Podcast appearances and mentions of Oswald J Smith

Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Mark 16:15 NLT Mission's trips are cool, but a life lived on mission is our call! God's mission which you should definitely except, is a mission that comes with every redemptive weapon you could ever need.You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere, in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 NLTAny church that isn't seriously involved in helping fulfill the great commission has forfeited its biblical right to exist. - Oswald J. SmithGo be with and like Jesus!I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 NLTIf we're going to be like Jesus, we should consider what Jesus was like?Shine in the house, through the house, and outside the house. - - Jake's slide again here over a story… While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. Luke 5:12-13 ESVThe first consideration for a life lived on mission is to mirror the Messiah who came on mission for us! There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. John 1:6-8 ESVWe have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:9-14 ESVOur lives are meant to be lived on the Messiah's mission. The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD's favor has come.” Luke 4:18-19 ESVWe can see Jesus, through us, change our world, one intentional, Spirit-empowered interaction, conversation, and relationship at a time.David's video prolly goes here. - - And then Jake's slide one more time when I'm talking about CJThey had first given themselves unreservedly to God and then by the will of God to others. 2 Corinthians 8:5If you miss on seeing and embracing God's mission, you'll miss on seeing and experiencing God's miracles! Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations,his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised. 1 Chronicles 16:23-25 ESVThe mark of a great church is not it's seating capacity but it's sending capacity. Mark Stachura

คอลัมน์ “สดแต่เช้า”ปีที่4 (247) หัวใจของปัญหาคืออะไร? “คนมีความเมตตาย่อมให้ประโยชน์(สุข)แก่ตน แต่คนดุ(โหด)ร้ายย่อมทำให้ตัวเองเจ็บ!”‭‭ ~สุภาษิต‬ ‭11‬:‭17‬ ‭THSV11‬‬ “A merciful person helps himself, but a cruel person hurts himself.”‭‭ ~Proverbs‬ ‭11‬:‭17‬ ‭GW‬‬ Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) ประธานาธิบดีสหรัฐอเมริกาคนที่ 16(1861~1865) กล่าวว่า ” ข้าพเจ้ามักพบว่าความเมตตา ให้ผลลัพธ์ที่ล้ำค่ามากกว่าความยุติธรรมที่เข้มงวด!“ (I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.) ใช่ครับ ความเมตา และ คุณธรรมอีกหลายประการ มักส่งผลดีต่อสังคมและโลกนี้มากกว่า ความเคร่งในกฏบัญญัติ กฏเกณฑ์ กฏหมาย หรือ ศาสนา! และหลายครั้งที่กิเลสตัณหา ราคะ โมหะ และ โทสะหรือที่พระคัมภีร์เรียกว่า“เนื้อหนัง” มักปลอมตัวมาในรูปโฉมที่ดูน่าเกรงขามของ“ความเคร่งครัด” ในความจริงของกฎบัญญัติต่างๆรวมทั้งในข้อพระคัมภีร์บางข้อแต่แท้จริงมีปัญหาอยู่ที่“หัวใจ”ของคนมากกว่า เป็นจริงคำกล่าวที่ว่า “หัวใจของปัญหามนุษย์ ก็คือปัญหาของหัวใจมนุษย์!” (The heart of the human problem, is the problem of the human heart.) — Oswald J. Smith วันนี้ขอให้เรามาทำให้โลกนี้น่าอยู่มากขึ้นด้วยการจัดการกับปัญหาของ“หัวใจ”ของพวกเราโดยพึ่ง1.พระวิญญาณบริสุทธิ์ และ2.พระวจนะของพระเจ้าในการกระทำดังต่อไปนี้ “จงรู้เท่าทันใจของเราจงรู้เท่าทันเนื้อหนังของเราจงรู้เท่าทันกลอุบายของมารจงมีใจเมตตา แล้วเราจะไม่ทำร้ายใครคนไหนจงมีใจนิ่งสงบ แล้วเราจะไม่โกรธใครจงมีใจให้อภัย แล้วเราจะไม่แก้แค้นผู้ใดจงมีใจรัก แล้วเราจะไม่ด่วนพิพากษาใครจงมีใจยุติธรรม แล้วเราจะไม่เอาเปรียบผู้อื่นจงมีใจบริสุทธิ์ แล้วเราจะไม่ทำบาปชั่วจงมีใจกรุณา แล้วเราจะไม่เกลียดชังหรือทอดทิ้งผู้ใดจงมีใจเปี่ยมความหวัง แล้วเราจะไม่ถอดใจจงมีใจศรัทธา แล้วเราจะวางใจพระเจ้าเสมอไปจงมีใจเปรมปรีดิ์ แล้วเราจะไม่ขมขื่นต่อผู้ใดจงมีใจรู้จักพอ แล้วเราจะไม่โลภมัวเมาแก่งแย่งกับใครจงมีใจสงสาร แล้วเราไม่ลักขโมยสิ่งของของผู้อื่นจงมีใจอดทนอดกลั้น แล้วเราจะไม่เจ็บปวดฟาดฟันกับผู้ใดจงมีใจกว้าง แล้วเราจะไม่คิดเล็กคิดน้อยกับใครคนใดจงมีใจใฝ่สันติ แล้วเราจะไม่ก่อสงครามหรือจะหาทางรีบสงบศึกจงมีใจถ่อม แล้วเราจะไม่ยโส หยิ่งจองหองใส่ผู้ใดจงมีใจอ่อนโยน แล้วเราจะไม่กล่าววาจาหรือทำสิ่งใดให้คนอื่นเจ็บปวดจงมีใจสะอาดใส แล้วเราจะไม่นินทาใส่ร้ายผู้ใดเลยจงมีใจให้เกียรติ แล้วเราจะบาดหมางกับใครคนใดหาได้ไม่จงมีใจเลื่อมใสพระวจนะ แล้วเราจะพบสิ่งดีๆที่นำไปแบ่งปันผู้อื่นได้จงมีใจแสวงหาพระเจ้าก่อน แล้วเราจะได้รับพรและทำให้คนอื่นได้พรไปด้วย!” …จะดีไหมครับ? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ธงชัย ประดับชนานุรัตน์3ธันวาคม 2024 #YoutubeCJCONNECT #thongchaibsc#คริสตจักรแห่งความรัก #churchoflove #ShareTheLoveForward #ChurchOfJoy #คริสตจักรแห่งความสุข #NimitmaiChristianChurch #คริสตจักรนิมิตใหม่ #ฮักกัยประเทศไทย #อัลฟ่า #หนึ่งล้านความดี #SoulFoodPodcastsSpotify

Při touze po probuzení víry nesmíme zapomínat na důležitou věc. Tou je uznání a vyznání hříchu, který nám Duch svatý zjeví. Jakou roli či překážku hraje hřích při probuzení se můžete dočíst v knize Oswalda J. Smitha - Žádné probuzení bez pokání. Závěrečnou část z překladu Ludmily Hallerové čte opět Pavel Kohl.

Je rozdíl jen tak se lehce modlit anebo opravdově lkát za ztracené duše. I naše duše může pracovat na Božím díle a to skrze upřímné hluboké modlitby. Ve Večeru pod lampou otevíráme již podruhé knihu Oswalda J. Smitha - Žádné probuzení bez pokání. Překlad Ludmily Hallerové nastudoval Pavel Kohl.

Ve Večeru pod lampou na Rádiu 7 dnes otevřeme nový spis amerického kazatele a evangelisty Oswalda J. Smitha Žádné probuzení bez pokání, který do češtiny přeložila Ludmila Hallerová. O tom, proč nám chybí potřebná síla víry a zvěstovaného slova, bude řeč v prvních dvou kapitolách, které uslyšíte v podání Pavla Kohla a Kateřiny Hodecové.

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. Luke 6:37 ESVThe biblical approach to having plenty, is to intentionally share what you have.Recognize the CallNot called did you say? Not heard the call, I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible and hear him bid you go… William BoothAll the Kings kids are called to introduce people to Jesus and the life we've found in Him. Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. Luke 14:15-23 ESVReady to Share. Worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way.1 Peter 3:15 NLTYou can't know Jesus in the way you're meant to know Him and not make Him known!Reflect the GospelThere was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. John 1:6-8 ESVDon't shine a light on others, but for others.Use your wordsIf I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, indeed I cannot. Jeremiah 20:9 ESViPray - iSee - iConnect - iSayWhen I came to you, brothers, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:1-2 ESV Nothing is more meaningful than sharing how your relation with Jesus has impacted your life. For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes, to the Jew and also the Gentile Romans 1:16 NLT5) Together Any church that isn't seriously involved in helping fulfill the great commission has forfeited its biblical right to exist. - Oswald J. SmithYou are the light of the world, like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. Mathew 5:14 NLTWe shine more brightly when we shine together. The great commission is virtually impossible without partnership.For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. Luke 19:10 NLT---------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. Luke 6:37 ESVThe biblical approach to having plenty, is to intentionally share what you have.Recognize the CallNot called did you say? Not heard the call, I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible and hear him bid you go… William BoothAll the Kings kids are called to introduce people to Jesus and the life we've found in Him. Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. Luke 14:15-23 ESVReady to Share. Worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way.1 Peter 3:15 NLTYou can't know Jesus in the way you're meant to know Him and not make Him known!Reflect the GospelThere was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. John 1:6-8 ESVDon't shine a light on others, but for others.Use your wordsIf I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, indeed I cannot. Jeremiah 20:9 ESViPray - iSee - iConnect - iSayWhen I came to you, brothers, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:1-2 ESV Nothing is more meaningful than sharing how your relation with Jesus has impacted your life. For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes, to the Jew and also the Gentile Romans 1:16 NLT5) Together Any church that isn't seriously involved in helping fulfill the great commission has forfeited its biblical right to exist. - Oswald J. SmithYou are the light of the world, like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. Mathew 5:14 NLTWe shine more brightly when we shine together. The great commission is virtually impossible without partnership.For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. Luke 19:10 NLT---------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

