1 8 - Do We Really Believe in Witnessing? - fbcvision.com

1 1 8 - Do We Really Believe in witnessing ? proclaiming the Lord s death until He Comes - I Corinthians 11:23-26 Good morning! I am so glad to be back with you today! It was my honor and privilege to lead 33 pilgrims on a wonderful trip to the Holy Land. This was my eighth journey and my greatest joy is seeing the holy sites through the eyes of those I love. What a thrill! But it seems I have been gone forever! It s good to be back with you here in the sanctuary, and it is good to be back with those in WITH! Mike Medori did a splendid job in his three part series, didn t he?

2 Indeed! Today I want to return to the burden the Lord placed on my heart months ago. He began to reveal how, in my life as well as those around me, and the church of Jesus Christ nation-wide, that there has grown a severe disconnect between what we say we Believe and how we behave. This has grieved the heart of Holy Spirit and hindered His work in and through us. The first Sunday of the year I shared my heart about this in a general way. Then each week I have pointed specifically to areas where this disconnect exists in our lives.

3 We have looked at what we say we Believe about the Bible, about sin and the consequences of sin. These messages have struck us deeply in our souls. I have seen repentance and renewal like I have never seen here at FBC. Praise the Lord! There has been one critique, if I can call it that, about this series. It has to do with guilt. The critique is that I have been creating a guilty conscience among the people and then leading them to resolve their guilt with confession. Let me comment on that just a moment. Did you know there is a distinct difference between guilt and conviction?

4 I readily admit that they both feel the same. They both result in what I call soul pain. Guilt and conviction both hurt us deeply. The difference between the two is their source and their outcome. The source of guilt abides in Satan himself. The outcome of guilt is condemnation. The source of conviction is Holy Spirit, and the outcome is repentance and redemption. So how do you tell the difference? If the source is Holy Spirit, then you confess your sin from a heart filled with repentance. Your soul is cleaned and you sense the refreshing and renewal of sweet fellowship with the Lord.

5 If the source is guilt induced by the Devil, no amount of confession or repentance will suffice to relieve you of the soul pain. Satan wants you in bondage to your sin; Holy Spirit wants you free to live the abundant life. My goal in this series is not to heap guilt on you. That is counter-productive. Guilt only works as long as you can keep the pressure on. Some of you grew up under a load of guilt. I know I did. It only serves to force a change in your behavior, but never changes your attitude and heart. Once the pressure of guilt is removed, you go about doing your heart s desire without any restraints.

6 Conviction however is transformational. Holy Spirit uses it to bring holy change into our lives. Our attitudes and actions align with His, and we are free to walk in the newness of life with Him. My goal in this series is to faithfully present God s Word to you in such a way that you are brought into the presence of Holy Spirit and He will do the work of conviction and transformation. Now, to where the Lord has led us today. This morning we celebrate the Lord s Supper. I love this symbolic meal based on Jesus renewed interpretation of the Passover.

7 I invite you to read with me from 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. READ and PRAY. Earlier here in the Sanctuary we sang an old hymn. If you know it, you can probably recite the words with me, but just in case this is new to you, let me read the text of I Love to Tell the Story. I love to tell the story of unseen things above, of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love. I love to tell the story, because I know 'tis true; it satisfies my longings as nothing else can do. (Refrain) I love to tell the story; 'tis pleasant to repeat what seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully 2 sweet.

8 I love to tell the story, for some have never heard the message of salvation from God's own holy Word. (Refrain) I love to tell the story, for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest. And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song, 'twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long. (Refrain) I love to tell the story, 'twill be my theme in glory, to tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love. When I was a new believer in Jesus I learned that old hymn. It became one of my favorites and one of many that form the theme of my life and ministry.

9 I want to remind you of that song because it forms the backdrop of my message to you today. I Really don t think we truly Believe in bearing witness of our faith in Jesus. I don t think we honestly Believe in witnessing to the lost. If we did, our altar would be full every service, folks would be getting saved each week, and we would be baptizing like crazy. But we don t bear witness of how Jesus has transformed our lives! The pressure of this world has gotten to us. We are timid and shy to even mention the name of Jesus. We don t keep a list of lost souls we are praying for and longing to see saved and to whom we are witnessing every chance God gives us.

10 We don t witness because .. well, why don t you? Why am I not telling everyone I come in contact with the old, old story of God s transforming power in my life? This morning as we prepare ourselves to come to the table of our Lord I am led by Holy Spirit to concentrate on 1 Cor. 11:26. Will you read it with me again? For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord s death till He comes. In short, every time you and I celebrate communion we preach the Gospel. The Greek word translated in most versions as proclaim means to proclaim publicly, to declare, to announce, to make known.