Tell Someone: You Can Bring Others to Jesus

Everybody you're listening to a new beginning, which is a podcast made possible by harvest partners. If this program is impacted you, I love to hear from you. So just send an email to me at greg@harvest.org again it's greg@harvest.org you can learn more about becoming harvest partner by going to harvest.org is an optional creation/interface master Greg Laurie says it's not, it's clear instruction from Jesus himself.

The moment you became a Christian, you enter the Lord's military your CO your commanding officer is giving you a direct order son, daughter, go to all the world and preach the gospel so there's a yes or you say no sir, your command and lives depend on clear communication of an organized chain of command and on the need to obey orders without question and without delay today on a new beginning. We might well follow that example of how we respond to God's leading in our lives. Greg Laurie help us get the instruction we need to follow the orders of our commanding officer will learn how we can tell someone.

The good news ever felt like you're not ready for that assignment right place to grab our Bibles and chapter 15 this is our new series that I'm doing in the title of it is, tell someone subtitle 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 a Greg that's a bit presumptuous is in it is not conversion of the work of the Holy Spirit. Yes, that's true. But honestly, sometimes that said 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 he's not going to take you over and make you do it, but this is what God wants us to do that brings us to point number one taking notes. You might want to write this down point number one effective sharing starts with caring 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 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 the burden sharing starts with care.

Now look at Luke chapter 15 I had you turn there earlier because this is a series of teachings given by Luke 15 has three primary movements and it shows how God views people who do not yet know him and you might be surprised by what you read here Jesus uses three metaphors showing God's love. First, we have a shepherd who lost the she verses 1 to 7 a woman who lost the calling verses 8 to 10. Finally, a father who lost a son versus 11 to 32 so.

First four compared to a sheet being sought by a shop by the way, when the Bible compares you to achieve. Don't take that as a compliment. She brought one of the dumbest animals on the face of the I know they're cute and cuddly, but they're really stupid Jesus speaking about that my sheep hear my voice. It would've been a much greater complement of he said my dopants are my voice ovens are smart. I love Dolph if I could have a pet, it would be a Dolph I mean weird that you can have as I watch a show called flipper growing up Dixie Longo explained that I want to delve into it.

He said my dogs are my voice. It would be a good thing. Even in this case of Mike my capture my voice so he says my sheep or my, what shall we hear it kind of sheep are basically defenseless animals. They don't have teeth to speak of their little tiny because they can't run fast. Basically a sheep is a leg of lamb for the taking that I just carry mint sauce around with them and not just kill me eat me up on the way. My code makes a nice letter so I sheep is completely dependent upon shepherd to work completely dependent upon God.

Not only are sheep stupid. They also go astray is a story that Christ else is ever separate what 100 sheep, and 111 astray, and he left the 99th searching for the errant lamb, and he would not give up until he found it and then when he finds the lamb. Jesus says the same way.

There's more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents and returns to God than 99 others who have strayed. Listen to this every time someone on earth believes in Jesus. Heaven rejoices.

We need to remember that because that should cause us to care about nonbelievers. If heaven rejoices over every one sinner that repents. Should we not do the same. And then Jesus talked about a woman who lost a coin back in those days the bride would wear sort of it had been in and they had been there were multiple points so to lose a coin from your had been as a bride would be like losing your wedding day. I'm never gonna lose my wedding that I've been married 41 years. By the way, and I've gained so much weight I need the Jaws of life to get the wedding band off the it's there permanently. But if I were to lose it or misplace it.

Trust me when I tell you I would search until I found it.

So this girl looking for her loss going. She finds it Jesus again concludes there Luke 15 verse 10 in the same way. There is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repair and finally last movement of the story we have a father missing his son, probably one of the most well-known stories from the Bible. It sets up perfectly written story that author Charles Dickens said of it. It's a greater short story ever told poet Robert Bridges said it's a flawless piece of art I told the story all around the world that have the opportunity to preach the gospel. I find it resonates with every kind of person every kind of culture, men get it. Women get it. Children get it. Everyone understands it is such a straightforward story. And if God were to ever take a selfie. This is what he would look like in this story Jesus is God is like a father who has to son and when one of his sons goes astray, he desperately misses that son, and longs for his return. You know the story the boy comes to his dad, demanding his portion of the inheritance effectively says that you know you're living way too long. I'm tired of waiting for you to die. Just give me my part of the inheritance. Now let me go in amazingly the dead acquiesces and gives the boy would he request it off that kid goes to a place far away, ending up with hookers and booze and partying and all that kind of stuff and after a while the boy spends all of his money and all of his friends that he had are gone with the money and he's actually feeding pics, which is not a very kosher thing for a good Jewish boy to do anything. He actually is thinking maybe I will eat the food that I'm feeding the pigs and then it dawns on him. This is stupid.