Bài Giảng: Lòng Nhiệt Huyết Cho Các Linh Hồn Diễn giả: Oswald J. Smith Chuyển ngữ: Đội ngũ Ba-rúc Bài giảng: "Lòng nhiệt huyết cho các linh hồn" – đây là một bài giảng gây xúc động và thuyết phục mà Tiến sĩ Oswald J. Smith đã giảng vào năm 1953. Những thước phim tư liệu ghi lại bài giảng này do nhà truyền đạo Caleb Garaway (mục vụ Remnant Ministries) phục hồi và tải lên. Nguồn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXqR7... Vài nét về diễn giả: Mục sư, Tiến sỹ Oswald J. Smith (1989-1986) là một nhà cổ động truyền giáo cuồng nhiệt. Trong hơn 80 năm mục vụ ông đã giảng hơn 12000 bài giảng tại 80 quốc gia. Gánh nặng lớn nhất trong đời ông là để được nhìn thấy người hư mất đến với Chúa. Khẩu hiệu truyền giáo nổi tiếng của ông là: “Chúng ta nói về lần đến thứ hai của Chúa; trong khi nửa thế giới chưa từng nghe về lần đến thứ nhất của Ngài,” và “Tại sao có người được nghe Tin Lành hai lần, trong khi còn những người chưa được nghe Tin Lành lần nào?” Anh chị em có thể nghe bài giảng audio của Giảng Luận Kinh Thánh tại địa chỉ sau: Spotify: https://sum.vn/HybEq Apple podcast: https://sum.vn/SccJB Giảng Luận Kinh Thánh là dự án dịch thuật/lồng tiếng sang tiếng Việt các bài giảng, thông điệp Cơ Đốc kinh điển của những diễn giả đã được thời gian khẳng định và cộng đồng Cơ đốc chung xác nhận. Đây là dự án phi lợi nhuận nhằm cung cấp nguồn tư liệu cho các tôi tớ cùng con dân Chúa tham khảo và sử dụng miễn phí. Để hiểu hơn về chúng tôi vui lòng truy cập website : https://giangluankinhthanh.net/ Đội ngũ Giảng Luận Kinh Thánh hoan nghênh mọi đề nghị cộng tác của quý con cái Chúa khắp nơi trong các lĩnh vực như dịch thuật, lồng tiếng, quảng bá, cầu thay, v.v. Nếu quý con cái Chúa sẵn lòng đóng góp công sức của mình vào bất cứ lĩnh vực nào, cùng đồng công trong những sứ điệp giúp tỉnh thức nhiều người. Xin vui lòng điền thông tin cá nhân vào biểu mẫu sau: https://sum.vn/m4wqt Kênh Giảng Luận Kinh Thánh hoạt động vì các mục tiêu phi lợi nhuận, không phát quảng cáo. Vì vậy, chúng tôi mong tiếp tục nhận được sự dâng hiến và ủng hộ của quý con cái Chúa khắp nơi trong việc phát triển kênh. Quý vị có thể dâng hiến theo thông tin trong biểu mẫu sau: https://sum.vn/ZZ19m Xin chân thành cảm ơn! #Giangluankinhthanh #OswaldJ.Smith #longnhiethuyet #linhhon;

Bài Giảng: Lòng Nhiệt Huyết Cho Các Linh Hồn Diễn giả: Oswald J. Smith Chuyển ngữ: Đội ngũ Ba-rúc Bài giảng: "Lòng nhiệt huyết cho các linh hồn" – đây là một bài giảng gây xúc động và thuyết phục mà Tiến sĩ Oswald J. Smith đã giảng vào năm 1953. Những thước phim tư liệu ghi lại bài giảng này do nhà truyền đạo Caleb Garaway (mục vụ Remnant Ministries) phục hồi và tải lên. Nguồn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXqR7... Vài nét về diễn giả: Mục sư, Tiến sỹ Oswald J. Smith (1989-1986) là một nhà cổ động truyền giáo cuồng nhiệt. Trong hơn 80 năm mục vụ ông đã giảng hơn 12000 bài giảng tại 80 quốc gia. Gánh nặng lớn nhất trong đời ông là để được nhìn thấy người hư mất đến với Chúa. Khẩu hiệu truyền giáo nổi tiếng của ông là: “Chúng ta nói về lần đến thứ hai của Chúa; trong khi nửa thế giới chưa từng nghe về lần đến thứ nhất của Ngài,” và “Tại sao có người được nghe Tin Lành hai lần, trong khi còn những người chưa được nghe Tin Lành lần nào?” Anh chị em có thể nghe bài giảng audio của Giảng Luận Kinh Thánh tại địa chỉ sau: Spotify: https://sum.vn/HybEq Apple podcast: https://sum.vn/SccJB Giảng Luận Kinh Thánh là dự án dịch thuật/lồng tiếng sang tiếng Việt các bài giảng, thông điệp Cơ Đốc kinh điển của những diễn giả đã được thời gian khẳng định và cộng đồng Cơ đốc chung xác nhận. Đây là dự án phi lợi nhuận nhằm cung cấp nguồn tư liệu cho các tôi tớ cùng con dân Chúa tham khảo và sử dụng miễn phí. Để hiểu hơn về chúng tôi vui lòng truy cập website : https://giangluankinhthanh.net/ Đội ngũ Giảng Luận Kinh Thánh hoan nghênh mọi đề nghị cộng tác của quý con cái Chúa khắp nơi trong các lĩnh vực như dịch thuật, lồng tiếng, quảng bá, cầu thay, v.v. Nếu quý con cái Chúa sẵn lòng đóng góp công sức của mình vào bất cứ lĩnh vực nào, cùng đồng công trong những sứ điệp giúp tỉnh thức nhiều người. Xin vui lòng điền thông tin cá nhân vào biểu mẫu sau: https://sum.vn/m4wqt Kênh Giảng Luận Kinh Thánh hoạt động vì các mục tiêu phi lợi nhuận, không phát quảng cáo. Vì vậy, chúng tôi mong tiếp tục nhận được sự dâng hiến và ủng hộ của quý con cái Chúa khắp nơi trong việc phát triển kênh. Quý vị có thể dâng hiến theo thông tin trong biểu mẫu sau: https://sum.vn/ZZ19m Xin chân thành cảm ơn! #Giangluankinhthanh #OswaldJ.Smith #longnhiethuyet #linhhon;

In this episode we start our series through the book “The Challenge of Missions” by Dr. Oswald J. Smith.

This sermon, preached by Dr. Oswald J. Smith, outlines the plea for winning souls to Christ. This message was preached over 70 years ago yet still applies today. This message will help lay the groundwork of a series we will embark on next week as we study his book “The Challenge of Missions.”

Oswald J. Smith, Canadian pastor and author of the tremendous book The Revival We Need, preaches that being filled with the Holy Spirit is essential to have power over sin and power for service. Throughout the message, Oswald J. Smith gives five conditions on how to be filled with the Spirit of God: confession, renunciation, surrender, obedience, and faith. The question before us is not "Do I have the Holy Spirit?" but, "Am I filled with the Holy Spirit?"Learn more about the Bravehearted Voices Podcast and how you can be discipled and grow spiritually by visiting braveheartedvoices.com

Passion for souls archives

In this short snippet, taken from Oswald J. Smith's incredible little book "The Revival We Need," Keith Green reads an excerpt and makes a comment on fully giving our lives fully to Christ and the declaration of His Gospel. Learn more about the Bravehearted Voices Podcast and how you can be discipled and grow spiritually by visiting http://braveheartedvoices.com/ (braveheartedvoices.com)

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 ESV EASTER: Meditations for Addicts is part of a series of books that includes ADVENT: Meditations for Addicts and is published by The Addiction Connection - both tools to draw you closer to Christ. 3 Sundays before Easter: Chapter 3, The Lord's Supper 2:15 What is the background of the symbolism of the Lord's Supper from the book of Exodus 12 and the blood on the doorposts? 7:15 Why was Jesus coming into Jerusalem the day of the Triumphal Entry? 11:05 What is the significance of what Jesus experienced on the cross? 11:50 What are the implications of the Passover and the crucifixion and the Last Supper in the lives of those struggling with addiction? 15:35 Hymn of Response - Deeper and Deeper by Oswald J. Smith public domain from www.hymntime.com/tch 22:40 How to purchase a copy of EASTER: Meditations for Addicts 24:40 Senses involved in today's celebration of the Last Supper Shirley Crowder is passionate about disciple-making, which is conducted in and through a myriad of ministry opportunities including biblical counseling, teaching Bible studies, writing, and music. She serves as Vice President of The Addiction Connection. Shirley is an award-winning author with several of her articles appearing in “Paper Pulpit” in the Faith section of The Gadsden (Alabama) Times. She also has published articles for David C. Cook, Student Life, and Woman's Missionary Union publications. She contributes to several blogs. She is published as an author, co-author, and contributing author of twelve books. Mark E. Shaw, D.Min., is the Founder of The Addiction Connection and serves as Director of Counseling at Grace Fellowship Church in Florence, KY. He has authored over 23 books on biblical counseling and addictions. Need Help? The Addiction Connection offers hope to those struggling with addiction. Start your search for biblical programs here. Consider contacting one of our Commissioned Addictions Biblical Counselors who are available to help you. Residential Programs we recommend. Non-residential Programs we recommend. Do you want to start a Biblical outreach to those in addiction? Check out this disciple-making curriculum we created just for you entitled Next Steps: Be TRANSFORMED.

