R318 Why Should I Become A Christian Person

Question why is one of the things often ask about Christianity. Why should I become a Christian person discover the answer today. This is The Encouraging Word featuring the Bible-based preaching of Dr. Don Wilton, and today we had the Philippians chapter 4 to answer that question. Why should I become a Christian person could be just the tools you need to share your faith with someone you know every now and again God gives me an opportunity to preach on on my favorite subject and so this morning I'm not going to preach on me in my we will pick up next week with study on Nehemiah.

I want to speak to you this morning on probably one of my favorite subjects in all of the world. It comes in the form of a question. You see, we ask of ourselves many questions as we live this life we say will why do you go to USC instead of Clemson and we give our reasons and we say why do you live here in the state of day and we give our reasons and we say why do you prefer this over that and why do you like this kind of meat instead of that kind of meat and why do you make this decision instead of that decision.

Where always searching somehow to find an honest surrender reason as to why people do what they do.

But you know, the greatest Christian that we could ask anybody for assumes is why am I a Christian, that's a very basic question is, you know, as I look around our world today, and here in the United States of America, from sea to shining sea. The one question that needs to be honest, perhaps more than anything else is why am I a Christian, why should you become a Christian.

What is there about this God whom we serve. That makes it absolutely imperative for you and for me to hand our lives over to the Lord Jesus Christ time so that you can appreciate those who know Jesus that there are many many many different reasons and we could never answer all of those this morning, but I want us to have a look at it and I want you to take a copy of God's word to the right there at home here in our church and turn to Paul's letter to the Philippians and chapter full.

This is a remarkable passage of Scripture at just to give you a little background in Paul's letter to the Philippians, one of the New Testament epistles or letters you know that it's a later because you can go back to the beginning of it to chapter 1 and you going to read there that Paul and Timothy write to all the saints who are at Philippi. In fact, back in those days I used to turn the letters back to front, but used to start out with love from Paul and Timothy, then I would get on and they would talk to to you and then they would say dear dear Joe Evelyn at the end of it.

That's how they would get there, they just kind of turned a flip-flop on the letters but this is one of those letters. And there's something very remarkable about this later that Paul wrote to these people in this place called Philippi. Did you know that Paul wrote this letter in the bottom of the Roman prison he was writing this later under duress he was experiencing the worst kind of circumstances that you could ever experience. You know what prison was like back there in those days it was in many many instances, a massive hole in the ground and what would happen to a person when they were committed to prison, they were literally taken and I will put onto this road portraying a megalith down into the bottomless pit into this dark hole way down when nobody could see them and they would have a hole that could accommodate perhaps 20 people and they would put 50 people in the and many times people never came out of the they didn't have adequate oxygen they didn't have any kind of facilities.

Can you imagine the smell down there pumped. Can you imagine the disease. Can you imagine what these people went through. We don't like to talk about it in civilized society, but do you know that Paul wrote this letter from the of a Roman prison and yet we are going to discover today that in Philippians chapter full pool begins to talk with socks unparalleled joy and with such unparalleled in his heart and soul because of the fact that he knew Jesus Christ.

What's this all about. I think one of the things we might've said to Paul was simply this, Paul. Wait a minute you were beeping you were bruised you were shipwrecked you would dump in a Roman prison US we will you ever abandon you a scarf that blasphemed was strapped on and sat on. And yet you're able to say the things that you site in Paul's letter to the Philippians. How can these things be. Perhaps what Paul would've said is simply this, because I am a Christian will Paul why are you a Christian can you'll God do the same thing for me is the Jesus who died for you the same one who died for me. Can Jesus come into my heart and give me the same kind of joy. Can he bring my marriage together again.

Can he give me hope beyond the grave time. He writes a new song upon my heart. Can he do something for me that no one else can. Let's read about it, you follow along with me. I'm going to read some select verses in Philippians chapter full.

Remember this is right at the end of his letters.

Therefore, my brothers, you my love and longing for my joy and crown. This is how you should stand firm in the Lord Jesus, dear friend, I plead with you earlier and I plead with Cynthia Keith to agree with each other in the Lord just hold only a second, you see Paul write yet even in the prison. He's pleading for virtual unity. He's saying what ever happens because of the Lord Jesus Christ be of the same line. I think Paul understood that if there's one thing Satan wants to do to Christians. He wants to tear them apart and he'll look for an opportunity to do it. Listen to verse three yes and I lost your loyal young fellow help these women who have contented at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with claimant and the rest of my fellow workers. Here it is, who's names all in the book of life.

