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Sabbath, August 7, 2004 Pastor Tom Hughes
Jeremiah 1:7-9 Newark Seventh-Day Adventist Church


“HOW TO LEAD SOMEONE TO JESUS”

QUIZ (T or F)

This will help us to understand the relationship of the Bible to the Spirit of Prophecy (writings of Ellen G. White) and how we are going to use the Bible as we witness to lead people to Christ. The most important thing about leading people to Christ is to understand to what you’re witnessing. According to the Spirit of Prophecy, when you witness you are to use the Bible ONLY as you deal with non-Adventist people. Are you familiar with that?

True. 1. We believe that the Bible is God’s
inspired word and that it constitutes the only rule of faith and practice for the Christian.

So you all agree that the Bible is our only rule faith and practice.

False. 2. (All) Pentecostals believe that
salvation is by Jesus and tongues.

There are Pentecostals who teach that, unless you’re baptized with the Holy Spirit by speaking in tongues, you’re not saved; so, it is definitely true. I just want to add one little caveat: Not all Pentecostal churches teach it that way.

True. 3. Catholics believe that salvation is
through Jesus and the church.
They believe that unless you are baptized you can’t go to heaven; that you go to limbo, and it’s only through the church that you can receive the sacrament of baptism. So, it is only through the ministry of the church that you can be saved; so, you need Jesus and the church or you can’t be saved.

False. 4. Seventh-Day Adventists believe
salvation is by Jesus and character development.

You’re saved by Jesus Christ and His character alone; you’re not saved by developing your own character.

True. 5. The official teachings of the Mormon Church come from the Bible and the Book of Mormon.

True. 6. The official teachings of the Catholic Church come from the Bible and tradition.

False. 7. The official teachings of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church come from the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy.

All of you, who raised your hand for “True,” are in error. Let’s go back to Number 1:

“We believe that the Bible is God’s inspired word and that it constitutes the only rule of faith and practice for the Christian.”

How can it be the only rule of faith and practice if our official teachings come from Ellen White? She is the lesser light! And Ardyth has tuned in on one of my next questions.

False. 8. If I have a belief that is founded on the Spirit of Prophecy, it is a Biblical belief.

It is not a Biblical belief because it’s in the Spirit of Prophecy.

Now, I have never read anything in the Spirit of Prophecy that disagrees with the Bible. And the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy totally go along with each other; there’s no conflict as far as I’m concerned. But, listen to the question, “If I have a belief that is founded on the Spirit of Prophecy, it is a Biblical belief.” See? Are you getting it? What is the only rule of faith and practice? The Bible! Is it the only rule or not?

False. 9. Seventh-Day Adventists will be judged by the light given in the Spirit of Prophecy; not the Bible.

False. 10. When Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God,” He included the Spirit of Prophecy in this statement.

False. 11. The Spirit of Prophecy says that only those who have fortified their minds with the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy will be able to stand.

“None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict. To every soul will come the searching test: Shall I obey God rather than men? The decisive hour is even now at hand. Are our feet planted on the rock of God's immutable word? Are we prepared to stand firm in defense of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus? . . .” {Maranatha (1976), Chap. 86, A Standard You Can Trust, pg. 94.2}

“Those who endeavor to obey all the commandments of God will be opposed and derided. They can stand only in God. In order to endure the trial before them, they must understand the will of God as revealed in His Word; they can honor Him only as they have a right conception of His character, government, and purposes, and act in accordance with them. None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict. . . .” {Reflecting Christ (1985), Chap. 355, The Scriptures Safeguard Against Deception, pg. 369.3}

However, if you read the Spirit of Prophecy as well you will certainly be strengthening your Biblical knowledge and it is a wonderful thing – but it is not the Bible.

True. 12. If we read our Bibles and apply the teachings and principles of the Bible to our lives, the role of the Spirit of Prophecy would be fulfilled in our lives.

Ellen White said that if we would read our Bible like we should; if we would study it, we would have no need of the Spirit of Prophecy and that the only reason God sent her to us with her message was because we were neglecting the study of our Bibles. So He sent us the “lesser light” to lead to the “greater light.”