Hello and welcome to Lechem Panim!  If you've been following us, you'll know that we have been studying the first great missionary journey of the apostle Paul. He and Barnabas have been traveling through many cities proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ; and God of course performs many miraculous signs through them to confirm their message. Now some people are receptive to the message (some even eager and ready to accept and follow Christ), but others feel threatened and end up persecuting Paul and Barnabas. But here in chapter 14, when they come to the city of Lystra, they are met by the opposite extreme. Paul heals a crippled man who had never walked before; and the people are so taken aback by the sign that they conclude that Paul and Barnabas must be gods; and so they seek to worship them. But Paul and Barnabas (in grief) begin telling them that not only are they not those gods, but that their belief in those kinds of gods is futile and that they need to instead trust in the Living God. Unlike their gods, Yahweh is the one who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. And because He is the Maker of all things, He is therefore the Lord of all things. Now Paul and Barnabas continue. They say of God that (verse 16)… Acts 14:16-17 (ESV)—16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” Natural Revelation— Now Paul and Barnabas know that many of the people they are speaking to do not know the Old Testament or the fundamental tenets of the Jewish faith. And so they start with what the people do know and are able to recognize for themselves. They start with the rains and the seasons, which they point out are evidence of the goodness of God, who provides the world with what it needs to survive. And what Paul and Barnabas are pointing the people to here is what is known as the natural revelation of God; the things anyone can come to understand about Him just by looking at the natural world we live in. And Paul and Barnabas zero in on the fact that God never leaves people without evidence of His existence and His loving kindness. Later Paul would write further on this in Romans 1:20, saying that the evidence in nature is so strong, that people are really without excuse for not believing. There is abundant evidence all around us (more now than ever); we just need to open our eyes and look. Now despite Paul and Barnabas' words, it says in… Acts 14:18-19 (ESV)— 18 Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them. {Now here is where things again take a turn for the worse, as Jewish leaders come to oppose Paul and Barnabas. It says…} 19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. Fickle People— Now unfortunately, this passage offers us a very realistic look at human nature; how fickle we can be at times (John 2:24-25). Here it didn't matter what the people had seen; the voice of persuasion from the Jewish leaders was stronger. And the same is true today. Sometimes people can become so wrapped up in a political party or a news network or what some false teacher is telling them that they can literally be convinced to look away from the evidence before them. It's scary, but it happens all the time. And it happened here. The people of Lystra, though they had just thought Paul and Barnabas were gods and therefore sought to worship and offer sacrifices to them, now stone Paul and leave him for dead. And what you and I learn from this is that though we might feel good when people approve of us and affirm us, we need to be careful not to allow that desire for approval to cloud our reasoning or affect our decisions. We are not to be about pleasing the crowds, but are to seek to be like Jesus no matter what anybody else might think. Our faith and trust need to be in Him and Him alone; because unlike people, God never changes (James 1:17). Now it says in… Acts 14:20a (ESV)— 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, Persistent— And this just shows how persistent Paul and Barnabas were in preaching the good news of Jesus. They counted the cost and thought it worth the persecution and pain to obey Christ. And think about it; they had just escaped being stoned in Iconium (14:1-7);  but here the Jews from Pisidian Antioch and Iconium track Paul down and stone him, to the point where he nearly dies. And yet he gets right back up and goes into the city to continue to preach the Gospel!!! And I just think what an incredible amount of commitment! But that is what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. You and I have to be totally committed to Him. Our lives are His; and we ought to be willing to lay them down in a heartbeat if He calls us to. Paul writes in… 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)— 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. Paul Lived It— Now that's remarkable because we discover from this passage that this wasn't just a concept that Paul casually preached about in his sermons. No, this was something he lived. He glorified God in his body, often suffering in ways that Jesus had suffered. And we are called to do the same. Now it says of Paul in… Acts 14:20b-23 (ESV)— and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. Returning to Disciple— And so we see that Paul and Barnabas return to the cities in which they have just been threatened and physically attacked; and they do this in order to visit with the new believers. Now that may sound foolish to us, but they knew that these new Christians didn't have anybody to mentor, disciple, and help establish them in the faith. And so Paul and Barnabas return to encourage/strengthen them; to build them up, and to establish leadership in the church that can help lead them and help them to grow in their faith. And what we learn from this is that no matter how uncomfortable or inconvenient it is to spend time with new believers (mentoring and discipling them) that is what we are called to do. And that's because people need more than just initial salvation; they need to be taught how to actually follow Jesus Christ. And every one of us has the responsibility to try to help that to happen in the lives of new believers. Now Paul and Barnabas center their focus on raising up church leaders. And that's because when a Church has Spirit-led leaders, laypersons, and pastors, that church will grows. That's why we need to pray for our church leaders and support them in any way that we can. But also, if God nudges you to enter into a leadership role in the Church, you need to be humbly willing to accept that responsibility. Now it says in… Acts 14:24-28 (ESV)— 24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, 26 and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. 27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they remained no little time with the disciples. Celebration— Now that must have been a wonderful time of celebration. There is nothing better than celebrating the salvation of those you helped lead to Jesus. But in reflecting on this passage, I wonder, “are we just as burdened in our hearts for those who do not know Jesus? Do we so desire them to be saved that we are willing to endure any kind of suffering in order that they might come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ?” Tears of Burden— You know, I only got to hear my late grandfather (we called him Geempa) preach one time in person during his life. I have heard him preach on tape before, but only one time in person. And I remember he was in a church setting. And there was a special missionary banquet. And I remember him, having been a missionary in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and China, sharing a message with that church's congregation. And I was very young at the time and don't remember the entirety of this message. But I do remember that as he began talking about how there are people in the world who are lost; people he had been striving all of his life to reach with the gospel; his eyes began to well up with tears. He knew that every day people were slipping into an eternity without Jesus. And he, like Paul and Barnabas, anguished over that. And his love for the lost and his desire to reach them drove him into some of the most intense situations.     One time he was ministering to a tribe that 30 years prior had murdered people brutally, until it was colonized by the British. And he was in the large room where he was to sleep and, laying down to go to sleep, he stared up at the ceiling. And there, hanging from the ceiling were the severed and shrunken heads of a few of the numerous people this tribe had killed only a few decades before. Now as scary as that was for him; scary enough to drive many people away from those kinds of people (some he ministered to having probably participated in those killings); it was not his greatest fear. His greatest fear was people from that tribe never knowing about Jesus. And it was that sense of urgency that was the driving force of His life. Is that the driving force of our lives? Do we have a healthy sense of anguish for those who do not yet know Christ? Robert Moffat, who inspired David Livingstone, once said, "In the vast plain to the north I have sometimes seen, in the morning sun, the smoke of a thousand villages where no missionary has ever been”. William Carey, pioneer missionary to India said, ”To know the will of God, we need an open Bible and an open map." Hudson Taylor once said, ”If I had 1,000 lives, I'd give them all for China”. He also said, "The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed" Oswald J. Smith once said, “Any church that is not seriously involved in helping fulfill the Great Commission has forfeited its biblical right to exist.” What a powerful statement! Our Commission— And in light of that, are we taking the fulfillment of Christ's great commission seriously enough? Are we bathing the lost with prayer every day? Are we following the spiritual needs of other countries and remaining open to God's calling us to do something about it? If not, we need to be. And so let us this week commit to be God's instruments through which the world might come to know Him. Let's do so. Amen.

