Why Should We Be Bold to Tell the Gospel?.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] Welcome to Village Church. If this is your first time here, my name is Steve. [0:03] I’m one of the pastors here at Village Church, and I’m always thankful and grateful to see each and every one of you. [0:08] This morning, before we get into the Word of God, I want to take a moment to talk just for a minute [0:15] about something that’s going on about one of our members that’s headed out to be a missionary down in Mexico for a few years. [0:23] And we want to commission her out. [0:24] But before we do that, the timing of this is fantastic because we’re in a series talking about telling others the good news of the Gospel,

[0:34] about how we as people who have faith in Jesus, we find our identity in His death on the cross. [0:42] We find our new life in the resurrection, and then we’re sent into the world with the good news that God saves us, that He redeems us from our sin. [0:52] Before Jesus left the world, He looked to His disciples as He gathered them, those that were closest to Him, and He tells them, [0:59] He says, As the Father sent Me, so I am sending you. [1:04] And this is the identity that all of us must take as we believe the Gospel, that we live as people who are sent into the world in every walk of life. [1:14] And this morning, one of our members, someone that’s been here for a few years, and we’ve had the privilege of watching God work in her life,

[1:20] she has answered the call to take the news of the Gospel to a different culture in southern Mexico. [1:27] And this morning, before we pray for her and commission her out to be a missionary from Village Church, [1:32] I want to ask Christy Willis to come up here and share with us about the opportunity that she’s taken with the International Mission Board. [1:40] Come on up, Christy.

[1:42] Hola. [1:44] I would go on with Spanish, but I don’t want to make you guys feel insufficient. [1:50] But I’m really honored this morning to share with you how God has been working in my life and share with you about Mexico and the calling and just the changes. [2:02] It truly is a call to obedience, and it has been a difficult one, but it’s been an amazing one as well. [2:10] Some of you guys have had the pleasure of seeing me, actually, when I talked about it in November, [2:17] going through the application process and asking for prayer and kind of support in that.

[2:23] So way back in November, I actually started this process, and I was a little weary, not sure what was going to happen. [2:30] And here I am talking about going to Mexico. So it’s really exciting. [2:35] For most of you, you know, you’ve known me for a while and have been going to the village for almost four years now, which is really incredible. [2:43] And God has really used this church to transform me and change me. [2:49] Many of you know that I am a Spanish teacher or formerly was, and I taught for almost seven years at Manchester High School here in Charlesville County. [2:58] And so it is a tremendous life change to go from a career into a career as a missionary.

[3:06] And so I’m just really excited. And it’s and it’s a change that I’m so willing to do because, you know, I would put 150 percent into everything that I did. [3:18] And God began to just grip my heart and say, Christy, like you do 150 percent in your job, you do 150 percent. [3:26] And just excelling at almost everything else, you know, where are your priorities? [3:32] And so I began to just really be challenged, I mean, through the word and through my community group and through reading as I was reading the Bible and just reading challenging books like Radical and Follow Me by David Platt, books that really called me into question. [3:52] Like, Christy, are you really, you know, doing what you believe? [3:55] Are you really doing, you know, acting out what you believe in your Christian faith?

[4:01] And so God presented me with the opportunity to apply for a position with the International Mission Board, which is actually headquartered here in Richmond. [4:11] So I began the process back in November and it just approached me like at the end of October and everything was due at the end of November. [4:18] And that’s the first miracle. [4:20] Like, God just got everything that I needed to go through really quickly and just got me to the next phase, which was an interview phase. [4:30] And they interviewed me and liked me enough to, you know, to invite me to that. [4:37] And there I was asked to kind of think about, OK, well, where would I want to go?

[4:44] From the very beginning, I’ve it’s been put on my heart to want to go to Mexico. [4:49] I speak Spanish fluently and obviously teaching it for so many years. [4:53] I just love the culture, love the people. [4:56] And from the beginning, actually previous to the interview process, it had been put on my heart. [5:01] And I asked, hey, are there any positions in a Spanish speaking country? [5:04] And the answer was no.

[5:05] We actually would like you to consider maybe Southeast Asia. [5:09] I’m like, oh, first test of obedience, you know, like, oh, I don’t know. [5:15] And God was like, hey, keep going with us. [5:19] So when I went to the interview, I actually ran into the same roadblock. [5:24] You know, there were a lot of positions available. [5:28] And again, they were kind of saying, hey, you know, consider other areas of the world.

[5:33] And so I was like, oh, my gosh, is this my Isaac? [5:36] Is the Spanish like is this like the only gift that I have to speak Spanish? [5:40] I opened my mind, which I did. [5:42] I was considering a position in another part of the world.

[5:47] But just through prayer and just had this perfect plan, they offered me a position in Mexico. [5:56] It’s really incredible how I mean, how the whole thing turned out, really. [6:00] I mean, I was getting notes from the beginning. [6:02] But God had this great plan in place for me. [6:06] So it is a great sacrifice to leave a career, you know, to leave that security and that comfort. [6:14] But God, God’s a perfect grace.

[6:16] I just know that I am powerless without him. [6:18] And this is going to be such a rewarding experience doing what God has for us to do. [6:25] His will is not a mystery. [6:27] He wants us to tell others about Christ. [6:30] And I’m willing to sacrifice my retirement for that, knowing that there’s better retirement in heaven. [6:36] And I’m going to be rewarded for that.

