August 1, 2024 • 27 mins
Why should we spread the gospel if God has already decided who will be saved? We're tackling this profound question with Pastor Donnie Garrison, revealing insights that will not only deepen your understanding but also inspire you to embrace evangelism as a joyful necessity. In our discussion, we redefine evangelism beyond mere obligation, highlighting its role as a vessel for God's glory. We also introduce "Chosen by Design,” Pastor Harry’s new book, a commentary on Ephesians that provides believers with direction and confidence in their faith journey.
Join us as we unpack the majestic concepts of God's glory and holiness, illustrating how His perfection can shine even through our imperfections. We liken evangelism to the compelling cry of a newborn—an uncontainable joy that reflects God's greatness. Sharing personal stories and biblical truths, we underscore that our mission is to joyfully present the gospel, trusting God with the outcomes. The shared joy in Christ enhances our personal joy and connects us on a profound level with others who have experienced His goodness.
Discover the transformative power of simple acts of kindness in evangelism through real-life examples and the inspiring story of George Mueller. We'll share practical advice on how everyday gestures can lead to significant spiritual connections. Moreover, we delve into the critical role of prayer in evangelism, discussing how persistent and heartfelt prayer can open doors to meaningful conversations about Jesus. Through our personal experiences, we illustrate the impact of praying for individuals and seeking divine guidance to share faith effectively. Join us for a heartfelt exploration of how faith, love, and prayer can pave the way for impactful evangelism.
Please visit www.chosenbydesign.net for more information on Pastor Harry’s new book, "Chosen By Design - God’s Purpose for Your Life."
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
In this episode, pastor Harry Behrens is joined
once again by Pastor DonnieGarrison as they delve into the
thought-provoking question whyshould we engage in evangelism
if God has already predeterminedwho will be saved?
Drawing from Pastor Harry'sprevious teachings in Ephesians,
it is evident that God haschosen and empowered us with his
spirit to lead a life thatglorifies him.
(00:30):
The conversation naturallyevolves to the topic of
evangelism and seeks to clarifywhy we should engage in it
despite God's preselection ofthose who will be saved.
Join Pastor Harry and Donnie asthey aim to provide clarity and
understanding on the vital roleof evangelism within the
framework of God's sovereignwill.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Hello and welcome again to another special edition
of the Takeaway.
I'm your host, pastor HarryBehrens, and with me once again
is my brother, my friend PastorDonnie Garrison.
How are you doing today?
Speaker 3 (01:03):
I'm doing well.
Thank you for having me on, andI hear that you're doing pretty
well.
Also, I hear you have a newbook coming out.
What is that about?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
I do.
It's called Chosen by Design.
It comes out August 9th, sowe're just a few weeks away from
that launching and I'm reallyexcited about that.
So it's just a result of thestudy I've been doing through
Ephesians that is now availableon our podcast.
It's launched every Thursdayand it's just something that God
put on my heart to do.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
That's awesome.
So is it the whole book thatyou have written on Ephesians?
Is it all six chapters covered?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
It is.
It's basically a commentary,but it's a slightly different
take on it.
I focused on the theme ofEphesians more than anything.
So it does walk you through,explains everything, but I saw
Ephesians as the roadmap to thebeliever's life and I wanted to
point out God's design and thepurpose for each individual's
life and highlight that forthose who read the book.
(01:59):
So for those who are lookingfor purpose in their lives,
purpose in their relationshipwith God, trying to understand
the joy of the Lord, trying tohave assurance of their
salvation, trying to understandhow election works and answer
all these questions, the bookdoes that.
I really wanted to highlightthat, as Paul points all these
things out.
So that will be available onAmazon and Apple and you can
(02:20):
also find it atchosenbydesignnet, which is our
website.
So, again, chosenbydesignnet,and it'll be available on ebook
and paperbook.
That is awesome, Awesome, yeah,I appreciate that.
So, with the question today,our audience had sent in a
question of why evangelize iswhat we're going to be covering
(02:41):
today, and that was a result ofour last show on our choices and
illusion, and we discussedGod's election process and that
and God choosing people,choosing whom he will choose,
and our audience wants to knowwhy should we evangelize if God
is going to do what God is goingto do anyway?
So I think, before we get toodeep into it anyway, so I think
(03:04):
before we get too deep into it,can you define evangelism on a
basic level?
Speaker 3 (03:15):
just a basic understanding of what is
evangelism.
Well, evangelism is somethingthat I'm sure everyone has read
in books and different methods,and I'm sure it's something that
people have tried and theyfailed and they've been scared
to death to do, like myself intime past.
But what I've come to find thatevangelism at its uh, you know,
most basic level is sharing thelove of Christ with people,
(03:35):
sharing the gospel of JesusChrist, you know, letting people
know that there is a way ofsalvation through Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Yeah, yeah, and I think that's that is how most
people would see it, I think.
On another scale, though, Ithink when most people think of
evangelism, they can't help butthink of Billy Graham, of course
.
Of course, you know, I mean,everybody knows who Billy Graham
is.
I think I've even heard thathe's as popular, if not more
popular, than Jesus Christhimself, in the sense of his
(04:04):
ministry and what he's done.
Like the name Billy Graham isso out there that everybody
knows who he is and what he'sdone.
And we I think our audience hasthis picture of evangelism as
being that Right, that they mustbe that, and I think most
people feel they can't be ordon't know how to be, or if they
attempt to evangelize, theyfail.
(04:25):
So there's a sense of failure.
So I think we want to talkabout a little bit is how should
we understand our failures inevangelism?
Is failure okay in evangelism?
Is it part of evangelism, andhow should we look at that?
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Well, I mean, that is a big part of evangelism
failure.
I mean, over the course of mytime, I believe that I have
encountered just abouteverything you can imagine in
evangelism.
I've had the person that didn'twant to hear me basically cuss
me out, walk away.
I've had the person that askedme a question and stumped me and
I had no answer for them.
I've had the situation where Ifreeze up and I don't know what
(05:03):
to say.
I've had the situation where Ifreeze up and I don't know what
to say.
Right and through it all, whatGod has taught me and what I've
learned is that it's not aboutme, it's about God.
Right, I am just a vessel ofGod and he's just using me for
his glory.
Right, and when I go out and Ido share the gospel with people,
it's having that mindset thatif I fail, I didn't really fail
(05:27):
because I set out to do what Godwanted me to do and if it's
successful, then it's becausethat's what God wanted it to do.
Ultimately, god is in controlof everything.
Right, one plants, one waters,but God gives an increase.
