How Will They Know if We Do Not Tell Them – 5-6-22

“For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.” Romans 10:11-12 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

Do you already have a relationship with a powerful God who cares about your every need because He loves you? Did you know my God can communicate with you and protect you – He has a plan for you to prosper if you just submit to His will and let His plan play out in your life!!! God wants a relationship with you and has already made a plan for your life. He loves you so much He sent His son to this world, to die as a sacrifice for your sins and rise from death with victory over sin and the ability to have a personal relationship with you.

Do you want to know truth? Be able to discern lies? Know how to figure it all out in these confusing times and have peace? The Bible says Jesus is the truth. I have experienced it and it has changed my life. I was once a hot mess of sin, promiscuity, drug and alcohol use and so much more. But I was lost and when I could not find my way, or find a truth, I numbed it with bad choses. When I found Jesus, and truth – I found peace and deliverance from those things.

If you want a relationship with God without truth you will get the counterfeit, hypocritical Christianity that has kept some of you away for too long. You need truth and relationship. You need to be honest with yourself and God (including honest repentance) and God will reveal truth to you. It becomes the two way, interaction that your relationship with God is built on. This is why Jesus is called the truth, because he is our only way to the Father. 

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 NIV
Here is a prayer for you to pray:
Jesus, I believe you are the way, the truth, the life, and the only way to the Father. I believe you are the son of God, you came to Earth and lived. That you died on the cross as a sacrifice for my sins, and rose again so that I may be saved from my sins and be able to get to know you. I declare: Jesus, you are Lord!
Therefore, I confess that I am a sinner and I ask that you forgive me of my sins and come into my life. Help me to turn away from my sins and transform me into what you have lovingly created me to be. Help me through a real personal relationship grow and accept your will for my life – that I may live in your blessings. Please walk with me, and talk with me – I accept a relationship with you and with our Father God, through you. In the name of Jesus I pray ~ Amen

BIBLE READING:

Dear Heavenly Father – Please give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of who you are, who Jesus is, and who the Holy Spirit is. Open the eyes of our understanding, please, so we may know the hope of our calling and the vast sovereignty and power of the grace of the cross. Please do not let us miss out on what you want and need from us today. Lord, I pray that your word prepares us and not scares us! We forbid the works and influences of fear over your word and our sound mind. And please keep us and bless us and shine your face upon us and pour out grace over us and give us peace! Thank you! – In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Today’s reading is the Book of Romans chapter 10 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV). 

Israel Needs the Gospel

10 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for ^[a]Israel is that they may be saved. ² For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. ³ For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. ⁴ For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

⁵ For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” ⁶ But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) ⁷ or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. ¹³ For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Israel Rejects the Gospel

¹⁴ How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who ^[b]preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

¹⁶ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” ¹⁷ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

¹⁸ But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed:
“Their sound has gone out to all the earth,
And their words to the ends of the world.”

¹⁹ But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says:
“I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation,
I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.”

²⁰ But Isaiah is very bold and says:
“I was found by those who did not seek Me;
I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”

²¹ But to Israel he says:
“All day long I have stretched out My hands
To a disobedient and contrary people.”

Footnotes
a. Romans 10:1 NU them
b. Romans 10:15 NU omits preach the gospel of peace, Who

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

John 20:31- “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”

STUDY/DEVOTIONAL:

More than half way through the book and our study of Romans and I have to ask, how are you doing with the challenge? Last week, we challenged each other to take a few actions daily to help get us some healthy roots and to root out any sins within us. I am personally surprised at what has surfaced and how God is using this to help pull out things I did not even know were there. Here, for review, and as a reminder to keep building up the healthy roots, is the 2 part challenge:

PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS:
Dear God, I am sorry for being filled with all/any unrighteousness, and/or sexual immorality, and/or wickedness, and/or covetousness, and/or maliciousness, and/or envy, murder, and strife, and/or deceit and evil-mindedness, and/or being a whisperers and  backbiters, and/or haters of God, and/or violent, and/or proud and boasting, and/or inventors of evil things, and/or disobedient to parents, and/or undiscerning, and/or untrustworthy, and/or unloving, and/or unforgiving, and/or unmerciful, and/or for practicing such things are deserving of death. Please forgive me even though I knew better and I understand the righteous judgment of You, God. Please wash me with the Blood of Jesus. Cleanse me and help me turn from my evil ways – convict me strongly when I do wrong that I may notice and stop. And send a fresh filling of your anointing to break the yokes of bondage and help me destroy the roots with a mindful effort and focus on you. Please reignite the fire in my belly that I may burn for you in boldness. In the name of Jesus we pray ~amen