[6:38] So let me tell you about Mexico. [6:40] I’m going to be going to a place called Oaxaca, which is a very it’s the you in Mexico. [6:47] It’s like when you go all the way down, it’s right by Guatemala. [6:49] It’s called Oaxaca. [6:51] In that that area of Mexico actually has a lot of indigenous communities. [6:56] So communities where Spanish is not a primary language actually speak an Indian language.

[7:02] And these are kind of pockets of people who are tucked in the mountains, who have survived the Aztecs, [7:06] who survived the Spanish conquistadors and are unreached. [7:10] They’ve never heard about Christ. [7:13] So it’s really exciting. [7:14] It’s going to be very challenging because I’ve also been warned that a delicacy there are insects [7:20] and that there’s a particular flying ant that comes around once a year and they make tacos out of it.

[7:25] So I will need prayer at that time in particular, or I might be on vacation.

[7:33] But it is exciting and it’s encouraging because I know there are going to be a lot of challenges, [7:39] but God is just bigger than any challenge. [7:41] So it’s very encouraging.

[7:44] I want to let you know, I mean, it’s not an easy thing to do. [7:48] I mean, but I was like you there, you know, four years ago, I would have never imagined being a missionary. [7:53] It’s creepy and kind of scary for me. [7:56] Maybe creepy is not the best word, but it’s definitely scary, you know, going outside of your comfort zone. [8:03] But I know that it’s the best thing and God will equip me. [8:07] And I want to just leave you with a short verse from Hebrews.

[8:10] This is Hebrews 1320 and 21. [8:13] And it says, No, may God, no, may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, [8:18] the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, [8:22] equip you with everything good that you may do his will, [8:26] working in us that which is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ, [8:31] to whom be the glory forever and ever.

[8:34] And I take great comfort in that. [8:36] There’s nothing that I can do to carry this out, that it’s all Jesus. [8:41] So just remember me in prayer while I’m in Mexico. [8:43] I start my training tomorrow. [8:45] And then I leave for Mexico, October 5th. [8:48] Thank you.

[8:50] Yeah, I am so excited to send Christie out as a missionary. [8:56] This is the first time we’ve commissioned someone out as a missionary from Village Church. [9:02] But here’s the big picture that I want all of us to gather this morning. [9:07] As we send her out as a missionary to a countercultural, a different place, another country. [9:13] I want us to understand that that we are still, though, [9:16] to find our identity as missionaries every day.

[9:19] No matter where we’re going, no matter what we’re doing, no matter what our job is, [9:23] we’re called to have that identity as a people who are sent [9:27] with the good news of Jesus the world desperately needs. [9:32] And the same God that’s going to be with her in Oaxaca [9:35] is the same God that’s with you here in Midlothian in the greater Richmond area every single day. [9:43] The question is, will we answer that call as Christie is answering that call?

[9:49] So join me right now to pray for Christie, [9:54] to commission her out as a missionary from Village Church. [9:57] Pray with me. [9:58] Our Father, we come before you grateful and so thankful for the call that you have put [10:07] specifically on Christie’s life to truly sacrifice everything as you called your [10:14] disciples to follow you and they dropped their nets and they followed you,

[10:18] leaving their livelihood behind. [10:20] You’ve called Christie to do that and you’re sending her to Mexico. [10:26] Lord, it’s my prayer that as she goes, that you’ll strengthen her faith, [10:33] that you will remind her day in and day out that you are her God, [10:39] that you have redeemed her through your cross, [10:42] and the gospel would be the forefront of her encouragement day in and day out.

[10:48] Father, I’m asking you right now to give her words every day, [10:54] that you will open her eyes when the opportunities present themselves [10:58] when people come into her path, people that may have never heard the name of Jesus before, [11:02] that you would strengthen her resolve and that she would be bold to speak the name of Jesus, [11:08] that she would be bold to speak of her risen Savior.

[11:12] And Lord, that as she works, that you would use her to help and encourage the pastors [11:18] and the missionaries that are already there on the ground, [11:22] that you would help her to learn from them, [11:24] but also that you would help her to encourage them in their work, [11:28] Lord, I’m praying for gospel renewal in Oaxaca.

[11:33] Lord, you tell us in your word as Paul looks into Corinth, [11:37] that he should not be afraid because there are people in that city that belonged to you. [11:43] Or I pray that same prayer over Christy right now. [11:46] There are people in Oaxaca that belong to you, but have not yet known you.

[11:53] Lord, as you have sovereignly planned from before the foundations of the earth, [11:57] that you would use her to see redemption happen in that area, [12:02] that she would be able to plant seeds, that you would water those seeds, [12:05] and we would see fruit of the gospel. [12:08] And in a few years, we would be able to rejoice as to all that you’ve done in Mexico, [12:15] but also all that you have done in Christy’s life as well.

[12:21] Lord, we send her out, but may she be encouraged that you will never leave her, [12:29] you will never forsake her, and as you are strengthening her right now, [12:34] as you are guiding her and sending her right now, you will continue to do so over the next few years.

[12:42] Lord, help her faith to endure day in and day out. [12:46] In the name of Jesus, I pray. [12:48] Amen. [12:49] Thank you, Christy.

[12:52] Well, this morning, KJ Washington is going to come and he’s going to share a sermon with us, [12:58] and he has been our church planting intern this summer. [13:01] If you’ve not seen him or been familiar with him or if you weren’t here the last time that he preached, [13:05] KJ Washington is with us as our church planting intern this summer, [13:09] and part of the opportunities that we’re giving him is opportunities to share the gospel and preach. [13:14] And this morning he’s going to come and he’s going to continue our series on tell about talking

[13:19] about the gospel and he’s going to share with us about being bold to tell of the gospel. [13:24] KJ, come on up. [13:25] Good morning. Again, it’s a privilege just to be able to be here and to dive into God’s word [13:30] again with you all this morning. [13:33] This morning we’ve been singing songs that the king has risen, [13:39] but do we really believe that this morning that the king has risen?

