.shockwave challenge - day 52

I was at work today when the UPS guy came by to deliver a package.  I opened the door and signed for the box and after we made a little small talk, I asked him the million dollar question.  I actually chased him down the sidewalk because at first I wasn't going to ask him.  I almost chickened out, but then I thought about the prayers I've been praying that go a little something like this: "God, send people to me who need to hear the good news and be saved."  I realized that this could be one of those people, so I didn't let the opportunity slip by without doing my part.

He said he knew he was going to heaven because he had a pure heart.  After asking what made his heart pure, we got down to the only way to get to heaven - Jesus!  He was a fellow believer after all, but I still recognize that I was obedient and know that God can trust me with sharing the gospel with those he brings across my path.

What about you?  Can God trust you with sharing the message of His love and goodness through Jesus Christ to those He brings across your path?  What did you do with those opportunities that presented themselves today?  That's a good indicator of how trustworthy you are with His message.  If you missed it today (like I almost did) then get back up and make a change for tomorrow.  You'll never know the outcome unless you do.

.shockwave challenge - day 39

Kristen and I were on our way to lunch and I had to stop by the gas station to fuel up.  I gave the lady across the pump an invitation card and asked her the million dollar question.  She said she knew she'd go to heaven when she died and then I asked her how she knew.  Before she sped away, she said, "Because I'm saved!"  

I now know more about Christ's mission to "seek and save the lost" than I did 39 days ago. (see Luke 19:10)  I have prayed with 39 people to be saved in 39 days and today I wasn't satisfied in my brief encounter with another believer, so I looked around for someone else to talk to.  I saw the store manager standing outside taking a break, so I pulled the car into a parking space and hopped out to talk to her.  After talking with her for a few minutes, I discovered that she, too, was a believer.  I left knowing that I had encouraged her in her faith, but all the while I'm thinking about that lost man or woman that I didn't get to talk to.  Now I'm praying for more opportunities than ever and that God would lead me to people who need His grace and power working in their lives!

Who are you seeking and saving today?  Keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to talk to the person across from you at the gas station or in front of you in the line at the grocery store or WHEREVER you go!

.shockwave challenge - day 38

We went out to lunch for my mom's birthday today at Salsa's.  While we were on our way out stopping to grab Karis some mints, we ran into (literally almost) a few ladies who were doing the same.  While we walked out, I casually invited them to church and offered to pray with them.  One of them said she had already prayed this morning and the others said they were good, too.  I asked the million dollar question and they all answered with an affirmative exclamation.  When I asked why they were so confident that they would go to heaven, one of them said because she was so strong in her faith.  The other two didn't respond.  After asking specifically whether they had asked Jesus to come into their lives and hearts, they assured me that they had.

I have often wondered why so many "Christians" don't immediately answer with "Jesus is my Savior" when asked why they know they would go to heaven.  My hypothesis would be that there's a tremendous lack of biblical teaching in the body of Christ.  People believe that Jesus saves them, but in order to stay saved, they must live up to a standard with their works.  I would assume that the standard most people believe they must live up to is impossible to say the least.  That is why we need a Savior!

I have met so many people who have told me they know they would go to heaven based on the fact that they haven't sinned a LOT.  And after sharing the gospel with them and giving them the invitation to accept Christ, many have said, "Oh, I've already done that."  You're kidding, right?  If you've already done that, why didn't you mention Jesus Christ anywhere in our conversation?  I know why.  They don't understand that the death, burial and resurrection of Christ was enough.  And I get it.  Shouldn't there be MORE we have to do to earn such a luminous place in eternity?  I mean, our entire society is performance-based.  Do poorly on your job? Get fired!  Do poorly in school?  Repeat the 9th grade.  Do poorly in your relationship? End up with a divorce.  Herein lies the problem with modern Christianity.  People, believers even, think that the kingdom of heaven operates like the world's system.  God's system is unfair in its own right.  He simply requires that one believe in the resurrection and accept His free gift of salvation in order to be saved. (Romans 10:9)  It doesn't seem fair that a murderer could call out to Christ before being sentenced to death and get a spot in heaven with all of the others who called out to Christ, but ALSO went to church every Sunday, paid their tithes, ironed their clothes and gave to the poor.  (See Matthew's story about the "five o'clock people" in chapter 20 for a great parable of the unfairness of God's kingdom.)