So when we go out, we're goingout just trying to do what God
wants us to do for his glory.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Yeah, you know.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9.22that it's about sharing with
those whom he evangelizes theblessings.
He says so 9.22,.
He says To the weak I becameweak that I might win the weak.
I have become all things to allpeople that by all means I
might save some.
So what he's saying is likeI've become all things to all
(06:14):
men to share the gospel so thatI can share with them the
blessings.
So Paul had received something.
It sounds like he's sharingthat with them and he's getting
something in return.
I mean, isn't that what itsounds like?
What's your thought?
Speaker 3 (06:27):
I agree.
I believe that when you sharethe gospel, you are being
obedient to the word of God andyou are bringing glory to God,
and in doing so, you will sharein the joy that comes from that,
whether the person receivesJesus Christ or if they don't.
The joy comes from knowing thatGod is pleased with you and he
confirms that with you withinyour spirit.
(06:49):
Right, yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
So I think you know again, part of the process is
you know, we know we want to getthat joy, or Paul was sharing
that joy.
It's part of the process issharing a joy that we must have
to be able to share.
You got to have it in the firstplace, right?
The second part of that is Paulalso says in Romans 6.13, do
not present your members to sinas instruments for
(07:12):
unrighteousness, but presentyourselves to God as those who
have been brought from death tolife and your members to God as
instruments for righteousness.
You know Paul realized that hewas also an instrument of God,
that he was being used by God.
Instruments don't use themselves, they don't play themselves,
they don't accomplish anythingin and of themselves.
They require somebody to usethem, to play them, to pick them
(07:35):
up and do with them what theyare meant to do.
And Paul realized that.
You know it's interestingbecause in Acts 9, 15, it says
but the Lord, this is Jesus.
But the Lord said to him go.
And this is talking about Paul.
He's talking about him, for heis a chosen instrument of mine
to carry my name before theGentiles and kings and the
(07:55):
children of Israel.
So Jesus is saying here thatPaul is a chosen.
There's that chosen again.
So it's important that weunderstand that that Paul was
chosen by Christ to be aninstrument that then God was
going to use to glorify himself.
And then Paul received that joy.
Now, what was Paul's part inthat?
It goes back to 1 Corinthiansto share the joy.
(08:15):
Now, what did Paul do in any ofthat?
What was Paul really doing?
Speaker 3 (08:20):
He was just sharing and being obedient to what God
wanted him to do.
Really, it wasn't his power, itwas just I'm a vessel, I'm an
instrument.
God play me, use me right.
It's just like in Ephesians,chapter 2, that we are his
workmanship.
Created in Christ Jesus untogood works, we are going to do
the works, the good works thatGod has preordained for us to
(08:41):
walk in.
We're his masterpiece, we'rehis poem.
Oh, his poem.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
That's it.
I cover that in Ephesians,chapter two, and I think that's
one of my highlights I mentionit all the time in church is
that workmanship in Latin ispoem, which means poem, and it
could be translated as we arehis poem, not just some clay
thing that we're thrown togetherthoughtlessly.
I was like, let me just makesomething here.
(09:09):
It's like a poem is thought out.
I think if somebody you love andyou write a poem and you want
to share it, we are his poem andhe's working that out and he's
doing it to share his love withus, to show us how much he loves
us, and to share it, to glorifyhimself and to allow us to take
part in that.
You think about your wife, forinstance.
Right that you do the thingsyou do, but you enjoy it with
her, don't you?
I share it, you share it.
(09:31):
You share it Even though you'rethe one so you take her out to
dinner.
You're the one who took her todinner to give her joy, but then
you receive joy because of herjoy, correct?
So it goes round and round.
And that's what God is doing.
He's sharing his joy with us,and then we get the joy, and
then he gets more joy pouringhimself out, and I think that's
really awesome.
And that brings me to my nextquestion is the real reason why
(09:54):
do we evangelize?
What is the number one reasonwhy we evangelize?
Speaker 3 (10:04):
What's it for?
Well, we've evangelized for thepurpose of bringing God glory.
It brings God glory when we goforth and we share the word of
God, no matter how we do it.
It's all about bringing Godglory.
And to me, when I go forth andI share the gospel, whether this
person receives it or theydon't receive it, like I said in
the beginning, it's somethingwhere I know God is glorified
and I know that he's pleasedwith me and therefore I have
(10:25):
joys letting me share in his joy, right?
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Yeah, I think it's important to note too.
I have to say this all the timebecause I think so many people
misunderstand this.
We hear glory, we hear the wordglory all the time God's glory,
god's glory, god's glory.
But I think when I realize,when I ask people, well, define
glory for me, most people arelike, well, I don't know.
They start to hesitate and it'slike, oh, you've heard it a
million times but you neverreally thought about what it is.
(10:49):
And I wanted to just share thatreal quick, because God's glory
is the expression of hisholiness.
That's what it is.
He is expressing his holiness.
And the next question thatshould rise is well, what is
holy?
What is his holiness?
And holiness is perfection.
It's his perfection.
Like everything God is, isperfect.
His perfect attributes, hislove is perfect.
He forgives perfectly.
His grace is perfect.
(11:09):
His mercy is perfect.
He forgives perfectly.
His grace is perfect, his mercyis perfect.
His justice is perfect, hiswrath is perfect.
You know the angels in heavenwhen you go read in Revelation,
they go around His throne andsay Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
, god Almighty.
They don't say glory, glory,glory is the Lord, God Almighty,
holy, his glory is theexpression of that.
So if he is glorifying Himselfin us and through us, then what
(11:32):
we are doing is allowing him toexpress his holiness, because
we're told to be holy as he isholy, but we can't be.
But what we do when we glorifyhim, we allow his holiness to
flow through us.
And people don't see us, theysee his perfection.
Would you agree on that?
Speaker 3 (11:46):
I absolutely agree.
I think a great scripture textto go along with.
That is where Paul speaks abouthow he has been given this
treasure of the gospel messageto go forth and preach it.
And he says but I have, we havereceived it in earthen vessels,
clay pot.
Right, we're broken and proneto shattering, but God has given
(12:09):
us this treasure in a vesselthat really is weak and broken.
And what God does is he takesthat clay pot and he transcended
, transcended and he glorifieshimself through the clay pot.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
And they're really.
What he's doing is verifyingthat human human beings have no
power, but my power transcendstheir power and people will see
me through their brokenness,that's right.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
That's right when he means he's raising us from the
dead.
He's taking us from nothing.