This is ridiculous, to go back to my father, and as a father, I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Just take me on as a hired hand sabbatical in the boy. Now the guy was probably he was probably older, maybe his body was a little bad with age. Maybe his body was ravaged with the bad choices he had made in his lifestyle he's going back home.

Meanwhile back at the ranch. It's almost like the camera moves out from the boy.

We come to the father.

This is called the parable of the prodigal son, but it could just as easily be called the parable of the loving father. But the story of how God loves us back to the ranch. There's dad sitting on the front porch. Maybe in his rocking chair. Missing this boy periodically. You get up walk into his son's room with all the things hanging on the wall Samoset rascal of a kid, I was should come home. Maybe it's been years. Maybe it's been decades. We don't know the story doesn't say, but he would just long for that boy's return. He would sit out there and wait one day he said not there in the porch and he sees a familiar figure making his way down the path to the home.

It's his boy and the father is so excited he bolts out of his chair and runs to his son and throws his arms around him and kisses and says rejoice with me. This is my son was dead and is alive again. The boy didn't even get to finish his feet, father no longer with the difficulty that forget that you're my son. We've always been my son, welcome home.

That's a picture of God.

Here's the amazing thing in this culture, it is considered undignified for an older man to run. Not to mention the fact it's harder for an older man to run. I know this from personal experience as I've tried running and I can walk for long distance and find else I'm just too little John walking really fast. People tell me I walk really fast but then on this to adjust to the moment I did is I hate life just everything shaking just misery. Immediate physical pain to go back to walking again. Five.

People love to run, always had a good run. What a great run.

Crazy. You had a great go crazy were great run man.

The endorphins released. I've never had a single endorphin release to my life doing any kind of exercise I have in the release of endorphins eating hamburgers offer its undignified fathers older gentleman did not run in this culture. If Jesus is not said this, we would not even dare to suggest that Jesus compares the father in heaven to a father who misses a son so badly he's willing to lose his dignity if you will get to his son as quickly as possible to here's my question for you. If that father was willing to lose his dignity to engage his son. Are you willing to lose yours to engage a nonbeliever, but I mean walking me maybe to a stranger or raising the subject of the gospel. You know what's going to happen now people are talking about whatever and then you are going to quote a Bible verse to say something about Jesus that all conversations going to ship some people you get angry with you. We don't want to do that we don't want to leave our comfort zone. We don't want to make ripples. But Jesus says go into all the world and preach the gospel. What about times called lifestyle evangelism is it enough to let our light shine would not really overtly share our faith. Pastor Greg answers that in just a moment, emails, letters and phone calls from listeners are so encouraging to us and they let us know the effectiveness of these studies, Pastor Greg, I want to thank you for helping me learn and understand the word of God. I also wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your sense of humor even in my darkest times when I listen to your sermons I can go from crying to laughing. Keep up the wonderful work of God, and God bless you and your family. What an encouragement to hear that Pastor Greg's teachings are helping this woman, and many others like her. Let us know how these studies have impacted you send an email to Pastor Greg greg@harvest.org again, that's great@harvest.org will Pastor Greg continues now with his message about our privilege of sharing the gospel called tell someone recommended by Jesus to fulfill the great commission. It's not a suggestion but the moment you became a Christian, you entered the Lord's military your CO your commanding officer is giving you a direct order son, daughter, go back to the command of the Greek go into all the world and preach the gospel so you either say yes sir, or you say no sir, what are you going to do your command. We must do this know what is the great commission again is to preach the gospel and it's to make disciples.

What is that mean it means to the best of her ability led by the Holy Spirit.

We seek to bring people to Jesus Christ. Get them up on their feet spiritually and then go and do it again and going do it again and go do it again and let me ask you this one is the last time you did that once the last time you engage someone.

I believe it can energize you and help you as well as it can help the person you're ministering to.