My favorite book apart from the Bible on the life of Jesus is The Desire of Ages. I love that book. I would take the Bible first on a desert island and then that book. And if I just had those two, I’d be happy for all eternity. However, is there a difference between the Bible and The Desire of Ages? Absolutely. It is the lesser light to lead to the greater light.

So, going back to Number 1, do we still believe that the Bible constitutes the only rule of faith and practice? What do we base our teachings as Seventh-Day Adventists on? —The Bible.

Now, if you want to lead somebody to Christ, what book do you have to use? —You can’t go to people who are non-Adventist and start quoting the Spirit of Prophecy to them; no matter how wonderful it is. We have to use the Word of God to lead people to Jesus Christ and you have to understand the proper relationship between the Spirit of Prophecy and the Bible.

Ellen White said her sole mission was to get you to read the Bible and spend time in the Bible.

If you’re spending a lot of time—let’s take this book here, The Great Controversy (GC), and the Bible. What is the proper way to illustrate this? Should I put them like this (GC on top), put them like this (side by side), or should I put them like this (Bible on top)? Okay, this (Bible on top) is the proper balance. Right?

Now, as a Seventh-Day Adventist, if I spend all my time reading this (GC), and no time reading this (Bible), if I spend most of my time here (GC) then this is up here (on top of the Bible), isn’t it? If I even spend about the same amount of time reading each, then it’s like this (side by side). But if I read this (the Bible) mostly, and then this (GC) maybe a little less, then I’ve got it in balance, don’t I?

So, I’m just making a point to you that as we go out and witness to people, we have to make sure we understand the proper relationship according to Ellen White between the Bible and her writings. She said, “Gentlemen, I leave you this book. Preach from the Word of God.”

How many of our Seventh-Day Adventist fundamental beliefs – I just gave Brother Lewis a baptismal certificate to read through and study.

How many of those baptismal beliefs came from the Spirit of Prophecy?
—Absolutely none.

How many of them came from the Bible?
—27 of them.

Now, when they were confused in studying the Bible and didn’t know to do or what to study to get the answers, God sent a prophet to the Church. And through this little woman, who had a third grade education, He guided the Church to the proper place to study the Bible through this woman. She directed the Church to these various texts and to the various subjects so that we could form our doctrinal beliefs, but all our beliefs came from the Bible. And the Spirit of Prophecy was instrumental in helping us to form those doctrines. Ellen White was one of the pioneers that helped us to form our doctrines.

Her husband, James White, believed in Arianism and had a false theory of the Trinity. Uriah Smith was an Arian and taught that Jesus was a created being. Only Ellen White taught that there were three divine persons in one. She didn’t rebuke them, she didn’t argue with them; she just kept preaching the truth. And slowly, but surely, they came around to her point of view, but they built their beliefs on the Word of God.

Now, as we talk about leading someone to Christ, I want you to understand that you have to use the Word of God to do that. I want you to know that some people have actually taken this sermon and put it in their Bibles, and there have been many people who have been lead to Christ by using the words in their prayers and the techniques I’m going to share with you today, to lead someone to Jesus.

How many of you would like to be able to know the Bible well enough to be able to lead someone to Christ, would you say “Amen”?

Jeremiah 1:7-9…

7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

When you talk about leading someone to Christ, I want you to remember that it is important to acknowledge that the Holy Spirit is the one who converts people. We can’t convert anyone. Spouses who have non-Adventist husbands: You can’t convert anyone! If you move over into the position and the role of the Holy Spirit, you are only going to drive people further away from Christ, you’re not going to lead them to Christ.

We can’t play “Holy Spirit.” We can’t go around and try to force people to accept Christ—it doesn’t work. God has called you to win your spouse to Christ by being a loving, kind example to them of the happiness and joy that a Christian can have. And you need to allure them to Jesus because you’re so happy and joyful, and you’re so filled with the Spirit that they will want what you have. It’s not nag, nag, nag, nag! “You know you should come to church!” “You know you should do this, “You know you should to that.”

