Bonus
Ryan’s Sermon on How to Share your Faith!
Original notes given on Sunday, January 25th at Raintree Church
Good morning.
Great is our Savior, Amen.
Prayer—Father, please guide me by your Spirit to share your Word with your people. Lord, open our hearts and guide us by your Holy Spirit today. Thank you for Jesus. Amen.
Well for those who don’t know me, I’m Ryan Marks. I’m in seminary and have been writing and preaching over the last 6 years as the Lord has opened doors. I’ve been attending Raintree for about 18 months now and am a member.
Today, the Lord has laid on my heart a message to share your Faith. Over the last several months in Raintree Pastor Kenny has taken us through Jude and we know how essential it is to contend for the Faith and stand against false doctrine and through Galatians how the Gospel of Grace must be guarded and not perverted by salvation by works, legalism, or a cheapened grace that is a license to sin. Those two are vitally connected as I hope you’ll see today.
But to begin, how can we share our Faith? Can it merely be taught? Back in the Young Adult and College Bible study we’ve started talking about How to Share your Faith with People of other Faiths but I’ve really been thinking and praying about how do we learn to share our Faith? It is not by going to a class or reading a book or watching somebody alone. No, that’s not it. Yes, some valuable tools can be given from study and watching others, I’ve picked up some tools from that in my own life.
But when we witness, we cannot do it in our own strength. We don’t have the power in ourselves to stand up and preach Jesus. Peter and the other Disciples were weak men, but when the Holy Spirit came, he gave them the power to witness. The Holy Spirit is essential. We’re going to walk through some Scripture on this and then I’ll be sharing some of my own testimony today and we’ll move on to other topics. We’re going to look at a lot of Scripture because as Paul said, our faith must not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Who is the Holy Spirit? He’s our helper, comforter, and empowerer. One of my mentors who is here today taught me one main thing. He taught me that in order to live the Christian life and in order to minister we must depend on the Holy Spirit. We must rely on Him and not on our own strength.
In the Early Church, they depended on the Holy Spirit. The book of Acts is not the Acts of the Apostles but the Acts of the Holy Spirit. They simply relied on the Lord to guide them and empower them by His Spirit and there was life, there was power in their witness. Daily, the Scripture says, God added to them those being saved. Weak and timid disciples were turned into bold men of God.
The leaders of the Early Church knew that their focus must be on the ministry of the Word of God and prayer so they appointed deacons to be responsible for the practical matters of the Church so that they could Feed the flock. That’s what pastor means—a shepherd, one who feeds and protects the flock as a sub-shepherd, an undershepherd, a subordinate of Jesus Christ the chief shepherd who declares if anyone here’s his voice and follows Him then He is Christ’s sheep.
Sometimes today, as has been discussed in seminary, churches hire a pastor to do the work of the ministry. But that’s unbiblical. The Pastor is to shepherd and it says in Ephesians that pastors, shepherds, teachers, evangelists—are gifts of the Lord Himself to a local body to equip them to do the work of the ministry. You see, every single one of you who is a follower of Jesus Christ in this room is a minister. We are all ministers of the Gospel. We are to share it everywhere we go. That is why the church leaders Jesus has given you are to equip you, they are to give you tools and feed you with the Word and protect you from false doctrine so that you may do the work of the ministry. It’s not just the pastor’s job. Jesus Christ has commissioned us all to Go (evangelism) and make disciples of all nations (mentorship, teaching, discipleship). That’s the Great Commission.
We are to disciples nations! The media does that don’t they? Hollywood, the top recording artists, and even politicians have disciples. Did you know this? Satan is in the business of making disciples to. His own disciples. Those who are dedicated to anything and everything other than Jesus Christ. We can’t reach this world in our own power? Jesus said that it is better that I leave so that the Comforter will come to you. Why? Because the comforter, the Holy Spirit would live inside each and every Believer. He is a Spirit and not limited by time or space. Jesus was in a human body and could only be one place at a time. But the Holy Spirit could individually comfort and equip and counsel and empower each and every Believer.
It is the Holy Spirit, ultimately, who teaches you how to witness. He may use another Christian to help you grow in that area, but when you’re talking to someone, what a book told you may or may not apply. But the Holy Spirit will guide you.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
John 14:26 (ESV)
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
John 14:16-17 (ESV)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 (ESV)
In Hillsboro, in Missouri, in the Midwest and to the whole world!
God only ask for our Obedience to Him. I didn’t learn how to witness by a book or somebody. I learned as I was obedient to Go and Say what the Lord’s Word says as I abided in Christ and sought the Lord.
