- 3 weeks ago
Kirk Cameron
Ray Comford
Presents
Ray Comford
Presents
Category
š¹
FunTranscript
00:00I
01:00Welcome to the Way of the Master.
01:13Here we are in San Francisco, and we're going to look at a topic that's very important
01:18and one that's hardly ever spoken of in the church today.
01:25Seek and save the lost the way Jesus did.
01:27There's only a certain amount of time left.
01:35Use the Lord. Use your testimony.
01:37Reach out to the lost. Reach out to the lost.
01:43There's nothing more important than your eternal salvation.
01:45I haven't been to church since I was about 15, but I was baptized as Christian, yes.
01:57And I no longer believe in God or the devil.
02:01It's just there's a higher power, yeah, but not one certain person.
02:05What changed that perspective?
02:07Things going bad in my life.
02:09Do you have a Bible at home?
02:10Yes, I do.
02:11Do you read it?
02:12Not no more.
02:13Would you consider repicking it back up and reading it again?
02:17Nope.
02:17I'd like to share a brief story with you.
02:23I was talking to a friend of mine who said he recently got together with an old buddy.
02:27Hadn't seen him in about five years.
02:29Now, this buddy of his was the best man in his wedding.
02:32This friend was one of his prayer partners, an accountability partner at church.
02:36He was even on staff as a youth pastor.
02:39The guy even went to seminary.
02:41And he says to my friend, hey, man, a lot has changed since we last talked.
02:45He said, one, I'm getting married.
02:47And number two, I'm no longer a Christian.
02:50My friend said, what do you mean?
02:52Why not?
02:53And he said, the reason I don't believe in Christianity anymore is because if God truly lived in the hearts of Christians,
03:01there would be a huge change in their life.
03:04It would be obvious.
03:06They wouldn't struggle with the same things.
03:08And they wouldn't fall prey to the same struggles that those in the world do.
03:13And I look across the landscape of Christianity,
03:15and I see there's no difference between those inside the church and those outside the church.
03:22So the question is, is he right?
03:27A number of years ago, statistics showed us that 62% of Americans professed to have a relationship with Jesus Christ that was, quote, meaningful to them.
03:36And yet other statistics showed us that 91% of Americans lie regularly.
03:43So something is radically wrong.
03:45We found some statistics and some quotes on an atheistic website.
03:50Now, these atheists got these quotes from the Barna Research Group, who are a respected Christian organization.
03:56And they put them under the hearing, Christianity does not work as advertised.
04:04Christianity does not work as advertised.
04:07A Barna Research Group revealed that one out of every four American adults have experienced at least one divorce.
04:15Surprisingly, the study found that born-again Christians are more likely to go through a marital split than non-Christians.
04:22So are you beginning to see the problem that's forming?
04:30Christians say that they have the answer to the world's problems.
04:34The answer is Jesus.
04:35You invite him into your heart.
04:37He'll improve your life.
04:38He'll take away your problems and struggles.
04:41Well, if these same Christians are still trapped in these struggles,
04:45and their problems are not going away, does that mean that Christianity has no power to change?
04:52Does it mean it's all a big hoax?
04:55Or is there another explanation for why there seems to be no difference between those sitting inside the church and those outside?
05:04Listen to what A.W. Tozer had to say.
05:07Listen to what A.W. Tozer is saying.
05:24He's saying many seem to come to church and have experienced some sort of religious formality,
05:30some experience with Jesus by simply accepting him, but in fact they've never been saved,
05:36meaning they've never truly humbled themselves and desperately repented of their sin,
05:42surrendering to Christ as Lord and Savior, and they've not been converted in their heart.
05:48Could that be the reason why there seems to be no apparent change in their life?
05:54Listen to what Dr. D. James Kennedy has to say.
05:59The vast majority of people who are members of churches in America today are not Christians.
06:04I say that without the slightest fear of contradiction.
06:08I base it on empirical evidence of 24 years of examining thousands of people.
06:13D. James Kennedy is saying that millions within our churches are not Christians.
06:21Could that be true?
06:22Well, he's saying he's basing his conclusions upon examining people's lives,
06:27saying that the decisions that they make, the way that they live,
06:31is an indicator of what has or has not occurred in their heart.
06:36I heard the biggest cause of atheism today is Christians that acknowledge Jesus with their lips
06:41and then deny them by their lifestyle.
06:43I don't think drinking is a sin.
06:45I mean, I grew up...
06:47A minute ago you said getting drunk was.
06:48My dad is a preacher.
06:49I grew up in a Christian home.
06:51I know God.
06:52I have a relationship with God.
06:54And everybody sins.
06:56I mean, I don't think going out and drinking every once in a while is a sin.
06:59But a second ago you said getting drunk is.
07:01And then before that you said you were going to go get drunk.
07:04So, I mean, what do you think about that?
07:06I think you're right.
07:07For some reason I just am so caught up in the world.
07:12It's like I turn to God, but then when everybody else is not around,
07:16I let other things get back in.
07:18And I've done that my entire life.
07:19My entire life I've always done that.
07:21I have a lot of Christian friends, but they all do this too.
07:26What's up, Seth?
07:27How'd your interview go, man?
07:28It was great, dude.
07:31Hey, what do you believe about your existence of God?
07:34I believe that God is watching down on us every day and God created wine.
07:39So, what happens when you die?
07:41Oh, I'm against getting on the top of the corner, man.
07:44So, what do you think?
07:45What happens when you die?
07:47I think we turn to ash.
07:48And that is why we must drink as much alcohol as possibly consumable right now.
07:54Have you been drinking tonight?
07:56No.
07:56How much have you had?
07:59I had nothing.
07:59I don't drink alcohol.
08:01I just party at the Rainbow Club and enjoy the women.
08:04Who is the Hustler man?
08:05Hustler?
08:05Hustler of Hollywood?
08:06Yeah.
08:08Right there.
08:10That doesn't help the television viewers.
08:11Oh, I'm sorry.
08:12If you turn the camera right there, you've got the Hustler sign right there.
08:15Right.
08:16Hustler of Hollywood.
08:17Larry Flint.
08:18Can you zoom in on that?
08:19So, you work for Larry?
08:20Oh, I wish I did.
08:22I wish I did.
08:23We do much more boring stuff than that.
08:25But we try to entertain the general public.
08:27We have many, many private videos maintained by the 7-Eleven crowd.
08:32Thanks to the technology you've created, my friend.
08:34Yes, sir.
08:34Here's some questions.
08:35This is about spirituality.
08:37Do you believe in the existence of God?
08:39Oh, absolutely.
08:40What's your concept of God?
08:41Do you think God is good?
08:43Oh, absolutely.
08:43So, he's going to punish evil?
08:45Yes, absolutely.
08:46So, he's going to punish murderers?
08:48Yeah, absolutely.