Whose role is it to convict us of sin?

The louder the human voice talks, the lower the Holy Spirit’s voice is in their ear. If you are constantly browbeating them or giving them a hard time, you are going to so control their hearing that they can’t even hear the Holy Spirit. So what you need to do is back off—and it works this way when you’re trying to lead somebody to Jesus—back off, don’t be telling them what’s right and wrong, and how they ought to live their life, and how sinful what they’re doing is.

You know, you’re child gets pregnant out of wedlock…you don’t need to run over to their house and tell ‘em it’s wrong. Guess what, they already know it’s wrong.

I made the mistake one time—my daughter told me she had moved in with some guy, and I said, “How long are you planning on shacking up?” (It) Went over really big! (It) Hurt her feelings. I could have phrased it in a more delicate way, don’t you think? However, they did get married, they did have two wonderful children, and I was able to repair my insensitive remark.

Is it my place to make fun of them or to call them demeaning names, or to tell them they’re wrong or to convict them of their sin?

Now, I can call sin by its right name and say, “The Bible says ‘Marriage is honorable and the bed undefiled, but fornicators, God will judge.’” I can quote that text but it might not be the best time. Maybe there’s a kinder way to share it. Even Jesus had tears of love in His voice when He rebuked the Pharisees.

So, whose job is it to convict of sin? —The Holy Spirit.

Our children sometimes don’t want to be around us because we’re so judgmental and critical that they feel like—whenever they’re in our gaze—we’re looking at them; trying to find whatever faults we can find so that we can criticize them and straighten them out.

And I’ll tell you what. . . How does it feel when you have your professor looking over your shoulder when you’re taking a test? If you make your kids feel like you’re judging them or they’re in a contest, or you’re the professor and you’re taking a test, and unless they pass your test they aren’t going to measure up and they can’t be good enough, they will get as far away from you as they can get.

Now, we’re talking about how to lead people to Jesus. The first way you do it is by not being critical, and judgmental, and harsh. In the Spirit of Prophecy, she says the only method of success is the one Jesus used where He mingled with the people, He got to know them, He got to know what their needs were. He met their needs, and after He met their needs and He had gained their confidence, then He shared the truth with them.

“Christ's method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, "Follow Me.” {Ministry of Healing (1905), Chap. 9, Teaching and Healing , pg. 143.3}

We want to just knock on their door, hand ‘em an Amazing Facts© (pamphlet), and move on.

Might I suggest that when you go to try to lead someone to Christ you leave your missionary tracts at home? Go over, baby-sit their kids while they take their other kid to the hospital, feed their dog while they’re on vacation and mow their lawn…

I’ve know Seventh-Day Adventists who’ve lived beside neighbors for twenty-five years and didn’t know their names. You say, “Pastor, I can’t save the whole world.” Let me ask you a question: What about the next door neighbor on your right? What about the next door neighbor on your left? What about the next door neighbor across the street from you?

“Well, we live out in the country on ten acres.”

Somebody owns the land next to you! Have you built a relationship with that person? Do you know that person? “Well, we just moved.” Okay, okay, there are some valid excuses. What about the people at the last place you lived? Did you go next door and witness to them? Did you share Christ with them?

Now, you might not be able to save the City of Columbus (Ohio), but what about people on the right and left of your house! What about the three that live across the street! Don’t we have some duty to share Christ with those we live right next door to? “Oh, Pastor, you’re taking us on a guilt trip.” Well, pack the bags, we’re goin’ on a guilt trip! You can go pay some guy eighty dollars ($80) an hour to tell you your problem’s guilt and (to) don’t worry about it. There’s plenty of them. You’re not gonna get that here. Guilt is good!

If you’re not reaching out to your neighbors and building relationships with those around you, you need to get busy. You need to begin to do that. God would have you to become friends with them, meet their needs, and then get an opportunity, earn the opportunity to share Christ with them. And if it makes you feel guilty (that) you’re not doing it, good! Every time you drive by that house, I want a little twinge of guilt. Then get up off your seat; on your feet; out in the street, and go do something about it. Go visit those people! They’ll have a heart attack.