[13:42] Throughout this sermon series, if you haven’t been here the past few weeks, [13:46] we’ve been talking about telling the gospel, sharing the gospel with people, [13:52] because we believe that our king has risen. [13:56] We find rest in that alone. [13:58] In the first week, Steve talked about what are you talking about? [14:00] What are the things that you talk about in your day-to-day life when you’re around your

[14:03] family members, when you’re around your co-workers? [14:06] Ultimately, to take that to what is the gospel? [14:08] Because we should be talking about the gospel to people. [14:13] And this week we’re going to talk about why should we be bold about the gospel? [14:17] I think this morning alone helped set the stage for this because our king has risen [14:21] and he is on his throne, and that’s a reason to talk about the gospel.

[14:26] And so to Christy, as she has this opportunity to be able to go down to Mexico [14:29] and be able to serve this people, her king has risen and she gets to take that king to those [14:34] people because that king died for those people. [14:36] Do y’all believe that that king died for you and died for the people of Milot, [14:40] that died for the people of the nations? [14:42] We have to believe that this morning, because if you do not believe that,

[14:47] you will not be bold for the gospel. [14:48] And I can assure you that.

[14:52] Because if that’s what’s meditating on your heart this morning, [14:55] you’re going to have a burning, a yearning in your heart to share the gospel with your neighbors.

[15:01] And we have to realize this. [15:03] So this morning I’m going to help build a foundation, hopefully, [15:06] and look at why we should be bold about the gospel. [15:09] Hopefully bring up some questions that we ask ourselves in those moments. [15:15] But it all starts with the cross and how we see Jesus. [15:19] First we’re going to look at on Matthew 28, 18 through 20.

[15:26] Again, that’s Matthew 28 verses 18 through 20.

[15:46] And so God right now, Jesus is saying, hey, God has given me this authority. [15:51] I have this authority. [15:52] I have this power to tell you to go and to make disciples. [15:56] And this isn’t just a, hey, man, I think you should go do this. [15:59] Hey, do this. [16:00] This is a command.

[16:01] This is a imperative verb. [16:02] It’s like you need to do this. [16:04] There’s not a second guess. [16:05] You can’t doubt this. [16:06] This is something you are called to do from Jesus to go and make disciples. [16:12] And I know some of you are thinking we’re talking about evangelism in this series.

[16:14] And you’re like, man, I thought we were talking about evangelism. [16:17] This word that Jesus uses is discipleship. [16:20] I’m a great pastor that I know up in Baltimore, Maryland, [16:25] named Ellis Prince, the pastor of the Gallery Church, said this in a meeting once. [16:28] And this is a really kind of weird illustration to make, [16:31] but I’m going to make it that evangelism and discipleship are kissing.

[16:35] I know it’s weird to think about, [16:36] but that’s how intertwined these two things are. [16:38] Just because if you’re evangelizing, you should be making disciples of people. [16:41] That’s how closely connected these two things are. [16:44] It’s not that you just go up to somebody’s door and share them the gospel and say, hey, [16:47] see, I gave you what you needed.

[16:49] But it’s like you want to go through this day to day lifestyle, [16:52] seeing people become more like Jesus, showing to reflect the love of God.

[16:58] So Jesus says in this passage, he says, go make disciples. [17:04] And this is the commission that we’re given. [17:06] And if we don’t see this as a command that we need to live for Jesus, [17:10] because he was resurrected from the dead and then we shouldn’t proclaim that he is the king, [17:17] we have to understand that. [17:20] If you don’t understand that, we’re not going to be able to be bold for the gospel.

[17:24] And so this is part of the foundation that we’re building here this morning with this question, [17:30] which is the topic, why should we bold to tell the gospel? [17:33] The main text we’ll be in this morning is Acts 4 verses 27 to 31.

[17:41] It should be up on the screens next to me and it reads as this, [17:43] For truly in this city they were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, [17:48] whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles [17:53] and the peoples of Israel. [17:55] Do whatever your hand and your plan, every destiny to take place. [17:59] And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak

[18:03] your word of all boldness while you stretch out your hands to heal, [18:07] and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus. [18:10] And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken. [18:15] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continue to speak the word of God with boldness. [18:19] I want to help put this passage in the context for you this morning. [18:23] Earlier on in the book of Acts in chapter 4,

[18:26] Peter and John are going to the temple that morning and a lame man was always outside the temple. [18:32] He laid outside the temple daily. [18:35] And they came up to this man, they saw this man, naturally this man would [18:38] seek after golds and riches and different things. [18:42] But Peter looks at this man, says, I have neither gold nor silver for you, [18:47] but I do have something for you.

[18:50] And that something for them was that the king had risen and it was Jesus. [18:55] That’s what he gave that man that day. [18:57] And so because he gave that man Jesus, the man ended up being healed. [19:02] And so the people of Jerusalem didn’t really like this. [19:05] The elders, the council, like, hey, who’s this duty over here, [19:08] healing people in the name of Jesus?

[19:10] And as we know throughout scripture that the Jewish people at that time were not approving [19:14] or accepting of Jesus because they believe that he was not the fulfilling of the Messiah prophecy. [19:21] And so they had a big issue with this. [19:23] They had a big problem with this. [19:25] And so they put them before the council seeking to persecute them, [19:28] seeking to cast judgment down on them.

