like Joseph in Genesis, that what was being meant for evil, God was going to use for good.
He was aware of that thinking of God and how God carried out these plans.
Flip to 2 Timothy 2.
I think after this one, I just have three other places for you to look for the night.
But 2 Timothy 2, I want to show you what he says here.
So, one of the biggest services that clothes nations to the gospel and people that are hostile towards the gospel,
one of the greatest things they actually do to serve the gospel and advance the gospel is like try to persecute it and throw people in prison.
And it always ends up backfiring on whatever cause they're trying to carry out.
But 2 Timothy 2, go to verse 8.
Paul says,
Timothy, probably this is,
you should know 2 Timothy is probably the last letter Paul wrote,
so, his last word, so to say.
He says,
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David,
as preached in my gospel,
for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal,
but the word of God is not bound.
Therefore, I endure everything for the sake of the elect,
that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, the eternal glory.
So, he's rejoicing.
And that's, he's stuck in this place.
He can't get out.
And in this go-around,
this was not written in the same context as Philippians.
He was in a dungeon cell.
He was waiting for death.
He wasn't waiting on trial like in this previous time.
This was after Paul's fourth missionary journey when he wrote 2 Timothy.
And this is after the second one when he wrote Philippians.
But he understands that though I'm here and I can't really physically go anywhere,
like God's power is not limited to my physical dimension.
Like God's word is not bound.
God's word is going to continue to move forward and change lives.
And I'm willing to endure anything, he says,
anything for the sake of those whom God is going to bring salvation to.
I'm willing to endure hardship and suffering and even death if it means that they can be reached with the gospel.
Very powerful words.
Because I want that attitude.
I don't always have it.
And, but I want whatever it takes.
You know, if it means my life,
I want it to mean that for the sake of those who will be saved.
So, I want you to think about this.
How sharing the gospel affects you.
You might not think about that that much.
You always think of like sharing the gospel is just for the people on the outside.
But what we love the most is what we glorify the most, is what we praise the most.
So, what we talk about, what we do with our time, the activities we engage in, what we do with our money,
it reveals like what you love.
So, you can say that you love Christ, but if your life shows something totally different,
you might want to recheck that.
But it's like, have you ever wondered like why that's so?
Why do we bring praise to the things that we love?
And before C.S. Lewis was a Christian, he was like reading through the Bible,
and he was kind of curious, like he was reading through the Psalms,
and he was like, why does it always talk about praise God?
Like, what's all this praise about?
And while he was writing about that, this is something he said,
I have noticed, excuse me, I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise.
The world rings with praise.
Lovers praising their mistress.
Readers praising their favorite poet.
Walkers praising the countryside.
And players praising their favorite game.
I think, this is really cool, he says,
I think we delight to praise that we enjoy,
because the praise not merely expresses,
but completes the enjoyment in it.
It is the consummation of enjoyment.
So, like we can't help but talk about what we're joyful about,
and what we love, and so it comes out of us.
And the gospel is not meant to be something that is hoarded by us.
It's not designed that way.
Christ didn't give you joy and save you so that you could hold it inside.
And, often, he'll allow you to be very, very miserable,
and you'll wonder why.
That could be why, a lot of the times.
A great analogy or picture I've heard this metaphor
is like how the Dead Sea in Israel,
there's a lot of water that flows into the Dead Sea from different places.
And, there's a lot going into it,
but there's no water coming out of the Dead Sea.
And so, what happens is, like, everything in there dies.
That's why it's called that.
And that's what joy will be like in us
if God is pouring himself into us
and giving us much of himself,
and he's increasing who he is in us,
and we refuse to let it come out onto other people.
And, we're meant to have such a joy and such a delight in God
that it overflows onto the people that are around us,
and to love him with our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
And, the result of that is loving those around us.
And, so, if we have Christ in us, he can't be held in.
You have to talk about him.
It's like this thing you just, like you're going to blow up if you don't.
And, you know, so it does good to our souls
to, like, express the joy that we have.
You ever been so excited about something?
I mean, just think about something you just got super stoked about,
and then, like, you just couldn't talk about it.
I mean, you're just like, like this thing that you just can't.
You feel like you're about to explode, like I said.
And, that's what enjoyment of God will do.
It has to come out.
And, Jeremiah said, if I don't speak in his name,
there's like a fire that's shut up in me,
and I have to let it out.
So, first of all, sharing the gospel affects your soul.