Hello and welcome again to Lechem Panim. It is good to have you with us today as we continue our study of the book of Acts. We have been in chapter 8, which of course tells of how Philip brought the Gospel to the region of Samaria and a great many Samaritans have come to faith in Jesus Christ. And after Peter and John come and open the door for these Samaritans to receive the Holy Spirit it says in… Acts 8:25 (ESV)— 25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans. For The World— Now this is a crucial turning point in the book of Acts, because it is here that we begin to see the message of the Gospel breaking out from being just a Jewish reality to being a message for everyone. God is starting to remind His people of something that they had forgotten; and that is that His salvation is for a whole world. Another Woman Not My Wife— Some time ago I read of [A preacher, who shall we say was “humor inspired”, {and who} attended a conference to help encourage and better equip pastors for their ministry. Among the speakers were many well-known and dynamic speakers. One such speaker, boldly approached the pulpit, gathered the entire crowd's attention, and said, “the best years of my life were spent in the arms of a woman that wasn't my wife!” The crowd was shocked! He followed up by saying, “And that woman was my mother!” The crowd burst into laughter and he delivered the rest of his speech, which went quite well. The next week, the pastor decided he'd give this humor thing a try, and used that joke in his sermon. As he approached the pulpit that sunny Sunday morning, he tried to rehearse this joke in his head. It suddenly seemed a bit foggy to him. Getting to the microphone, he said loudly, “The greatest years of my life were spent in the arms of another woman that was not my wife!” The congregation inhaled half the air in the room! [And he began to get excited. But when he got ready to deliver the punch line, he found that in his excitement he couldn't remember it. So] After standing there for almost 10 seconds in stunned silence, trying to recall the second half of the joke, the pastor finally blurted out, “…and I can't remember for the life of me who she was!”] Rooted in Israel— Forgetting things can sometimes be very painful. But we I think are prone to forgetting things; particularly about the Christian faith. And one of the basic things we forget (or choose to ignore; perhaps because we don't recognize the importance of it) is the place of Israel in God's overall plan in bringing redemption to the world. Especially we in our western culture. We forget that God had always intended Israel to be a light to the nations. All the way back in Genesis 1:28 God had told Adam and Eve, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it,…” And he repeats that command to Noah in Genesis 9:7 immediately following the flood. And later, when God entered into covenant with Abraham, he made a promise to him, saying in Genesis 12:3 “…in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” And so we see that when God established Israel, they were to be a light to the nations. God says in… Isaiah 42:6 (ESV)— 6 “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, Isaiah 49:6 (ESV)— 6 he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Isaiah 52:10 (ESV)— 10 The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. Isaiah 60:3 (ESV)— 3 And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Now, fast forward to the New Testament. Listen to the words of Jesus in… John 8:12 (ESV)— 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” God's Love for The World— Now first of all notice how Jesus' claim to be the Light connects back to concept of salvation given in Isaiah. It is very important to understand that Jesus saw himself as the embodiment (literally) of God's salvation that God had always planned on giving to the world through Israel. Now that must have sounded a bit jarring to those who heard Jesus; because notice Jesus doesn't say “I am the Light of Israel.” That is what his Jewish audience probably would have expected Him to say. But no, He was speaking to them in the spirit of Isaiah, pointing them back to the reality that they had forgotten; which was that God's salvation is for a whole world. And so He says, “I am the Light of the world.” Even in His conversation with Nicodemus he had begun to hammer this point. What did he say to Nicodemus in John 3:16? “For God so loved the world…”; another all-inclusive statement. Now this is so important because the Early Church saw Jesus as the fulfillment of these passages in Isaiah and therefore took these passages as their own personal commission. When Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch in Pisidia, it says in… Acts 13:44-48 (ESV)— 44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,     that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'” 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. Channels of Blessing— You see, God's plan has always been for Israel to be the means through which his salvation would be brought to the world. And though God had made a covenant with Abraham and with his people to bless them, the blessing was never meant for them alone. No, they were to channel that blessing to the world. Now the sad reality that we are confronted with is that Israel failed to live out this call, and instead gravitated towards either of two extremes. Nationalism— The first was that Israel gave in to a separatistic nationalism in which Israel resisted contact with all the surrounding Gentile nations. We see this attitude very much alive in the person of Jonah. He was commanded by God directly to preach to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire. But not wanting them to experience God's salvation, he took off in the opposite direction. And God had to use some mighty big circumstances in order to turn him around. Now we know that Assyria had caused Israel a lot of grief; and they were a very wicked empire. But the nationalistic attitude of Israel during that time had all but completely cut them off from engaging in God's mission to reach the world. And unfortunately this attitude pervaded much of Israel's history. Compromise— Now the second extreme was that of compromise. Israel was called to influence the surrounding nations to God; however what ended up happening was that Israel became influenced by the surrounding nations. They were seduced by the paganism and the idolatry. And so they allowed themselves to become tainted by that spiritual adultery. And because they were tainted by that sin and false religion, they didn't have anything that they could give to the surrounding Gentile nations. They had become the very thing that they were supposed to fight against. Now God was able to cleanse Israel of her idolatry; which He did through the Babylonian exile, after which Israel never returned to their former idolatry again. The New Idolatry— However, they did embrace a new kind of idolatry; and that was that they allowed their religion to become corrupted into a system of salvation by works. The temple itself became an idol. The religious rights and sacrifices became idols; so much so that when God Himself visited His temple in the New Testament, they did not even recognize Him. And they even hated many of the people that Christ came to save. But all of that changed with the birth of the Christian Church, as each new stage of growth pushes the Church farther out in its scope. God's New Instrument— And what I want you to see is that the Church has now become God's new instrument to further the work He had always intended for Israel. They are His great new means of reaching the world. And while Israel had up until this time been very nationalistic in its focus, we find that the Church would be an entity that would embrace people of every race and culture and nation. But (as we have said before) this happened in stages. At Pentecost the spread of Christianity began first in Jerusalem to an exclusively Jewish body. It wasn't long after that that the Church soon began to reach out to minister to the half-breed Samaritans, as they were called. And then in our passage next week we find the third great milestone of the Church as the Gospel finally begins to reach a Gentile audience as well; as through the ministry of Philip a high official in the court of the Ethiopian queen comes to faith in Jesus Christ. But not only him, but we will see also that through him the Gospel would eventually reach those in the great African continent as well. ​Is Israel's Problem Ours As Well?— But what we need to be careful of is to keep Israel's problem from becoming our problem. Are we thinking globally? Are we fulfilling God's call to carry the Good News of the Gospel to the ends of the earth? Oswald J. Smith has rightly pointed out that “Any church that is not seriously involved in helping fulfill the Great Commission has forfeited its biblical right to exist.” But you know, in light of that (every pun intended), let us not forget our central purpose; and that is to join Christ in the work He is doing in the world. Let's join Him this week. Amen.

We have two choices in life. To hear what they are, listen to this sermon by missionary, statesman, prolific hymnwriter and pastor, Oswald J Smith. Subscribe to the newest Revived Studios show, hosted by Elise, Martyrs And Missionaries. Available on all podcasting apps or in the link. If you'd like to join the premium team go to our Patreon If you'd like to reach out to us you can email us revivedthoughts@gmail.com And if you enjoy the show, share us with friends and leave a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts to help others find us too! Facebook Instagram MeWe Twitter Youtube Revived Thoughts

I don't think you can really know Jesus and His love and not find a way to make Him known!If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, indeed I cannot. Jeremiah 20:9 ESVYou are the light of the world, like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. Mathew 5:14 NLT We are called and even compelled to share Jesus with our world.For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike. So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News. For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes… Romans 1:14-16 NLT“Not called did you say? Not heard the call, I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible and hear him bid you go…” William BoothGo into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Mark 16:15 ESVWe still struggle to apply in practice what we believe in principle.Any church that isn't seriously involved in helping fulfill the great commission has forfeited its biblical right to exist. - Oswald J. SmithWe shine more brightly when we shine together.And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. Acts 2:47 NLT Shine in the house, through the house, and outside the house. Shine! For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. Luke 19:10 NLTMore than talking about what you believe is true, share what you know is so from your own experience. Let what you do and say be a witness to the lost and broken.When I came to you, brothers, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:1-2 ESV The prerequisite for an impactful witness is a grateful and surrendered life, which may be in itself the greatest witness of all. The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Matthew 13:43 ESVGive up your small ambitions come with me to save the world. - St. Francis Xavier

A missão tem a ver com a proclamação da Verdade. Se você sabe, deve comunicar aos que não sabem. Para que possamos entender o desafio de pregar a tempo e fora de tempo, precisamos nos entregar à vontade de Deus, àquilo que Ele quer que façamos. Hoje pela manhã ouvimos a história de quando Jesus ressuscitou o filho de uma viúva em Lucas 7:11-17. 1. SÓ ACONTECE “MISSÃO” QUANDO OS DISCÍPULOS ESTÃO SEGUINDO A AGENDA DO MESTRE (v.11) • Jesus poderia ter criado uma “sede”, uma sinagoga onde atenderia as pessoas, mas, em vez disso, ele esteve sempre em movimento, andando de cidade em cidade sem parar; • é da natureza de Jesus alcançar as pessoas e ir até elas. Ele nos chama a fazer o mesmo; • ser um discípulo é diferente de fazer parte da multidão que segue a Jesus, mas o desconhece. Um discípulo conhece o Mestre e o imita; 2. A “MISSÃO” ACONTECE QUANDO E ONDE O MESTRE QUISER (v.12) • Jesus decidiu proclamar o Reino na porta de uma cidade que não tinha tanto prestígio, em vez de escolher um templo famoso ou cidade conhecida; • Jesus não se sujeita e nem se limita às tradições humanas. Não existe um lugar certo para a obra de Deus acontecer, mas ela acontece onde o Mestre quiser; 3. A “MISSÃO” SEMPRE É MARCADA POR UMA MESCLA DE PODER DIVINO E HUMANIDADE (v.13-14) • Diante do luto da viúva, Jesus poderia ter ficado quieto como seria o conveniente, mas ele consolou e se aproximou das pessoas em sofrimento; • Já são 50 mil mortos pela covid-19 no Brasil. Temos tido a mesma ousadia de Jesus de trazer esperança e se aproximar dos abatidos?; • A missão deve acontecer através de nossas vidas. 4. A “MISSÃO EM E COM DEUS MUDA QUALQUER REALIDADE, GERANDO GLÓRIA A DEUS (v.15-17) • A notícia do milagre de Jesus se espalhou pela região, ele se tornou ainda mais conhecido e, desse modo, mais pessoas poderiam ser alcançadas e realidades transformadas; • Quantas pessoas você já alcançou? Deus quer nos usar. Se você não está interessado em evangelismo e missões, existe uma grande probabilidade de você nunca ter nascido de novo. Oswald J. Smith

