"Administrando la Ofrenda de Salvación"

[0:00] And to inspire children and young people to consider what would God have me do in terms of world missions.! So this morning we are welcoming Pastor Raymond Graham from Jamaica.

[0:19] ! And our church's involvement with Jamaica has been long. From 1998 to 2011 we had mission teams going each summer to Kingston, Jamaica to support the work of Pastor Blois.

[0:50] A la ciudad de Kingston para dar apoyo a la misión del Pastor Lloyd. And he was sponsored by, or tied to the Reformed Baptist missions under the oversight of Carlisle Reformed Baptist Church.

[1:06] Y él estuvo a cargo ahí bajo el soporte misionero de la iglesia en Carlisle. When he passed away, the church did not have trained leadership to continue the work in Reformed Truth.

[1:19] Y cuando él no estuvo ahí, no tenían un sustituto para que pudiera ocupar su labor, su lugar allá. Pastor Raymond Graham actually talked to Pastor Blois about three days before he passed away.

[1:32] El Pastor Raymond que está con nosotros aquí, habló con ese Pastor del cual le mencionamos tres días antes de él fallecer. And when I went to visit Pastor Blois, I remember now that he did mention Raymond Graham's name to me.

[1:47] Y cuando él fue a ver al Pastor Blois, él le mencionó al Pastor Raymond. So that it is a great delight for me to finally meet him and to introduce him to you.

[1:58] Fue para mí un gran delight finalmente poderle conocer e introducírselos a ustedes. He is working under the auspices of the Harbor Church in Holland, Michigan.

[2:12] Él está auspiciado por la iglesia que está en Holland, Michigan. And he is now a Reformed Baptist Network-sponsored missionary. Y ahora el Arbinet le está dando soporte financiero.

[2:26] Él es misionero. A church planter. Para él plantar esa nueva iglesia. And so we have delighted in having him here in these last three days. Nos hemos delectado de haberle tenido aquí por estos últimos tres días.

[2:39] And for me personally, it has been a great delight to have him at our house. Para mí ha sido un delight de poderle haber tenido en casa. And so this morning, it is my honor and delight to introduce you to Pastor Raymond Graham.

[2:52] Para mí es un honor y un delight de introducirle a Pastor Raymond. Come on. I should mention he doesn't know Spanish either.

[3:04] Se me olvidó mencionar que él no sabe español. But perhaps I could say, ¿Cómo está usted? Yo sé decir cómo es lo que acaba de decir.

[3:16] Te damos gracias, Señor. Sí. Is it correct? Yes. Okay. No translation needed. No.

[3:28] Muy bien. Gracias. Well, I have exhausted my few Spanish words. Yes. Eso era todo lo que yo podía decir en español. I'm very thankful to be with you today.

[3:41] Muy agradecido de estar aquí con ustedes hoy. I am especially grateful to God for the invitation to just be visiting you here in Pennsylvania. Muy agradecido de Dios por la invitación que ustedes me extendieron para estar aquí con ustedes en Pennsylvania.

[3:54] And all have been very kind, very gracious to me over the last few days. Y ha sido una bendición poder estar aquí con estos últimos días. I have even had food I had no idea God made.

[4:08] He tenido comida que nunca tuve la idea de que jamás iba a comer. And when you come to Jamaica, we will revenge. Y cuando ustedes vengan a visitarnos a Jamaica, vamos a tomar venganza de eso.

[4:24] The word of the Lord, I'd like you to go with me to Romans chapter 10. Vayan conmigo a Romanos capítulo 10. What's your full name?

[4:38] Charles. Okay. I'm aware that our brother Charles must be very tired by now. Él dice que él está percibido de que este persona, yo debería estar muy cansado hoy.

[4:51] Having done his best to translate for me. Habiéndole estado traduciendo a él. I'm very confident that because he's done this multiple times. You trust him.

[5:07] Let us stand together as we look at God's word. God's word that we love so dearly. How many of you love the word of God?

[5:21] Amen. The word of God. So wonderful. I will read for you and I'll read for you. I'll tell you what, I'll read verse by, I'll read one verse at a time.

[5:32] Él va a estar leyendo versículo por versículo. Él va a estar traduciendo. For the scripture says, everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. Porque la escritura dice que todo aquel que él creyere no será avergonzado.

[5:43] For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. For the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. Porque no hay diferencia entre judío y griego.

[5:54] Pues el mismo es el que es señor de todos. Es rico para con todos los que le invocan. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Porque todo aquel que invocar el nombre del Señor será salvo.

[6:05] How then will they call on him whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

[6:18] ¿Cómo pues invocarán aquel en el cual no han creído? Y cómo creerán en aquel de quien no han oído? Y cómo oirán sin haber quien les predique? An hour a day to preach unless they are sent.

[6:29] As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news. Y cómo predicarán si no fueran enviados, como está escrito. ¡Cuán hermosos son los pies de los que anuncian la paz, de los que anuncian las buenas nuevas!

