"Get Back to the Foundation" By Jesse Rairdon January 29th,
2017
I don't know if Ken was peeking at my notes this week, but, a lot of what he shared about today, I'm going to share about evangelism. Today is going to be like getting water from a fire-hose, because I have fifteen minutes and I know Parrish is watching me. The three parts we're going to talk about are:
Okay? The first Scripture we're going to go to, we're going to go to the theme Scripture:
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Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than
that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. So, this month, we're talking about the foundation. We, in this ministry, we speak the same things; we were taught the same things, we were taught the same foundation, so that's what we've got to go to. Kenneth just shared this, too. We did not talk any time before this message, except one time, to cover our topic a little bit.
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Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and
be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a
reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: You can't be ready to share God's Word unless you've sanctified Him in your heart. Unless you have God with you, you're not going to be able to share anything. You might be able to talk about football, you might be able to talk about politics, you might be able to talk about the job, you might be able to talk about the weather, but you won't be able to talk about Jesus unless you have Him with you. Amen? That comes from spending time with God. If we're not in tune with the Holy Ghost, we will not be ready to evangelize. Maybe start the day every day with this kind of a prayer: “Lord, I know You're dealing with people out there, I know people are seeking You. Allow me to come in their path, today. Allow me to share with those who are ready to be shared with.” Let that be your prayer. We used to go on the base and evangelize on the week-ends, back when I was young—that doesn't mean I can't do that any more—but, that was our prayer, “Lord, lead us to the people who are seeking You, today. Let us not waste our time on people that don't want to hear from you.” Amen? There's people out there seeking God just like I was, just like you were. That doesn't have to be the base; it's where you work, it's where you go shop, it's where you meet people. The blind man that Jesus healed only knew one thing: “I was blind, and now I see.” If that's all you know right now, “I was lost, and now I'm saved; now I see. I have a real relationship with Jesus Christ,” use what you have. Jesus said let your light shine (Matthew 5:16). You don't have to give a Bible study on the spot, share with them ten Scriptures. We've got teachers in the ministry that are available, right? twenty-four hours a day that can share the Scriptures. Be in tune with God and He will give you wisdom. Use what you have. Ken shared the parable of the virgins, the very next parable is the parable of the talents:
Matthew 25:14-30 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. [He didn't hang out with them a long time. “Here you go, here you go, here you go. I'm gone,” and then he went to Heaven. He left something. He left some talents.] Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. [He held them accountable for what God's given them. He's going to start dealing with them.] And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. [“I would have at least gained something from it, if you had given it to somebody else to use. If you'd have put it in the bank, I would have gotten something with it! But, you did nothing.] Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
And Sonia, you must have peeked at my notes, today, too, when you shared those dormant gifts in your life, you've got to take, and dust those things off, stir up those gifts in your life, allow God to use you, even if you haven't used them in many, many, many years, now is the time. We're poised for growth. We can do it together. We don't have to have just Andy and Parrish be a two-man show. We all have a part in this ministry. We all have those gifts; we all have those talents. We do it together, we can see growth. God's not looking for a number; God's looking for souls. He looking for souls, because He's coming, He's coming quick. He's coming back, looking for what's His, what He's given you to multiply. Amen? Evangelism is just simply taking what God has given you, and allowing Him to use it, to bring back to Him something that He's given. Amen? Even if all I have is that one talent of faith. I can't say, “Well, I'm too afraid.” That's not going to work. You've got to take that faith and use that faith. God knows what you have all the time. Maybe you don't have a lot of material things in this life. Zelda and Teen lost their mother recently. We were sharing a lot of time over the phone with family and friends, and hearing stories of things that she did in her life, that—the day after Christmas, a few days before she passed, she took what little she had, what little food and the money she had left in her pocket, and she gave it to her neighbor that needed dialysis, and said, “Here, this is all I have.” They said, “Ma, this is all you have; you don't have anything else.” “The Lord put it on my heart to give it to you. You need it more than I do.” And she wouldn't look for people to give her praise, but that is a life of just giving what you have. It might not be a lot; maybe just giving someone a ride to church, giving them time, spending time over the phone with them in prayer, going out and having a cup of coffee with them, but, it's important to take that time with people. People need it, they're crying out. One more time, I know this is like trying to take a sip of water from a fire hydrant today, but we've got to keep moving, amen? Point number three: Go back to the foundation. Back to the foundation.
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Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than
that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Maybe you find yourself today a little out of touch with sharing with people. Maybe it's been a while since you've even attempted to show the love of God. I've been there. You need to get back to that. “Well, how do I get back, Brother Jesse?” I'm glad you asked. Get back to the foundation. Jesus talked about foundations. Get back to your first love. Weren't you so excited when you found that pearl of great price? You sold everything that you had, nothing else mattered but to share with the next person? That's the your first love. That's the foundation. Jesus laid that foundation. After He paid the price—see, He paid the price to become the cornerstone, He paid the price to become the first builder, He paid the price to say, “This is the foundation, no other can say what I'm about to tell you.”
Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
“Everything that I talked to you about, everything that's in the Bible, it's about right now. It's about Me.”
Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
He opened their eyes so they could see it, right? That they might understand the Scriptures.
Luke 24:46-49 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that [Remember these three things:] repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name [repentance, remission of sins, His name] among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. [You're witnesses, I'm a witness, you're a witness] And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
So, in Acts chapter two, that's what they were doing. They were tarrying in Jerusalem, until power came from on high. Miracles would happen. They were speaking in tongues that they didn't even know! People were there from all over the world—Jews were there from different parts of the world, were getting spoken in their language, the rest of them had no idea what they were talking. But God knew. There was a purpose. The power was there. They laid the same foundation that Jesus talked about in Luke chapter twenty-four. Let's go down to verse thirty-six:
Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Imagine the shock at that time. “We just killed the One who came to save us.
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
They could have put anything out at this point. They could put any kind of a plan down, but they went back to the foundation that Jesus laid for them.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins...
No other foundation can be laid but that right there. So, they knew that, they were with Jesus, they were witnesses of these things, we are witnesses of these things. They received the Holy Ghost; we can do the same, we've just got to go back to the foundation..
Acts 2:38-41 ...and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation [Save yourselves!]. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Get back to the foundation. Amen?
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