Tell Someone: Being Used by God

You are listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. Visit our website and learn more about harvest partners@harvest.org version you would ever be is one God will choose you think God only chooses superstars and you miss the train to Greg Laurie sues God is looking for people were simply willing God is the ability of ability is called by qualifies call means you. That means that means we use. Why your joining beginning Greg Ward. Our mission statement is knowing him and making him know evangelism is really calling the Lord issued to all believers not just pastors and evangelists. And that's what Pastor Greg is presenting his series called tell someone, it equips us to extend the invitation to come to the Lord. Find freedom today will see we are all qualified Christians and non-Christians seven, they're both uptight about the vandalism were uptight about sharing our faith in nonbelievers or apply about sharing our faith with them, but there's no getting around it. Jesus is given to us as his followers what is called the great commission to go to all the world and preach the gospel. Actually, there's two versions of the great commission. One is in the Gospel of Matthew the others in the gospel of Mark and Matthew version Jesus as all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the father of the son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I've commanded you below. I am with you, even to the end of the then there's Mark's version of the great commission which is going to all the world and preach the gospel to every person but yet many of us are not doing this.

In fact, for many of us the great commission has become the great oh mission. Consider these statistics, 95% of all Christians have never let another person the Christ only 2% of churchgoers have invited an unchurched person.

The church in the last year, 2% think about that 59% of all Christian say they seldom or never share their faith with others.

What's going on here.

God wants to use you to bring other people to him. Don't ask me why God chooses to use people, but it's clear that he does. He wants to use you to bring others to Jesus. That's why call this series tell someone subtitled you can bring others to Jesus. I believe if you will hear process and implement the principles that I'll share with you from the word of God that you will be leading people to Christ before you know it you might sit on Greg that's a bit presumptuous is in it is not conversion the work of the Holy Spirit.

Yes, that's true. But honestly, sometimes upset by people that do absolutely nothing in evangelism, there is God's part and there's our car. Our part is to proclaim the gospel, God's part is to convert people, but we all have a part to play.

The Holy Spirit is going to nudge you at times to share your faith, but is not going to take you over and make you do it enough to turn into a little gospel robot GGG note you must believe in Jesus or some like that. Now he's going to nudge you and you can say yes to him and he'll empower you and give you the right words or you could say no to him and miss the opportunity but this is what God wants us to do lesson this series is not designed to make you feel bad if you've not been all that effective at sharing your faith. In fact, I hope it's the very opposite of that. I hope with it will inspire you because I want you to understand that sharing your faith can be an exciting experience telling others about Jesus can be an adventure, leading people to Jesus can be one of the greatest joys you've ever known, and dare I say it being used by God can be. That's right fund on the mere drudgery, not mere duty. It's a joy. It's a privilege it's an opportunity and listen to this were told in someone 26. Six those who go out, weeping, carrying seed to sow will return with songs of joy carrying their sheaves with the idea that is. I go tonight so my little gospel seeds in the lives of people to periodically the Lord will allow me to see a person come to Christ that brings great joy not just on earth, but check this out. Every time a lost person believes in Jesus. There is a clause in heaven. The Bible says that there is joy in the presence of the Angels over every sinner that comes to Jesus Christ. And next to knowing Christ myself. To me the greatest joy I know is seen others come to Christ and the growing in their faith. John said I have no greater joy than to know my children are walking in the truth that you joy and here's the interesting thing about how God does this, he seems to go out of his way to find the least qualified person to do this through the last person you would ever expect to be a spokesman for him is the one that God will choose you know I never wanted to be a public speaker. Can you believe me when I tell you that my sole aspiration in life as a kid was to be a cartoonist, a graphic designer. My backup plan was start a pet shop. I just figured that graphic thing doesn't work. I like animals. You know I was only a kid right so when God started opening doors for me to speak publicly, I was the least likely person to ever do this but the reason I started doing it because before I didn't have anything to say but now I do and you do to sell God can use someone like me. God called Moses and here's what Moses said this is something something one of us would say today.