Secondly, the gospel affects the souls of the lost.
And, this is probably the obvious one,
but I want you to think about this.
Let's go back to Philippians, sorry,
and go to verse 13, and we'll see this.
So, he's talking about,
my imprisonment is turned out for the advancement of the gospel,
so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard,
and to all the rest, that my imprisonment is for Christ.
So, Paul is rejoicing,
because, while he's being in prison,
he's becoming well-known throughout the whole city of Rome.
And, the imperial guard is,
another word is the praetorian guard.
We've mentioned them in the first night here.
You can go back and listen to that message if you want to know more context.
But, these are the guys, like I said,
were in gladiator.
They're wearing, like, the purple,
and they're the dudes that are just jocking everybody up.
But, they were the elite guard of the emperor.
They guarded the Palatine Hill,
where the palace was,
and important places in Rome that are like the secret police.
And, more than likely,
Paul's case would have been heard by the commander of the praetorian guard.
And, so, he's around these guys a lot.
And, so, what's really cool is, you know,
he could be saying, like,
I wish that I could just get out of this position.
And, you know, these guys come,
and they change the guards all the time with him, probably.
And, he's just kind of sitting there,
and, I mean, you know they've got to be talking about stuff.
You know, like, Paul's sitting there with these guards.
And, so, I mean, what are you doing here?
Why is this?
Why are you here in Rome?
This kind of seems ridiculous.
And, he would just, well,
and just kind of go into it with them.
And, that just began to affect the whole guard.
And, eventually, it would go into Caesar's own home,
to the palace on the Palatine Hill.
And, so, even the people in Caesar's household,
which he mentions later in the letter,
are knowing Christ and becoming believers.
And, they probably tried to keep it on the down low,
because that's, at the time,
Nero was the head honcho of the Palatine Hill.
And, so, he understood, like,
this is why I'm here.
And, like, my imprisonment here
is affecting some of the elite of Rome.
You know, these men that hold these positions
as civil magistrates and guards,
this is turning out for the advancement of the Gospel.
And, so, our hearts,
if you really know Christ,
your heart should break for the lost.
You have no hope.
You have, they're thirsting for the water
that only Christ can give them.
They're seeking pleasure in everything but their Creator.
They're living as masters of their own lives
and seeking to determine their own destiny.
And, I bet that a lot of them
are actually pretty filled with fear.
I know I would be.
I can remember times that I was in my life.
Like, who's piloting my ship right now?
I hope it's not me,
because I don't know the crap I'm doing.
And, I really,
it brings a lot of fear to us all to know that.
And, they're longing to hear
that they have a,
something far greater to live for than themselves.
And, I hope they can be found in Christ.
And, they're waiting to hear that news.
So, we should be able to go
through whatever extremes necessary
to reach those people.
We're going to touch back on this at the end,
so I don't want to wear it out now.
But, in Jude 1, 22, it says,
Have mercy on those who doubt.
Save others by snatching them out of the fire.
To others, show mercy with fear.
And, if we're to rescue those people,
like, be God's instrument to go to them
and be the means by which He saves these people.
So, second, sharing the gospel affects the lost souls.
We're going to come back to that.
Number three, sharing the gospel
affects fellow believers.
So, look at verse 14.
And, most of the brothers,
having become confident in the Lord
by my imprisonment,
are much more bold to speak the word
without fear.
So, the believers around that are in Rome
and the Philippians who are reading this letter
are becoming more and more bold
to speak the gospel
because they know, like,
what Christ is,
or what Paul is enduring there.
His imprisonment is throwing them up
to go and, like,
to share more.
And, I know that one of the biggest ways,
I mean, I don't know how you do it,
but one of the biggest ways
that I get really fired up
to go and share the gospel with people
is, like, just for someone to even tell me,
like, a story of the gospel advancing.
You know, I've already mentioned this before,
I believe,
but I really loved living with John Overton
and Josh Middleton
because we would come together most nights
and there would always be some kind of story
we would just share,
like the gospel going forward on campus
or elsewhere,
and it would just get us so pumped up
to go out the next day
and just find somebody
just to go after some guy
just to love and serve
and give the truth to.
And, or when I hear about stuff
that's going on abroad in the U.S.
or overseas,
it gets me really excited.
I met a guy
while I was in Belfast
a few summers ago
in northern Ireland.
There's a conflict going on there.
