Reaching Your World with Luis Palau

We have a great woman, Gail, who sits on our board. She reminded us recently that life comes at us in seasons outside our control. One season that came to her she describes as the DINKS. Double Income-No Kids. Gail was happily married, both had successful jobs (double income) - but no kids. Before long, they didn’t want to be DINKS any longer but couldn’t get pregnant. As the years went by, this desire for children grew. They struggled and prayed. And in God’s plan, just as they were about to adopt, she became pregnant, ultimately having three precious children. It is hard to wait and release control of our seasons. We question God: “When? How? Why?” But His timing is perfect and hurry is not in God’s nature. Through their trials, Gail held onto Paul’s attitude described in Philippians as an example. “I consider all these things as a loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage that I may gain Christ.” Be encouraged, even in the season you are in. You still have Christ. Dealing with the season we are in from this perspective gives us the spiritual health and the authority to testify to God’s faithfulness and to reach our world. This is Andrew Palau.

It can be too easy for each generation of Christians to lose sight of our heritage. One way to stay connected to all those great saints who have gone before us is to read what they wrote, and to learn the ancient creeds that have echoed through generations of the Church. I’m sure you’ve heard the Apostle’s Creed but I thought I would say it here today as a reminder of what Christians have said together for centuries: “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary: Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell: The third day he rose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty: From there he shall come to judge the living and the dead: I believe in the Holy Spirit: I believe in the worldwide church: the communion of saints: The forgiveness of sins: The resurrection of the body: And the life everlasting. Amen.” Amen! Who do you need to share this great and truthful Good News with today so they can experience life everlasting in Jesus Christ? Think about it and share it. This is Luis Palau.

It can be easy to be impatient in school. In elementary school you can’t wait for junior high. In junior high you can’t wait for high school. In high school you can’t wait for college. And in college you can’t wait to graduate and begin life after school. If you are a student, rather than always waiting for what’s next, I would encourage you to view school as your current vocation from God. Whatever grade you’re in, don’t rush through. Study hard, do your best. Make friends. Approach school with a commitment to excellence. As you work hard in your vocation of school, the Lord will open doors for spiritual conversations. God can use you where you are today to make a big difference with your classmates, teachers and other school staff. Work hard, and when matters of faith arise, boldly share what is true - that Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, that you know Him, that you revere Him, and recommend Him too. As Colossians tells us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters…” You don’t have to wait until after graduation to reach your world- reach your world at school today! And God will use you in a big way. This is Luis Palau.

Jill felt overlooked. All of her friends were getting married. It seemed like one more wedding every week. She tried to be happy for her friends, but it hurt to watch, as everyone seemed to get married. Then everyone started having children. Jill was smart and funny, beautiful and talented. She had a successful career, and many friends. But she started to wonder- what’s wrong with me? Will I ever get married? Does God hear my prayer? Now, some of you single people listening may not feel this way. Perhaps you’re perfectly content in your singleness and you don’t desire marriage at this time. That is wonderful! But if you are listening today and you do feel overlooked, I want you to know that God does hear your prayers. That there is nothing wrong with you. And that while you are waiting, I pray that God would bring you comfort and peace and joy that He has promised. That you would fill up your days serving other people and sharing God’s Good News. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Continue to love your friends and share in their joy. And trust in God’s perfect timing for you. Your faith during a season of waiting will be a powerful testimony to a watching world around you. This is Luis Palau

C.S. Lewis’ classic work, the Screwtape Letters, is a collection of imaginary, insightful “letters” from a wise old devil named Screwtape, advising his nephew, Wormwood, a new demon-in-training. In one letter, Screwtape writes to Wormwood, “We want a whole race perpetually in pursuit of the rainbow’s end, never honest, nor kind, nor happy now, but always using as mere fuel wherewith to heap the altar of the future every real gift which is offered them in the Present.” And you know, I’m sure most of us have been tempted to be discontent many times. Never resting in present circumstances. Always hoping to find the next best thing. We think to ourselves… If we could just… graduate college. If we could just… get married. If we could just… have a bigger ministry. If we could just… make more money. But you know, if all we’re ever thinking of is what’s next, we will miss what God wants us to do right now. Like, today! In Matthew 6:34 Jesus tells us not to, “…worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Ask God to open your eyes to the needs around you right now, today. People who need to hear His Good News right where you are. You’ll be amazed at all the opportunities you find to reach your world when you live in the present. This is Luis Palau