Rejoice in the Lord always and I will say it again rejoice, let your gentleness be evident to all. For the Lord is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, I want to please anyone out there today whose suffering from anxiety. Isn't God's word tells us, do not be anxious for anything, but he doesn't just leave the day. He doesn't just sweep it aside. He says be anxious for nothing, but in everything with prayer and petition with Thanksgiving present your requests to God. And what will happen.

What will happen if you follow God's basic blueprint.

Here it is. Look at verse seven model this verse and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me putting the practice and the God of peace will be with you. I rejoice greatly in the Lord that it lost you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned but you have no opportunity to show it. I'm not saying this because I'm in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances, I know what it is to be in me. I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation with the well fed or hungry, with a living in plenty all in one.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength and finally figured out where the beacon gets their good name from by always going to give it to you aplenty. I like that don't you. And you know what God's word says that's exactly what I'm going to do to you.

I'm going to sit you down at the beacon. I'm going to sit you down at the feast table of the king and I'm going to you plenty. I'm going to give you so much you going to doubt very seriously whether you can get up and return to the motorcar. Look at verse 14, yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

Moreover, let's cut out of verse 19 verse 19 and my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus by the Lord writing his word upon our hearts this morning. If I was to come to you right now you were to come to me and I was to say to you why you Christian, what would you say if I was to come to you right now and say to you, why should I become a Christian. What is there in your life that is a public demonstration to me that would make me want to do what you have done well there are many reasons here that the apostle Paul gives I'd like to focus on just for this morning.

First of all Paul says I know that I'm a Christian and I am a Christian. Number one because I know he is purpose. I know his purpose. You see friend if you study verse three and if you understand what verse three is all about what the apostle Paul is saying is that the single greatest reason for giving your life to the Lord Jesus Christ is that you can come to know the purpose of God for you, but what is his purpose. It's right there in verse three.

Look at who's names all in the book of life. Scripture tells us that God has this book. It's called the Lamb's book of life. You can read about it in Revelation.

You can read about it in the Gospels. It is the Lamb's book of life and the Bible says that the instantaneous moment that a man women boil. Go give their hearts and lives to Jesus Christ. That God writes your name in the Lamb's book of life. I have often wondered why it is that God needs a book that's what the Bible says.

I mean, why does God need a book. I think God knows all about us.

Don't you and Judy has this book, I become convinced today that it's not that God needs a book, it's that you and I need a book because the book is the ultimate confirmation of the acceptance of the purpose of God and just what Matthew's gospel says Matthew's gospel says that when we die and we come to stand before God, there are going to be many people in Matthew chapter 7 who are going to say but Lord, Lord, I did this in your name and Lord I did that in your nine. You know, as a young boy I used to hear my father preaching on heaven and hell are just like all young people. I used to sit there sometimes in fear and trepidation. Other times, a great joy. But I had this vivid imagination and some of you so you still got it when I have this vivid imagination, and I could just picture God sitting in his throne room on that great day with numbers of people. The number of movies as of the sand of the sea, according to the book of Revelation standing before the great White throne judge coming up to him and the angel of God saying name.

Please a well my name is George Daniel.

Well Sir, let me have a look and see with your name is hearing God's book what it's got to be they Lord you know I was born in America and so I have every confidence that my name is right there that's God's purposes, automatically disable all Americans, and so II look up and well, so I don't see George Daniel in the what it's got to be Lord you don't understand. I belong to the Boy Scouts.

In fact, I was given an award on a Sunday morning. My name must be in the Lamb's book of life.

Well Sir I don't know that that fits in with the criteria that you set before us, but Lord you don't understand. I was that I was Deacon the first Baptist Church. That's it.

Well George, I don't see that that fits into the criterion, but Lord, I was an elder at the Presbyterian Church was a priest.

