Romans 10:14 - SHARING JESUS!
Romans 10:14 (NLT) But how can they call on
him to save them unless they believe in him? And
how can they believe in him if they have never
heard about him? And how can they hear about him
unless someone tells them?
COMMENTARY PEARL
Here's a ?4U. Do you have any friends who
text more than they talk? Some studies say the
average teenager sends over eighty text messages a
day. That's more than 3,000 a month Texting seems
to be the way a lot of kids communicate - and
they're good at it. Thirteen-year-old Morgan Pozgar
won the first National Texting Championship in
2007. Since that time, teens have claimed every
title, including Wisconsin's Austin Wierschke who
notched back-to-back wins (and $100,000) in 2011 and
2012. Austin isn't just fast at texting - he's
also accurate. To win the title in 2012, he had
to text a line from "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little
Star" while blindfolded and also send a phrase
that was written backwards.
You probably text under less stressful
circumstances (and not in front of cameras and a live
audience). But accuracy is equally important in your
messages. You want to make sure the correct
information gets communicated. And when you hear the
familiar whistle of your cell phone alerting you
about an incoming text message, what do you
normally find? Most likely, it's a message from a
friend or family member. But sometimes you see a
spam message: "Your number was selected as our
iPad winner of the day! Enter 'IPad to
redeem." Some messages are more important than
others. What happens to the spam? Delete.
As followers of Christ, we're called to
tell others about Jesus. God wants us to be his
witnesses. Maybe you're afraid to spread the good news
about Jesus because you feel everybody has heard
it before and you don't want them to hit
delete. But you can't give up. The case for Christ
is solid and reliable. More people need to hear
about it.
The book of Romans asks a good question:
"How can they believe in the one of whom they
have not heard? And how can they hear without
someone preaching to them?" (Romans 10:14). As you
text your friends, make sure you're not ignoring
your faith. Tell them you're praying for them.
Text an encouraging Bible verse to somebody who's
down. We need to keep sending out Christ's message
of love. With some persistence and creativity,
the life-changing message of Jesus Christ will
catch someone's eye and help bring them into God's
family. Now that sounds 2G2BT (to good to be true),
but it is true. [Case For Christ For Kids by Les
Strobel]
INTRODUCTION
Of all the elements of a worship service,
the early believers in America held preaching to
be the most important. Those coming to worship
were encouraged to listen to the preacher, not
the man, but the words he spoke. Because the
words the preacher preached were the words of
life, the very words Jesus had shared with the
people of Israel, and later the same words the Holy
Spirit brought to mind to the disciples. And today,
when we attend worship, we too must remember that
the words being spoken in Bible
preaching/teaching churches, are Jesus' words. Begin to form a
new habit today of listening to your preacher
with awe, attention and expectancy. Awe because
these are Jesus' words; attention because this is
the message God has for us today; and expectancy
that this living message will accomplish its
purpose in the world, and in us. [In His Time; Walk
With Wisdom]
In telling others about Christ, an effective
witness must include more than being a good example.
Eventually, we will have to explain the content, the
what and the how of the gospel. Modeling the
Christian life is important, but we will need to
connect the mind of the unbeliever and the message
of the gospel. There should never be a debate
between those who favor lifestyle evangelism (one's
living proclaims the gospel) and confrontational
evangelism (declaring the message). Both should be used
together in promoting the gospel. [Life Application
SB]
Why did Israel stumble over Christ and
reject Him? Because they did not understand the
kind of righteousness God wanted or how to get
it. Like the Pharisees (and many people today),
they thought only of righteous works and could
not comprehend a righteousness that comes by
faith (v. 13; Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21).
The missionary heart of Paul comes out in
verses 14-17. Salvation is by faith, and faith
comes "by hearing ... the word of God" (v. 17).
But unbelieving sinners (including Israel)
cannot hear unless we tell them. God needs people
with beautiful feet (Isa. 52:7) to carry the
gospel to the lost.
Despite Paul's broken heart (v. 1) and
God's outstretched hands (v 21; Isa. 65:2), Israel
did not believe; but the Gentiles did believe
and God saved them! When you feel discouraged in
your witnessing, remember Paul; continue caring,
praying, and sharing the good news. Keep those feet
beautiful! [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by
Warren Wiersbe re Rom. 10]
COMMENTARY
A Story Worth Telling
I dont know about you, but Im a big
fan of hearing peoples stories. When I choose
books to read on vacation, theyre generally
biographies. Maybe thats because everyone likes to
hear a good story, especially a true story.
