Reaching Your World with Luis Palau

The story of Easter is all about a family relationship. You may feel abandoned and lost today, and you do not want to remain stuck there any longer – enslaved to that situation you’re in. For that very reason Jesus died on the cross, to remove all that has separated you from Him. The Bible calls it sin; it’s the sin in your life. Jesus took all the punishment for your sin on Himself when He died on the cross. He came to draw you to Himself, that you would never be alone again. You were created by God for a relationship with Him, but perhaps you don’t have that relationship yet. Look up John 8:36 in the Bible. It says, “If the Son – that’s Jesus – sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Not just free to run off on your own again and try to make your way in the world solo. You will be freed from the bondage of sin and welcomed into God’s family. To those who believe in Him and receive Him Jesus says, “I give them the right to become children of God.” The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is all about making things right as they ought to be. He is working that plan out now, and He wants to work it out in your life. So turn to Jesus this Easter and say yes to Him. Enter into the relationship you were created for and do it today. This is Andrew Palau.

We can all agree that there is a lot of trouble in the world right now, which creates a lack of peace. Jesus, when He was talking to His best friends right before He went to the cross said, “I have told you these things so that in me, you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) You know, when you think of what trouble is, that word almost feels too tame. To me trouble is sickness and grief, sadness, abuse, rejection, devastating losses. Oh, there's so much trouble in the world. And the trouble in the world results in a lack of peace. But Jesus said, “I have come to give you peace.” You see, on the cross He took our trouble. He took our pain, our grief, He took all the sin of the world. You can have peace because trouble will not overcome you. Jesus has overcome trouble. All He asks is that you believe that He loves you and cares for you, and that you accept the sacrifice He made for you. This Easter, open your heart and life to Him. It doesn't mean all your troubles will go away, but you will not be destroyed by a lack of peace. Will you receive Him today? This is Wendy Palau.  

So I was digging through a pile of things my wife was throwing away and I found a bulb. It had been given to me and I had forgotten to plant it. It was brown and looking lifeless so my wife threw it out. I knew if I just treated it as it deserved, it would reveal its promise of beauty. It would come to life. Bulbs like this have long been used as a picture of the work of Jesus Christ at our Easter celebrations. And it's really obvious why. When Jesus came, most people saw Him as just another man. He was not honored, in fact He was killed. The Bible describes Him in Isaiah 53 as being despised and rejected, a man of suffering and familiar with pain. But with eyes of faith, we can see who He really is. Yes, He died on the cross, but He rose again from the dead to bring us life. For all who receive Him, the Bible says He gives them the right to become children of God. (John 1:12) If you turn from your own ways to His way, repent, and receive His forgiveness, you can experience the same transformation that the bulb illustrates. You know, I did take that bulb out of the garbage and I planted it. Just in time for Easter, it has bloomed. It's beautiful! Easter celebrates that though Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross, He did it for the most beautiful reason - to bring life to all who would believe and receive Him. It's his offer for you today. This is Andrew Palau.

“Why have you forsaken me?” These were Jesus's words on the cross. It feels to me like the most tragic words in all of the Bible. Jesus is the Son of God, and He constantly throughout His life explains the beauty and intimacy of the relationship that He has with His Father. But yet, in that desperate moment on the cross He cries out, “My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46) I do not pretend to understand what happened in that transaction between the Father and the Son. But we do know that the sin of the world was put on Jesus. And in that moment He felt forsaken by His father. Have you ever felt forsaken by God? The Bible says over and over again that God will never forsake us. He says that with so much authority, and so much power and love and compassion, because of what Jesus did on the cross. When the Father forsook the Son in that moment, He created a way so that you and I will never be forsaken by Him. Never. All of that was taken on the Son. He became sin for us, so that we would never be forsaken by God. What a gift! What a sacrifice! I pray that this Easter, you will embrace Jesus’s sacrifice and gift for yourself. Then you can celebrate joyfully, knowing that God has never forsaken you, and He never will. This is Wendy Palau.

I acknowledge that these days I’ve been feeling somewhat isolated. Even so, let’s you and I join together to celebrate Easter. We commemorate Jesus. If you choose to say yes to that invitation, you will be greatly encouraged. Maybe the things you’ve always relied on are just giving out and they’re not delivering what you expected. Well, there is more to life than this, and nothing can encourage you more than what happened on that great day we celebrate called Easter. It’s the story of Jesus and what He did on the cross. It’s pertinent to you today. It’s made all the difference in the world for me personally. So consider what Christ did for you. He was crucified. It wasn’t a mistake. He went willingly. Jesus said, in John 10:18, “No one takes {my life} from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” He gave His life for you. It was the greatest act of love and power wrapped up in this work of Easter. Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrated his love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” His resurrection from the dead was proof of His power. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25) Do you believe this? He doesn’t want you guessing. Come to Him today and make sure. This is Andrew Palau.

