Plenary 2: Bearing Witness to Christ's Love - Michael Ramsden - Cape Town 2010

Summary

The transcript presents a deeply reflective and impassioned speech drawing from the life and teachings of the Apostle Paul, emphasizing the unwavering commitment to preach the Gospel regardless of personal cost. It explores Paul's resolve to face imprisonment and possibly death, underscoring the profound impact of his faith-driven life on others. The speaker shares personal anecdotes to illustrate the real-life challenges and sacrifices involved in proclaiming the Gospel, urging the audience to embrace a life of total surrender to God's will, illustrating that true discipleship demands everything, even one's life, for the sake of spreading God's word.

Takeaways

• 📖 Paul expresses his dedication to his ministry and readiness to face imprisonment and death for the sake of spreading the gospel.
• 🔗 The script recounts Paul's encounter with the prophet Agabus, who foretells Paul's imprisonment, symbolizing the imminent sacrifices Paul will face for his faith.
• 💔 Paul's resolve is tested by his fellow believers pleading with him not to go to Jerusalem, yet he reaffirms his commitment to his mission.
• 🙏 The speaker feels inadequate in discussing the topic of bearing witness to Christ's love, highlighting the challenges of truly living out one's faith.
• 😢 Paul's approach to his ministry is marked by humility and genuine love for those he preaches to, distinguishing his message from self-righteousness.
• 🌍 The necessity of a gospel that demands sacrifice is emphasized, critiquing forms of evangelism that promise comfort without cost.
• ✈️ The speaker reflects on a conversation with a fellow evangelist, pondering the real motivations and requirements for preaching the gospel in challenging contexts.
• ⚖️ The concept of justice and mercy in the Christian faith is explored, emphasizing how Christ's sacrifice integrates mercy with the fulfillment of justice.
• 🗣️ Challenges of preaching the gospel across different cultures are acknowledged, emphasizing the need for clear and courageous communication.
• 📚 An anecdote about a life-changing encounter involving a Bible and a man with a gun illustrates the profound and sometimes immediate impact of sharing the gospel.

Q & A

What does Paul mean when he says he counts his life of no value?

Paul emphasizes that his life is not precious to himself compared to the importance of completing his mission of spreading the Gospel. This statement reflects his commitment and willingness to sacrifice his life for the cause of Christ.

What is the significance of the Apostle Paul's interaction with the prophet Agabus in Acts 21?

The interaction with Agabus, who uses Paul's own belt to symbolize how Paul will be bound in Jerusalem, serves as a prophetic warning about the trials Paul will face. This moment underscores Paul's resolve, as he chooses to continue his journey despite the foretold hardships, demonstrating his dedication to his ministry.

Why does Paul describe himself as 'innocent of the blood of all'?

Paul claims innocence of everyone's blood because he has fully proclaimed God's message without holding back, fulfilling his duty to convey the truth. This concept is rooted in the belief that a watchman who does not warn the people of impending danger shares in the guilt of any resulting harm.

What does the speaker mean by feeling 'like a lion in a room of Daniels'?

This metaphor expresses the speaker's sense of inadequacy in addressing the topic of bearing witness to the love of Christ, surrounded by individuals he perceives as more virtuous or capable, much like the Biblical Daniel in the lions' den.

How does Paul's approach to his ministry contrast with modern evangelical strategies, according to the speaker?

The speaker criticizes modern evangelical approaches that seek low-cost, low-demand methods, contrasting sharply with Paul's model, which involved personal risk and sacrifice. The speaker suggests that Paul's approach, which demanded everything for the sake of the Gospel, should be the standard.

What does the speaker imply about the relationship between mercy and justice in Christianity?

The speaker points out that in Christianity, unlike other religions, mercy does not come at the expense of justice. Instead, mercy is achieved through justice, exemplified by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, which satisfies the demands of justice while extending God's mercy.

What challenge does the speaker identify for Christians in preaching the Gospel?

The speaker highlights the challenge of preaching the cross in diverse cultures where it may be difficult to communicate its significance. He emphasizes the necessity of finding ways to effectively share the Gospel, even when it is hard to do so with words alone.

What personal anecdote does the speaker share to illustrate the urgency of spreading the Gospel?

