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Your Competence Comes from God

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As you and I try to reach our world, all of us do get nervous sharing the faith of Jesus Christ. So, as I told you a few days ago, I always think to myself, God is being glorified. Number 2, I have authority- the power of the Holy Spirit. And today, for just one minute, you have to remind yourself that you have confidence and that you are decisive by faith in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Listen to 2 Corinthians 3, “Such confidence as this is ours, through Christ before God, not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” Man, do I like that verse. Our competence comes from God.

So, when you share the Good News, remember, its not really you speaking, though God is using your voice and your mind and your thoughts, its the Holy Spirit of God and therefore you can speak with confidence. You speak decisively, you speak humbly, but the important thing is confidence in the Word of God. Confidence in the Holy Spirit of God. And confidence in that God Himself wants to turn this person back to Jesus Christ.

So, the next time you share the Good News, remember do it humbly but with confidence because your competence comes from God, not from yourself.

Ready to Die

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NBC Television had an excellent reporter named David Bloom. In 2003, he was covering the war in Iraq. David was a young guy, in his thirties, with a wife and three daughters – in the prime of life.

But one day while he was in a tank reporting, he collapsed, and died on the spot. Later they found out he had a pulmonary embolism – a blood clot that had lodged in his heart. No one could have guessed that it was coming. What a shock! So young!

But thankfully, when he died, David was ready. Two years before his sudden death he had given his life to Jesus with the help of some friends who I know in Connecticut. They get together every Friday morning to pray and to do a Bible study, and thats where David became a Christian.

Jesus rose from the dead! He gives us confidence that one day all believers will join Him in Heaven! In John 14:3 Jesus says, “I am going [to Heaven] to prepare a place for you.”

Thats where David Bloom is today. What about you? Like David, you never know when your time on earth will end. Its usually a big surprise! Thats why you need to be ready for that day by accepting Jesus Christ into your heart and life immediately.

Why wait? Do you know Him as your Savior? Are you sure that you have eternal life? If not, why dont you settle things right now and open your heart to the Lord today?

Intimacy with Christ

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There is a little verse that I love in Psalm 25:14. It says, “The Lord confides in those who fear him. He makes his covenant known to them.” Now the Lord has no favorites, but he does have intimates. My pastor said that and I like it. The intimates are those who have a holy fear of God, a love for holiness, and who repent and confess their sins. The result is intimacy with God.

This intimacy is what helps us in sharing our faith. When theres this kind of closeness in our relationship with Christ, we can hear His voice speak to us very directly about certain situations and people. We can walk in confidence knowing that when the right time and place come, the Lord will reveal exactly what He wants us to do or say. We will be willing vessels for the Holy Spirit to flow through us onto others.

Every believer has a right to intimacy and depth with God where God explains things that are close to His heart. But in order to have this intimacy, we need to walk closely with the Lord with a broken and contrite spirit. Then, well understand where He wants us to go, and how He wants to use us to draw people to Himself.

All This is Ours!

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Have you ever thought about the amazing privileges we have as children of God? Think about it. Hebrews chapter 10 tells us all about them. First, it says we can draw near to God with a sincere heart. That we do that in full assurance of faith. That our hearts are sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscious. That our bodies are washed with pure living water.

We hold unswervingly to the hope that we profess, because the One who promised it is faithful. We spur one another on to love and good deeds. We meet together for fellowship. We encourage one another and, it says, all the more as we see the Day of our Lord approaching.

You know, all these privileges are ours in Jesus Christ! Is that amazing or what? The blood of Jesus purified and opened the door in such a way that we can actually walk right into the most holy place, the very presence of God. In the Spirit, in prayer, in worship, in meditation-you and I can actually feel and be by faith, in reality, in the very presence of God Almighty.

Hebrews 10:19 says, “We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus.” Check it out for yourself. You can make an amazing impact on your world when you live life in light of Gods promises, Gods privileges, and Gods reality.

It’s Never Too Late

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Sometimes we forget how old Moses was when he led the people out of slavery. We imagine he was a fiery young man who spoke and acted with strength and confidence! But did you know that he was 81 years old when he led the charge?

God revealed His plan for Moses during the last part of his life. So what does this have to do with us reaching our world for Jesus? The lesson is that its never too late to be used by God in a mighty way.

Ive talked with many people who are past their youth and feel as if they cant do anything more for the Lord. Perhaps theyve fallen, or messed up somehow, and think that the younger generation are the only ones who can make a difference for Christ. But thats wrong!

We must not live in the past, regretting our failures, our neglect, and even our sins, past or present. They are forgiven. Theyre buried now. Every year we have left, we can and must maximize it for the glory of God.

Ephesians 2:10 says we were “created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God has a plan for each segment of your life.

No matter what stage of your life you find yourself in, God wants you to be spreading His message of love and forgiveness to a world that is desperate for good news.