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “Don’t put God into a box.” What it means is, don’t create God in your image. Don’t put limitations on God. Instead, let God be God. Let Him work the way He works—and don’t try to quantify or limit His capabilities. In my own life, I get caught up in planning. I consider What do I want to do? What’s best for me? Or What’s best for my family? And if anything other than my initial preferences occurs, I get frustrated. I complain, wondering why things get so hard. What I have to remember – and what we all have to remember – is that God is all about bringing glory to Himself and to the Kingdom. And often, that means His mighty plan is going to be bigger than I can ever comprehend. God’s plan may include a few obstacles that I don’t want or that I don’t understand. But God’s plan is still purposeful. God is not limited to my likes and dislikes, my timeframe, or my personal goals. God does not fit into my box. Remember that God loves you—but sometimes His plan may look a lot different than yours. The Bible says in Proverbs 3:5 to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” – so do it! Trust God; He is bigger than we can ever comprehend. That will help you so much as you reach your world. This is Andrew Palau.

A Jewish Christian friend of mine was born in Aleppo in Syria. His nanny was a true believer in the Lord Jesus. His parents really didn't practice their religion. The nanny talked to my friend Eddie about the Lord Jesus Christ and when Eddie was only nine or ten years old the nanny got sick and she knew that she was near going to heaven. One day she called Eddie and said, “Eddie, Jesus is coming to take me to heaven and I want you to be in heaven with me.” A few minutes later he was holding her and the Lord took her home. The impact was so great on his life, when they moved from Syria to the Americas, the father said to Eddie, “Where do you want to go to college?” He said, “I want to go to a Christian college in the U.S.,” and he did. There came an evangelist called Hyman Appleman. In chapel he spoke, gave an invitation, and my Jewish friend gave his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. It was a beautiful story. When he got sick and went home to heaven at age 75 I visited him in Mexico City and he gave credit to the nanny who prepared him to think about Jesus, and to Hyman Appleman who gave the invitation.God can use you wherever you are to lead others to Jesus Christ. This is Luis Palau.

You know, one of the greatest gifts that God has given us is the gift of friendship. And in the Body of Christ, among Christians, I think it's uniquely, uniquely special. Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.” I have a group of friends that I've known since we were teenagers in Argentina. And then another group of friends here in the USA. And a group of friends in the United Kingdom, and they are such loyal, amazing friends. Some of them are couples already married, some are single from the old days. But you know, their friendship means everything. In a sense you can have a team around you of people that you trust, that you love, that you can count on whose advice will stick with you. A friend loves at all times. A true friend, even if you stumble, stands with you and will lift you up, will be honest with you, will pray with you, will exhort you, will be truthful. What a blessing it is to have good friends. The Lord Jesus said, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” Can you imagine? The Lord Jesus calls us His friends. Now we need to act like friends of Jesus and love our friends here on earth and be brothers that were born for trouble to help one another. May God make you a great friend and may you have many good friends yourself. This is Luis Palau.

I've told you many times that my wife and I have four sons. Last Christmas one of them wrote a beautiful letter and I told my wife, “Wow! He sent me this letter.” She said, “He gave me one too. And he gave one to all the other boys in the family. But you know what touched my heart - I've got it right in front of me right now - was the things he said to me in that letter was such a blessing to my heart. In Ephesians chapter six, the Scriptures say - you know it very well – “Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy a long life on earth.” God makes two fantastic promises, beautiful, wonderful. He says it will go well with you if you honor your father and your mother, and you will enjoy a long life on earth. This week I was impacted by the word “enjoy.” You will enjoy a long life on earth. Not just exist, not just be there, but enjoy it. So I ask you, have you written your father or your mother a letter to tell them how you love them and care for them? Have you honored the Lord? He will give you a blessing. Do it today. This is Luis Palau.

When I was a teenager in South America, I think it was one of the missionaries who said to me one day, "You know, Luis, you've got to learn to walk on your knees.” Spiritually, many times, you walk on your knees. The other day I was reading about Simon Peter who was tempted just before Jesus Christ was crucified. It says in Luke 22:31, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat but I have prayed for you Simon that your faith may fail not. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” And you know, you and I will be tempted. The Lord knows when we will be tempted and how we will be tempted. In many, many ways the enemy of our souls tries to tempt us. But if we are walking on our knees before the Lord we will hear the Lord saying, “I have prayed for you that your faith not fail.” And that's what really counts. In temptation, we stick to the promises, and the orders and commandments of the Lord. And that's what walking on your knees is all about. You pray alone with the Lord, you worship alone, you talk to Him, you read Scripture, and you walk for the glory of God. May God teach you, like I learned as a teenager - and now that I'm an old grandpa I'm still doing it - I'm walking on my knees, not on my feet. God bless you. This is Luis Palau.