The Bible has a clear message about worry: we don’t need it. Luke points out that none of us can add a single hour to our lives by worrying. So how do we deal with it? Where do we go for consolation, for comfort? At times, I’ve dealt with worry and anxiety by venting to a friend or trying to forget the issue with a few hours of TV. While these reactions may bring some immediate relief, there’s only one sure way to replace that anxiety with joy. Psalm 94:18, “When anxiety was great within me, you brought joy to my soul.” When dealing with anxiety, it’s easy to fall back on whatever activity makes us feel comfortable or safe. In many cases, these activities are harmless. They can even be a good way to vent. But the next time you’re looking for comfort ask yourself, “Will this bring joy to my soul, or is it just a distraction?” Turn to the Lord. His peace is different, deeper than the consolation the world has to offer. Give Him your anxieties and worry no more. Only His unfailing grace can bring long-term, joyful restoration to our souls. This is Andrew Palau.

Have you ever noticed yourself procrastinating when you know you have a lot to do? Perhaps you put off preparing because you’re overwhelmed by the work your project will take. Or perhaps you’re just too nervous to get started—like the student who doesn’t start a report until the night before it’s due. Or the businessman who doesn’t prepare for a meeting until the last second. In a world with constant distraction online and in social media, procrastinating has never been so easy. But have you ever stopped to think, what if today was really all we had? Would you have shared the good news with everyone you can think of? Would you have done the things that really matter? The things that matter most to God are those with eternal value: loving and serving our neighbors, and sharing the good news Gospel. The Bible, which is God’s holy Word, tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.” So this week, let’s practice that self-discipline and avoid the distractions that cause us to delay, to put things off, to procrastinate. No more delays! Let’s be bold in sharing the Good News! This is Luis Palau.

Have you ever met someone who seemed to have courage—even in a terrifying situation? I have. In fact, on the news, I saw that 21 Christians in another country were killed for their faith. But this horrible story isn’t actually how the story ended; you see, even in the face of death, these 21 martyrs sang Christian hymns. They remained courageous. They remained faithful. And they rested in God’s strength until the very end. As followers of Jesus, we have access to God’s unlimited well of courage and strength—even in the worst of circumstances. The Bible tells us that God is with us in this life, and we know we will be with Him forever when we go to Heaven. So, truly, we have nothing to fear! Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” So, wherever you are today, whatever worries you’re dealing with, I want to encourage you to take heart. Trust in the Lord and lean on Him for courage and strength. Who do you know that needs to hear about God’s strength today? Who can you share the Good News of Jesus Christ with? This is Luis Palau.

Are you anxious? Are you going through a difficult time? You know, it’s normal to be stressed out every now and then, but I believe that we actually choose to forfeit peace when we do not spend time in prayer. Think about it. We usually experience the most anxiety when we are feeling busy and overwhelmed. And often, when we feel this way, we forget to set aside time to pray. But my friend, I want to remind you today that prayer has real power. Spending time talking to — and listening to — God Almighty will make a huge difference. Prayer not only releases God’s power in your life, but brings His peace into your stressful situation. Philippians 4:6 and 7 says, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” So, I challenge you to spend at least 15 minutes in prayer each day. Ask God to help you through the situations causing anxiety, and ask Him to reveal who He wants you to share His Good News with. This is Luis Palau.

Have you ever had so much to do that you don’t even know where to start? A friend of mine described this feeling perfectly; she said, “sometimes, the kids need dinner, the house needs cleaning, the laundry needs folding, the dog needs to be walked—and I’m just one person. I can’t do it all!” We all have times when we feel overwhelmed by responsibilities or items on our “to-do list”. But the truth is, we really can’t do it all. We were never meant to! We were meant to lean on Jesus when things get overwhelming. To lean on Him when times are tough, or when we’re tired, or when we feel like giving up. The Bible says, in Isaiah 40:31, “But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Today, no matter how overwhelmed you might feel, I challenge you to surrender yourself to Jesus afresh. Rely on him for strength. Make notes on your iPhone or a piece of paper. Show it to the Lord and ask Him, “Lord, what’s first, what’s second, what’s third.” He’ll guide you. He does me, and He’s promised to guide you also. Life is less overwhelming when we allow our Savior to hold our hand through difficult seasons. This is Luis Palau.