I would compared to going to Disneyland with adults or kids it's attracted go to Disneyland with adults because they complain so much and I and I would include myself in that first thing we say is so stinking expensive. What is it like a thousand bucks to get in the park space so we gripe about that. Then we walk in the park in their play seed here was a good restaurant so that we go any what happens after that sleepy so it's and I know there's Adventureland is her nap Lynn Peterson 100 yeah that's a problem and we go to write that so fake that that doesn't look real at all would just complain the whole time. It was a lot better when Walt was still around. That's going to Disneyland with an adult. The happiest time for a kid going to Disneyland is when you walk in the happiest time for an adult it Disneyland is leaving now ticketed with a child seat that their eyes really is. As the song says a whole new world. It's a magical place in the best sense of that word. They love it there enjoying it. That's why you should take a child because you're standing in line for a right now they have these little signs.

If you're at this place in the line you will be on the right in one month it's like to do it. The tell me that I was happy when I didn't know the children. They don't care. They love the rights they love the whole experience, and this can be true of churches well for those that have known the Lord for a while. What would we become a little jaded. We take things for granted. We start complaining about everything music should allow music so loud it up. It's too hot to call it stupid. It's too small it's to something and on and on we go. And then of that preacher would dare to add an invitation for people to come to Christ.

At the conclusion of his message, we see that as an front because he says no there might be some of you here that don't know Jesus today your thinking what is he doing this is going to take longer and I want to go to lunch 11 people why I'm inviting people to Christ. Get up out of their seat and walked out to me that is so insensitive, how could we be so out of sync with heaven heaven is waiting with baited breath for someone to believe.

So we can have a victory shout to break out in applause and we what we just want lunch. We just want the service away, and it's a helpful change. Bring on nonbeliever or a new believer with you. The church next Sunday and everything's different. Never notice when you bring a visitor to the church how you look at everything in a different way because you look at it through their eyes so mother worship something you can looking at them sideways again this then maybe if I get up to speak your thinking your praying, God don't let Greg told the joke again.

Lord help to me.

So weird. Lord, for those my thoughts.

I don't know my prayers. But then your praying Lord haven't given invitation Lord speak and show Greg or the pastor to get that invitation and then when the pastor says if you don't know Jesus Christ. Here's what you need to do in your praying for that person and then the person that you brought that they responded that invitation and they receive Christ. What a joyful day. That is, you see how everything can change when you get a nonbeliever for a new believer in your life. Listen, this is the command by the Lord, don't think of this as a mere duty. Don't think of this is drudgery. Think of this is a privilege to give this as a joy. Think of this as the greatest opportunity the greatest adventure ever share the gospel when we say one last thing to not do this can be hazardous to your spiritual health. You show me a church that does not a constant flow of new believers coming in show you a church that is stagnating the church as a choice before us, we can evangelize we can fossilized you have a choice before you. You could seek to reach people with the gospel and not be a hoarder but share with them the truth and you can be blessed beyond measure.

While I'm in in this message. Now but I'm to do what I just talked about because her someone visiting us today and you've come to the church service with your friend or family member in your hearing us talk about how to reach people like you. Let me just say this to you that are visiting. God loves you. He has a plan for you is whole services.

In fact, been about you. You can come into this relationship with Jesus and your separated from him by your sent. There's nothing you can do to rectify this. But God loves you so much. Jesus died on the cross for your sin, then he rose again three days later and right now he stands at the door of your life and Enoch, and he says if you will hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in many years ago. I will fail many over 40. I heard that invitation and I believed in Jesus. I've never for a moment regretted it in your hearing it right now. Jesus said your for me or against me to not be for him to be with them is to be opposed to him where you stand. Would you like your sin forgiven. Would you like to know that you go to heaven when you die. Would you like to know this piece that we been talking about today. It's all meant to give you an opportunity to believe in him.

As we close in prayer atop our heads. Father, thank you for your word to us. Thank you for the wonderful message of the gospel now. I pray for any hero are those that are listening. Did I get to know you, Lord, would you help them to see their need for you and help them to come to you and help them to believe in you this very moment in Jesus name I pray, Greg Laurie important word of prayer. And if you like to make that kind of change today in your relationship with the Lord.

Pastor Greg will help you with that and he'll do so before today's addition of a new beginning. Concludes simply stay with us now if you missed any portion of today study a message called tell someone you can hear the whole program again online@harvest.org, or download MP3 again go to harvest.org on such a privilege to have author J. Warner Wallace with us today. Jim Wallace is a good friend of the ministry and he's just finished a book called person of interest.

