‘When we preach the historical facts of the
life and death of our Lord as they are conveyed in the New Testament, our words are made sacred. God uses
these words, on the basis of His redemption, to create something in those who
listen which otherwise could never have been created. If we simply preach the effects of redemption in the human life
instead of the revealed, divine truth regarding Jesus Himself, the result is not new birth in those who
listen. The result is a refined religious lifestyle, and the Spirit of God
cannot witness to it because such preaching is in a realm other than His. We
must make sure that we are living in such harmony with God that as we proclaim
His truth He can create in others those things which He alone can do.’ CHAMBERS
My words do not have the power to save .. it is
God’s Word that goes. My testimony is a
demonstration of the love of God … but it is the Gospel that brings salvation
to the hearer .. not my story. Romans
1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes:
first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” Have
you ever felt like you were responsible if someone did not receive your words
and accept Jesus? That somehow you had
failed them and God. Our responsibility
is to be witnesses .. both through our words and by our lives. Our lives may be the candle that draws the
people, but the Gospel is what brings them to salvation.
This may sound like an overstatement of the
obvious but .. salvation is a spiritual transaction .. it is not something that
happens because you got an “A” in debate class or because you are a really good
sales person. You take the Gospel, the
Holy Spirit, and a lost person … put them together and something miraculous
happens. Our part is to share the Gospel. That is not to say that some people will not
respond to our words because they seem appealing, but there is no
conversion. The only way you will know
is a changed life. Even then, it is not
because you failed somehow .. you must cast the seed … that is your
responsibility .. you can’t save anyone.
Matthew
13:19-24 “When
anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil
one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown
along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears
the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they
last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word,
they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who
hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth
choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers
to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces
a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Do you see anything beyond casting the seed for
you to do? Salvation is about the
response of the hearer .. not the ability of the teller. You are familiar with Romans 10:8-9 “If you confess
with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised Him from the
dead you will be saved” …. What about 1
Corinthians 12:3 “Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking
by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.”
Salvation is supernatural .. it is not natural … I
know that a lot of people have spent a lot of time developing techniques for
sharing the Gospel .. but the bottom line is that it is the Gospel that brings
salvation .. not techniques … those techniques help us communicate the Gospel
.. but it the Gospel … When I was in the
Army schools, the instructors would stamp their foot to make it a point … this
is important .. this is on the test … I am stamping my foot here!
So now you have been reminded .. now go and tell.
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