Exodus 4 Moses pleaded with the Lord, Lord, I'm not very good with words. I get tongue-tied my words get tangled, God said, I'll go and I'll be with you as you speak. I'll instruct you and what to say. Moses is please Lord send someone else. You might say I don't have the gift of gab, but I'm comfortable standing up in front of people. I can't be that person know God can use. Jeremiah said, Lord, I'm too young to me. You know old Moses was when God called him 80.

Jeremiah was probably 18 or younger. You're never too old to be used by God, you're never too young to be used by God to look at the people God himself while they were know I got drunk Abraham and he was just old Jacob was a liar.

Peter denied Christ, the disciples fell asleep while praying and largely abandoned him and his moment of need. Timothy had an ulcer, and Lazarus was dead. So what's your excuse to God can use you we we just offer these excuses are not reasons. You know what an excuse is itself fancy lie dressed up for dinner. It's what we offer what we don't want to do something. There are no good reason to listen to this God is not looking for ability. He's looking for availability. God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the call. That means you. That means me, that means we can be used by God, let me say something else. We not only should fulfill the great commission because crisis commanded us to because people need to hear the gospel, but we should fulfill the great commission so we don't stagnate spiritually. Let me say something else that might surprise you. Coming from a pastor there can come a moment when actually you don't need to go to even another Bible study. You don't need to read another Christian book.

You don't need to attend another worship service.

I'm not suggesting you cut back on those things I just think David will be a point in your life.

We don't need to do that more is much as you need an outlet for the truth. God is given you see the problem is if you're always taking in and you're never giving out your gonna reach a state of spiritual stagnation is a bit like a person think I eat all the time and I feel listless and lethargic dude, you need some exercise and at the same can be said of Christians were just reading on the word of God, taking in taking and taking and never giving out that needs to change or we might find ourselves in trouble spiritually see God does not give us his truth toward do we have any hoarders listening right now I would say I'm a micro hoarder. I like to keep stuff if it's a drawing for my children or my grandchildren. I save them and put them up my wall. I see a lot of things my wife sees the opposite.

She throws everything away one time to turn put me in the trashcan. I resisted, but if you throw stuff away.

But then there are people who are serious hoarders. I saw program and TV about a person think had so much stuff. It was floor-to-ceiling stuff in their home. Usually these people have a lot of cats to I don't know what the connection is listen to and chat.

It's too many changes. Five.

Really one chance to make a given anyway. They were all the stuff in the one situation that come in with some serious fumigation and other things to clean those home because food was rotting and stuff was piling up that give me a picture of a Christian how well fed Bible student who loves the Lord taking it taking it taking in putting it another way, according and awarding God doesn't give you this truth for you. For this to share your grade will come back in a moment to explain how sharing our faith is an antidote for spiritual dryness in our own lives more that just a moment, everybody Greg Laurie here encouraging you to join us as we give her what we call harvesting that home is worse in the message of the word of God. You can watch it with your family and your front room where you can watch it on the go on your tablet on your phone or your computer.

Take it with you. Take the word of God with you. Join us or harvested home Harvest was continued now with pastor Greg's message called tell someone available@harvest.org. Listen to this. You are blessed to be a blessing. You're blessed to be a blessing not to keep it to yourself but to share it with others. There's an interesting little passage Isaiah 58 we find that God's people were sort of dried up spiritually.

They didn't know why they thought they were doing all the right things but God was pointing out to them that they had no thought of the needs of others just of themselves.

So the Lord tells him what steps to take to start thinking of others to start doing good for others, and then he says in Isaiah 5811 the Lord will guide you continually giving you water where your dry and restoring your strength will be like a well watered garden in an ever flowing stream see if you're feeling spiritually dry right now. Maybe it's because you need to start giving out the check this out. The Bible says, given that shall be given to you press down, shaken together, running over, as you give out you will find God will give to you.

That brings us to point number one you're taking notes you might want to write this down point number one effective sharing starts with caring sharing starts with Karen. I know that sounds like something a care bear would say you know to care various little cartoon show. My grandkids used to watch them. I was at the care Bears were very strange. You know they all look exactly the same but they have different colors then they have a little heart and exposed heart and when they want to do something really good. They all get together. Nothing we care a lot we care a lot little rainbows of come out of their hearts are this does sound like something Kerber might say, but it's true sharing starts with caring let's establish a simple fact we do not like to share anything, much less the gospel. This goes back to our child, you know, someone gives up nice toy to a Chuck this is your choice there.

