The time is NOW to STAND!

In the New Testament I love reading about Paul. The man truly was the “King David” of the New Testament- man after God’s own heart. Paul a bondservant to Jesus Christ who was beaten, stoned and run out of many cities for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many people may think the Bible is out dated or is irrelevant to our day and age, but beloved friends, nothing could be further from the truth. Before we begin, let me give you some background information about our brother Paul. He was a Jew who was persecutor of Christians. Then while on his way to Damascus God intervened and asked him “Saul Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” God caused him to go blind for 3 days, after 3 days God restored Paul’s sight and filled him up with the Holy Spirit. From then on, it was game on and Paul was all about getting souls saved for the Kingdom of God.

Let’s begin in Acts chapter 17 vs 16. “Now while Paul waited for them (his friends Silas and Timothy) at Athens his spirit was provoked when he saw that city was given over to idols.” Paul was disturbed by people worshipping idols and instead of just brushing it off, he went in the markets daily and preached the gospel. Listen up folks we live in same world. People after money, notoriety, expensive cars, big homes, and have become a society of all about me! Let me tell you friends if this wasn’t true so many people would not be debt. We have put “things” above Jesus Christ, idols that distract us from Christ’s grace and love. Many Christians are living like the world, I know I can’t tell a difference sometimes. We have gotten our eyes off the prize, which is glorifying Jesus and magnifying the God in heaven.

So Paul goes into the streets and is preaching, and a few philosophers heard Paul’s teachings and brought him to meet with other philosophers so he could share the gospel. You see all it takes it one person to hear the truth of God and then it is like a domino effect.

Now lets skip on over to verse 24-25, Paul says to them “ God who made the world and everything in it since He is Lord of heaven and earth does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshipped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since HE GIVE TO ALL LIFE, BREATH, and all things.”

Do you understand what Paul is saying? This world is God’s we are just living in it. God has given everyone free will to do whatever and will not force us to obey Him, seek Him, love Him, or have faith in Him. The blessings of life flow like raging rivers when we decide “God I can do nothing apart from You, take me and mold me, fill me up with your everlasting presence.”

I know we have all met miserable people, maybe you are one of them where life is just hard and there doesn’t seem to be any hope; believe I was once a broken vessel but God is restoring me, but here is truth my beloveds “ in Him (Jesus Christ) we live and move and have our being, as also some your own poets have said ‘For we are also His offerspring’”. God is the giver of life and is in essence is our being! Here is a great promise, in Romans 8:31 “If God is for us, who can be against us?” The weight of the world can be on our shoulders, but with God all things are possible. God made this universe, there is nothing EVER too difficult for the Creator.

Just as Paul did not sit back and let the unsaved go unsaved, but preached in daily to those in need of Savior, neither should we, yet so often we do. People are hurting, let’s give them the remedy for happiness, hope, and abundant life! I love this verse in Mark 2:17 “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” When we are born into this world we are born sinners in desperate need of a Savior. We are soul sick and Christ is the healer, the bridge that takes us to our God in heaven when this life on earth is all over.

Acts 17: 31, “He (God) has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man (Jesus Christ) whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

There is a day called Judgment Day in which the Lord God Almighty will judge every single person. You know, those who reject Christ as their Savior will bow down to Him one day, and then cast into the lack of fire. You don't want to go to hell? Good neither do I, therefore our only assurance of heaven is Jesus Christ. We have to believe He is the Savior, that He died on a cross for our sins and rose again 3 days later. You see I serve a risen Savior, the Lord of my soul is sitting at the right hand of God. And oh I can’t wait to be with my Savior in eternity. But until He calls me home I pray I will be a good representative of Christ. Believers, hear me, we need to start thinking eternally! There are millions of lost souls in this world, let’s get out there and speak the gospel of Jesus Christ! The world pleasures are not of eternal importance; trust me once you die thats it. People need Jesus and they won’t hear it unless we are PROCLAIMING IT! Let me finish up with the words of Christ in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” The time is Now to represent Christ, eternity is at stake my precious friends! The time is NOW TO STAND up for our Lord Jesus Christ!