[19:32] But based off their law, they had no charge that they could hold against them. [19:36] So ultimately what they told them to do is just to stop speaking.

[19:40] And so in this moment, the believers, they’re praying. [19:43] They’re like, God, we pray for boldness. [19:46] Boldness not just to endure the suffering, but boldness to preach the gospel in tough situations. [19:54] Even if the world is against us. [19:57] That leads us to point number one this morning. [20:00] The world will be against the gospel.

[20:03] This comes from the first verse here. [20:05] And so truly in the city, they were gathered together against your holy servant, Jesus. [20:10] And so during this time period, it’s like everybody in the city was not for Jesus. [20:14] They did not care about Jesus at all. [20:17] These are the same people that crucified and went to the cross. [20:20] And so the thing is that these men are saying that they want to follow him.

[20:23] They’re doing these things in his name. [20:25] It bothered them.

[20:30] They were against Jesus. [20:31] They were against the gospel.

[20:34] And this is something that we have to come to terms with today in America. [20:38] Is that the world is against the gospel. [20:42] And we’re foolish to think that the world is not against the gospel. [20:46] All the oppression that we’re starting to see that is coming onto the church. [20:50] I think that’s enough right there. [20:52] When a Christian makes a comment today, it’s like, oh man, you’re judging, you’re condemning now.

[20:58] Because you’re saying the words of what Jesus said. [21:01] I think that’s saying to us right there that the world is against Jesus.

[21:05] So we have this tension here because these believers, they’re praying to God. [21:09] We know that this persecution is here, but we’re okay with this because this is the same [21:13] persecution that Jesus had to endure. [21:16] And they were enduring the same persecution. [21:18] Now they’re starting to experience what it looked like to endure this persecution.

[21:23] I know for some of us, it might seem a little different. [21:25] If you’ve been overseas, there is more persecution over there for the body of Christ there. [21:31] And Christians are sticking out. [21:33] You can tell if you’re a believer there or not. [21:35] Sadly to say to our society today, there’s been cultural Christianity that has developed [21:38] over time where Christianity is a culture of America.

[21:43] Where you have 70% of Americans claiming the name of Christ when they don’t. [21:48] They don’t live the life. [21:49] They don’t bear the fruit. [21:50] So we can say they’re not living that life.

[21:54] The world is against the gospel. [21:56] But now in our society today, we’re making it seem as if they are for it. [22:01] So if somebody talks to you, you’re like, hey man, like I’m following Jesus. [22:03] Oh man, yeah, Jesus is okay. [22:06] They’re against Jesus. [22:08] If they’re not for him, they’re against him.

[22:11] And we have to realize that the world is not for Jesus.

[22:16] This is a reason that we should be bold to share the gospel. [22:21] Because the world does not know Jesus. [22:23] The world is hurting. [22:24] The world is desperate. [22:25] And the only solution to that problem is Jesus. [22:29] That is a reason right there within itself to be bold about the gospel.

[22:36] This leaves us here because this text comes from Psalms, Chapter 2, Verses 1-3. [22:41] And I’m going to read this to you. [22:41] It’s not going to be on the screens. [22:43] Why do the nations rage in the people’s plot and vein? [22:46] The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord [22:50] and against the anointed saying, let us burst their bonds apart

[22:53] and cast away their cords from us. [22:56] So this is prophesized in the whole testament that this is going to happen. [23:00] This persecution was coming.

[23:03] That the world was going to turn against the Messiah. [23:08] And that was happening during that time period. [23:09] They were having the immediate effects of that. [23:11] And we’re still having effects of that today.

[23:15] We must realize that there’s a tension here. [23:19] That the world is not for the church and for serving Jesus. [23:24] But this leads us on to this passage where Jesus kind of handles this. [23:29] He doesn’t kind of. [23:30] He does handle it. [23:31] Sorry.

[23:31] It’s John 15 verses 18 through 19. [23:36] If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. [23:40] If you were of the world, the world will love you as its own. [23:43] But because you’re not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, [23:47] therefore the world hates you. [23:49] And so when Jesus lays this out, say, hey, because the world hates me, it hates you.

[23:55] And that’s tough to kind of sit with at times to think about. [23:58] And so I think if we’re really looking at this and we’re living for Jesus, [24:01] if you’re living for Jesus, the world is not going to agree with the lifestyle that you’re living. [24:05] So if you can walk around with your friends or non-believers and they agree with everything [24:08] that you do, there is a problem. [24:09] There’s an issue there that you need to check your heart.

[24:13] Because there should be a big difference between people that are living for Jesus [24:15] and people that are not living for Jesus.

[24:19] Because it says, if you are following me, they will hate you because I have bought you [24:23] for a price and you are part of my kingship. [24:25] Now you’re part of this family. [24:27] You’re part of this royal priesthood. [24:29] But because you are following me, your lifestyle will look different [24:33] and the world would not like that.

[24:39] So as we see this, Jesus straight up, he’s like, hey, they hate me.

[24:47] But it’s beautiful as well, though, because God still pursues them, [24:50] even though the world hates them.

[24:54] And it’s the same for us. [24:55] We still pursue those people, even though the world hates us [24:59] because we’re following Jesus. [25:02] I know, hate it, a lot of people are such a strong term, [25:05] like, man, the world doesn’t actually hate us. [25:06] They tolerate us.

[25:09] Look at the oppression. [25:10] They’re not tolerating you. [25:10] They’re suppressing you.

