We Are Not Ashamed of the Gospel

By Samuel E. Ward   August 12, 2012   I. We Are Communicators of the Gospel:  If we aren't communicating it then we are being disobedient to the Lord's command to share Him with others. II. We Are Carriers of the Gospel:  We have a worldwide mission to complete and each of us is called to witness wherever and whenever we find an opportunity. III. We Are Contenders of the Gospel:  Because the gospel contains truths that are so essential to its nature and purpose,they must be defended and protected lest they be stripped of their saving message. Primarily, we contend for the Deity and Lordship of Christ, salvation that brings forgiveness of sins, resurrection from the dead, eternal life, justice in judgment, to name a few. Christians have a fourth responsibility toward the gospel. IV. We Are Persuaders of Others Concerning the Gospel (2 Cor 5:10-11 NIV)  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. {11} Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We need to ask ourselves if our love for the gospel and seeing others come to Christ has not grown so cold that we no longer conduits through which that gospel flows to others?  Paul Fritz, a professor at Trinity College in Florida, takes us back a few years in history when he writes about what happened. . . On the night of March 29, 1848, Niagara Falls completely and mysteriously stopped flowing. The estimated 500,000 gallons of water that customarily rushed over the falls stalled to a trickle. James Francis Macklem, a village justice of the peace in the Niagara area, wrote that he had witnessed the subsidence of the waters and the phenomenon of the Niagara running dry "caused great excitement in the neighborhood at the time."  To some, the mystery of this sudden "turning off" of the river seemed to be an ominous portent, and nightfall found most of the churches packed with people praying or talking in frightened voices about the end of the world. Fear grew into the proportions of panic.  The cause of this unusual event began along the shores of Lake Erie near Buffalo. For several days, the wind had been blowing to the east over Lake Erie, driving much of its ice flow down river. Then the winds suddenly shifted to the west, driving the lake water west and causing the lake's ice to break up and dam the river. The Niagara River ceased to flow for almost 30 hours until the ice shifted and the dam broke up.  It is the goal of this sermon series to make certain our hearts do not freeze up and stop the flow of our testimony to others concerning Christ and the salvation He brings. Let's begin the consideration of this ministry of persuading others of the claims of the gospel by giving attention first to . . . A. The Significance of the Parable of the Soils, Mat 13:3-9. (Mat 13:3-9 NIV)  Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. {4} As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. {5} Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. {6} But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. {7} Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. {8} Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. {9} He who has ears, let him hear." 1. The parable of soils explained, Mat 13:18-23. (Mat 13:18-23 NIV)  "Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: {19} When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. {20} The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. {21} But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. {22} The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. {23} But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." 2. The parable of the soils relationship to Christian witness noted   a. As sowers of the seed, we communicate the gospel to others. b. As the enemy of the gospel, Satan tries to snatch it away as soon as possible. c. As hearers of the gospel, each one is responsible for their own decision to accept or reject the gospel. They can . . .       Allow Satan to steal away the opportunity to believe before one takes the time to understand it and be saved.       Receive the message of the gospel with joy but quickly fall away when it is put to the test by trouble or persecution.       Hear the gospel but not apply the faith it requires and let it be choked out by worries, be deceived that wealth is better than faith in Christ, and thereby let the gospel have no effect on their lives.       Hear the gospel, understand it, live it, and produce the fruit of faith in their own lives and the lives of others. d. Therefore, as sowers, our responsibility is to sow the gospel and, to the degree we can, partner with others to cultivate, water, and nourish the hearts in which it has been sown.   Sometimes we will only have one opportunity.  Other times because of the nature of the relationship we have with certain people, we will have repeated opportunities.  However, God is the one who brings the harvest of all souls into His kingdom. (1 Cor 3:7-9 NIV)  So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. {8} The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. {9} For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. B. The Effects of the Faithful the Testimony We Share with Others George Barna reports that his polling indicates that 68% of born-again Christians believe that they have a responsibility to share their faith.[1]  We wonder, however, if that belief translates to 68% of born-again Christians actually share their faith.  