[6:43] But they have not all obeyed the gospel. for Isaiah says Lord who has who has believed what he has heard from us for faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of God but I ask have they not found indeed they have for the voice has gone out to all the earth and their words to the ends of the world this is the word of the Lord let's say thanks be to God you may be seated let me pray our gracious Father here we stand once more to deliver your word you have revealed your word to us so that we can be guided in the truth bless the word to the hearts of your people in Jesus name amen

[8:06] I want to continue the journey that I have begun a few evenings ago looking at the importance of the gospel of Jesus Christ with a particular emphasis on the beautiful feet of those who carry the good news I will continue I will continue the day I will continue the day that we started the day of those who have beautiful feet to bring the good new and all that as believers we are all entrusted with the mandate of preaching the gospel throughout the earth here in the text read the apostle Paul is explaining the elements of salvation the idea that salvation was also for the Gentiles was one rejected by most Jews they seem to have willfully ignored the provision for redemption while remaining confident that there were

[9:35] God's chosen people many believed that they were the only ones saved they knew that from the Old Testament God had included many Gentiles in his plan of course they knew about Rahab and they knew about Ruth and these people are people who were in the lineage of Jesus they held on to these though as just exceptions and so later on we see they rejected the apostle Paul and his claim of a special assignment to the Gentiles how do you have a special assignment to Gentiles this is for us Jews matter of fact when Jesus came in the temple as recorded in Luke chapter 4 and verse 16 he said the spirit of the Lord is upon me for he had anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor we are told that after he proclaimed that he said to them today this word has found fulfillment in your ears they did not like that and they held him to throw over the cliff but the

[11:29] Bible said that he walked through the midst of them and he went his way because this time had not yet come they have been reading Isaiah 61 all along but they never thought this was actually going to be fulfilled it was only their religious book and so of course they expected that since they had rejected Jesus they had rejected everything that that suggests that salvation was for more than their audience this was a very difficult thing for them the apostle Paul now seeks to make it clear that the offer of salvation was long made by God to both Jews and Gentiles and so he quotes Isaiah 28 verse 16 and Isaiah 28 verse 16 says this therefore thus says the Lord

[12:39] God behold I am the one who was laid as a foundation in Zion a stone a tested stone a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation and whoever believes in me will not be in waste so Isaiah was chosen by God as a witness to preach salvation to the nations it has always been God's plan to say give salvation to anyone who believes Paul says in 2nd Corinthians 5 and verse 17 I am not ashamed of the gospel verse 16 rather I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation for whosoever believes notice that he says whosoever believes for all who believe and that removes the particularness to any nation

[13:55] Paul says in 2nd Corinthians 5 and verse 17 if any man be in Christ Jesus he's a new creature all things are passed away and behold all things have become new!

[14:17] Our brother Peter expresses the goal from eternity has always been that none would perish! But all should come to have eternal life his promise is that whosoever believes in him will not be disappointed there are no cultural barriers to salvation there are no racial barriers to salvation the only barrier to salvation is when one rejects the offer from our Lord Jesus Christ I have been recently looking at the story of Jonah and Jonah was called to go to a Gentile audience he pleaded with God that God should not let him go and when

[15:21] God made him go he was very disappointed that the Gentiles had received the gospel and that humbled Jonah because he thought it would have been a limited for a particular audience God's work of salvation in the hearts of the Ninevites demonstrated that the proclaimed word of God is where the power lies for salvation!

[15:55] So God makes no distinction between Jews and Gentiles Romans 10 and verse 12 says for the same Lord is Lord of all bestowing his riches on all who call on him and it is against that background that we have been mandated to go and preach the gospel to all we are not given selected audiences to proclaim the gospel to them Joel speaks to the universal reach of the salvation message in verse 32 where he says and it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved for in

[17:03] Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape as the Lord has said and among those survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls brothers and sisters ladies and gentlemen to call upon the Lord is to have actually speaks of a right worship experience worshiping God worshiping God in the true way adoring him and praising him in the true way!

[17:38] To call upon the Lord is to cry out to the true and living God in the name of the name of the Lord is to come to the true see to see!

[17:54] to! Romans chapter 10 and verse 9 says whoever does this whether Jew or Gentiles shall be saved what a wonderful promise that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved the apostle Paul wanted to show the extent of God's mercy and so he asked the question and this of course is rhetorical it's a question that the answer is already known how will they call on him whom they have not believed and how are they to believe in him of whom they have not heard and how are they to hear without a preacher and how are they to preach unless they are sent notice the progression how are they to call if they do not believe and how are they to believe if they have not heard and how are they to hear if there is no one to proclaim it to them and how are they to go if they are not sent so we understand that we must be sent by

[19:28] God we must go we must say what God says and as we say what God says it provides an opportunity for people to believe and if they believe then they can subsequently call upon him for only those who call can be saved and only those who believe will call and only those who call can attest to hearing and only those who have heard can certainly account for a preacher and when there is a preacher it's a clear thing that he must be sent by God!

