THIS IS NO TIME TO BE QUIET!
II Corinthians 5:16-6:2
S: Evangelism
Th: Seeing the Unseen Christ: How His Presence Transforms Life
Pr: WHEN WE PRACTICE CHRIST’S PRESENCE, WE DELIGHT IN INTRODUCING HIM TO OTHERS.
?: Why?
KW: Convictions
TS: We will find in our study of II Corinthians 5:16-6:2 three convictions we have that causes us to introduce Jesus to others.
The ____ conviction we have that causes us to introduce Jesus to others is…
I. WE WERE LOST (16-17)
II. WE WERE CHANGED (17-19)
III. WE ARE AMBASSADORS (19-2)
RMBC 4/08/01 AM
INTRODUCTION:
Drama: “Undercover Christians”
Does anybody know that you are a Christian?
You know, we laugh at that drama…but perhaps we laugh because we see more of ourselves than we want to.
Me included…
Sometimes, when I am at a soccer practice and talking to parents, the subject of what you do for a living inevitably comes up.
When I say I am a pastor, it usually gets some interesting responses—usually it is a smiling stare—and they say, “Oh, that’s nice…”
I try to lighten the tension with humor by saying something like, “I was trying to keep that undercover,” or “I am paid to be good.”
Usually something like that defuses the situation and they discover I am credible and rather normal.
Then, it is neat to observe how the doors open up…
TRANSITION:
We are on Sunday 7 of 8 and day 43 of our 50-day adventure.
Our theme this year has been: Seeing the Unseen Christ—How His Presence Transforms Life.
It has been my prayer that we as a church would be growing during this time, dedicated to experiencing and knowing God’s renewal in our lives.
If you have fallen behind in your journal, this is a good time to get back on track and finish with a flurry.
Give it your all and finish well.
Jesus is here!
When we are aware of this fact…
1. Christ’s Presence impacts each of us and renews our convictions to live for His glory.
And the results are great!
Our worship comes alive and becomes powerfully real.
Loving each other becomes a priority, so much so that Christ’s love routinely marks our interaction with each other.
We also have a new motivation to live righteously because we hunger for greater holiness.
We have a newfound zeal that is eager to serve the Lord.
Scripture comes alive and takes on added authority.
And as we learned last week, with the realization of Christ’s Presence, prayer becomes more personal, authentic and integral to everyday matters of life.
Prayer becomes the language of our heart.
Today, it is our goal to see that when we realize His Presence, we have a renewed interest in seeing others meet Him.
Now…
2. The E-word is an essential to the fabric of the Christian life.
Evangelism…I hope that my saying the e-word didn’t make you twitch and shake like Gary and Jon.
Most of us are probably familiar with this concept.
Many of us have taken courses in evangelism or attended special classes.
With all the focus we have on it, what is interesting is that in the typical church, only a minority actually do it.
This means that we need a major adjustment when it comes to this subject.
For…
3. WHEN WE PRACTICE CHRIST’S PRESENCE, WE DELIGHT IN INTRODUCING HIM TO OTHERS.
When was the last time you felt compelled to do something?
There was an inner pressure, a strong urge…an oughtness that you needed to respond to?
When we have genuine conviction, it always prompts action.
You know, I want to see all of us move beyond just interest in seeing others meet the Lord, to having a conviction so intense we are compelled to take action.
This is my goal for us as a church family.
That we will stop smiling around the word evangelism, but instead have a conviction that we must do something about it.
Today…
4. We will find in our study of II Corinthians 5:16-6:2 three convictions we have that causes us to introduce Jesus to others.
OUR STUDY:
I. The first conviction we have that causes us to introduce Jesus to others is WE WERE LOST (16-17).
(16) So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. (17) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
ILL Notebook: Lost (Wyoming)
A local hunting guide got himself into a real fix. His party became hopelessly lost in the mountains and they blamed him for leading them astray. "You told us you were the best guide in Colorado!" they asserted. "I am," he said, "but I think we’re in Wyoming now."
Well, that man was completely lost…
Do you remember how lost you were without Christ?
It was so different, but we forget.
We used to operate from the standpoint of the flesh, but now our perspective is the cross.
The old is gone.
The new has come.
Where once we wandered, we now have been set on the right path.
And it is worth telling about!
II. The second conviction we have that causes us to introduce Jesus to others is WE WERE CHANGED (17-19).
(17) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (18) All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: (19) that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.
1. Our lives have been transformed.
Christ’s presence has transformed our lives.
We have been changed.
There has been a grand severance from where we were before.
But it is not a change that is once and done.
We are in a continuing state of newness and it will stay that way.
Our newness increases day after day.
But the neat thing about this is that there is nothing special about us for it to happen to us.
2. We are ordinary people with an extraordinary life-changing story.
That’s all we are.
We are just normal people that were lost who have enjoyed the most extraordinary event.
We have been reconciled to God.
We were at war with Him, and most of us didn’t even know it.
Nevertheless, we were.
But to make peace, Jesus died on the cross to satisfy the penalty of sin.
As a result, we have been given the ministry of reconciliation.
We are made right with God.
And now, we are at peace.