A missão tem a ver com a proclamação da Verdade. Se você sabe, deve comunicar aos que não sabem. Para que possamos entender o desafio de pregar a tempo e fora de tempo, precisamos nos entregar à vontade de Deus, àquilo que Ele quer que façamos. Hoje pela manhã ouvimos a história de quando Jesus ressuscitou o filho de uma viúva em Lucas 7:11-17. 1. SÓ ACONTECE “MISSÃO” QUANDO OS DISCÍPULOS ESTÃO SEGUINDO A AGENDA DO MESTRE (v.11) • Jesus poderia ter criado uma “sede”, uma sinagoga onde atenderia as pessoas, mas, em vez disso, ele esteve sempre em movimento, andando de cidade em cidade sem parar; • é da natureza de Jesus alcançar as pessoas e ir até elas. Ele nos chama a fazer o mesmo; • ser um discípulo é diferente de fazer parte da multidão que segue a Jesus, mas o desconhece. Um discípulo conhece o Mestre e o imita; 2. A “MISSÃO” ACONTECE QUANDO E ONDE O MESTRE QUISER (v.12) • Jesus decidiu proclamar o Reino na porta de uma cidade que não tinha tanto prestígio, em vez de escolher um templo famoso ou cidade conhecida; • Jesus não se sujeita e nem se limita às tradições humanas. Não existe um lugar certo para a obra de Deus acontecer, mas ela acontece onde o Mestre quiser; 3. A “MISSÃO” SEMPRE É MARCADA POR UMA MESCLA DE PODER DIVINO E HUMANIDADE (v.13-14) • Diante do luto da viúva, Jesus poderia ter ficado quieto como seria o conveniente, mas ele consolou e se aproximou das pessoas em sofrimento; • Já são 50 mil mortos pela covid-19 no Brasil. Temos tido a mesma ousadia de Jesus de trazer esperança e se aproximar dos abatidos?; • A missão deve acontecer através de nossas vidas. 4. A “MISSÃO EM E COM DEUS MUDA QUALQUER REALIDADE, GERANDO GLÓRIA A DEUS (v.15-17) • A notícia do milagre de Jesus se espalhou pela região, ele se tornou ainda mais conhecido e, desse modo, mais pessoas poderiam ser alcançadas e realidades transformadas; • Quantas pessoas você já alcançou? Deus quer nos usar. Se você não está interessado em evangelismo e missões, existe uma grande probabilidade de você nunca ter nascido de novo. Oswald J. Smith

Oswald J. Smith said it well, “The church that does not evangelize will fossilize”

Podcast 54: Evangelism & Apologetics with special guest Eric Hovind!  Join our hosts Frank Butler & Joshua Wallnofer in this discussion with Eric about Evangelism, and be encouraged with a passion to reach the lost like Jesus did.  "The church that does not evangelize will fossilize." -Oswald J. Smith #Evangelism #EricHovind #Apologetics #CreationToday Video of Eric Preaching on the Atheist Monument: https://youtu.be/wkxatQ3q9i4 Creation Today: https://creationtoday.org Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serpentsdovespc    Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SerpentsDovesPC  Also available on i-Tunes, Facebook, YouTube, and Google Play!    

REFLECTION QUOTES “The heart of the problem, is the problem of the human heart.” ~Oswald J. Smith (1889-1986), Canadian pastor and author “We used to wonder where war lived, what it was that made it so vile. And now we realize that we know where it lives…inside ourselves.” ~Albert Camus (1913-1960), French philosopher, author and journalist “The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between political parties either—but right through every human heart.” ~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1918-2008), Russian novelist and Soviet dissident “…what the heart loves, the will chooses, and the mind justifies. The mind doesn't direct the will. The mind is actually captive to what the will wants, and the will itself, in turn, is captive to what the heart wants.” ~Rev. Dr. Ashley Null, Anglican scholar “There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.” ~Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) in his book Walden “I don't know if there's a healthier way for two people to stay in love than to stop using each other to resolve their unfulfilled longings and instead, start holding each other slowly as they experience them.” ~Author Donald Miller in his book Scary Close “To see the Law by Christ fulfilled, To hear His pardoning voice, Changes a slave into a child And duty into choice.” ~William Cowper (1731-1800), English poet and hymn-write SERMON PASSAGE Mark 10:1-16 (ESV) 1 And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them. 2 And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” 5 And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.' 7 ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” 10 And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” 13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

'The question is not,' Oswald J. Smith contends, 'Do I have the Holy Spirit?' but, 'Am I filled with the Holy Spirit?' Smith shows how this commandment to be filled with the Spirit is essential to have power over sin and power for service. HOW may I be filled? Five conditions are laid out to consider: confession, renunciation, surrender, obedience and faith. Mr. Smith closes with his own personal testimony of how God broke him in ministry and humbled him sorely so that he could be used in the power of the Spirit and not in the energy of the flesh.

'The question is not,' Oswald J. Smith contends, 'Do I have the Holy Spirit?' but, 'Am I filled with the Holy Spirit?' Smith shows how this commandment to be filled with the Spirit is essential to have power over sin and power for service. HOW may I be filled? Five conditions are laid out to consider: confession, renunciation, surrender, obedience and faith. Mr. Smith closes with his own personal testimony of how God broke him in ministry and humbled him sorely so that he could be used in the power of the Spirit and not in the energy of the flesh.

'The question is not,' Oswald J. Smith contends, 'Do I have the Holy Spirit?' but, 'Am I filled with the Holy Spirit?' Smith shows how this commandment to be filled with the Spirit is essential to have power over sin and power for service. HOW may I be filled? Five conditions are laid out to consider: confession, renunciation, surrender, obedience and faith. Mr. Smith closes with his own personal testimony of how God broke him in ministry and humbled him sorely so that he could be used in the power of the Spirit and not in the energy of the flesh.

In this sermon, Oswald Smith helps us answer the question, how can we have revival today? Smith profoundly states that revival is the result of a price paid—it costs to have a revival. He says that we must get right with God, we must travail in prayer, we must preach the word of God, not human opinion, and we must work in the anointing of the Holy Spirit. What are you willing to do to see revival in your life? In the United States? In the world?

In this sermon, Oswald Smith helps us answer the question, how can we have revival today? Smith profoundly states that revival is the result of a price paid—it costs to have a revival. He says that we must get right with God, we must travail in prayer, we must preach the word of God, not human opinion, and we must work in the anointing of the Holy Spirit. What are you willing to do to see revival in your life? In the United States? In the world?

In this sermon, Oswald Smith helps us answer the question, how can we have revival today? Smith profoundly states that revival is the result of a price paid—it costs to have a revival. He says that we must get right with God, we must travail in prayer, we must preach the word of God, not human opinion, and we must work in the anointing of the Holy Spirit. What are you willing to do to see revival in your life? In the United States? In the world?