The speaker recounts a story about a fellow evangelist who, upon hypothetically learning he had only a short time to live, expressed a desire to preach in Saudi Arabia. This story is used to question whether it should take extreme circumstances for Christians to feel compelled to share their faith in challenging places.

How does the speaker relate the story of a man and his wife encountering an armed man with the need to share the Gospel?

The story illustrates the moral and spiritual conviction to share the Gospel despite personal risk. The wife insists on giving a Bible to an armed man, who later confirms he was waiting for it as per a divine vision. This narrative reinforces the theme of divine providence and the transformative power of the Gospel.

What is the overarching message of the speaker's address?

The speaker's overarching message is a call to live a life of complete surrender to Christ, emphasizing that the Gospel is worth proclaiming at any cost. He challenges listeners to evaluate whether their faith prompts them to sacrifice and live boldly for the sake of spreading the Gospel.

Outlines

00:00

📖 Apostle Paul's Determination and Spiritual Insights

Paul's impassioned speech in the book of Acts emphasizes his commitment to his divine mission, regardless of the personal cost. He acknowledges the certainty of his imprisonment and potential death but remains undeterred, driven by his duty to preach the Gospel. His resolve is demonstrated through his refusal to heed warnings against going to Jerusalem, underscoring his readiness to sacrifice his life for his faith. The narrative includes references to his humility and deep emotional connection with his audience, which are central to his message of sincerity and selflessness. This section not only highlights Paul's teachings but also his profound understanding of his spiritual journey, marked by direct guidance from the Holy Spirit.

05:05

🌍 Evangelism Beyond Boundaries: A Call for Action

The discourse shifts to modern-day evangelism, questioning the conditions under which individuals and the church are compelled to preach. It criticizes the prevalent search for risk-free methods of evangelism, contrasting this with Paul's example, who viewed his sacrifices as integral to his mission. The narrative explores the reluctance to engage in high-risk areas unless facing personal crises, like terminal illness, to emphasize the urgency and necessity of proactive evangelism. It concludes with an anecdote about a challenging interaction with an aspiring imam, which reinforces the complexities and imperative of conveying the Christian doctrine, even under potential threats.

10:08

💔 Personal Sacrifice and Gospel Witnessing

The final segment contemplates the personal cost of true discipleship and the profound love for the Gospel that should surpass all earthly attachments. It challenges believers to evaluate whether their actions are truly for Christ or for personal glorification. The narrative recounts a poignant story of a couple in Iran faced with the dilemma of whether to evangelize at personal risk, illustrating the immense stakes involved in faithful witnessing. The story encapsulates the theme of ultimate sacrifice and unwavering commitment to the Gospel, urging believers to live and preach with humility, love, and obedience.

Keywords

💡Gospel

The Gospel, in Christian belief, refers to the teachings and revelations of Jesus Christ, primarily focusing on the message of salvation and redemption through his life, death, and resurrection. In the transcript, the Gospel is central to the speaker's message, emphasizing its transformative power and the imperative to proclaim it despite personal risks. The speaker underscores that the authenticity of the Gospel demands personal sacrifice, highlighting its importance over comfort and safety.

💡Sacrifice

Sacrifice in the context of this transcript refers to giving up something valuable, especially one's life, for the sake of a higher purpose or greater good. The speaker discusses how Apostle Paul was ready to face imprisonment and even death for the sake of preaching the Gospel. This concept is tied to the Christian belief in emulating Christ's sacrificial love and the call for followers to potentially make the ultimate sacrifice in their mission to spread the Gospel.

💡Evangelism

Evangelism is the act of preaching or spreading the Gospel with the aim of converting others to Christianity. In the transcript, evangelism is portrayed as a duty that may require immense personal costs. The speaker reflects on various forms of evangelism, including sharing the Gospel under challenging circumstances and how this task demands authenticity and courage, stressing the need for a life-changing commitment rather than superficial engagement.

💡Witness

To witness in a Christian context means to testify or share one's faith experiences in Jesus Christ to others. The speaker uses the term to describe Apostle Paul's resolve to bear witness to the Gospel of grace of God, emphasizing that witnessing is not merely about speaking but also about living out one's faith genuinely and profoundly, often at great personal cost.