I'm not going to get into that necessarily,
but Irish Catholics
against, like,
the British, Scottish Protestants
that are in the north,
and this struggle has been going on
for hundreds and hundreds of years,
and they hate each other
with a passion.
It's not,
they're brought up to, like,
hate the other people,
and I met a guy
at a camp
who,
that was sharing
that,
I actually met this guy
and it was pretty,
pretty awesome,
but he,
he was a leader
of one of the Protestant
militia groups
for a long time,
the Ulster Defense Army,
and he was a pretty jacked dude.
He had tattoos
all over his arm.
He had scars
all over his body
from, like, knife fights
and he had been shot
in a few places
and I know that he had definitely
probably killed many men
just,
just standing there
and he was telling
these teenagers
at this camp,
like,
don't fall into that mess,
you know,
it's not worth it.
I gave my life
for this cause
and,
and I was going down
a long road
to perishing,
you know,
and so please,
like,
Jesus is worth it
and I asked him
how he came
to know Christ
and he said
that there was
a believer
just in that community
that began,
like,
with some fear
but went
and just got
into that group,
just started hanging out
with,
like,
being around those guys,
not joining them
but just being around them
and,
like,
was pretty fearful,
I mean,
these guys could really
jack me up
or kill me
just by me
hanging out with them
and,
I mean,
he kind of befriended
this guy
and just started
sharing some life
with him
and this guy
started planting
seeds of truth
and eventually
this guy
was born again
and now he's,
like,
renounced all that
and just going out
to spread the gospel
to these other guys
there in Belfast
and that just got so,
when I think about that,
I get so excited
to see the gospel
moving forward
and,
so,
it does good to us,
fellow believers,
when you hear about
the thing you love
being spread
to other people,
it just excites you
and gives your zeal
a huge push
and the fourth thing,
then we're going to come back
to some other things,
but the fourth thing is
sharing the gospel
affects,
I mean,
I have to explain this word,
it affects opponents
and look at verse 15,
verse 15,
chapter 1,
some indeed preach Christ
from envy and rivalry,
but others from good will,
the latter do it out of love,
knowing that I am put here
for the defense of the gospel,
the former proclaim Christ
out of rivalry,
not sincerely,
but thinking to afflict my,
afflict me in my imprisonment,
what then,
only that in every way,
whether in pretense or truth,
Christ is proclaimed,
and in that I rejoice,
so there is some stuff
that you probably just,
I want you to know about here,
but Jesus warned
that eventually
the greatest,
some of the greatest opponents
to the gospel
would be like from within
the church itself,
you would always just think
from the outside of the church,
but Jesus warned
that many of the great battles
the church had to fight
would come from within
its own ranks,
and the danger would be
from within
as well as from without,
and Paul understood that as well,
and so he had witnessed
hostility from different religious factions,
the Jews or the pagans,
you know,
of other countries,
and he understood that,
but you would expect hostility
to come from like the lost world around you,
darkness doesn't like the light
kind of thing,
but it really does hurt
to have a fellow believer
slander you
and attack you
and falsely accuse you
for something that's not true at all
for different reasons,
and so this word,
I want you to look at that text
where it says out of envy or strife,
it means really to like
to deprive someone
of something that's rightfully theirs,
to try to steal away
because you're jealous,
you want to steal away
like the prominence somebody has
or the crowds they're gathering
or the popularity
that they're gaining,
you want that
and you don't want them to get it,
and that's kind of like
what was going on,
so they weren't doing it
out of a spirit of love at all,
they were doing it
out of a divisive spirit,
and the problem
was not necessarily
with their theology,
but they were teaching
the real gospel,
the problem was in their
their desires
and their motives
for why they were doing it,
and there was,
in the Old Testament,
there was,
false prophets
were often called seers
by the real prophets,
they would come around
to town to town
and they would say,
they would do like
a little show,
they would put on something,
and they would say
certain things
that helped the people
give them money
for being a prophet,
but they really had no power,
and they weren't really
from God,
and so these seers
were speaking the gospel,
they were doing it
because they were
jealous of Paul,
and they hated
like the influence
he had,
and the authority
he had been given,
to the point where
they're like,
we wanted to gather,
you know,
these people that are
listening to you,
we want to steal them away,
and like,
have them a part
of our group,
so to say,
and so they sought
to dismantle
his reputation
by accusing him
of a lot of false things
that he didn't do,
so Paul recognized this,
but he also recognized
that other people
are doing this
out of right motive,
out of love,
out of a righteous spirit
that they have,
and so he knows
that both of these
are going on
at the same time,
and Paul also knew,
like,
he would think,
well,
that's not cool,
like,
these people that are
doing that,
then why are they
having success
if they're doing this
with the wrong motives?
