WHAT MUST I DO? REPENT
ACTS 20:18-21
Big Idea: Jesus’ church is commissioned to share the Gospel with the world; that is our single greatest reason for existence.
INTRO:
In his book “The Best Kept Secret of Christian Mission” John Dickson writes about his introduction to the Christian faith:
My own conversion was the result of one person's willingness to embody the mission of the "friend of sinners." … One of the relics of Australia's Christian heritage is the once-a-week Scripture lesson offered in many state high schools around the country. … One of these Scripture teachers—Glenda was her name—had the courage to invite [my] entire class to her home for discussions about God. The invitation would have gone unnoticed, except that she added: "If anyone gets hungry I'll be making hamburgers, milkshakes, and scones." … As I looked around the room at all my friends—all skeptics like me—I was amazed that this woman would open her home (and kitchen) to us. Some of the lads were among the worst "sinners" in our school: one was a drug user (and seller), one was a class clown and bully, and one was a petty thief with a string of breaking-and-entering charges to his credit.
I could not figure Brenda out. She was wealthy and intelligent. She had an exciting social life; married to a leading Australian businessman. What was she thinking inviting us for a meal and discussion? At no point was this teacher pushy or preachy. Her style was completely relaxed and incredibly generous. When her VCR went missing one day, she made almost nothing of it, even though she suspected (quite reasonably) it was someone from our group. For me, her open, flexible, generous attitude toward us "sinners" was the doorway into a life of faith. As we ate and drank and talked, it was clear this was no missionary ploy on her part. She truly cared for us and treated us like friends or, perhaps more accurately, like sons. As a result, over the course of the next year, she introduced several of us from the class to the ultimate "friend of sinners," Jesus.
(John Dickson, The Best Kept Secret of Christian Mission (Zondervan, 2010 ), pp. 51-52)
Listen to Paul’s testimony about sharing the Gospel.
ACTS 20:18-21
18 When they arrived, he said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
The Apostle Paul, like Glenda, understood that the Gospel is first proclaimed through genuine love but at some point requires a clear articulation about turning to God (repenting) and placing one’s faith in Jesus Christ.
Both John Dickson’s story and Paul’s story challenge the church today to make certain they preach the Gospel. It is essential that you genuinely love people and have genuine relationships with them (even if they do not come to faith) but, if you are not careful, you can genuinely love them and usher them into hell.
We must declare “that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”
It is the message of the church.
It is what is required of everyone who follows Christ.
It is what we must first do ourselves and then encourage others to do as well.
Anything less is a false Gospel.
So, this morning, I want to share with you some basic axioms about sharing the Gospel.
1. IF WE WILL GIVE THE WORLD JESUS’ MESSAGE WE WILL GET WHAT JESUS EXPECTED.
Romans 1:16-17 says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’”
Kyle Idleman (in his book, “Not a Fan”) tells the story of an old country deacon explaining why their congregation was complacent. The straight-shooting farmer simply said, “What you get them with is what you keep them with.” What he meant was: if you gained them with a message of comfort they will expect and demand a life of comfort; if you gained them with a message of repentance, self-denial, service, and sacrifice you will keep them with that same message.
We do the no world no favors when we do not preach the whole Gospel. Now, repentance is not the whole Gospel but it is the beginning of it and if we missed this we almost guarantee the remainder of our message will be sterile.
Repentance is one of the core elements of the Gospel and Satan would love to see it removed from the message; it all but guarantees lives will not be changed.
2. IF WE WILL LOOK AT THE WORLD THROUGH JESUS’ EYES WE WILL MINISTER TO THE WORLD WITH JESUS’ HEART.
We must raise our gaze and look unto the fields. Jesus said, “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (John 4:35).
Some of us do not see the lost who live next door because we have never raised our gaze and looked at them through the eyes of Jesus.
Have you noticed that that which you will gaze at / look upon becomes embedded into your awareness?
Have you noticed your body follows your eyes?
This true whether you are driving a car, walking, or looking at Jesus. No wonder Jesus told us to look at the fields that are ripe unto harvest. It is my prayer that we will begin to look at people through Jesus’ eyes. It will change our interaction with them. This was true for Jesus and it is true for us as well. In Matthew 9:35-38 we read this: “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’”
As Jesus saw the people his heart was broken and he was compelled to offer them deliverance. It will be the same for us when we see people through His eyes.
I remember hearing an elderly lady give an answer as to why she treated everyone with such compassion and love; she even treated people with kindness that treated her poorly. Her answer was simple but revolutionary to me. She said she just saw the words of Romans 14:15 imprinted on their foreheads … the words are “for whom Christ died.”
It will change how we respond to people too.
3. IF WE WILL APPROACH THE WORLD WITH JESUS’ POWER WE WILL TOUCH THE WORLD WITH JESUS’ LOVE.
The reason the Holy Spirit was gifted to the church was so we could minister to the world. That is even the reason for “the gift of tongues” at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13). Look closely at that passage, the gift was given to share the Gospel through the language barriers given that day. This tells me, among other things, that God will equip us to go beyond any barrier if we are willing to share His Gospel with the lost.