We were dead and he brings usto life and therefore he's
glorified, because people willsee us and say you were this and
now you're this.
And evangelism?
I explained this in my book.
I believe evangelism is like ababy crying.
Jesus says one must be bornagain if they're to be saved.
(12:56):
And he says, like the flesh,when a baby is born, you know
they're alive.
What do they do?
They cry.
Well, evangelism is when you areborn in the spirit.
It's a sense of what'sdifferent about you.
Well, you cry, you glorify God.
Something comes out of you thatdidn't come out of you before,
when you were dead.
You never glorified God, younever praised him, you never
(13:17):
proclaimed him, exalted him oranything.
But now evangelism is just thatit's not so much the intent that
you have this ability topersuade people to come to
Christ, but you can't help butto proclaim his greatness.
That's, ultimately, whatevangelism is.
You're just.
You can't not do it Like a baby, can't not cry, you can't not
evangelize.
You can't say I can'tevangelize, I can't glorify him.
(13:40):
I have to, I must.
That's what Paul says.
I'm sharing this, I must dothese things, and that that
leads to the place of persuasion.
Some will say you know, there'sso much more in the Bible about
persuading people to come toChrist than it is about God
choosing.
But that persuasion, I mean,would you say that we can really
(14:00):
persuade people in the flesh?
Like, are we really able topersuade people to come to
Christ?
Speaker 3 (14:05):
No, I think the Bible is pretty clear that human
effort and human will is notgoing to get the job done.
But I believe that what Paul istalking about when he talks
about persuading a lot isunderstanding that he doesn't
understand or know who the electare.
He doesn't know who's going tobe saved, who's not.
So he's going to preach thegospel to all people and he's
(14:26):
going to try to persuadeeverybody because he knows not
who's going to be saved.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
That's right, that's how I see persuasion and it
flows from his joy.
Yes, he's just.
Ultimately it's shared joy.
It goes back into firstCorinthians.
He said I just want to sharethis joy.
I want to share what I receivedfrom God with as many people as
possible.
So it's not about whetherthey're elect or not elect.
We just assume that they areall potentially elect because,
we don't know, we leave thatpart to God.
(14:52):
But that doesn't change thefact that we want to share this
joy.
We've all experienced anamazing meal, entertainment or
something, and then what do wedo?
We go share it with people welove.
Why?
Why do we do that?
Because we want them to takepart in it, so that we can have
what Shared joy.
We want to share that joy.
You and I have a greatrelationship because we have the
(15:15):
shared joy in Christ.
We've experienced the samething.
So when we talk the joy isamplified, like.
My joy is much greater sharingit with you than it is by itself
.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Yeah, and I think that's what the psalmist David
was saying simply when he saidoh, taste and see that the Lord
is good.
Oh, yeah, he is not saying insome mundane voice oh taste and
see that the Lord is good.
No, he is shouting that ohtaste and see, he's like.
I want you to taste what I have.
This is amazing, yeah Right.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
You know, I think of just a funny side note.
I think of your wife, becauseshe's really picky with food and
stuff and my wife's a baker.
But I remember when we firstmet her, she didn't want to try
anything.
She was like no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
But we were like taste and see,just taste.
And she was like no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
But once she tasted like thatfirst thing, she was like oh,
(16:09):
this is amazing, know it tastedthis good?
And then, since then, she'sprogressed in the things that
she eats.
Right, she's opened up her mindto trying new things and that's
the idea.
It was shared joy.
It's like you are missing out.
I can't make you eat this, butI promise you, once you do, it's
going to change your life, andthat's what evangelism is saying
and what we're hoping that itdoes is that just taste.
(16:31):
We're not saying don't, youdon't have to consume, just
taste it, Because once you get ataste of Jesus, you can't
untaste it.
You know it's, it's there, it'son your palate now and you're
just going to crave it likesugar.
It's going to be there andyou're going to want more.
And that's where your faithreally starts to play in and you
start taking deeper steps, ormore steps of faith that are
(16:53):
greater, you know, in your life,because you want more of that,
you want to see God do theimpossible.
Essentially, you know, I thinkof George Mueller.
One of the greatest books that Iever read outside the Bible was
about George Mueller, who liveda couple hundred years ago, who
started orphanage.
This is a man of great faithand he just prayed and asked God
for everything.
(17:13):
And God provided but it waschallenging increased his faith,
which increased his joy, whichincreased his desire to share
that with more people so thatthey too would do the same and
experience that joy.
So that brings us to theprocess.
Really, then the how, how do wewant our audience to understand
(17:35):
?
We know now what evangelism is.
We know the why to glorify Godand to take part in the joy.
But the how, like how can wehelp people get to the place
where they are, to a place ofeffective evangelism, where this
is a routine in their lives?
Speaker 3 (17:52):
Well, I believe that the answer to that is pretty
simple in terms of what Paulsaid when he said either
circumcision or uncircumcision,availeth nothing but faith.
Working through love and Ibelieve in what I have found in
my own personal life withevangelism is to allow my faith
to be lived out through love.
(18:13):
And what that simply looks likeis on my job or in my home.
Well, just an example on my job, I had an individual that hated
God, didn't want nothing to dowith Jesus Christ, so I began to
bring this person coffees inthe morning and we began to talk
, and then I bought him lunchand I bought him breakfast and
(18:35):
it did.
Yeah, it took some of the moneyI had to open up them doors,
but it's not my money anyway,it's God's money, right?
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
And after about, I'd say, 90 days.
One morning I was in my churchand I look in the back and this
man is sitting there and afterservice, everybody leaves.
I go outside to start my car.
It won't start.
Well, there's a car left on theother side of the building
pulls around.
It's him.
He waited for me and he jumpedmy car and we got an opportunity
(19:02):
to talk about Jesus.
This man got saved.
That's awesome and that'ssimply from allowing my faith to
be seen through love, lovingacts, kindness, buying him
coffee.
It opened the door for God towork.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
How much did prayer play a part in this?
A?
Speaker 3 (19:18):
lot.
I prayed for him all the time.
I prayed that God would openthat door of communication.
How would you say our audienceshould?
Speaker 2 (19:24):
pray if they want to be effective evangelists.
I prayed for him all the time.
I prayed that God would openthat door of communication.
How would?
Speaker 3 (19:29):
you say our audience should pray if they want to be
effective evangelists.
I would say that they shouldpray that God would use them for
his glory, so that they wouldbe vessels of honor that bring
him glory and honor and thatthey would be seeking to have
joy through it.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Yeah, you know, jesus says at least John, chapter 15,
he says ask anything in my nameso that my father in heaven is
glorified and that you will bearmuch fruit.