So happy. And then the parents is now share it with your friend now. Now why did you give this to me and then add that I would've been better if you never keep it to the don't want to share it or they were out having lunch with my son Jonathan's wife Britney and their kids and little Christopher.

My grandson is three now, so I gave to each of them a bag of chips. Christopher was enjoying his chips immensely and then his dad said Christopher. Can I have one of your chips. What I love about kids is you don't mask their feeling that I would say sure that although I would be think here you can. Christopher is a healing for those little bro will Christopher Jonathan says with anybody.

Give me a chip. While it is like torture for no is old that the best Is because he finally reaches and pulls out the most pathetic little chip broken hand. Jonathan's is okay to be a bigger check all the finally pleasant you know where like that.

We just mask it like we got to then my wife says I'm in a just get a silence and want to get some on the I only wanted this out okay well I'm getting a hamburger so I get a hamburger and I'm enjoying it and my wife says can I have a bite. I offered to get to your own know I don't want: to have a bite of yours.

I'll buy you a burger right now already know no I want a bite of yours save me a piece of the end of know the whole time I miserable. I have to give up one I don't want to give it up mine. So we don't like to share now share the gospel want to do that may go up to potentially a complete stranger talk to them about their need for Jesus.

Why don't want to do that that sometimes we see nonbelievers as the enemy will see some people doing what nonbelievers do so you will have sinful evil yeah it's evil/how would you once you forget they're not the enemy. There, under the control of the enemy.

The enemy is the devil. There, the captive that were told over and second Timothy 226. We should pray that they will come to their senses and escape from the devil's trap for they been held captive by him to do what ever he wants. Yeah Derek captive there a POW there a hostage and were the one that's going to liberate them potentially but really, if were honest, we really care about nonbelievers lot at times. One is little to do with them as possible. Instead of infiltrating more isolating and were never going to reach anyone we don't have contact with the Marley Jesus ago know all the world and preach the gospel, but it starts with a burden as a care Bears tell us sharing starts with care. The great British preacher CH Spurgeon put it this way and I quote all of me if you would speaking about speaking the nonbelievers. The Holy Spirit will move them by first moving you if you can rest without there being save the rest to but if you're filled with an agony for them.

If you cannot bear that they should be lost. You will soon find that they are an easy to I hope you'll get into such a state that you will dream about your child or your care. Nursing lack of Christ and start up and want to begin the cry oh God, give me converts or I will die. Then Spurgeon says you will love convert point number two sharing our faith sometimes involves a little bit of anger and I don't mean that you want to get mad at nonbelievers and scream it.

What I'm saying instead is I get angry at the fact that so many people are being ripped off by the devil and I want to do something about the Bible tells a story.

In acts 17 of the great apostle Paul who went to the city of Athens, which was the capital of Greece Greece. At that time was the intellectual, philosophical, capital of the world, and it also was a city filled with images directed to false gods affect one ancient writer said it was easier to find a god with a small G in Athens and I was defined a man so Paul walked around the city. He sees what they're into and it frustrates him is getting, worked up inside so he goes to the town square. Notice we call the Areopagus, and he addresses them. My point is simply this. First he was angry. Then he took action.

Don't get angry at the center get angry at the sin. The Bible tells us in acts 17 verse 16, he was deeply troubled by all of the idols heard another translation.

He was irritated and aroused anger or is even another translation puts it, he was hot and he was mad, do some just in the Bible possibly watch this happen in the same way. We need to take today on a new beginning, practical advice from Pastor Greg Laurie about sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and our current studies are part of Pastor Greg series called tell someone because of the importance of this information.

Pastor Greg has developed an online training course that corresponds with the series. It's a six week course that comes to you a lesson per week via email and it's absolutely free at the end of six weeks. You can be fully equipped and ready to share your faith, just as Jesus has commanded us all to do. Learn more about this free tell someone training course@harvest.org and our thanks to our harvest partners for helping us make resources like this available was a real treat to have J Warner Wallace with us today is a former atheist and a retired cold case detective and he's just released a brand-new book called person of interest. He puts his investigative skills to work examining the deity and uniqueness of Christ without depending on the New Testament as our proof.