08:50Rapists?
08:51Yes, absolutely.
08:51Thieves?
08:52Yeah, absolutely.
08:52Liars?
08:53Yes.
08:54Have you ever lied?
08:55Yes.
08:56So, you're in big trouble on Judgment Day?
08:58I'm afraid so, my friend.
08:59Have you stolen?
09:01Oh, no.
09:01I have not stolen.
09:02Okay.
09:03Have you used God's name in vain?
09:05Every time you said, God, you use God's name in vain.
09:08Absolutely.
09:08Now, listen to this one.
09:09Jesus said, if you look with lust, you commit adultery in your heart.
09:13Have you ever done that?
09:15You're on Sunset Boulevard.
09:16You can't help but look with lust.
09:17So, what's going to happen to you on Judgment Day?
09:20Well, the lucky thing is that Jesus forgave us for all of our sins.
09:24So, if you strive to do what is right in God's eyes, then you can make up for the sins that you've committed.
09:31And someday receive ransom for yourself.
09:33That is why God sacrificed, loved the world so much that He sacrificed His only begotten Son.
09:38So, would you consider yourself to be a Christian?
09:41Well, to be a Christian means to follow in the footsteps of Christ.
09:46And yes, I try.
09:48Are you doing that?
09:48With all of my human possibly.
09:50Absolutely.
09:51Absolutely.
09:52So, you're working for Hasla?
09:53Isn't there a contradiction?
09:56That is a good point.
10:00Does the Bible address this issue of true and false conversion?
10:05It certainly does.
10:06And many times, Jesus said, a good tree brings not forth bad fruit, neither does a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
10:13He warned that many would say to Him on the Day of Judgment, Lord, Lord.
10:16And He would say, depart from me, you worker of iniquity.
10:19So, let's now look at Mark chapter 4 as it deals with the subject of true and false conversion.
10:25Listen, behold, a sower went out to sow, and it happened as he sowed, that some of the seed fell by the wayside.
10:35And the birds of the air came and devoured it.
10:37Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth, and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth.
10:45But when the sun was up, it was scorched, and because it had no root, it withered away.
10:51And some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.
10:57But other seed fell on good ground, and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased, and produced, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.
11:07When Jesus spoke the parable of the sower, apparently His disciples didn't understand what He was talking about.
11:15Jesus said, do you not understand this parable?
11:18How then will you understand all the parables?
11:22In other words, Jesus was saying that understanding the parable of the sower would be the key to unlocking the mysteries of all the other parables.
11:33And if you study it carefully, you'll see that if there's one message that comes through about the parable of the stony ground, the thorny ground, and the good soil hearer,
11:44it is that when the seed is sown, when the gospel is preached, many will respond.
11:49And within those who respond, there will be both true and false conversions.
11:56Now, many have been taught that the parable of the sower just means that when we preach the gospel, there will be a 25% success rate.
12:06That is, when the gospel is preached, there's the stony ground hearer, the wayside hearer, the good soil hearer, and the thorny ground hearer.
12:14And the one that responds is the good soil hearer.
12:17So, if you get a 25% success rate, that's biblically acceptable.
12:22And yet, I don't think the parable of the sower was given by Jesus as a consolation for disappointing evangelistic results.
12:28I believe there are keys.
12:30And if you look closely, the key is this.
12:33The good soil hearer hears and understands.
12:37He's able to understand that he has sinned against God, that he desperately needs a savior.
12:43The gospel begins to make sense to him that Christ died for his sins.
12:47So, does that mean that in the vast sea of unregenerate humanity, there are ones with somehow a gift of understanding.
12:54When the gospel is preached, they comprehend it.
12:56Well, no.
12:57Romans 3 verse 11 says there is none that understands.
13:01Therefore, that necessary understanding, which isn't within the heart of an unsaved person, must come from without.
13:08Well, what is it, biblically, that brings about an understanding?
13:11It's the law.
13:13It's the law that's a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ.
13:17A schoolmaster's job is to bring knowledge, to bring understanding.
13:20That's why Paul said, I had not known sin, but by the law.
13:41I used to go to church, not anymore, but I still believe in him.
13:49Why did you, what, if you had a Christian background, you gave your life to Christ at one stage?
13:53Yes.
13:54And what happened?
13:54Did you fall away?
13:55No, I didn't fall away.
13:57I just, my days are really busy, so I don't have a lot of time to go into the church.
14:03So I talk to him when I can.
14:06You talk to him when you can?
14:07Yeah.
14:08Do you read the Bible?
14:09She calls him.
14:09Not anymore, I did.
14:11What do I have to do to go to heaven?
14:14What do you think?
14:14Be good.
14:16Be good?
14:17Follow the Ten Commandments.
14:19Follow the Ten Commandments?
14:21Yeah.
14:21Okay, well let's go through them.
14:22That's pretty harsh.
14:23Yeah.
14:23Let's see if you follow the Ten Commandments.
14:24No, I don't follow the Ten Commandments, but still.
14:26Well, we'll give it a try.
14:27See how you do on Judgment Day.
14:29Oh, okay.
14:29You want to give that a try, Brian?
14:30Okay.
14:31You think you're a good person?
14:32No.
14:33You don't think you're a good person?
14:34No.
14:34No wonder you believe in evolution.
14:37That's convenient.
14:38Okay, have you ever told a lie?
14:40Yes.
14:41Before, like six times before lunch.
14:44Okay, what does that make you?
14:46A liar.
14:47Have you ever stolen something?
14:49Define stealing.
14:51Taking something belongs to somebody else.
14:53Yeah, I can say just about everybody has.
14:55Okay, what does that make you?
14:56A thief.
14:57Okay, have you ever used God's name in vain?
14:59Yeah.
15:00Okay, that's called blasphemy.
15:02It's a very serious crime.
15:04And when you do that, your conscience should scream like the alarm of a fire engine telling
15:09you you've done wrong.
15:10Trying to alert you.
15:12Or an ambulance.
15:14Okay, now listen to this one.
15:15Jesus said, whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery already with
15:22her in his heart.
15:23Ever look with lust?
15:25Oh, yeah.
15:25You ever look with lust?
15:27Okay, listen to this.
15:29By your own admission, you've both admitted that you're lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulterous
15:33at heart, and you've got to face God on judgment day.
15:36So, when you stand before him on the day of judgment, do you think he'd be innocent or guilty?
15:43It depends on how bad they were.
15:45Well, it's really bad.
15:46Blasphemy is bad.
15:47Adolting is bad.
15:47Lying is bad.
15:48Stealing is bad.
15:49You're in serious trouble.
15:50You'd be guilty.
15:51Yeah.
15:51Would you go to heaven or hell?
15:54God forgives.
15:55It depends on if he forgives me.
15:56God forgives.
15:57Are you sure?
15:57Yes.