[25:15] But the beautiful thing is that the gospel prevails. [25:19] At the end of the day, Jesus wins. [25:21] And that leads us to point number two. [25:23] The gospel will prevail against the world.

[25:28] So even though we have this pushback towards us to live for Jesus, [25:34] at the end of the day, Jesus wins. [25:36] And that’s the reason why we should be bold to share the gospel. [25:40] This comes from the second half of 28, [25:43] to do whatever your hand and your plan have your destiny take place. [25:47] So during this time period, when this persecution is happening,

[25:51] these believers understand that this is part of God’s plan for mankind. [25:57] That this persecution is going to come on his son and ultimately come on his church. [26:02] They trusted in this because God was going to do what God does. [26:06] And he’s in the saving business. [26:07] He redeems people. [26:08] He restores relationships.

[26:10] He reconciled us.

[26:13] But they were entrusting in that, that only in him alone that these things would happen. [26:18] Even though the kings of that time period did not like Jesus, [26:21] the people, the Jews, they did not care for Jesus. [26:25] They still trusted that God is sovereign and that the king is still on his throne.

[26:32] We have to come to terms with that as well. [26:36] Even though society might not agree with the lifestyle that you’re living, [26:40] at the end of the day, the king is on his throne. [26:44] And I can find rest in that. [26:46] Even though I go evangelize to somebody and they don’t care about what I’m saying, [26:50] they disagree with you, they tell you you’re a bigot or like you hate,

[26:53] they hate you or something like that. [26:56] You can find rest in the day because the king is still on the throne.

[27:01] That no matter about how bad you feel like you shared the gospel, Jesus still reigns.

[27:10] So as believers, what is stopping us from sharing the gospel and being bold about this? [27:16] We don’t have excuses throughout this message. [27:18] I’m gonna try to build up some excuses to fight back down because there’s no excuses. [27:22] They’re sufficient enough to give us a reason to not share the gospel.

[27:29] Oh, I have this relationship with somebody that I don’t want to mess up. [27:34] I’ve been friends with them for three years now. [27:36] I think it’s been good. [27:38] I’ve been friends three years. [27:38] I think I might be ready to tell them the gospel in like another year. [27:41] Share with them who Jesus is.

[27:46] If you didn’t do it at first, you’re probably not gonna do it at all.

[27:50] And if they stop being friends with you, [27:52] and once you share with them Jesus, they were not your friends in the first place.

[27:57] Because if you call that a friend, even if you’re living for Jesus and they stop being [28:00] your friend, they were never a friend. [28:01] We have to come to terms with that. [28:03] The world is not going to just be okay with the lifestyle that we’re living.

[28:08] Again, there’s no excuse. [28:10] That should hold us down. [28:12] This leads us to John chapter 18 verse 33 through 36. [28:15] Because Jesus hits on this as well. [28:17] How he prevails against the world. [28:21] So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him,

[28:25] Are you the king of the Jews? [28:26] Jesus answered, [28:27] Do you say this on your own accord or did others say it to you about me? [28:31] Pilate answered, [28:32] Am I a Jew? [28:33] Your own nation, the chief priests have delivered you over to me.

[28:36] What have you done? [28:38] And Jesus answered, [28:40] My kingdom is not of this world. [28:42] If my kingdom were of the world, my servants would have been fighting. [28:45] That I might not have been delivered over to the Jews, but my kingdom is not from the world.

[28:51] So even though the world hates Jesus, Jesus saying, [28:54] Hey look, my kingdom is not from here. [28:56] Even though you’re trying to hold me down, you’re trying to stop me. [28:59] My kingdom is not here. [29:01] You can’t stop me.

[29:04] And our citizenship is in heaven with Jesus. [29:08] And the world cannot hold us down because of Jesus. [29:13] And it’s only through him.

[29:16] That we can find a rest and be like, hey, no matter about how bad the world gets. [29:24] No matter about how bad the oppression gets in America.

[29:29] Even if people start being crucified here in America.

[29:34] It’s okay because our kingdom is not here.

[29:40] You’ve been adopted and bought for a price. [29:44] You have a new family. [29:46] The body of Christ. [29:47] That’s the kingdom that we serve now. [29:50] So it doesn’t matter about what the world says.

[29:55] Because our Jesus is bigger. [29:57] Our Jesus is greater. [29:59] And we can rest in that. [30:01] That leads us to point number three. [30:03] That the power to be bold for the gospel comes from Jesus. [30:07] It’s taken from verses 29 and 30.

[30:08] And now the Lord looked upon their threats. [30:11] Now Lord, sorry. [30:12] Look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word of [30:16] all boldness while you stretch out your hand to heal and signs and wonders are performed [30:19] through the name of your holy servant Jesus.

[30:25] So while these believers are praying this prayer for boldness to preach the word. [30:30] They realize that they cannot do this on their own. [30:32] That they need Jesus to work through them. [30:35] To be able to be bold for the gospel and to proclaim this truth. [30:40] And a lot of people get caught up on the fact that they healed a lame man.

[30:45] But the purpose of that was for the gospel to be preached. [30:47] They were able to be bold about the gospel.

[30:53] It was for it gave a reason for Peter and John to talk about Jesus. [30:57] Because he had risen. [30:59] They talked about that to people.

[31:03] So it’s okay for us. [31:05] Make opportunities. [31:06] I want you to work for I can talk about you. [31:08] Put me in situations for I can share your truth. [31:11] To share your love.

[31:15] Jesus equips us. [31:16] He empowers us to be able to be bold.

