The Jesus Revolution & Evangelism: The Opportunity to Share Your Faith

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This is one of the most enjoyable, fulfilling things we can do this not just for the laws, we will post it for us to coming up today on a new beginning.

Pastor Greg Morey points out the compelling truth that we bring others to Christ brings us closer to Christ. I believe if we would just be great commission, we would experience personal revival and our mission is knowing him and making him known today will see how those two ideas are inseparably linked when we make him known.

We know him better.

When we drop other people to Christ. We are drawn to Christ.

What a great idea today on the broadcast is Pastor Greg Laurie brings is the final installment popular series examining the Jesus movement see how we can put that great idea.

Let's grab our Bibles and turn them Matthew chapter 28 the title of my message is the Jesus revolution in evangelism, you know, one of the real traits of the Jesus movement was people were out everywhere sharing the gospel. That was the way it was back then you say what I that's great that I wish it was that way today. Why can't it be that way today I live. So I checked the great commission is still in the Bible you know the great commission is will read in the moment, but it's the words of Jesus to go to all the world and preach the gospel.

I know were maybe reluctant to share that but there's power in the message of the gospel and the powers always been there, and the power will always be there because Paul said, I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God and the salvation to every one who believes in the word that he uses are for powers that were due to myth, which means dynamic dynamite power. If ever there was a generation that needs to be engaged with the gospel. It is this generation you want to know what God gets excited about. If I can use that verbiage of God.

God gets excited. Heaven gets excited when people believe in Jesus. The Bible says there is joy in heaven over one sinner that comes to repent and think about that for a moment. Every time a person turn from their sin and put their faith in Jesus Christ. There's a show of praise in heaven, so I mentioned the great commission. Let's go to our text on Matthew 28.

Let's read and this is a very important statement that frankly we all should commit to memory. Jesus says Matthew 28 verse 18, all authority has been given to be in heaven on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you, hello, I am with you, even to the end of the age. There's one more version of the great commission if you will. That's in Mark 16 815 were Jesus simply says going to wall the world and preach the gospel to every person. So the pull of altogether. The great commission is to go on the wall the world and preach the gospel, led by the Holy Spirit to bring people to Christ, then to disciple them. This is where a lot of people miss a key element. It's not just to proclaim the gospel to lead people to Christ and disciple them, get them up on their feet spiritually teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.

Hello, I'm with you to the end of the age. I believe if we would just obey the great commission, we would experience personal revival.

Why do I say that because when you get your eyes off of yourself for a moment and think about somebody else that's lost and separated from God and leave your comfort zone and seek to share your faith next to being a Christian. This is one of the most joyful fulfilling things we can do. This is why the devil doesn't want us to do it. If there's one thing Christians and non-Christians have in common. It's this were both uptight about the gospel. Satan's uptight without sharing the gospel were outside which sharing the gospel so nonbelievers didn't want to hear.

Don't talk to me because like were seen earlier. Think you can shove it down their throat. They think you're going to be judgmental and mean we should never be that waitlisted if you want to win some winsome be nice about it. Share the gospel with a smile on your face care about the person you're talking to and build that bridge so many times Christians burn bridges instead to build bridges and the objective is not to win the argument. It's to win the soul because I've seen some Christians were very knowledgeable and they come in with both gospel guns loaded in the unload them on the nonbeliever and tear down their arguments and humiliate them in the nonbelievers says what a jerk.

And I want to talk to a Christian again. He could've done a lot more if you just what it showed a little compassion and love and let them share for a while and see what they think and how you can respond appropriately with the message of the gospel, but this is the great commission.

But sadly, for many, the great commission is the great omission. Now let me say something that might surprise him, but I believe it's true. I believe do not share the gospel can actually be a sin, they might see McGregor going too far away: what is the sin there's different definitions of sin because of different kinds of sin.

One definition of sin is to cross the line. So if I'm told, don't step on the black carpet that I step on the black carpet. I just crossed the line. That's called a trespass.

So when I break a commandment. I do what God told me not to do. I just crossed the line. That's a sin that's a sin of commission. But then there's a sin of omission. The sin of omission is not doing what I should do. The Bible says the him the nose to do good and does not do it to him it is sin sup I really believe the Bible and I really believe in the Bible says about the afterlife that there really is a heaven and the really is a hell never really believe the gospel, which effectively says Jesus Christ is the only way to the father and I really believe a person rejects Christ.