So our fruit bearing is toglorify God.
And when God is glorified,jesus says and then you will
receive the fullness of my joy.
So this is full circle thingand that's where weified Jesus
says and then you will receivethe fullness of my joy.
So this is full circle thingand that's where we want to get
(20:07):
stuck as Christians.
We want to be in that place,like our motive should be
continually to glorify God.
Jesus promises to answer ourprayers that we bear much fruit
and that fruit is in evangelismsharing that joy with other
people.
So God, make a way.
God, send people to me.
You know I've had people justwalk up to me.
I've had so many instances inmy life.
It's just a matter of beingavailable.
(20:29):
Like, are you available?
Are we making ourselvesavailable for God and just
saying you know, whateverhappens, are you at the grocery
store?
Somebody walks up to you andstarts talking to you?
Are you thinking about I needto get home so I don't have time
to talk to this individual?
Or do we make time and it'sthat making the time saying this
is God picking me up to play meas an instrument.
(20:50):
Right now it's inconvenient forme but it's convenient for him.
He's like I'm bringing theincrease now and we need to be
willing and ready to operate inthose moments.
You know, peter says in 1 Peter3.15, but in your hearts, honor
Christ, the Lord, as holy,always being prepared to make a
defense to anyone who asks youfor a reason, for the hope that
is in you.
(21:10):
Yet do it with gentleness andrespect.
So we have those acts of love,those little things that we do,
and when somebody says, why doyou do what you do, we're to be
prepared to say this is why I dowhat I do.
And that act of defense is notto be defensive, like we have
something to be defensive about,but it's to say this is who God
is.
I was dead and he made me aliveand this is the joy I have.
(21:30):
And then share the joy.
Share the joy that God gave youwith other people, you know,
just like that meal orentertainment or a vacation or
whatever you did.
Just share it and don't worryabout whether they receive it or
not, like I couldn't make yourwife eat the food that was put
before.
But she took that step of faithand trusted us because of the
love that she had for us.
She trusted that we weren'tputting something nasty in her
(21:52):
mouth, right.
And so she took the step andshe was amazed by it.
Well, people aren't going totaste Jesus unless they
experience genuine love first,because they've already made up
their mind.
Most people have heard of Jesusand they've already made up
their mind who Jesus is or whoChristians are, what the church
is, and they already act on that, and it's already in a negative
(22:13):
way.
They need to experiencesomething different.
They need to experience genuinelove.
So it's those little thingsthat we need to do Buy somebody
a cup of coffee, take somebodyout to lunch.
Honestly, just pray forsomebody.
I can't tell you how many timeslike I had just the other day.
I came out of physical therapyand this guy coming here I'm on
crutches and this guy coming outbehind me on a walker and I
(22:37):
hold the door for him onehandicap holding the door for
another handicap and I said, man, can I pray for you?
And he said yeah, and I justput my hand on his shoulder.
I prayed for him and anotherlady came out the door.
She said see, I told you Godwas with you.
I didn't even know prior tothat that this nurse was talking
to this gentleman, encouraginghim that God is with him,
literally just seconds ago.
(22:57):
And I was faithful, just, I'mgoing to pray for you right now.
And I just prayed, encouragedhim and said God's going to use
you.
And she walks out amazed she'sblown away because she was.
I was just telling this guy Godis with him.
And then here you are prayingfor him as he walks out the door
, showing that God is genuinelywith him.
I mean the timing of that.
(23:18):
You're talking 30 secondsdifference and we're not walking
out at the same time.
It's things like that.
You don't know, and we hadshared joy walking away from
that.
So that's what we're to do Befaithful, let God bring the
increase.
We plant the seeds, another onewaters, but God brings the
increase.
Do you have any final thoughtsthat you want to share?
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Well, if I could give any final thoughts, it would be
this Don't be afraid, don't bescared to just tell people about
Jesus.
And if you're nervous or scaredin any way to tell people about
(23:58):
Jesus, just let your lightshine and love people.
Let your faith be seen by yourloving acts and then, like I've
experienced many times, manydoors will open for you to be
able to share Jesus comfortably,where you won't have to be
scared.
If you are a scared person,yeah, that's awesome.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
I really appreciate that man.
I think this was a greatconversation.
I really hope this helped ourlisteners to understand better
why we evangelize, thatultimately it's for God's glory
and our shared joy in that weare getting something out of
this and it's okay.
I think so many people havecome to the place where they
think that you know, we're justliving for God and we don't get
anything from that, but we getso much.
(24:33):
We get so much from it and wedon't deserve it.
I would agree we don't, but wedo Nonetheless.
God is giving it to us becauseit's his glory, and his glory is
not something to be sad about.
It's not something that is forhim.
Only.
He's saying I want to sharethis with you.
His glory is infinite becausehe is infinite and he's
overwhelming.
He created us to express hisglory as an outward thing.
(24:56):
He doesn't need anything fromus, so that's really exciting.
So if you have any questions toour listeners today, if you have
any more questions, anythingfollow-up, something we didn't
cover today, you want moredetail on something?
Please go to the description ofthis podcast, to the text, us
link.
Send us a text.
I can't respond back to it as aone-way street there, but we do
get your questions and wedefinitely want to do future
(25:17):
shows based on those questions.
We want to answer them for youin a way that helps you grow
closer to Jesus and yourrelationship with him that
brings glory to God.
So we thank you and appreciateyou, our audience.
So let us close in prayer as weglorify our Father in heaven.
Father God, thank you so muchfor this time that we've had
together.
Thank you for your word.
We thank you for your glory andfor your shared joy that you
(25:39):
are bringing increase in ourlives for your benefit and ours.
Even though we don't deserve it, you're doing it anyway, god.
I pray for our listeners todaythat they would be willing to
take that step to love peoplewell, to do those little things
like buying a cup of coffee,talking to somebody on the
street, being willing to maketime for those who come to them
(26:01):
and ask them why do they lovethe way that they love, and that
we would just be a people opento responding to that, being
ready always to give a defensefor the hope that it is in us,
so that you get the glory and wereceive the joy, god, and that
we would just live in that spacein our lives until the day you
come and bring us home.
So, father, open the eyes andthe ears of our listeners and
(26:23):
help them to grow and to learnand to listen to be effective in
evangelism.
Father, we love you, we thankyou and we praise you in Jesus
name Amen.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
Amen.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
In our next episode we will delve into Ephesians,
chapter four, exploring theinvaluable role of leaders as a
gift to the church.
