[ MUSIC ]
REBECCA: YOU KNOW, GROWING UP IN CHURCH
THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT WORDS
AND PHRASES YOU HEAR COMMONLY.
ONE OF THOSE PHRASES I HEARD OFTEN IS,
JESUS WAS A FRIEND TO SINNERS.
I'VE SEEN CHRISTIANS USE IT IN VARIOUS WAYS,
INCLUDING EXPLAINING THEIR BEHAVIOR.
HEARING IT USED SO MANY TIMES IN DIFFERENT WAYS,
IT HAD ME THINKING,
WHAT KIND OF FRIEND WAS JESUS TO SINNERS,
AND HOW DO I LIVE THAT OUT IN TODAY'S WORLD?
WELL, I'M GOING TO BE TEACHING ON THIS AND MORE.
SO FIRST OFF, JESUS WAS A FRIEND TO SINNERS.
NO ONE CAN TAKE THAT AWAY.
GOD HAD SUCH A GREAT LOVE FOR THE LOST.
SO MUCH, THAT JESUS, THE VERY WORD OF GOD,
BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US.
AND HE LIVED A SINLESS LIFE
ONLY TO SACRIFICE IT FOR OUR REDEMPTION
AND RECONCILIATION WITH GOD.
JOHN 1 SAYS, SO THE WORD BECAME FLESH
AND MADE HIS HOME AMONG US.
HE WAS FULL OF UNFAILING LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS.
JESUS MINISTERED TO THE PEOPLE
THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS DEEMED UNCLEANED,
AND THE OUTCASTS OF SOCIETY,
LIKE THE LEPERS, THE WOMAN AT THE WELL
WHO HAD BEEN MARRIED FIVE TIMES
ONLY TO END UP LIVING WITH THE SIXTH MAN.
THE WOMAN WHO WAS CAUGHT IN ADULTERY,
AND TAX COLLECTORS, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
JESUS IS WILLING TO MINISTER
TO ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE,
AND THIS IS BECAUSE HE DEMONSTRATED THE HEART
OF GOD THE FATHER,
BY LOVING ALL KINDS AND MINISTERING TO
ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE.
THE BIBLE IN COLOSSIANS DESCRIBES JESUS
AS THE VISIBLE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD.
SO IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT GOD THE FATHER IS LIKE,
JUST LOOK AT THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF JESUS.
JESUS ALSO SHOWED GOD'S DESIRE
TO RECONCILE THE WORLD BACK TO HIMSELF THROUGH CHRIST.
2 CORINTHIANS 5 SAYS,
AND ALL OF THIS IS A GIFT FROM GOD,
WHO BROUGHT US BACK TO HIMSELF THROUGH CHRIST.
AND GOD HAS GIVEN US THIS TASK
OF RECONCILING PEOPLE TO HIM.
FOR GOD WAS IN CHRIST,
RECONCILING THE WORLD TO HIMSELF,
NO LONGER COUNTING PEOPLE'S SINS AGAINST THEM.
AND HE GAVE US THIS WONDERFUL MESSAGE
OF RECONCILIATION.
SO WE ARE CHRIST'S AMBASSADORS.
GOD IS MAKING HIS APPEAL THROUGH US.
WE SPEAK FOR CHRIST WHEN WE PLEAD,
COME BACK TO GOD.
FOR GOD MADE CHRIST
WHO NEVER SINNED,
TO BE THE OFFERING FOR OUR SIN,
SO THAT WE COULD BE MADE RIGHT WITH GOD
THROUGH CHRIST.
GOD WAS DRAWING THE WORLD TO HIMSELF THROUGH JESUS.
THAT WAS HIS HEART FOR THE LOST.
LASTLY, THE SINNERS WERE DRAWN TO JESUS.
THESE PEOPLE WERE DRAWN TO JESUS
BECAUSE HE CARRIED THE LIGHT,
THE LIFE AND THE LOVE OF GOD IN HIM.
AND THEY WERE HUNGRY FOR THAT.
AND JESUS DIDN'T SHAME ANYONE WHO WANTED
TO COME TO HIM BECAUSE OF THIS.
BUT BECAUSE THE SINNERS CAME TO JESUS
HE WAS CRITICIZED BY RELIGIOUS LEADERS.
LUKE 15:1 SAYS, TAX COLLECTORS
AND OTHER NOTORIOUS SINNERS
OFTEN CAME TO LISTEN TO JESUS TEACH.
THIS MADE THE PHARISEES AND TEACHERS
OF RELIGIOUS LAW COMPLAIN
THAT HE WAS ASSOCIATING WITH SUCH SINFUL PEOPLE,
EVEN EATING WITH THEM.