Seventh-Day Adventists tend to look at neighbors as worldly people that are going to corrupt them. They’re in their fortress, they have this “fortress” mentality, and they want to have a safe place where they can be safe from the world. Don’t have that attitude. They are sinners, yes, but God loves sinners! Christ died to save sinners. And how are we ever going to help them if we don’t get to know them; if we don’t understand what their needs are, and if we don’t try to help meet the needs that they have?

However, there are certain laws that govern the spiritual realm. If we know and understand those laws we can be more effective in aiding the Holy Spirit in his work of converting people to Jesus.

When we are willing to be used of God, he will actually guide us through our day; bringing us into contact with the people He wants us to witness to. He will actually put the words he wants us to speak in our mouths.

Jeremiah said that he was too young and that he was scared, but the Lord said, “Don’t be afraid.” The Lord said, “I will put my words in your mouth.”

Jeremiah 1:7-9…

7 “But the Lord said to me: ‘Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.
9 Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: ‘Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.’” NKJV

We don't have to think in advance about every single word we will need to say. We don't have to be a walking Bible encyclopedia or have they theology degree to witness for God.


Mark 13:11, Jesus said…

“But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.” NKJV

The wonderful thing about the Holy Spirit is that if we’ll let Him use us—even the humble list most uneducated person to do a great work for Jesus—He will come into our heart and use us to witness to people.

Now, some of you “wall flowers” say, “Well, Pastor, I’m way too shy. I just, I can’t talk. I’m not a ‘talker.’ I’m not the kind of person who can be an evangelist. I don’t even know what to say or what to do.”

Didn’t the Bible just say that you don’t have to worry about that; that God will put the words in your mouth? If you pray, “Lord, send me somebody to witness to today,” do you thinks God’s going to answer that? If you have a heart that’s willing, do you think He’s going to send somebody across your path so you can share with him/her?

How many of you would like to live next to a guy who goes like this…(Ahhhh! Ahhhh! Ahhh!) and runs around naked in his backyard? How would you like to have a neighbor like that? Would that be the neighbor from hell?

[leaves the microphone]

We see this in this story of the demoniac. He was a very frightful and scary person.

Luke 8:30-37…

30“Jesus asked him, "What is your name?”
31“Legion, (a Roman legion was 1000 soldiers)” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.
32A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission.
33When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
34When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside,
35and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
36Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured.
37Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.”


He begged Jesus to take him with him, the Jesus said “No.” Sometimes Jesus tells us no for very good reasons.

He (Jesus) says to this guy [returns to the microphone]

Luke 8:38-39…

38 “Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying,
39 ‘Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.’ And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.” NKJV
Has God done great things for you? Don’t you think you ought to tell somebody?

Has God done great things for you?

So, sometimes God has to say “no” to you, doesn’t He? Sometimes, ladies, your husband’s right when he says “No” even though it hurts your heart.

You wanted to love that poor demoniac and take him with you in that boat, didn’t you? I know you did. But Jesus said, “No” and why did He say no? Because He wanted the whole village, He didn’t just want that one man! And the sad thing is, we all have people that we could touch, that we could reach, that we could bring to Christ but we’re not doing it! Because we’re so busy getting’ in the boat with the disciples and fellowshipping and enjoying our new freedom and our new clothes, that we forget about the village!

I’m glad you love coming to this church! I’m glad we have such a close family. I’m glad you feel so comfortable and safe—away from the world. But the church is not a fortress to protect us from the world; the church is a hospital for sick sinners. We need to go out and find them and bring ‘em in here so they can be changed! And we’ve got to get away from this mentality that we’re here to protect ourselves from this evil world. Yes, it’s evil; we’re in the world, but we’re not of it.

Even this humble instrument in the hands of God became a great successful evangelist. He had done his job. He had successfully prepared a multitude to receive Jesus and he had done it so well, that they were waiting for him to return.

Luke 8:40…
“So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him.”