Lord I did this in your lead. I know what it is on the wants monthly. I'm actually George Daniel the third see my migrate my grandfather was George Daniel and he was away earlier we know about your grandfather. He served the Lord all his life was born in Ireland. That's right arm of Irish descent, and he love the Lord Jesus Christ and George Daniel the second you will never know your father George how much the angels in heaven rejoiced about your daddy, you know, he emigrated from Ireland in fact both lost was Lipton and he came over and lived here in the United States and used to put on these green stuff every Irish Diane. I mean he could sing those Irish song. He was Irish until the day he died. But you know right throughout his life.

Your father George Daniel the second had no time for the Lord Jesus Christ never went to church. He blasphemed drank a lot. He was a tough man. Everybody knew him. He was the same for popularity he belong to every club in every organization, but you know what happened to your dad George.

It was a Sunday morning and it had been snowing. Nobody came to church but your dad for some reason kind that but that guy at the age of 67 your father gave his life to Jesus Christ your father said Lord God if you can forgive me if that's your purpose for my life. I want to turn my life over to you. If you can forgive me. No matter what I've done. If you can wipe this clean.

If you can put a new song upon my heart if you can write in the Lamb's book of life. I'm ready to turn my life over. I want you to know George the angels in heaven.

When because God is the God of forgiveness.

It's never too late until you die you know your daddy died two months later, George God issued his dispatch trumpet sounded and we angels when catapulting and cascading down Kevin's sliding gates down right there into that room where your father died so suddenly of a heart attack and we picked them up only a born-again believer for two short months of his life, and we transported him we angels did we seated him down at the feast table of the King. Well that's it then says George, my name is going to be there Lord. Surely you got a family plan for salvation, I mean my daddy my granddaddy come on, let's have a little bit of equity around here George I'm afraid your nine is not written in the Lamb's book of life.

See George God's purpose for you as it was for pole is that you personally can know that you know that your name is written in the Lamb's book of life. Let me ask you a question today. Why are you a Christian.

You see, God has a purpose for every person he came to die upon the cross, he gave himself he took upon himself knowing reputation. He took upon himself the sin of the world in order that we might ask, come to be reconciled to God the father that we can come back to be enjoying the game. In fact, he put it like this. He said I am the way the truth and the life no man can come unto God the father but by me. That's my purpose for you. That's the reason for Easter. That's the reason for the season at Christmas. That's the reason for everything is that I died for you and because I gave my life to you. You can be forgiven. You can be reconciled. You can be set in the right direction. You can have joy again.

That's my purpose.

Then, when you accept me I have another purpose that is as a born-again believer.

My purpose is that you should know and do my will.

That's my purpose for you as a Christian you see purpose in God doesn't stop at the moment of salvation. We are saved, not to sit with saved to serve. According to the purpose of God. And the reason I'm a Christian is because God is continuing to work out his purpose in my life. Forgive the interruption but Dr. Don Wilton remind you that you're listening to The Encouraging Word and it's our goal to encourage you to could be on the phone right now at 866899 word if you need to talk with someone pray with someone ready to help connecting resources we hear again at 866-899-WORD 9673 or online@twonline.org with great resources like the nasty daily Encouraging Word every daily devotional made available in a quarterly booklet delivered each morning in your email.if you would like to request history devotional. Please call 866899 word for our website, The Encouraging Word and IG confidence continue Encouraging Word is a viewer listener supported ministry for listening today. Now back to today's message with Dr. Don Wilton here on The Encouraging Word. Yes, I can know God's purpose, but there's a second reason Paul would've said because I can enjoy God's peace.

I can enjoy his peace.

Verse seven. One of my favorite verses and the peace of God which passes all understanding transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. I wonder if you really have peace today the world today is looking for peace. They struggling to find peace many years ago I found myself in in the mom of an Kalahari desert to central Africa. It was an incredible experience, but I remember one occasion in particular when one of those big sandstorms came up with you've ever been in a hurricane or tornado you want to be in one of those things in the middle of the desert and I know many of the men who served up north and the wars will know what I'm talking about and those who came back from Desert Storm. There's something horrible about being in the desert. It is so forsaken and so desolate sand gets into everything, and I remember one day on our radios. I was trying to monitor and I remember the battalion come on the coming over and saying there is a major storm approaching. We drew ourselves into what was called a logger. In other words, the taxonomic vehicles in a circle to prevent the enemy from attacking and we pulled these things into a circle and we had to get out of our vehicles and we had to sit down the other tracks of the tanks. The centurion Mark files that we were in and where to pull tarpaulins and try to hold him down and you could see, that's home approaching and all of a sudden it hit. I'll never forget it. As long as I live. I thought I wasn't going to make it for about five hours that wind blew so hard that even these mighty damage. These tanks that way more than you could ever imagine were swaying in the wind and that Sam began to build up and you could feel it building up. It was just piling up and piling up and eventually it was right over us. We were in sand that were as hot as anything if you please, and finally off role is gone on for about five hours just suddenly it stopped just like that and I remember beginning to dig out from behind these mountains of sand. We dug out a little list when we dug out a little bit that way and finally got my nose out a hole and I looked out into the log area or in tanks and I could see little holes appearing all over the place and I looked around and there was such such peace and I remember the words of the Lord Jesus Christ through his servant. The apostle and the peace of God which passes all understanding, will keep your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.