So, the peace God gives is worth telling about!
ILL Notebook: Evangelism (Lon Allison)
Lon Allison, the director of the Billy Graham Center and an evangelist in his own right, told a story from when his oldest daughter was just two-and-a-half Tara wanted to learn everything on her own. One day Lon was taking care of her and getting ready to go to a meeting. He said, "Tara, let me help you tie your shoes." This was in pre-Velcro days. In those days, tying shoes was hard business for a two-year-old. Lon said, "Honey, can I help you?" She immediately responded, "No." She worked and worked but in the end, there was no way. Finally in resignation Tara looked up at her daddy and said, "Daddy, I can’t do it." Lon replied, "I know, honey, I know. But I can."
The point is that as we seek to bring others to Christ, we must begin here.
We are to pray, “Father, I can’t do it. But I know you can.”
Salvation is something only God can do, but He graciously allows us to communicate it.
III. The third conviction we have that causes us to introduce Jesus to others is WE ARE AMBASSADORS (19-2).
…And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. (20) We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (21) God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (6:1) As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. (2) For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
1. We are God’s spokespersons, championing His cause.
The word used for ambassador here means, “one who spoke for the emperor.”
It was through the ambassador a message was delivered or a request communicated.
The ambassador reflected the agenda, convictions, truths, and causes of the one he represented.
In the same way, we proclaim what God has done so people can respond.
We point people to a life-changing and soul-changing relationship with Jesus.
We direct them to the possibility of reconciliation.
The price has been paid by the One who had no sin.
As the ambassador, we do more than proclaim the agenda of our emperor by what we say.
We also do it by the way we live.
2. We represent His character and nature.
ILL Notebook: Evangelism (wouldn’t He show through)
One Sunday as they drove home from church, a little girl turned to her mother and said, "Mommy, there’s something about the pastor’s message this morning that I don’t understand." The mother said, "Oh? What is it?" The little girl replied, "Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. He said God is so big that He could hold the world in His hand. Is that true?" The mother replied, "Yes, that’s true, honey." "But Mommy, he also said that God comes to live inside of us when we believe in Jesus as our Savior. Is that true, too?" Again, the mother assured the little girl that what the pastor had said was true. With a puzzled look on her face the little girl then asked, "If God is bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn’t He show through?"
Well, shouldn’t He show through?
Shouldn’t He show through now?
For as the text says, “…now is the day of salvation.”
Now is the right time to share the message.
Let me recommend to you how you can…
3. Living a “Lighthouse Lifestyle” is an effective way of naturally introducing Jesus to others.
This is a non-threatening, but effective approach.
It has three steps: prayer, care and share.
3.1 Prayer
The first you can do easily.
Pray for those you know that don’t know the Lord.
Pray for God’s blessing in their lives.
Walk your neighborhood and pray for your neighbors.
Pray for your coworkers.
Pray for your friends in school.
Pray that God will move in their heart.
Then…
3.2 Care
You see, you tangibly prepare the way for the work of the Lord in their life.
When you pray for God’s blessing, remember that you can be that blessing!
Look for the opportunities to demonstrate God’s love in their lives.
There are many ways it can be done.
Be thoughtful and creative and show that you care.
Finally…
3.3 Share
When you pray, pray for opportunities to be an ambassador.
You see, when you pray for opportunities, you will look for opportunities to share the good news.
And if God’s love has been demonstrated, the message will be all the more ready to be received.
It is a simple method—prayer, care and share.
APPLICATION:
I love stories with unlikely heroes.
One of my favorites is found in 2 Kings 7.
During a long siege of the city of Samaria, four lepers out-side the city gate (outside because they’re lepers) decide to risk being killed by the Aramean enemy in the long-shot hope the enemy might take pity on them and feed them instead.
When they get to the camp, they discover God has already been there and put the Aramean army to flight with the sound of a huge army.
The fleeing soldiers left everything behind in their haste to escape.
The gleefully surprised lepers tent-hop through the camp, eating and drinking as they go, and picking up souvenirs along the way.
In the midst of their beggars’ feast, they remember the folks remaining behind the city walls of Samaria who are still starving.
And they come to this conclusion…
1. It is not right to keep good news to yourself (II Kings 7:9a).
Then they said to each other, “We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves…”
They decide to share the good news of their discovery with the people of the city, who reluctantly, but eventually, believe.
You know, we have incredible news for hungry people.
There is an end to the siege.
The enemy has been put to flight.
And we are free!
I like how John Fischer has put it in one of his songs:
I’m not one who got it all in place
Telling you what you should do
I’m just one old hungry beggar
Telling you where I found food.
If you know where the food is, shouldn’t you tell people who are hungry where it is?
I mean…
2. This is no time to be quiet (Luke 19:37-40)!
Today is Palm Sunday.
Listen to this portion of the story that we celebrate today…
(37) When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: (38) “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (39) Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” (40) “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
The Pharisees wanted the people to be quiet.
They thought what they were saying was inappropriate.
The only thing, though, that was inappropriate, as far as Jesus was concerned, was not announcing the good news.