Well,
Paul rejoices
because he just understands,
I don't care,
this is not a competition,
as long as Christ
is being proclaimed clearly
and doctrinally soundly,
I don't really care,
because Paul knew
something tremendous
about God
that I try to think
about a lot,
but it really failed to,
but God is not limited
to circumstances,
he will work,
he will work
even evil people
and the things
they do
for his purpose,
he'll work
in spite of people,
he'll work
around all kind
of situations
to achieve
what he wants,
a great example
of this
is in Isaiah,
years before
this man lived,
Isaiah names
King Cyrus
of Persia
as the man
who would eventually
come
and punish
the Babylonians
for their evil
and at the same time
restore Judah
back to their homeland,
so he's telling this
years and years
and years
way before
Cyrus was ever born
and like Isaiah
names him several times,
like God is saying
to him,
Cyrus,
you are my servant,
I will do this
through you,
and then he says
in there twice,
though you do not
know me,
though you do not
know me,
I'm going to use you
for my purpose,
it's very,
very crazy,
so Paul understood,
let these guys
have their day,
you know,
like this is not
going to bother me
at all,
they can preach
all they want,
but it's not going
to do their souls
any good,
so as long as
Christ is being
proclaimed,
it really doesn't
bother me,
I'm going to rejoice,
and so I know
that two camps
possibly could be
in here,
those who aren't
sharing our faith
and some that are,
but if you are,
I want you to ask
yourself the question,
why am I doing it,
why am I proclaiming
Christ,
check your motives
for why you are
doing those things,
I'm sorry,
I'm having a hard
time breathing
today,
I've been trying
to get my airways
going,
but,
so I want to
just ask a few
things,
why are you
proclaiming the
gospel,
if you are,
is it because
people will look
at you and be
like,
wow,
he's really
serious about
his faith,
he seems to
be gathering a
lot of people
to himself,
he's got a
really big
evangelistic
Bible study
going on,
or all these
things,
I know people,
I've met
people,
and like,
you know,
it'll be a
girl or a
guy who
is getting
all serious
about evangelism
because they're
trying to
impress somebody
of the opposite
sex about how
serious they are
about their
faith,
and like,
just things like
that,
and ministries
and churches
that will also
like,
content with each
other,
like,
because they
want bigger
numbers than
the people down
the street,
and they want
the most things
going on,
and so they'll
slanderously
sow things into
people's hearts
about those
people so they
will leave and
come there,
so examine
why you do
those things,
you know,
and I understand
that your motives
can sometimes
change,
you can have
a pure desire
to really make
Christ known,
and then you
get caught up
in like,
yeah,
I really want
to be successful
in this,
so Jesus
warned in
Matthew 7,
we don't have
to turn there,
but Matthew
7,
21,
that a lot
of people
were going
to come to
him one day
and say that,
Jesus,
we did all
this stuff
for you,
we cast
out demons
in your name,
we proclaim
the gospel,
so forth,
and he's
going to tell
them,
I never
knew you,
you know,
you're doing
that of your
own accord,
and you had
your reward
while you
were there,
I never
knew you,
and so,
those are the
four things,
but what I
mainly wanted
to do is just
focus on some
application
tonight,
and I had
a hard time
really knowing
how to talk
about some
of this,
because I knew
what I
think needed
to be said,
but I
didn't just
want to jump
over the
passage,
this is what
the passage
is about,
and the essence
of it,
and how do
we really
bring this
into our
lives now,
but the
question is,
you know,
is the
advancement of
the gospel,
or the progress
of the gospel,
one of the
passions of
your life,
is it what
you live for,
is it what
drives you,
where does
your energy
go,
is it to
the advancement
of the
gospel,
where do
you,
where is
your reading
and your
thinking,
and that
kind of
stuff,
where does
that go,
is it for
the advancement
of the
gospel,
and because
all those
things are
going to
reveal where
your heart
is,
and so
we're going
to look at
just a few
of these
things,
but what
are some
excuses that
you might
make up,
and I've
made these up
myself in
the past,
what excuses
do you make
for not sharing
the gospel,
I'm going to
look at some
of these,
but number
one,
one reason
why we're
not really
interested in
advancing the
gospel is
that our
circumstances,
we think
that we're
victims of
our circumstances,
if God
would just
work this
out,
if things
weren't so
busy right
now,
if I was
just in this
position,
or not that
position,
if I'm
stuck in
this place,
or if
this didn't
happen to
me,
then I
wouldn't
be quiet
about
Christ,
even like,
if God
would just
work out
for me to
go and
have this
awesome
ministry
position,
then I
would get
so serious
about sharing
the gospel,
or if
God would
just send
me to
this nation
and I
could go
do missions
in this
place,
I would
be so
serious
about sharing
my faith.