God divinely appoints theseleaders to equip us for the
specific ministries that he hasprepared for us in the church to
reach a lost world.
This preparation is crucial forall of us to effectively
represent Christ as hisambassadors.
2 Corinthians 5, verses 20 to21.
(26:58):
Therefore, we are ambassadorsfor Christ, god making his
appeal through us.
We implore you, on behalf ofChrist, be reconciled to God For
our sake.
He made him to be sin.
Who knew no sin, so that in himwe might become the
righteousness of God.
As a reminder, we appreciateyour feedback and encourage you
(27:22):
to send in your questions byusing the text us link located
in the description page of thisepisode.
Your thoughts are instrumentalin helping us produce future
episodes, so please keep thequestions coming.
God bless and we'll see younext time on the Takeaway.
In this episode, pastor Harry Behrens is joined
once again by Pastor DonnieGarrison as they delve into the
thought-provoking question whyshould we engage in evangelism
if God has already predeterminedwho will be saved?
Drawing from Pastor Harry'sprevious teachings in Ephesians,
it is evident that God haschosen and empowered us with his
spirit to lead a life thatglorifies him.
(00:30):
The conversation naturallyevolves to the topic of
evangelism and seeks to clarifywhy we should engage in it
despite God's preselection ofthose who will be saved.
Join Pastor Harry and Donnie asthey aim to provide clarity and
understanding on the vital roleof evangelism within the
framework of God's sovereignwill.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Hello and welcome again to another special edition
of the Takeaway.
I'm your host, pastor HarryBehrens, and with me once again
is my brother, my friend PastorDonnie Garrison.
How are you doing today?
Speaker 3 (01:03):
I'm doing well.
Thank you for having me on, andI hear that you're doing pretty
well.
Also, I hear you have a newbook coming out.
What is that about?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
I do.
It's called Chosen by Design.
It comes out August 9th, sowe're just a few weeks away from
that launching and I'm reallyexcited about that.
So it's just a result of thestudy I've been doing through
Ephesians that is now availableon our podcast.
It's launched every Thursdayand it's just something that God
put on my heart to do.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
That's awesome.
So is it the whole book thatyou have written on Ephesians?
Is it all six chapters covered?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
It is.
It's basically a commentary,but it's a slightly different
take on it.
I focused on the theme ofEphesians more than anything.
So it does walk you through,explains everything, but I saw
Ephesians as the roadmap to thebeliever's life and I wanted to
point out God's design and thepurpose for each individual's
life and highlight that forthose who read the book.
(01:59):
So for those who are lookingfor purpose in their lives,
purpose in their relationshipwith God, trying to understand
the joy of the Lord, trying tohave assurance of their
salvation, trying to understandhow election works and answer
all these questions, the bookdoes that.
I really wanted to highlightthat, as Paul points all these
things out.
So that will be available onAmazon and Apple and you can
(02:20):
also find it atchosenbydesignnet, which is our
website.
So, again, chosenbydesignnet,and it'll be available on ebook
and paperbook.
That is awesome, Awesome, yeah,I appreciate that.
So, with the question today,our audience had sent in a
question of why evangelize iswhat we're going to be covering
(02:41):
today, and that was a result ofour last show on our choices and
illusion, and we discussedGod's election process and that
and God choosing people,choosing whom he will choose,
and our audience wants to knowwhy should we evangelize if God
is going to do what God is goingto do anyway?
So I think, before we get toodeep into it anyway, so I think
(03:04):
before we get too deep into it,can you define evangelism on a
basic level?
Speaker 3 (03:15):
just a basic understanding of what is
evangelism.
Well, evangelism is somethingthat I'm sure everyone has read
in books and different methods,and I'm sure it's something that
people have tried and theyfailed and they've been scared
to death to do, like myself intime past.
But what I've come to find thatevangelism at its uh, you know,
most basic level is sharing thelove of Christ with people,
(03:35):
sharing the gospel of JesusChrist, you know, letting people
know that there is a way ofsalvation through Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Yeah, yeah, and I think that's that is how most
people would see it, I think.
On another scale, though, Ithink when most people think of
evangelism, they can't help butthink of Billy Graham, of course
.
Of course, you know, I mean,everybody knows who Billy Graham
is.
I think I've even heard thathe's as popular, if not more
popular, than Jesus Christhimself, in the sense of his
(04:04):
ministry and what he's done.
Like the name Billy Graham isso out there that everybody
knows who he is and what he'sdone.
And we I think our audience hasthis picture of evangelism as
being that Right, that they mustbe that, and I think most
people feel they can't be ordon't know how to be, or if they
attempt to evangelize, theyfail.
(04:25):
So there's a sense of failure.
So I think we want to talkabout a little bit is how should
we understand our failures inevangelism?
Is failure okay in evangelism?
Is it part of evangelism, andhow should we look at that?
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Well, I mean, that is a big part of evangelism
failure.
I mean, over the course of mytime, I believe that I have
encountered just abouteverything you can imagine in
evangelism.
I've had the person that didn'twant to hear me basically cuss
me out, walk away.
I've had the person that askedme a question and stumped me and
I had no answer for them.
I've had the situation where Ifreeze up and I don't know what
(05:03):
to say.
I've had the situation where Ifreeze up and I don't know what
to say.
Right and through it all, whatGod has taught me and what I've
learned is that it's not aboutme, it's about God.
Right, I am just a vessel ofGod and he's just using me for
his glory.
Right, and when I go out and Ido share the gospel with people,
it's having that mindset thatif I fail, I didn't really fail
(05:27):
because I set out to do what Godwanted me to do and if it's
successful, then it's becausethat's what God wanted it to do.
Ultimately, god is in controlof everything.
Right, one plants, one waters,but God gives an increase.
So when we go out, we're goingout just trying to do what God
wants us to do for his glory.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Yeah, you know.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9.22that it's about sharing with
those whom he evangelizes theblessings.
He says so 9.22,.
He says To the weak I becameweak that I might win the weak.
I have become all things to allpeople that by all means I
might save some.
So what he's saying is likeI've become all things to all
(06:14):
men to share the gospel so thatI can share with them the
blessings.
So Paul had received something.
It sounds like he's sharingthat with them and he's getting
something in return.
I mean, isn't that what itsounds like?
What's your thought?
Speaker 3 (06:27):
I agree.
I believe that when you sharethe gospel, you are being
obedient to the word of God andyou are bringing glory to God,
and in doing so, you will sharein the joy that comes from that,
whether the person receivesJesus Christ or if they don't.