[31:22] He gives us everything that we need to do this.

[31:28] And he wants to work in us. [31:30] And I’m gonna next refer to Acts 1-8. [31:33] I talked about this the last time I preached. [31:35] We talked about empowerment. [31:38] How we’re empowering the Holy Spirit. [31:40] Works inside of us for we can be obedient.

[31:42] But part of this obedience is the second half of this verse. [31:45] And so that we can be a witness for Jesus. [31:48] And it reads as this. [31:49] But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. [31:52] And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem. [31:54] And in Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

[31:56] And so when we receive this power that comes through the Holy Spirit. [32:00] It’s for the purpose that we can fulfill the mission and the command that Jesus gave to us.

[32:06] To fulfill the mission to reach. [32:09] To seek and to save the lost.

[32:13] At Professor at Liberty Dr. Smith. [32:16] Who gave a great illustration about the concept of witnesses. [32:20] And how during this time period is more of a legal term. [32:25] That they had witnessed. [32:26] The disciples had witnessed Christ dying on the cross. [32:31] They witnessed.

[32:32] They saw it. [32:32] They’re standing from the court of law. [32:33] Hey, like we witnessed. [32:34] We saw this happen. [32:37] And the same thing applies to us today. [32:38] Even though we’re like second and third hand witnesses from the Bible.

[32:42] But you have witnessed if you’re a believer. [32:45] Christ saved you. [32:46] He died on the cross for you. [32:47] You have witnessed the power of the cross. [32:50] We’re saying that hey he rose. [32:51] He rose from the dead.

[32:52] But we have witnessed this. [32:53] And so we have opportunity to proclaim this to the nations now.

[32:58] So what is our excuse? [33:01] We witnessed it.

[33:04] You’ve witnessed Christ working in your life. [33:07] And if you haven’t I wish that you wouldn’t trust in that.

[33:14] And one thing that we can find hope in is this is that it’s not us that does the work.

[33:21] A lot of times it’s when it comes out of conversations people are like I don’t know [33:24] the words to say. [33:27] I feel like I’m not intelligent enough. [33:29] I’m not smart enough to be able to articulate the gospel in moments. [33:33] Or I don’t know if that person next to me if I relate to them well enough to be able [33:36] to share with them Jesus you know.

[33:38] I don’t know if I have any interests. [33:39] I don’t know if that person would like me anymore if I talk about Jesus. [33:43] A lot of these questions kind of go through our heads at times.

[33:48] But I want to share a few kind of what’s true about Peter and John that people miss a lot of times. [33:54] Jesus’ disciples in Acts 4 13.

[33:59] And now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and they perceived that they were [34:03] uneducated and common men they were astonished.

[34:09] Men that helped lead during this time period when people were coming in people were being saved.

[34:18] Thousands upon thousands of people being saved. [34:20] These are uneducated men. [34:23] Who had no idea or recollection to the extent of people of the Sanhedrin. [34:29] The Sanhedrin the members of the Sanhedrin I want to kind of give some background of this. [34:33] They were trained and studying scripture. [34:35] They memorized the Old Testament.

[34:37] These were some of the men that they came up against with telling them that this is [34:41] the Messiah that you think isn’t here yet. [34:43] He is risen. [34:45] So these are just common people that were just bold about Jesus and believe that Jesus [34:52] works. [34:53] Do we believe that Jesus still works today?

[34:57] You have to believe this. [34:59] To believe that we should be bold about this truth to share it to people.

[35:04] So what’s our excuses? [35:06] These are common men. [35:08] You don’t have to have an MDiv. [35:09] You don’t have to be a pastor. [35:10] You don’t have to be a evangelist to share the gospel of people. [35:14] We have to be willing to be vulnerable to reach the neighbors that are around us.

[35:18] And to share with them this truth.

[35:22] Jesus is worth it. [35:24] We have to realize that no matter the circumstance that he is worth it. [35:30] And that we must be bold to share the gospel even in tough moments.

[35:38] If your colleagues, friends, if they don’t even realize that you’re following Jesus, [35:44] there’s a problem. [35:45] We can go through the day not talking about Jesus. [35:48] There’s a problem there. [35:51] Because if we’re saying the songs that we’re singing early, we’re singing these songs, [35:54] we’re proclaiming these songs, he has risen.

[35:56] How can you sing those songs and not talk about it? [36:01] If he’s really saved, he’s redeemed you. [36:03] How can you not talk about this?

[36:07] This is a command just to be bold and to proclaim this truth. [36:11] No matter the circumstances.

[36:15] I went on a mission trip to Boston about four months ago. [36:19] And if any of you have been to New England area or even to Boston, [36:23] it’s a different animal in a lot of ways from the south. [36:26] Some of you might be from there. [36:28] But there’s two things there in Boston. [36:30] There’s a high intellectual level there.

[36:33] And then there’s the total opposite in urban settings there. [36:36] And so we went on a mission trip here serving a team of us from Liberty. [36:39] Went to help work with a church plant there. [36:42] And so the task was to go into this urban multicultural area and to share with them [36:47] about Jesus and just hand out some flyers for the church. [36:50] We were just kind of putting them on the door.

[36:52] We weren’t really knocking on doors. [36:53] Just putting them on the door, just getting the flyers out there, just helping serve.

[36:58] So we go in our groups and a group leader kind of separates us. [37:02] Puts us in groups like KJ, you go here. [37:04] You know, so-and-so goes there. [37:05] He put me in a group of two. [37:06] And this is an urban setting. [37:07] When I say urban, this is how urban it was.

