The FCA (fellowship of Christian Athletes) held a nation wide event on many college athletic fields recently called 'Fields of Faith'. College students gathered to tell their testimonies, worship, and pray. I had the privilage to be one of the speakers and this is how it went down.
I know I go to a Christian college but this one of the most dangerous places to be for 'good kids who aren't saved but think they're saved'. On top of that, the staff talks to every student as if they're a Christian....but what if they aren't a Christian? What if their superficial and they've never recieved a new heart and biblically repented? Jesus is the one who told us that very few people who call themselves believers actually enter through the narrow gate and walk on hard path that leads to eternal life. Most are decieved... I was decieved most of my life so I know first hand that its hard to see when you're blind. So I wanted to make the most of this opportunity and be faithful to God.
I incorported verses from Matthew 7 into my testimony. I wanted people to see how we can decieve ourselves into thinking we're saved by being around believers or knowing orthodox creeds but never really examine our hearts in light of Scripture. Mt. 7:21-23 states a terrifying fact, many people who call Jesus their Lord will die and think they're right with God and on their way to heaven but will be rejected and sent to hell! Why? Because only those who do the will of God will be saved. ITS NOT WHAT YOU SAY, ITS WHAT YOU DO,HOW YOU LIVE, AND WHAT YOU'RE REALLY TRUSTING IN! So if so many people are decieved how can we know we're not one of them?
We must examine our lives, what we desire, and see our fruits we produce to be able to know what kind of tree we are. In Mt. 7:16-21, Jesus lays out a way for us to test ourselves, by looking at our fruit. All the lost (including self-decieved false Christians) are bad trees who only produce bad fruit. Refering to a unregenerate heart that loves sin and is a slave to sin. Their fruit is evil, sinful, and self-righteous with no self denial and following after Christ. Out of this heart they may be able to fool themselves and other people but they're fruit isn't out of love for Christ or to the glory of God. They're trusting in all the they're deeds and things they've done in ministry rather than in the atonement of Christ alone. But Christians are good trees bearing good fruit as a style of life. Christians still sin and mess up but they're greatest desire is to be like Christ and to know Him. So they are constantly battling sin, overcoming, and denying themselves the fleeting pleasures of the world to follow Christ.
I closed with a plea to abandon any reliance on self or their good deeds. Only those who see themselves as hopelessly lost sinners will ever be saved. Only those who admit their guilt in killing Christ on the cross by their sin will ever recieve the grace it exhibits. Only the few who know they're sick will ever get the desire to seek healing from the doctor (Christ). So I finished with a call to repent and believe the gospel, don't decieve yourselves.
10/9/08
Lifting up Christ at Northpoint prison!!!!
After a passionate pursuit to know & treasure Christ, preaching the gospel is the greatest most satisfying blessing this side of heaven. I've shared the gospel many places and with many people but I've never had the opportunity to go into a high security prison and preach the gospel. That was until the Lord used basketball to open a door for his glory. On tues. I played a pre-season game with my team (Asbury) against Northpoint prison. The whole experience was awesome.
ENTER THROUGH THE PRISON GATE
It was pretty intimidating when we arrived. We went through many barb wired fences, checkpoints, and met cool correction officers. As we walked through the courtyard to the gym we received lazier stares and comments from prisoners. When we entered the gym it was loud, hostile and packed......I loved it. The court was caged in so imagine a cross between nba jam and street fighter. The prison team consisted of hyped-up, athletic brothers ready to throw down.....this was going to be fun.
THE GAME
I prayed over the game and then we tipped off. We came out hot and got the prisoner's in the gym all hyped up...(I was talking a little bit to the crowd but it was all in fun). The game was fast and intense, lots 3's, lots of cross overs, lots of nice moves, and one sweet dunk by Jordan Hammond. We had the game but it slipped away in the final minutes as the prison beat us 98-94. Our guys never backed down but it was all in the Lord's hands. If we would have won those prisoner's would have been fighting & cursing each other out. They would have never listened to me share the gospel. Both teams gathered together as my Coach said a few words and then handed it over to me.
THE GOSPEL
I knew I only had one shot with these guys and wanted to glorify God and lovingly speak eternal truths to these men who need hope. So I trusted in Christ that he would make himself known to the prisoners and my team through a broken and unworthy vessel. I wanted these guys to consider their soul and its worth and view themselves in light of God's standards not mans. I let them know we're all in the same boat, we're all in a prison waiting to die and stand before God in judgment. That this judgment would be of righteousness and that God will punish every sin and not accept anything less than perfect.
So I took them through God's law to expose our sinfulness, the filth that's hidden deep in our hearts that will leave us condemned and hopeless. The prisoner's minds really started turning when i said 10 out of 10 people die and we're all going to have to face this judgment. our only hope is that the God who will judge us would be the same one who show us mercy and provides a Savior to rescue us from the wrath we deserve. I then unfolded the glorious gospel, that Christ was the sinless man who died to as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. To pay the penalty we deserve and than grant us his righteousness through faith. Repent and believe the gospel.
The prisoners really embraced me afterwards, they said they'd be discussing what i said with each other. One guy said he was going to be reading his bible and I encouraged him to trust in the person and work of Christ for sinners not in what he is going to try to do in his own will power.
It was an amazing experience, I know I'm unworthy to speak of Christ but I'm so humbled to think God may of used me to draw some struggling men to himself. I hope to see some of those guys one day in heaven.
Here's a link to an article written in the jessamine journal about this event: "RAZOR WIRE, BASKETBALL AND FAITH"
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