The later part of this note is a follow up of my recent note on" True Salvation"....... Click here for previous note
Anyways i recently came across this sermon by Paul Washer, when elliot shared it to me... and from this afternoon till now, i have re-watch this sermon more than 10 times! Its a message so hard and deep that even right till now i can't fully grasped it...
Heres the link to the sermon... http://www.youtube.com/wat
Regeneration v. The Idolatry of Decisional "Evangelism" (Paul Washer @ theDeeper Conference 2008 Breakout Session which was hosted by Living Waters & Way of the Master)
I took down notes on this sermon as i tried to grasp the strong statements he made...some are very true...and some are really just so thought provoking... So wld love to hear your comments too as you hear this message prayerfully with discernment....Below are some initial statements he made that will seem shocking if u haven't hear his full message...
Some of the (brackets)are some of my personal thoughts to his statements...
The Gospel Call
- Our gospel is scandalous?
-We sldn't water down the gospel? (Yes this is true)
-Seeker friendly? - by removing the sharp edges?
- The gospel message is "Unbelievable" ...Unless BY THE POWER OF GOD
We must be careful if we conform our gospel to the trends of the day?(are we doing this today?)
He shared how we sld evangelize from the passage of
Ezekiel 37 - The Valley of dry bones (Passage of story of conversion of men)
-Story from Ezekial (How we should preach the gospel)
- How to bring life to the lifeless bone
(no technique, no persuasion , no human works, JUST THE POWER OF GOD)
- Man is dead in trespasses of sins
- All men have actually knowledge of God (But shift their focus away)
- For Men is to save!
One man like Ezekiel who preach the gospel to dead people!
Churches who uses latest appeal to reach out/ and church who desires to be relevant?
(The statement he made ... made me ponder if we are actually doing that today?... bcoz in some way, i believed the GOSPEL IS STILL UNCHANGING, but the methods are different today in order to be relevant to this post modernism generation...for e.g. recently inviting planetshakers to our church, to be honest they are a little to loud for me, but i believe this are what that reaches out to this even younger generation?(And personally i saw how God has used this band as thru worshiping with their "God inspired" songs, it actually touched my young sec 1s...emotional hype? I doubt so...as i believe God has inspired the churches today in this change of methods...other methods like...using sports to reach out? I believed this is not a human method of the World, but bcoz the heart of it is to spread the UNCHANGING Gospel in the end at the Pre-E stage?...so thats why this statement made me thought even more, there are many ways of seeing it which till now its hard to grasp... as what he says do makes sense too? ...in order GOD can show his Power...we need to strip as much human methods as possible?....whats your thoughts on this?)
A statement he made...
"Drawing people using carnal means, will mean to keep people using carnal means"
He made a strong message on conversion? Are we deceive sometimes? (32min)
(what's your thoughts on this?... its quite true actually!)
-Does our gospel presentation make man excited what God can do for them
or lead them to "WHO GOD IS"
-Tell people WHO GOD is.....
-Use Scriptures to teach them! (NOT HUMAN means)
-Do you want to go heaven? Or DO YOU WANT TO KNOW GOD?
"the question is not whether or not you know you are a sinner, but instead has God worked in your life that the sin you once loved in your life you now hate, even the devil knows he is a sinner, and he thinks he's a mighty fine one too "
Altar calls..."Some may ask,well i got saved through this way? And he replied...sometimes we are save in spite of that way?" (hmmm... he made an interesting remark on altar calls)(48 min of message) (48 min)
To receive Christ? (Theology of John)
-To opening up ones life to ongoing fellowship with the communion of Jesus
Christ,(john 17:3)
-the ongoing feeding on Jesus as the sustenance of ones life ............John 6:53
- how can you define evidence of sincerity accepting Christ, saying the sinner's prayer?
"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart
that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart
that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and
are saved." Romans 10:9-10
-Believe in your heart? (looking deep into the core of your heart of WHO you are)
-Salvation by Faith (publically CONFESSION of Christ by Word and Deed)
1) Publically CONFESS CHRIST that His the LORD of your life.(BY WORD & DEED)
Remember not everyone who confess Lord, Lord will be saved! (Matthew 7:21) ...Thats why WORD & DEED need to show!
Salvation involved a lost doctrine...
-Regeneration into the new creature
-Evidence of Salvation is there's genuine repentance?
2) The evidence of Justification by Faith is The ONGOING WORK
of Sanctification work of the Holy Spirit in their life.
He talks about if our heart is is opened... (57mins)
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Rev 3:20" (only evidence here is ongoing fellowship with Christ)
(Context is...NOT for Christ is knocking on the door of a sinner heart, But actually God is knocking on the door of wayward church instead) (interesting point to note...been using this verse in sharing the gospel presentation)
Does this above text actually shows the sinner's heart open by God?
However...in this text God DID open the heart of lydia and she responded...
"One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message." Acts 16:14
3) Evidence of Salvation is CONTINUED FELLOWSHIP of Christ
Faith comes from hearing the message...
TRUE SALVATION will have EVIDENCE....(something I inferred from his 3 points)
So are we actually sharing the Gospel rightly today? (a message that makes me ponder!...would love to hear your views too!)
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