I want
you to know
those are
all lies,
there's nothing
justifiable,
in any
of that.
If God
puts you
in a
position,
He has
you
sovereignly
there,
right now,
like to
be faithful
where you
are right
now,
to be
sharing
where you
are right
now,
why would
you ever
think God
would move
you into a
different place
if you
weren't being
faithful with
where you
are?
And if
Christ is
the love
of your
life,
then you'll
talk about
Him.
You're going
to find
ways to
make this
happen,
and He'll
take precedence
over all
those things.
So,
if you're
not sharing
the gospel
tonight,
there's either
one or two
reasons.
One is,
your love
and your
zeal for
Christ has
really been
calmed down,
it's been
cooled off,
and you've
grown,
you belong
to Christ,
but you've
grown lukewarm.
And the
only other
option after
that is you
might not
know Christ,
and that's
why you
don't have
that passion.
And those
are the
two only
reasons for
why we
don't share
our faith.
And a
second reason
is,
if you're
at my
community
group last
night,
we actually
touched on
this briefly,
but I'm
afraid to
share my
faith.
I have
fear about
going out
and talking
to my
friends and
the people
that God
puts into
my life.
I'm afraid
of this.
And if
you look
really,
really hard,
there's
actually like
a hidden
idolatry in
your life,
and it's
not fear.
We don't
live in a
country,
at least
now we
don't,
that if
you speak
the name
of Christ,
you're not
going to
get thrown
in prison,
you're not
going to
get a
bullet
through your
head.
That's
probably not
going to
happen.
It can,
but probably
is not going
to happen.
If you're
not afraid
for your
life,
that might
be a little
different in
some of
these other
nations where
we have
brothers and
sisters that
are advancing
the gospel
in those
contexts.
But the
truth is
here,
you're not
fearful,
you're very
prideful.
You want
to be seen
as cool
and acceptable
and you
want people
to like
you.
And you're
not willing
to be
humiliated for
the sake of
their soul.
Whether they
turn against
you or don't
turn against
you,
you're not
willing to
kind of shed
that off
and come
to them
regardless.
So it's
a hidden
idolatry
of your
pride.
You want
to be
known and
loved and
respected by
those people
around you.
And you're
aware that
the gospel
can be
divisive.
Derek Webb
has a song
where he has
this one line
in the song,
the truth
is never
sexy,
so it's
never an
easy sale.
You can't
just dress up
the gospel
to make it
acceptable to
a lost
world.
Some people
are going
to hate
you because
of it.
I mean,
Jesus taught
these things.
It happened
to him.
He said,
if they
persecute me,
I promise
they'll
persecute you.
I'm the
spotless
lamb of
God and
they hate
me and
they're going
to crucify
me.
And so
we have
to,
we're not
afraid.
Stop using
that excuse.
It's really
something much
deeper.
Pray that God
just breaks
you and
just shows
you that
it's not
worth it.
Your friends,
you need to
be willing to
lose your
reputation if
necessary to
reach your
friends.
And the
question really
isn't,
should I
be, I
mean,
ever heard
anybody just
say, I'm
praying about
it.
That's the
really
Christianized
way of
like disguising
your fear a
lot of the
time or your
pride.
I'm praying
about it.
You know
what?
You don't
need to pray
about what
God's already
commanded you
to do.
He says,
go and
make
disciples.
He says,
go and
reach the
lost.
They need
me in
their lives.
But what you
do need to
pray about
is how to
go about
it, the
strength to
carry it
out, and
pray for
their soul
because you
know that
you have
no power
to change
them.
That's the
things you
pray about.
You don't
negotiate the
commands of
God in
prayer.
God's like,
make me
known.
Make me
known to
these people
and seek
me for
direction,
strength,
and wisdom
on how to
reach them.
So,
they're in
your lives
for a
reason.
