Reaching Your World with Luis Palau

If you want to reach your world with the Good News of Jesus Christ, it’s super important to know who He really is. First, the Bible says Jesus is God’s Son, the Son of God, equal with God, and fully God. Jesus is a member of what we call the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – one God in three persons. Jesus is infinite and eternal. Jesus made all things, by Him all things exist, and God the Father has put all things under Him. Second, God’s Word says Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One. He’s Abraham’s seed. He’s the Prophet foretold by Moses. He is the Righteous Branch on David’s throne. He is the fulfiller of all the other prophecies about the Coming One. Third, the Bible says Jesus is the Savior, Deliverer, Redeemer. He died on a Roman cross for us and for our sins. Truly, as John 4:42 says, Jesus “is the Savior of the world.” Fourth, God’s Word says Jesus is the Victor, Overcomer, Conqueror. He physically rose from the grave, having defeated sin and death. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Let’s share the wonderful reality of Jesus with those who are searching for truth and hope. This is Andrew Palau.

Are you waiting for the “right time” to share the Good News with a loved one? Don’t delay, because we never know when this life will end and eternity will begin. Near the end of our three-week festival in Managua, Nicaragua, a woman met me on my way into the stadium. With tears in her eyes, she gave me a big Latin hug and thanked me for presenting the Good News so clearly. She explained that her grandson, Danilo, age 10, had received the Lord two nights earlier. She said, “The next morning, he was so happy. He told me, ‘Granny, I’ve got eternal life!’” But, the next day, tragedy struck. Danilo was out delivering newspapers on his bicycle, when he was hit by a truck and died on the spot. I was shaken by Danilo’s death, but the Lord used it for His glory. That night, I shared Danilo’s story with some 30,000 people at the festival and many came to know Christ. We made a film out of Danilo’s story. Many thousands more have come to Christ because of the film. And Danilo, the sweet Nicaraguan boy, has been enjoying Jesus face to face for some 30 years now. The Bible says, “Be very careful, then, how you live-- not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” That’s why now is the best time to give your friends a chance to hear the Good News, receive Jesus Christ into their hearts, and live their lives with Him and for Him. This is Luis Palau.

I received Jesus Christ when I was twelve years old. I was at a Christian summer camp for boys. One rainy night, Frank Chandler, my counselor, sat me down and asked me about my expectations for eternity. “If you died tonight,” Frank asked me, “would you go to heaven or hell?” I sat quietly for a moment, a bit taken aback, and then said, “I’m going to hell.” Needless to say, it didn’t take long for me to accept Jesus Christ into my heart that very night. I think back on the night and my conversion often, especially when I hear people criticize this type of evangelism. We worry about not hurrying a person in his decision or not being too bold, and in some ways, I think it’s good to use common sense. But, I tell you, when the person is ready, just get to the point and help him or her settle the issue. Besides, God is the one doing the work, not us. Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him…” [John 6:44] So don’t be afraid to deliberately reach out to your friends or share the Good News, even if they snicker. God will honor your desire to introduce your friends to His marvelous Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. This is Luis Palau.

I sometimes host a live call-in television counseling program called NightTalk. One evening we were broadcasting live from San Antonio, Texas on Channel 35 when I received a call from a man named Alex. Alex was a thirty-two-year-old man dying of AIDS. “I’m going through a living hell - a nightmare,” he said. Then, he broke into tears while on the air. As tens of thousands of viewers watched, I had the privilege of counseling Alex and leading him to faith in Jesus Christ. Off the air, we got his address and phone number, then made sure he began receiving immediate, compassionate follow-up care as he began his new life and relationship with Jesus Christ. Before his death, six months later, how great it was to hear Alex express his assured hope of heaven! He knew his place in heaven was secure because Romans says, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Do you know someone who desperately needs hope? Do you know someone perhaps with a terminal illness? Invite and guide them to find true and lasting hope in Jesus, our Lord and Savior. This is Luis Palau.

Sometimes we Christians underestimate the power of prayer in evangelism. People say to me, “Sure, Luis, prayer is important. But, let’s get out there and do something for the Lord!” But, what many people don’t understand is: prayer is the very foundation for sharing the Good News, whether it’s with ten people or ten thousand. I think about the impact of prayer in my own life. When I was a baby, my parents later told me they dedicated me to the Lord, praying, “Lord, here is Luis. He is Yours. Use him for Your glory so many may come to know You through him.” Since they had decided to keep this a secret between them and God, I didn’t know about their prayer for many years. Now, God has seen fit to use my life to declare the Good News to people all around the globe. In fact, right now, God has me in New York City! And if God can use a little boy from Argentina to reach nations and great cities, He can do the same life-transformation in you and your friends. So, before you share the Good News, remember James 5:16, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Step 1: Pray. Step 2: Share. Share the life-changing Good News message with your friends and neighbors. This is Luis Palau.