In the Bible, Jesus repeatedly told stories of God’s love for the lost. God is like the shepherd, searching for the one lost and vulnerable sheep. He is like the father who celebrated when his lost and confused son returned home repentant. These stories illustrate God’s patient search for every single person. 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish…” In other words, God is all about relationships. He cares for each and every person. I know this for a fact, because in my young-adult years, I myself was the lost sheep, and the son who left home. And yet, God showed me love and mercy through countless people in my life — especially my parents. God has this kind of love for everyone, and that is why I share the Good News every chance I get. I want others to understand that their lives are valuable. That God has a plan for them and that he loves them very much. As you hear this message, consider who in your life is the lost sheep or the son who has not yet returned home. Do you trust that God loves them, and wants a relationship with them? If so, don’t give up! Pray without ceasing. You can reveal that love to them. Look for opportunities to share the Good News. Reach your world. This is Andrew Palau.  

How often do we stop and think before we open our mouths? I know for me, it’s not often enough! But, the Bible tells us the praises of God should always be on our lips. Hebrews 13:15 says, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess His name.” What does this mean? Well, it means we should very often speak well of Jesus Christ, praising Him for dying on the cross for our sins and for giving us eternal life. Actually, this is also a great way to share your faith. Make a habit of mentioning Jesus or making other wisely placed references to your faith in everyday conversations. Then, look for signs of interest and follow up when your friend responds with further questions. For example, you could say, “Thank you, Jesus!” or “I’m so glad God is in charge.” We don’t need to be fake, but the more we pray and read God’s Word, the more we will overflow with His praises. And people will notice! Let’s follow Paul’s instructions in Colossians 4, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” This is Luis Palau.

As I read the Old Testament, I am amazed at how many times God calls to a person and that person responds, “Here I am!” A few examples are Abraham, Moses and Samuel. Think of the prophet Isaiah who, when the Lord said, “Whom shall I send?” He answered, “Here am I. Send me!” When I think about these men and their responses, I am amazed by the grace of our God. These were ordinary men. Yet, Almighty God used them to win battles, lead millions of people, counsel kings, and shape history. God used them to accomplish His purposes, despite their inadequacies and fears. The Holy Spirit came upon them to fulfill God’s purposes for cities and even nations. What about you and me? Are you available? Available to God? When He calls, do you respond immediately with, “Here am I. Send me!”? Or do you falter or put conditions on your responses like, “Here I am, but not if what you’re asking me to do puts me out of my comfort zone.” Through Christ, we can be available to God. As you go about your day, pray for opportunities to share the Good News. God will answer. He wants people to be rescued! Jesus said, in John 16:23, “I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” So, start asking for a chance to share Jesus Christ and His work, and bless your friends. This is Luis Palau.

I’ve talked with thousands of people about the Good News of Jesus Christ. From my experience I have learned that if we really want to, we can start a spiritual conversation with practically anyone we meet. How? The answer is simple. If you want to start a spiritual conversation, all you have to do is ask a leading question. Asking a question requires a response, and most people will become involved and respond to your question. First, you must have a genuine and significant conversation (even if it’s short). There are all sorts of questions you could use… You could say, “What do you think of when you hear people talking about God?” or “Do you have any spiritual beliefs?” “Where do you stand spiritually?” You might also try some more direct questions—I often use these when I’m talking to someone who might be older, or closer to death. I’ll ask, “Do you have the assurance of eternal life? Do you know that you’re going to heaven? Why or why not?” or maybe even, “What do you think happens after people die?” You’d be surprised at how easily people open up to you and share their thoughts, even if they are complete strangers. Let’s ask questions and then try to lead our friends to put their hope in Jesus Christ, because Psalm 147:11 says, “…the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.” This is Luis Palau.

Years ago, God put on my heart the desire to share the Good News with New York City. I had a dream of reaching the most diverse and influential city in the world with the love of Jesus Christ, because if New York could see a Jesus-revolution, it could surely affect the whole world! At the time, I wanted it badly—but God had other plans. He sent me to London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Buenos Aires, Washington D.C.—but not New York. Then, friends at a church in New York invited our Evangelistic Association to come share the Good News in the City.  The point I’m trying to make is this: sometimes, when we want something, we want it now—but God’s timing is different. Even though I would have loved to have a festival in New York City several years ago, I believe God was preparing me by sending me first to other major cities. Has God put something on your heart? Do you feel He wants you to reach others with His good news—but doors just aren’t yet opening? Don’t lose heart. Be patient. Keep praying for God to direct you. The Lord’s timing is always perfect. That’s why 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise...” God’s timing is best. Always! This is Luis Palau.