Accept it or not, your private sworn statement is one of the strongest and forcing tools God has given you in reaching nonbelievers with the gospel. Now, I am not talking about the common, garden-variety, churchy “braggamony.” we’ve all yawned and moaned as others rambled and preached their way thru a supposed testimony—which was about as fresh, appealing, and succulent as warm, month-old lettuce.

that sort of affidavit never attracted any one.

I’d like to help carry out the project of preparing your affidavit, that it’d become a good, potent missile launched continually from your lips into the ears of the unsaved. You would like to be listened to, so be engaging. It is a contradiction to chat about how exciting Christ actually is in an hardly interesting way. Work on your wording, your flow of thought your key terms. I advise that you think about your deliverance in 3 phases. You would like the instant of your new birth to be clear, so be categorical. Do not be at all obscure pertaining to how you turned into a Christian. Refer to the choice you made, the instant of time when you received the Lord. You would like your testimony to be used, so be practical. Don’t guarantee, “All your issues will end if you will change into a Christian,” for that isn’t true. Think as an unbeliever thinks as you are talking.

Restrain yourself from plucking the wings off non secular flies. Unproven stuff doesn’t attract their attention as much as practical fact. You need your affidavit to supply results, so be warm and real.

A smile breaks down more barriers than the hammer blows of cold, hard facts.

It’s hard to persuade someone else of the sheer joy and excitement of knowing Christ if you are wearing a jail-warden face. Once your missile hits the target, you may become completely discontented with your previous life as an earth-bound, secret-service saint.

One ancient and effective strategy of evangelism is the giving of your private affidavit. The skeptic may reject your doctrine or attack your church, but he can’t truthfully ignore the proven fact that your life has been modified. Trust me ; the steps that led straight to your conversion and the successive ramifications are much more appealing and suitable to the non-Christian than a pulpit exposition of John three or Romans five. If you haven’t discovered the value of telling others how God arranged your life, you have missed a urgent link in the chain of His blessing. On 6 separate occasions between Paul’s 3rd missionary journey and his trip to Rome, he stood before different audiences and presented Christ to them ( Acts 22-26 ). 6 times he addressed sceptics, a lot of them antagonistic and rude. Did you know the strategy Paul used each time? His private affidavit.

every time he spoke, he simply shared how his very own life had been changed by the invasion of Christ and the indwelling of His power.

Not once did he disagree or debate with them. No convincing methodology will ever take the place of your private sworn statement.

I challenge you to give significant consideration to thinking thru and then presenting the way God saved you—along with the thrilling results of His presence in your life. Tomorrow, I should share with you some specifics of a dynamic affidavit. Till then, you may want to consider 3 particular and crucial changes Christ has accomplished in your born-again life ; these can become part of your spoken sworn statement to sceptics. And, if you know your affidavit could use some written work and planning, schedule a time for it now—and write it on your calendar.

It was a cold, stormy Jan night in 1973. Senator John Stennis, the venerable hawkish Left winger from Mississippi, drove from Capitol Hill to his northwest Washington home.

Though older ( 71 ), he was still the forceful chairperson of the Senate Armed Services Panel . At exactly 7:40 pm, Stennis parked his auto and started toward his home fifty feet away.

Out of the darkness jumped 2 young robbers—little more than youngsters, truly. One nervously waved a .22 caliber pistol as the other relieved the senator of his private possessions.

