Sometimes, we who are raised in the church treat the Kingdom of Satan like it’s a bunch of foolishness. But the Bible teaches there is a very real enemy of the human race - the thief. He comes only “to steal, to kill, and to destroy.” It’s a sobering truth when you see people under Satan’s influence.

I have a friend who’s dying of Lou Gehrig’s disease. He recently said to me, “Luis, my life has been a total waste.” I felt so sorry for this man because I understood what he meant. He has been ashamed of the Gospel for many years.

When he was a teenager he made a commitment to Christ, but he married a girl who wanted nothing to do with Jesus. So he kept it under wraps all these years. He was handsome and rich, but his life was wasted. He believed the lie that it’s better to ignore Jesus than to stand up for Him.

Satan would like nothing more than to see us ineffective in God’s Kingdom. But we can have victory, as we remember the Scripture: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

Don’t come to the end of your life regretting that you never really stood up for Jesus Christ. That’s what Satan wants, but God has so much more planned for you and the people in your world!

I met Steve on a recent trip to London, England. He approached me and said, “Mr. Palau, I committed my life to Jesus during your festival to London 23 years ago.” Then Steve told me his story.

Since he didn’t grow up in church, Steve knew very little about God. He began serving in the Royal British Forces in his early 20s. There, he struggled with severe bouts of anxiety and depression, which led him to heavy drinking binges. In Steve’s words, he was one inch away from becoming an alcoholic.

Steve was searching for answers in various religions, when a friend invited him to hear me speak at Wembley Stadium in London. Steve agreed to go. That night he heard the Good News Gospel, and realized what he needed in his life wasn’t religion, but a relationship with Jesus.

When I gave the invitation, Steve made a commitment to follow Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior. Today, Steve is married to a wonderful Christian woman, and they are raising their three sons in the ways of God.

Think about where Steve might be today if his friend hadn’t invited him to our festival. Ephesians 5:15 reminds us: “Be careful how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.”

We need to remember to be intentional about inviting our friends to hear a clear presentation of the Gospel. It may be just what they need to hear

I really admire a man named Robert Levy. He’s my son, Andrew’s, father-in-law. Robert’s a very powerful businessman, but his main purpose in life is leading people to Jesus Christ - which is what I respect most about him.

Robert is a true man of God, but that didn’t happen by accident. I believe it’s because He purposes to spend time with God every morning. Before anything else, he’s up at 5:00 am to spend time with God.

Do you want to be someone like that, too? James 4:8 tells us: “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” Those aren’t just words that James wrote because they sounded nice - they’re true! It’s a call from God. It’s an invitation from the King.

God longs to be near you, to change you, and use you for His glory. When we make one small move toward Him, He rushes to us with open arms!

The Lord Jesus said that he wants to be a close friend of yours. But you need to make the choice to spend time with Him, reading His word, and listening to the Holy Spirit. Then, as you walk with God, people will notice.

They’ll think, “There’s something different about her - maybe I’ll ask her about the struggle I’m going through.” By spending time with the Lord, you will have his quiet power and confidence to witness to the lost and lonely people in your world.

When I was 12 years old, I received Jesus Christ into my life at a Christian camp. I’ll admit, I didn’t understand everything that happened when the missionary Frank Chandler led me to receive Christ.

I hadn’t committed any of the ‘big sins,’ so to speak. But, I knew I needed forgiveness. I needed to be reconciled to God because I was guilty.

I had a foul temper; I had a dirty mouth, as a boy, so when my camp counselor asked me where I would go if I died tonight, I said, “Hell.” I knew it; I deserved it. I didn’t need him to point the finger. Even as a boy I had guilt on my conscience.

In fact, whether they admit it or not, all human beings live with a guilty conscience. I’ve been amazed from talking with people who say they’re atheists. They tell me that they don’t believe in God. Yet when they start talking about evil in the world and why bad things happen, it’s obvious they’re struggling with their own guilt, too.

No one can escape it, until they come to Jesus Christ. Romans 8:1 reminds us: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

The next time you’re talking to a friend about the Lord, remember she may be struggling with guilt, too! So be prepared to share the Good News that the blood of Jesus Christ is the answer to a guilty conscience and lead them straight to Christ.