Adrian Rogers said, “What is the blessing of obedience? Intimacy with God.
You will come to know things that you could never know any other way when you become intimate with God…..Talk to God about your relationship with Him. …Ask God to teach you how to strengthen your relationship with Him today.”
I’m rather introverted and definitely not an extrovert. I struggled for a long time with how to share my Faith I also did not like getting up in front of people.
I was 15 when the Lord clearly directed me to preach. It was crystal clear what God wanted me to do. I had no training. Didn’t know squat about speaking in public much less preaching. But I obeyed. I still remember and still at times have that same waves of fear come over me, legs feel like they’re about to give way, mouth goes dry, lump in the throat, nausea. But you know how I got through it? I just turned to the Lord, “Lord, you’ve called me to do this. I don’t know how, all I feel I can do is obey and walk up there. Holy Spirit, give me the power, you’ve got to do this cause I can’t. ….the Lord taught me so many lessons and has continued to. Lives aren’t changed when we do things in our own strength. Lives are changed by Jesus Christ as His Spirit convicts and guides.
I was 17, dual enrolled in Jefferson college and a homeschool senior and I had a lot of opportunities. I remember to guys I sat next to in Algebra were always talking it seemed about what ladies they would find on the weekend. The Lord began to open up conversations with one of them especially. He had created his own religion with 23 reincarnations and you only went to heaven if you were really good and only went to hell if you were really bad. I always carried my Bible around and set it on the desk in front of me in my classes because I had a clear conviction from the Lord before I ever started college that God was calling me to share His Word and I could not compromise my Faith for a grade. The Scripture were Jesus says if you are ashamed of me before men, I’ll be ashamed of you before my Father stuck in my head. So this guys sees my Bible and begins to ask if I’m religious and proceeds to rant on how he’s been studying the history of the political roman church and how it started the dark ages. I responded that that wasn’t the Biblical church but a time when religion was used to control people. …later on when I talked to a mentor about that situation, I believe the Lord prompted him to remind me of something. He said, Ryan, do you know why the dark ages ended? Ya, the printing press. Yes, but do you know what was the first book of the printing press? The Bible! When God’s Word got into the hands of the people and they could understand it rather than obeying what they were told in Latin as they sat in service every week, reformation which means back to the Bible movement broke out! Soon there was
Martin Luther! The Lollards! The Puritans! The Baptists! The Lutherans! The Presbyterians! The Quakers and Pietists!
Sharing your Faith is not about having all the right words, it is about following the Lord. It is a process. We are constantly to be learning and growing from the Lord and ultimately His Word how to share our Faith with others. It is a life-long part of our walk.
Sometimes, the Lord may prompt us to but things very bluntly. Remember those 2 guys that I said I sat by in Algebra? As I prayed around Christmas time as the semester was ending the Lord prompted me to write a letter and share the Gospel and give them each a little new testament. To one of the young men, the Lord directed me to write one short statement. He was very bright and intellectual, but he needed Jesus. I wrote very simply. Here is a Bible. Try to disprove it and if you can’t then it must be right. I gave those letters out the last day of class and forgot I had a final still. When I showed up early for the final, nobody was there accept these guys. I started to get a little afraid. I’m gonna get beat up because I shared Jesus. I’m 17, these guys are in their mid-twenties…O great. They ended up not saying anything, but they did look at me and I can’t describe it fully, but they respected me. ….later on the next semester I saw that guy that I wrote try to prove the Bible wrong to on the first day of class. I was reading my Bible in the hallway as I was waiting for the class before mine to let out when he walked up to me and asked me how I was doing. I said I was doing well and we chit chatted for a few minutes and then it was time to class to start so we both had to run, but something was different about him. He was so depressed and discouraged all the time the previous semester, this time when I talked to him, he seemed peaceful and joyful.
Just follow the Lord. Obey Him as He prompts you by His Spirit to share your Faith. Here are some encouragements form Scripture
Not Earthly
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ
2 Cor 10:3-5 (ESV)
Not about Eloquence
For they say, [about Paul] “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.”
2 Cor 10:10 (ESV)
were saying, Paul writes so eloquently but when he comes in person, he seems so weak and his speech is simple to understand and so loving, not like some of his letters are reproving us with the Word
Exacting (piercing the heart)
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Heb 4:12 (ESV)
THE WORD— is God’s revealed will
Contend for your Faith—don’t compromise or back down
What is your Standard of Truth?
