Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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Mountains, wild flowers, glaciers, happy people, and God’s gentle whisper…I can’t imagine a better summer – and I’m living it!  I’m spending a second summer in Grand Teton Nat’l Park working in a gift shop and leading worship services on Sundays in the campgrounds.  It’s all part of A Christian Ministry in the National Parks (www.acmnp.com)  It’s a pretty awesome ministry.  We provide worship services for guests and employees who might have to drive far away to go to church, and we have a relational ministry with our co-workers – who are from all over the world!  I love it!  It’s my 3rd summer w/ the ministry.

I often give the message at our services, so I thought I’d start posting them.  Usually my messages come from something God is trying to show me…and sometimes God gives me a message thru totally unexpected means!  I gave this one last Sunday, and it’s a challenge God is constantly giving me.  *(adapted for especially for you all!)

“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge; Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.  For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suite their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.  But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”
2 Timothy 4:1-5

2 Timothy is Paul’s last letter from prison to Timothy, and he knows it’s his last and that he’ll die in prison.  Basically his last words.  I love 2 Timothy for this reason.  There are a lot of parts that are straight forward and cut straight to my heart.

I’m focusing mostly on verses 1-2 that tell us to GET OUT THERE AND TELL PEOPLE ABOUT JESUS!  But why?  We all know we need to share Christ – not a new idea, I know.  Here’s why:

It’s often MUCH HARDER to tell friends/co-workers/people we know here at home about Christ than to go across the world on mission trips and share Christ. 
That’s because we face a whole variety of fears.  I know I face fears of rejection, what my friend/co-worker will think, and questions I won’t be able to answer.  (Believe me, I’m not the most eloquent with words.) 
1.  Christ told us we will be rejected.  He was rejected first and so will we be. 
2.  Do you know how many times the Bible says “Do not fear!”?  365 times!  Seriously!  Once for everyday, and that’s no coincidence. 
3.  I realized that I’m more concerned about MYSELF than the other person’s salvation!!  What a jerk I am!!!

V. 1-2 have become life verses for me.  When you break them down, there is a lot packed in there!

“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom” 
We’re under observation – meaning God is waiting for us to share his love and salvation.  We will be HELD ACCOUNTABLE to Him.  We should be looking forward to his appearing and his kingdom.  With that in mind we should be working toward his appearing by furthering his kingdom. 

“I give you this charge; Preach the Word”
It’s a direct command!  I’ve heard people talk about evangelism as a spiritual gift.  Teaching and prophesying are, but sharing Christ is a command to and an expectation for all Christians.  It’s part of living a life of gratitude to Christ for his incredible gift.  It’s also part of loving others.  Really, if we love them like Christ does, our hearts should ache for those who don’t know Him. 
And then I think of Moses and the burning bush.  He told God that he wasn’t an eloquent speaker, but God said too bad!  I’m still sending you to Pharaoh.  Take Aaron with you, but I want YOU to do this.  God equipped him for his task, and God will equip us.  He doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called!!

“Be prepared in season and out of season”
Meaning…whether you feel like it or not.  Whether it is convenient or not.  Be ready in all situations.  Look for the God-given opportunities, because I have this hunch that we are swimming in them and don’t realize it.  If God is giving you an opportunity, He’s doing it for a reason, so run with it!  Easy to say – harder to do, I know!  I probably turn down or overlook more opportunities than the ones I actually take, sadly.

“Correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction.”
Correct, rebuke and encourage the faiths and/or beliefs of others.  Point them in the right direction – Christians and non-Christians.  We should do each of these things with nothing but love for the other and in a loving manner.  Clear away the myths and misperceptions.  Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading. 

Why is this important?  Verses 3-5 describe false teachings and people who warp Christ’s message to what they want it to be.  Then Paul tells us to be strong in our faith.  Wear the belt of truth daily.  (That’s a phrase I’ve heard a lot lately…God must be trying to tell me something…)

Lifestyle evangelism?  I sense a lot more urgency in this command than what a lifestyle image may give.  And to be honest, I think we are just too imperfect and fallen to rely only on lifestyle.  While it is a very important part of our witness, Paul is telling us to GET OUT THERE and TELL PEOPLE!  It cuts right to my heart and tells me, “you’re not talking enough.” 

I studied abroad in Argentina for 4 months.  I found a church at random in my own block and started going.  At that time my church at home was going through a pretty difficult and hurtful time, and this little church in Buenos Aires was soooo refreshing!  I’ve never received such a warm welcome!  The people there are so joyful and loving and have a BURNING passion to share Christ with their neighbors, friends, family, etc.  It was INCREDIBLE!  I realized that I want to be surrounded by Christians like them.  What joy and love!  I am trying to be more like that – to get beyond my selfish desires and get over myself.

It’s not all warm fuzzies though.  Christ tells us he was rejected first and we will be too.  But he gives us innumerable opportunities to share his love and his hope.  I’m challenging myself to be much more bold and to share Christ lovingly out of love.

Please don’t think that I’m saying we should start shouting at people and not be sensitive to what they believe or who they are.  I’m just asking us to be more aware of God’s divine appointments for us – to take every opportunity out of love and to be bold in those opportunities.