They will spend eternity separated from him and I don't even try to engage a person in a conversation that could be the sin of omission. Using so we don't want that to happen and I think also we miss out on a great blessing. Here's how it spiritually provides you when you get a new believer in your life it can reinvigorate your faith, listen to this new Christian needs.

An older believer in their life to stabilize them in older Christian needs are younger believer in their life to energize them. You know so you know if you know the Lord for a long time and you just hang around with other people that have known the Lord for a long time you go to church.

You got afterwords review argue theological minutia, but when you have a brand-new believer that year and this all for the first time minutes can a change. You, you might actually talk about things that would interest the new believer, and then they'll ask you questions and you may not have the answers. Then again, you may have a lot more answers than you think she got does not give us this truth to horde and to keep to ourselves.

He gives this is truth to share Jesus said, give and it shall be given unto you press down, shaken together, running over with the same measure you give it will be given to you when you read generous believer in every way that includes with your finances that includes your evangelism that includes everything we hear a giving person, God will replenish your supply and I think when you are run a new believer there asking you questions well it remind you of things you forgotten how would you ever shared something with someone and if you're sharing it you get really excited about it again. You're telling them what Jesus did and what it was like when you first came to Christ and now you're likely to change as your sharing your story to get all fired up about it. That's why you need to do it.

It's not just for the lots people. It's for us it's for us to buy the way you know more than you think you know I already said that.

But you really do is you sit in church all the time and you hear all these Bible studies it's going in your heart and it's going in your mind. And when you try to help someone it'll start coming to your memory, because the Holy Spirit will bring it to your memory, Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message just a moment, everybody Greg Laurie here personally inviting you to join us for what we call Harvest at Home. It's a Bible study. It's a worship service. It church in your home, you're not able to get out your church right now.

If so, join us per Harvest at Home people are listening this from around the world listen to this.

We have seen thousands of people commitment to follow Christ. Join us this weekend Harvest at Home at harvest.oh well.

Today Pastor Greg is helping us realize the impact we can have in bringing a spiritual awakening to our culture and a revival to the church. Let's continue now if you want to experience revival do revival like things wouldn't we do. Back in those days we told you already week had passionate, heartfelt worship.

We study the word of God. We believe that Jesus Christ could come back at any moment's and we shared our faith. All of the time. I would just say to you if you would just start doing those things open every day with the word of God study the word of God start living believing that Christ could come back at any moment and look for opportunities to tell others about Jesus. You'll experience revival because as I said we overly mystify revival to as we do evangelism revival just means restoration to original condition and revival starts with you. It starts with me totally worrying about everybody else.

They need revival. This church seems revival you need revival I need revival start with you. Make sure that your firing on all cylinders.

As a follower of Christ. Make sure you're doing the things that God has called you to do. Let it begin with.

You and so that was our heart and that still needs to be our heart because this is not about what happened 45 years ago. This is about something that God wants us to do. No matter what generation were in, and that includes this generation so I don't care what some people say oh I'm uncomfortable won't work today. Nonsense, the gospel will always work that will always change human hearts and it's always the message God wants us to give to every generation because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever. So let me close by just sending an invitation to maybe somebody here who is not yet a Christian and I were talking about talking to people like you, but maybe I'm actually talking to you right now are your hearing these things for the first time, let me just get to the bottom line you know why you have a big old hole in your heart is because you were created to know God. This modern world with all of our tech and all of our cool stuff hasn't filled the emptiness inside. Drugs, sex and rock 'n' roll didn't do it in the 60s high-tech in all the things that we have to offer today won't do it. In this time and whatever we come up with in generations would come will do it either as long as the Lord Terry's the answer will always be Jesus you are created to know God.

You were created to have a relationship with God. I'm not talking about religion I'm talking about knowing Jesus in a personal way. That's what appealed to me. That's what I wanted I wanted a relationship with God because I really didn't have a relationship with anybody to speak of. Up to that point I didn't even know how to have a relationship with someone but then along comes Jesus and he comes in the my life and I had so many promises given to me by adults and they broke those promises and they failed me over and over again disappointed me. And here comes Jesus and he makes about two promises to any keeps every single promise is never failed me once ever, promises are true and he kept them for me. That's why standard talking you about this today because this is my job. This is not my job. This is my passion. This is my life. He changed my life and I want to see and change other lives and there might be somebody here right now are somebody watching or listening, that does not have this relationship with Jesus Christ your center you broken God's commandments.