As far as the attitude in which our witness ought to be communicated, Daniel T. Niles has said, "It is just one beggar telling another where to get food." When each of us in the church become actively involved in sharing the gospel with others, then what happened in the first-century church happens in the twenty-first church . . . 1. Some will come to faith in Christ and the church will grow, Acts 5:14. (Acts 5:14 NIV)  More and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 2. Some will believe and make their most significant public testimony after belief by being baptized and the church grows, Acts 8:12. (Acts 8:12 NIV)  But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 3. Some will believe, repent of their sins, are baptized and the church will grow, Acts 2:38, 41. (Acts 2:38, 41 NIV)  Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. . . {41} Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 4. Some will become disciples (followers) of the Christ's teachings and the church will grow, Acts 14:20-21a. (Acts 14:20-22 NIV)  But after the disciples had gathered around [Paul], he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. {21a} They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Cecil James relates this true account of one elderly woman's determination to serve Christ. Bishop John Reed of Sydney, Australia, was preaching in Christ Church Cathedral one Sunday when a 75-year-old woman named Ethel Hatfield got saved. Mrs. Hatfield had attended that Anglican church for decades, but the message had never gotten through to her until that day. The following day she came to see Bishop Reed and said, "I could hardly sleep last night I was so excited about what happened. I want to do something to serve God with the few years I have left. I was wondering if I could teach Sunday School." Bishop Reed looked at this 75-year-old, white-haired lady and just couldn't picture her controlling the rambunctious third or fourth grade kids. So he said, "I'm sorry, but we don't have an opening in our Sunday School." Her face fell. Bishop Reed said, "You mean business, don't you? I don't know what kind of service God may have for you, but let's pray." So they prayed for God to reveal His will for her. The next day Mrs. Hatfield was out in her yard tending her roses when a Chinese student from Taiwan walked by. He stopped and complimented her on her roses and they began to talk. She thought, "He seems like a decent chap; I'll invite him in for a spot of tea." So she did and she told him her testimony. He found it an interesting story, so when he had to leave he asked if he could come back and talk further. She said, "Yes, and please bring a friend." He came back and brought a friend and she again shared how she had come to put her faith in Jesus Christ after all these years and how Christ had forgiven her sin and given her eternal life. These students came back and brought more friends, who brought even more. Within two weeks, Mrs. Hatfield was leading a weekly Bible study with 70 Chinese students in attendance! She led many of them to personal faith in Jesus Christ. That which seemed a hindrance to Mrs. Hatfield's serving the Lord–her age–God turned into the key to reaching a group of people who respect old age![2] C. The Effects of Negative Responses to the Gospel 1. People who disobey are judged and lost if they continue in their disobedience, 1 Pet 4:17-18. (1 Pet 4:17-18 NIV)  For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? {18} And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" 2. People who reject Christ will be condemned, John 12:48 (John 12:48-49 NIV)  There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. {49} For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. 3. People who not combine their hearing of the gospel with faith, will not enter into , God's kingdom, Heb 4:1-2. (Heb 4:1-2 NIV)  Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. {2} For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Art Linkletter, in his book Yes, You Can!, told of an occasion when Walt Disney drove him to a piece of deserted property near Anaheim, California. As the two walked the property, Disney began to paint a picture of a theme park he wanted to build. He described in great detail his dream. Disney encouraged Linkletter to buy the land surrounding his, explaining that he could, in return, sell it to developers who would build motels and restaurants on the property. Linkletter recalled thinking that Disney's dream was a fantasy that wouldn't appeal to people and respectfully declined the offer. Disney would go on to build his theme park as we know as Disneyland. Linkletter estimates that he lost approximately one million dollars per step that day by not buying into Disney's dream and accepting his offer. There has been a far greater offer made to you and me than Disney's offer to Linkletter. It is the greatest offer that has ever been made. Of course, I am referring to the offer that has been made by the Lord Jesus to come unto Him and be saved. It is the greatest offer ever made because there is nothing greater that can happen to a person than being saved.[3] [1]  Barna Research Group, by Monica Seaberry and Mike Paquette, 1998 Religion News Service, quoted in Moody, July/August, 1998, p. 37 [2] http://www.turnbacktogod.com/none-too-old-to-witness-for-christ/ [3] Ken Trivette, Sermon, "Why Do People Reject Christ?"