Matt Richards
Acts 20:20 I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.
I'm sure everything from wagon wheels to packets of crisps have got smaller in size. Smaller since I was a child that is. I often moan about it. But I have noticed that the Gospel has drastically shrunk in most churches and that is very disturbing.
I love the fact that Paul states he had one main message to all races—he need to repent from sin and change direction and turn to God having Faith in Jesus.
It's a simple Gospel. But as simple as the message is; it's not always preached.
You see the Gospel can be offensive and some Christians 'shrink back' from telling it like it is.
We often want to be people with good news I do, with affirmation, with 'God loves everyone no matter what' type of stuff.
But Paul didn't shrink back from telling the truth. One message: repent from sin and turn to God.
Many celebrity ministers today being interviewed on TV shrink back when asked how to get to heaven or to be saved; they won't mention sin, yet alone repentence. They will say, "well Oprah or Larry who am I to judge if a mormon is going to heaven or a muslim that's not my job to judge there's too many bringing bad news or too many judgmental Christians or something like that.
Well perhaps you need to get another job? Because the bible is clear. Paul was clear. One message: repent of your sin and turn to God. Have faith in Jesus.
Never shrink away from the one message. I am, we are, not ashamed to say it like it is. Not ashamed of the Gospel no matter if people are offended. 'Cause the true Gospel is the power of God unto Salvation.
Many people want me to tell them what they want to hear; Jesus loves them unconditionally and they have good hearts, don't need to repent or have faith in Jesus and are going to heaven anyway.
But that's just not true. It's a false Gospel.
What they need to hear is they are sinners and need to repent and turn to God and have Faith in Jesus and the power of the cross.
In a world of celebrity 'Oprah style' Christianity, never shrink away from the truth. Repent and believe, turn away from your sin and have faith in Jesus today.
There is never a better time to be going from believing in God to becoming born again than today.
Prayer:
Father I choose to come to You. I am a sinner. I have done many things wrong. I've messed up and done things my way. Forgive me God. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sin and I ask that You would wash me and make me clean, make me brand new.
I turn from my old ways and old life. I invite You Jesus into my heart, be my Lord and Saviour, my manager, my boss, and my friend. I choose to follow You Jesus and Your ways. Take every part of me and make something beautiful out of my life today i belong to You now and forever in Jesus' name amen.
