Power of the Gospel

For something to work - it needs power. If you go to the light switch and there is no power - the light will not come on, if you unplug a lamp, there is no connection to the source of power and therefor - no power. POWER is necessary for things to work, to produce, to fulfill its purpose. We have such a great power that we often times over look. It has the power to change your life, to restore your life, to heal your life, to cure the sin sickness that we all deal with, it has the power to give you eternal life in the very presence of Almighty God - it has the power to pick you up from where you are and put you on higher ground…IT IS THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST - and in this GOOD NEWS there is GREAT POWER.

Romans 1:14–17 NKJV

14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. 16 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. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

1. There is a DESIRE: vs 14-15

BARBARIANS - PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT TRAINED IN GREEK LANGUAGE OR CULTURE - THEY WERE CONSIDERED TO BE A LOWER CLASS OF PEOPLE (PAUL IS SAYING - IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT OTHERS THINK ABOUT YOU - CHRIST DIED FOR YOU, AND THEREFORE YOU ARE WORTH MORE THAN THE OPINION OF PEOPLE)

WHEN WE REALIZE THE POWER - WE EXERCISE THE DESIRE.

THIS POWER CHANGES LIVES

HEALS MARRIAGES

FREES THE SLAVE FROM SIN

DELIVERS FROM SICKNESS

GIVES EVERLASTING LIFE

1 John 2:17 NKJV

17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

1 John 5:13 NKJV

13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

PAUL CAN HARDLY CONTAIN HIMSELF - HE WANTS TO GET TO ROME AND PREACH THE GOSPEL - WITH EVERYTHING THAT IS IN HIM - THIS IS HIS DESIRE.

HE SAYS - I OWE IT TO ALL PEOPLE, TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS WITH THEM - THOSE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. THE RICH, THE POOR, THE HIGHLY EDUCATED AND THE UNEDUCATED.

IT WAS A BURNING DESIRE - HE COULD NOT CONTAIN IT.

WHAT IS YOUR DESIRE LEVEL? WE MUST COME BACK TO A FRESH ENCOUNTER WITH ALMIGHTY GOD AND REGAIN OUR PASSION, AND OUR DESIRE TO TELL THE GOOD NEWS, AND LIVE THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL.

WE MUST REALIZE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WITHOUT CHRIST THAT WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH EVERY DAY - AND THEY ARE ON A SINKING SHIP - BOUND FOR ETERNITY WITH CHRIST - AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE GOSPEL TO TELL THEM/WARN THEM.

EACH ONE / REACH ONE - IS NOT THE NAME OF THE GAME. SOME PEOPLE REACHED ONE 10 YEARS AGO, AND THINK THEY ARE DONE, THEY SERVED ONCE AND THINK THEY ARE DONE, THEY PRAYED AT THE ALTAR ONCE, AND THINK THEY ARE DONE. THAT IS NOT DESIRE.

IF WE GET OUR HEARTS RIGHT - WE WILL HAVE OUR DESIRE RIGHT - AND THE REST WILL FOLLOW.

2. THE STAND : VS 16

Romans 1:16 NKJV

16 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.

WHEN YOU GROW UP IN CHURCH LIKE I DID - THERE WAS PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE YOUR PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS ASHAMED OF SOMETHING YOU SAID, OR SOMETHING YOU DID. I CANNOT MAKE THESE STORIES UP - THEY ARE RIGHT OUT OF MY LIFE. THERE WAS A CERTAIN COMFORT GROWING UP IN CHURCH, MY MOM THE ORGANIST, AND BEING THERE LATE FOR REHEARSALS AND SO FORTH (I KNEW EVERYBODY…AND THEY KNEW ME) ONE SUNDAY MORNING AS MY MOM SAT PLAYING THE OFFERTORY AND USHERS WERE PASSING THE PLATE - I WAS GETTING EXCITED, I WAS GETTING READY TO GIVE MY $5 AND AS THE PLATE APPROACHED I GOT EVEN MORE EXCITED - I HAD WAITED ALL WEEK TO GIVE MY MONEY LIKE A BIG BOY (CASH MONEY) WELL, AS IT TURNS OUT THE COUPLE BESIDE ME DROPPED THEIR CHECK IN TO THE PLATE AND I KNEW THAT WASN’T RIGHT - ALL THEY GAVE WAS A PIECE OF PAPER WITH A NAME SCRIBBLED ON IT. IF I HAD TO GIVE MY ENTIRE $5 THERE WAS NO WAY THESE 2 WERE GONNA GET AWAY WITH ONLY PUTTING A SLIP OF PAPER IN THE PLATE. I PUT MY $5 IN THE PLATE AND WATCHED AS THE USHERS MADE THEIR WAY TO THE FRONT - BUT IT JUST DIDN’T SIT RIGHT WITH 6YO ME! AS THEY PUT THE PLATES AT THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH - I LEAP TO MY FEET AND RAN DOWN THE ILSE - I SHOUTED TO MY MOM ON THE STAGE, IF THEY ONLY HAVE TO GIVE A PIECE OF PAPER - THEN I WANT MY MONEY BACK, I’LL WRITE GOD A NOTE LIKE THEY DID (POINTING AT THE PEOPLE I HAD BEEN SITTING BY) - NEEDLESS TO SAY MY MOTHER WAS EMBARRASSED AND ASHAMED OF MY BEHAVIOR. AS QUICK AS CHURCH WAS OVER, SHE GRABBED ME UP AND LEFT WITHOUT ANY WORD TO ANYONE - AND WHEN I GOT HOME…THE ONLY THING I WAS ABLE TO DO WAS ‘STAND”

