R1328 When Sharing Christ Is Worth It

God has an encouraging word for you and me today. The Bible-based teaching of Dr. Don Wilton of this edition of The Encouraging Word today Dr. Wilton asked a very powerful question about sharing Christ worth it actually will be illustrating that asking something that perhaps you ask yourself, is it worth our risk today.

In this culture more than ever to share our faith. The reward is as great as it's always been. It's the difference between life and death. Wonderful resources will help you share your faith on our website if you haven't been violently drop IT EW online.org Forster love wonders series on 31 days of prayer for our wives and husbands are so much more there as well.

Be sure and sign up for daily email from Dr. Don just by clicking devotion@dewonline.org now Dr. Don Wilton it off lost myself a Christian not know that you probably do the same thing is worth it.

What we do with and I think that all of us would would on so that say it is it's it's worth, you know we've been talking for many months about going about serving about giving his worth is worth is worth what what we do for Christ is with you know well I'm just asking the ridiculous redundant? Time is it worth it. It is in the when I look at our wound today then you think about what's going on this week. You know I kept asking myself the question, how can we put all of this into the context of what God has to say. What is the Lord have to say to us so God directed me to a passage of Scripture and Murray is going to listen. The rest of you, you can turn in your Bible so whatever means you've got today. You'll your phone's annual black berries in your stroll breeze in your raw's reason. Everything else that goes in between and that but I want you to turn the acts chapter 18 and then listen real quick to something that God has put in my heart. This is a this is a message for all of us and I know that you are listening today and because your listening. I want to invite you to give your life to Christ. This is God's Encouraging Word just for you. You can be a part of what God is doing in the lives of many, many people and it's all centered around this question all the statement when sharing Christ is worth it. It's worth it for me to stand here today and do speak to you.

I can tell you that not only because I love you and because I respect you, but because I know that what Christ has done for me that he will do the same thing for you down the book of acts God directed my attention to a man by the name of the Hollis I just that's kind of got a ring to it, and I've seen mirror image the students and in our boys and girls and those going to Kentucky and college students.

I see Hollis in all of them.

I see a policy in our congregation today. Listen to apartments I want to just read to you a few verses and say a few things about this so we can ask chapter 18 in verse 24, not a Jew named Paula's acts chapter 18 verse 24. There was a Jew. His name was a policy was a native of Alexandria, which is right on the Mediterranean Sea in what we today know is Egypt. If any of you been on a cruise to that part of the world in years gone by. You probably wouldn't want to do today, but that you might've coming to the port of Alexandria and this man lift Alexandria even though he was a native. Then he went up into Ephesus and he was an eloquent man in the Bible since he was competent in the word of God going to talk about that he had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he was very different in spirit.

I love that when I would being fervent in spirit. I thought about church.

I thought of the students here today. I'm going to talk about that in just a moment, this issue being in spirit and amen explained that you know to put it into modern-day terminology, it means there's a fire that is inside of you, for the Lord Jesus that we got a fire inside of us concerning a lot of things. I hang around you, but there's a fire for a lot of things is a real fire for good food yet.

I will part of that is a real fire for having a good time is a fire for traveling is a fire going. The beach is a fire for enjoying life. But when you put in your heart concerning the things of Jesus Christ that very unique. It's very special.

Bible says he was fervent in spirit, and heat. As a result of that he spoke and he talked accurately concerning Jesus Christ. Even though full policy was a mob in Sion. He really understood the baptism of John. In other words he was trying to connect. But God by his spirit was giving to him the ability to be able to really understand the real meaning of what it means to know the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 26 I began to speak boldly in the synagogue and when Priscilla heard them. They took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately so Steve Skinner got all the young people all fired up and they were all ready to go and for weeks on and he and Britt Dillard and Jim Hembree and Teresa and the team got together and they rehearsed and they practiced and they began to take hold of that spirit see and put meat on the bone. That's what the church does anything is anything that I want to say to you, amongst many other things. I don't really want to thank you for going to prison and to to giving up your time and your holidays and vacations and things like that but I want to thank you for what you did to prepare in order to go. These young people didn't just go folks they gave up countless days and hours getting ready and putting meat on the bone taking see updates spirit and giving it substance. You know how what it takes to get everything in sync. I want everybody to listen here carefully.

This is a challenge to you Paula's was a man who was fervent in spirit. He was eloquent he was prepared he understood the Scripture.

He had many's heart have been Priscilla and Aquila and the church got around him and they went to work with him and he submitted himself to time and the preparation they put meat on the bone and I began to do it in the sink and the timing became perfect in all of the sudden the picture of Christ that was given was complete and beautiful to watch an incredible to take hold of.

I'm telling you guys, ladies and gentlemen, if you were with us in prisons. What they do is a class act. They remunerate image of the perfectness of Christ, not in terms of the movement, but because of the fullness of the spirit of the living God, and it didn't stop there because the Bible says that in verse 27 as result of this member.

He's now an emphasis upon us decides he wants to hop ownership and go across the Aegean Sea to the province of Acadia and the Bible says that they all encourage demon wrote to the disciples to welcome him. So when he arrived on the other side of the sea amongst all those people, many of whom were in prison greatly help those who through grace and believe, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was indeed the Christ wasn't really worth it is sharing Christ really worth it.

