Reaching Your World with Luis Palau

One night, a man called me in my hotel room and wanted to meet me in the lobby.  It was 1:45 a.m.He was a rather distinguished looking gentleman--a well-known psychologist--but he was visibly shaking.  "I watched your TV program tonight," he said, "and it hit home to my problem."  Then he confessed his drinking problem, as well as his unfaithfulness to his wife."I can't control myself," he said.  "I'm living like a dog!"  He pounded his fist on the coffee table, then pleaded:  "Is there any hope of change for a hypocrite like me?"I presented the Gospel, and without hesitation he said, "I want to receive Christ right now."  A week later, his wife called.  She had seen a change in her husband's life and wanted to invite Jesus Christ into her life, too.  The Bible says we can become new creations in Christ.  [2 Cor. 5:17]  Is there someone you know who needs to hear this message?  If so, let me challenge you to share this verse with them this week.  It could change them forever!

New York Herald reporter Henry Stanley converted to Jesus Christ after he went to Africa to find the legendary David Livingston.  Later, Stanley wrote:  "I went to Africa as prejudiced against religion as the worst infidel in London....  For months after we met, I found myself listening to him, wondering at the old man carrying out the words `leave all and follow me.'  But little by little, seeing his piety, his gentleness, his zeal, his earnestness, and how he went quietly about his business, I was converted by him, although he had not tried to do it."God is relevant today because He is constantly conforming us to the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ as Romans 8:29 tells us.  And as we follow God in our daily lives, people will notice the difference in us.     Even the smallest action can draw someone to Christ. So let's commit to take those daily steps of obedience to the Lord.  Let's make evangelism part of our everyday life because you never know who may be watching!

A few years ago, my family faced the unthinkable. En route to a family vacation in Jamaica, our airplane crashed. When that plane broke apart, I saw my whole life flash before me. More than ever before, I saw the fragility of life - how quickly life can and does pass like a vapor. It made me realize that since life is so short, we'd better make the most of it.It's easy to let the brevity of life define how we live. And, that's not necessarily bad. But, it can mean that we only live life for today, do whatever we want, take risks, become as famous and powerful as possible, and make and spend money. But, while our time on this earth may be short, what we do with this time will resonate for eternity. The crash reminded me that God holds the world in His hand. More than ever, I understood that the most important things in life aren't things. Rather, what matter most are God and the people He loves. Yes, in the grand scope of time, we are small; we are fragile. But we have the honor and challenge of reaching others for Christ so that they might know eternity. Don't wait for a jarring reminder. Live your life in light of this calling.

Douglas Copeland, author of "Generation X," confessed something that I've heard from many other young adults:  "My secret is that I need God--that I am sick and can no longer make it alone.  I need God to help me give, because I no longer seem capable of giving; to help me be kind, because I no longer seem capable of kindness; to help me love, as I seem beyond being able to love."Copeland is right--we all need God to help us through life. The key, however, isn't tapping into spirituality for our own benefit. Instead, we must realize we were put here on earth for God's benefit; to serve Him with everything we've got.  But, we can't serve Him in our own strength; we must be directed by the Holy Spirit.  As it says in Romans 8:8, "Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.  You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you."So, take a moment today to serve someone else.  It's another great way to share the love of Jesus Christ.

Katharine Tait had this to say about her famous father, atheist Bertrand Russell:  "Somewhere at the back of my father's mind, at the bottom of his heart, in the depths of his soul, there was an empty space that had once been filled by God and he never found anything else to put in it."  Russell himself once admitted:  "The center of me is always and eternally a terrible pain--a curious wild pain--a searching for something beyond what the world contains."We will never be satisfied until we turn to God.  King David acknowledged this in Psalm 62 when he wrote, "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken."Maybe someone you know is searching for his purpose in life.  Share Psalm 62 and tell him about salvation through Jesus Christ because only God can satisfy his heart.  Our friends will never find peace any other way.