“Now we are going to shoot you anyway,” one told Stennis. For six-and-a-half hours, surgeons at Walter Reed Medical Center worked feverishly to fix the damage and save his life. At 9:15 that very same night another flesh presser was driving home from the Senate.

a person on the opposite end of the political range, a Republican “dove” who had clashed frequently and sharply with Stennis. The crisis was reported over Hatfield’s automobile radio that wintry night. Disregarding the strong variations in their convictions and pulled by a deep admiration for the aged politician and a compassion for his predicament, Hatfield later admitted:. But I knew there had been something I must do—and that was to go to that surgery and be nearby where I might be useful, if at all possible, to the family.”. There had been numberless bafflement at the infirmary as fellow senators, co-workers, and curious chums and writers overwhelmed the surgery’s telephone operators. Shorthanded and disorganised, the surgery crew attempted their best but weren’t able to handle the calls and answer the questions. Hatfield quickly scoped out the situation, spotted a deserted switchboard, sat down, and willingly went to work. Much later—after recovering—Stennis related what he heard occurred next : “He informed the girls, ‘I understand how to work one of these ; let me help you out.’ He continued taking calls till daylight.” An very important detail is that he never gave any one his name because somebody would certainly suspect some political connection, some distant motive. Hatfield ultimately stood up around light, stretched, put on his overcoat, and silently introduced himself to the other operators. Pleased to help out for a person I extremely respect,” he claimed as he walked away.

The press could not handle that story when it leaked out. No way did it sound right for a Republican to give a Left winger the time , not to mention many interminable hours of private help in some unnamed, menial task. I mean, that sort of personality went out with the horse and cart and silent pictures and pronouncing “ma’am” and “sir” to teachers.

Politics and personal tastes and viewpoints on stuff like army participation may change among members of the body of Christ. But there’s a bond deep inside that ties us to each other. It’s the glue of authentic love, expressing itself in compassion, fairness, eagerness to support, and ( when possible ) coming to the help of another. Committed to the protection and grace of human life. Seeing another in need—regardless of differences of opinion—and reaching out in solid Christian maturity. As rare as a hawk and a dove in the same nest on a cold winter’s night.

If that describes you, you are missing a golden moment. As I discussed yesterday, you can turn this time from ho-hum to hallelujah. If I may take the phrase in Ephesians 5:16, making the best of your time, to incorporate the silent moments in the offering, let me offer some practical proposals. Take a pencil together with the circular stub and write down a listing of the things for which you are most thankful.

And thank your heavenly Pop for them one at a time. Tape that list in an obvious place at home and have a look at it daily for a week. Turn to the Scripture that’ll be used in the sermon. Think only about that passage across the offering time. Ask the Almighty to talk to you like you were all alone in the worship service. Pick out 2 or three people whom you know ( perhaps some sitting with or near you ) and pray particularly for them.

Ask the Lord God to prompt them and lift their spirits that day. You may even follow that up by greeting them after the service and expressing interest in their lives. Tell them that God inspired you to hope for them. Locate in the hymnal the hymn the musician is playing if it is familiar to you.

permit yourself to picture the scene in the hymn and become excited with the message it communicates. Refuse each outside thought that knocks for entrance.

Fess up to Him the mud you have swept under your life’s rug. Thank Him for your role in life, your job, your family, your church, your non secular gifts, your deliverance, your trials, your destiny, your healthiness the Scriptures. May I dare add another? Pray for the person that will bring the message. Ask The Lord God to give him freedom, lucidity, arrogance, sensitiveness, understanding on his feet, freedom from distractions and petty concerns. It’s fantastic how much more the message means to you when you have had a part in its delivery. Hebrews 13:15 gives timely endorse along these lines : “let us repeatedly offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that offer gratitude to His name.”.

That is a switch, isn’t it? The standard offering time becomes a “sacrifice of praise” time. A point in time when God, personally, receives your offering of gratitude. A point when He picks the “fruit of your lips.” what’s most outstanding is the way in which the juice from that fruit heals the ache in your left hip pocket.

If I select not to chance, if I’m going the “safe” route and identify not to plug either deliverance by grace or a way of living of grace, what are the alternatives? 4 points come to my mind, all of which are favored nowadays.

I shared 2 points with you yesterday and will share 2 points today. Everything is either black or white, wrong or right.

And as a consequence, the leader maintains stern control of the proponents. Fellowship is reliant on whether there’s full agreement. We first check out where folks stand on the difficulties, and then we decide whether we intend to spend a lot time with them.