15:58Would you bet your life on it?
15:59Yes, I would.
16:00Paper gifts are certain things.
16:02Yeah, but there's something really important that you're missing that you don't realize
16:06that you're missing.
16:06And it's so important.
16:07Your eternal destiny depends on your understanding of this truth.
16:11Let me take you to civil law.
16:13You're standing in front of a judge.
16:14You've committed a serious crime.
16:16There's a $50,000 fine.
16:17Okay?
16:19And you say, judge, I know I've done wrong, but you forgive.
16:24Just let me go.
16:25He's not.
16:26He's bound by law.
16:27Yeah.
16:27And God just can't let a guilty criminal go.
16:30If you've lied or stolen, God cannot let you go because of the fact he's just, holy, and
16:35righteous.
16:36Now, if someone pays that $50,000 fine, then can the judge let me go.
16:41Let you go.
16:42You're still guilty.
16:42Yeah, you're still guilty.
16:43You're still guilty, but you're allowed to go.
16:44The judge says, hey, fine's paid.
16:45You're out of here.
16:47Isn't that right?
16:48Even though you're guilty, someone pays you fine.
16:49You're out of here.
16:50Two thousand years ago, God paid you fine for the blood of Christ.
16:54He died on that cross.
16:55He was suffering for your sins, Brian.
16:57And your sins, which is taking your punishment and satisfying the demands of eternal justice.
17:05So on the judgment day, you could be acquitted.
17:07Guilty there you are, God can say, you're free to go.
17:09I can give you everlasting life.
17:10You're going to escape the damnation of hell because of what Jesus did on the cross.
17:14What do you say to someone who admits that they've sinned against God, but says that they're not worried because they believe God is very forgiving?
17:23You see, the problem with their belief is that they misunderstand the nature of God's justice and His requirement for a payment for their sins.
17:33You see, God is forgiving, but only toward those who repent of their sins.
17:38Forgiveness hinges on repentance.
17:40So ask them this question, if they were to die tonight, where would they go?
17:45If the person says heaven, then gently take them through the commandments.
17:49Show them that they violated God's law and angered Him in the process, and that if God treats him according to his sins, he wouldn't be headed for heaven, but for hell.
17:58Now, God warns that He will punish sin.
18:03God says that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.
18:07That's why we must repent and put our faith in Jesus Christ.
18:12If the person still doesn't seem concerned, explain to them it's as simple as this.
18:17We broke the law, but Jesus paid our fine.
18:20If they refuse to accept Jesus' payment on their behalf, they will be required to pay for their own sins themselves.
18:27And that's eternity in hell.
18:33False converts do have a measure of spirituality.
18:38Take Judas, for example.
18:39He seemed to be a true follower of Jesus Christ.
18:42When Jesus said, one of you will betray me, the disciples didn't say, oh, yeah, we know who that is.
18:47Oh, Judas.
18:48No, no.
18:49They said, is it I, Lord?
18:50Is it I?
18:51They suspected themselves rather than suspecting the trustworthy treasurer.
18:56Jesus said, it's he who puts his hand in the dish.
18:59They still didn't suspect him when he did that.
19:01When he went out to betray Jesus, some of the disciples thought they had gone to give money to the poor.
19:06So it's understandable that so few within the body of Christ suspect that we are surrounded by those in the Judas category.
19:14And so the tragedy is, is that we have literally millions of people sitting within our churches, calling themselves Christians who are living in sin or falling away from their professed faith.
19:26And we commonly call them backsliders.
19:29When in reality, many are false converts.
19:33You see, it's impossible to backslide if you've never slid forward in the first place.
19:40Jesus said, you'll know a tree by its fruit.
19:43And people demonstrate the legitimacy or the illegitimacy of their conversion by the fruit that they produce.
19:51Please look at this clip of a man that we interviewed in New York City.
19:55Look at the fruit of his life.
19:58Is this the fruit of a true conversion?
20:01You decide.
20:15Talk to me.
20:16Tell me what happens after somebody dies.
20:18What do you think happens?
20:20What I think happens after somebody dies, man, I think that, you know, like you sleep, like you lay down, like on some real stuff.
20:29You lay down, you go to sleep, you know what I'm saying?
20:32And you're at ease with yourself.
20:34You don't even, you don't even feel nothing, see nothing, none of that.
20:38That's cool.
20:39I think that that's what death, like, I think it's like, like if I'm standing here right now and somebody ran up on me and put a heater to my head,
20:45and blew my brains out right now, boom, I'm gone, I'm out of here, I would never feel it.
20:53I'd never feel it.
20:54I'd just be out of here.
20:55Where do you get your information from?
20:58From life experiences.
21:00You've had that experience?
21:02Yeah.
21:03You've been killed?
21:04Basically, yeah.
21:07Have you ever told a lie?
21:08Yeah.
21:09What does that make you?
21:10That make me a human being.
21:11Yeah, but what are you called if you tell a lie?
21:13A human being.
21:14What would you call me if I told a lie?
21:16A human being.
21:17Really?
21:17It begins with L.
21:19See if you can work it out.
21:20Come on.
21:20I mean, you're a liar, just like I'm a liar, but you're a human, so that's in your blood.
21:25Yeah.
21:25That's in your blood.
21:26That's like me, I'm black.
21:27I was born with the same blood.
21:29I'm a black man.
21:30I can't take that back.
21:32You a sinner.
21:33You're going to, I don't give a damn what you do to change it.
21:36You're going to still be a sinner.
21:37Second question.
21:38Second question.
21:39You ever stolen something?
21:40Yeah.
21:40What does that make you?
21:41That make me a thief.
21:43Uh-huh.
21:43That make me a sinner.
21:44That make me a human being.
21:45Have you ever used God's name in vain?
21:47Yeah.
21:48Okay, that's called blasphemy.
21:49Okay.
21:50Now, Jesus said if you look at a woman with lust, you commit adultery with her in your heart.
21:53Right.
21:54Have you ever done that?
21:54Yeah, I did everything.
21:56I done did every sin that could be committed.
21:59So on the day of judgment, God will see you as a, what's your name again?
22:02He's going to see me as a human being.
22:03Yeah, but as a lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulter at heart, you've sinned against God.
22:07You need His forgiveness.
22:08How you know I ain't got His forgiveness?
22:10Well, by what's coming out of your mouth.
22:11You ain't asked me that.
22:12Yeah, I know what's coming out of your mouth.
22:15I know what's in your heart.
22:16It gives me a clue.
22:17Oh, yeah, I'm a sinner.
22:18I do everything.
22:20I look at bull**** and be like, damn, I want that.
22:22Yeah.
22:23I drink.
22:24I love it.
22:25I'm overindulged sometimes.
22:27But that's being a human.
22:28I don't want to end up in hell.