(39) For he had “… proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.”

Have you been delivered from demons? Has God cast demons out of your life? Have you overcome difficult circumstances because of God’s blessing? Have you been washed from your sins and had your wounds healed by the Holy Spirit? Have you been anointed by God and recreated a new creature in Christ? Hasn’t God done great things for you? Don’t you think you oughta tell somebody?

Now when you go to lead somebody to Christ, once you have shared your faith, and they are ready to receive Jesus as their savior, how do you lead them to Christ? You have got to be familiar with the Four Spiritual Facts (Laws) that people need to know to be saved and lead them through the steps to Christ.


Our problem: All mankind are sinners, and are condemned to die.

1. We have a problem. Do you know what the name of that problem is? S-I-N. All mankind are sinners, and all mankind are condemned to die.

All the descendants of Adam and Eve are born by nature children of wrath.


Ephesians 2:3…

“…among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.” NKJV

As we shall see, all human beings have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

When you get converted, does God remove your carnal nature? —No.

(John) Wesley used to say (that) your carnal nature remains, but it doesn’t reign.

That’s the fatal flaw in the perfectionist’s theology. They act like once you accept Christ you should suddenly be able to totally restrain your carnal nature and absolutely as perfectly as Jesus live a flawless life. How unfair is that—to lure you in by saying you’re saved by grace and then say now that you’re born again and accepted Christ, now you have to live a flawless life or you can’t be saved?

That’s why we’re going to talk about that as we go, here.

Now, you have a carnal nature whether you’re converted or not, but once you’re converted you also have spiritual nature, don’t you.

You see, before you’re converted, you’ve got no problem with Satan, —you’ve got no problem with evil. You’ve got no problem with the carnal nature because you love all the evil things the carnal nature tells you to do. There’s no conflict between you and the world because you love the world. But the Bible says if you love the world, you’re an enemy of God. The Bible says the carnal nature is enmity against God and cannot be subject to the law of God.

So if you’re a carnal Christian, you can’t be obedient to God’s law. You have to become converted in order to change your life.

Romans 3:10-12,20-24…

10“As it is written: “There is none
righteous, no, not one;
11There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” NKJV

Now when it says “all have sinned and fall short…”

I’m building a deck. And when you’re building a deck…I’m doing these corner cuts in cedar…
Now, John, you know a lot about building—if you make a cut that’s too short, can you put the wood back? It’s better to cut a little too long than to fall short. Right? If you draw a line on the board – and you’re supposed to saw it right down that line. But, because your arm’s a little bit weak, or because you flinch a little, or you sigh, or you sneeze, or you just breathe heavy as you’re sawing that board – if you just miss that mark a little bit and go a quarter inch to the left, it can ruin that piece of wood. And once you’ve missed the mark and cut the board too short, that’s it! You’ve missed the mark: the board’s no good. You have to cut another board.

SIDE TWO

…First, there is iniquity. That’s where you’re just plain evil. Then there’s sinning, which is called “missing the mark.” And the word in the Greek is very clear.

If you use archery to try to understand it—
when I pull the bow back and shoot, and I flinch a little bit and that arrow goes off the mark a little, and I miss the bull’s eye—not by much—but just a little bit, that’s called “missing the mark.” Because of my carnal nature, I flinch a little and I miss the mark.

There’s also “falling short.” I pull the bow back, I let the arrow fly, but it lands ten feet in front of the target and it goes into the ground. I just didn’t have the power to get it all the way to the bull’s eye.

Sin, unintentionally, is when we just miss the mark. Falling short sin is when I’m trying to do what’s right but because of my carnal nature I fall short and just don’t quite make it.

Iniquity is where I take the arrow and turn around like this and I shoot in the opposite direction.

Now the Bible says that all of us have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. That means none of us can be saved in our own works.

1 John 3:4…

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” KJV

These verses tell us that we are lawbreakers. The sad fact of the matter is the wages of sin is death. We have broken God’s Ten Commandment Law and are worthy of death. Even one violation is worthy of death. We are utterly lost, condemned to die a sinner’s death. That is the problem of sin.