Now, I know this rant is a bit out of fashion for my usual shockwave challenge report of the day, but I've encountered too many believers who have been deceived.  I understand that you're probably poking holes in my theology right about now, wondering if I think that Christians can do whatever they want (sin) and get into heaven.  That's not the point of this post at all.  The question is simply this, "Was Christ's sacrifice ENOUGH to cover my sin and pay the price for my spot in heaven...or was it not?  Did Jesus pay it all or did he leave a balance due?  Did he get most of it and want us to leave the tip or did he foot the entire bill?"

Next time you ask someone, "if you died tonight or 100 years from now, do you know for sure you'll go to heaven when you die," and they answer in the affirmative with any other reason than "Christ is my Savior,"  make sure you point them to the fact that Christ paid their ransom...ALL of it!

.shockwave challenge - day 37

Karis and I went to Wal-Mart to pick up a birthday card for YaYa.  On our way in, we met a lady and invited her to church.  When I asked her the million dollar question, she said she knew she was going to heaven because she had already accepted Christ.  I asked her if I could pray for her about anything and she told me she needed a job.  We prayed together and I believe God will provide!  As we continued shopping, we met another family and invited them to church as well.  We asked them the million dollar question and they were already saved too.

Make it a point to share the gospel wherever you go!  Karis was excited about doing the "shockwave sandwich" with me...that's what she calls the shockwave challenge.  It's so important that we don't neglect our mission and teach our children to share the gospel as well.

I've been hearing great testimonies of people doing the shockwave challenge all over the place.  One kid in our church is 8 years old and he was so excited when he got to lead 2 of his classmates in the prayer of salvation one day.  Another young woman led one of her clients to Christ over the phone today!  She told me she felt like she was going to explode because she was so happy!  There's no greater feeling than giving life to someone!  Go give life today!

.shockwave challenge - day 33

Last night while I was preaching for Overflow, we were talking about friends and family members that we need to reach with the gospel. I was suddenly convicted because several years ago while we were doing the Impact meetings, God had brought a couple of uncles to my mind to pray for them. Well, I prayed for them at the time, but did nothing to reach out to them. You see, we don't really have a current relationship because they live out of town and we just aren't very close. But they are still family and God wants them all to be saved!

During the service, while the students were in their small groups, I texted my mom to get their phone numbers. She replied with one phone number and I immediately went to my office to call my uncle. As my heart was racing and I anticipated what I might say, the call went straight to voicemail. I left a message and said I would try to call again tomorrow. My heart sank because I wondered if I might have been too late. I kept thinking, "What if I didn't share the gospel with them and they died tonight?" Then I was reminded about 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." Thank God for His patience and all of the chances He gives us to respond to Him.

I made the phone call again today. I got to talk to both of my uncles and found out that one of them was already saved and gave his life to Christ a few years ago before he was about to be operated on to remove a tumor from his throat! The other uncle laughed when I asked him the question and said, "That's the reason you called me?" I was sincere and shared the gospel with him. He wasn't ready to receive and said he was set in his ways and didn't want to change. He grew up in a children's home and learned about the Bible and he believes in the Bible and in Jesus, but wasn't willing to confess Jesus as Lord. He said he'd had religion shoved down his throat too many times. I tried explaining to him that religion isn't the way to heaven and that the people who had forced it on him were wrong. While he didn't pray the prayer, he did let me pray for him before we ended our call.

I hate religion. It has warped the view of God for so many people and well-meaning believers have turned people away through their tirades about people getting their lives right before they come to Christ.
Nevertheless, I was finally obedient and made the call to share the gospel with those family members whom God had placed on my heart. I know I've done my part and I believe God will continue to work in the lives of my uncles.

Do you have some family members or friends that you are unsure of whether they will go to heaven or not? How about you ask them right now? Go look up their phone number and give them a call! What's stopping you?