22:30You know, the Bible says if you're carnally minded, it'll bring about death.
22:37But if you're spiritually minded, it'll bring your life and peace.
22:40God says if you're a hypocrite, you won't enter heaven.
22:43So what you've got to do is repent.
22:44It's God to give you a clean heart.
22:45A hypocrite is saying, a hypocrite is saying that I've done something and I'll never do it again.
22:50I never said I wouldn't do what I do again.
22:53I'm going to still look at fat a**.
22:54I'm still going to drink.
22:56I'm still going to be me.
22:57You know what I'm saying?
22:58Why?
22:58Because that's me.
23:00Yeah, well, you need to be born again.
23:01That's me.
23:01When I, hey, hey, hey, when I feel that and I change my life, that's cool.
23:06But right now, I'm going to do what I do for today.
23:08Could God be speaking to you tonight through me?
23:10He could be, but I don't know if you were, uh, uh, uh, what's my man's name?
23:15The, uh, you know what I'm saying?
23:17I don't know who you are.
23:18My name's Ray.
23:19You're just an inquisitive guy asking me questions, giving me an interview.
23:22That's all.
23:23Now, you know what God did so you wouldn't have to go to hell?
23:25You know what he did for you?
23:26What did he do?
23:26Sent his son to die on the cross for you.
23:28I'm going to tell you something.
23:29I'm going to tell you something.
23:30I'm already saved, man, because I accepted the fact that Jesus Christ died for my sins.
23:36You know what I'm saying?
23:37He died for my sins.
23:38He gave me another chance.
23:40If it wasn't for Jesus Christ, I wouldn't be here right now.
23:42Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord.
23:44You've got to repent and trust in him.
23:46I feel you.
23:46I feel you.
23:47But I'm going to tell you like this.
23:49I'm going to tell you like this.
23:50You do you, and I'm going to do me.
23:53You know what I'm saying?
23:53When was the last time you read your Bible?
23:55And I see you, I see you, when I'm, I'm going to be up there walking.
23:59And I'm going to be, you know what I'm saying?
24:00When was the last time you read your Bible?
24:02Oh, yesterday.
24:03And I can quote something for you.
24:04What did you read?
24:06Revelations.
24:07Revelations?
24:07Yeah.
24:08Yeah, we're in the last days.
24:09What, you ain't know?
24:10When are you going to read Matthew 7?
24:11No, we're going to read Revelations, because I'm reading for today.
24:15You know what Matthew 7 says?
24:15I'm reading for today.
24:16I want to know what's going on today.
24:17Not back in the day, but today.
24:20Jesus said this.
24:21No, get up on Revelations and then holler at me.
24:24You know what I'm saying?
24:24Peace out.
24:25It's PNasty from the deep.
24:27Keeping it real, for real.
24:29That's how we doing it.
24:30You know what I'm saying?
24:31Hey, thanks for talking, man.
24:32Hey.
24:36Once we begin to understand the principle that when the gospel is preached, although
24:45many respond, there will be within those responses both true and false converts.
24:52That is, true Christians and those who say they are, but have never been converted in
24:57their heart.
24:58They're just hypocrites, pretenders.
25:00And the true and false will remain together alongside each other inside the church.
25:07When we understand that, then the other parables begin to make sense.
25:10Like the parable of the wheat and the tares, true and false converts, the good fish and
25:18the bad fish, true and false converts, the foolish virgins and the wise virgins, the true
25:24and false converts, and the sheep and the goats, the true and false.
25:28Now, notice that the good fish and the bad fish were both together in the net.
25:34The fish are those who hear the gospel and respond.
25:40They are the evangelistic catch.
25:43And within the net of the kingdom of God, you're going to have both true and false converts
25:49who will remain together alongside each other in our churches until the day of judgment when
25:55God sorts them out.
25:57Let me ask you a question.
26:17Do you fear God?
26:19The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
26:22Let me show you a picture from NASA that helped me fear God.
26:27That's the sun on the left, that big ball.
26:31Now, look down on the right, that little blue ball.
26:34That's the earth in proportion to the size of the sun.
26:38Did you know that this earth fits into the volume of the sun a million times?
26:43What sort of being could create that?
26:46What sort of being could create the sun?
26:48God is to be held in tremendous reverence, tremendous awe.
26:52And sinners have to face him on the day of judgment.
26:55The Bible says, it's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
27:01The apostle Paul also spoke of the fear of the Lord when he said, wherefore, knowing the
27:05terror of the Lord, we persuade men.
27:08Now, there's a good motive for evangelism.
27:10Once you know the terror of the Lord, you'll persuade men.
27:13And if you're not evangelizing, if you're not seeking the lost, it's evident you don't fear God.
27:18And you need to get on your knees and say, oh God, give me a revelation of your holiness,
27:22your greatness, your mighty power, so that I fear you enough to obey you and seek and save that which is lost.
27:29The Bible tells us that one of the disciples asked Jesus, are there few that will be saved?
27:35And Jesus responded, strive to enter the straight gate.
27:39For straight is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life and few there be that find it.
27:44He said, broad is the path that leads to destruction and many go in that way.
27:49So this should cause each of us to examine ourselves, as the Bible says, and see if we're in the faith.
27:54And if you're not sure that you're saved, if you're doubting your salvation,
27:57if you don't have the things that accompany salvation, make your calling election sure.
28:02Do it today.
28:03Confess and forsake your sins and put your trust in Jesus and then bring forth fruit that's worthy of salvation.
28:10And make sure that when you share your faith, you do it biblically,
28:13because you and I don't want to be guilty of filling the church with false conversions.
28:17Please consider going to our website, www.wayofthemaster.com,
28:25and get the Way of the Master book.
28:27It's also available at your local Christian bookstore.
28:31Visit the website for free witnessing tools, a newsletter, the Evidence Bible,
28:36with a hundred of the most commonly asked questions and objections to the Christian faith,
28:42teaching you how to answer them and then share the gospel effectively with those you love.
28:47www.wayofthemaster.com
28:50Now available at your local Christian bookstore is The Way of the Master book.
29:00Learn how to share your faith simply, effectively, biblically, the way Jesus did.
29:05Also, visit us online at wayofthemaster.com,
29:08where you'll find free evangelism tools, free email newsletters, an online school,
29:14as well as books, CDs, DVDs, and much more.
29:17Again, that's wayofthemaster.com,
29:20or call us toll free at 877-496-8688.
29:25www.wayofthemaster.com,
29:28or call us toll free at 877-496-8688.
29:30www.wayofthemaster.com
29:32or call us toll free at 877-496-8688.
29:34www.wayofthemaster.com
29:36or call us toll free at 877-496-8688.
29:38www.wayofthemaster.com
29:40or call us toll free at 877-496-8688.
29:42www.wayofthemaster.com
29:44or call us toll free at 877-496-8688.