THE PHARISEES HATED THAT.
THE SPIRIT OF RELIGION HATES WHEN WE
DRAW CLOSE TO GOD.
BUT THAT'S GOD'S HEART FOR US,
THAT WE MAY HAVE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
AND GOD WILL MEET US EXACTLY WHERE WE'RE AT
AND DRAW HIM TO HIMSELF.
AND THIS IS WHY I LOVE THE TEACHING
OF JESUS BEING A FRIEND OF SINNERS.
BECAUSE IT SHOWS GOD'S GREAT LOVE FOR US,
AND THE LENGTHS GOD IS WILLING TO GO TO REACH US.
IT SHOWS US HOW GOD'S HEART BREAKS
FOR THE HURTING AND THE LOST.
AND HOW HE DESIRES TO RESTORE US BACK
TO WHAT HE ORIGINALLY DESIGNED US FOR,
A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
AND TOTAL WHOLENESS IN BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT.
BUT THIS MESSAGE HAS ALSO BEEN DISTORTED
BY PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH
AND USED FOR THE WRONG PURPOSES.
AND WHEN WE DISTORT GOD'S WORD,
WE DISTORT GOD'S VERY IMAGE
AND THUS, GIVE OUT A MESSAGE
THAT CAN DISTORT US
AND OUR UNDERSTANDING OF OUR CALLING AND PURPOSE.
SO I'M GONNA SHOW YOU WHAT KIND OF FRIEND
JESUS WAS TO SINNERS
AND ALSO WHAT HE WASN'T.
JESUS NEVER CONFORMED TO THOSE AROUND HIM.
JESUS WAS A FRIEND TO SINNERS,
BUT HE NEVER COMPROMISED WHO HE WAS
WHILE MINISTERING TO THE LOST.
THE BIBLE SAYS HE NEVER EVEN SINNED ONCE.
SO WHILE JESUS WOULD EAT WITH SINNERS,
HE WASN'T GETTING DRUNK WITH THEM.
HE NEVER CONFORMED TO THE WORLD.
HE ONLY MINISTERED TO IT.
JESUS WAS IN THE WORLD, BUT HE WAS NOT OF THE WORLD.
AND WE ARE CALLED TO DO THE SAME.
WE NEED TO REMEMBER, THIS WORLD IS NOT OUR HOME,
SO WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO CONFORM TO IT.
JESUS WAS ALSO NOT A PEOPLE-PLEASER
AND HE WAS NOT INFLUENCED BY PEOPLE.
EVEN THOUGH HE LOVED PEOPLE GREATLY,
JESUS WAS NEVER MOTIVATED BY PEOPLE'S APPROVAL,
OR BY WHAT PEOPLE WANTED.
IF THIS HAD BEEN THE CASE,
JESUS WOULD HAVE FELT DEFEATED
WHEN THE PEOPLE TURNED ON HIM AND HATED HIM.
JESUS WAS NOT MOTIVATED BY PEOPLE,
RATHER, EVERYTHING HE DID WAS FOR AND BECAUSE
OF HIS FATHER.
JESUS SAID ONLY WHAT THE FATHER SAID.
IN JOHN 12 JESUS SAYS,
I DON'T SPEAK ON MY OWN AUTHORITY.
THE FATHER WHO SENT ME HAS COMMANDED ME
WHAT TO SAY AND HOW TO SAY IT.
AND I KNOW HIS COMMANDS LEAD TO ETERNAL LIFE,
SO I SAY WHATEVER THE FATHER TELLS ME TO SAY.
JESUS ONLY DID WHAT HE SAW HIS FATHER DOING.
JOHN 5 SAYS, SO JESUS EXPLAINED,
I TELL YOU THE TRUTH,
THE SON CAN DO NOTHING BY HIMSELF.
HE DOES ONLY WHAT HE SEES THE FATHER DOING.
WHATEVER THE FATHER DOES,
THE SON ALSO DOES.
FOR THE FATHER LOVES THE SON
AND SHOWS HIM EVERYTHING HE IS DOING.
EVERYTHING JESUS DID IN HIS MINISTRY
WAS FOR HIS FATHER.
AND HE ONLY SAID AND DID WHAT THE FATHER TOLD HIM TO.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY
JESUS PRIORITIZED GETTING AWAY FROM THE CROWD
AND SPENDING ALONE TIME WITH JUST HIS FATHER.
EVEN IN THE BUSIEST AND MOST POPULAR TIMES
IN HIS MINISTRY,
IT WAS CRUCIAL FOR JESUS TO STAY CONNECTED
TO HIS FATHER,
HEAR HIS VOICE, AND SEEK OUT HIS WILL.