Are you worth it away with it. Is this worth it is worth it church for us to go with it for us to serve you giving so magnificently you fulfilling your obligations, your tithing is a congregation you meeting your pages for the special drive to take care of this place you're sending young people after providing for our boys and girls supporting vacation Bible school, we got mission teams going all over the world. Is it worth the church is it really worth it in this manner.

Paulus was an amazing person Bible tells us a lot of good things about them that he was eloquent in the Scriptures. Bible says that he was capable of.

The Bible says that he wanted to know that he had a fervent spirit building up inside of me. A fire burning in the meat didn't quite know how to win. While all what was but he just knew that Jesus was real and so this man. He was born in Alexandria, which by the way, was a cross cultural community understood the winds of change went and left and went to Ephesus when he got to emphasis the church got around him and said we got a do everything we can take the five and see if your spirit and sent you where God wants you to go and he hopped on board a ship and he went across the Aegean Sea and he arrived in the province of Acadia and listen. Listen to what the Bible says the first thing that happened was that the believers were greatly encouraged by the way, just wanted to say this to you. Did you notice how many times and how many prisons yet we look at we cite Matt look at all those inmates giving their hearts and lives to Jesus.

But did you notice how encouraged the Christians in those prisons were did you notice that guys do. Now many believers. They are in our prison systems. You know how discouraged they get if we had any reason to go there and do what we do, that would be enough for me that would make it worth the drive.

Had the privilege to speak to someone just recently and I were pretty down and off progress through speaking to them. They said she will. Thanks so much for talking to me and spending so much time for me at because I feel certain chaos and are you feeling encouraged by senior*minutes with please forgive the interruption will be back with the rest of today's message when sharing Christ is worth it with Dr. Don Wilton in just a moment Dr. Don Wilton since we take this break to let you know we're here for you.

Would love to connect with you anytime day or night at 866899 word that's 866-899-9673 at we are here to encourage you.

We believe firmly that God would want us to build a play with you and for you anytime. Dr. Don says we all need to a.m. friends and one of the ways we can be there for you to a.m. is to take that call at 86689 were as 866-899-WORD 9673. We also believe that the local churches where we ultimately build the best to a.m. friends if you don't have a local church where one of the team members. Both Michelle and Jim that specialize in helping you connect with local church, one near you. We have some affiliation.

So call us at 866-899-9673 love prayerfully, and intentionally help you find a church to plug into pellets plug back in today's great teaching when sharing Christ is worth Dr. Don Wilton I don't know how many people of encouraged me out of the whole congregation. You always encouraging me always lifting me up and always encouraging me to tell you go into these prisons. Folks in places that you can't imagine you not read about it. Read about two main killers who escaped from a prison in upstate New York. It's on the front page of every newspaper in the headline in every news cost. We we think about it and we look about it. We read about it. We understand that we look upon some of these faces with perplexed by the main groups like the students go with the fervency of the spirit and I arrived there and if nothing else happens it's worth it because believers chaplains, police officers, family members, nurses and doctors, medical technicians, people who work in these prison systems many of whom are incredible believers and BIOS so discouraged and there's a group of people who believe it's worth it to go out across America in believers. Believers in America today are suffering from great discouragement, but is it worth it. Sharing Christ is with the it's worth it because people are all trying to look for all the same kind of things folks say this from one person to another. Scott did the same thing this week talking about encouraging people wise Christ with the Christ is worth it because forgiveness is attainable. Forgiveness is attainable. You can be forgiven all your sin, you can beside a man all about Simpson.

The old proverbial if I was to all school. Those who are sinners who are worshiping with us today, not only in our two venues worshiping with us here in downtown Spartanburg but the thousands upon thousands worshiping with us through The Encouraging Word television ministry. If I was to ask you right now to identify yourself as a soda surely re-single one of us would stand up inside him by God not sitting in the side right God that I need to people I want to tell you why sharing Christ is worth because forgiveness is attainable. That's why Jesus died on the cross.

That's why went to the cross body needs forgiveness attainable, but change is manageable. Just think about that you think about all those places that you got HTML months. I'll guarantee you right now you thinking of someone looking at someone's face between here in New York City and back sometime you for weeks if not months.

Those faces will not leave you in autumn sign like you have this print in your mind. Pray for them every time you see that face pray for that person you know so many people will say you know I want to give my life to Christ and confess my sin. I II want to be changed and we believe that Christ is worth it.

In sharing Christ is worth the wish because we know that change is manageable. That's what the Spirit does the spirit of God enables us to maintain and manage meaningful change in Christ.

I am different. Not because of myself, but because of Christ in me some who are worshiping today you assigned to me but pasta water.

What can I do. I'm so tired am tired of the same thing I'm tired of going back to the trough. I'm tired of boys falling back. I'm tired of tripping. I'm tired of the sin, I'm tired of being angry. I'm tired of being lonely and I turned my life over to Christ.

I want to be different. Change is manageable.

