The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

John 10:10 ESV

Thursday, June 27, 2013

I Don't Think We Can Improve on His Message or Strategy


The Apostle Paul evangelized a city rampant with sexual immorality and sin, proclaiming an uncompromising message ~

"Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NLT)

Proclaiming the truth of the Gospel, his ministry changed lives ~
"Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."  (1 Corinthians 6:11 NLT)

He knew who the enemy was ~
"Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God."  (2 Corinthians 4:4)

That determined his strategy in ministry ~
"We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ."  (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NLT)

He had learned from personal experience ~
"Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus."  (Ephesians 2:1-6 NLT)

I don't think we can improve on his message or strategy.

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday message - May 19, 2013


The Body of Christ, the church, is the only organism (institution) spiritually equipped to engage the satanic forces behind abortion. Paul says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood."

The people doing the abortions; the people having the abortions; the people who are the proponents of abortion; the legislators, the governors, the presidents who are defending abortion - they are not the enemies, they are the victims.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12)

"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of Christ..." (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Therefore the church must take the lead in the efforts to end abortion. 
Abortion is first and foremost a gospel issue... 

Two years ago, I spoke at the Rally for Life outside the Federal Courthouse in downtown Fort Lauderdale.  I did not speak to the government. I did not speak to the politicians. I spoke to the church. And these were among my closing remarks,

Ultimately, the gospel of Jesus Christ is the solution to America’s abortion crisis. Innocent blood has polluted the land and profaned the name of the Lord. But there is a greater blood shed at Mount Calvary that can transform the heart of a mother so she will choose life for her child, that can cleanse the guilty forgive, heal and restore those involved in abortion. 

What America needs to hear is God’s Truth about abortion wrapped in the Grace and the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. You see, when the church sees abortion as a Gospel issue, we will win the battle for life!

Church we can win this battle! Christ has won the victory!              
  
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” (Colossians 2:9-10)

Paul goes on to say, verse 15, "...having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."

This is how we respond to 40 years of legalized abortion. Unashamedly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. Unashamedly proclaim the gospel of life, the value of life, while responding with compassionate and practical help to those at risk for abortion.

The above are excerpts from my message, Abortion, the Devil & the Church - Exposing the Spiritual Forces Behind Abortion, given on Sanctity of Human Life Sunday at New Hope Fellowship in Palm City Florida on May 19, 2013.
You may watch the message online at: Sanctity of Human Life Sunday message

You may view the PowerPoint slides that accompany this message online at Microsoft PowerPoint Webb App at: PowerPoint slides Abortion, the Devil & the Church