NOW, WHILE JESUS WAS A FRIEND TO SINNERS,
THE WORLD HATED JESUS,
AND HIS OWN PEOPLE REJECTED HIM.
JOHN 1 SAYS HE CAME INTO THE VERY WORLD HE CREATED,
BUT THE WORLD DIDN'T RECOGNIZE HIM.
HE CAME TO HIS OWN PEOPLE
AND EVEN THEY REJECTED HIM.
BUT TO ALL WHO BELIEVED HIM AND ACCEPTED HIM,
HE GAVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD.
JESUS KNEW THE WORLD HATED HIM.
HE EVEN SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES IN JOHN 15,
IF THE WORLD HATES YOU,
REMEMBER THAT IT HATED ME FIRST.
THE WORLD WOULD LOVE YOU AS ONE OF ITS OWN
IF YOU BELONGED TO IT,
BUT YOU ARE NO LONGER PART OF THE WORLD.
I CHOSE YOU TO COME OUT OF THE WORLD
SO IT HATES YOU.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT I TOLD YOU?
A SLAVE IS NO GREATER THAN ITS MASTER.
SO THEY PERSECUTED ME,
NATURALLY THEY WILL PERSECUTE YOU.
WHEN YOU FOLLOW JESUS,
THE WORLD WILL HATE YOU.
OUR GOAL IS NOT TO BE ACCEPTED BY THE WORLD
OR BE THE MOST POPULAR.
OUR GOAL IS TO PLEASE THE HEART OF GOD
AND BE OBEDIENT SONS AND DAUGHTERS.
NOW, EVEN THOUGH JESUS WAS A FRIEND,
HE STILL SPOKE THE HARD TRUTHS.
JESUS ALWAYS SPOKE THE TRUTH IN LOVE,
BUT HE DID SPEAK THE HARD TRUTHS TO PEOPLE
EVEN IF IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED OFFENSIVE.
JESUS TALKED ABOUT HELL.
JESUS TALKED ABOUT SIN.
MATTHEW 13:41 THROUGH 42 SAYS,
THE SON OF MAN WILL SEND HIS ANGELS
AND THEY WILL REMOVE FROM HIS KINGDOM
EVERYTHING THAT CAUSES SIN
AND ALL WHO DO EVIL.
AND THE ANGELS WILL THROW THEM INTO
THE FIERY FURNACE,
WHERE THERE WILL BE WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH.
JESUS TALKED ABOUT SUFFERING.
SO, AS YOU CAN SEE,
HE TALKED ABOUT THE HARD STUFF
AND HE WASN'T AFRAID TO SHARE THE TRUTH.
AND AS BELIEVERS, WE NEED TO DO THE SAME.
BEING A FRIEND DOESN'T MEAN NOT TELLING THE TRUTH
BECAUSE IT'S OFFENSIVE.
AND CHRISTIANS WILL USE THE EXCUSE OF
NOT TELLING THE TRUTH
BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING LOVING,
OR THEY'RE NOT WANTING TO OFFEND OTHERS.
BUT JESUS DID JUST THAT.
AND HE IS OUR EXAMPLE.
HE NEVER WITHHELD THE TRUTH.
THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
BEING LOVING AND MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS
AND BEING SIMPLY AFRAID OF WHAT PEOPLE THINK,
AND BACKLASH SO YOU DON'T SAY ANYTHING.
REMEMBER, YOU DON'T NEED TO PROTECT PEOPLE
FROM GOD'S TRUTH.
GOD'S TRUTH PROTECTS PEOPLE FROM EVIL.
YOU SIMPLY NEED TO BE MATURE
IN HOW YOU ADDRESS PEOPLE
AND DO IT IN A LOVING WAY
AND MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT.
FINALLY, WHILE JESUS WAS A FRIEND TO SINNERS,
HE WAS CLEAR THERE WAS A HIGH COST
IN FOLLOWING HIM.
IN LUKE 14 JESUS SAYS, IF YOU WANT TO BE MY DISCIPLE,
YOU MUST, BY COMPARISON, HATE EVERYONE ELSE,
YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER, WIFE AND CHILDREN,
BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YES, EVEN YOUR OWN LIFE.
OTHERWISE, YOU CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE.
AND IF YOU DO NOT CARRY YOUR OWN CROSS AND FOLLOW ME,
YOU CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE.
BUT DON'T BEGIN UNTIL YOU COUNT THE COST.