James 2:10-12…

It says that we’d better be careful cause if we break one of the Ten Commandments we break them all and someday we are going to be judged by the Ten Commandment Law. So people who tell you the law of God is unimportant or that the law has been done away with are liars and the truth is not in them.

10“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11For he that said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ said also, ‘Do not kill.’ Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

The Ten Commandments will never be done away with. There will always be a Sabbath commandment to keep and always be “Thou shalt not kill,” “Thou shalt not lie,” “Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain,” etcetera.

People who preach that you can be saved while you’re breaking God’s law deliberately are preaching cheap grace and it is not grace at all, it is a disgrace. The law of God is immutable and will never, never be done away with.

Romans 6:23…

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Now how do these Baptists and Presbyterians, and Lutherans, and others who say the law of God is done away with, how can they preach the gospel at all? The law gives us the definition of sin. What is sin? The transgression of the law. If you do away with the law how can you tell people to repent of their sins? What’s sin? So the only ones that are really preaching the gospel are those that are telling you the law of God is still binding and you need to repent of your sinfulness.

That’s why it bugs me when I hear Adventists say, “Oh, we don’t have to preach the gospel, we can let the Baptists and the others do that.” They’re not preaching the full gospel! The three angels’ messages are righteousness by faith in verity. And we are the ones that are preaching the true gospel (!) because we’re preaching that God’s law is still binding. God’s law is immutable. God’s law is still in force and that you have broken it; that you are a sinner because you’ve broken God’s law. We’re the ones preaching the true gospel in my opinion. And those other churches need to accept God’s law as binding in their life or they’re not preaching the true gospel.

Isaiah 53:6…

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” KJV


Our Helplessness: We cannot save ourselves. We have no means of paying the debt.

Now the second fact we need to recognize is our helplessness. We cannot save ourselves and we have no means of paying this debt.

John 3:36…

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

Romans 7:12,18…

12 “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

We have a carnal nature and there is nothing good in us. Anything good that we have is derived from Jesus Christ.

Now you need to tell these people that they’re sinners, that they’re lost, and that they’re helpless and they can’t save themselves.

Now I know the Baptists get carried away with that “hell, fire and brimstone.” Every sermon they dangle your feet over the fires of hell. But you know what? A little hell, fire and brimstone wouldn’t hurt some of us!

“If you don’ accept Christ, you’re goin’ to the lake of fire! And I’d rather shake you up now than see you shook up in hell later.”

Now what I’m trying to say is, when you’re explaining to someone their need of Christ, don’t make ‘em feel better! Explain to them that they have a need, that they’re goin’ to the lake of fire, that they’re gonna be destroyed, that they’re gonna lose their soul!

Jesus said, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul and body in hell?”

You need to let them know. The devil has two lies he uses to fool people and mess them up: First, he says, “You’re too good to be lost.” Then he says, “You’re too bad to be saved.”

All these people who say, “Oh, I’m too good to be lost. God will never kill me.”

That’s a lie! Only if they believe in Jesus Christ and they accept Him as their Savior will they be saved. If not, according to what we just read, John 3:36…

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

I don’t want the wrath of God abiding on me. And isn’t every sinner who doesn’t know Christ, aren’t they heading for the wrath of God? Aren’t they heading for Armageddon when the blood will be up to the horses’ bridles according to the Bible? Isn’t there going to be hail dropping down on people and people are going to be destroyed and burned up in hell?

Now when you tell them “You’re a sinner and you’re gonna be lost and you will pay if you don’t have Christ as your Savior, you will pay for every last sin you ever commit,” don’t make ‘em feel better. When you share this, I want them to say to you, “Oh, no! What am I gonna do?”

Until they know they have a problem, you can’t give ‘em the answer. So, don’t be too quick to give them the answer. Make sure you help them to know they have a real bad problem. Some fail to be able to move people to accept Jesus because they don’t explain the problem. They just try to get them to accept the answer before they even know they need Him.