29:46www.wayofthemaster.com
29:48or call us toll free at 877-496-8688.
29:50www.wayofthemaster.com
29:52Let's go.
30:22This episode of The Way of the Master is a bit different from some of our other programs.
30:35That's because we are in the middle of a real boxing ring
30:38to remind you that when you reach out to the lost, you step right into the ring.
30:44And the Bible says we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
30:48but against principalities and power, spiritual wickedness in high places.
30:52So sometimes you may just get beaten up a little.
30:55This episode is called When Things Go Wrong.
31:03Seek and save the lost the way Jesus did.
31:05There's only a certain amount of time left.
31:06Time left.
31:07Time left.
31:12So use the ball.
31:13Use your pistol.
31:15Reach out to the lost.
31:16Reach out to the lost.
31:17There's nothing more important in your eternal salvation.
31:30Check out these clips from some of our past episodes.
31:33And he says that if you will repent of your sin and trust in Jesus to save you,
31:40that he will forgive you of your sin and grant you eternal life,
31:43not just because you're sorry, but because Jesus paid your fine and now he can let you go.
31:49Does that make sense?
31:50That makes sense.
31:51It's a lot of sense.
31:52Do you understand what I'm saying?
31:53Yes.
31:53I comprehend what you're saying.
31:55Yeah.
31:55Because there's nothing more important in your eternal salvation.
31:58So what you need to do before you go to sleep tonight, man, is get right with God.
32:02Just say, God, I'm sorry.
32:03I've sinned against you.
32:04Please forgive me.
32:05And this day I repent of my sin.
32:07It means I turn my back on sin and I put my trust in Jesus as my Lord and Savior.
32:12And then read your Bible.
32:13Do you have one?
32:14Yes, I do.
32:15And read it every day and obey what you read and God will never let you down.
32:17Hey, thanks for talking with me, Kishane.
32:20I wish you all the best.
32:21God bless you.
32:22This happened for a reason.
32:23I think so, too.
32:24I'm for a reason.
32:25Right on, man.
32:26It's a wake-up call.
32:27Have a good day.
32:28You, too.
32:29Wake-up call.
32:31Long time.
32:33Probably one of the greatest sins you and I can commit is to make a God up in our mind.
32:37It's called idolatry.
32:38We make a God we feel comfortable with.
32:41And I'm afraid for you.
32:42That's what you've done.
32:43Well, I don't want you to go to hell.
32:45He's making me cry.
32:46Well, maybe it's your own conscience.
32:48Maybe it's your understanding of that Jesus died for your sins.
32:52He took your punishment.
32:53His blood was shed so you could be forgiven.
32:55So, Hillary, don't trust in your own righteousness.
32:58Trust in Jesus, okay?
33:00Okay?
33:01He wants to come and give you a new life to make you a new creation in Jesus Christ.
33:07Do you want to pray?
33:08Yes.
33:11You just go ahead and pray with your heart.
33:13I don't...
33:14Jesus, I'd just like to thank you so much for this opportunity today to meet up with these people.
33:25I've never had my eyes opened so real before.
33:35I always thought that I wasn't that bad of a person, but it just kind of slapped me in the face today.
33:43I'd just like you to cleanse me, Lord, of all my sins.
33:47Please just give me the strength to live for you.
33:54Died on the cross, right?
33:56He died on the...
33:56He took the punishment.
33:57All your sins.
33:58All your sins were laid upon Him.
34:02And now what God commands you to do is not just believe in Him, but repent and trust in Jesus with all your heart.
34:09Just to let go and say, God, forgive me, I'm a sinner.
34:12And then fling yourself upon His mercy.
34:14The moment you do that, you'll pass from death to life.
34:16You won't have to try anymore to get right with God because you will be right with God.
34:21Salvation is a free gift.
34:22You don't earn it.
34:23You don't deserve it.
34:24You just say, God, forgive me.
34:25I've broken your commandments.
34:27I need Jesus as my Lord and Savior.
34:29Right.
34:29Do you think you're going to do that?
34:30Yeah, I think I could say that.
34:32Yeah, do you want to do that now?
34:34Yes, I'd like to say it.
34:35Okay, you pray now and then I'll pray for you.
34:37Okay.
34:38Lord Jesus, forgive me.
34:40A sinner.
34:46Wouldn't it be great if that happened all the time?
34:48If people always reacted that well to the gospel.
34:51But we know that doesn't happen.
34:53In fact, it didn't always happen with Jesus either.
34:55In fact, He told us that when we share our faith, we shouldn't be surprised if the world hates us.
35:01So we want to encourage you, not just by showing you episodes where things always went well,
35:07but show you the times when we've shared the gospel and things seem to go wrong.
35:11And this should be encouraging to us because it shows us that we're doing the same kinds of things that Jesus did.
35:18Again, this should be encouraging because if you've got to share your faith with someone and things don't go right,
35:24you'll know it's not out of the ordinary.
35:26In real life, someone you speak to about the things of God may not like what you're saying to them.
35:32They may not let you get a word in.
35:33You find yourself against the ropes, wanting to throw in the towel.
35:36They may even lay you out with a knockout punch.
35:39I personally have been bruised and abused.
35:43By women.
35:46And I haven't been able to get a word in.
35:47Things haven't gone right.
35:49This can be discouraging.
35:50It can be embarrassing.
35:51But we must remember that we're in a fight and we've got to remember that God is with us.
35:55I don't need your forgiveness or his forgiveness.
35:59I know my way of God, you know.
36:02I know God is with me.
36:03And he proved it to me a lot, a lot, a lot of times.
36:06Are you sure about that?
36:08Let me finish on a positive note.
36:10Thanks, man.
36:10Because sin, according to the Bible, is against God.
36:14He should not have allowed sin in his universe.
36:17And so, really, the sin, because he created, let's say he created free will, whatnot,
36:23then still, all the sin that comes from that, from his will, has to rely upon him.
36:27It has to be his doing, his fault, if you will.
36:30So, okay, so the devil made you do it when you do bad things?
36:33God made me do it.
36:35See ya.
36:35Imagine how you'd feel if you witnessed to the most hard-hearted, anti-Christian religious fanatic of his day, Saul of Tarsus.
36:45I mean, this man hated Christians so much, the Bible says he had them tortured and even killed for their faith.
36:52Now, imagine you just witnessed to him and you watched his blood boil at what you said,
36:57and then he threw you into a black and cold torture cell.
37:01If that happened to me, I'd be discouraged.
37:04But think what happened.
37:05Stephen was arrested for so-called blasphemy.
37:09They said he had transgressed the third of the Ten Commandments.
37:11He was taken before the council, and they said, are these things so?
37:16And then he gave the history of Israel, it seems.
37:18And he said how Moses was given the law by God, and how Israel had transgressed that law in making idols.