[37:10] There’s bars on churches. [37:11] When you see bars on churches, get in the church, [37:13] they have to unbar churches to get into the churches. [37:15] You know you’re in the hood. [37:16] That’s the hood. [37:17] We’re deep hood right there.

[37:19] Like there’s bars. [37:20] Y’all think I’m playing. [37:20] There’s bars on everybody’s doors, their houses, everything. [37:23] They have to latch it up. [37:24] We’re in an urban area.

[37:27] And so we’re going into this urban area. [37:29] I’m like, okay, let’s do this, you know. [37:30] And we split off in groups. [37:31] We’re all in the same vicinity area. [37:34] But we split off. [37:35] I had another person with me.

[37:36] I had this female.

[37:39] Very casual, calm female. [37:41] But she was probably middle upper class female from a suburban area. [37:47] And we’re in this urban hub. [37:48] And I’m like, in my head, I’m honest. [37:49] I’m being honest and vulnerable in this moment. [37:51] I’m like, what is she going to be able to do in this area?

[37:54] How is she going to relate to these people? [37:55] And you think she’s really going to connect to these people? [37:57] I mean, this girl had the full combo. [37:58] She had like the boots and the jeans, everything. [38:00] And like, I thought they were going to steal the boots and jeans. [38:02] Offer her right there and take them and sell them.

[38:04] That’s the type of hood I was in at that moment.

[38:08] I’m joking there. [38:08] I hope they would never do that. [38:10] That’s the situation I felt like I was in. [38:13] I was like, all right, guys, like, all right, this is the seat you got to do. [38:16] You know, so we’re in there. [38:18] We’re walking around and we hang out these flyers, put them on doors.

[38:22] And I’ve never been humbled so much by the feeling of the Holy Spirit [38:27] and God working through that female to boldly proclaim the gospel. [38:32] People that are going through really hard times, they’re sharing, hey, so and so just died. [38:35] This person just died. [38:36] How can I believe in the Jesus that you serve? [38:38] And she was so able just to adequately just proclaim the truth of Jesus that he had risen

[38:44] and he died for them and related to them in ways I can’t even imagine relating myself.

[38:51] And it was beautiful to see God work through her in that moment. [38:55] To see her be bold about the gospel, to proclaim the truth. [38:59] I know that might seem like an extreme setting. [39:03] But if we’re not doing it with our neighbors, you will never do it in that environment.

[39:09] And from that, I had humbly, I had apologized to her. [39:12] I was like, hey, I underestimated you. [39:15] Please forgive me. [39:16] She was gracious to me with that.

[39:20] But I knew that that was a lifestyle for her. [39:24] It wasn’t just something that she does on a mission and shape and feels good about. [39:27] Comes back and just sits back on her couch. [39:30] But she’s being intentional with the people that were around her. [39:34] So what’s our excuse?

[39:37] As we reflect on this, we have neighbors around us who don’t know Jesus. [39:42] And if we’re not being intentional with them, sharing with them the gospel, what are we doing?

[39:49] If we believe what we say we believe, how could you not tell somebody about Jesus? [39:57] How could you hate somebody so much to not tell them about Jesus? [40:01] Let’s go to that extreme.

[40:03] It’s a lot of hate to not want to tell them about Jesus.

[40:07] And this is something he’s commanded us to do. [40:11] This leads us on to point number four. [40:15] Pray for opportunities to share the gospel.

[40:19] This comes from the last verse. [40:20] And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken. [40:24] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continue to speak the word of God with boldness. [40:30] So as they’re petitioning, interceding on behalf [40:34] of them for themselves and to God and God, for we pray that we’re able to be bold for you [40:40] to proclaim your truth.

[40:43] God answered them. [40:45] He answered their prayers. [40:47] They were praying for opportunities to be able to witness when they were talking about, hey, [40:51] Lord, if you want to do miracles, do them for we can talk about you.

[40:57] We say that we believe that God can move mountains and God moves mountains. [41:00] You have to want it. [41:02] You have to want God to be able to work with it. [41:06] We have to be obedient enough to be a part of God working. [41:09] And it’s such a humbling opportunity for us to be a part of fulfilling this great commission [41:13] of Jesus reaching the world.

[41:18] When Jesus says we’re going to do greater things, [41:20] these are the greater things that we’re going to do is reaching this people, [41:24] reaching the nations. [41:25] We have the opportunity to be a part of this. [41:28] So what’s stopping us from being bold?

[41:33] There’s nothing that can stop us from being bold about the gospel. [41:38] Jesus gives us what we need.

[41:42] Everything.

[41:45] Next, I’m going to turn to 2 Timothy 4, 1 through 5. [41:49] And I think this is where the heart of it is.

[41:53] I think this is where it comes to because if we don’t proclaim truth in the tough moments, [42:00] we’re missing the mark.

[42:04] A lot of times we’re interacting with people that we know or even just meet. [42:09] They’re going through life situations, but we like to tell them what we think is best for them. [42:15] Not what Jesus says is best.

[42:19] So the core of what we need to do is we just need to preach the word.

[42:25] A professor that I had, Dr. Ben Gutierrez, said this. [42:29] And it was great. [42:31] So every person needs to preach the word and sit down.

[42:35] Preach the word and sit down. [42:37] Get out the way. [42:39] Only thing you’re called to do is just preach the word. [42:42] That’s why I said it’s not held only just to evangelists or preachers, [42:46] but it’s a calling that we all have. [42:49] And 2 Timothy 4, 1 through 5, reads as this.