💡Martyrdom

Martyrdom refers to suffering or dying because of one's adherence to a cause, especially a religious faith. It is depicted in the script as a possible consequence of steadfast dedication to spreading the Gospel, as illustrated by the story of a man martyred for his faith. This theme reinforces the message that true commitment to the Gospel may require the ultimate sacrifice, aligning with historical narratives of many Christian saints and martyrs.

💡Humility

Humility is the quality of having a modest or low view of one's importance. It is often regarded as a virtue in Christian teachings. In the transcript, Apostle Paul's approach to his ministry is described as marked by humility, indicating his recognition of serving a purpose greater than himself. This humility is foundational to his willingness to face hardships and even death without seeking personal glory.

💡Holy Spirit

In Christianity, the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, God as spirit, who is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. The transcript mentions Paul being filled with the Holy Spirit, which empowers and guides him in his mission. This underscores the belief that the Holy Spirit provides the strength and conviction needed to undertake God's work, even in the face of severe adversity.

💡Propitiation

Propitiation involves appeasing a deity, thus averting his wrath by offering a gift. In Christian theology, it refers to Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross, which reconciles humanity to God. The speaker discusses this concept to explain how the justice of God is satisfied through Christ's sacrifice, allowing for mercy to be extended to sinners without compromising divine justice.

💡Discipleship

Discipleship in Christianity refers to the process of learning about Jesus, following his teachings, and being trained in the faith. The speaker laments the pursuit of discipleship models that require no sacrifice, emphasizing that genuine discipleship involves significant personal cost and commitment, in line with the early Christian apostles' examples.

💡Clarion call

A clarion call is a strongly expressed demand or request for action. In the transcript, the speaker uses this term to question what motivates or prompts Christians today to engage deeply and courageously in evangelism. It is used to challenge the audience to reflect on their readiness to respond to God's call to spread the Gospel, regardless of personal consequences.

Highlights

Paul's dedication to his mission regardless of personal cost reflects deep spiritual conviction.

Paul's willingness to face imprisonment and death in Jerusalem highlights his unwavering commitment to spreading the Gospel.

The Apostle Paul’s approach to ministry was marked by humility and tears, emphasizing genuine emotional engagement rather than self-pity.

Paul's ministry to the Gentiles challenged cultural and religious boundaries of his time.

Despite knowing the personal cost, Paul was compelled by the Holy Spirit to continue his missionary work.

The early church's evangelism and discipleship were characterized by a willingness to make significant sacrifices.

Paul's actions and teachings urge modern Christians to evaluate whether their version of the Gospel demands enough from them.

The necessity of verbal proclamation of the Gospel is emphasized, as faithfulness to the message is crucial, even if it leads to martyrdom.

The question of how to balance God’s mercy with justice is explored, with Christianity presenting a unique perspective where mercy is delivered through justice.

The challenges of communicating complex theological concepts like redemption and atonement in diverse cultural contexts are acknowledged.

The anecdote about a potential convert being prepared by a dream to receive a Bible illustrates the mysterious and divine aspects of evangelism.

Personal stories of facing death for faith highlight the extreme dedication some have to spreading Christianity.

The tension between personal safety and evangelical duty is explored through a narrative about a couple debating whether to distribute a Bible.

A call to live a life fully surrendered to Christ, emphasizing that true discipleship might require ultimate sacrifices.

The narrative closes with an encouragement to embrace humility, love, and obedience in fulfilling God’s calling.

Transcripts

>> The Apostle Paul said, ‘But I do not count my life of any value.

Nor as precious to myself.

If only I may finish my course and the ministry I receive from the lord Jesus.

To testify to the gospel of grace of God, and now behold, I know that none of you will

among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.

And therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you for

I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.’

Shortly after sharing these words in the book of Acts in 21, the prophet Agabus comes to

Paul, takes his own belt, binds him with it, and says that when he goes to Jerusalem, so

he will be bound.

The believers around him take it as a warning, and they plead with Paul not to go.

And he looks at them and says why are you breaking my heart?

I am not only ready to be imprisoned, but even die, in Jerusalem for the name of the

Lord Jesus Christ.

I have been asked to share with you this morning about bearing witness to the love of Christ,

and I must confess that I feel wholly inadequate to the task.

To be perfectly honest, I feel like a lion in a room of Daniels.