I can’t tell you how many times someone has said to me, “Andrew, thank you for taking time to talk to me, or “Thank you for listening to my story.” All it takes to make someone’s day is a moment of your time, a smiling face, and open ears. God made us to be relational beings, but so often we end up feeling lonely in our struggles. With social media and instant access to TV and the Internet, we can see people all around us who appear to be doing just fine — even great - and this makes us feel isolated. I believe that God wants for us to be an encouragement to the people in our lives. The Bible says in Proverbs 15:13 that “A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.” This week, consider how you might offer a kind gesture to someone in your life. Perhaps it means smiling at a stranger, and asking them about their day. These kinds of gestures could open the door to a conversation about Jesus—and we know that He is capable of changing lives. This is Andrew Palau.  

Have you ever got into an argument with someone over something petty? Or perhaps you looked at a decision someone made and thought, “I could never be friends with that person!” It’s our human nature to experience conflict from time to time, but one thing I’ve noticed in my years of evangelism is that if we keep our eyes fixed on our goal of sharing Jesus, we are less likely to have conflict over small, inconsequential matters, or what I like to call “non-issues.” As believers, our goal should be, “how can I imitate Christ? How can I share about Jesus with the people who have not heard of Him?” Mark 16:15 says, “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the Good News Gospel to the whole creation!” This means we’re called to share the Good News—not bicker with our neighbors over small matters. Today, I challenge you to put aside differences you may feel and talk to someone you ordinarily wouldn’t about Jesus Christ. Remember that Jesus opened his arms to everyone. As you go about your day, keep yourself focused on this eternal goal. This is Luis Palau.

A few years ago, I wrote a book called High Definition Life. I also wrote a version for youth. In the book, I talked a lot about joy; especially the difference between joy and pleasure. In our culture, there are a lot of things that bring us pleasure, and these aren’t always bad! Maybe it’s grandma’s famous pumpkin pie that brings you pleasure, or receiving flowers from your husband, or perhaps it’s getting an “A” on a report you worked hard on. But true joy is different from pleasure. Genuine joy comes from within, not from outside us. In John 7:38 in the Bible, Jesus said, “If you believe in me, come and drink. For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow from within.” Did you catch that? Rivers of living water don’t flow from outside of us, meaning we can’t derive true joy from things in this world. Rather, from within. The difference between joy and pleasure should give you hope, because it means that regardless of what you’re facing right now, it’s possible to have joy if you rely on Christ, because His spirit is within you. Share this Good News with someone today; tell someone how he or she can have the same joy through Christ. This is Luis Palau.

Are you the type of person that just moves from one thing to the next? It seems like being “busy” or over-booked is normal these days. And I’ll be honest; at times I’ve been guilty of over-booking my schedule, too. I’d think to myself, “There’s just too much work to be done! How can I rest when there are so many souls who need to hear of Jesus Christ?” But, the truth is, when we create space in our schedules we have more time to devote to God. And I’m not necessarily talking about spending hours praying or at church, though those are certainly important. Instead, I’m talking about time we can devote to sharing the Good News with people around us. This might look like grabbing coffee with a friend who does not know Jesus, or maybe it means inviting your neighbor over for dinner and sharing with them about God’s presence in your life. Whether it’s a friend, a family member, or a stranger you just met, people tend to respond positively when you talk from experience. So this week, I challenge you to clear time in your schedule, and make a moment to talk to someone about your experience with Jesus. After all, sharing the Good News is the best way you can spend your time. This is Luis Palau.

I’m a grandfather and a dad, and one thing I know is that parents usually want their kids to be happy! They want them to play and laugh and have a contented life. And according to Jesus, God wants this for us even more than parents want it for their kids! It is not God’s will that we shuffle through life, miserable. Instead, God wants His people to celebrate and enjoy life! Psalm 68:3 says, “But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence.. Let them be filled with joy!” 1 Thessalonians 5:16 says, “Always be joyful.” And John 16:24 says, “Ask and you will receive, that your joy will be complete.” So, whether you are talking with family over dinner, or whether you strike up a conversation with a stranger at the grocery store, remember to show them the joy of Christ in your life. Chances are, people will notice your joy, and they’ll try to figure out why. This will be an excellent opportunity to share about the Good News of Jesus Christ. Tell them how Jesus has changed your life and how, even when things aren’t perfect, Jesus is your source of joy. This is Luis Palau.