That's what God by his Spirit does. But you know it goes even further than that.

We believe that sharing Christ is with it because hope is eternal where in the world today. My precious friends that people are saying everywhere, ways real, meaningful, hoping this will you know we attach hope to the here and now we say well you know I got something to look forward to hope tomorrow Christ is worth it because the hope that we having him is the same yesterday today and forever, and when you give your life to Christ. It's not only what he does for you for me today and tomorrow and next week and next month but forever he takes away the sting. Even a day. Have you ever thought about dying. If you haven't, you will and you get diagnosed with something you really start thinking about. I spoke to a friend just three weeks ago, the daughter very, very bad report from Dr. and he said those exact words to me said pasta Rob never thought about dying, but I can't get issue a bit out of my mind. And that's the thing about knowing Christ hope is eternal.

It's forever and this life is like a vapor every one of us listening today we are going to die and what an incredible message that we could know Christ forgiveness is attainable and changes manageable and hope is eternal because joy is sustainable. You know when I look at these inmates in these prisons you know when you get through in these prisons. It's it's always to me. One of the most it's one of the hardest times for me personally I don't how you guys feel but you know when week song and we get up and we share the word of God and all these people might decisions for Christ and then maybe the warden will one of the officials come up and say a few words and then we tell them will not forget forget you, and then we all have to stay where we are because they voted to start dismissing people bother cellblocks so we want to just stand there and wait. I got a clear everybody out seen them back into some little hole where they stay some little tiny room some little place surrounded by concrete and and that's one of those times that just gets all over me because we've painted into the so you can see they came in their God began speaking to say something, and many of them encountered a holy and a righteous God, and then it's time to go and I could just see the lines of them as they begin to walk out and you know how many of them turn around and they waving say thank you thank you thank you and like they trying to say something to you might walk out and then suddenly you see them with all the guards and I begin to walk out many of them with their hands behind their back. Whatever the circumstance I might begin to parade out like go through that door on that door closes, and they disappear back into the nothingness and I love the fact that in Christ the joy that we have in Christ is sustainable perhaps one of my favorite statements is you know when the Lord Jesus comes into your heart. He set you free with your on the inside will be outside you gone through divorce.

I'm so sorry Christ set you free circumstance in your mind, so sorry section 3C when sharing Christ with it's just with its been a powerful day setting the book of acts.

Acts 18 sharing Christ perhaps is… Is teaching many of you have listened and realize that you're not only being challenged your faith. Perhaps you are being challenged because others have been sharing their faith with you, and you have yet to commit to Jesus Christ or perhaps you have committed to Christ in the past, but you realize that you have not only drifted from God or perhaps even turn your back on God.

I guarantee that Scripture assures us, not mere Dr. Wilton but Scripture assures us that nothing can snatch you out of his hand and that he is using even this broadcast to let you know that he loves you and has a plan.

Pray that you've heard Dr. Don is been teaching and preaching that you would open your heart to what he wants to share next are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm so happy to hear that wanted to pray this prayer with me today and gone on love very very and I know that the Lord Jesus Christ came God on the cross so that I might be forgiven today.

I repent of my I confess my sin.

And I invite you to come and Jesus name I pray. If you pray that prayer, let me be the first one welcome to the family.

This is one I hope that you know how much I'm going to be crying very pieces Corliss says we can hope to connect you, you can begin this wonderful journey. And in just a moment I'm in a come back with the final given your life to Jesus Christ. Perhaps moments ago praying along with Dr. Wilton.

Perhaps today's the day we dedicate your life to Jesus and you coming back home faith. Welcome home and let us welcome you with some information, and more importantly, let us pray for you. Here's how we can connect. You can call us right now. 866899. Share your decision. Jesus 866899967. Perhaps the first time, dedication say yes to Jesus Christ for the first time, or perhaps rededication pray with you and for you and Dr. Dunn want to have these free resources as you call 866899673 rather connect via keyboard online online.org TE double online.

Our pastor Dr. Don Wilton love stories God stirs your heart and there's been a decision that perhaps was influenced by The Encouraging Word. Want to write to Dr. Don's email is dondom@twonline.org that's DOM at tewonline.org he would love to hear from you to pray for you and make sure that we get you all the resources before get away.

There's a wonderful new resource available on our website@tedoubleonline.org hear all the details easy to celebrate Valentine's Day by buying candy and flowers last time you actually spouse join Dr. Wilton as he unpacks a powerful message on the forgiving family. You will receive 31 days of prayer books for my husband and wife.

This offer sent you learn how to support each other through prayer and how important forgiveness place in the family not only our marriage is under attack. Family is also hundred support your spouse through prayer and see what God does in both of your lives.

Commit to praying 31 days for your spouse commit to praying 31 days for your spouse. Let God change your spouse.

Let God change your family. Call us today at 866-899-WORD. Request the February offer for your gift of $25 or more percent. Thank you for your support of The Encouraging Word is one of many resources available on our website@tedoubleonline.org TE double online.org while you're there insurance on Dr. Don Wilton wonderful encouragement. Application of God's word and an inspiration for sure. Give us a call anytime for prayer at 866-899-9673