SOME OF US ARE ASHAMED OF GOD - THE GOSPEL

WE ARE AFRAID IT WILL OFFEND SOMEONE - IT DOES!

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT JESUS SAVES - NOT THAT HE TOLERATES SIN. AND SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY WE BECAME ASHAMED TO PROCLAIM THIS AS THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

PAUL SAYS “MY GREAT DESIRE COMES FROM THE FACT THAT I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL”

I WILL TAKE A STAND - FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST AND THE GOSPEL.

I AM NOT ASHAMED - I AM PROUD TO BE A CHILD OF GOD.

AND WHEN YOU REALIZE THE POTENTIAL AND POWER OF THE GOSPEL AND SEE THE RESULTS OF THE GOSPEL - YOU BECOME BOLD.

YOU WILL TAKE A STAND - AND NOT BE ASHAMED.

3. THERE IS POWER AND SALVATION

Romans 1:16 NKJV

16 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.

IT IS THE POWER OF GOD TO SALVATION (FOR EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES) - THE GOSPEL.

WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

Romans 10:9–10 NKJV

9 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. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

THIS IS WHERE WE AS BELIEVERS IN CHRIST DRAW OUR STRENGTH - THAT WE HAVE BELIEVED IN OUR HEARTS AND CONFESSED WITH OUT MOUTH.

SOME HAVE BELIEVED IN THEIR HEART - BUT ARE YET TO CONFESS WITH THEIR MOUTHS. - TELL SOMEONE, SHARE WITH SOMEONE YOUR SALVATION IS REAL.

THERE IS SUCH GREAT POWER IN THE GOSPEL BECAUSE IT IN ITSELF IS THE OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD - THE UNLIMITED POWER OF GOD.

ONLY GOD’S POWER IS ABLE TO OVERCOME OUR SINFUL NATURE AND GIVE US NEW LIFE. UNLESS YOU BELIEVE IN CHRIST, AND TRUST HIM AS YOUR SAVIOR - YOU ARE A DEAD MAN WALKING.

BUT WITH CHRIST - NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS: YOU LIVE.

SALVATION:

THIS WORD MEANS RESCUE / TO DELIVER FROM.

Psalm 62:2 NKJV

2 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL DELIVERS PEOPLE FROM LOSTNESS

IT RESCUES US FROM

THE THE WRATH OF GOD

THE PENALTY OF SIN

FROM EVIL SELF INDULGENCE

FROM SEPARATION FROM GOD

SALVATION DELIVERS US FROM THE PLACE OF ETERNAL PUNISHMENT - CALLED HELL - SET ASIDE FOR THOSE THAT REJECT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

BECAUSE THERE IS GREAT POWER - POWER FOR SALVATION - YOU HAVE NO REASON TO BE ASHAMED. YOU HAVE NO REASON TO BE QUITE.

THE “WAIT AND SEE” GROUP - I’LL WAIT AND SEE IF THIS WORKS BEFORE I GET INVOLVED, I WAIT AND SEE IF ITS SUCESSFUL, I’LL WAIT AND SEE IF OTHERS DO IT -

THIS IS THE SAME GROUP THAT WILL MISS OUT ON THE BLESSINGS OF GOD - BECAUSE YOU ARE WAITING TO SEE.

YOU WANT TO END:

SCHOOL SHOOTING - ITS THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL

DIVORCE - ITS THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL

HUNGER - ITS THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL

POLITICAL ISSUES - ITS THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL

THE HURT IN YOUR LIFE - ITS THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL

HOW CAN I SAY THAT - BECAUSE IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THE GOSPEL - THEN WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS, WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT LIVING THE GOSPEL NOT JUST HOLDING A BIBLE IN OUR HANDS, SINGING A FEW SONGS, SHAKING A FEW HANDS, AND LEAVING THE CHURCH BUILDING.

SPIRITUAL MATURITY IS NOT ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU KNOW - ITS ABOUT THE WAY YOU LIVE. WE ARE LIVING EXAMPLES OF THE GOSPEL.

THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IS THE POWER OF GOD.

4. THERE IS A CHANGE

Romans 1:17 NKJV

17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

BECAUSE GOD IS HOLY - AND MUST JUDGE SIN - HE MADE A WAY

BECAUSE WE ARE HIS CREATION - HE WANTED TO RECONCIL US TO HIM AND GIVE US A WAY TO BE WITH HIM AGAIN.