Let me ask one final question as we come into our Holy Week…
3. Do you believe in Easter?
ILL Notebook: Evangelism (Edith Burns)
Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas. She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart, and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnest-ly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.
Edith Burns had a habit of introducing her-self in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office, and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying, "My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why, yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you believe about Easter?" Beverly said, "Well, it’s all about egg hunts, going to church, and dressing up." Edith kept pressing her about the real meaning of Easter, and finally led her to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Dr. Phillips said, "Beverly, don’t call Edith into the office quite yet. I believe there is anoth-er delivery taking place in the waiting room. After being called back in the doctor’s office, Edith sat down and when she took a look at the doctor she said, "Dr. Will, why are you so sad? Are you reading your Bible? Are you praying?"
Dr. Phillips said gently, "Edith, I’m the doc-tor, and you’re the patient."
With a heavy heart he said, "Your lab report came back, and it says you have cancer, and Edith, you’re not going to live very long."
Edith said, "Why Will Phillips, shame on you. Why are you so sad? Do you think God makes mistakes? You have just told me I’m going to see my precious Lord Jesus, my husband, and my friends. You have just told me that I am going to celebrate Easter forever, and here you are having difficulty giving me my ticket!"
Dr. Phillips thought to himself, "What a magnificent woman this Edith Burns is!"
Edith continued coming to Dr. Phillips. Christmas came, and the office was closed through January 3rd. On the day the office opened, Edith did not show up. later that after-noon, Edith called Dr. Phillips and said she would have to be moving her story to the hospi-tal and said, "Will, I’m very near home, so would you make sure that they put women next to me in my room who need to know about Easter."
Well, they did just that, and women began to come in and share that room with Edith. Many women were saved. Everybody on that floor from staff to patients were so excited about Edith, that they started calling her Edith Easter; that is, everyone except Phyllis Cross, the head nurse.
Phyllis made it plain that she wanted noth-ing to do with Edith because she was a "religious nut." She had been a nurse in an army hospital. She had seen it all and heard it all. She was the original GI Jane. She had been married three times. She was hard, cold, and did everything by the book.
One morning the two nurses who were to attend to Edith were sick. Edith had the flu, and Phyllis Cross had to go in and give her a shot. When she walked in, Edith had a big smile on her face and said, "Phyllis, God loves you, and I love you, and I have been praying for you. Phyllis Cross said, "Well, you can quit praying for me, it won’t work. I’m not interested." Edith said, "Well, I will pray, and I have asked God not to let me go home until you come into the fam-ily." Phyllis Gross said, "Then you will never die because that will never happen," and curtly walked out of the room.
Every day Phyllis Gross would walk into the room, and Edith would Say, "God loves you, Phyllis, and I love you, and I’m praying for you." One day Phyllis Cross said she was literally drawn to Edith’s room like a magnet would draw iron. She sat down on the bed, and Edith said, "I’m so glad you have come, because God told me that today is your special day."
Phyllis Cross said, "Edith, you have asked everybody here the question, "Do you believe in Easter?" but you have never asked me." Edith said, "Phyllis, I wanted to many times, but God
told me to wait until you asked, and now that you have asked. . .
Edith Burns took her Bible and shared with Phyllis Cross the Easter Story of the death, bur-ial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Edith said, "Phyllis, do you believe in Easter? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is alive and that he wants to live in your heart?" Phyllis Gross said, "Oh I want to believe that with all of my heart, and I do want Jesus in my life." Right there, Phyllis Cross prayed and invited Jesus Christ into her heart. For the first time Phyllis Gross did not walk out of a hospital room, she was carried out on the wings of angels.
Two days later, Phyllis Gross came in, and Edith said, "Do you know what day it is?" Phyllis Gross said, "Why, Edith, it’s Good Friday." Edith said, "Oh, no, for you every day is Easter. Happy Easter, Phyllis!"
Two days later, on Easter Sunday, Phyllis Cross came into work, did some of her duties and then went down to the flower shop and got some Easter lilies because she wanted to go up to see Edith and give her some Easter lilies and wish her a Happy Easter. When she walked into Edith’s room, Edith was in bed. That big black I Bible was on her lap. Her hands were in that Bible. There was a sweet smile on her face.
When Phyllis Cross went to pick up Edith’s hand, she realized Edith was dead. Her left hand was on John 14:2-3: "In my Father’s house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also." Her right hand was on Revelation 21:4, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Phyllis Cross took one look at that dead body, and then lifted her face toward heaven, and with tears streaming down her cheeks, said, "Happy Easter, Edith-Happy Easter!"
Phyllis Cross left Edith’s body, walked out of the room, and over to a table where two student nurses were sitting. She said, "My name is Phyllis Gross. Do you believe in Easter?"
BENEDICTION: [Counselors are ]
Delight in introducing Jesus to others…for you were once lost as they are, you were also a hungry beggar looking for food—but now that you have found the food, it is time to tell others.
Delight in introducing Jesus to others…for you were transformed by the power of God; you are not the same as you were, for you are a new creation, renewed day after day by His Spirit in you.
Delight in introducing Jesus to others…for you are an ambassador with a message that is worth hearing from the King of kings and Lord of lords; this is no time to be quiet!
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