Introduction As we come to Isaiah 15 and 16, I acknowledge here before you the challenge of expositional preaching. It is quite possible that there’s no congregation on the face of the earth that has had Isaiah 16:4 projected up on the walls as we did this morning, talking about fugitives from Moab and finding refuge in Christ. That’s the challenge of exposition and the joy as well. “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” (2 Tim 3:16) Amen. Jesus said, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Mt 4:4) Now, my brother and good friend, Andy Winn, had John 3:16 last Sunday. I get Isaiah 15 and 16. He did a wonderful job and I was greatly encouraged. But frankly, the more I studied these two chapters that we’re looking at today, the more relevancy I saw in my own personal life. I don’t know that this is something where you’re necessarily going to take a verse from it and memorize it, or something like that. Yet, it is the word of the Lord to us today. And I pray that God will enable me to preach it with power and with conviction so that our lives might be transformed. I’ll never forget the summer of 1987, when I had the privilege of ministering to refugees who had fled from the invading Russians in Afghanistan. They were across the border in Pakistan, and we went to the city of Peshawar and we ministered to them. They were the most miserable and destitute people I’d ever seen in my life. And it’s still the case. I’ve seen some poverty in Asia, in India, in Haiti, but I’ve never seen the kind of misery and pain that I saw etched on the faces of these people that had run for their lives from Russian helicopter gunships. Many of them had seen relatives and friends killed before their very eyes. Their prospects were limited. They were not incredibly welcome in Pakistan. They were safe, at least for the time being, but their prospects economically were dim. Very few people were ministering to them. They had a hard time eating and caring for themselves. And again, the future looked dim. What a joy and privilege it is to go into a situation like that and minister the gospel of Jesus Christ! Amen! To be able to bring hope where, other than the ministry of the Gospel, there would be no hope. But the 20th century really was a century of refugees. Look at World War I. Look at World War II. Look at grainy old black and white photos from World War I and footage of German dive bombers, strafing columns of refugees that are fleeing from Belgium, or fleeing from Poland, or fleeing from Russia or Ukraine. You can see a picture in your mind of what it is to be a refugee. It’s a terrifying situation to be in, to lose everything that you have except what you can carry with you. I remember a picture of an elderly French woman. She’s got a mink stole on and she’s got an evening gown and a valuable painting. She’s got it in a baby buggy and she’s pushing it down a muddy road. It’s all she has left of a former way of life. Everything that she has, she’s carrying with her. You get the sense that it won’t be much longer and she won’t even be pushing that baby buggy. She’ll be stripped of everything. So it is to be a refugee. The more I meditated on Isaiah 15 and 16, the more I saw the relevance to our lives. I don’t know that any of us will ever be refugees. I do know that the United Nations High Commission on Refugees said there were sixty-five million displaced persons in 2007. So there’s a lot of refugees around the world. There’s an opportunity for us as a church of Jesus Christ to minister. We had an opportunity to minister to some refugees who came to us from Vietnam. What a great privilege that was! We may well have a practical ministry to refugees. It could be that, if we are in fact the final generation, and some of the events that are recorded in the Book of Revelation take place, then we will actually know what it means to flee for our lives and to dwell in caves, and to look for a place of refuge from an encroaching terror that’s coming to hunt us down. We may know that. If the Lord tarries, we may never know that. But there are people, even brothers and sisters in Christ, in the Sudan and other places in the world, that are actually going through this right now. So at the physical level, I think there’s a relevance to this text. But I also see a spiritual connection. I don’t think it’s hard to find because what happens in this text is a judgment on Moab. Some unnamed invader comes into their country and the people of Moab have to run for their lives. Their military strength is gone. They have nothing left. Their religious strength is gone and they run for their lives. They actually turn, at that point, to their former enemies in Judah, the Jews. They want to see if it’s possible that they might take them in. As a matter of fact, Isaiah the prophet says that it’s the only refuge they’re going to have. I’m going to talk about who the invader could be. We don’t really know who it is. But if in fact the invader was Assyria, and if they came in during a certain time, it could be that, literally, physically, the only refuge there could be would be in Zion, in Jerusalem, with godly King Hezekiah. This, in the end, becomes a picture of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus, the descendant of David, the King, the Davidic King, mentioned in the middle of Isaiah 16, is in fact the only refuge there is from the coming judgment. So there is a beautiful spiritual picture of the gospel as well. The Bible does this over and over. Oh, how the Lord wants us to flee to Christ! How many different ways does it give us incentive so that we would run for our lives, run to the only refuge there is, the refuge of Jesus Christ? There are pictures again and again in the Old Testament of a place of refuge. If you go there, you are going to be safe from the coming judgment and the coming wrath. But, if you go outside of it, you’re going to be killed. You’re going to perish. Noah’s ark is a picture of that. If you’re on the ark, you’re safe. If you’re outside the ark, you are lost. Also, during the time of Passover when the Jews painted the blood of the sacrificial lamb over the door posts, the angel of death passed over. If he saw the blood on the house, everyone inside the house was safe. But if you were outside the house, your blood was on your own head. That meant you were going to die. So there’s a place of refuge, a place of security and safety, and outside there is none. Or again, we have Rahab’s house nestled in the walls of Jericho. The promise of a scarlet cord hanging down was that she and all of her relatives would be safe if they stayed in the house. But if they went outside the house, their blood would be on their own heads. They would die. It is also a picture of a place of refuge, which you have to be inside. That’s where the refuge is. Outside there is none. In the Law of Moses, there is a provision for cities of refuge where, if you accidentally kill somebody, you can run for your life. If you get there before the avenger of blood comes, you’ll be safe. They’ll protect you and keep you safe until the death of the high priest. It was a picture, again, of a place of refuge. Don’t you see how all of these are pictures of Jesus Christ? Don’t you see Christ in all of this? Don’t you see the need to run for your life? Don’t you see that there is a judgment coming, worse than the flood of Noah? It’s an eternal judgment, an eternal fire. What we stand to lose is not just our mortal lives, but our souls. We are encouraged again and again and again to run for our lives to the place of refuge, and that is Jesus Christ. So there you have it. There’s the sermon in a nutshell. What we have is a current event that’s not so current. Moabite Refugees Fleeing in Terror Prophecies Against the Nations We have, in this section of Isaiah, the oracles against the nations. Isaiah the prophet is giving an oracle, or a saying, a prophecy concerning Moab. From Isaiah 13 through 23, one nation after another is addressed through the prophetic voice. Isaiah the prophet is speaking here to the little country of Moab. We’ve had oracles against great nations like Assyria and Babylon. Last time, we looked at an oracle against the Philistines, a smaller nation. Here, the Moabites were even smaller. The Sovereign God who rules over all the earth is orchestrating the events of all the earth. He speaks an oracle through his prophet to the people of Moab, the Moabites. Who are the Moabites? Now, who were the Moabites? They were descended from Lot, Abraham’s nephew. When, in another picture of refuge, Lot fled from Sodom and Gomorrah to the little town of Zoar, he was able to survive the fire and brimstone. This is a picture, again, of refuge, fleeing for your life. But then, thinking that it was the end of the world, they took up refuge in a cave. Lot was there with his two daughters. And the daughters, thinking that they wouldn’t know any more people on the face of the earth, perhaps with the memory of the flood still very fresh in their minds, induced their father through wine to lay with them. Each of them had a son by their own father and from this came two peoples, the Moabites and the Ammonites. The Moabites took up residence on a tiny piece of land east of the Dead Sea, stretching from the Arnon River, which dumps into the Dead Sea, to the Zered River, on the border with Edom. It’s a small piece of land, thirty miles by thirty miles. It’s really small. The Moabites were not a mighty and significant people. They were usually enemies of Israel, usually in opposition to the people of God. They would fight against them. For example, during the Exodus, they would not allow the Israelites to pass through their territory, they had to go around. They hired Balaam to curse Israel, and you remember what happened with that. The Moabite women seduced the Israelite men to worship Baal of Peor through sexual immorality. It was the Moabite women that did that. As a result of all of these things, the Law of Moses forbad any of them to enter the assembly of the Lord down to the tenth generation. They were forbidden to enter. During the time of the Judges, God gave Israel over to a Moabite king, Eglon, the fat man. Eglon was murdered by one of the judges, Ehud, a left-handed man. These were the Moabites. They were the enemies of the people of God. It was Moabite wives that seduced King Solomon to worship foreign gods, to worship Chemosh, their detestable god. They occasionally organized armies to fight against the Jews, and they usually lost. They were the enemies of God’s people. By the end of Kings and Chronicles, Moabite raiders were still plundering Israel. Yet, for all of that, it was a godly Moabite woman, Ruth, who said to Naomi, “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God… May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.” (Ru 1:16-17) From Ruth came David, and through David, ultimately, came our savior Jesus Christ. Therefore, we see the grace of God in dealing with pagan people. We also see God’s saving intentions to the Gentiles and to every tribe and language and people and nation, everyone on the face of the earth. Why are They Fleeing? These are the people, the Moabites, who are running for their lives in these two chapters. It’s the Moabites who are running now. Why are they fleeing? Look at Isaiah 15:1, “Ar in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night! Kir in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night!” By the way, if you see Keith Pendergraff, thank him for that reading. There’s something like twenty proper nouns in that. He did a phenomenal job. I don’t know that I’m going to do as well. I was adjusting my pronunciation as I listened to him read the scripture. So thank you, Keith. We thought about that at our staff meeting, “Now, who’s going to do this reading? Please urge them to practice ahead of time.” But what is going on in Isaiah 15:1? Well, these are two cities in Moab, Ar and Kir, and both of them are destroyed in a night. They’re gone. These are their strongholds, their high places, their walled fortresses. They are nothing to the unnamed invader. In a single night, they are gone, both of them have fallen. Furthermore, their religion has proven to be empty. They turn to their high places. Verse 2 says, “Dibon goes up to its temple, to its high places to weep.” If you look all the way over to Chapter 16:12, it says, “When Moab appears at her high place, she only wears herself out; when she goes to her shrine to pray, it is to no avail.” Chemosh cannot help them. You know why? Because Chemosh does not exist. He’s an idol of their own imagination and Chemosh cannot save them. So they are running for their lives. They are fugitives. Look at Isaiah 15:5, “Her