God has
put them
there so
that you
would be
Christ in
that spot
to them.
And I
have another
reason.
well, I'll
make one
more comment
about that.
This kind
of came to
my mind.
I want to
have more
of a
discussion
with you
tonight.
But there's
something that
a lot of
ministries do,
a lot of
churches do
this, and
it's really
trendy today
for sure,
but this
idea of
friendship
evangelism.
You ever
heard of that
or something
like that?
I have to
be really
good friends
with this
person and
be around
them for
at least
six months.
I'm going
to say at
least six
months.
And then
maybe they'll
listen to me
if I share
the gospel
with them.
there's a lot
of flaws in
that.
But what I
don't want
you to hear
from me is
don't love
these people,
don't befriend
these people,
and don't serve
these people.
I'm saying
definitely do
that.
I'm only
saying that
you don't
love them
if you
don't do
that.
You need
to be a
part of
their life
and a
part of
their world
and find
ways to
show them
the love
of Christ
and love
them sacrificially.
Do things
for them.
Be a part
of their
life and be
in their
world.
Show them
that you
care.
That is
what good
works,
a lot of
the old
confessions
say,
good works
adorn the
gospel.
They make
beautiful the
gospel by how
we treat
people with
the love of
Christ that
he's shown
us.
So I'm
not saying
that.
I'm just
saying that
I think
that a lot
of people
use that
as a
disguise for
not sharing
the gospel.
I'm just
getting to
know him.
My bro,
you've been
getting to
know him
for five
months now
and you're
with him
every day.
What's the
deal?
And it's
wrong because
you're living
on presumption.
You're saying
that I know
that in six
months this
guy's going
to still be
around and
I'm still
going to be
around and
this is going
to work out.
You don't
know what
tomorrow holds.
You need to
live if it
is your last
day and
really seek
to love
these people
and give
them Christ
while you
have the
opportunity.
The gospel
has urgency
in it.
I mean it
does have
to weigh the
cost and
think about
what you're
doing but
it's not
like saying
I have
the ability
to put
this off
for months
and months
while I
try to get
to know
this guy
so he'll
listen to
me.
God's
power is
greater than
that.
So I guess
my word is
just be
obedient.
If there's a
person in
your life
and you're
like I want
to show
Christ to
them I
don't know
how to go
about this
but I'm
going to do
it I don't
know how
yet.
Lord show
me.
Be obedient.
He may be
like just
be with
them right
now.
Just listen
to them
right now.
Just serve
them right
now.
When I'm
ready I'm
going to
tell you.
I'm going
to make
it clear.
This is
the time
you need
to speak.
Be
obedient.
And then
it could be
the other
way around.
I remember
going up in
the dorms
not this
past August
but last
August.
Up in
it was
Louis I
believe
yeah up
in Louis
and
and I
just barely
met this
guy.
And I
was just
talking with
him and
he liked
to just
invite me
in his
room.
I went
and was
just getting
to know
him and
he asked
me about
who I
was and
stuff and
I just
really felt
this strong
urge and
leave him
I'm just
going to
give him
everything
right now
and just
poured out
the gospel
to this
guy and
he was
just like
wow
never heard
that before
that's
amazing.
and wanted
to meet
up afterwards
like I
knew the
guy for
probably 15
minutes before
I started
pumping him
with the
gospel.
And that was
just the
leading of
the spirit
and the
power of
God.
God might
have said
just back
off of
this guy
right now
and just
hang out
with him
right now.
Just be
obedient to
what's going
on.
It's not
we want a
rule where
God says
share it
right now
or don't
share it
right now.
And that's
not what
God's going
to do.
He's about
working in
your heart
and changing
you as
he's working
in somebody
else's life
and growing
you in
relationship
to him.
So,
but don't
use friendship
evangelism as
like a disguise
to like not
share the
gospel.
I know a lot
of people
do that.
Just be
obedient.
And when
he says
act, act.
So,
another one,
and this is
probably one of
the last ones
I can think
of at the
moment,
but it's
like I
don't,
my knowledge
is limited.
I feel like
this guy's
just going
to throw
all this
stuff my
way.
I have
no idea
how to
answer
that.
So,
if God
is all
powerful
and God
is all
good,
you know,
and he
has the
power to
destroy
evil and
the desire
to destroy
evil,
why is
there evil?
You know
how to
answer that?