The joy comes from knowing thatGod is pleased with you and he
confirms that with you withinyour spirit.
(06:49):
Right, yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
So I think you know again, part of the process is
you know, we know we want to getthat joy, or Paul was sharing
that joy.
It's part of the process issharing a joy that we must have
to be able to share.
You got to have it in the firstplace, right?
The second part of that is Paulalso says in Romans 6.13, do
not present your members to sinas instruments for
(07:12):
unrighteousness, but presentyourselves to God as those who
have been brought from death tolife and your members to God as
instruments for righteousness.
You know Paul realized that hewas also an instrument of God,
that he was being used by God.
Instruments don't use themselves, they don't play themselves,
they don't accomplish anythingin and of themselves.
They require somebody to usethem, to play them, to pick them
(07:35):
up and do with them what theyare meant to do.
And Paul realized that.
You know it's interestingbecause in Acts 9, 15, it says
but the Lord, this is Jesus.
But the Lord said to him go.
And this is talking about Paul.
He's talking about him, for heis a chosen instrument of mine
to carry my name before theGentiles and kings and the
(07:55):
children of Israel.
So Jesus is saying here thatPaul is a chosen.
There's that chosen again.
So it's important that weunderstand that that Paul was
chosen by Christ to be aninstrument that then God was
going to use to glorify himself.
And then Paul received that joy.
Now, what was Paul's part inthat?
It goes back to 1 Corinthiansto share the joy.
(08:15):
Now, what did Paul do in any ofthat?
What was Paul really doing?
Speaker 3 (08:20):
He was just sharing and being obedient to what God
wanted him to do.
Really, it wasn't his power, itwas just I'm a vessel, I'm an
instrument.
God play me, use me right.
It's just like in Ephesians,chapter 2, that we are his
workmanship.
Created in Christ Jesus untogood works, we are going to do
the works, the good works thatGod has preordained for us to
(08:41):
walk in.
We're his masterpiece, we'rehis poem.
Oh, his poem.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
That's it.
I cover that in Ephesians,chapter two, and I think that's
one of my highlights I mentionit all the time in church is
that workmanship in Latin ispoem, which means poem, and it
could be translated as we arehis poem, not just some clay
thing that we're thrown togetherthoughtlessly.
I was like, let me just makesomething here.
(09:09):
It's like a poem is thought out.
I think if somebody you love andyou write a poem and you want
to share it, we are his poem andhe's working that out and he's
doing it to share his love withus, to show us how much he loves
us, and to share it, to glorifyhimself and to allow us to take
part in that.
You think about your wife, forinstance.
Right that you do the thingsyou do, but you enjoy it with
her, don't you?
I share it, you share it.
(09:31):
You share it Even though you'rethe one so you take her out to
dinner.
You're the one who took her todinner to give her joy, but then
you receive joy because of herjoy, correct?
So it goes round and round.
And that's what God is doing.
He's sharing his joy with us,and then we get the joy, and
then he gets more joy pouringhimself out, and I think that's
really awesome.
And that brings me to my nextquestion is the real reason why
(09:54):
do we evangelize?
What is the number one reasonwhy we evangelize?
Speaker 3 (10:04):
What's it for?
Well, we've evangelized for thepurpose of bringing God glory.
It brings God glory when we goforth and we share the word of
God, no matter how we do it.
It's all about bringing Godglory.
And to me, when I go forth andI share the gospel, whether this
person receives it or theydon't receive it, like I said in
the beginning, it's somethingwhere I know God is glorified
and I know that he's pleasedwith me and therefore I have
(10:25):
joys letting me share in his joy, right?
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Yeah, I think it's important to note too.
I have to say this all the timebecause I think so many people
misunderstand this.
We hear glory, we hear the wordglory all the time God's glory,
god's glory, god's glory.
But I think when I realize,when I ask people, well, define
glory for me, most people arelike, well, I don't know.
They start to hesitate and it'slike, oh, you've heard it a
million times but you neverreally thought about what it is.
(10:49):
And I wanted to just share thatreal quick, because God's glory
is the expression of hisholiness.
That's what it is.
He is expressing his holiness.
And the next question thatshould rise is well, what is
holy?
What is his holiness?
And holiness is perfection.
It's his perfection.
Like everything God is, isperfect.
His perfect attributes, hislove is perfect.
He forgives perfectly.
His grace is perfect.
(11:09):
His mercy is perfect.
He forgives perfectly.
His grace is perfect, his mercyis perfect.
His justice is perfect, hiswrath is perfect.
You know the angels in heavenwhen you go read in Revelation,
they go around His throne andsay Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
, god Almighty.
They don't say glory, glory,glory is the Lord, God Almighty,
holy, his glory is theexpression of that.
So if he is glorifying Himselfin us and through us, then what
(11:32):
we are doing is allowing him toexpress his holiness, because
we're told to be holy as he isholy, but we can't be.
But what we do when we glorifyhim, we allow his holiness to
flow through us.
And people don't see us, theysee his perfection.
Would you agree on that?
Speaker 3 (11:46):
I absolutely agree.
I think a great scripture textto go along with.
That is where Paul speaks abouthow he has been given this
treasure of the gospel messageto go forth and preach it.
And he says but I have, we havereceived it in earthen vessels,
clay pot.
Right, we're broken and proneto shattering, but God has given
(12:09):
us this treasure in a vesselthat really is weak and broken.
And what God does is he takesthat clay pot and he transcended
, transcended and he glorifieshimself through the clay pot.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
And they're really.
What he's doing is verifyingthat human human beings have no
power, but my power transcendstheir power and people will see
me through their brokenness,that's right.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
That's right when he means he's raising us from the
dead.
He's taking us from nothing.
We were dead and he brings usto life and therefore he's
glorified, because people willsee us and say you were this and
now you're this.
And evangelism?
I explained this in my book.
I believe evangelism is like ababy crying.
Jesus says one must be bornagain if they're to be saved.
(12:56):
And he says, like the flesh,when a baby is born, you know
they're alive.
What do they do?
They cry.
Well, evangelism is when you areborn in the spirit.
It's a sense of what'sdifferent about you.
Well, you cry, you glorify God.
Something comes out of you thatdidn't come out of you before,
when you were dead.
You never glorified God, younever praised him, you never
(13:17):
proclaimed him, exalted him oranything.
But now evangelism is just thatit's not so much the intent that
you have this ability topersuade people to come to
Christ, but you can't help butto proclaim his greatness.
That's, ultimately, whatevangelism is.
You're just.
