Winning

As my time here in Portland is nearing an end, I’ve come to reflect on what the Lord has taught me during my time here this Summer. One thing I’m continually seeking the Lord’s strength for growth in is my boldness to openly share my faith with those I’m in relationship with. This morning during my time with the Lord, I was affirmed and re-affirmed of the reality that every single time I share my faith, it’s a win.

If I share my faith, there are only three different outcomes that can happen:

1. The person I’m sharing my faith in Christ with chooses to enter into a relationship with Jesus.
2. The person I’m sharing my faith with doesn’t come to Jesus, but a seed is planted.
3. The person I’m sharing my faith with rejects the gospel and rejects me as well.

The beautiful reality is that all three of these outcomes end in God’s glory and thus a win of a conversation.

Please don’t hear me advocating that evangelism is to be viewed as a mathematical or scientific practice that we can boil down to some perfect formula and in so doing treat people like numbers. I instead want to encourage and empower us all to be more active in sharing our faith without fear.

Life in Portland with these guys and gals has been a blessing.

So let’s walk through it.

Scenario 1 is clearly a win. To see someone we share our faith with come to Christ, being reconciled to the Father and adopted into biblical community is something worth praising the Lord about. Jesus makes it clear that there’s something worth celebrating when one individual comes into right relationship with God.

In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. – Luke 15:10

Scenario 2 is also a win. There are countless multitudes of people who came and will come to Christ because of the influence and impact of many conversations and experiences regarding the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, there are incredible moments when the Lord draws to Himself those who are hearing the gospel for the first time (and what a wonderful display of grace worth celebrating). But oftentimes it takes multiple gospel moments. So even if we don’t get to see the fruit of our labor so to speak, every gospel proclamation is a win because it’s a testimony of God’s grace and goodness that can lead to conversion at a later date.

Scenario 3 doesn’t sound or feel like a win, but it does. Any time we share our faith and it leads to rejection (whether of the Lord or of us), the Word actually says is a blessing and a proclamation of God’s glory.

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. – 1 Peter 4:14

Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. – Luke 6:22-23

When we are rejected, insulted, or hated for Christ:

• We are blessed, for the glory of God is seen in our lives
• We are blessed, because our reward in heaven far exceeds any pain of rejection here on earth
• We are not to be surprised when it happens, for it’s been happening since the people of God have existed

Quick disclaimer: this is not reason or rationale that should lead to seeking the betterment of ourselves through the practice of evangelism. What I mean by that is there is a very thin line sometimes in my heart between wanting to extend God’s Kingdom, and my own. If I feel prone to open up about my faith to feel better about how I’m living as a Christian, I don’t believe that to be pure motivation. So chase after and pursue the glorification of God in your conversations, not personal blessings.

Every conversation we have where we confess our faith in Jesus and proclaim what God has done is a win, for it is a conversation where we have glorified God and made much of His Name.

I, Nate Roach, need to grow in boldness for the gospel and openness regarding my faith. I do not write this to you as someone who is a master evangelist. But my hope and prayer is that we as followers of Christ would go boldly into our communities and relationships with the hope of glorifying God by proclaiming the truths of the gospel.

In His Name,

Nate Roach

(The idea for this blog post came from the chapter “Winning, Winning, Winning” in Mark Cahill’s book One Thing You Can’t Do In Heaven).

I appreciate any and all feedback, and you can follow my blog via the menu!

 

When He Feels Far Away

There are some passages in the Bible that I receive with open arms as a blessed gift for a time of specific need. As of late, these passages have been coming from the Psalms. I’ve been strengthened, equipped, and encouraged by the truths of the Psalms. I’m an emotional guy and so I find great solace in and appreciation for the emotions that David and the other authors of the Psalms share with God. It’s a poignant reminder that we can fully disclose our struggles and difficulties with the God who made us, emotions and all.

Since Thursday I must confess that I had many a moment with the Lord unloading all of my emotions on my Rock and Stronghold. In the midst of shootings and terror attacks and a transitional period of my life, the Lord felt distant. I cried out to Him in prayer in the morning and the evening, but the peace that normally accompanied such requests didn’t come.

Then came Psalm 13, and with it the beautiful realities of God’s intimate closeness to those who walk with Him and walk in righteousness. It’s only six verses long, so let me share it with you now.

