Urgency of Faith: Sharing Christ Before It's Too Late
Summary
In this sermon, I emphasized the importance of not looking down on others, as their circumstances could change and they could end up in a better position than you. I used the example of a man who begged to the point of pleading with God to warn his five brothers about the state he was in that led him to hell. I stressed the importance of not waiting until it's too late to tell others about Jesus, as no one wants their loved ones to end up in hell. I urged the congregation to see the importance of knowing Jesus for themselves and sharing Him with others.
In the second part of the sermon, I reiterated the urgency of accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior, emphasizing that without Him, hell is the destination. I warned against putting money before God and stressed the importance of making pleasing Him the number one priority in life. I also highlighted the importance of witnessing for the Lord and not waiting until it's too late to do so. I concluded by reminding the congregation that hell is real and urged them to refocus their hearts on Christ.
Key Takeaways:
- It's crucial to not let your good fortunes blind you to someone else's misfortunes. This is a reminder to stay humble and compassionate, regardless of your own circumstances ([41:44]).
- Money cannot buy happiness. It's a common misconception that wealth equates to happiness, but in reality, many wealthy individuals are more miserable than those with less ([43:08]).
- It's important to not wait until it's too late to tell others about Jesus. This emphasizes the urgency of spreading the Gospel and the potential consequences of not doing so ([01:05:28]).
- Accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior is the only way to avoid hell. This underscores the significance of making a personal commitment to Christ ([01:08:53]).
- Hell is real. This is a sobering reminder of the reality of eternal damnation for those who do not accept Christ ([01:09:32]).
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Luke 16:19-31 - The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus [01:04:03]
2. John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." [01:08:53]
Observation Questions:
1. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, what was the rich man's ultimate fate and why?
2. What does John 14:6 tell us about the way to reach God?
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the parable of the rich man and Lazarus teach us about the consequences of our actions in this life?
2. How does John 14:6 relate to the concept of salvation and the importance of accepting Christ?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your daily life. Are there instances where you prioritize material wealth over spiritual wealth? How can you change this?
2. How can you actively demonstrate that Jesus is the "number one priority" in your life?
3. Can you identify someone in your life who you haven't shared the gospel with? What's one step you can take this week to share Jesus with them?
4. How can you ensure that you are not spiritually empty due to selfishness? Can you think of a specific action to take this week to serve others?
5. Reflect on the statement "spiritual wealth, not material riches, will determine your ultimate destination". How does this statement challenge your current lifestyle or mindset?
Devotional
Day 1: The Urgency of Salvation
The sermon emphasizes the urgency of accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior. It is a call to action, a plea to not delay this crucial decision. The pastor reminds us that we are not promised tomorrow and that the time to accept Christ is now, while we still have the opportunity. The sermon warns of the eternal consequences of not making this decision ([01:08:53]).
Bible Passage: 2 Corinthians 6:2 - "For he says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."
Reflection: Reflect on your relationship with Christ. If you have not yet accepted Him as your Savior, what is holding you back?
Day 2: The Living God
The sermon emphasizes the reality of a living God who is active and present in our lives. The pastor testifies to the life-changing power of a relationship with God, who is not a distant, impersonal deity, but a living, active presence in our lives ([32:56]).
Bible Passage: Jeremiah 10:10 - "But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath."
Reflection: How have you experienced the presence of the living God in your life?
Day 3: The Dangers of Loving Money
The sermon warns of the dangers of loving money and the spiritual bankruptcy that can result from prioritizing wealth over God. The pastor reminds us that we cannot serve both God and money, and that the love of money can blind us to the things that truly matter ([37:24]).
Bible Passage: 1 Timothy 6:9-10 - "Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
Reflection: How can you guard against the temptation to prioritize wealth over your relationship with God?
Day 4: The Misfortune of Others
The sermon challenges us not to let our good fortunes blind us to the misfortunes of others. The pastor encourages us to be compassionate and mindful of those who are less fortunate, reminding us that our wealth and blessings should be used to help others, not to isolate ourselves from them ([41:44]).
Bible Passage: Proverbs 14:21 - "Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor."
Reflection: How can you use your blessings to help those who are less fortunate?
Day 5: The Deception of Wealth
The sermon warns of the deception of wealth, reminding us that material wealth does not equate to happiness or spiritual wealth. The pastor warns that those who appear wealthy may be spiritually bankrupt, and that true wealth comes from a relationship with God, not from material possessions ([43:08]).
Bible Passage: Luke 12:15 - "Then he said to them, 'Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.'"
Reflection: How can you cultivate spiritual wealth in your life?
Quotes
1. "Don't wait till it's too late. Don't wait till you get to the point where you're not able to tell nobody about Jesus. Don't wait until you get to the point where you're not able to witness to nobody. Tell your brother, your sister, your mama because you don't want nobody in your life that you know to end up at the point of no return." - 01:04:40
2. "What the world calls success is not what God calls success. You can be down today, that doesn't mean God has counted you out. Everybody wants God to bless them, but the problem is not the blessing, the problem is are you going to do what's right with the blessing." - 54:04
3. "Spiritual wealth, not material riches, will determine your ultimate destination. All the money you save up now, I promise you ain't no hearse gonna come behind you when you die. But what you have done for the Lord is what's going to count." - 45:50
4. "You cannot serve God and money. Both of them can't be on the same scene. Sometimes we can allow our selfishness to leave us spiritually empty." - 37:24
5. "The love of money will ruin your eyesight, it will ruin your heart, it will ruin your desires to want to serve. You're at a point of no return and the reason why is because you've begun to think that your wealth and riches was all that you wanted." - 40:16
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