You can't not do it Like a baby, can't not cry, you can't not
evangelize.
You can't say I can'tevangelize, I can't glorify him.
(13:40):
I have to, I must.
That's what Paul says.
I'm sharing this, I must dothese things, and that that
leads to the place of persuasion.
Some will say you know, there'sso much more in the Bible about
persuading people to come toChrist than it is about God
choosing.
But that persuasion, I mean,would you say that we can really
(14:00):
persuade people in the flesh?
Like, are we really able topersuade people to come to
Christ?
Speaker 3 (14:05):
No, I think the Bible is pretty clear that human
effort and human will is notgoing to get the job done.
But I believe that what Paul istalking about when he talks
about persuading a lot isunderstanding that he doesn't
understand or know who the electare.
He doesn't know who's going tobe saved, who's not.
So he's going to preach thegospel to all people and he's
(14:26):
going to try to persuadeeverybody because he knows not
who's going to be saved.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
That's right, that's how I see persuasion and it
flows from his joy.
Yes, he's just.
Ultimately it's shared joy.
It goes back into firstCorinthians.
He said I just want to sharethis joy.
I want to share what I receivedfrom God with as many people as
possible.
So it's not about whetherthey're elect or not elect.
We just assume that they areall potentially elect because,
we don't know, we leave thatpart to God.
(14:52):
But that doesn't change thefact that we want to share this
joy.
We've all experienced anamazing meal, entertainment or
something, and then what do wedo?
We go share it with people welove.
Why?
Why do we do that?
Because we want them to takepart in it, so that we can have
what Shared joy.
We want to share that joy.
You and I have a greatrelationship because we have the
(15:15):
shared joy in Christ.
We've experienced the samething.
So when we talk the joy isamplified, like.
My joy is much greater sharingit with you than it is by itself
.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Yeah, and I think that's what the psalmist David
was saying simply when he saidoh, taste and see that the Lord
is good.
Oh, yeah, he is not saying insome mundane voice oh taste and
see that the Lord is good.
No, he is shouting that ohtaste and see, he's like.
I want you to taste what I have.
This is amazing, yeah Right.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
You know, I think of just a funny side note.
I think of your wife, becauseshe's really picky with food and
stuff and my wife's a baker.
But I remember when we firstmet her, she didn't want to try
anything.
She was like no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
But we were like taste and see,just taste.
And she was like no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
But once she tasted like thatfirst thing, she was like oh,
(16:09):
this is amazing, know it tastedthis good?
And then, since then, she'sprogressed in the things that
she eats.
Right, she's opened up her mindto trying new things and that's
the idea.
It was shared joy.
It's like you are missing out.
I can't make you eat this, butI promise you, once you do, it's
going to change your life, andthat's what evangelism is saying
and what we're hoping that itdoes is that just taste.
(16:31):
We're not saying don't, youdon't have to consume, just
taste it, Because once you get ataste of Jesus, you can't
untaste it.
You know it's, it's there, it'son your palate now and you're
just going to crave it likesugar.
It's going to be there andyou're going to want more.
And that's where your faithreally starts to play in and you
start taking deeper steps, ormore steps of faith that are
(16:53):
greater, you know, in your life,because you want more of that,
you want to see God do theimpossible.
Essentially, you know, I thinkof George Mueller.
One of the greatest books that Iever read outside the Bible was
about George Mueller, who liveda couple hundred years ago, who
started orphanage.
This is a man of great faithand he just prayed and asked God
for everything.
(17:13):
And God provided but it waschallenging increased his faith,
which increased his joy, whichincreased his desire to share
that with more people so thatthey too would do the same and
experience that joy.
So that brings us to theprocess.
Really, then the how, how do wewant our audience to understand
(17:35):
?
We know now what evangelism is.
We know the why to glorify Godand to take part in the joy.
But the how, like how can wehelp people get to the place
where they are, to a place ofeffective evangelism, where this
is a routine in their lives?
Speaker 3 (17:52):
Well, I believe that the answer to that is pretty
simple in terms of what Paulsaid when he said either
circumcision or uncircumcision,availeth nothing but faith.
Working through love and Ibelieve in what I have found in
my own personal life withevangelism is to allow my faith
to be lived out through love.
(18:13):
And what that simply looks likeis on my job or in my home.
Well, just an example on my job, I had an individual that hated
God, didn't want nothing to dowith Jesus Christ, so I began to
bring this person coffees inthe morning and we began to talk
, and then I bought him lunchand I bought him breakfast and
(18:35):
it did.
Yeah, it took some of the moneyI had to open up them doors,
but it's not my money anyway,it's God's money, right?
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
And after about, I'd say, 90 days.
One morning I was in my churchand I look in the back and this
man is sitting there and afterservice, everybody leaves.
I go outside to start my car.
It won't start.
Well, there's a car left on theother side of the building
pulls around.
It's him.
He waited for me and he jumpedmy car and we got an opportunity
(19:02):
to talk about Jesus.
This man got saved.
That's awesome and that'ssimply from allowing my faith to
be seen through love, lovingacts, kindness, buying him
coffee.
It opened the door for God towork.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
How much did prayer play a part in this?
A?
Speaker 3 (19:18):
lot.
I prayed for him all the time.
I prayed that God would openthat door of communication.
How would you say our audienceshould?
Speaker 2 (19:24):
pray if they want to be effective evangelists.
I prayed for him all the time.
I prayed that God would openthat door of communication.
How would?
Speaker 3 (19:29):
you say our audience should pray if they want to be
effective evangelists.
I would say that they shouldpray that God would use them for
his glory, so that they wouldbe vessels of honor that bring
him glory and honor and thatthey would be seeking to have
joy through it.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Yeah, you know, jesus says at least John, chapter 15,
he says ask anything in my nameso that my father in heaven is
glorified and that you will bearmuch fruit.
So our fruit bearing is toglorify God.
And when God is glorified,jesus says and then you will
receive the fullness of my joy.
So this is full circle thingand that's where weified Jesus
says and then you will receivethe fullness of my joy.
So this is full circle thingand that's where we want to get
(20:07):
stuck as Christians.
We want to be in that place,like our motive should be
continually to glorify God.
Jesus promises to answer ourprayers that we bear much fruit
and that fruit is in evangelismsharing that joy with other
people.
So God, make a way.
God, send people to me.
You know I've had people justwalk up to me.
I've had so many instances inmy life.
It's just a matter of beingavailable.
(20:29):
Like, are you available?
Are we making ourselvesavailable for God and just
saying you know, whateverhappens, are you at the grocery
store?
