You can’t have your cake and eat it too. No Matter the Cost

Eric Liddell

Acts 5:25-42 25hen a man came in and said to them, “Listen Acts 5:25-42 25hen a man came in and said to them, “Listen! The men you put in prison are in the Temple teaching the people!” 26 So the officer went off with his men and brought the apostles back. They did not use force, however, because they were afraid that the people might stone them. 27 They brought the apostles in, made them stand before the Council, and the High Priest questioned them. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in the name of this man,” he said; “but see what you have done! You have spread your teaching all over Jerusalem, and you want to make us responsible for his death!”

29 Peter and the other apostles answered, “We must obey God, not men 29 Peter and the other apostles answered, “We must obey God, not men. 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from death, after you had killed him by nailing him to a cross. 31 God raised him to his right side as Leader and Savior, to give the people of Israel the opportunity to repent and have their sins forgiven. 32 We are witnesses to these things—we and the Holy Spirit, who is God's gift to those who obey him.”

33 When the members of the Council heard this, they were so furious that they wanted to have the apostles put to death. 34 But one of them, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was a teacher of the Law and was highly respected by all the people, stood up in the Council. He ordered the apostles to be taken out for a while, 35 and then he said to the Council, “Fellow Israelites, be careful what you do to these men… 38 I tell you, do not take any action against these men. Leave them alone! If what they have planned and done is of human origin, it will disappear, 39 but if it comes from God, you cannot possibly defeat them. You could find yourselves fighting against God!”

The Council followed Gamaliel's advice The Council followed Gamaliel's advice. 40 They called the apostles in, had them whipped, and ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus; and then they set them free. 41 As the apostles left the Council, they were happy, because God had considered them worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of Jesus. 42 And every day in the Temple and in people's homes they continued to teach and preach the Good News about Jesus the Messiah.

The easiest way to embarrass a congregation of twentieth century Christians is to ask them two simple questions. ‘When is the last time you personally led another person to Jesus Christ?’ and ‘When is the last time you tried?’” W. E. Sangster

If we would obey the command of the Lord to preach, teach, witness and testify then more people would come to Christ. So what’s keeping us from evangelizing?

An impromptu twitter survey, produced the following response to the question, “Why do you think many churches aren’t as evangelistic as they once were?”

Christians have no sense of urgency to reach lost people *Christians have no sense of urgency to reach lost people. *Many Christians and church members do not befriend and spend time with lost persons. *Many Christians and church members are lazy and apathetic. *We are more known for what we are against than what we are for. *Our churches have an ineffective evangelistic strategy of “you come” rather than “we go.” *Many church members think that evangelism is the role of the pastor and paid staff. *Church membership today is more about getting my needs met rather than reaching the lost. *Church members are in a retreat mode as culture becomes more worldly and unbiblical.

*Many church members don’t really believe that Christ is the only way of salvation. *Churches have lost their focus on making disciples who will thus be equipped and motivated to reach the lost. *Christians do not want to share the truth of the gospel for fear they will offend others. Political correctness is too commonplace even among Christians. *Most churches have unregenerate members who have not received Christ themselves. *Some churches have theological systems that do not encourage evangelism. *Our churches have too many activities; they are too busy to do the things that really matter.

References More And More Men And Women -- Steve Shepherd Peter and the Passion -Jeff Strite One reason we’re not sharing the gospel – Erin Straza