Romans 1:16-17 “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. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
2 Corinthians 5:17-19 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”
Salvation is the Greatest Miracle
Of all the miracles to be had, if you have experienced the miracle of salvation and the new birth in Christ, there is no greater miracle to ever know! (Although there are more miracles to see and partake of!)
It is very important that we, as believers know how to truly lead someone to Jesus at any given time. We want to be instant in season, and out of season, and able to bring someone to a decision to become a BORN AGAIN follower of Christ.
It is concerning to know how many people “go to church” or flippantly say “I believe in God” but have never actually had a “BORN AGAIN” moment. A “Spiritual Translation” or, you could say, a “Conversion to Christ.” A monumental time that their lives changed. A time when “THE OLD ME DIED” and the “NEW ME IN CHRIST ROSE TO LIFE.”
Understandably, there are those in the church that were born again before they can remember, as a child, so there isn’t a definitive date for them. However, if you were not born again as a child, there should be a specific date and time that you became reconciled TO GOD!
You Must Be Born Again
In all our years of pastoring, we’ve seen numerous people come to the altar, that had attended church somewhere, sometimes for years, and had not been born again. They were never invited to the altar, and never even told that they MUST be born again, or repent of their sins.
However, Jesus Himself taught us this!
John 3:3-17 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
The word “BELIEVE” has become too watered down in our culture. Often times people equate “BELIEVING” to Santa Claus, or at Disney.. “Do you believe in magic?” So it has become more of a fantasy word, rather than known for the depth of what we are really doing when we “BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST” which means:
To become fully persuaded.
To place ALL our confidence in Him.
To COMMIT ourself to Him. (This isn’t “bibity bop pity boo” and you just watch all the magic happen. This is a true drawing of the heart and everything within you/ a compelling into the divine persuasion of Christ.)
To TRUST in Him.
This is a SUPERNATURAL WORK. Souls are are drawn by the Father, and divinely persuaded by Him. God compels by the power of the Gospel message, and calls people to respond by repenting, believing and committing to Him.
Eternity -There is a Heaven to Gain and a Hell to Shun
Eternity is real, and every day souls are crossing over. There is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun. Let us live with a greater awareness of this truth! The call from Heaven to be born again is crucial!! As believers, we must never lose sight of eternity and the responsibility we carry to lead others to Jesus with boldness, anointing, and compassion. Be prayerful, and diligent in your faith. Let your life be a witness! Let your mouth be overflowing with gospel of power, and your heart burning with the urgency of Heaven.
Who can you think of right now that needs salvation? Let’s pray for them to become BORN AGAIN.
“Father we pray for __________ in the Mighty Name of Jesus. We pray that their heart is softened and drawn by Your Holy Spirit. Reveal eternity to them. Show them Your love! Show them Your glory, Your goodness, and Your severity! Bring laborers across their path to lead them to repentance and faith in Christ. We declare right now, that ___________’s name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Amen."
Repentance, Conversion and Times of Refreshing
We come to salvation through faith and through repentance. Do you remember the burden that lifted off you when you repented of your sins and laid them at the altar of the cross? God remembers them no more!
Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore and be converted, so that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."
1. REPENT- A change of mind and heart. TURN AROUND. TURN TO GOD.
2. BE CONVERTED- Receive the miracle of salvation and become made new.
3. RECEIVE TIMES OF REFRESHING- REVIVAL From the presence of GOD!!
May we see a mighty revival of repentance, conversion and refreshing upon the earth! Lord, use us for Your miraculous work!
Do not be Ashamed of the Gospel
As a true believer in Jesus, you will never be put to shame. Make up your mind continually that you will not live in shame, or embarrassment, or be faithless in regards to the power of the Gospel.
Romans 10:8-10 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
2 Corinthias 5:20-21 “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
The Word reconcile means: TO MAKE AN EXCHANGE SO THAT THERE IS RESTORATION INTO HARMONY.
You are called to be an ambassador for this great restoration into harmony. You are in the army of God. The army of Heaven. The army of love, power and a sound mind. The army of righteousness, compassion and mercy.
People are desperate. They are broken and need to know they can come close to God. Don’t hold back! Even if they seem to push you away, the gospel carries mighty power and the words will penetrate into their hearts to produce reconciliation. You’ve got “THE GOODS” and with an overflowing heart of love and compassion, you CAN lead souls to Christ!
Equipped as an Ambassador of Christ
It is important that we are equipped and ready for divine moments, to lead those who are being drawn by the Father. We’ve all been given the ministry of reconciliation. As good stewards of His divine grace, let’s walk as the ambassadors He has made us to be!
BE CONTINUALLY FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. This is a huge key. Because unction and utterance will come from that fountain. Flesh is born of Flesh, Spirit is born of Spirit. This is a spiritual translation. And the more we yield to the Holy Spirit in prayer, in worship, in our lives… the easier, and the more normal it becomes, reconciling people to Christ is born out of who we are, not something “we do” for a religious duty.
HAVE THE WORD HIDDEN IN YOUR HEART. Memorize the salvation scriptures… And know that ANY WORD from God will bring salvation.. the Word of God was made for the heart of man, and the heart of man was made for the Word of God.
MAKE UP YOUR MIND THAT YOU’RE NOT ASHAMED OF THE POWER OF GOD. When it’s time to speak, your going to know that HIS POWER will back your FAITH and your WORDS.
BE SENSITIVE TO DIVINE APPOINTMENTS. The Father Draws People. And He uses HIS PEOPLE to minister HIS Word. Being sensitive means that your “aware of the moment.” THESE ARE VERY HOLY MOMENTS. You’re being used to help bring forth new life into the Kingdom of God.
LEAD THEM IN THE PRAYER OF SALVATION. Don’t fall short of actually leading people to repentance and confession. Pro-actively lead them in the sinners prayer!!
STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME TO CHURCH AND GET INTO DISCIPLESHIP. Once they are saved, let us do our very best to help disciple them in their walk with the Lord.
At the RiverNW, we like to use the Gospel Soul-winning Script when leading people to Christ. This is a simple approach, that is easy to memorize and brings people to a place of decision and confession to follow Jesus. For a copy of the soul winning script, click the link below.
https://www.revival.com/revapp/downloads/english_script_oversized.pdf
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Have you been born again? To receive the free gift of salvation in Jesus Christ, click the link below.
https://rivernorthwest.org/receive-salvation
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Mark 16:15 “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”