Reaching Your World with Luis Palau

Finding strength in Christ can be a struggle during difficult times. When my wife, Pat, was first diagnosed with cancer my heart was broken. I came home feeling alarmed. But then I heard my wife on the piano playing, “How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord...”. The Lord spoke to us both on how we desperately needed to base our strength in Him, and Him alone. The apostles of Jesus Christ were constantly tested. The apostle Paul was thrown in jail and beaten time and time again. Paul could have cried out to the Lord, “I’m your apostle. I follow your truth, so why do I deserve this?” But Paul said, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” He says I have learned to be content. As with Paul, I had to learn to trust the Holy Spirit that He is sufficient while my wife battled cancer. And He was sufficient and still is, as my wife was healed! The life of following Christ was not promised to be without trails. To be content in our trials, we must allow the Spirit of God to speak His sufficiency in every circumstance. So learn to be content and be a testimony of Christ to others. They will notice, and you’ll get a chance to tell them about your Savior.   

Did you know your life in Christ has tremendous and astonishing possibilities? In Psalm 23 it says, “You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” When we are following and trusting Christ the cup runs over. It’s a life that’s meant to be filled with Christ Himself. My mother gave us a solid demonstration of living our life in Christ and through Christ.  It was very practical and very much a day-to-day learning skill about income for a family of eight, food, work, clothing and mostly trust in God’s promises. The enemy throws many things our way to try to knock this cup over. Through trials, illness and financial crisis it may seem like a life in Christ is too difficult. Yet when we read the word of God we are reminded of His promises. Through the story of Jesus’ disciples we are encouraged. For His disciples endured hardships too. The Holy Spirit speaks to us through God’s written Word. This week let’s reflect on what is in the Word and the promises of a life that’s full through Jesus Christ. Reject any lies of the enemy who tries to keep us from those promises. Then let’s share the wonderful promise of an overflowing life in Christ with the people around us.  “You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.”   

I have a friend named Tom who says he came to the Lord at one of my dad’s festivals. Though he believes in Jesus, his actions don’t always show that. Tom is an investment manager and one of those aggressive “in your face” people. One afternoon a bunch of us were talking and Tom mentioned that the economic downturn really burned him. It caused him to become even more cynical, negative, and harsh. Though Tom didn’t recognize it, his attitude was really hard to be around. At one point a mutual friend said, “Tom, you’ve got to get your act together. You say that you’re a Christian but you’re negative and critical and nobody likes hanging out with you.” Tom was convicted. He stopped, looked at his life, and realized that my friend was right. Tom was saying one thing, but living differently. My friend’s comment caused Tom to reassess his attitude and change his behavior. We all need someone to be honest with us and tell us we need to practice what we preach. Do you have that type of a friend? Do you know someone who would be brutally honest with you and say, “This is an area you need to work on.” If you do, that’s great! Go to them and ask for their feedback. Then, let’s ask God to help us make the changes required so that we’re a better reflection of Him.

In the book of Luke, many people grumbled when Jesus befriended Zacchaeus. They wanted justice! After all, he had stolen! He had been ripping off the city’s people for years. You can almost hear them can’t you? “He’s stolen so much money from me. And Jesus goes and befriends him and that makes it all okay? What about my money?” What these people didn’t realize, is that grace is more than something to receive. It’s the most powerful change agent there is!  You’ve heard the story... Zacchaeus didn’t stop at belief in Jesus. He didn’t stop at remorse. The book of Luke records that after spending a few hours with Jesus, Zacchaeus proclaimed, “’Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’” When Jesus befriends each one of us, He does a lot more than that, doesn’t He? He changes us from the inside out. And a true salvation results in the desire to right our wrongs, to make restitution inasmuch as we are able. How have you righted the wrongs you committed before conversion? It’s beautiful to receive grace as a free gift. But that grace should be working in us to change us. And it should reveal itself by action! What wrongs do you need to make right to better reach your world? 

I’m sure you’ve seen it all before. A so-called “terrible person” is saved by grace, and the commentary kicks in: “That couldn’t possibly be true.” “There’s no way HE could be a Christian now.” “I don’t buy it.” The religious cynics don’t take long to make their analysis. And you know, those cynics have always been around and they will always be around. In the book of Luke, we read the story of Jesus’ friendship with the tax collector Zacchaeus.  When he first called Zacchaeus by name, Luke says, “All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’” That is such a dangerous way of thinking, isn’t it? When we begin to question who Jesus is befriending? When we think God’s grace should only come to certain people? Who are we to determine who is and isn’t deserving of grace? None of us deserve God’s grace- that’s what makes it beautiful! That’s what makes it Good News! So don’t grumble when God befriends someone you might classify as the “worst of the worst”. Rejoice! God is working in powerful ways! This week, instead of grumbling about what God is doing, let’s be like Jesus, and befriend sinners to introduce them to Jesus Christ. You’ll never regret it!  