We all have you crossed the line you fallen short of the standard. Here's the good news 2000 years ago God sent his son Jesus to die on the cross in your place, and he paid the price for all of your sin. Jesus Christ came to pay a debt he did auto because you owed a debt you could not pay for three days later he rose again from the dead.

Now he stands at the door of your life in the Knox lease is if you hear his voice and open the door to come in. You can come into your life right now and fill that void that you can fill in this modern world. This is what you been looking for.

You know my wife.

She likes to put puzzles together. I have no idea why I walked by a puzzle and Mike whatever keep walking. Kathy will stop only when you crazy, she enjoys it now while ago she got a puzzle and she put the whole thing together, but she call me Greg, what I'm missing a piece of the puzzle. The last piece is missing were literally on our hands and knees crawling around and we finally found it. She completed her puzzle.

That's what life is like you we put all the pieces in place. Okay if I just you know if I get married and we have this many kids and we live here and I drive this and and this happens and that happens, I'll be happy to get all the little pieces in place and you're all done. There's something missing sought is something that to someone it's Jesus, God holds the missing piece a relationship with him, but the receiver we have to reach out and say I'm I want you, Lord of my life in a moment begin to pray and I want to give you an opportunity to ask Jesus Christ to come and live in your heart as your Savior and your Lord and you can know then that you go to heaven when you die, you can find the meaning and purpose in life you been searching for for all of your life. So if you need Jesus right now if you want this relationship with him. Respond to this invitation as we all pray.

Let's all bow our heads. Father, thank you for loving us. Thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross for us.

Lord Jesus, thank you for coming and dying and rising again, thank you that you hear right here right now knocking on the door of many hearts. I prefer folks that don't know you. I pretty don't come to you and believe we asked in Jesus name, amen. Pastor Greg Laurie with an important prayer and if you want to make a change today in your relationship with the Lord. Pastor Greg will help you do that before today's addition of a new beginning wraps up, and he'll have a final comment from her study at the very end of our time together as we wrap up Pastor Greg series called Jesus revolution. Maybe you missed an installment or two along the way where you can hear studies again online@harvest.org stream them while you're there or download MP3 for later.

Again, go to harvest.org or for a permanent copy on CD. Call 1-800-821-3300 were here to take your call anytime 24 seven again at 1-800-821-3300.

The title of today's message is the Jesus revolution and evangelism and then were excited to make available Pastor Greg's book on the Jesus movement, the spiritual awakening of the 60s and 70s. The book is called Jesus, revolution, and your Pastor Greg recently I've been more interested in the great awakening of the early 18th century. I recently learned that my relatives came to America about that time so mouse really piqued my interest, but that revival was one of four that have swept this country is not right. That's right. Most historians agree there have been for great spiritual awakenings in the history of the United States. The first preceded our formation as a nation happened in the colonies free American revolution George Whitfield and evangelists from Great Britain came and preached on our shores and brought the gospel of thousands of people and many, many people believed in. It was a spiritual awakening and then America was formed in the aftermath of it so you could say that America was born from a revival.

If we did not have that spiritual awakening, I seriously question if there could have been an America case and now you've mentioned the second revival, and I've heard that the Pres. Lincoln when he was a younger man made a commitment to follow Christ during that great awakening then of course you fast-forward to the Fulton Street revival. The New York City revival where a man named Jeremiah Lanphier.

I decided to start a prayer meeting that wasn't very well attended. Then the stock market crash and then it was very well attended and theaters in Broadway were packed to the gills.

Churches were packed. People were gathering every lunchtime in New York City and praying and thousands of people came to Christ and then the last great awakening was the one that I've written a book about it was called the Jesus revolution in the Jesus movement. It's a funny thing Dave in the day we called it the Jesus movement but time magazine dubbed it Jesus revolution gets interesting because you know you hear a lot of talk these days about revolution. Our nation was born from a revolution, but this was a spiritual revolution and I actually like the fact that it was called a Jesus revolution because that's what it once and not even a Christianity revolution or a religious revolution. It was a Jesus revolution. It was about Jesus people were talking about Jesus people were coming to Jesus and in habits where our focus needs to be. We need another spiritual awakening. We need another Jesus revolution.