FOR WHO WOULD BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF A BUILDING
WITHOUT FIRST CALCULATING THE COST TO SEE
IF THERE IS ENOUGH MONEY TO FINISH IT?
OTHERWISE, YOU MIGHT COMPLETE ONLY THE FOUNDATION
BEFORE RUNNING OUT OF MONEY,
AND THEN EVERYONE WOULD LAUGH AT YOU.
THEY WOULD SAY THERE'S THE PERSON WHO STARTED
THAT BUILDING AND COULDN'T AFFORD TO FINISH IT.
SO YOU CANNOT BECOME MY DISCIPLE WITHOUT GIVING UP
EVERYTHING YOU OWN.
SO LET'S JUST PROCESS THIS FOR A SECOND.
JESUS MAKES IT VERY CLEAR,
WE HAVE TO COUNT THE COSTS BEFORE FOLLOWING.
AND SO I'M JUST GONNA ASK YOU RIGHT NOW TO DO THE SAME.
THINK ABOUT IT, AM I WILLING TO SACRIFICE
EVERYTHING TO FOLLOW CHRIST?
WE NEED TO CONSIDER THESE THINGS
BEFORE DETERMINING TO FOLLOW HIM.
BECAUSE WE MIGHT HAVE TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING.
BUT I KNOW THAT HE'S WORTH IT.
ALSO, THE SINNERS WHO CHOSE TO FOLLOW JESUS
WERE FOREVER CHANGED.
THEY TURNED FROM THEIR EVIL WAYS AND FOLLOWED HIM.
THEY DIDN'T STAY THE SAME.
SO WHILE JESUS WAS A FRIEND OF SINNERS,
THOSE SINNERS NEVER STAYED THE SAME.
IF THEY CHOSE TO FOLLOW HIM,
THEY WERE FOREVER CHANGED.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT GOD'S GRACE AND LOVE DOES TO US.
I WANTED TO SHARE A STORY
THAT GREATLY IMPACTED ME
FROM ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTOBIOGRAPHIES,
LIVING A LIFE OF FIRE BY REINHARD BONNKE.
HE'S A FAMOUS EVANGELIST
WHO'S GONE ON RECENTLY TO BE WITH THE LORD,
AND THIS BOOK HIGHLIGHTS HIS LIFE AND MINISTRY.
AND WHEN I WAS PREPARING THIS TEACHING,
THERE WAS A SPECIFIC STORY THAT I REMEMBERED
FROM THIS BOOK THAT I WANTED TO SHARE.
BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT HIGHLIGHTS EXACTLY
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A FRIEND OF SINNERS
THE WAY JESUS WAS.
[ MUSIC ]
REBECCA: SO THIS IS IN CHAPTER 18, PAGE 223.
THIS IS REINHARD SPEAKING.
MY PHONE RANG.
BROTHER HAROLD HORN,
SOMEONE I HAD KNOWN SINCE MY ARRIVAL IN LESOTHO, SAID,
REINHARD, COME TO KIMBERLY AND PREACH TO US.
I SAID, I WILL COME.
FRIDAY NIGHT AS I SAT ON THE PLATFORM,
I LOOKED ACROSS THE GATHERING OF 200 PEOPLE.
NOT ONE YOUNG PERSON DID I SEE IN THE ROOM.
NOT ONE. I LEANED OVER TO HAROLD, WHO WAS NEAR ME AND SAID,
WHERE ARE THE YOUNG PEOPLE?
HE NODDED SADLY, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT I HAD
CORRECTLY SEEN THE PROBLEM.
EVERY HEAD IN THE ROOM WAS GRAY.
I PREACHED.
THE SERVICE WAS CLOSED
AND THE PEOPLE FILTERED OUT TO THEIR CARS TO GO HOME.
WHEN THEY HAD GONE, HAROLD CAME TO ME.
REINHARD, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE ANSWER
TO YOUR QUESTION?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW WHERE ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE
IN KIMBERLY ARE?
YES, I WOULD, I REPLIED.
I WILL SHOW YOU.
GET INTO MY CAR AND I WILL TAKE YOU THERE.
HE DROVE THROUGH THE STREETS,
TURNING THIS WAY AND THAT,
UNTIL HE CAME TO A LARGE BUILDING
AT THE EDGE OF A WAREHOUSE DISTRICT.
THE BUILDING WAS ABLAZE WITH GAUDY NEON SIGNS.
ONE LARGE SIGN BLINKED OUT THE WORD,
DISCO, DISCO, DISCO.
THE PARKING LOT WAS JAM-PACKED TO OVERFLOWING
WITH VEHICLES.