And when it comes to sharing your faith,
one of your most effective tools is your
personal testimony.
A testimony builds bridges. Its a way
to connect with others so they can see how you
came to be the person you are and why you believe
what you believe. Its also a way to help
people see how they can come to faith as well.
Another great thing about sharing your
testimony is that you can indirectly preach the gospel
to someone. For example, instead of just
walking up to a person and saying, Youre a
sinner. You need to repent. Christ died for you,
you can share your testimony.
You might say something like this, for
instance: You know, before I was a Christian, my
life was going nowhere. I had a sense of
emptiness, and I wondered what was wrong, what was
missing. Then one day I went to a church service and
heard the pastor say
Youre preaching the gospel while
youre telling your own story. And then you can
say, What do you think about that? Have you
ever heard that before? Have you ever considered
who Jesus is?
Everyone has a testimony, and every
testimony is valid. Of course, some testimonies are
more dramatic than others.
But when you really get down to it,
everyones testimony is essentially the same: I was
lost. I was separated from God and was guilty and
lonely and afraid to die. And I was on my way to
Hell. But Jesus Christ, in His grace, intervened
in my life and transformed me.
Thats your story, and its worth
telling. [Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com]
Just Deliver the Message
When I was a kid, I had a paper route. I
delivered the Daily Pilot on my Schwinn Sting-ray
bicycle. I became pretty adept at throwing those
papers. I knew how to clear a hedge and how to land
one on a porch.
My job wasnt to write the news or make
the news; my job was to deliver the news. I was
just a delivery boy.
Thats really what we are as
Christians. Were people delivering the message of the
gospel, the message God gave us. We dont have to
apologize for the gospel, and we dont need to add
to it, take away from it, or edit it in any
way. We need to simply deliver it in its raw,
explosive power.
The apostle Paul said, For I am not
ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power
of God to salvation for everyone who believes,
for the Jew first and also for the Greek
(Romans 1:16 NKJV).
In the original language, the word Paul
used for power speaks of explosive power. In
other words, theres explosive power in the
story of the birth, life, death, and resurrection
of Jesus Christ.
Ive seen it time and time again. The
story simply connects with people. Its Gods
story, and we need to just deliver it and let God
do what He wants to do.
When were doing Gods work, the
results are up to Him, not us. Yes, we should make
every effort to succeed. But the outcome is up to
God. And ultimately, God is not going to require
success from us; Hes going to require
faithfulness from us.
I dont have any power to convert
anyone. Neither do you. Our job is to deliver the
message as clearly as possible and then leave the
results up to Him. [Greg Laurie from Harvest
Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com]
The Missionary Question
At every missions conference hosted by my
church, I give God the same message I've been
repeating since my early 20s: "I'm available, Lord.
I'll go to foreign fields if you say so." Until
He tells me to pack my bags, I'm going to keep
on sending others to work among unbelievers in
distant and even remote lands.
Paul asked a series of rhetorical
questions in Romans 10 that can be summed up like
this: How will the world hear about Jesus if you
do nothing? God uses Christians to spread the
word that His salvation plan is available to all.
He put us in families and communities and
nations so we will mingle and share what we know.
But some believers are called to carry the
gospel farther than others. Those who stay behind
are to offer prayer and resources for those who
travel.
If you're shaking your head and thinking,
Mission work isn't where my heart is, I have news
for you: Every believer is called to missions as
either a goer or a sender. That call comes in
dramatic ways for some, but for most of us, it is
simply a biblical principle to be followed (Matt.
28:19). What's missing for those who don't have a
"heart" for such work is passion. Christians who
share and go and send are often excited about
God's message for unbelievers - and it's possible
for you to become more enthusiastic too.
I challenge you to ask the Lord, "Am I
open to going anywhere You send me?" Our roots in
a community should be sunk only as deep as God
wills. If you aren't called to go, then choose to
be a sender. Offer your prayers, your money,
and anything else that will help to put others
on the mission field. [In Touch Daily
Devotional by Charles Stanley at www.intouch.org]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY AND APPLICATION
The Great Commission:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2010/20100221-1353.html
The Great Commission [addendum]:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2011/20110215-1041.html
Sharing Jesus:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2017/20171001-1545.html
ABible.com: http://www.aBible.com
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.revelationnow.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