You know,
like if they
throw those
kind of
questions at
you,
and it
actually makes
you feel
like I
don't know
how to
answer
these
heavy
philosophical
theological
questions.
I don't
know how
to talk
to an
agnostic
or atheist
or someone
who just
doesn't care
at all,
or relativism
where everything's
true to
each individual,
whatever is
true to them
is true for
them.
It's okay.
You know,
don't wait
till,
you don't have
to go to
seminary and
read all the
greatest Christian
authors and
memorize the
entire scripture
before you go
out and
share the
gospel with
somebody.
because it's
the power of
God that
saves people.
If it was
up to us
to go out
and convince
people and
to argue
them into
heaven,
then it
would be
different.
But God
has said
that's not
the case.
You can
read 1
Corinthians
1,
2,
and 3,
and then
Paul will
tell you
that.
He tells
them,
when I
came to
you,
I didn't
come with
wise and
persuasive
words.
Because he
knew that he
didn't have
that.
He knew he
wasn't an
eloquent
speaker.
He didn't
have that
gift.
He wasn't
the greatest
communicator.
Paul knew
that.
And he
told them,
I decided
not to come
to you that
way because
I knew
that I
would be
found wanting.
But what
I did
do is I
came and
I spoke
to you
as a
demonstration
of the
Holy Spirit's
power.
I resolved
to preach
nothing to
you but
Christ and
him crucified.
And so
that the
power would
rest on God
and not on
me.
That's kind
of like what
he says
there.
So God
is not
limited to
how much
you know.
As long
as you
know the
gospel,
that's
like enough.
And God
can use
that.
And don't
be afraid
to say
to somebody,
I don't
know.
I don't
know.
Maybe I
can check
into that
for you.
But don't
feel like you
have to have
all the
answers before
you go and
start sharing
the truth
with someone.
There are
people that
are like,
for some
people,
they're
longing to
hear this,
and we're
just like
talking ourselves
out of it.
Maybe tomorrow.
This isn't
all right.
It's kind
of like all
these things.
Just go.
You know?
Just step
out and trust
the Lord.
Be wise.
Think about
things.
Use your
head.
Yes,
use the
wisdom God's
given you.
But ultimately,
you have to
learn to follow
what the
Spirit's leading
in different
situations.
things.
And so,
this is
something I
journaled
about this
summer.
But when
we are
fearful to
share Christ
with people,
it makes the
love of Christ,
which was
radical,
right?
The love of
Christ was
incredible.
He left
heaven to
come here
to die
and to save
us.
Like,
this just
makes no
sense.
We're
going to
get to
that in
Philippians
chapter 2
really soon.
But his
love was
amazing.
There was
no greater
love than
what Christ
showed.
And when
we are
afraid or
when we
are prideful
or whatever
and we're
not going
and proclaiming
to people,
it makes
the love of
Christ have
to be weak
and puny.
You see
that?
Like,
the love of
our Savior
is betrayed
as puny
when we don't
live that way
and we're
not willing
to go through
whatever it
takes to
reach
people.
The love
of Christ
is put
on display
as weak
and pathetic.
So,
if you're
feeling bad
and you have
sympathy for
your friends
or your
family and
you're like,
I see how
miserable their
lives are
right now.
I just feel
so bad
about it.
You know,
David
Livingston
said,
sympathy
is no
substitute
for action.
You can't
just feel
bad for
these people.
You have
to,
God has
you there,
sovereignly
there to
be a
light to
them.
He's not
asking you
to save
them.
That's
his job.
He's asking
you to be
an instrument
in his
hands to
work in
their life.
So,
they don't
need your
sympathy.
They need
Christ.
We've got to
stop being
afraid of
his unpopularity
and looking
like an idiot.
It's okay.
We can be
fools for
Christ.
Paul said
that in
one place.
We can be
fools for
Christ.
So,
start asking
God,
show me
how to
go about
this.
I know
that I
need to
be doing
this.
I want
to do
this.
Please
show me.
Who do
you have
me around
right now
that you
would have
me shed
the love
of Christ
with?
Turn to
last place
here.
Turn to
Acts 20.
We don't
want to
portray the
love of
our Savior
as weak.
I want it
to, and I
do, I make
Christ love
to be
pathetic
sometimes and
it breaks
my heart.
Acts 20
verse 24,
sorry,
verse 24.
This is
Paul talking
here, and I
hope that
this can be
kind of like
a cry for
your life,
and mine
as well.
I want
this so
bad.