[20:23] he is repitiendo the process that they have to hear they have to hear! they have to hear the word of God faith comes by hearing the word of God when the sinner hears the word of God the word of God has the ability to soften the heart it is only the word of God by the spirit of God that softens the hearts of man and when this happens the new birth results how beautiful the apostle says the feet of those who preach good news so you see here that beautiful feet is not to be looked at literally continue on this brief journey with me and

[21:43] I will close this and you will have a better understanding for those of you who are still grappling with this regarding what beautiful feet represents the word of God verse 16 says but they have not all obeyed the gospel for Isaiah says Lord who has believed what he has heard from us so faith comes by hearing and hearing through the word of God through the word of God it is only the word of God has the special revelation of God that is given to us by which we can have faith we can look at the expression of creation and we can have an idea that there is an intelligent creator behind this but faith comes by hearing the word of

[23:04] God we will agree that the physical feet are not the beautiful feet referred to in the text the beautiful feet are the carriers of the gospel of Jesus Christ do you have beautiful feet today are you carrying the gospel to your neighbors are you carrying the gospel to your co-workers are you carrying the gospel wherever you go it is not enough to claim that I love Jesus because if I love Jesus I am to do what he asked me to do a lot of people are excited about going to heaven and that's a wonderful thing but

[24:09] I think it is a better thing to be in heaven with a sense of knowing that I did what my Lord has called me to do and and since we do not have control in our lives we are not to be afraid because throughout the Bible one of the most dominant statement we see because a of the Bible one of the declarations that we see is fear not fear not and it makes sense to not be afraid because we don't know what the future holds someone says that when we walk in fear we are borrowing tomorrow's problems the beautiful feet are the carriers of the glad tidings of great joy we see that

[25:22] God's grace demands man's response of obedience and faith or John says in chapter 3 and verse 16 perhaps one of the most globally known passages for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him notice the word whosoever whosoever believes in will not perish but will have a last in and this is what John is saying as we look at John John is writing his narrative he's writing the gospel it is the word of God but this is through the lenses of John!

[26:21] So when John says look look at how God loves the world it's demonstrative!

[26:32] Look that's what he did he has demonstrated his love towards us has shown! And anybody who believes in the finished work of Jesus Christ shall not perish but have eternal life salvation comes by hearing the word of God the same gospel that goes throughout the nation you know it's a very beautiful thing for me to be in a context like this because I've actually encountered like at least four different nationalities I said to a brother they think that reformed people don't speak in tongues but but we do but what it is doing is expressing

[27:38] God's great love in that even though we are from different cultural backgrounds different languages different distinctives it's the same gospel that is the power of God unto salvation verse 18 but I ask have they not heard indeed they have for their voice has gone out to all the earth and their words to the ends of the earth my friends it's hard to not see that a creation like this has behind it an intelligent creator designer and

[28:44] David holding to this says the heavens declare the glory of the Lord you look around at the stars the sun the moon the change from night to day all the conditions the wonderful and some of you are well aware of this from your whole scientific awareness that everything is just so accurately designed those of us who read the bible we are biblicists and there's something about the starting point of the bible it says in the beginning so if it says in the beginning it means it begun and it seemed right to say if there's a beginning there is a beginner who began the beginning and this is the confidence we have that

[29:58] God created the heavens and the earth but then he gives to us the special revelation of his word because salvation is not gotten by osmosis salvation is not just a religion that is passed on with document or somebody just lay hands on you and you have it Nicodemus came to Jesus and he sought to have an understanding of how this is to be he says I have come to hear about born again but how am I to be born again well Jesus said to Nicodemus Nicodemus do not consider it's not where you're going with this

[30:58] I'm paraphrasing but it's not what you think Nicodemus because anything that is born of flesh is flesh whatever is born of spirit is spirit and we must be born of the spirit to be in the kingdom of God and the faith that I speak of comes from hearing and hearing the word of God so you may say to me today brother most of us in this church are already believers I have no doubt but now we must understand the mandate placed on us to go proclaim this to those who are lost and sometimes your mission field is your next door neighbor sometimes your mission field is to remote parts of the world to include

[32:12] Jamaica but we must do it it's with this understanding that we are now able to say how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news so beauty here is not limited to the aesthetics beauty has a deeper understanding when the woman broke the alabaster jar of very expensive perfume poured it on the body of Jesus the disciples said why this waste

[33:14] Jesus said she has done a beautiful thing what man calls waste God can call it beautiful and now he says how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news may the Lord help us strengthen us we will go forth as beautiful feet bow your heads with me our heavenly father we thank you for this time that we have been able to share with one another brothers and sisters called by you to go forth with the mandate of the gospel we are weak but you're strong we thank you dear

[34:17] Lord and pray that you will help us to be make us more useful for the kingdom we pray these things in Jesus name amen amen