In moments of intellectual honesty, even the most committed atheists agree life makes sense only if God is in the picture.       Jean-Paul Sartre, a French existentialist, faced life honestly right before his death.  In an interview with a Marxist journalist, he said, quote, "I do not feel that I am the product of chance, a speck of dust in the universe, but someone who was expected, prepared, prefigured.  In short, a being whom only a Creator could put here; and this idea of a creating hand refers to God." We need God.  We always have.  From the very beginning, God created us to have a relationship with Him.  In fact, Psalm 139 says God made us and knew everything about us before we were even born! [verse 16]  It's no wonder that we cannot rest until we come to know our Creator.So, don't be afraid to tell your friends about Jesus Christ. They may not know it, but their hearts are in desperate need of the Prince of Peace.  And you might be just the person God has planned to tell them.

During a Christian rally a few years ago, a heckler shouted, "Atheism has done more for the world than Christianity!""Very well," the speaker said, "tomorrow night you bring a hundred men whose lives have been changed for the better by atheism, and I'll bring a hundred who have been transformed byChrist."  The heckler frowned and said no more.Whether our friends realize it or not, God is relevant to their lives today.  Atheism brings only tragedy and despair.  Yet, the saving power of Jesus Christ offers hope and healing to people from all nations.  To me, it's more clear than ever that God is relevant to the well-being of every one of us! But we should not be surprised when people are reluctant to accept the Gospel. The apostle Paul said: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." [1 Corinthians 1:18]When you're sharing the Good News, remember that no matter how people respond, Jesus Christ is still relevant to their lives.

I've spent quite a bit of time writing a book about my life. My personal story is so crazy that sometimes people say, "You're exaggerating. You didn't really live that way." But, the stories are true. I'm ashamed to say, before I knew Jesus Christ, my life was really messed up. While writing my story, "The Secret Life of a Fool," I was reminded of one particularly bad night. I was hanging out with my friends at a bar. I was drunk and high. Suddenly, a random stranger asked, "Are you a follower of Satan?" That was my wakeup call. I knew I was living in sin and knew my behaviors were wrong. But, when that guy asked that question, everything hit me. I was not a follower of Satan but I certainly wasn't following God either. As awkward as that evening was, I'm glad he said something. His comment made me stop and realize that my life was going downhill fast. Do you know someone who needs a wakeup call? Someone who is not walking with the Lord? Be the one to lovingly tell them of another way. First off, pray that God will give you a clear opportunity to talk to them about Him. Then, don't shy away from saying that, because you care for them, you're worried by the direction their life is going. Your loving conversation may be the wakeup call they need to get back on track with the Lord.

Evangelism means opening up our mouths and sharing the Gospel with those around us. But, before we can open our mouths, we must first bow our heads in prayer.      Prayer is essential to effective evangelism, especially in this age of awakening. In I Thessalonians 5:17, Paul tells us to pray continually. Prayer keeps us connected to our Heavenly Father. And this is crucial, not only to evangelism, but to living the Christian life!      We have got to see ourselves under God as instruments of God to awaken cities and states and nations. Pray for boldness. And pray this new awakening will catch on fire in such a way that historians will say, "In the first years of the third century there was definitely a national awakening in the United States of America."       God willing, this awakening will spill over to other parts of the world, too.

Another thing to remember when it comes to national awakenings is this: It takes time to see the fruit of our labors. The Bible talks about first planting a seed and then waiting for it to grow and produce fruit. And that's the way it is with evangelism.      The problem is we want instant fruit. People say, "Well, where's the fruit?" But, we've got to give it time to grow! Give it time. It'll happen! Don't let your impatience rob you of your joy in evangelism.          When we share the Gospel with someone, it may take years for us to see any growth in that person. And very few people are changed overnight. Even with the apostle Paul it took three to five years for anyone to realize that he was actually converted and bearing fruit for God.        So, don't be discouraged. Keep sharing your faith and leave the growing to God.