.shockwave challenge - day 32

I hit up one of my favorite dining establishments for lunch today with two Jesus Freaks - Jason Netzler and Cullen Grady.  While talking about evangelism and the Holy Spirit, we were all fired up!  I had it on my heart for some time now to share the gospel with one of the employees there because every time I go in, he always serves me up right...but I had a feeling it wasn't because of his Christian character and attitude.  Every time I've been in before, the restaurant has always been so busy that I haven't gotten an opportunity to talk with him.  Well, we were there so long that I noticed they weren't very busy at the time.  I quietly prayed under my breath, "God, give me an opportunity to share the gospel with him today!"  And no sooner had I said the prayer than it was answered.  The guy came out from the back into the dining room and gave me the "pez" - the "what's up" head nod.  I jumped out of my seat and walked over to him thanking him for the excellent service and deliciousness he had once again whipped up for me.  I then asked how long he'd been working there.  He said he'd been there for a couple of years.  I told him I saw him in there all the time and he laughed and said, "Yeah, you come here a lot!"  We both laughed.

I then told him that there's been something I've been wanting to ask him for a long time, but never had the chance.  I asked him the million dollar question and he said he would probably go to heaven.  Then I asked him why.  He said he was a good person and that he believed in God.  I shared the gospel with him and then I told him that even the demons believe in God, but what gets you into heaven is believing in the resurrection of Jesus and confessing Him as Lord.  I asked him if he'd like to do that and he said, "Of course!!"  So we walked out behind the restaurant and I led him in the prayer of salvation.  After we prayed, I asked him if he meant it from his heart. He said yes and that he was feeling good!  He pulled his hand out of his pocket and said, "my hand's not even burning anymore!"  He had burnt two of his fingers earlier and God healed him as soon as he said the prayer of salvation!!!!  Ha!  I explained more about salvation to him and how it included deliverance, healing, preservation and a whole slew of other benefits that are now available to him!  You should have seen the smile on his face.  He said, "That made my day!"  As I was telling the fellas about the conversation later, Cullen said, "You didn't just make his day.  You made his life!  You made his eternity!"

After we prayed, his boss came out and when he found out what we were doing, he jumped right in the conversation and shared a number of testimonies about God's provision in his own life. When I invited the employee to church, his boss said he has about 5 or 6 to choose from because of all the people that have been working on him and praying for him.  He said that he kept telling them he wanted to get his life right and be pure before he came to church.  This was another chance to share another facet of the true gospel that God isn't so much concerned with perfect people as He is about perfecting people through the sacrifice of Christ.  As we walked back in so he could get back to work, I told him that he was a new person now, that his spirit was made new and he won't be satisfied with the things that he used to do.

It's so amazing to be a part of God's mission and seeing Him do work in people's lives.  What an honor to take part in the great commission!

How about you?  Are you taking part in God's mission?  Are you giving Him something to work with as you open your mouth and present the good news to people?  If not, then start today.  It just might make someone's day, life or eternity!

.shockwave challenge - day 26

I called customer service at beachbody.com just a little while ago to check on an e-mail I had gotten from them about P90X.  While on the phone, I wanted to order some new resistance bands to beef up my workout some more, so my customer service rep, Frank, helped me do just that.  After he took care of my order, he asked if he could do anything else for me.  I knew the whole time I was talking to him that I was going to ask him the million dollar question and so I did!  He said he knew he wouldn't go to heaven because of the wrong things he's done.  I shared the gospel with him and asked if I could lead him in the prayer.  He said, "I would love that!"  As I started to lead him in the prayer he was suddenly aware that the call was being recorded and he could get in trouble with his job for saying it aloud.  I told him what to pray and he promised he would say it after we ended our call.  He thanked me for asking and told me that a few days ago someone had asked him a similar question and he'd given them the same answer.  He was under the impression that you must repent from every single one of your sins after you commit them in order to get into heaven and if you didn't repent before you died, then you wouldn't make it.  After hearing the true gospel, he was ready to confess Jesus as Lord!

Maybe you too could take advantage of a phone call today and share the gospel with the person on the other end.  It's a perfect way to do your shockwave challenge.  Let's be more aware of the opportunities that present themselves and seize them!  In Acts 3:12 (NLT), after Peter and John healed the lame man at the gate called Beautiful, a crowd gathered.  The verse says, "Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd..."  Be on the lookout for opportunities and then do something with them!