WE ARE SINFUL - AND NEED A SAVIOR.

On the balcony of space, stepped a pure and holy God. and an awesome in solitude, He stood alone not one faint star to give Him light just endless rolling, blackest night but somehow through all the darkness, He could see He saw mountains high and lofty He saw valleys lush and green He saw babbling brooks, wildflowers grow even heard a robin sing but He felt a strange compassion, as close to love as pain can be standing out there in His tomorrows He saw me. Chorus He saw me, in His likeness, He saw me, just like Him. Pure, clean, and holy, spotless white, within, but He saw me bound in heavy chains, and longed to set me free. But He knew if I became like Him He must become like me. Chorus 2. Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

Chorus He saw me, in His likeness, He saw me, just like Him. Pure, clean, and holy, spotless white, within, but He saw me bound in heavy chains, and longed to set me free. But He knew if I became like Him He must become like me. Chorus 2. Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

2 Corinthians 5 NKJV

1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. 12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 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. 20 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. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Chorus 2. Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL CHANGES US - WE ARE MADE NEW

THROUGH CHRIST WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD

BY FAITH AND FAITH ALONE - NOT WORKS.

Ephesians 2:8 NKJV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

AMAZING GRACE HOW SWEET THE SOUND THAT SAVED A WRETCH LIKE ME - I ONCE WAS LOST BUT NOW AM FOUND WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE. (CAN YOU SEE? ARE YOU FOUND?)

5. THERE IS A GREAT FAITH

Romans 1:17 NKJV

17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN GODS PLAN TO JUSTIFY SINNERS THROUGH GRACE AND BY FAITH. TO REDEEM US.

IT TAKES CHRIST’S SALVATION TO BE DECLARED RIGHTEOUS BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD. - BY FAITH/GRACE ALONE

IT TAKES SALVATION TO RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

IN SALVATION - THE RIGHTEOUNESS OF GOD IS REVEALED. OR SHOWN TO US.

THAT HE IS GREAT AND WE ARE SMALL - SOME HAVE IT BACKWARDS.

IT IS IN THIS FAITH THAT WE LEARN TO STAND BOLDLY ON THE SOLID ROCK OF CHRIST AND HIS SALVATION - KNOWING THAT ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND.

I BELIEVE THAT GOD CREATED THE UNIVERSE BY SPEAKING IT

I BELIEVE THAT HE HAS GIVEN US HIS HOLY WORD - THE BIBLE

I BELIEVE THAT EVERY WORD IN THE BIBLE IS TRUE AND FAITHFUL

I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST CAME TO THIS EARTH AS GOD INCARNATE - THE PERFECT LAMB OF GOD

I BELIEVE JESUS LIVED A PERFECT AND SINLESS LIFE

I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CAME JUST FOR ME, AND JUST FOR YOU

I BELIEVE THAT JESUS PERFORMED MIRACLES -

I BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE WAY - TRUTH - AND LIFE AND THAT NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH HIM

I BELIEVE JESUS SUFFERED AND DIED ON THE CROSS

I BELIEVE HE WAS BURRED IN A BORROWED TOMB

I BELIEVE IT WAS A BORROWED TOMB BECAUSE HE WASNT GOING TO STAY THERE - BECAUSE

I BELIEVE ON THE 3RD DAY THE STONE WAS ROLLED AWAY AND JESUS WALKED OUT OF THE GRAVE TRIUMPHANT OVER DEATH AND THE GRAVE - PROCLAIMING - GRAVE WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY - DEATH WHERE IS YOUR STING - I HAVE OVERCOME THE GRAVE

I BELIEVE HE ASCENDED INTO THE HEAVENS AS WITNESSED BY MANY

I BELIEVE THERE IS BUT ONE GOD - ONE SALVATION - ONE BAPTISM - AND ONLY ONE WAY OF SALVATION - BEING THE LORD JESUS CHR

I BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS STANDING AT THE READY WAITING FOR GOD THE FATHER TO SAY - SON, GO GET MY CHILDREN

I AM LOOKING FOR AND BELIEVE THAT ONE DAY - VERY SOON THE SKY SILL PART AND THE LORD JESUS WILL STEP OUT ON CLOUDS OF GLORY AND ALL THOSE FOUND IN CHRIST (THE REDEEMED) WILL BE CALLED AWAY TO BE WITH HIM IN A PLACE CALLED HEAVEN.

I BELIEVE THERE IS A MANSION WAITING FOR ME - MADE BY JESUS HIMSELF

I BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE GET TO HEAVEN - WHAT A DAY OF REJOICING THAT WILL BE

AND BECAUSE I BELIEVE

I CAN SAY - I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. IT IS THE POWER OF GOD TO SALVATION.

I CAN SAY THAT IF YOU DO NOT KNOW JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOR - TODAY IS THE PERFECT DAY, THE RIGHT DAY. IT REQUIRES NO RATIONALIZATION - YOU REQUIRE SALVATION.