I walked past an old warehouse and all I could see was a massive, decrepit building. When it was built, surely it was attractive and functional but now it desperately needed renovation. Where would you start? It made me think of the story of Gideon in the Bible. God had big plans for the Israelites but they disobeyed God, were taken into the hands of their enemies, and there began to deteriorate. They needed a revival! Gideon was the one called to this major refurbishing effort, but he didn’t feel qualified. Like an abandoned warehouse, his people were falling apart. And while Gideon heard the call, he questioned God multiple times before he forged ahead. Have you been so discouraged before that your faith seems to come to a standstill and momentum just stops? The threat is real and we can easily abandon the call of God on our lives. That’s why Paul wrote to Timothy, “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self–discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord God.” Let’s do it! Let’s allow the Word of God to renew and revive our spirits. Gideon doubted at first, but by faith went on to rescue his people. And this testimony can also be ours as we reach our world. This is Andrew Palau.

Communism is the political system that held sway in Russia for many years. Communism ruled the entire lives of the people who lived under it, and it proclaimed that there was no God. Christianity was outlawed. Atheism was taught in schools. Oleg lived in Russia during communism, and he considered himself a part of the Communist party. One day, he accidentally heard one of my sermons that was being broadcast on the radio called “The Road to Eternal Love.” He learned that no one is born a Christian and that everyone must repent of their sins and become born again. So that very day, Oleg repented of his sins and started following Jesus. Oleg’s whole family eventually came to Christ, and he became a pastor. Now his church has about 200 people in it, all serving God. Hearing about Christ made Oleg realize how empty Communism was without God. In Christianity, God loves and deeply cares for you. The Bible tells us that the fool says in his heart, “There is no God,” but for those who believe, God is a refuge. Oleg’s church is now a refuge for those who want to know the fullness of God. And this is all because Oleg accidentally heard a sermon on the radio … but there are no accidents with God. Will you share the Good News of God today, giving refuge to those who need it? This is Luis Palau.

Matt Redman’s dad died when Matt was a young boy. Years later, he found out that his father had committed suicide. In the middle of this pain and confusion, Matt clung to a truth that he had discovered a few years before. When he was 10 years old, Matt’s mother took him to a football stadium where he heard me speak about God the Father’s perfect love, in contrast to the failures of human fathers. It was then that Matt knew he had a Father in heaven. Matt began writing songs about what he was learning in his walk with God. Then he started sharing his songs at church. Now he is one of the most influential Christian songwriters of his generation. “Blessed Be Your Name,” “You Never Let Go,” “The Heart of Worship,” and other worship songs he has written are sung all over the world in churches every Sunday. He does what the Bible commands: “Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day.” This is his God-given calling! Matt never imagined the impact his music would have, but he used the gift the Lord gave him for God’s glory. Now through Matt’s music, people are coming to know the Lord better. All because a little boy needed a father and found one in God the Father. Use your gifts that God has given you to praise Him, and God can do great things. You can impact the world, as Matt does with God’s help. This is Luis Palau.

It was a dark, cold, rainy evening in Wrexham, North Wales, when Mark came to one of our crusade meetings. He was 17 years old with absolutely no interest whatsoever in God, the Gospel, or his Church. That all changed that evening. Mark decided to follow the Lord, and it took him surprising places.Seventeen years later, Mark, his wife, and their four children moved to Romania as missionaries to work with teenagers in prison and those in danger of winding up in prison. The ministry continued to grow over the next years, as they challenged teenagers and exposed them to the Gospel of truth. Because Mark found Christ as a teenager, he has a desire to minister to teenagers. He was willing to move from Wales to Romania to reach those teenagers who need to know Jesus. He is “proclaiming freedom for the prisoners,” as the book of Luke says, freedom that can only be found in Christ. He is making a difference for Jesus, reaching his world. You can too. Think about who you were when you were saved. Can you reach that type of person, telling them what you know about Jesus? Whether you were saved as a child or a teenager or as an adult, you can reach those around you with the Good News of Jesus. Everyone is a prisoner to something; Jesus can set them free. This is Luis Palau.

The Lord called me to be an evangelist, and I can see that from a young age. My father was a great Christian influence on me, taking me to hand out evangelistic Gospel tracts in neighboring towns. We were mocked and insulted, but we continued to spread the word of God — even before I was a true Christian. After I decided to follow Jesus at age 12, I was listening to a radio program in my aunt and uncle’s home. I didn’t hear the preacher’s name but his voice was vibrant and excited. Then another man’s strong deep voice started singing, “Out of my bondage, sorrow and night, Jesus, I come, Jesus I come…” I had been listening to Billy Graham and George Beverly Shea. Stretched out on that living-room floor, listening, I prayed: “Jesus, someday use me on the radio to bring others to You.” Little did I know that one day I would preach to millions of people over the radio, and that I would be in full-time ministry for over fifty years. The Lord calls all of us to spread His word, to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them. If we are obedient to God’s call, He will do great things through us, spreading the Gospel all over the world. This is Luis Palau.