I love people who don’t know Jesus. I want to see them saved. And I don’t want to see them lost but they need to know they’re lost. They need to understand that sin is the problem. That they are sinners and that they are helpless and that they have no hope apart from Christ. They need to know their life is hopeless apart from Jesus.

Romans 3:27, 28…

27“Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Ephesians 2:8,9…

8“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9Not of works, lest any man should boast.” KJV
We are helpless. We can’t do enough good works to merit our salvation. We will never be saved if it’s up to us.

Can a leopard change its spots? Can we save ourselves? Of course not. If We Could, We Would Not Need Jesus. So it is important for us to realize that we are lost, condemned to death for breaking God's law, and that we are powerless to save ourselves.


The Solution: Jesus is the only answer. Christ is our only righteousness. He alone can save us. Jesus Christ is your only hope!

Once you get to that point, you can read them, 1 Peter 3:18…

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”

John 14:6…

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Philippians 3:7-9…Paul said,

7“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” KJV

Jesus lived a perfect life for me. He fulfilled the law, and when I accept him as my Savior, I receive His perfect righteousness. I receive His perfect character. The Bible says that if I confess my sins to Jesus, He is faithful and just to cleanse me of all unrighteousness.

Isn’t that wonderful? He cleanses us of all unrighteousness! Cleansed by the blood of the Lamb! We must accept His free gift of eternal life.

We must individually receive Christ as or personal Savior.

Once you:

recognize that you are a sinner

admit that you have broken God's law

acknowledge that you are powerless
to save yourself

recognize that Jesus is your only hope

– then you must take final step and accept him as your personal Savior.

Romans 10:13…

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
John 3:16…

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 1:12…

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

Revelation 3:20…

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

Matthew 11:28, 29…

“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

Philippians 1:6…

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

So, Christ has promised the He will save us and he will perform that good work. Some people say, “Oh, Pastor, I don’t see how I can be saved. I look a my life, I look at the mess in my life and I feel so unworthy!” You are! When you look at yourself, you don’t see how you can be saved but when you look at Christ, you don’t see how you could be lost! He’s your Savior. He’s your focus. Don’t keep looking at yourself trying to find every wart and every wrinkle, keep your eyes on Jesus! By beholding, you become changed!

2 Corinthians 5:17…

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

So sometimes change is good. Sometimes new things are good. I just lucked out at the Newark Church! You guys are so good already, that there isn’t much (that) has to be changed! And I’m happy about that! But one thing do we need to do is (to) get the cobwebs out of that baptistery! And another thing we need to do is (to) get that heater fixed! And another thing we need to do is lead lots of people to Jesus so that the pastor is getting wet every week!

Linda said she wants me, for one of her Home and School deals, to sit in something where they can throw a ball, and hit it, and put me in the water! She thinks it would be funny to baptize the preacher. Well it would.

But everything that’s new is not bad. A new creature in Christ is a beautiful thing. Look at that caterpillar that turns into a butterfly. Isn’t that a beautiful thing? How many caterpillars are within walking distance of our house that need to be liberated and set free so they, too, can become butterflies?

Revelation 21:27…

“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” KJV

Is your name there?

These texts are some of the most wonderful promises ever recorded in the Bible. God has done great things for you. Are you willing to go next door to your friends and family and say, “Look, God has saved me, He has redeemed me. He has changed my life. I love the Lord!” Once you have surrendered heart to Jesus Christ, and have begun sharing the great things God has done for you with your friends and neighbors you will surely meet someone who will want to surrender their life to Jesus.

When you have developed a friendship with someone, and have an opportunity to invite him or her to give their heart to Jesus, do you know what to say to them? Perhaps you could say something like this:

"Have you ever thought about becoming a Christian? Have you ever thought about giving your heart to Jesus? Have you ever thought about letting Jesus take control of your life?"

"All of us have broken the Ten Commandments. We’re all sinners. We’ve all sinned against God. Are you willing to acknowledge that you have broken God’s law? Are you sorry for your sins? Would you like two ask God for forgiveness of your sin? Would you like to open the door of your heart so that Jesus can come in?"
"Would you like me to pray a prayer with you, so that you can ask God to write your name down in the Lambs book of life?”