37:25And then Stephen accused his hearers of transgressing the sixth of the Ten Commandments.
37:30He said, you are murderous.
37:31And then he climaxed his sermon by saying, and you, you were given the law by the hand of angels and have not kept it.
37:40Well, look at the reaction of his hearers.
37:42They gnashed upon him with their teeth.
37:44They took him out and stoned him to death.
37:46Now, Saul was there that day.
37:48The Bible says he was consenting to the death of Stephen.
37:50But there's no record of Saul saying, God, forgive me.
37:54I've broken those commandments.
37:55But I don't think Saul would have forgotten what he saw and heard that day.
38:00A seed was planted within his heart, and God saved him in God's timing.
38:05And look at the wonderful tree of righteousness that grew from there.
38:09Next, let's look at a clip from our video, In Season, Out of Season.
38:13Ray was preaching in Galilee, in Israel.
38:15Things went so well there, he decided to move on to Jerusalem.
38:19Well, he was speaking to the people, and then the crowd started getting a bit restless.
38:23Then one man got quite upset.
38:26You know, Jerusalem has a reputation of that happening.
38:30It was the land that was slain.
38:32His land, you can wash your clean.
38:34You are a foreign work for us.
38:37You are for Abodah Zarah.
38:39That's what you are.
38:40That's what you are.
38:42I don't want your place.
38:42I don't need your place against everything you represent, everything you say.
38:47I want your blood.
38:47You can't meet you, or you can't prefer people.
38:50You're trying to make you some Christians.
38:52That's what you're trying to do.
38:53God will pass over your sins if you trust in Jesus Christ.
38:58The Messiah.
39:00I didn't do this.
39:01The man who filmed that clip is named Easy, and he's our office manager at the Way of the Master.
39:19Let's have him tell the story.
39:21Now, I've been heading up evangelism teams for several years, and I've been in some very awkward situations.
39:27But let me tell you, this incident in Jerusalem was the most intense experience I've ever had.
39:33The worst part is what took place off camera.
39:35The man who was yelling and spitting at Ray looked over, saw that I was filming, and obviously not wanting his actions to be captured on tape, started to chase me around and try to get the camera from me.
39:46And I remember we're passing the camera behind our backs, trying to get away.
39:49And it was by God's grace we didn't get killed that evening.
39:53You know, Jesus said in Luke 13, 34, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her.
40:00And it's amazing that after 2,000 years, you could still feel that same intensity in the air.
40:05Now, this next clip took place in New Zealand.
40:08Ray and I had just finished preaching in the square in Christchurch, and I was witnessing to a transvestite named Billy.
40:13And as you'll be able to very clearly tell, Billy didn't really like what I had to say.
40:19Billy, Christ can set you free.
40:22Hey, listen, Yank.
40:26Christ can...
40:26Look, Yank.
40:27Let me tell you.
40:29Hey, don't...
40:32...to my country telling me we've got rights in this country, okay?
40:37Do you ever feel discouraged when you share your faith because people don't react the way that you're hoping that they will?
40:43Well, we all feel that way, but we really shouldn't.
40:46It's normal if we're telling people the truth.
40:49Remember, they tried to kill Jesus 10 times before he got to the cross.
40:55Do you ever wonder, if Jesus was such a loving and kind man, then why did they hate him so much?
41:01The Bible says they hated him because of what he said.
41:07Jesus said, the world hates me because I testify of it, that their works are evil.
41:14You mind if we put you on the other side?
41:15Sure, go ahead.
41:17Okay.
41:18I'm a pro here.
41:19I'm sorry to offend anybody, but f*** Christianity.
41:21No.
41:22You know what?
41:22I believe in Christianity 100% without him.
41:26F*** everyone up.
41:27And the fact of the matter is that I'm out here doing God's work, and God has told me that it's okay,
41:33and I know I have a place in heaven.
41:35So why don't we end this here?
41:37Let's look at the book of Acts and see what happened when Paul preached the biblical gospel.
41:44In Acts chapter 13, verse 50, Paul and Barnabas were persecuted and thrown out of the region.
41:51Acts chapter 14, verse 19, Paul was stoned and left for dead.
41:56Acts chapter 16, verse 23, both Paul and Silas were beaten with many stripes and thrown in prison.
42:02And in Acts 23, verses 1 and 2, it says,
42:06As soon as he began to speak, he was smacked in the mouth.
42:11Think about this.
42:12If Paul was simply telling those people about God's grace and his goodness,
42:17telling them that they had a void in their heart Jesus could fill,
42:20and that he'd bring them health and prosperity,
42:22well, those people would not have treated Paul so terribly.
42:26Paul must have been saying something very different to get such an angry response from the crowd.
42:31And he did.
42:31He did what Jesus did.
42:33In love, he pointed out their specific and personal sin
42:37so that they could see their personal need for a Savior.
42:43I do not know that there is a God.
42:44I do not know there is a Satan.
42:45I do not know there is a heaven or a hell.
42:47And I don't care.
42:48But you believed in evolution.
42:48You told me.
42:49I said, do you believe in evolution?
42:51Are you f***ing a**hole?
42:53Well, he didn't mean anything.
42:55Now, you know what God did for you so you wouldn't have to go to hell?
42:58Come on, you've had something sort of bad.
42:59You're telling me something out of a book that I don't believe is true.
43:01You tell me what you think God did for you 2,000 years ago.
43:03There is no God.
43:05Why do you keep saying God?
43:06Leave this word out of it.
43:07I know him.
43:08No, you don't.
43:09Have you seen him?
43:09Yes, I do.
43:09What does he look like?
43:10He's invisible.
43:11He is the creator.
43:12What do you mean?
43:12He looks like man.
43:13He made an...
43:14No, God became a man for redemption, for your salvation.
43:17No, I don't understand that part.
43:18Hey, can you shake my hand before you leave?
43:21No, I don't like you anymore.
43:22In Mark 10, verse 17, when the rich young ruler came to Jesus, he ran to him, knelt down,
43:29and said, good master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
43:32Jesus firstly reproved the man's understanding of the word good, and then he gave him five
43:37of the Ten Commandments.
43:38He brought out the knowledge of sin using God's law.
43:41But did the man say, I've sinned against God?
43:45No.
43:46He just walked away from Jesus, and there's no evident sign of sorrow of sin.
43:52Baby, I live on these streets.
43:54Every night, I sleep on the concrete.
43:57Every night, I sleep on the dirt.
44:00Every night, I play these casinos.
44:02Every day, I lose.
44:04Every day, I win.
44:05I'm not the best Christian in the world.
44:09But he's got soldiers in places that until you've been there and done that,
44:14you don't know it.
44:16This interview is over.
44:19Thanks for your time, man.
44:21Thanks for meeting you.
44:22Here we are.
44:23Here we are.