The final analysis is this : we wish to be right ( as we see it, naturally ) more than we would like to love our neighbours as ourselves. At that point our personal choices eclipse any proof of love. I’m of the firm conviction that where grace exists, so must varied areas of grey.

I’m able to cultivate a judgmental perspective toward those that may not agree or cooperate with my plan. It is maybe the most un-Christlike characteristic in evangelical circles today.

A quick peek back thru the time tunnel will prove advantageous. Jesus found Himself standing before the brain trust of legalism, the Pharisees. Listening to Him were also many that assumed in Him. He’d been presenting His message to the bunch ; it had been a message of deliverance, of forgiveness, of liberty. “As He spoke these things, many began to believe in Him. So Jesus was announcing to those Jews who had thought Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you’re actually followers of Mine ; and you’ll know the truth, and the truth will make you free’ “( John 8:30–32 ).

He spoke of the liberating power of the truth. Free from the damnable impulses I could not stop when I was in bondage to sin. Free from the tyranny of others’ views, expectancies, demands. Free to permit others to be who they are—different from me. Free to live outside the constraints of human effort. In definite terms, Jesus Christ guaranteed his very own that His truth was ready to liberate them from each needless limitation : “So if the Child makes you free, you’ll be free indeed” ( John 8:36 ).

I select not to chance, if I am going the “safe” route and identify not to plug either deliverance by grace or a way of living of grace, what are the alternatives? 4 points come to my mind, all of which are well-liked nowadays.

I should share 2 points with you today and 2 points tomorrow.

I will tell you that as a sinner you have to have a better dedication to Christ, demonstrated by the work you do in His behalf, before you are able to say that you really believe. My problem in doing so is this : A sinner can’t commit to anything. Becoming an obedient, submissive disciple of Christ follows believing in Christ. Fruit comes after the tree is well rooted.

Nobody can be good and do good unless God’s grace first makes him good ; and nobody becomes good by works, but good works are done only by him who is good. Just so that the fruits don’t make the tree, but the tree bears the fruit.

So all works, irrespective of how good they are and how pretty they look, are in vain if they don’t flow from grace. I’ll choose giving you an inventory of dos and don’ts.

The list comes from my private and / or conventional preferences. It becomes my responsibility to tell you what to do or not to do and why. I then set up the conditions by which you start to earn God’s approval thru me. You do not do what I tell you not to do, and you are “in.” You fail to keep the list, you are “out.” This legalistic style of strong-arm teaching is one of the most plentiful techniques employed in evangelical circles. Rare are those with enough strength to face the list-makers. I select not to chance, if I am going the “safe” route and identify not to plug either deliverance by grace or a way of living of grace, what are the alternatives? 4 points come to my mind, all of which are well-liked nowadays.

I’m well aware this issue of grace is indeed questionable ; particularly when I’m calling for a new awakening to the liberty Christians have in Christ. Some will take what I write about grace and go insane with it. Others will misread what I write and misquote me, misunderstand me, and charge me with caring small about the holiness of Almighty God because ( they’ll say ) I give folks the liberty to sin.

On the other hand, some in the camp of carnality will thank me for relieving their guilt, because in their misunderstanding they now think it is OK for them to keep on in their loose and carefree way of life.

I just wish these things wouldn’t happen, but that’s the likelihood I am willing to take by holding nothing back so that the full message of grace be set out. Yes, grace that’s presented in all its charm and beauty is dodgy. It brings grace abusers as well as grace killers out from under the rocks. Let’s return to a key verse of Scripture, Romans 5:1 : “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with Our Lord God thru our Lord Jesus Christ.”. For any one to stand securely and be at peace before a holy and just God, that person must be righteous.