[42:51] I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, [42:54] who’s the judge of the living and the dead, [42:56] and by his appearing in his kingdom. [42:58] Preach the word. [42:59] Be ready. [43:00] In season and out.

[43:01] Reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and teaching. [43:04] For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, [43:06] but have itching ears. [43:08] They will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions [43:11] and will turn away from listening to truth and wander off in the midst. [43:15] And as for you, always be sober minded, endure suffering,

[43:18] and do the work of the evangelist. [43:20] Fulfill your ministry. [43:21] And so right now Paul is charging Timothy. [43:23] He’s like, hey, you’re held accountable. [43:25] And from the God of the universe right now to preach the word. [43:29] It’s not to me.

[43:30] It’s not to your pastor. [43:31] It’s not to the members of your church. [43:32] But you’re held accountable to the God of the universe to proclaim, [43:36] to announce this truth that he has risen from the dead.

[43:42] It’s only through him that we’re able to do this. [43:45] But this is the charge he gave us. [43:47] One day we’re going to stand before the father. [43:49] And we’re going to look at our lives. [43:54] It comes down to did you preach the word in tough moments? [43:58] When you felt like it and when you did feel like it,

[44:01] that moment you see somebody and you’re like, [44:03] I really don’t feel like talking to them today. [44:04] Let me just turn around, go the other way. [44:06] Maybe you can have an intentional conversation to reach that person, [44:10] to share with them Jesus. [44:12] A lot of times people walk around and I’ve done this all the time.

[44:17] Sadly, I hope that I can change this habit. [44:18] But when I was at Liberty, we walked down the hallways. [44:21] I see somebody I know. [44:22] And he’s like, oh, hey, how are you doing? [44:24] Oh, hey, how are you doing? [44:25] But not even caring what they say.

[44:29] Not even caring about the response. [44:30] We just do it naturally because we know it’s what we should do. [44:33] And that’s how we just interact with people today. [44:35] We’re not intentional with our interactions with people [44:37] that we actually care about them.

[44:40] We have to be intentional about the gospel. [44:43] And we care about Jesus that he has raised from the dead. [44:45] We have to be intentional about this. [44:49] It’s like, oh, yeah, you go to church. [44:50] Oh, yeah, yeah, I serve Jesus, too. [44:52] And then like leave it there.

[44:53] That’s what we do at times.

[44:56] They ask, are you a Christian? [44:57] Okay, that’s fine. [44:58] Yeah, I’m a Christian and leave it there.

[45:02] We have to get past this and realize that we must just preach the word [45:07] and be bold for the gospel.

[45:11] And with this pause, like, hey, you better rebuke, [45:13] reprove and exhort. [45:14] And so it’s putting things back into place. [45:17] It’s okay to check somebody on things at times.

[45:21] This is what the gospel calls us to. [45:23] To share with people truth, not what they want to hear. [45:26] And we get really good at telling people what they want to hear at times [45:28] and not what Jesus says.

[45:33] Jesus gives us what we need to do this. [45:36] And he goes on to say, it’s like, hey, this time is coming. [45:38] People are gaining things for their ears, what they want to hear. [45:42] This time is now. [45:42] We see this in society today. [45:44] If you tell somebody that sounds good to them,

[45:46] they’re going to take it and they’re going to run with it. [45:48] The gospel is offensive. [45:50] So people are going to try to run from the gospel. [45:53] But Jesus is all that we need. [45:56] And so we just need to preach that to them

[45:59] and come to terms with that. [46:01] And in verse five, Paul’s just like, [46:04] do the work of the evangelists, fulfill your ministry. [46:09] The ministry of the person next to you is going to look a lot different [46:13] than yours. [46:15] But what it’s called is to preach the word and be bold about the gospel.

[46:19] If we’re not being bold about the gospel, we’re being disobedient to Jesus.

[46:25] It’s something that we’re called to and that we must do. [46:30] And this is all for his glory.

[46:33] As we’re finishing up, as the band comes up,

[46:37] my hope is that we are bold about the gospel, that we proclaim this.

[46:46] And that we’re not just content, which live in our lives, just making it day to day. [46:52] But we’re intentional with reaching people because the king has risen. [46:57] We see this and we’re like, hey, I want to serve you, Jesus. [47:01] So I must be a part of this mission because something you’ve called me to do. [47:06] I want to read a verse from a rap from a Christian rapper. [47:11] I know you’ll probably expect that out of me more than anybody else to bring up a rap song here.

[47:15] But I’m going to do it. [47:18] Just because the song really hit me. [47:20] It’s the heart in this area during this verse.

[47:24] And he’s talking about the world’s perspective of him. [47:27] And this is KB. [47:28] He says, so what if you think that you the man, that doesn’t mean nothing in the kingdom. [47:34] So what if I want you to remember me for? [47:38] If you forget my name, please remember my Jesus.

[47:44] It doesn’t matter about what the world remembers about you. [47:48] The only thing that matters is that people remember the Jesus that you serve. [47:53] And that’s my prayer from my heart is that when I meet people, I’m intentional with people. [47:57] That’s not about me, but it’s about people remembering Jesus. [48:01] So as you come to the table this morning,

[48:08] come with a full heart. [48:10] Like Jesus, I want to serve you. [48:12] I want to pursue you. [48:14] And this is what you’ve called me to. [48:17] To preach your word, to be bold about your word.

[48:24] And if it’s been you that has been obedient to this, [48:29] I pray that you get this right for the father today.

[48:35] Come to the table.