So in my book on this topic. I tell my story is a lot of historical backdrop given so you can understand what the culture was like. I think as you read it you can say wow that parallels at times there were living in right now riots in the street. Social upheaval racial division and more. Yes, it was all happening but God stepped in thousands and thousands of young people came to Christ I might also add the Jesus revolution. This is not common to every revival, but the Jesus revolution was a youth awakening. It specifically started with younger people of the votes were impacted as well of all ages, but it was primarily young people coming to Christ, and we look at our youth today all how they need a relationship with Jesus Christ. How they need a touch of the Holy Spirit how they need their own Jesus revolution so I'm hoping that you'll order a copy of this book that I'll send you at no charge.

I'll ask in return is that you send your gift of any size that will help us to continue to teach the word of God as we do, and preach the gospel and come more people to Christ. By the way last year was almost spiritually fruitful year in the history of harvest ministries. Let's pray that 20, 21, is our greatest year ever and that's going happen if we all work together and pray together and will happen if you will help us financially as well. I'm sure so in advance. Let me say thank you and I look forward to sending you your own copy of the Jesus revolution now. That's right, we have a copy waiting for you here, a new beginning.

So we hope you will contact us today will be glad to drop it in the mail right away. Hey Dave, let me just interrupt from one moment, don't forget to tell them that there's a study guide that we prepare are yet to go along with Jesus revolution will be automatically sent with the book and I can really help you and your spouse or you in your small group dive more deeply into the insights and principles.

Pastor Greg shares in the book. So take advantage of this extra help again will send both of these resources to thank you for your generous donation to help us continue this important work right us today at a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or you can call her 24 hour phone number 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org Pastor Greg, as you mentioned you wanted to pray with those who want Jesus to come into their life. Can you have them take that next step right now. Yes I would be delighted to you that want to make this commitment or recommitment to Christ.

I want you to pray right now and if you mean this prayer from your heart. God will hear you. The Bible says draw near to God and he'll draw near to you. And that's a step you'll be taking out pray this after me God. I know that I'm a sinner and I'm sorry for my sin but I thank you for sending Jesus Christ your son to die on the cross in my place though I turn from my sin and I choose to follow you this day forward as your disciple. Thank you for accepting me. Thank you for forgiving me in Jesus name I pray, amen of you pray that prayer in minute from your heart. God is heard you and he has forgiven you.

We have some materials that we would like to send to you at no charge that will encourage you in this commitment you've made to Jesus Christ. Yeah, that's right. We call this resource collection are new believers growth packet. It will help you get started in walking each day with the Lord. So get in touch and ask for your free new believers growth packet. You can write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300.

That's a 24 seven phone number so you can call right now. 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click know God when next time Pastor Greg launches a new series to help her see what's waiting for us in the hereafter.

It's a series called the afterlife and the eternal join us next time you're on a new beginning but as we wrap up pastor Greg series Jesus revolution. He closes in prayer. So Lord we've heard your word, you've given us the great commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel, making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father son and Holy Spirit and you promised your witness to the end of the eight sworn envelope you've given us his power you've given us his authority. You've given us his commission. Lord help us to do it. You told us in Scripture, we will receive power, after the Holy Spirit is come upon us to be witnesses unto you, Lord. We need this power, so Phyllis with the power of the Holy Spirit and give us a boldness like we've never had before.

Give us a burden for lost people like we've never known before, and open up opportunities and doors for us to engage people in conversations about Jesus the Lord, we would be even so bold to pray that you give us the privilege of leading someone to you because you tell us in Scripture. He that wins souls is wise. Lord we want to win souls. Use us in that way and then taking a new believer under our wing we can help them. They can help us and you will send revival in our life.

You tell us if we go out. So in RC's in sorrow that will come back bringing our scenes with us rejoicing. Lord we want to rejoice as you use this for your glory. So, we commit ourselves to you and we ask you to go before us and we ask all of this pain.

Amen.

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