If I could share one Bible verse with everyone this year, it would be the words of Jesus in John 14:1. Judas has just left the upper room. Jesus tells the other disciples that He is with them only a little longer. Then He will be crucified. What will Jesus say next? The first thing He says in John 14:1 will be remembered forever. Jesus says, “Let not your heart be troubled.” You may be thinking, “How could Jesus say that? How in the world could He possibly say, ‘Let not your heart be troubled’? He says He is going to be put to death. What will happen to us then?” Let’s consider what Jesus is not saying. In the broader context, just a few paragraphs earlier, John 13:21 says that Jesus was troubled in spirit that one of His own disciples was going to betray Him. Betrayal by a close friend is wicked. It cuts to the quick. It can devastate us. So, Jesus is not saying that terrible things will never happen to us. They will. So what’s the secret? Jesus tells us in the second half of John 14:1. First, He says, “Let not your heart be troubled.” Then He says, “You believe in God. Believe also in Me.” Today you may be troubled. Believe in Jesus, receive Him as your Savior, and let Him give you peace. This is Andrew Palau.  

Our world is so big, but sometimes it seems small because of tools like the internet. We can see videos of countries oceans away, places we have only read about. But this opens us up to the griefs of the world. There are many countries in pain. From diseases like malaria and Ebola, to political strife, to poverty and terrorism, countries are grieving the losses of children, parents, and hope. What can we do from thousands of miles away, with so many far-away people in pain? First, we should not lose hope. 1 Thessalonians says we should not grieve as others do who have no hope. We should believe that God can change the pains of this world. Second, we should be praying hard. We can pray for God to move in these communities, to bring his light and life to those suffering. We can pray for evil dictators to be torn down, for societies that discriminate against women and children to change, and for racial oppression to cease. We know that God can do mighty things when his people pray. So, pray – since you really do care. Third, we should do what we can to ease the suffering. Maybe this means not buying certain products, or giving money to microfinance organizations. Whatever we can do to ease the griefs of this world, we should do: in the name of Jesus our comfort and hope. This is Luis Palau.

Sometimes grief can be so overwhelming that we can shut down. When we lose what we love very much, we feel isolated and alone. We feel that no one can understand our pain. But staying away from other people can only keep us from the community that we need in order to be whole and part of God’s kingdom. This is why there are counselors and support groups for cancer survivors or parents who have lost children to cancer. There are groups for recovering alcoholics and families of alcoholics. There are groups for people who have chronic pain or parents of children with chronic diseases. These are not for people who are weak; they are for all people. Humans are meant to live in community, to share our griefs and stories together. God created the church as a place where we can collectively pray and worship Him, and care for one another. If there are 100 people in a church service, there are at least 100 different pains being brought to Christ. As Christians, we need to ask our brothers and sisters if they are okay, and listen carefully to their answers. As it says in 2 Corinthians chapter 1, God will help us “comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” We do not need the answers; God has them. So if you are grieving, find someone to talk to. And if people come to you with grief, comfort them with God’s comfort. This is Luis Palau.

Job was a biblical figure whom God tested over and over again. God allowed everything that Job loved to be taken from him, so Job was moved to grief. His friends didn’t know how to help him. So what did they do? The Bible says, “And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.” All they could do was sit with their friend as he grieved. Sometimes words are not helpful in the face of grief. Some griefs are too deep to be expressed. A godly friend who can sit with someone in the midst of that grief can bring the comfort of Jesus. This can be better than providing any words. A certain speaker once said, “The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing... not healing, not curing... that is a friend who cares.” Words are easy to say, but sometimes silence is louder. In the silence, pray loudly in your heart. Use the silence as a time to approach God with requests for comfort and joy for your friend. God will hear your prayer, and your friend will feel your presence. Then, when your friend is ready to talk, you will be there to provide God’s comfort in that time of grief. Have God’s promises clearly memorized so your comfort is God’s Word, not yours alone. This is Luis Palau.

C.S. Lewis is one of the great Christian writers of the last century. He wrote many books, including The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and Mere Christianity. A lesser-known book of his is called A Grief Observed. In it, he talks about the death of his beloved wife. In this very honest book, Lewis describes his grief as “an amputation.” He means the loss of his wife is something that he can survive, but he will never be the same. The pain of the lost limb or lost loved one will always be there, aching in the background of life. Many of us have lost someone we care about, either suddenly or over a long while. I can relate to this because my dad passed away when I was just 10 years old. Some of us are grieving other losses: the loss of a job, a relationship, or a dream. Maybe someone is grieving the loss of a limb. Grief is a painful part of life, just as joy is a lovely part of life. And just as Christ celebrates with us when we are joyful, He grieves with us when we are overcome with pain. Remember, Jesus wept with His friends over the loss of Lazarus. He showed us what it looks like when the Psalmist writes, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Jesus is there with us in our pain, and He will help us learn to live life again, after the amputation. This is Luis Palau.