fugitives flee as far as Zoar, as far as Eglath Shelishiyah. They go up the way to Luhith, weeping as they go; on the road to Horonaim they lament their destruction.” You see a picture of a train of refugees, crying, running, leaving possessions behind, stuff strewn along the roads. That’s what’s going on. The Moabites are running for their lives. Like all refugees, they try to carry whatever they can of their possessions. Verse 7 says, “So the wealth they have acquired and stored up they carry away over the Ravine of the Poplars.” They’re going to carry their gold and silver with them. Well, how long is that going to last? It’s heavy. There comes a point where they will leave it behind. The army that’s going to come after them will pick it up and plunder them. So that’s what is happening. These are refugees leaving behind their old way of life, and the slaughter is terrible. Look at Isaiah 15:9, “Dimon’s waters are full of blood, but I will bring still more upon Dimon – a lion upon the fugitives of Moab and upon those who remain in the land.” Whether it’s a literal lion or it’s just more military conquest coming on this straggling line of refugees, it doesn’t matter. The fact of the matter is, it’s just a miserable, horrible time for these Moabites. The rivers are filled with blood. You see the image of their women in 16:2, “like fluttering birds, pushed from the nest, so are the women of Moab at the fords of Arnon.” As they’re trying to cross this river, they are panicking and weak and defenseless, a picture of the refugee. Turning to Judah for Help At this point, they turn to Judah for help. This is the only place they can turn. Frankly, this is what Isaiah wants them to do. If you look at Isaiah 16:1, it says, “send lambs as tribute to the ruler of the land, from Sela, across the desert.” Where? “to the daughter of Zion.” Reach out to the Jews. Why? Because salvation is from the Jews, your ancient enemies. Reach out to the daughter of Zion. That’s the advice that Isaiah’s giving. It’s really that God is giving it. Reach out to the Jews in your moment of distress. Historical Details Now, I have no idea, historically, what this is referring to. Nobody really knows. I have a sense of what’s going on, but nobody really knows. Of course, the big bully of the time was Assyria. It could be that in 715 BC, the Assyrians were coming down and dealing with some Arabian raiders that were making commerce difficult. As they did, they passed through little Moab. And what do the Assyrians do when they pass through somebody’s land? They do this kind of thing, this kind of conquest, this kind of bloodshed, this kind of plundering and pillaging. It could be that’s exactly what was going. The end for Moab is quite near. The End is Near Look at the end of our reading for today. Isaiah 16:13-14 says, “This is the word the Lord has already spoken concerning Moab. But now the Lord says: ‘Within three years, as a servant bound by contract would count them, Moab’s splendor and all her many people will be despised, and her survivors will be very few and feeble.” It’s a time table, three years as for a servant bound by a contract, meaning counting the hours. It’s going to be very accurate. Within that time, three years, Moab will be finished. That’s what’s going on. Look at Isaiah’s reaction, weeping for the refugees. Weeping for the Refugees God Does Not Willingly Afflict People I find it fascinating, the emotional response of Isaiah to these, who are supposedly his enemies. I tell you that God does not willingly afflict anyone. He doesn’t willingly bring suffering on anybody. So says Lamentations 3:32-33, “Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.” The consistent teaching of scripture is that it is, in fact, God that brings these disasters. There’s not a subset of disaster that didn’t come from God and had nothing to do with God. He does everything. He’s King of the Universe, but He doesn’t delight in bringing suffering. That’s not what He’s doing. It’s called in Isaiah 28:21, “His strange work” and “His alien task.” It’s not his home base. He does it for a reason, for a purpose. I believe He afflicts the nations to get them up out of their self-satisfied, self-worshipping rut, and to cause them to seek a Savior, who they would never seek if God didn’t afflict them. As King Hezekiah says as he is recovering from his illness, “Surely it was good for me to have been afflicted.” It’s a good thing, then, to be afflicted if, in the end, it means salvation for your soul. And I think that’s what’s going on here. God brings these kinds of afflictions because there is no way the Moabites will seek a Savior from the descendants of David, unless they are desperate and running for their lives. Isaiah Weeps for the Nations God brings this kind of affliction into lives, but you see the emotion, you see the compassion of God through His spokesman Isaiah. You see Him weeping for them, and it’s really quite surprising. Look at Isaiah 15:5. He says “My heart cries out over Moab; her fugitives flee as far as Zoar, as far as Eglath Shelishiyah. They go up the way to Luhith, weeping as they go; on the road to Horonaim they lament their destruction.” He’s weeping for them. He has compassion for them. In chapter 16:9-11, it says, “So I weep, as Jazer weeps… the shouts of joy… are stilled. Joy and gladness are taken away from the orchards; no one sings or shouts in the vineyards; no one treads out the wine at the presses, for I have put an end to the shouting. My heart laments for Moab like a harp, my inmost being for Kir Hareseth.” This is Isaiah. Isaiah is speaking. He is a man. He is reacting to his own prophecies. He’s reacting emotionally to what he is writing. But in so doing, he is God’s mouthpiece, and it is really God’s own reaction to what the Moabites are going through. That’s quite remarkable. You have to look carefully, but look at verse 10, and then on into verse 11 of Chapter 16. It says, “Joy and gladness are taken away from the orchards; no one sings or shouts in the vineyards; no one treads out wine at the presses.” Why? “For I have put an end to the shouting.” Do you see that? The word “I?” Isaiah didn’t do that. It’s not Isaiah’s work that put an end to anything. He’s an announcer. He’s a messenger. This is God speaking. Therefore, the very next verse is God speaking as well. “My heart laments for Moab.” This is the nature of our God. He brings the affliction, but He weeps at the effects. Surely, God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. They are so infinitely high above us, what God is doing in the world. But I believe He does it out of compassion. I believe He does it so that people will turn from their sins and cry out to a Jewish Savior, cry out to Christ and be saved. That’s why He does it. And unless some harsh treatment comes in most of our lives, if not all, we will never do it. We will never do it. Christ Wept for His Enemies Christ wept for His enemies, didn’t He? Didn’t Christ stand over Jerusalem and weep for the coming judgment that would come on that city? Didn’t He say, concerning the men that were murdering Him, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Lk 23:34) Do you see His heart there? The Apostle Paul Wept for His Enemies Do you see the Apostle Paul, in Romans 9, testifying that he has a great sorrow and unceasing anguish over the Jews who are making his life utterly miserable and who would love to kill him as well? He testifies solemnly that he would trade his salvation for theirs, if he could. Amazing compassion! Do We? What about us? What about me? Every time I come to the issue of my level of compassion for the lost, I’m brought up short and convicted. I realize that I have to cry out against the stoniness of my own heart and I realize that I just don’t care enough about fugitives, refugees. I don’t care enough about the lost, the idolaters around me. I don’t care enough. And I have to fan a little ember into a flame, by a biblical meditation on what hell is actually going to be like. I have to do it. The scholarly pastor Andrew Bonar, in Scotland, lay on his bed Saturday nights. Down in the street, below his window, he could hear revelers tramping back and forth, going to the bars and the shows, an empty searching for something. He used to get out of his bed and weep over their souls and cry out, “Oh, they perish, they perish!” He would weep for them. Oswald J Smith, who brought the Gospel to over 50 countries, this is what he said, “Can we travail for a drowning child, but not for a perishing soul? It is not hard to weep when we realize that our little one is sinking below the surface for the last time. Anguish is spontaneous then. Nor is it hard to agonize when we see the little casket containing all that we love on earth borne out of the home. Ah, no; tears are natural at such a time! But oh, to realize and to know that souls, precious, never-dying souls are perishing all around us, going out into the blackness of darkness and despair, eternally lost, and yet to feel no anguish, shed no tears, know no travail! How cold are our hearts! How little do we know of the compassion of Jesus!” I take solace from the fact that you can even see that Oswald J Smith, who brought the gospel to over 50 countries, saw that weakness in his own heart. It’s not natural for us, but we ought to weep over the kind of judgments that come on the lost. We ought to travail for their souls. We see the sorrow of Isaiah and, really, the sorrow of God over the affliction necessary to save them. The Great Advantage of Refugees Advantage? How Can It Be? We also see the great advantage for these refugees. Now, you might say what advantage can there be in being a refugee? Well, on an earthly basis, at a purely secular level, I can’t possibly see any advantage. As I said, these were the most miserable people I’d ever seen on the face of the earth. I don’t mean that in terms of their emotional state. I just mean in terms of their circumstances. As I look at the hierarchy of suffering, the only think that I think is worse than running for your life before an invading army is being captured and held by a malicious tyrant who loves to torture you, with no escape or death. I think that’s probably the worst earthly circumstance you could be in. Of course, none of this compares to hell, because there is always some escape from any misery here on earth. But there is no escape from hell. Still, I think being a refugee is a horrible situation. Yet there is an advantage if, in the end, you come to your senses and come to faith in Christ, if you realize you’re really running for your life. And by that, I mean your eternal life. If you realize that your ordinary way of life was only going to lead you to hell, and something caused you to get out of that rut that was drawing you right down into hell, to get up out of that and say, “Where am I going?” If you then come to your senses and say, “I need a savior,” then it’s worthwhile. Foundations Removed There’s some advantage, then, in being a refugee. Foundations are removed. All the things you counted on and relied on are taken away. You have to think about everything anew and afresh. Everything’s been tossed up for grabs. Pride Removed Pride has been removed. Oh, that’s important. Look at Isaiah 16:6. It’s mentioned right there, “We have heard of Moab’s pride – her overweening pride and conceit, her pride and her insolence – but her boasts are empty.” Oh, they’re empty now! Now whoever it is has come in, the Assyrians, let’s say. Oh, there’s nothing left to be proud of now! Now they’re beggars looking for some place of refuge. Actually, that’s good, because Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5:3) It’s good to get to the point where you realize you have nothing in your hands to give to the king. You’re just begging for a place of refuge. That’s a good thing. Pride has been destroyed. It’s amazing how proud we are, isn’t it? But what do we have to be proud of, really? We’re just created beings. Everything we have we receive from God. What do we have to boast about? Yet it’s in there, that worm of pride. It’s so ugly when you see it in someone else, isn’t it? It’s so ugly when you see it in another person, but it’s ugly if you can see it in yourself too. I was reading a quote by the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. I can scarcely read this without feeling a curdling effect in my stomach. He said openly what most people would never parade. Pride is just oozing from this paragraph. Listen to what he said: “What could your miseries have in common with mine? My situation is unique, unheard of since the beginning of time. The person who can love me as I can love is still yet to be born. No one has ever had more talent