It removes excuses.
It provides you with the potential to love everyone who crosses your path.
4. IF WE STAY FOCUSED ON JESUS’ MISSION WE WILL FULFILL JESUS’ DESIRE.
Jesus said, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:” (John 17:20-22).
Jesus wants his church to be unified … to be one in heart and mission. We learn from the epistles that churches splinter when they major on the minors; but when the church focuses on the mission that God has called them to it will be a mighty force … an unstoppable force.
Our liturgy during Pentecost has a paragraph in it that states: “In fulfillment of his true promise, the Holy Spirit came down from Heaven, lighting upon the disciples, to teach them and lead them into all truth; uniting people of many tongues in one confession of faith, and giving to your church the power to serve you as a royal priesthood, and to preach the Gospel to all nations.”
“Cadwallader Cuticle”
There's a scene in Herman Melville's (author of Moby Dick) novel “White Jacket” that focuses on the ship's chief surgeon, Cadwallader Cuticle, M.D.
The doctor is bored with the voyage because he has little work to do, but one day he has the chance to do an exciting operation. A sailor has been shot in the leg and the leg must be amputated. The ship is in port so Dr. Cuticle invites surgeons from other ships to observe his impressive surgical skills on display.
Once the audience gathers, Dr. Cuticle chokes up as he explains, "This is my first important case of surgery in a nearly three years' cruise." Cuticle launches into a detailed lecture about anatomy, surgical techniques, and the many difficult operations he's performed in the past. As he proceeds with the amputation, the patient keeps shrieking and passing out. But Cuticle ignores the shrieks as he continues his long-winded monologue.
Here's a small part of Cuticle's lecture, pompously delivered to his audience as he conducted the surgery:
Young gentlemen, you will perceive that precisely at this spot—here—to which I previously directed your attention—at the corresponding spot precisely—the operation has been performed. About here, young gentlemen, … the great artery was. But you noticed that I did not use the tourniquet; I never do. [A finger] is far better than a tourniquet, being so much more manageable, and leaving the smaller veins uncompressed. But I have been told, young gentlemen, that a certain … surgeon of Seville, has recently invented an admirable substitute for the clumsy, old-fashioned tourniquet. As I understand it, it is something like a pair of calipers, working with a small Archimedes screw—a very clever invention ….]
Finally, the steward of the ship interrupted Dr. Cuticle's lecture and said, "Please, sir, the patient is dead."
Cuticle nonchalantly replied, "I predicted that the operation might prove fatal; he was very much run down. Good-morning," and then walked away.
WE MUST BEWARE LEST WHILE WE DEBATE LESSER MATTERS, LOST PEOPLE DIE WITHOUT CHRIST.
WRAP-UP
In his book, “Trusting in God’s Declaration” Tullian Tchividjian writes, “God does not move us beyond the gospel; he moves us more deeply into the gospel, because all of the power we need in order to change and mature comes through the gospel …. The gospel does not simply ignite the Christian life; it is the fuel that keeps Christians going and growing every day. Real change cannot come apart from the gospel.”
Can I ask you a couple of questions in closing?
1. HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED THE LIFE CHANGING POWER OF THE GOSPEL?
You “must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” I can assure you of new life when you do so. God Himself will take responsibility for your pardon and growth.
Maybe you say, “I cannot do that.” Maybe you think you are too addicted or too bad, or in so deep that your life cannot change and you cannot be saved. Not true! That’s a lie from the evil one. Never forget, “Whatever God’s Word says I must do, God knows I can do.”
All you need to do is turn and trust. God will bring the deliverance.
2. CHRISTIAN, WILL YOU BEGIN TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH YOUR FRIENDS?
Maybe you find it difficult; even awkward. Most Christians do at some point but genuine love compels us to share our faith with friends and family. Oh, and never forget, “Whatever God’s Word says I must do, God knows I can do.”
Maybe you’re not sure how to share the Gospel. Maybe you cannot answer the hard questions. That’s ok … you do not need to have all the answers. The hardest of sinners cannot deny it if you love them and they cannot refute your testimony. Jesus once healed a man of blindness and the man was was later challenged by others. All he said was “one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25). They could not refute that. When you share with them how turning to God and placing your faith in Jesus has changed you; it is hard to refute. You don’t need complex answers … just a personal experience of God’s transformation.
I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
Here’s the bottom line. Jesus’ Church has a simple message that has the power to change everyone who receives it. Jesus’ church has a commission, a charge to share that message in clear, compassionate ways. Jesus’ church will be judged as a success or failure by whether it is faithful to this gospel message.
John Wesley used to tell the preachers under his charge that “You have nothing to do but save souls.” Friends, that is still true today. When the dust settles, and eternity is in view, this will be all that matters.
He who has ears to hear
Let him hear.
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This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