Sometimes we Christians are too serious. We study theology. We pray. We go to church, work in the church, spend most of our time in church... These are good things, but I think Jesus wants us also to do more sometimes, don’t you? Whenever I read about the life of Jesus I notice how often he would stop to enjoy time with his friends. He would eat, drink and be merry. And people were drawn to him! He would often attend parties with food, interesting characters, and I’m sure there was a lot of laughter too. The serious religious types didn’t like that Jesus was joining these parties and they criticized him for it. But it was in those times of fellowship that many lives were changed! Jesus truly was the “friend of sinners” even though he was completely without sin. Ray Stedman often said, “Jesus, friend of sinners, foe of hypocrites.” When’s the last time you enjoyed times with friends? Let alone non-Christian friends? Throw a party and invite all your neighbors. I’m not saying get drunk but make good food, and be welcoming. You’ll be amazed at how having a little fun can be used of God to powerfully reach others with the Good News Gospel!

You know, people often think proclaiming Christ to big crowds, like I do, is impersonal. I’ve heard it many times- that addressing so many at one time couldn’t be effective. But, after all these years, I’m convinced God works through many different methods of evangelism. If we believe God is doing the saving, than who are we to tell Him how to do it? God personally knows and loves each one of us. Even in a large gathering God’s Holy Spirit is meeting each person individually that appears lost in the crowd. In the book of Luke, we read the story of Zacchaeus - the hated tax collector. Jesus had yet to meet him, but when he did, Jesus called him by name. Jesus called out to him, shouting, “Zacchaeus,” After Zacchaeus dined with Jesus that night, he was a changed man! Jesus didn’t say, “hey you.” Jesus didn’t call out to everyone standing around. Jesus called out to Zacchaeus specifically. Aren’t you thankful we serve a God who calls each one of us by name? John chapter 10 affirms, “He calls his own by name.” And while we were sinners, just like Zacchaeus, he called us into new life. Share this glorious gift as you try to reach your world today – that the grace of God reaches every one of us.

We have the opportunity to sow generously. Have you ever made a sacrifice? Have you ever said “no” to something you wanted because of your love for someone else? It can be hard to do. I think of this because I recently had to make a similar decision. My team and I were in Africa, trying to unite the churches in preparation for an upcoming festival. But, in order for things to be finalized and for people to hear the Good News, I had to stay a couple extra days. Normally I’d be happy to make that commitment. But this time I struggled. Those couple of days would mean that I wasn’t home with my family for a holiday and a birthday. And yet, what if those extra couple of days meant that more people would hear God’s Good News? II Corinthians says, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” What are you willing to give up so that you can sow generously into the Kingdom of God? Are you willing to give up a weekend? Are you willing to give up a television show? Are you willing to give up some comfort and security? Nothing matters more than sowing into the lives of people – specifically, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. Let’s give up whatever stands between us and reaching another with the Good News. Let’s sow generously so that we can also reap generously.

The 29-year-old fellow who laid the foundation for the King James Version of the Bible was named William Tyndale. He was a young pastor outside Bristol, England in the 1500s, and it is estimated that 70% of today’s King James Bible is his work. Tyndale understood what the Gospel was all about. One day he said “the Gospel makes a man’s heart glad, and makes him sing, dance, and leap for joy!” That’s a wonderful description of the effect of the Good News and the impact it has on our lives! But so often we think of evangelism and sharing the Good News with those around us as a burden. We forget the joy we had when we first heard the gospel of Jesus and experienced its changing power. Others need to experience that change. God chooses us to partner with him in his work, and that is a privilege and a joy! Sometimes we also think that we can’t share the Good News unless we become missionaries or go overseas. Not true! We do need missionaries to answer God’s call, of course, but we’re not all called to leave our communities. God calls us to simply be faithful where we are: with our children, our neighbors, our friends. Paul writes about the lost: “How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone proclaiming it to them?” That person, that proclaimer, is you, and it’s me!      

Paul knew exactly what his mission was. It was to spread the Good News Gospel, “to win as many as possible.” He lived for that daily. In Corinthians, he talks about his strategy for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with everyone. He says, ”To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.” And later he says, “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” Paul is saying any honorable method is okay. The message is sacred.  Methods are flexible. He recognizes that sometimes we need to think about what people need in order to get the message across. We need to understand them – where they are coming from. How Jesus can save them from their pain right now, where they are. The truth is that God wants everyone to come and know Him. He says it over and over again in the Bible. There will always be those who choose their own way, but God wants everyone to join his kingdom. He asks us to be partners in this process, to reach our world. What a joy it is to spread His Good News!

