The Power of the Gospel

Last night after church, I hung out with Adam Smith, the Lawndale Baptist Student Intern, and some younger guys I'm discipling. We went to eat at Steak 'n Shake and planned on going bowling with some other youth afterwards. But the other group bailed on us, so we decided instead to go downtown to plan out some scenes for an upcoming movie we're planning on shooting later this summer. I'm sure I'll discuss more about the movie in later posts.

When we reached downtown, we immediately went to the park and began talking about different ideas for our movie. As we continued walking and acting out various scenes throughout the park, a bearded, African-American man approached us and asked if we were Christians. We acknowledged we were Christians and then he asked us to join him at his table to talk about our beliefs.

The man first asked us to explain Christianity. Adam started talking about how the Old Testament explains the beginning of creation and points to a coming Savior. Next, Adam talked about how the New Testament reveals Jesus Christ as the Old Testament Messiah and discusses the resulting implications for the world. As Adam was about to present the Gospel, the man interrupted him and pulled out a Bible. Adam and I both looked at one another perplexed because we didn’t think the man was a Christian. He began quoting Scripture out of context and telling the story of Esau and Jacob. He pointed out the Bible gave a description of Esau but not Jacob. As he was recounting the story, he continually referred to the Bible as “our Heavenly Father’s Word” and “His Word”. These references also puzzled me. Finally, he noticed the confusion on my face and he allowed me to ask a question. I simply asked if he was a Christian and why he consistently referred to the Bible as God’s Word. He replied by saying he serves the true savior but he could not reveal his savior's identity. Then he made the most ridiculous claim! He said Jesus Christ was actually Julius Caesar!

At this point in the conversation, I could tell he wasn’t receptive to anything we had to say. We continued to listen to him for a while longer rant on about his radical views of history. Finally, I interjected and encouraged him to seek out the person of Jesus Christ with an open heart. Again, he interrupted me as I began sharing about Christ and he changed the subject. Adam wisely suggested we needed to go and so we said goodbye as another group of Christians approached him.

On our way out of the park, I stopped the guys to pray for the man. We sat down on the side of a walkway and circled up together to lift the man up in prayer. Mainly, we prayed for the Holy Spirit to open his eyes to truth of Jesus Christ. After praying, I talked to the guys and insured them about Christ’s divinity. They reassured me they didn’t believe any of the lies he propagated. Also, I could tell they understood how blind the poor man is to his own lost soul. I explained how important it is for Christians to lift the lost up in prayer (Romans 10:1) because God is the author of salvation. (Hebrews 2:10)

God is the One and Only who opens our eyes to sin and calls us to repent! (John 6:44) So if we want to lead people to Christ we must first go to Him in prayer. I encourage everyone to pray more for the lost! I know I need to pray more for the lost because an eternity without Christ is a stark reality! I urge you not to settle and don't make small requests to God. BE BOLD AND PRAY FOR BIG THINGS! (Jeremiah 33:3) For don’t we serve an awesome, infinite God who reigns over everything?! (Psalm 47:7-8) He is Almighty and He can do all things! (Genesis 35:11) Did Christ not die to save the world?! (John 3:16-17) Don't let His glorious sacrifice go in vain!

Therefore, believe in the power of the Gospel and never back down from proclaiming its truth! The Gospel’s power enables us to freely share it with everyone (Matthew 28:18-19). We have hope in the power of the Gospel because it’s the same power that raised Christ from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-20)! But I ask, do we really believe in this amazing power? Do we really believe the Gospel has the power to save and change the lives of false prophets like Bart Ehrman, adamant atheists like Richard Dawkins, or known terrorists like Osama bin Laden? Imagine if Ehrman proclaimed the Gospel in the classroom at UNC to the next generations. Imagine if Dawkins denounced atheism. Imagine if bin Laden came to Christ and began ministering to the Muslim nations. This is the power of the Gospel!

Believe. Go. Share.

In Him,

Mark