44:25Then there are people who won't let you get in a word edgewise.
44:28This can be frustrating.
44:30It can be discouraging.
44:31And there's really little you can do about it.
44:33It's just something we have to deal with.
44:35If that's the way it is, I give a big finger to the Lord.
44:38Sorry.
44:39But I think that's a really, I think that's a messed up belief.
44:42And why?
44:43Give me one good reason.
44:44And I've seen men do way more horrible things in this world than women.
44:47Women should not be, you know, put on a lower level than men, in my opinion.
44:51So, but for that reason, I have a lot of problems with, like, with, okay,
44:56and the canonization of the Bible, right?
44:58The Bible is canonized by men.
45:00Powerful men.
45:01People, men in religious, powerful religious positions at this time.
45:03Jesus never said there was going to be a second text.
45:05He got told the Old Testament, he was Jew.
45:06He fulfilled prophecies that were stated in the Old Testament.
45:07He knew all about the Old Testament.
45:08In the New Testament, he never once said there's going to be a new text
45:10that will be perfect, holy, God-breathed, revelations, all this other,
45:12and all this stuff here, whatever.
45:12Because I want to go to heaven and feel all great about myself
45:38and feel that I'm a good person, I'm going to heaven after I'm going to be living everlasting life.
45:42That's great.
45:42I don't want to die.
45:43I don't want death.
45:46You want me to be quiet?
45:47Now let Kirk say something.
45:48I love this next clip.
45:51This is one of Ray being chased by an angry woman in Santa Monica after he spoke to her.
45:56I've been preaching open air when I was talking one-to-one with this woman,
46:03and she suddenly said, you punched me.
46:05I'm calling the police.
46:07And I thought of that scripture, if you're persecuted in one city, flee to the next.
46:10So I fled, and she chased after me.
46:13Look at her hands shaking.
46:14She was so angry.
46:16She did call the police.
46:17The police came, looked at the footage, laughed, and left, fortunately.
46:22Ray, do you remember that time that we were in the Orlando airport?
46:26We were walking toward an elevator in a hotel lobby,
46:29and Ray had given a man a tract, a gospel tract.
46:32We got into the elevator and found that this man had been following us all the way to the elevator.
46:37He walked in there, crumpled up this tract, and threw it at Ray.
46:40And we felt so discouraged, and we felt embarrassed.
46:43We didn't know how to respond.
46:44And this man said, don't give me your blankety-blank-blank-blank.
46:48Well, sometimes you just feel like climbing out of the ring.
46:53But we can't.
46:54We've got to stay in for the sake of people's salvation.
46:57A friend of mine, Mike Meyer, and myself, we were out sharing our faith,
47:02and a gentleman who came across the street from the local bar, the Elbow Room,
47:07had come over, and we were sharing our faith with him.
47:11He was one of those guys from the Bible Belt.
47:13He could quote scripture to you, new things about God.
47:19And one of his problems was, so it seemed, is that he didn't believe that God was sovereign,
47:26that God was in control of everything.
47:29So to express himself at one point, he looks at me and says,
47:33BAM!
47:34And he had put his finger to my head in the shape of a gun and pulled the trigger.
47:38And he said to me, see, I told you God's not in control.
47:41I just blew your head off.
47:43Of course, he said that with a little more color.
47:46But I tried to keep my composure.
47:49And I let him know that, hey, even if he did have an actual gun and blow my head off,
47:55God's still in control.
47:57He's still on the throne.
47:58I kind of wrapped up and left, but Mike continued to share with the guy.
48:06And wouldn't you know, a week later, the gentleman that I was speaking to who blew my head off
48:11showed up at my church and that day made a profession for Christ.
48:17So, you know, when you think things are going wrong,
48:22you never know in God's economy they may just be going right.
48:28Ray and I were in Canada doing a Way of the Master seminar
48:31when Ray decided that he would demonstrate on camera
48:33how simple it is to approach strangers and talk about his faith.
48:38He had a hidden microphone, but unfortunately,
48:40he walked right into the middle of a drug deal.
48:44You guys hear one of these?
48:45I began by giving these guys tracks,
48:47and I realized that they were kind of high on drugs.
48:51And not only that, to my right, you'll see a man in a black T-shirt.
48:56He began arguing with a guy without a shirt on.
48:58They were cussing each other out, something about a drug deal.
49:01This made my cameraman, Mark, very nervous.
49:03You can see the camera shaking because he thinks,
49:05boy, this is kind of scary.
49:06You can feel something that wasn't right.
49:08So he moves the camera over to make out he's filming a friend of ours.
49:11I didn't realize that Mark was pretending to film this guy.
49:14I thought he had lost interest in what I was doing.
49:16Two drug pushers arrived, really tough-looking guys,
49:19and asked about the camera.
49:20He said, what's that camera doing there?
49:22And I realized that I had in my pocket a little card that said FBI,
49:28Firm Believer in Christ.
49:30The letters were really big.
49:31I thought, great, these guys are going to grab me,
49:33pull the microphone out, find out I'm an FBI agent,
49:36stab me to death.
49:37It's not even going to be on film.
49:39The whole thing was quite scary for a moment.
49:41Remember, I was there sharing how simple it is
49:43and how easy it is to approach strangers
49:45and talk about things going wrong.
50:06Are you a Christian?
50:08Do you not share your faith
50:10because you're so afraid of offending someone
50:13that you avoid the subject of the gospel altogether?
50:17Well, if you're not sharing your faith,
50:20you're not even in the ring.
50:23Prove your love for God and for the lost
50:26by learning to share your faith.
50:28Go to our website.
50:30We want to give you equipment
50:31that will give you courage.
50:33Do it for someone you love.
50:37There's a true story in the Evidence Bible
50:39about D.L. Moody, the famous evangelist.
50:41Moody was often accused of having zeal without knowledge.
50:45Well, one night,
50:46Moody realized he hadn't witnessed to somebody
50:48that whole day.
50:49So he went out at night,
50:50saw a man by a lamppost,
50:52a stranger,
50:52went up to him and said,
50:53excuse me, sir,
50:54are you a Christian?
50:55And he witnessed to him.
50:57Well, the man turned out
50:58to be a friend of a business associate of Moody.
51:01This business associate was very offended.
51:03He says, how can you do that?
51:04Go up to a complete stranger and say,
51:06are you a Christian?
51:07You offended that man.
51:09Well, Moody was extremely discouraged.
51:11Well, sometime later,
51:12there was a bang on Moody's door
51:14and it was the man that was by the lamppost.
51:16He said to Moody,
51:17Mr. Moody,
51:18I haven't had a good night's sleep
51:19since you spoke to me.
51:21Could you please tell me
51:22how I can get saved?
51:25Quite often when I go to Santa Monica
51:27and open air preach
51:28down on Third Street Promenade,
51:29it tends to be very hectic at times
51:31and things aren't always going right.