….I was homeschooled and educated much the same way that people have been for the last 6,000 years of human history, particularly much the way the Jewish people educated their children. The Bible was the foundation of everything. I had a Bible Class like Sunday School everyday, my history, science, handwriting, English, and reading all had the Scripture verses all over it.
HOLD UP BIBLE Sola Scriptura (Latin) was the Cry of the Reformation—Scripture alone, not tradition, not some other writings, but Scripture alone as the standard for truth.
The Word is Jesus. Jesus is the Word.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
John 1:1-4 (ESV)
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, …. full of grace and truth.
As we studied in the Creation and Evolution class over about 3 months
Genesis Chapters 1-11 alone deal with so many of today’s topics
Chart….
God’s Word has the answers to the debates of our Day
Taxation—God’s Word answers it. It says in the Law that the rich and poor should be taxed the same and in such a manner that the tax is not too burdensome for the poor
Abortion—each life begins at conception and each baby is knit together by God inside the mother
God loves us so much that He’s given us the Scriptures to tell us the Truth
Guard the Gospel of Grace! It’s not by works, it’s now be what we do or how good we are that gets us into Heaven. IT IS JESUS ALONE! We can’t be good enough. We all sin each and every day. Jesus alone is our Plea! Jesus alone is our Savior, our Lord, our Refuge, our Hope. The economy isn’t you’re hope. Money isn’t your Savior. A special somebody won’t fulfill you. Jesus alone is the answer. To War, to Hate, to Ferguson, to the Deficit, to the White House, to the Outhouse
Yet we also must not forget to love
….by your love you shall know them Jesus said
No matter what Christian denomination you look at—we all agree on 97-99% of doctrine. It’s the 1-3% that causes division, fights, hate, and pride. Be united in Christ.
Yet 70-90% of Americans (depending on what survey you look at) profess that Christ is their Savior
The problem is, He isn’t their Lord.
We look around us and we look at the Fruit as Jesus told us to and we know that America is no longer a Christian nation. By their fruit you shall know them. Is the fruit lives touched and transformed by Jesus or the empire of Man?
Don’t ask people what denomination they are, what church they attend or if they’re a Christian. It doesn’t matter if their “Baptist” “Pentecostal” “Lutheran” or “Catholic” Ask them if they KNOW Jesus. A personal relationship with Jesus is the only question that matters. It matters for eternity. Every single one of us in this room are ministers (that’s what Scripture teaches. Pastors and church leaders are not to do the ministry of the church, they are to equip the Body to do the work of the ministry).
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Matt 7:15-23 (ESV)
Let us not only contend for the Faith and guard the Gospel of Grace but pray for those who are in error. Those who are trying to earn their salvation—our heart should break for them. Those who are perverting the Gospel to suit their own sinful desires of wealth, health, and pleasure should grieve our hearts that they are ensnared by this world. Those who profess Christ as Savior but don’t know Him as Lord should break our hearts. Let us pray for them!
Don’t endorse their sin
Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
2 John 1:9-11 (ESV)
Expose their sin
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Eph 5:6-14 (ESV)
Enclose (hedge em in) them with the Compassion of Christ
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35 (ESV)
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 32 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 31 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. 37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 6:27-38 (ESV)
Believers, share your Faith in Grace and in Truth as our Lord Jesus did.
Chart/images
In Genesis God directed Noah to Make
Ark—symbol of salvation
Pitch—covered inside and out with Christ’s blood
Door—only way in or out of the Ark of Salvation. Jesus is the ONLY Way, Truth, and Life. Behold He stands at the door of your heart today and knocks. Will you let Him in to make His home there?
The Door was shut and sealed by the Hand of God—God seals your salvation with His own finger when you come to Jesus and make Him your Lord
The Flood—symbolizes our Baptism which is a symbol that we have died with Christ
The Olive branch—New Life in Christ
The Dove—the Holy Spirit, He won’t leave you just as Dove’s mate for life Jesus took your identity on the Cross. He took the slimy, black, filth out of your heart and put it upon Himself and paid the Price. He redeemed you by His death. That means he bought you back from slavery to sin. You are blood bought by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
Scripture says that today is the day of salvation. Do not harden your heart, but come to Jesus.
Jesus is standing at your heart’s door knocking, and saying let me come in and let my Spirit live in you. Let me save you and be your Master. I love you, will care for you and will one day bring you to the place I’ve prepared for you in Heaven.
Don’t harden your heart. Don’t push aside the conviction of the Holy Spirit. It’s not me who’s making you feel convicted, it’s God’s Holy Spirit convicting you with the truth.
Will you receive Jesus today as your Savior and Lord?