HEALTHY ROOTS CHALLENGE: this challenge is to heal and strengthen our roots
One – Give God ALL the Glory
Two – Dedicated time for thanksgiving, and be thankful for all things!
Three – Guard our hearts and mind, rebuking and stopping sinful or not godly thoughts, not letting our minds wander and be prayerful and intentional in thinking.
Four – And finally, let us be humble. Humble enough to say I do not know it all and God has something new to reveal to me in this book and in this day.
(Please review the blog post from 4/25/22 for an explanation as to why we are doing this daily and for the scriptural reference instructing us to make these things a practice in our lives. Until they flow from us naturally, we can intentionally and with all of our hearts, scheduled them into our lives and watch them heal and reroute our unhealthy roots that gave sinful/evil fruits.)

Now, let us look at chapter ten:

Chapter 10 has the subtitles that Israel needs the Gospel and Israel rejects the Gospel – A pretty clear indicator that this is about the Jewish people. Is there anything in here for those of us adopted into the family? I mean the Romans Road to Salvation (adapted to be the A, B, C’s of Salvation) comes from this chapter, and many use this formula to lead people through the salvation prayer and profession of faith. I even use it in the relationship section of EVERY post – we all should have it memorized by now and be able to quote it while leading people to Christ.  How does it apply to gentiles in a subtitle written about Jews?

“1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. ² For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. ³ For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. ⁴ For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
Many times I have prayed that God would give me a heart for people – especially the people He wants me to reach. In this book and others as well as in the way he lived, Paul demonstrated that he has a heart for the Jew first and then the Gentile. But there is a special hurt for Paul who personally identifies with being zealous for the Lord and loving Him with all his heart – and doing it wrong. Because Paul lived it.
It reminds me of people like my son – knows and confesses there is a God and really does want to know God and wants a life changing experience with God, but wants to come upon it his own way and not in seeking him through the Bible, the church, or other places God is commonly found.
It reminds me of a couple friends, entrenched in sin, yet they believe they have eternal security and it doesn’t matter – they can love God and sin and not know God and not do His will and still slide into heaven some how.

Paul also knows these people are the hardest to reach. He was one, so He knows. He is also writing to a few – and I might be as well. They are the ones who read through Paul’s challenge to repent from sin, quickly and did not act on it. Was this you? We acted on it and kicked it up a notch to find even more than what is found with one introspective review. Are you doing it daily? Or just skimming it… or not even skimming, but scrolling down to the good part?
Paul’s letters were read out loud in one sitting, but you could come back and hear it again and again. And so it was easy for them to skip the repentance. But what about the ‘die to self’ part? Yes, even that can be blown over when reading the whole book at once. They did not pause, repent, sleep on it while praying through for understanding and come back the next day ready for direction.
So Paul reviews it one more time:

“⁵ For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” ⁶ But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) ⁷ or, “‘who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):”
Yep, Paul sums it up quickly, again quoting the old scriptures, because the word of God is anointed and does not return void. So he causes these Jews to be stirred to remember the word. And then Paul gives the salvation message.
This is the altar call most churches save for the end – “If you do not know Jesus and want to please raise your hand or come forward or something and repeat this prayer after me – after I quote these next two verses.”  Or like me, I do it upfront, and can always go back and do it again if you said no the first time. Paul shows that when he related to these people, showed them his love for them – he can give this message.
Now, verses 1-8 probably will not work on gentiles. And probably will still work on Jews. But we can follow the pattern. Relate to the person. Love them. Jesus loves them more. And then tell them how to be saved. It would be even better if you add to it a few verses that you stood on in those relatable situations and the testimony of how Jesus in you overcame the world.

“⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. ¹³ For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

I just read that 3 times – it is so good. Lord, I believe in you and you will not put me to shame! You are my salvation! Hallelujah! Man, it feels so good to confess Him!! I remember like it was yesterday, although I never wrote down the date – When I laid on my floor crying out to God needed to be saved from myself and my sin and death’s snare. I remember multiple times since of laying in prayer flat on my face crying out to God to save me, keep me, and not let me fall away again. And these last two weeks crying out to God to save me from my sin, asking him to show me, expose it to me, and let me become more clean and closer to Him.

Next Paul addresses how Israel Rejects the Gospel. First, they reject it because NO ONE preached the truth to them.

