Happy new year, Brothers! Had a great sermon at Bethany Baptist to kick the new year off, we have a mission: to be Jesus’ witnesses to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8). As an adult convert, 18 years ago now, I contemplated “if I am ‘saved’, why am I still here in this fallen world?” The answer is there in Acts 1:8 as Jesus left His disciples behind, “you will be my witnesses… to the end of the earth.” So today I am praying for each of you and your families and for our CC community, that we would actually be witnesses sharing the truth and grace of our King Jesus Christ, and that we would find fulfillment and joy in our mission, that we would pass it on to our children as we disciple and educate them, and as we prepare them to be Jesus’ witnesses in an increasingly dark culture. Read Acts 1:1-8
Why is the culture becoming so dark? Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn summarized “the reason for the Russian Revolution that resulted in the slaughter of 60 million people” as “Men have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened.” (The Forgotten God)
As America has watched protests, riots, and calls for revolution in the streets of many cities over the last few months, political pundits, Christian leaders, and regular, peace-loving citizens have entertained the same question of “why is this happening.” None of the proposed answers, from “because of systemic racism,” to “it’s the voice of the unheard,” to “disenfranchisement,” have come close to the profound, simple accuracy of the explanation offered by Solzhenitsyn.
The Forgotten God https://founders.org/2020/10/03/the-forgotten-god/
America has forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened…
May the Lord impress on His people once again our desperate need to know Him and make Him known in these increasingly godless days.
The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly for the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Matthew 9:37-38
The Church is not in a losing battle, on the defensive, in retreat. Rather, the church is laying siege to the kingdom of Satan. The Church is on the offensive. The ladders are at the walls, the battering ram is at the gates, and we know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that those gates will not stand. A Christian victory is inevitable.
The Inevitability of a Christian Victory https://founders.org/2019/12/16/the-inevitability-of-a-christian-victory/
Reform the Church and ReEnchant the World with God’s Truth and Grace!
Enchant (latin: encantio): to speak meaning into.
If the church is not reenchanting this fallen world with God’s truth and grace, then it is being disenchanted with the lies of Satan!
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
– Romans 10:14-15
Prayer, public witness of the church, and proclaiming God’s truth and grace.
Why are we here (in this sin fallen world)?
To bear witness to God and His truth and grace.
To make disciples of all nations.
Matthew 28:18-20
Why are we here (on the sidewalk outside an abortion clinic)?
To bear witness to God and His truth and grace.
To love the captive soul and to preach the good news!
Romans 10:14-15
What message are we sharing and bearing witness to?
There is a God that created the heavens and the earth.
We humans are created in His image.
We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, and justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation.
But God is merciful and loving.
Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place.
Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.
We need only confess our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and repent and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after!
Romans 3:10-18, 23
1 Corinthians 15:3-8
John 3:16-21
Ephesians 2:1-10
Leviticus 18:21; Matt. 5:17-19; Acts 2:37-41