I think the number one roadblock to evangelism is fear. We are afraid of what other people might think. And we're afraid of persecution. But, our fears shouldn't keep us from sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.      Take Paul for example: The apostle Paul knew all about persecution. He was chased from town to town. He was thrown in jail. He was whipped, stoned, beaten up and left for dead. On the surface, this does not look like a promising career in evangelism!      But in Acts 18:9 the Lord told Paul not to be afraid and to keep on speaking the truth. God told Paul He would protect him from harm. And Paul trusted that God would keep His promise. So, Paul obeyed and continued speaking. As a result, the Gospel spread throughout the country.      Don't be afraid to share your faith. Instead, let us continue speaking the truth in love.

Did you know that America is going through a spiritual awakening? It's true! You can tell because, all around the country, people are starting to talk about spiritual issues with less embarrassment.       You see it in everything from the national debate over the definition of marriage to ethics on Wall Street. People just seem more eager and willing to talk about spiritual matters.      We live in a day of incredible opportunity for evangelism. We must be ready to take advantage of the opportunities that come our way.      1 Peter 3:15 says "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." Now is the time to share the good news of Jesus Christ. So, be prepared!

After I graduated from college, I moved to Boston. I wanted a new start. I had gotten myself into bad situations in college and figured that after school, I'd move away and begin again. But, you know what happened? The same exact thing! Even though I had a university degree, lived in one of the premier American cities, and was working my way up the corporate ladder, life was empty. Once again, I got involved in partying and drugs and everything I hoped to leave in my past. I was lonely. Life seemed futile. Even though I was an "adult" and looked like I had things figured out, I was falling apart - living in despair. Can you relate? Do things look really good on the outside but inwardly you're a mess? I've been in those shoes. I perfected the art of living a lie for years and years. And, my attempts to change never worked. Real change didn't happen until I met Jesus Christ for myself. It was only through him that I found freedom, forgiveness, and a new life. Because Jesus died on the cross, the payment for our sins has been met. We don't have to look good on the outside but be dying inwardly. We can have life through and through! If you've been living a lie, give your heart to Jesus Christ and find freedom today. To pray with someone, right now, call 1-888-NEED-HIM.

Australian David Smallbone felt God leading him to promote Christian concerts. When too few fans filled seats during one major tour, David went into massive debt. Soon after, he lost his house and everything he had worked so hard for. David was offered a new job in Nashville,Tennessee, so he packed up his family and moved to America. Upon their arrival, he was told the job was no longer available.As they were wondering what God could possibly be up to, they were miraculously provided with bags of groceries, a mini van, and several odd jobs. Soon after came the biggest blessing of all...God provided a recording contract for David's oldest daughter, Rebecca. Today David promotes his own daughter's sold-out concerts. Rebecca St. James has been one of the hottest Christian artists in America for years. God knew what he was doing!The Bible says in Jeremiah, 'I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" So, my dear friend, trust God- He wants to bless you, and if you walk with Him, He longs to give you more than you ever thought possible as you seek to serve Him. God has a plan for your life.  Spend time with Him.

Have you ever asked God to use you? If so, expect the unexpected! National Football League running back Sherman Smith was one of the most popular players for the Seattle Seahawks. He was incredibly talented, and also a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Without warning, the Seahawks traded Smith to the San Diego Chargers. After a few weeks on his new team he blew out his knee. While his knee was healing, Sherman had the opportunity to lead one of his teammates to Jesus Christ. That converted party-man, Miles McPherson, has since become an outstanding youth evangelist and a pastor of a massive church, who reaches tens of thousands each year for Jesus Christ.So why was Sherman traded to San Diego? He now knows God wanted to use him! The book of Proverbs says to 'trust in the Lord with all your heart [...] and He will direct your path,' in Proverbs chapter 5.If you are trying to reach your world, and things aren't making sense, keep trusting God. He knows exactly what He's doing. He's sovereign.  Don't give up telling people about Jesus Christ.   And look around to see what God is trying to do with your life.  In time, you will see the fruit of your labor.