BRING THE MESSAGE!

The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead… But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.—Acts 4:1-2, 4

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” —Acts 4:12

             If “salvation is found in no one else,” and that is the case, and if “there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved,” and that is the case, then what are you, bothers and sisters, going to do?  Are you going to keep that message to yourself or are going to share it?  Praise the Lord if you are regularly sharing the good news with others.  If you have not been faithful sharing the gospel, why not?  What is keeping you from doing so?

             Peter and John were compelled to share the gospel.  They could not keep it to themselves.  They were of the same mindset as Paul who said, “For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (I Corinthians 9:16).  There are some people who will believe and there are others who will be staunchly opposed.  We are responsible to bring the message and we are not responsible for how people react to it.  Again, some will believe and others won’t.  So let us be faithfully in doing so!

             Yesterday Elaine and I traveled to NY for 7 hours to see our youngest daughter, Hannah, and her family.  We’ve been making it a habit to stop at a gym half-way to break up the trip.  As we were there, I was praying who there might be our Lord would have me speak with.  There was a young guy that passed me 3-4 times while I was working out.  I took my earbuds out so I would be ready to speak with him, but it did not happen.  I finished and was in the locker room and guess who came in?  That guy and I entered into conversation with him and at the end he took the Gospel of John I offered and said he would read it that night.

             There are many people, I have found, that are not resistant to the gospel and are open to listening.  But we will never find that out for ourselves if we do not engage people in conversations about Jesus.  So, may we do so as an intentional aspect of our lives.  Yes, Dear Father, may this be the case in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Precious Son Jesus and may much fruit be borne for Your honor and glory! May this be so! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yBzIt_z8oY&list=RD1yBzIt_z8oY&start_radio=1