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“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”   --John 16:33 Can you imagine how hopeless life would be if Jesus had simply said, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart”? No, Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world”! For some people, if fact, a lot of people, their greatest fear is dying. But what’s so magnificent about the Lord Jesus Christ is that he even overcame death! The Lord Jesus took on death and beat it, and he rose victoriously over it. As 1 Corinthians 15:57 says, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This means, as a follower of Christ, you have victory over death, yes, but it also means so much more than that. It means you can have victory over anything that goes on in this life as well. You have victory over your fears, your failures, your future… everything! Yet, you know, even as I say this today, I know that you may be shaking your head and saying, “No, no, no, Pastor, you just don’t understand. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to let go of this fear in my heart.” If so, I have wonderful news for you today. It may not happen tomorrow, it may not happen next month, but through the power of Jesus Christ working in your heart and life, you can let go of that fear. And like I said, it’s not because of your power, but because of his power working in and through you. Maybe, as a way to begin letting go of that fear, it would help if you took what Jesus said in today’s verse and personalized it. Perhaps your prayer would sound like, “In the world I’ve had tribulation, but I’ll take heart because Jesus has overcome the sexual abuse in my past.” Perhaps your prayer would be, “I’ll take heart because Jesus has overcome my addiction.” Or even, “I will take heart because Jesus has overcome my cancer.” Being a Christian means that you can face the future with courageous faith, that you can live each day not as a victim of terror and fear but as a victor. It may be a time for tears in your life today, but praise God that through Christ Jesus it doesn’t have to be a time for fear! BEING A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST MEANS YOU VICTORY OVER YOUR FEARS, YOUR FAILURES, YOUR FUTURE… EVERYTHING!

Everywhere Evangelism

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.”
Luke 8:38–39
Dr. John R. Rice told of going to hear the great evangelist Gypsy Smith. As Smith preached on the importance of winning souls to Jesus, Dr. Rice determined in his heart that he would find someone that very day with whom he could share the gospel. The speaker left the building after the message, and when the announcements and other business was concluded, Dr. Rice went outside and saw a man standing by his taxi. He walked over, intent on witnessing to the man. But when he asked about his salvation, the taxi driver replied, “I just became a Christian. A short little man came out the speaker’s door and told me about Jesus.” Gypsy Smith had practiced what he had been preaching.
We have many opportunities to give people the gospel that we miss because we are not always alert to those around us. Going through the day, many priorities compete for our attention. But everywhere we go, we are to be telling people about what Jesus has done for us. The man Jesus freed from demon possession wanted to follow Him, but instead Jesus told him to return home and tell others what had happened. When Jesus later returned to the region, huge crowds came to hear Him—in no small measure because this one man obeyed the command of the Lord to share his testimony with those around him. It is good to have regular times to go out and share the gospel, but we should always be alert to those who need to hear how Jesus offers salvation.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Every person you meet has an eternal soul, and you may be the only one to tell them how to reach Heaven.