Somebody walks up to you andstarts talking to you?
Are you thinking about I needto get home so I don't have time
to talk to this individual?
Or do we make time and it'sthat making the time saying this
is God picking me up to play meas an instrument.
(20:50):
Right now it's inconvenient forme but it's convenient for him.
He's like I'm bringing theincrease now and we need to be
willing and ready to operate inthose moments.
You know, peter says in 1 Peter3.15, but in your hearts, honor
Christ, the Lord, as holy,always being prepared to make a
defense to anyone who asks youfor a reason, for the hope that
is in you.
(21:10):
Yet do it with gentleness andrespect.
So we have those acts of love,those little things that we do,
and when somebody says, why doyou do what you do, we're to be
prepared to say this is why I dowhat I do.
And that act of defense is notto be defensive, like we have
something to be defensive about,but it's to say this is who God
is.
I was dead and he made me aliveand this is the joy I have.
(21:30):
And then share the joy.
Share the joy that God gave youwith other people, you know,
just like that meal orentertainment or a vacation or
whatever you did.
Just share it and don't worryabout whether they receive it or
not, like I couldn't make yourwife eat the food that was put
before.
But she took that step of faithand trusted us because of the
love that she had for us.
She trusted that we weren'tputting something nasty in her
(21:52):
mouth, right.
And so she took the step andshe was amazed by it.
Well, people aren't going totaste Jesus unless they
experience genuine love first,because they've already made up
their mind.
Most people have heard of Jesusand they've already made up
their mind who Jesus is or whoChristians are, what the church
is, and they already act on that, and it's already in a negative
(22:13):
way.
They need to experiencesomething different.
They need to experience genuinelove.
So it's those little thingsthat we need to do Buy somebody
a cup of coffee, take somebodyout to lunch.
Honestly, just pray forsomebody.
I can't tell you how many timeslike I had just the other day.
I came out of physical therapyand this guy coming here I'm on
crutches and this guy coming outbehind me on a walker and I
(22:37):
hold the door for him onehandicap holding the door for
another handicap and I said, man, can I pray for you?
And he said yeah, and I justput my hand on his shoulder.
I prayed for him and anotherlady came out the door.
She said see, I told you Godwas with you.
I didn't even know prior tothat that this nurse was talking
to this gentleman, encouraginghim that God is with him,
literally just seconds ago.
(22:57):
And I was faithful, just, I'mgoing to pray for you right now.
And I just prayed, encouragedhim and said God's going to use
you.
And she walks out amazed she'sblown away because she was.
I was just telling this guy Godis with him.
And then here you are prayingfor him as he walks out the door
, showing that God is genuinelywith him.
I mean the timing of that.
(23:18):
You're talking 30 secondsdifference and we're not walking
out at the same time.
It's things like that.
You don't know, and we hadshared joy walking away from
that.
So that's what we're to do Befaithful, let God bring the
increase.
We plant the seeds, another onewaters, but God brings the
increase.
Do you have any final thoughtsthat you want to share?
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Well, if I could give any final thoughts, it would be
this Don't be afraid, don't bescared to just tell people about
Jesus.
And if you're nervous or scaredin any way to tell people about
(23:58):
Jesus, just let your lightshine and love people.
Let your faith be seen by yourloving acts and then, like I've
experienced many times, manydoors will open for you to be
able to share Jesus comfortably,where you won't have to be
scared.
If you are a scared person,yeah, that's awesome.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
I really appreciate that man.
I think this was a greatconversation.
I really hope this helped ourlisteners to understand better
why we evangelize, thatultimately it's for God's glory
and our shared joy in that weare getting something out of
this and it's okay.
I think so many people havecome to the place where they
think that you know, we're justliving for God and we don't get
anything from that, but we getso much.
(24:33):
We get so much from it and wedon't deserve it.
I would agree we don't, but wedo Nonetheless.
God is giving it to us becauseit's his glory, and his glory is
not something to be sad about.
It's not something that is forhim.
Only.
He's saying I want to sharethis with you.
His glory is infinite becausehe is infinite and he's
overwhelming.
He created us to express hisglory as an outward thing.
(24:56):
He doesn't need anything fromus, so that's really exciting.
So if you have any questions toour listeners today, if you have
any more questions, anythingfollow-up, something we didn't
cover today, you want moredetail on something?
Please go to the description ofthis podcast, to the text, us
link.
Send us a text.
I can't respond back to it as aone-way street there, but we do
get your questions and wedefinitely want to do future
(25:17):
shows based on those questions.
We want to answer them for youin a way that helps you grow
closer to Jesus and yourrelationship with him that
brings glory to God.
So we thank you and appreciateyou, our audience.
So let us close in prayer as weglorify our Father in heaven.
Father God, thank you so muchfor this time that we've had
together.
Thank you for your word.
We thank you for your glory andfor your shared joy that you
(25:39):
are bringing increase in ourlives for your benefit and ours.
Even though we don't deserve it, you're doing it anyway, god.
I pray for our listeners todaythat they would be willing to
take that step to love peoplewell, to do those little things
like buying a cup of coffee,talking to somebody on the
street, being willing to maketime for those who come to them
(26:01):
and ask them why do they lovethe way that they love, and that
we would just be a people opento responding to that, being
ready always to give a defensefor the hope that it is in us,
so that you get the glory and wereceive the joy, god, and that
we would just live in that spacein our lives until the day you
come and bring us home.
So, father, open the eyes andthe ears of our listeners and
(26:23):
help them to grow and to learnand to listen to be effective in
evangelism.
Father, we love you, we thankyou and we praise you in Jesus
name Amen.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
Amen.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
In our next episode we will delve into Ephesians,
chapter four, exploring theinvaluable role of leaders as a
gift to the church.
God divinely appoints theseleaders to equip us for the
specific ministries that he hasprepared for us in the church to
reach a lost world.
This preparation is crucial forall of us to effectively
represent Christ as hisambassadors.
2 Corinthians 5, verses 20 to21.
(26:58):
Therefore, we are ambassadorsfor Christ, god making his
appeal through us.
We implore you, on behalf ofChrist, be reconciled to God For
our sake.
He made him to be sin.
Who knew no sin, so that in himwe might become the
righteousness of God.
As a reminder, we appreciateyour feedback and encourage you
(27:22):
to send in your questions byusing the text us link located
in the description page of thisepisode.
Your thoughts are instrumentalin helping us produce future
episodes, so please keep thequestions coming.
God bless and we'll see younext time on the Takeaway.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.