What kind of condition is you hoping Zillah conflict in your home you want to have peace. Turn your life in your home over to Jesus you have conflict at work. Turn your work over to Jesus you have conflict in your own heart you one of these people who always are for fact some way. If you ever met someone like always logging, always fussing, always contradictory, always unhappy about something. It doesn't matter what it is they gotta be unhappy.

You can guarantee it. In fact, you know they around because when everything goes wonderfully well count to five in their heads will pop if everybody says it's what you count 12345 by Stan up inside. I believe it's black. If everybody says it's this white count of 512345 by Stan up inside the it's this way and in fact they even justify can rationalize it by telling you that they believe God has laid upon their hearts to be the personal people dispatched by God to save the world and their organization strike. This is God's special mission to them. You not by side they saying about no peace on the person conflict. I'm always looking for something. I'm always upset about something, there are people all over the world. It doesn't matter how green the glasses that are always going to find something wrong by the saddest people on the face of the you know the Bible says you don't have to live like that. Peace of God which passes all understanding divorce is in the third place. I'm a Christian. Not any because I know his purpose and because I enjoyed his peace, but because I can receive his power. I love this one. It's right there in verse 13 I can do all things I can do everything through him who gives me strength when I'm among our senior citizens. I think of this verse I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. You know my friends because what God says that God is able to deliver that he can do anything to abundantly above all that you could all scream and think God gives to us the strength. There's one more thing, the policies he says not only cannot know his purpose and enjoy his peace and receiving his power, but I can experience his provision.

Verse 19 verse 19, my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus you know that's God's blank check. I like blank checks. Don't you that's God's blank check. God writes to his children blank check.

He says fill it out says I'm going to provide all you need. Why is this God's blank check the firm is my god look at this verse look at it with the firm is my God. The promises shall supply the amount is all only the capital is according to his riches. The bank is in glory and the signature is by Christ Jesus. What is that tell us about God's blank check tells us a lot of things it tells us that this bank will never go bankrupt.

This promise is absolutely certain. The amount is always sufficient capital is absolutely limitless. This bank can never be wrong, and the signature by Christ Jesus is up on every single check my God shall supply you need the powerful truth to know that God is ready to deliver on that promise.

I pray that you and I know that as God meets our needs. He meets him to us as his children.

Are you a child of God. Have you given your life to Jesus Christ her doctorate on teaching from Philippians 4 but I pray you open your heart right now.

What Dr. Don Wilton share from his heart. Are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Why don't you pray this prayer with me right. Dear God, I know that Iversen and I know that Jesus died for me today. I repainted my sick and by faith I receive you into my Jesus night, my friend. I welcome you today into the family of God. This is exciting news. If you just pray that prayer along with Dr. Wilton. Maybe to dedicate your life to Christ or we dedicate your life to Christ. Please know we are excited to welcome you to the family of God and excited to help you with the next steps of growing in your faith you can connect with us right now at 866-899-WORD chapter number down stored in yourself 866-899-WORD 9673 will connect with when I was 24 hours a day. And if you've given your life to Jesus Christ. Dr. Don Wilton should have some specific detailed information that help you grow or agree dedicate your life again. Dr. Don has a special package just for you if you call and ask for it at 86689967 were also connecting on our website and the TE W online.org. Pray you drop by and see us. Even if you haven't been in a while. Things are changing and it's a great place to sign up for the daily Encouraging Word email again that's online@tewonline.org. Let's connect today