Sometimes we might think it was easier to be a Christian a long time ago. The world is so cynical and mean now! But Christians long ago didn’t have it easier. The apostle Paul was born under the Roman Empire. It was a morally and spiritually depraved time. They had great riches, but there were many wars and the losing side often became slaves. Towns were pillaged. Unwanted children were often killed. The rich threw wild and immoral parties. Spiritually, they worshiped the emperor. People proclaimed, “Caesar is Lord.” This is the culture that the early Christians wanted to change. They didn’t start a campaign against infanticide, or picket outside wild parties. Instead, they challenged the core of the culture proclaiming, “Jesus is Lord! Jesus is Lord!” Paul and the early Christians had a very clear mission. Paul himself said, “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone to win as many as possible.” The most important thing was spreading the gospel to the people trying to fill their lives with riches or parties. In that sense, our job is the same: to spread God’s light to those who need it most – those living in darkness.             

Many famous missionaries have done amazing things around the world. For example, Jim Elliot, who went to Ecuador to share the gospel and was killed. There are also missionaries who aren’t as well-known, even though they spend their whole lives preaching about Jesus. One of these people is Jim Elliot’s brother Bert, who was a missionary in Peru. Bert and his wife Colleen went to Peru shortly before Jim went to Ecuador. Before they went, Colleen learned how to deliver babies. Bert learned how to pull teeth. But they were most passionate about the Good News Gospel. Because of this, God used them to start 150 local churches in Northern Peru! They simply loved the Peruvians. They felt called to bring the Good News Gospel to them. They both delivered thousands of babies and pulled hundreds of teeth, but more importantly they brought whole communities to Christ over fifty years. The apostle Paul talks about people like Bert and Colleen when he says in Romans, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Bert and Colleen’s feet were beautiful. They should inspire us to hear God’s call to share the Good News of Jesus to people in our own lives, wherever He leads us.

Isaiah and I had a similar response… Have you read the book of Isaiah? In chapter 6, Isaiah sees the Lord. His response is one of recognizing the glory of God in contrast to the ugliness of himself. Isaiah says, “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips.” But God was not there to condemn Isaiah for his wrongdoings. Rather, He was there to call Isaiah to himself. The Lord forgave Isaiah of his sin and commissioned him to tell others God’s message. My experience was similar to Isaiah’s. I, too, was a broken man when I met Jesus Christ. I was a man of unclean lips and unclean actions. But, God called me to Himself. After Isaiah met the Lord, he said, “Here am I. Send me!” I responded in the same way. After realizing the power of God’s love and forgiveness, I wanted to tell others. I vividly remember telling the Lord, “I will tell everyone what you’ve done.” God’s power and love in our lives compel us to tell others the Good News. Have you had an “Isaiah experience?” Have you been broken and unclean only to hear God say that He loves you, forgives you, and wants to use you to reach others? If so, don’t settle for mediocrity. Respond with a renewed determination to tell others of His great love. Let your “Isaiah moment” be the catalyst for reaching your world.

I love having interesting discussions with people- especially those who don’t know God. Last week in Dallas I dined with a neurosurgeon who reads the Bible but does not yet believe it or know God. It can be easy to get used to just spending time with all of our Christian friends, can’t it? We see them at church and Bible study. Then we hang out with them during our free time. And before we know it, we are only ever seeing other believers in Jesus Christ. I want to challenge you to get together with someone who doesn’t know God this week. Prayerfully invite a neighbor or co-worker over for dinner. Be hospitable and kind. Get to know them. Ask questions, and listen. Do you know whose example you’ll be following when you do this? Jesus’! If you read the Gospels you’ll see that Jesus spent much of his time eating with those who needed to know Him most. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus said, “...It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Do it this week won’t you? You’ll never regret intentionally setting aside the time to reach your world, talking to a non-believer.  It could be very exciting, by the way.    

You know, I’ve had many interesting discussions with atheists through the years and many try to argue against God because of science. But I have learned that good science always points to God and deepens faith. And did you know that many of the great scientists in history- who made some of the most dramatic, world-changing discoveries, had a profoundly deep faith in God? Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, Simpson, von Braun... the list goes on. You see, faith doesn’t have to be a stumbling block to reason and true science. They can go together. So if you, or someone you know, doubt God because you believe God and science cannot go together, think again! It can be freeing for a scientist to learn that the Bible doesn’t say, “believe in God, shut your mouth and shut off your brain.” No. God wants us to believe in Him and know Him. And He wants us to enjoy discovering the different truths of His creation. Jesus says, “you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Jesus says, “I am the truth.” As scientists are on a quest for truth- that quest will always ultimately point to Jesus. Share the Good News with a science-minded friend today. Perhaps you will share with them the truth that will set them free.