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me. – Psalm 13

I attest that I do not know the context of Psalm 13 apart from it being written by David. I can not say, but it very well may be that David was struggling with that which is much more life and death and physical enemies encroaching on his life. I can not thus relate to that part if that is the case.

But as I read Psalm 13 this day, I could totally relate to David’s crying out to the Lord. I too have proclaimed feelings of God’s abandonment in my life, since I lacked a ‘feeling’ of His closeness and comfort. In my prayer journal I made similar statements as I have wrestled with thoughts and sorrow that I couldn’t place.

I don’t know where you are at today. You may be questioning God’s closeness. You may be grieving a loss in your family, an unplanned trial, an uncertain future. I hope and pray however that you too will be encouraged by the final two verses of this incredible Psalm. I pray that you too are reminded that oftentimes faith precedes feelings.

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me. – Psalm 13:5-6

Umm, what? On a dime, David goes from essentially yelling out His doubts that God remembers him in his time of need to proclaiming unashamedly that he still has faith.

Faith precedes feelings.

That is not always the case. Don’t hear me trying to make a blanket statement about faith and emotions.

Even in the midst of feeling far from the Lord, David reminded himself and thus us the reader that we still have reason to rejoice in and proclaim the salvation of the Lord. God’s love is unfailing, and even when emotionally we’re struggling, our salvation is secure in Him. Even when we’re struggling emotionally, we can rest assured in the reality of God’s overwhelming love for us.

Something I’ve taught myself and encouraged my brothers and sisters in the faith is that God’s love is truly never failing. If you doubt God’s love for you, simply look to the cross. The gospel is the truth that God loved you so much He sent His Son to earth, to die, and to be raised in order to reconcile you to Him.

If you doubt God’s love for you, look to the cross.

But again, what we believe undoubtedly in our minds is true, can still be a fight in our hearts. So be strengthened and encouraged that even when the emotional implications of a Biblical truth are lacking, we still have reason for faith and trust and worship.

Trust Him.

Rejoice in His love.

Proclaim to the world His good deeds.

Act in faith, walk in faith, and the feelings will follow.

In His Name,

Nate Roach

I appreciate any and all feedback, and you can follow my blog via the menu!

God’s Glory & Grace

There are few things more humbling and transformational than coming head-to-head with the glory of God. There are few passages in Scripture that do this more impactfully for me than Acts 17:24-25.

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. – Acts 17:24-25

So based on these two straightforward verses, we see that God:

1. Made the world.
2. Made everything in it.
3. Is the Lord of heaven.
4. Is the Lord of earth.
5. Does not live in temples built by human hands.
6. Is not served by human hands.
7. Needs nothing.
8. Gives everyone life.
9. Gives everyone breath.
10. Gives everyone everything.

Look at that list. Meditate on that list. Worship the God described in that list. I can’t help but laugh at myself when I even slightly pretend that God needs me on his missional team so to speak. I have the pleasure and opportunity of living into this God-given mission, but He by no means needs me.

Paul’s testimony here in this passage makes it clear, God isn’t served by me nor does He need anything at all.

A beautiful reminder here on the streets of PDX.

Yes, as followers of Christ we are absolutely called to participate and engage in the mission of God. Jesus’ last words to His disciples make it clear that we are to go throughout the world, making disciples and sharing the hope and love of God. But may I never get to the point where I pridefully think that I’m needed. May I never get to the point where I’m extending my own kingdom under the guise I’m spreading His. May I never make missions about me, whether that’s through me feeling better about myself as a result of missions or by pointing those I come in contact with to anyone other than Jesus.

Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. – Psalm 42:5

On top of the wonderful gift of salvation, that which is indescribable and far above anything else that I could ever be given, God is doing innumerable things in your life and mine.

Every single breath is a gift of grace. Every single breath is a deed of the Lord worth proclaiming to the world. And that’s just normal life. We walk about with breath in our lungs oftentimes oblivious to just what a gift that breath and life is.

May we be men and women of God who tell of the good deeds of our King, while also remembering in humility just how great is the glory of our King.

In His Name,
Nate Roach

I appreciate any and all feedback, and you can follow my blog below.