He points out there are other ways to make a compelling case beyond a shadow of a doubt. Witnesses from that time the historical record, and so on, and Pastor Greg is speaking with Jim Wallace. Are there telltale signs when someone is not telling the truth. Oh yeah, so it's over.

We do a lot of times were looking at this is how I first investigated Scripture. I was somebody was up to the interviewer and our team is working on investigative team is working undercover had super long hair and his longer go to not have wearing today and so I thought well you know that that was.

I love doing interviews and I loved looking for deception indicators. But when people say things and there's a process called forensic statement analysis and what you're doing as you would have somebody to say that crime occurred yesterday a murder you would say okay know what all she do me a favor on this piece of paper which happens to have 24 lines. I just want you to write down everything you did yesterday from the day you got the moment he got up to the moment he went to bed and I give him a pen, so any changes they make, they have to cross out and I've got a you can't his backside on these different side so that allows me to do is to see what their pace is right. How many lines did they used to describe each hour because people will compress time or expand time and they're either trying to hide something or minimize something or maybe they're just impressed by what happened in that moment, Bill. Tell me something about that day in terms of how they expand and compress I'm looking for things like pronoun use. This is my good friend Greg.

I used a first name. This is not good for the past are now calling the pastor yeah so I'm looking for the context of how the pronouns change over the course of the description right. I love my my wife Susan. I we went on vacation. It was beautiful. I love my lovely wife, Susie was asked us what we describe. So I took a Susie on vacation.

Bonding describes my life. I took the wife on a vacation not a possessive pronoun now is like the wife he was going on with that now.

Maybe that's what you do all the time, or it might be that you changed here because at that point in the day you were upset about something, so I'm looking at all those deception indicators and wiring to the gospel of Mark for the first time I didn't think much of it. But then someone told me that an early bishop in the church name Fabius said that Mark's gospel was are the feet of Peter at that contest that casinos mark March not enough. Mark was in the at the at the scene we on them to Peter was, is there any evidence in Mark's gospel that points to Peter. Specifically, I'm looking for deception indicators places where you know how how the story is different. Comparing the other gospels I think are actually a lot of forensic evidence in Mark that demonstrates that Peter is a source while assistance or this is how I approached it right because the discipline I had in my pocket. This I just I knew there were certain number skills if you at this but this way if there's a murder from 20 years ago. Witnesses sometimes are dead by the time I get to the case and honor that the guy she did the interviews are that the gals the detectives wrote the interests of the supplemental reports sometimes they're dead to so now I've got an account of a supplemental report I got no access to the witness and I got no access to the report writer. That's the Gospels got no access to the nearest no access to the report writer's job to determine what happened 30 years ago. I use the same process to determine what happened, is magnificent. How long that that that time is gone by in the end, there are linguistic there little things that people say or don't say that tell you a lot about what this is like my daughters would hate a grown up with me because I would then what would come in. I was eight before you say anything, just know that every word that comes on your mouth and then analyze on a test and she was my gosh, is all. And before you standing also know that everything you could have said, but chose not to say I'm also not holding Ashley what and she's like why, what's a point just invested so that made it easier right but the point is that process you could actually apply the gospel out. All this explosive information is contained in this book that we are offering to you. It's called person of interest by J Warner Wallace why Jesus still matters in a world that rejects the Bible.

I will send you this book for your gift of any size because we want to put quality resources into your hands and we also want to give you an opportunity to support us as we teach the word of God and proclaim the gospel around this planet. So if you like your own copy. She's going to give you the contact information and will send you person of interest. Yeah that's right it's brand-new and we so much appreciate your investments of this daily study can continue. And when you send a donation today. Let us thank you with a copy of person of interest. You can write a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime 24 seven. Again, dial 1-800-821-3300 one Pastor Greg continues his series called tell someone shows us how evangelism isn't an optional accessory Christian life possibility. The Lord is given to each one of her more next beginning and everybody thinks or listening to this podcast to learn more about harvest ministries follow the show and consider supporting it. Just go to harvest.org and find out how to know God personally go to harvest.org and click on know God