He says,
but I do
not account
my life of
any value,
nor as
precious to
myself,
if only I
may finish
my course
in the
ministry that
I have
received from
the Lord
Jesus,
to testify
to the
gospel of
the grace
of God.
And now,
behold, I
know that
none of you
among
whom I
have gone
about
proclaiming
the kingdom
will see
my face
again.
So Paul
knew, like,
you're not
going to
see me
again, to
these people
he's writing
to hear.
Therefore, I
testify to
you this
day that I
am innocent
of the blood
of you all.
And what he
means is,
like, I've
done what
God called
me to do.
When I was
with you, I
was obedient,
and whatever
happens is
going to be
on your head
and not
mine.
I have
carried out
my
responsibility.
And he
says,
I did not
shrink from
declaring to
you the
whole counsel
of God.
Pay careful
attention to
yourselves and
to all the
flock in
which the
Holy Spirit
has made
you overseers,
to care for
the church
of God,
which he
obtained with
his own
blood.
Amazing
passage.
Paul's just
like, I
just don't
care about
my life
anymore.
Like, if I
did, I
wouldn't be
doing what
I'm doing
right now.
If my
life was
here, I'm
like, wasting
it in the
greatest way,
but my
life is not
here.
My life is
hidden in
Christ in
eternity, and
I'm laboring
for that
kingdom and
that reality,
and so I
don't care.
I just want
to be able to
lay my head
down at night
and be like,
I testify to
the gospel of
the grace of
God today,
and I don't
care what it
costs me.
I didn't
shriek from
proclaiming to
you the whole
counsel of
God.
We want to
be able to
say that,
and I
pray that
we, this
really convicts
some people
here, and
it's just a
challenge and
push to us as
believers.
It's not
cool.
I mean,
there's some
things that God
is going to put
you through of
some miserable
times, just
like this isn't
coming out of
you into the
lost world,
and I want
you to keep
this verse in
mind in
James chapter
one, be not
hearers of the
word, but be
doers of the
word, and
we can't, I
don't want you
to come here
every week and
be like, oh,
that was a
great message,
amen, and then
go hang out
somewhere and
just go back to
life.
Like, that's not
the purpose for
why we gather.
All you're doing
is making yourself
more accountable,
and that's all
you're doing.
You're coming
here and just
trying to store
up knowledge and
store up theology,
but then you do
nothing with it.
All you're doing
is you're making
yourself more
accountable for
truth that you've
learned to God,
and so I want
you to learn.
I want you to
grow in your
knowledge.
We're going to
talk about some
great things this
semester, but
like, we have to
be obedient.
We have to put
into practice what
we know, and we
need the grace of
God to do it.
It's an impossible
task in and of
ourselves.
So, plea with
God to make you
an instrument of
reconciliation to
the lost world
around you, and
complete the joy
that Christ has
put into you by
doing that.
Well, we're
going to, I'll
close this in
prayer.
We might seem
to have some
time.
We started just
a little late
tonight because
of the fall
jam, and I
think we gained
like one or two
people because
of that, but
next week, no
mercy, back to
the normal time.
That was
intentional.
So, I'm going
to pray for us,
and we're just
going to respond
and sing.
Father, I feel
very insufficient
to even
communicate this
message tonight.
Lord, I know
that I do share
the gospel, and I
do desire for
the lost to
know you, but I
don't anywhere as
I should, and I
overlook so many
opportunities because
of laziness or my
pride, and so God,
I pray that you
would awaken to me
and everyone here
just a desire to
make you known in
the dark places
where you have us,
that we would be
the light of
Christ there, and
we wouldn't be all
fired up about
going to the
nations and other
countries if we're
not willing to walk
across the hallway
to share someone
who's dying in
their sin, and
help us to be
faithful where we
are, Lord, and
to trust you, to
step out, and to
be bold for the
sake of Christ, and
to not shriek,
but to boldly
proclaim the whole
counsel of God, and
to testify of the
gospel of the grace
of God.
Help us do that,
Lord.
We are going to
fail unless you be
with us, and so
Lord, make your name
great at the North
Georgia campus in
Nalaunaga, and
through what we do
and how you lead
us, God.
Thank you for
giving us the
privilege of being
those you use to
accomplish your
purpose.
what an honor we
have.
You don't need
us.
You could have
done this any way
you chose, but you
chose to use us, and
we give you praise
for that, and we
love you.
In Christ's name,
amen.
Amen.