It does not mean the believing sinner stops sinning. God sovereignly bestows the gift of unceasing life on the sinner right now he thinks and thus declares him righteous while the sinner still lives a life marked by continual sinfulness. He has not guaranteed to live a sacrificial, spotlessly pure life. He has simply taken the present of everlasting life. He has changed his mind toward Christ ( repentance ) and accepted the free gift of God apart from works. By grace, through religion alone, God declares the sinner righteous ( excuse ), and from that moment on the justified sinner starts a technique of expansion toward maturity ( sanctification ). Day by day, bit by bit, he learns what it suggests to live a life that respects Christ. Actually, it weakens the full force of excuse. Reason truly means this : although I sin intermittently and have found myself unable to stop sinning on an enduring basis—God announced me righteous when I thought. And because I’m going to continue to sin from time to time, I find much more reason to be thankful for grace. And so, as a sinner, my only hope for survival is grace. In its best form, it makes no material sense.

How well do I know God? Absence of understanding about God’s personality and what pleases Him obstructs listening.

Do I think that God wants to chat to me? A poor self-image is one reason we have lifeless hearing. Do I live with a feeling of guilt? When we suspect Devil’s lies about not measuring up to God’s standard, we experience fake guilt, and our listening skills reduce.

Have I been too busy to take time for God? The Lord expects us to hear Him and reply, even in our busyness. Do I think God speaks thru His Holy Spirit? When we have unbelief about God chatting to us personally, we won’t hear His voice.

Am I indignant with God? Over time, God-directed anger can close our heart to His words. Have I made a decision on how I need God to answer? When we have got a rebellious spirit, we close our ears to any solution but our own. How well do I receive feedback and correction? Our inclination is to reject the messenger without determining if she or he was sent by God. ( Luke 8:18a ) now would be an excellent time to obey.

A few of you who read these words today could employ a tiny additional hope, particularly if you end up in a waiting mode. You were once engaged in the action, doing top-priority work on the front lines.

Though you are well-educated, experienced, and reasonably presented in your own field, you are now waiting. You are wondering, and perhaps you are getting worried, this waiting period could be permanent. You cannot see any light at the end of the tunnel.

Discouragement crouches at the door, prepared to pounce on any thought or hope, so you sit considering why God has selected to pass you by. He may select not to bare His plan for weeks, perhaps months. Are you prepared for this? It may be years. I’ve found that one of Almighty God’s favourite techniques of preparing us for something great is to send us into the shadows to attend. Take heart from the words of Brit writer James Stalker who wrote, “Waiting is a typical instrument of auspicious discipline for those to whom outstanding work has been appointed.” Pause and let that sink in.

Waiting is one of Our Lord God’s preferred systems of preparing special folk for heavy projects. The Bible makes that principle plain from cover to cover.

As Psalm 27:14 announces, “Wait for the LORD ; be robust and let your heart take bravery ; yes, wait for the LORD.”. 

Rather than considering yourself essential, remember frequently it is the Lord’s work to be done the Lord’s way. I initially heard that principle from Francis Schaeffer while attending one of his lectures. There he stood in knickers and a turtleneck sweater, delivering this very message to a group of young, idealistic listeners—many of us fighting to find our way. I heard him say this again : “The Lord’s work must be done the Lord’s way.

If you are in a rush, you can make it work your way.

It might have all of the marks of promotion, but it will not be the Lord’s way. It could be time for you to be let down off your wall in a basket to learn that in your life.

John Pollock, in his excellent book The Apostle, states, “The irony was appreciated by him the mighty Paul, who had originally approached Damascus with all of the panoply of the high clergyman’s representative, should make his last exit in a fish basket, helped by the extraordinarily folk he had come to hurt.”. Solely to set the record straight, our lives aren’t caught “in the slipped clutch of circumstance.” Our heads aren’t to be “bloodied, but unbowed.” You and I are neither the “masters of our fate” nor are we the “captains of our souls.”* We are going to be completely, ceaselessly, and totally conditional upon the mercy of Almighty God, if we would like to do the Lord’s work the Lord’s way.

My question is : Are you learning that? If not, today would be a good day to start.