He makes a case for the uniqueness of Christ, much as a detective would make a case for a crime where there is no crime scene. It's a fascinating read and very convincing that Jim you were an atheist for many years. What if you had read this book. During that time would've changed your mind as a question and I cannot wonder sometimes we really hold intellectual objections are most of our objections deeper than that.

Their emotional or volitional, as I was really in a bit behind my objection, but I will tell you this, and often said I only met two kinds of Christians out I was in Southern California. To be honest I didn't have any Christian friends growing up didn't know never invited us to church number about me to church. My parents were Christians. I just did not have a sense I didn't know anybody and and then then I met some Christians at work now present the just as a police officer and a detective in the two groups of people. I met the most often were number one police officers couple at our agency, who were Christians and I would asked him questions they did not have good answers I thought. While these people who are have a high value for evidence. Yet, when I asked him questions early, evidentially based like so really you would never build a case against the sky was put in jail. The way you just got that case from Richey eyes that really this is a very unexamined worldview, then the other group I met to those other Christians. The people I was taken to jail okay and those folks would tell me yeah you know I just I be honest with you it would tell me I just got saved, like in the last year driving the jail. I'm thinking to myself really so so we had to have Kaiser groups. Here we have people who are either unwilling to look at all you know. This is supported by the evidence and people who don't behave as though it supported by the evidence. I wanted no part of either one would be just comforting to know that there is a way of of of living as a Christian that is very well-informed informed about history informed about science and formed from educational perspective. You have to turn off your brain to be a Christian. As a matter fact this is the I think the great gain of of all the dogs in the yard located the dogs you are young, philosophy of philosophies of the world in the history of philosophy. I see this is the great Dane right that we don't need to act like Chihuahuas were costly barking because of the smallest dog in the yard.

It turns out the Christian worldview is very well-informed and is supported by the evidence. You can repeat be comfortable enough to react aggressively. All you have to do though is know what the evidence is you have a sense of calm about defending the case for Christianity great statement. You don't have to turn off your brain to become a Christian.

You know the Lord says come let us reason together, says the Lord.

Reason there's a place for that place for answering the objections that people have in giving the biblical evidence. This is a resource that you will consult again and again, footnoted research, well written, but at the same time, illustrated and made understandable, so anyone I think a young man or a young woman be able to understand this as well as someone who is older and more of a reader.

This is something everyone can benefit from. It's a brand-new book called person of interest. Subtitled why Jesus still matters in a world that rejects the Bible, written by former cold case detective J Warner Wallace. I will send you your copy for your gift of any size.

Yes, brand-new.

In fact, the publisher graciously sent some advanced copies only available through a new beginning, and we want to send this resource to you to thank you for partnering with us. So these daily studies can continue reaching out with the gospel in our prayer is that this book will help you reach out with the gospel in your own circle of influence.

So ask for person of interest. As you send your generous gift today to a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. We can speak with you anytime again at 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org Pastor Greg you spoke today about having a relationship with the Lord. Yes, someone can enter into that kind of relationship with the Lord. Right now can't yeah they really can.

That's the amazing thing. I think people are surprised that it doesn't take years to become a Christian.

It doesn't take months. It doesn't take weeks.

It doesn't take days, it doesn't even take ours you can believe on the spot and I would like to lead you in a prayer where you can ask for his forgiveness. A prayer where you can receive Jesus Christ into your life as your Savior and Lord.

So if you want Christ to come in your life if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want a second chance in life. If you want to go to heaven when you die, stop what you're doing and pray after me these words Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I'm sorry for my sin and I turn from it now and I choose to follow you from this moment forward as Savior and Lord is God and friend. Thank you for loving me and calling me and for giving me in Jesus name I pray, amen man listen. If you have just prayed those words with pastor Greg and meant them sincerely the Lord has heard you and forgiven you of your sin. The Bible tells us Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness and we like to send you some materials to help you begin to live this new life we call it our new believers growth packet just ask for it and will set it free of charge if you prayed for the first time today with pastor Greg Wright, a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click know God. What next time pastor Greg helps us with something called evangelism fragilis. Find out what it is when you join us next time inside of her pastor great online training course corresponds with this evangelism series by going to harvest God for things related to a new beginning. Greg Laurie podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for daily devotions and learn how to become a harvest partner harvest.org