for loving. I was born to be the best friend that ever existed. Show me a better man than me, a heart more loving, more tender, more sensitive. Posterity will honor me because it is my due. I rejoice in myself. My consolation lies in my self-esteem. If there were a single enlightened government in Europe, it would have erected statues to me.” Wow! Listen, bro. Let’s sit down and have a conversation. Let’s get the scripture and find out what the truth really is. What’s so sad is that we’re like this, though we don’t admit it. We’re not going to bring it this far, but we think, “Has anybody ever suffered like me? Nobody loves like I love. If I really got what I deserved, they’d be erecting a statue.” I don’t know if we carry it that far, but the pride, it’s really laughable. It’s actually good to laugh at yourself. But, you know, to actually get cured from it, sometimes it takes this level of affliction. To run for your life strips you of pride. What do you have left? Where then is your resume? Where then are your possessions? Where then is your glorious future? You’re running for your life, and that’s what it’s done. So there’s a great advantage to being a refugee. The Only Safe Refuge: Christ An Invitation for Refuge It’s good if you know the refuge. Amen? If you know where to run to, now that’s a benefit. And I say to you, the only safe refuge is Jesus Christ. He’s mentioned in the text, though indirectly. With their pride stripped, the Moabite refugees have nowhere to turn but to Judah. As we already mentioned in Chapter 16:1, they’re urged to “send lambs as tribute to the… mount of the Daughter of Zion.” That’s Jerusalem. They begged for help from the Jews. Verses 2-4 of Chapter 16 say, “Like fluttering birds pushed from the nest, so are the women of Moab at the fords of the Arnon. ‘Give us counsel, render a decision. Make your shadow like night – at high noon. Hide the fugitives, do not betray the refugees. Let the Moabite fugitives stay with you; be their shelter from the destroyer.’ The oppressor will come to an and, and destruction will cease; the aggressor will vanish from the land.” A Stunning Prophecy: A Ruler from the House of David Here we have a stunning and beautiful prophecy: a ruler from the house of David. Look at verse 16:5, “In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it – one from the house of David – one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness.” Oh, how sweet is that promise of Jesus Christ! This isn’t any one of the Davidic kings. Yes, Hezekiah was a godly man, but he was no final refuge. He’s a picture of A refuge, but he’s not The final refuge. Oh no. The final refuge is Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. He’s the refuge. Therefore, Isaiah predicts the establishment of a Davidic throne that will reign in righteousness. This Davidic king will bring justice to the nations. It is Jesus Christ then at last, who is every refugee’s place of safety. The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run to it and find refuge. Jesus is the name of the Lord. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. You run to Him and you find refuge. What refuge is there? The foot of the cross, where Jesus shed His blood for sin. The real danger is not the Assyrian army or any army. The real danger is the wrath of God. “’Do not fear those who kill the body and after that can do nothing to you. I’ll tell you the one to fear,’ said Jesus, ‘fear the one who has the power to destroy both soul and body in hell.’” We need a refuge from hell. We need a refuge from the judgment of an all-seeing God. We need a refuge from judgment and wrath. That’s what we need. Jesus Christ is the place of refuge, amen? We can flee to Him and find safety. There is no other, there’s no other place. God didn’t ordain that Noah and five other people each build an ark. There was one ark, there was one place of refuge. And so it is with Christ. In the Old Covenant, the Moabites were excluded to the tenth generation. Oh, but praise God for the New covenant, Amen? In the New Covenant, anyone who repents and believes is welcome. “All that the Father gives me will come to me,” said Jesus, “and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” (Jn 6:37) There is your welcome. There is your place of refuge. Jesus Christ is saying, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mt 11:28) So He is the place of refuge mentioned right here in Isaiah 16:5. Someday the Whole World Will Become Refugees What’s the connection to our lives? Are we ever going to be refugees? Well, I can’t say. I cannot say. I do know, though, there will come a time when every nation on earth will run for their lives. If you’re alive at that time, you’ll run too. You will run too. That’s all you can do. This is what the Lord says in Isaiah 13:13-14, “Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the Lord Almighty, in the day of his burning anger. Like a hunted gazelle, like sheep without a shepherd, each will return to his own people, each will flee to his native land.” Haggai 2:6-7 says, “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations.’” Isaiah 30:27-28 says, “See, the name of the Lord comes from afar, with burning anger and dense clouds of smoke; his lips are full of wrath, and his tongue is a consuming fire. His breath is like a rushing torrent, rising up to the neck. He shakes the nations in the sieve of destruction.” Hebrews 12:26-27 says, “At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’ The words “once more” indicate the removal of what can be shaken – that is, created things – so that what cannot be shaken may remain.” God himself is going to shake the nations in a sieve of destruction. All the nations that live at that time will run for their lives. So you will be a fugitive if you live in the final generation. It is your future and mine if the Lord tarries. It is a terrifying thing. The prediction is plain in Revelation 6:12-17, “I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’” Run for your lives! It’s going to be literal at that point. But the real danger is nothing on earth, friend. No, the real danger is Judgment Day. That’s the real danger. When you stand before Him who knows everything you ever said, everything you ever did, who knows the inclinations of your heart, who remembers everything perfectly, that’s the danger. As John the Baptist said to his Jewish enemies, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” Has anybody warned you to do that, to be a refugee from the coming wrath? Have you learned to do that? To flee from the wrath to come? Christ is the Only Refuge for Spiritual Refugees Jesus Christ is the only refuge from that wrath to come. It says in 1 Thessalonians 1:10, “Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” Amen? He is a safe refuge from the coming wrath. It says in 1 Thessalonians 5:9, “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” So run for your lives! In the beginning of Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian realizes that he actually lived in a place called the City of Destruction. He started to be worried about the future. Wouldn’t you if you lived in a place called the City of Destruction? He’s reading about it in the book, in the Scriptures, and he has a terrible burden on his back, a sense of guilt for his own sins that are going to press him down to hell. He talks to his wife, but she doesn’t believe. She thinks he’s crazy. The children don’t believe, they think he’s crazy. His neighbors think he’s crazy. Then Evangelist tells him to go to a wicket gate and to a flashing light, and he begins to run there. He’s running, and he’s got his fingers in his ears so he doesn’t listen to the cries of his unbelieving family and his mocking neighbors. He runs and runs for the distant salvation, running for that gate, so that his soul can be saved. Run for your lives. Do you live in the City of Destruction? Yes, you do. So do I. So we’re called on to run this race with endurance, to keep running until we’re done, to run for our lives spiritually. Applications Nothing Here is Eternal… So Flee Every Day to Christ What application do we take from this? First, nothing you see around you is eternal. Don’t be deceived. Did you say, “What? We heard a strange sermon today on being a refugee for Christ. I don’t think that’s going to happen to me.” Well, be careful, friend. Be careful, because someday you’re going to lose it all anyway. You are. And it’s good to know it. I don’t know the specific political and military situations, or earthquake, or hurricane that will cause you to be a displaced person. I don’t know whether that will ever happen to you. But I do know this, you ought to live with that kind of mentality. Live as an alien and a stranger on earth, looking ahead to a city with foundations whose builder and maker is God. Run for that place, the celestial city. Nothing will ever remove that. It cannot be shaken. Run for that. Live a Holy Life Worthy of Our Future Home… Personal Holiness Hold on to your possessions loosely. Live a holy life worthy of that final day, since is says in 2 Peter 3:11-13, “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.” So live a holy and godly life. 1 Peter 2:11 says, “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in this world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.” Cry Out Over Our Hardness of Heart Thirdly, I would urge you to cry out over your own hardness of heart, as I do over mine. Cry out that you don’t care about the plight of the lost. Be like God. Be like Paul. Be like Andrew Bonar and Oswald J Smith. Be like these men and women who learned to weep over the condition of lost friends and relatives and co-workers. If you don’t care much, know that God knows you don’t care. He knows, however, if you’re a believer, that you want to care. You want to be healed from your hardness of heart. You want to care about the poor and the needy. Go to Him and ask Him for it. Be a spiritual beggar for that, too. Say, “Lord, change my heart. Give me tears to cry over lost people.” And stay there until He does. Meditate in depth on passages about hell. That might help you. Consider Ministry to Refugees Finally, consider in a practical way a ministry to refugees. We’ve already had some in this church that have sacrificially given to refugees from Vietnam. It’s been a sweet experience for them and for the church. You can give money to Persecution Project, which ministers to Christian refugees in the Sudan, especially in Darfur. You can minister to refugees that are non-Christians, as we did in Pakistan. Those were Muslim refugees. Perhaps God might call you to that kind of a practical ministry. In any case, whatever God calls you to do, live your life as a refugee here on Earth until God takes you to heaven. Close with me in prayer.

We should be compassionately motivated to introduce people to Jesus and the life we've found in Him. When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.' And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.' And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.' And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. Luke 14:15-23 ESVAny church that isn't seriously involved in helping fulfill the great commission has forfeited its biblical right to exist. - Oswald J. SmithNot called did you say? Not heard the call, I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible and hear him bid you go… William BoothIt all starts with knowing Him for the sake of knowing Him.You can't know Jesus and His love in the way we're meant to know Him and not find a way to make Him known!If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, indeed I cannot. Jeremiah 20:9 ESVYou are the light of the world, like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. Mathew 5:14 NLTWe shine more brightly when we shine together. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. Luke 19:10 NLTDon't shine a light on others, but for others.We can see Jesus through us reach our world, one strategic and intentional connection, conversation, and relationship at a time. Everyone should get to have a real relationship with a true God follower at least once in their lifetime.When I came to you, brothers, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:1-2 ESVNothing is more meaningful than sharing first hand how God's word and will have impacted your life. One of the most important prerequisites for an impactful witness is a grateful and surrendered life, which may be in itself the greatest witness of all. For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike. So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News. For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes. Romans 1:14-16 NLT