2 Corinthians 2:15-16 "For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
Continuing Pastor Kyle message, that he wants to be known as a Christian who made an undeniable Gospel impact on our culture in this fallen in sin world. How do you as a child of God stand out in holiness, and stand above the dark godlessness with godly righteousness as salt and light in a secular society and community? How do disciples of Christ present ourselves as a sweet aroma that draws the lost souls of this dying world into a "saving" knowledge of Jesus, the Savior of the world? Making a Gospel impact of Christ is both counterintuitive and countercultural, both in Jesus' earthly visitation time and ours.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way."
The first key that the Apostle Paul offers us as an individual and the church body about in making a Gospel impact in our world is the power of a simple prayer. Be a genuine person of prayer. God wants the kingdom of Heaven to grow, for His church to grow and for the Gospel to reach those who do not yet know the Lord and believe; bring the clear message of sin, repentance, belief, forgiveness, salvation and eternal life to this lost and dying world. The New Living Translation of the Bible says, " I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. James 5:16 tells us that, "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." Prayer is the most power tool that a Christian has in their spiritual arsenal, along side the Word of God. Ephesians 6:17-18 instructs us to, "Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints."
The four basic elements of our prayers are summed up in the acronym ACTS. "A.C.T.S. stands for prayers of Adoration to God, prayers of Confession of our Sin, Prayers of Thanksgiving for God's Provision and Protection, plus prayers for Supplications for ourselves and Intercession for others. Everyone on planet earth is looking for help from God, outside of their abilities, whether they call that help from God or not; some universal force, some supernatural power, some mystical spirit, some secret energy in nature. or the actual Almighty Creator God of them all. When God helps these people tangibly, it helps their faith in their Maker at the same time. Deuteronomy 4:39 says, "know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other." The all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful, ever-present God of Heaven and Earth then didn't just create everything and then left for it all to function on its own, but God who is loving, caring and actively involved in His creation; providing, sustaining, protecting and correcting his creatures and environment - meeting their needs.
Interceding for others in prayer is an essential element, but what exactly is intercession. The word "intercession is defined as: The act of interceding; mediation; interposition between parties at variance, with a view to reconciliation; prayer or solicitation to one party in favor of another. We are to stand in the gap between people that we pray about and God, interceding on their behalf, praying that God specifically help them. Jesus was given and sent by God from Heaven to Earth in order to bridge at the Cross, the gap between God and mankind caused by sin. The Savior of the world stepped into our humanity as God incarnate, fully God and fully man, becoming our "once and for all" atoning sacrifice, our Mediator between God and man as the propitiation for the reconciliation and the forgiveness of our sins. Isaiah 53:12 says, "He poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors."
As repentant "born again" Believers, transformed of heart, converted in soul and regenerated of the spirit, Jesus Christ stands before our heavenly Father and advocates on our behalf constantly. We will never be someone "Intercessor or Savior"; Jesus is that Blessed Redeemer. What we get to do as Followers of the Lord Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit indwell our life, become intercessors for the people in our world. We get to stand in the gap on behalf of them before God in prayer, lovingly pleading for God to help their find Jesus at the foot of the Cross for the forgiveness of sin and salvation, for God to graciously lead them our of darkness and into the light on in paths of righteousness, to mercifully their afflictions and compassionately meet their true needs in alignment with God's holy Word Will and Way.
Lastly, we should prayerfully give thanks for all people. We all like to feel appreciated. Those words "Thank you" resonate so much when expressed. Thanks given to God for others in your life are even more powerful. People today seemed to be criticized everywhere, for everything by everyone. What is seldom expressed is a simple word of gratitude. The Christian need to always have an attitude of gratitude for what God has done, what God is doing and for what God is going to do in their their world, in their life and the life of others. This is the Gospel impact.
In Christ, Brian
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