There are many things that we may learn from Paul that he shares here.

I would like to just share a few thoughts.

Before he gives this speech he talks about the humility and the tears in which he knows

that they know he came to them when he set foot in Asia.

He says from the first time I arrived with humility and with tears.

As we have heard so wonderfully expounded to us this morning, I do not think these are

tears of self-pity that Paul wept.

He loved the people to whom he had been sent.

He was a prophet and a preacher to the Gentiles and in biblical categories, to talk to someone

of another faith was to talk to someone who was not a Jew.

And he is a minister to the Gentiles, to the nations.

And he says I have come to you and in tears, and with humility I have preached.

Paul's Gospel is not a Gospel of pompous self-righteousness.

He is not full of himself, he's filled with the Holy Spirit and he knows what he must

say and he knows what he must do.

And you cannot but help reflect on these words and be struck by the fact he also knows it

will cost him his life.

He knows that he will die.

The Holy Spirit has confirmed it in his heart.

Paul says, ‘I am going, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me

except the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and affliction

await me.’

He knows what it will cost and he is still determined to go.

It is maybe a sad reflection that for some of us we spend our lives looking for models

of evangelism and discipleship that cost nothing.

Demand nothing.

And then because we have the money and resources we export them around the world, asking the

church at times maybe even to be silent and to say nothing.

But such a Gospel would not be recognized by the early apostles as a genuine Gospel.

The Gospel must be lived, it must change our life.

Christ must be seen in us, and we must proclaim it.

We have no option.

We cannot simply be silent.

Even though we know it will cost us our lives.

Are you, as you sit here this morning, willing to lay down your life for the Gospel?

Do we have a Gospel of comfort or do we have a Gospel that requires all from us, and for

God's glory, and because of his joy placed in our hearts, we are willing to go anywhere,

say anything, go and do whatever it is that God is directing and commanding us to do,

that the name of Jesus Christ may be glorified.

I remember being with a fellow evangelist a while ago and he shared something with me

that I know was meant to be inspiring but secretly it discouraged me, especially since

the country he talked of is the country in which I spent my childhood.

He said, ‘If I found from my doctor that I had cancer and only had a few months to

live, I would get on a plane and I would fly to Saudi Arabia and I would tell people about

the Gospel and about Jesus Christ.’

What he was trying to say in many ways was noble.

That if I knew I had nothing left to lose, I would be prepared to go to a country like

that.

Is it necessary for people to realize they have cancer before they go to certain places?

Or before the church is willing to rise up and speak?

It doesn't seem to marry well with the words where Paul says ‘I have already counted

everything a loss in order that I may go.’

What are we waiting for and what clarion voice are we looking for to tell us it is possible

to go into certain places?

There are truly no closed countries to the Gospel.

There are only places where we are not prepared to stand up for the Gospel.

We need wisdom.

We need insight.

We need discernment.

We need to be led by the Holy Spirit.

And we need to go.

We need to speak.

We need to live our life and preach this Gospel.

A short while ago I was in a city I simply cannot name.

As best as I could I tried to explain what Christian Gospel is.

And the meeting was set up so that I just spoke for a few minutes, and then would spend

the rest of the time asking questions.

The final question was asked by a man with a large, bushy beard.

And long straggly hair.

He was training to be an imam.

His question was the question I was praying would be asked, even before we started, before

the few minutes in which I shared very briefly about my background, my childhood and my faith

in Christ.

And the question was this, ‘You Christians say Jesus Christ had to die for us to be forgiven.

The imam says, it makes no sense.

I have spoken to priests.

They cannot explain it.

What do you have to say?’

I was with a colleague of mine.

Before we started the meeting I said please be clear in your answer, because I don’t

want to get shot for a bad answer.

It’s one thing to die for preaching the Gospel, it's another thing to die for preaching

it badly.

That is truly tragic.

I said, ‘Thank you for your question.’

I said, ‘I was hoping that you might ask me.

It will take me some time.’

Now, we have already heard Dr. John Piper speak with great expertise and clarity talk

about what is at the heart of the Gospel.

So let me just add a footnote to what he has already shared.

Part of what I said to him was this.

We all say that God is merciful, but mercy is a challenge for God.

Imagine someone comes before a judge, they are guilty.

