Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Ah my Friends, how many of us can boldly go out into the streets, and on to the mountain tops and proclaim that ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ?’ Not as many as there should be, because a lot of us are really closet Christians. For whatever reason, we become timid and fearful when it’s time to openly demonstrate our faith. But that was never a problem with Bruh Paul, for he truly believed, and transferred that belief to his efforts in expounding God’s Word to others. Maybe it was the dramatic way the Lord confronted him, but he sure got a burr under his saddle after his conversion, though he was zealous when he persecuted the faithful. ‘For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness: and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.’ (Rom.10:11-12) Note Friends, you believe with your heart, but it’s your mouth that confesses, that brings it out in the open. Remember Jesus said: ‘Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.’ (Mat.10:32-33) So Friends, it’s not good enough just to believe the gospel, we have to speak it too, speak it with faith and authority; ‘for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.’ Yes people, that’s where all believers get their power; from the gospel, the Word of God. It’s our compendium of rules and directives for righteous living on this sinful earth, and followed steadfastly and faithfully, will eventually lead us to salvation, eternal life with Christ. Oh Friends, how as believers then, can we not be proud, excited and enthusiastic to share the Word, that our lives are built on eh? If we’re ashamed, or only luke warm about it, then we’re living fraudulent, hypocritical lives. We can’t be ashamed or luke warm about such a magnificent undertaking as the Gospel! Remember Friends, that ‘Hope maketh not ashamed; because the LOVE of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us.’ (Rom.5:5) So if we have Hope in something, how can we be ashamed of it, or not be very enthusiastic about it, cause that’s what Hope is all about; trust, patience and eager expectation. Even before Bruh Paul, Bruh David had that enthusiasm, that LOVE and energy that the gospel instills in sincere believers. ‘I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy loving-kindness and thy truth from the great congregation.’ (Ps.40:9-10) Yuh see what I’m talking about Friends; Bruh David didn’t keep his faith hidden in his heart, like some of us seem to do, he shared it, far and wide, to all and sundry. ‘With my lips have I declared all the judgements of thy mouth.’ (Ps.119:13) We need to do likewise Friends; declare God’s righteousness, His LOVE, mercy and faithfulness found in His Word to all, so that they too can enjoy the wonderful benefits, the joy and promise of eternal life. ‘For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God.’ (1 Cor.1:18) Yes people, that’s where our new life, now and in the future, derives from; the cross of Jesus, where He shed His Holy blood to pay for our sins. How then can we not be grateful, excited and enthusiastic over such a magnanimous, unselfish act, that so greatly benefits us eh? And the exciting thing Friends, is that it’s not just for the Jews, but for the whole of mankind. Jesus’ death on the cross opened up a whole new spectrum of salvation to all God’s earthly children, so that anyone who believed might have eternal life. Oh Friends, this is the foundation of our faith! We can’t hide it. We must be proud, full of enthusiasm, and go out and disseminate it amongst the entire world! We’ve got to let them know that there’s something much better and longer lasting than the enemy’s brass offerings; the gospel of gold; the Word of God! That’s our purpose on earth. Much LOVE!…don’t hide your light under a bushel…share the good news of the gospel…with the world…
Ah my Friends, how many of us can boldly go out into the streets, and on to the mountain tops and proclaim that ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ?’ Not as many as there should be, because a lot of us are really closet Christians. For whatever reason, we become timid and fearful when it’s time to openly demonstrate our faith. But that was never a problem with Bruh Paul, for he truly believed, and transferred that belief to his efforts in expounding God’s Word to others. Maybe it was the dramatic way the Lord confronted him, but he sure got a burr under his saddle after his conversion, though he was zealous when he persecuted the faithful. ‘For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness: and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.’ (Rom.10:11-12) Note Friends, you believe with your heart, but it’s your mouth that confesses, that brings it out in the open. Remember Jesus said: ‘Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.’ (Mat.10:32-33) So Friends, it’s not good enough just to believe the gospel, we have to speak it too, speak it with faith and authority; ‘for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.’ Yes people, that’s where all believers get their power; from the gospel, the Word of God. It’s our compendium of rules and directives for righteous living on this sinful earth, and followed steadfastly and faithfully, will eventually lead us to salvation, eternal life with Christ. Oh Friends, how as believers then, can we not be proud, excited and enthusiastic to share the Word, that our lives are built on eh? If we’re ashamed, or only luke warm about it, then we’re living fraudulent, hypocritical lives. We can’t be ashamed or luke warm about such a magnificent undertaking as the Gospel! Remember Friends, that ‘Hope maketh not ashamed; because the LOVE of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us.’ (Rom.5:5) So if we have Hope in something, how can we be ashamed of it, or not be very enthusiastic about it, cause that’s what Hope is all about; trust, patience and eager expectation. Even before Bruh Paul, Bruh David had that enthusiasm, that LOVE and energy that the gospel instills in sincere believers. ‘I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy loving-kindness and thy truth from the great congregation.’ (Ps.40:9-10) Yuh see what I’m talking about Friends; Bruh David didn’t keep his faith hidden in his heart, like some of us seem to do, he shared it, far and wide, to all and sundry. ‘With my lips have I declared all the judgements of thy mouth.’ (Ps.119:13) We need to do likewise Friends; declare God’s righteousness, His LOVE, mercy and faithfulness found in His Word to all, so that they too can enjoy the wonderful benefits, the joy and promise of eternal life. ‘For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God.’ (1 Cor.1:18) Yes people, that’s where our new life, now and in the future, derives from; the cross of Jesus, where He shed His Holy blood to pay for our sins. How then can we not be grateful, excited and enthusiastic over such a magnanimous, unselfish act, that so greatly benefits us eh? And the exciting thing Friends, is that it’s not just for the Jews, but for the whole of mankind. Jesus’ death on the cross opened up a whole new spectrum of salvation to all God’s earthly children, so that anyone who believed might have eternal life. Oh Friends, this is the foundation of our faith! We can’t hide it. We must be proud, full of enthusiasm, and go out and disseminate it amongst the entire world! We’ve got to let them know that there’s something much better and longer lasting than the enemy’s brass offerings; the gospel of gold; the Word of God! That’s our purpose on earth. Much LOVE!…don’t hide your light under a bushel…share the good news of the gospel…with the world…
SCRIP-BITS 