That’s not hard, it’s not hard at all. Get a copy of this, tape it in your Bible, and cheat. Open it up, and read to them, and just say, “Would you like me to pray with you and for Jesus to come into your heart?” Go out there and snatch those brands that the devil’s ready to burn out of the fire! Can we do it?

How many people will just say, “Yes, I’ve thought about it. Yes, I would like to do that!” Wouldn’t that be wonderful if you could be an instrument of love to lead someone to Jesus? How many of you today would like to say, “Pastor, I want to give my heart to Jesus today, and I want you to pray that prayer with me!” How many of you would raise your hand this morning?

I’m going to pray right now the prayer I have in here for you to pray with them, and I want you to pray it in your heart this morning.

Dear Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner, and that I have broken your law. Please forgive me for my sins, and wash me in the blood of Jesus. I open the door of my heart, and invite you to come in and be my Savior.
Please write my name down in your book of life. Please take complete control of my life and help me to live for you from now on in Jesus name, Amen.”

May God Bless You as you search for souls to lead to the precious Savior. May he give you the words to speak, and the courage to speak them; that’s my prayer for you.

How many of you are too busy to witness as much as you would like? I’m going to share this song with you. If you’re too busy. How many of you are too busy sometimes to read the Bible? Now, I’m a preacher and I’ve got my hand up, I know some of you are not being honest! All right! Be a phony if you want to, just don’t tell anybody that you don’t have time sometimes to read the Bible as much as you should.
Are you too busy to read the Word? Are you too busy to witness? Are you too busy to spend time in prayer? If that’s the case, you’re too busy and you need to get less busy!


Too Busy Today
Words and Music by Pastor Tom Hughes

Fields are white with harvest,
Souls to be gathered in;
I know the workers are very few—
Your help is mighty thin.

But Lord, don’t be unreasonable
And demand so much of me.
Let somebody else go
I’m busy can’t you see?

Lord, please don’t make me
Go out of my way.
I’ll work for You tomorrow, Lord,
But I’m just too busy today

Yes I know You’re coming
But I have this career, you see.
And if I don’t get ahead,
What will everyone think of me?

I don’t have time to visit my neighbors to make you friends.
I know they may accept You, Lord,
But find someone else to send.

Chorus

If someone wants to come to church
And hear Your word, you say
“Sorry I can’t bring ‘em
I’m just too busy today.”

I know there’s lots of people
That You and I could win.
But, Lord I’m just too busy
To gather Your harvest in!

Chorus

(I’m) Too busy today.
I’m just too busy, Lord, today.
(I’ve)Got a lot to do, Lord.
(I’m a) Very busy man!

Father in heaven, we have a privilege of being able to share what great things God has done for us. And we all feel guilty, Lord, because we could all do more to lift Jesus a little higher. We could all walk a little closer.

For this message isn’t about just guilt for what we haven’t done, it’s an opportunity to do new and great things for You. If we will but pray and be in partnership with the Holy Spirit, You will lead into our path those who need to know Jesus Christ and You will put the words in our mouth and give us the privilege and the joy of being able to be an instrument of Your redemption in people’s lives.

Help us this week, Lord, to spend time in the Word; to not be too busy to study our Bibles or to pray or to open God’s word to some stranger and share Christ with others—our neighbors or friends and those we come in contact with. We can’t all be teachers, we can’t all give Bible studies, but we can all give a testimony of what great things God has done for us.

Now, as this sermon ends, the service is just beginning! May we go forth in power and let you use us we pray in Jesus name. Amen.

Organist: Ardyth Loveridge

Special Music: “I Thirst”(a capella) Marjorie (visitor from Jamaica)

Hymn: of Dedication: “Too Busy Today,” Composed and sung by Pastor Tom Hughes, Guitar
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All Scriptural References: King James/New King James Version

Ellen G. White References: www.whiteestate.org

Transcription: Wendy J. Riebel

This sermon is also available on cassette tape.

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