Hearing is Believing
Romans 10:14-17
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:14-17 NKJV
There is power and authority in the Words of the Bible.
Every Word in there is placed perfectly. It expresses the Heart of the Father.
It tells and shows His Greatness. His power and authority over all things. His mercy, grace and love pours from the pages. He speaks of His Holiness, that there is none higher. He shows us His Redemptive Power to save sinners from a separation from Him from eternity by the Ultimate Sacrifice, His Son Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
Through this Son is Salvation! There is Redemption of lost souls. In His hands are comfort, rest and guidance.
Through His Blood there is cleansing and healing of the sickest soul. Broken hearts heal. Faith and Hope of His promises give a new lease on life!
This is the beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
But it means absolutely nothing to the lost, brokenhearted person if they have never heard!
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?
There are many desperate hearts that need to hear about Salvation through Jesus Christ!
I had the honor and privilege to meet some amazing people this past weekend,
The Way, Truth and Life Ministries in Grants New Mexico, led by Pastor Danny Almanza. There was not a person there that did not welcome us with the love and compassion of Jesus! The name of the conference was;
“Battle for the Family”.
This was different from any other gathering I have been to or have been involved in.
What was so different, passion.
There were different Pastors from different denominations. There were people of God gathering together for one reason, to come under the Banner of Jesus! Fighting for their loved ones in prayer!
Pastor Dewey Moede preached about the decline of Christian values, not just throughout the country but even in so-called Christian homes.
There was something different. I believe that the Lord through the Power of The Holy Spirit is waking up something inside those that truly follow Christ, it was evident there!
The Passion to go out to do the work of an Evangelist.
We often talk about the Great Commission.The Command from the Lord to speak of the Kingdom of God and the Salvation that is found in Him.
We don’t often speak about what that entails.
Evangelism.
There is no Great Commission without Evangelism.
This is the teaching of Christianity, especially to people who are not Christians. What we believe and why we believe it. But sometimes it is just being loving, kind and compassionate to those that need it. Especially in the harsh, unbiblical world we live in.
Don’t you remember who Jesus sat with?
There is a famous atheist that said this;
“I’ve always said that I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. I don’t respect that at all. If you believe that there’s a heaven and a hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life, and you think that it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward—and atheists who think people shouldn’t proselytize and who say just leave me alone and keep your religion to yourself—how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?
Penn Jillette
This man is an atheist.
He doesn’t believe in God.
It is sad to hear these words because they have so much truth that we need to hear.
We as a Church are failing at what we have been called to do.
I strongly suggest you go read that quote again, let stir you inside your heart!
And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?
It doesn’t have to be complicated or hard. It doesn’t have to be a theological debate. We don’t have to beat them up with the Gospel or beat them down in their sin.
Sometimes we just have to show a little love with a small invitation to come and see!
Saturday lunch had come around at this wonderful conference.
There was food for an expected amount of people. There was going to be extra.
Pastor Danny, this man of God, did something that was amazing to see. He stood in front of the people in the church and gave them a challenge.
He said that normally when there was food left over that any in attendance were encouraged to take some home for later.
The Lord had another plan. He challenged all there to go out and take the extra food to an area where people were, if I’m not mistaken, right out back of the Church.
To see the people stirred with enthusiasm was encouraging.
It made me realize something. Sometimes it’s not that the Church doesn’t want to go out and do the Great Commission, sometimes we don’t know how.
And how shall they preach unless they are sent?
That is exactly what happened, they were sent out with an agenda and a purpose.
The purpose was to feed the hungry bellies.
The agenda was to feed them Jesus!
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Nothing complicated. No power points, no written out statements of faith. No tracks to speak.
Just going out speaking and showing them who our Savior is. With an invitation to come to the conference!
That’s being Ambassadors for the King and His Kingdom!
It might not seem like a lot in the eyes of the world. But imagine if you had the Spiritual eyes to see the working of God’s love in someone’s heart. To be able to see the stony heart melt back to flesh. To see the blinders taken off the eyes of the Spiritually blind. To hear the Word of the Lord for the first time with unmuted ears!
Glory to God in the Highest!
II Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
II Corinthians 3:18 NKJV
This is the whole purpose for us to go and preach the Word of God! To Evangelize to fulfill the Great Commission.
It has to be done so that those that once looked into the mirror of disgust and despair can now see the Glory of the Lord in them! Transformed!
From Glory to Glory!
When it is said that;
God does not call the equipped, He equips the called!
Isn’t there so much truth in that?
He, through the Power of the Holy Spirit, will give you the Words to speak. Allow Him to guide you. Trust fully in Him.
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
Let your beautiful feet take you to the ends of the earth, your city, your work, your home! Preach peace to those that are at war with themselves and God.
Bring and speak all the good things from the Gospel!
I learned a lot this weekend, not by the speakers but by the actions and the willingness of the hearts of the people to be true servants of the Lord.
Nothing more, definitely nothing less!
For that I’m grateful and very thankful!
Pastor Ed