The judge knows they are guilty, the judge says they are guilty and then says you know

what, I’m a kind man, I’m going to let you go.

How does the victim feel?

In countries where law collapses, hope collapses.

We talk about God being merciful, but every time God exercises his mercy, he does so at

the expense of his justice.

He suspends the requirements of justice and dispenses with justice and offers mercy instead.

Being merciful is difficult, it's a challenge.

In every religion of the world, God exercises mercy at the expense of justice, except in

one, wherein the Christian faith God exercises his mercy through his justice.

It is through the justice of the cross where God himself pays, where God himself is a sacrifice

for sin.

Where God's wrath is propitiated.

Where justice and law are fulfilled and upheld, that through that he offers us his mercy as

a gift, and his grace.

And we are called to repentance, acknowledgment of our guilt and to put trust in the provision

that is made.

It was a joy to pray for both the man who asked the question and many other people in

the room to say yes to Jesus Christ that day.

It is difficult in many cultures to find ways to preach the cross but we have to find ways,

no matter how hard it is, because although it is difficult to do it with words, it is

impossible to do it without words.

We must find a way.

We do this not thinking that somehow our life will be spared.

We do this knowing that it will cost us everything, knowing that our lives will be taken from

us.

Do we love Christ?

Do we love the Gospel more than life itself?

Is it true that we believe that we have been crucified with Christ, and therefore, we truly

have nothing to lose?

We have already lost everything.

Or are we clinging onto things that are holding us back from sharing this glorious, wonderful,

powerful, life-transforming Gospel?

Are we truly prepared to live for him?

There are many times where we talk about the fact that we should also exercise and live

in a way so that Christ can be seen in us.

That is absolutely biblical and completely true.

Nothing I’m about to say diminishes that one bit.

I sometimes find myself asking myself: When I engage in acts of compassion, do I do it

because I want myself to look good in other people's eyes?

Or am I living that way because I want people to see Christ?

We heard yesterday from many wonderful, God-centered, Christ-centered groups that are campaigning

for God's justice and God's compassion in Christ’s name.

Yet the temptation is that we do it in our name so we can tell people how wonderful we

are.

That is not what we are called to when we are sharing the Gospel with people of other

faith.

We don't do it in our name, or in our, through our provision.

We make it clear that everything we do, every act, every word, and the life indeed that

we live, is done in the name of Christ and for Christ and to Christ, and because of Christ.

Have we truly resolved to make ourselves his servants, that he may be seen in us?

Paul talks about the fact that he is innocent of the blood of all men.

A friend of mine from Iran was telling me a story several years ago.

A man and a wife were driving through a city, actually not through a city, through a more

remote part of the country.

They stopped to buy water.

As they stopped to buy water, the wife looked and saw a man with a gun leaning against the

shop wall.

She turned to her husband and said you need to give that man a Bible.

The man looked at the beard and he looked at the gun and he said, ‘No, I don't think

it's right.’

She said, ‘No, I’m sure it's right, to put a Bible in his pocket.

Make sure you give this to him.’

The man went into the shop, he bought the water.

Came out of the shop carrying bags of water.

The man followed him into the shop and out of the shop and then leaned against the wall

again.

As they drove away, the wife looked at the husband and said, ‘You didn't give him a

Bible, did you?’

He said.

‘I prayed about it, it wasn't right.’

She said, ‘You should have done it.’

He said, ‘No, I shouldn't.’

She bowed her head and prayed out loud, ‘oh Lord, on the day of judgment, may that man's

blood be on my husband's head, not mine.

He is the one who would not give away the Bible.’

At this point the car stopped.

They had a friendly marital discussion that ended with the words ‘if you want me to

die, I will.’

They drove back into town, he walked up to the man and presented him with a Bible.

He took it, kissed it on both sides and said, ‘I do not live here, three days ago I had

a dream.

In which I was told to wait for someone to give me the Book of Life.

Thank you for giving me this book.’

Five years later that man was martyred for his faith.

The Gospel requires and demands everything.

Let us live in complete surrender to him.

One day we will all go home.

Let us make sure whatever God is calling us to, that we do with humility, we do it with

love, and we do it in obedience, knowing that our life is not worth preserving but the Gospel

we preach is certainly worth proclaiming.

May God bless you.