“¹⁴ How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
Oh Lord, make our feet beautiful and do not let us miss an opportunity to share Jesus. In this world, being so busy, never having been taught how – it is easy to miss the opportunity.
So – Paul just taught us how to tell others. I keep the “Relationship” section at the top so you quick pull it up if you need to, for help with witnessing. But how do you start? How does it go? The River Church in Tampa, Florida has a script that they teach people to start off by just reading it to people – and it works more often than it doesn’t because it has been prayed over and anointed. I adapted it for my own ease of use and I will include it at the bottom. Feel free to copy it, print it, use it when witnessing. Because they cannot choose Christ if they haven’t heard that He is an option.

But those who have rejected God? They reject God not us. Do not take it personally. And let Him handle it. It is just our job to relay the message.
“¹⁶ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” ¹⁷ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

It says “hearing” because back then the scriptures were read out loud. No one just got alone with their Torah or their Psalms. If you were lucky enough to own the holy words – your job was to read them to others and if you did not own them, you would go hear them.
The letters Paul sent were also read out loud and copied and other people carried them on to the other churches and read them. Peter acknowledge Paul’s letters as scripture, which is where we got the idea to include them as the Bible. That is God said to.

¹⁸ But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.”
¹⁹ But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.”

The gentiles being included in the Jewish God’s plan of salvation, even though it came from the covenant with Abraham, makes the Jewish people jealous. You see – there was NEVER any way someone could convert to Judaism. One could become a proselyte but not a Jew. You had to be born a Jew. But the Messiah comes and even though they rejected Him too, His followers begin including gentiles; and Jews and gentiles are side by side believing in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This evoked jealousy and still does. Even though they reject it, it makes them jealous.

“²⁰ But Isaiah is very bold and says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”
This is about God revealing, calling, and saving the gentiles – the time period called the dispensation of Grace.

“²¹ But to Israel he says: “All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people.”

Seriously, ending the chapter this way, just breaks my heart for God and Paul who tried so hard to save the Jews. But God used jealousy and trials to draw them to him before and the word of God says he is doing it again starting in the first century.
I can’t say I understand it all. I can’t say I want to understand it all. But God is working to save Him people first and the gentiles second. It is just that a few of us gentiles believed before His stiff necked children.

So today, let us take on another challenge not to just do it today – but to do it every day for the remainder of the book.
Print up the script, or take one handed out by your church, or one you were given – put it in your bag, purse or pocket and carry it with you just in case you need it. Then, look for an opportunity today to share Jesus. Don’t worry if it isn’t a divine appointment or question if it is what you are to do – we just read Mark where it said go out and preach to every creature. Every one. So if you see someone, it is a creature and you should preach to them. Dogs, cats and birds make great practice but they cannot be saved. and if everyone you see is a Christian then you need to expand your circle, go to the store and DON’T get in the line where the cashier is your friend from church.
And Paul says to tell them the gospel – the news that Jesus died for our sins and we can be saved. We do not have to make sure they come to church (although definitely invite them). We do not have to make sure they change. Just read the script and pray then let God do what God does.
Let me know how it works out.

Enjoy the weekend wisdom reading – from Psalms (without any commentary from me) and we will pick up again on Monday in Romans. Be blessed!

***

Thank you for reading in 2022 – a Year of Wisdom and Salvation
May the God of peace keep you and bless you. May you stay focused on Christ and covered in grace.
Maranatha ~ Come Lord Jesus!

Salvation Message Witnessing Script

Has anyone ever told you that God loves you and that He has a wonderful plan for your life? I have a real quick, but important question to ask you. If you were to die this very second, do you know for sure, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you would go to Heaven?

If your answer is anything but a doubtless YES, then let me quickly share with you what the Holy Bible reads. It reads: “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” and “for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The Bible also reads, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” and you are a “whosoever” right? Of course you are; all of us are.

I am going to say a quick prayer for you:
Lord, bless (fill in name) and their family with long and healthy lives. Jesus make Yourself real to them and do a quick work in their heart. If (name) has not received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, I pray they will do so now. Amen.

(Fill in name), if you would like to receive the gift that God has for you today, say this after me with your heart and (when you can) with your lips out loud.
Dear Lord Jesus, come into my heart and forgive me of my sin. Please wash me, cleanse me and heal me. Set me free. Jesus, thank you that you died for me. I believe that you are risen from the dead and that You are coming back again for me. Fill me with the Holy Spirit. Give me a passion for the lost, a hunger for the things of God and a holy boldness to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am saved. I am born again. I am forgiven and I’m on my way to Heaven because I have Jesus in my heart.