51:33Sometimes I even wonder
51:35if anyone will receive
51:36the gospel of salvation.
51:38But when I do wonder that,
51:39I tend to think about Luke chapter 5
51:41when Jesus commands the disciples
51:43to cast down their nets.
51:45Even Simon doubted Christ
51:47and even told the Lord,
51:48we've worked all night.
51:50We're not going to catch anything.
51:51And I have that attitude sometimes myself.
51:54But when the disciples let down their nets,
51:56they brought up a quantity of fish.
51:58And that pretty much tells us
52:00that God tells us to preach the gospel
52:02and Jesus will fill the nets.
52:04God calls us to be catchers of men.
52:07So with that philosophy
52:08and that mindset,
52:09I can boldly go out to Santa Monica
52:11or wherever I'm at,
52:12preach the gospel,
52:13and trust that Christ
52:14will fill the nets indeed.
52:19Do you remember that beautiful song
52:21from the 80s?
52:22It was a worldwide mega hit.
52:25And I found out recently
52:26that song was written
52:27by our sound man, Scotty.
52:30Now, Scotty's always sharing his faith.
52:32Let's go to him now
52:33and see if things always go right
52:35when he's witnessing.
52:37One afternoon,
52:38I came out of a large home center
52:40and spotted a couple of guys
52:42sitting at a table
52:43and I decided to hand out some tracks.
52:46So I did,
52:47and as I did,
52:48a security guard drove up
52:50and said,
52:51no, you can't do that.
52:52And very loudly began to warn me
52:56that if I ever did it again,
52:58he'd call the police.
52:59He ended up following me
53:00all the way back to my car
53:02and actually pulled in behind me
53:04and blocked me in
53:05so I couldn't get out.
53:06Got out of his cart
53:07and continued to warn me.
53:10I acknowledged his responsibility
53:12and he let me go
53:13with the warning
53:14that he would call the police next time.
53:17Well, it was very embarrassing
53:18and upsetting.
53:20And on my way home,
53:21I stopped by the police station
53:23and they informed me
53:24that it was within my rights.
53:26And not only that,
53:27when I inquired further
53:28about doing open air
53:29at the local farmer's market,
53:31they said I could do that too.
53:32And that's when things really went wrong
53:34because now I had to do it.
53:37And to make a long story short,
53:39I have been doing open air
53:41at the farmer's market
53:42for the last two years.
53:43And not only that,
53:45but the very town center
53:46that I was kicked out of
53:47in the first place.
53:58George Whitefield was famous
53:59for preaching in the open air.
54:01He preached more than 18,000 sermons
54:03in his lifetime.
54:05He said,
54:06I was honored today
54:08with having a few stones,
54:09dirt, rotten eggs,
54:11and pieces of dead cats
54:12thrown at me.
54:16Now, we are in no way suggesting
54:19that the goal is to try to get people
54:21to throw things at you
54:21or to intentionally be offensive.
54:24No, we're intending
54:26to help people understand
54:27their need of a Savior
54:28by speaking the truth to them
54:30in love.
54:31But the point of this episode is
54:33sometimes you can say things
54:35in the most loving way possible
54:36and people will still be offended
54:38because it's not you
54:39that's offending them,
54:40it's the message.
54:42It's the use of the law
54:43to bring the knowledge of sin
54:45like Jesus did
54:46that offends them.
54:48So,
54:50if someone throws a dead cat
54:52through your window,
54:53don't pick it up
54:53and sling it back.
54:54Just put it in a pile
54:55and realize it's normal
54:56to be persecuted
54:57as a Christian.
54:59It happens occasionally.
55:00But look past the natural eye.
55:02We wrestle not against
55:03flesh and blood.
55:04It's a spiritual battle.
55:06We wrestle not against
55:07flesh and blood,
55:08but against principalities,
55:09against powers,
55:10against spiritual weakness
55:11and high places.
55:12So what we must do
55:13is use spiritual weapons
55:14as listed in Ephesians chapter 6
55:17and preach the biblical gospel.
55:20And it's so important
55:21that you don't get tempted
55:23to jump out of the ring
55:24just because people
55:25don't react to you
55:26the way you'd like them to.
55:28I mean,
55:29if we're trying to get a decision
55:31every time that we share our faith,
55:33we're going to get discouraged
55:34because it doesn't always
55:34happen that way.
55:36Remember,
55:36salvation is of the Lord
55:39and no man can come to the Son
55:41unless the Father draws him.
55:44So we plant the seed,
55:46God makes it grow.
55:47And this frees us up
55:48from determining success
55:50by how many decisions we get.
55:53True evangelistic success
55:55is in you and I
55:56faithfully planting the seed,
55:59communicating the truth,
56:00the whole truth,
56:01and nothing but the truth
56:02in love the way Jesus did.
56:06So fight the good fight of faith.
56:11Don't pull any punches
56:12and don't even think
56:13of throwing in the towel.
56:15Remember,
56:15so many have gone before you.
56:17Paul said,
56:17I have fought
56:18the good fight of faith
56:20and you are surrounded
56:21by such a great cloud of witnesses.
56:27We also have something
56:29that we know will encourage you.
56:31It's a message on our website.
56:32It's only 10 minutes.
56:33It's called
56:33I Got Off at George Street.
56:35It's about a man
56:36who shared his faith
56:37daily for 30 years.
56:39It's very powerful.
56:41It's free
56:41and it'll make you cry.
56:43It's such a wonderful story.
56:45Also, we have other resources
56:46to help you.
56:47We have the Evidence Bible
56:48that's commanded by
56:49Josh McDowell,
56:50Franklin Graham,
56:50D. James Kennedy,
56:51100 most commonly asked questions
56:53of the Christian faith
56:54and much more.
56:55We have the foundation course
56:57that many churches have got
56:58to train their people.
56:59And we have, of course,
57:00the School of Biblical Evangelism
57:02with over 4,000 students worldwide.
57:06And remember the point
57:07of this episode.
57:08When you step into the ring
57:09and reach out to the lost,
57:11things will sometimes
57:13seem to go wrong.
57:14But don't be discouraged.
57:15Don't jump out of the ring.
57:17Stay in the fight
57:18for lost souls.
57:20And remember,
57:21the battle belongs to the Lord.
57:24Now available at your local
57:31Christian bookstore
57:32is The Way of the Master book.
57:34Learn how to share your faith
57:36simply, effectively, biblically,
57:38the way Jesus did.
57:39Also, visit us online
57:41at wayofthemaster.com
57:43where you'll find
57:44free evangelism tools,
57:45free email newsletters,
57:47an online school,
57:48as well as books, CDs, DVDs,
57:50and much more.
57:51Again, that's wayofthemaster.com
57:54or call us toll free
57:55at 877-496-8688.
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