AS HE TURNED OFF THE KEY,
I COULD HEAR THE BOOM, BOOM, BOOM
OF THE HEAVY BASS BEAT
COMING THROUGH THE WALLS OF THE BUILDING.
THE SO-CALLED MUSIC
SEEMED TO SHAKE THE VERY GROUND BENEATH US
WITH AN UNGODLY SPIRIT.
THIS IS A DEN OF INIQUITY, I SAID SADLY.
HE NODDED.
THIS IS THE LATEST THING, REINHARD.
IT IS CALLED A DISCOTHEQUE, A DANCE CLUB.
IT IS A CRAZE THAT IS SWEEPING THE WHOLE WORLD
RIGHT NOW,
AND YOUNG PEOPLE EVERYWHERE ARE VERY
ATTRACTED TO IT.
LET'S GO INSIDE.
OH, NO, I SAID.
LET'S GO HOME. I HAVE NEVER GONE TO SUCH A PLACE.
IT WOULD BE AN ABOMINATION TO ME.
BUT AS I TURNED TO GET INTO THE CAR,
I FELT BAD INSIDE.
I STOPPED IN MY TRACKS.
THIS IS WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT BEGAN TO SPEAK TO ME.
SINCE I HAD COME THIS FAR,
SOMETHING SEEMED WRONG IF I NOW TURNED AWAY.
BUT I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE SPIRIT WANTED ME TO DO.
I JUST COULDN'T LEAVE.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK INSIDE, HAROLD SUGGESTED.
SUDDENLY, THIS SEEMED EXACTLY RIGHT.
EVERYTHING IN MY SPIRIT SAID YES.
I NODDED.
OKAY, HAROLD. LET'S JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THIS DISCO.
WE CAME TO THE DOOR AND STOOD THERE.
I FELT THE SPIRIT SAY TO ME VERY CLEARLY,
LOOK INSIDE. I WILL SHOW YOU SOMETHING YOU DO NOT KNOW.
I TOOK A DEEP BREATH AND OPENED THE DOOR.
THE BLAST OF THE MUSIC
MUST HAVE KNOCKED THE HAIR BACK FROM MY FOREHEAD.
I HAVE NEVER HEARD SUCH VOLUME IN MY LIFE.
IT WAS DEAFENING.
BUT IT WAS IN THAT INSTANT
THAT I RECEIVED A SPIRITUAL VISION
OF THE REALITY OF THE DISCO.
IN THE FLASH OF THE STROBE LIGHTS,
I DID NOT SEE YOUNG PEOPLE DANCING WITH JOY.
I SAW FROZEN IMAGES OF BOREDOM,
FEAR, LONELINESS AND INSECURITY,
ONE AFTER THE OTHER,
CAPTURED ON THE FACES OF THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE.
THE SPLIT-SECOND FLASHES OF LIFE
REVEALED THESE IMAGES OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN
LIKE STOP-ACTION.
EACH OF THOSE HAUNTED FACES SPOKE TO ME OF EMPTINESS.
PURE EMPTINESS.
SUDDENLY, I COULD NOT CARE LESS
WHAT ANYONE THOUGHT OF ME.
I KNEW THAT I WOULD PREACH IN THIS DISCO.
NOTHING COULD DENY THE LOVE OF JESUS THAT I FELT.
I SHUT THE DOOR AND LOOKED AT HAROLD.
I HEARD THE HOLY SPIRIT SAY IN MY HEART,
FIND THE OWNER OF THIS PLACE.
SO I SAID TO HAROLD,
HELP ME FIND THE OWNER OF THE DISCO.
WHAT GOOD WILL THAT DO?
I MUST TALK TO HIM.
LET'S FIND HIM NOW.
BUT WHAT WILL YOU SAY TO HIM?
I WILL ASK HIM TO LET ME PREACH IN HIS DISCO.
HAROLD LAUGHED.
YOU WON'T DO THAT, REINHARD.
I WILL, I ABSOLUTELY WILL.
HAROLD FOLLOWED ME NOW.
I INQUIRED INSIDE THE DISCO
AND WE WERE LED TO AN OFFICE AT THE REAR
OF THE BUILDING.
THE OWNER WAS A MIDDLE-AGED BUSINESSMAN
WHO LOOKED TO BE VERY MUCH
A PART OF THE ROCK-AND-ROLL CULTURE.
HE HAD LONG HAIR, GOLD CHAINS AROUND HIS NECK,
AN OPEN-COLLARED SHIRT,
AND BLUE JEANS.
I SAID TO HIM, SIR, I'VE COME ALL THE WAY FROM GERMANY.
I'M ASKING YOUR PERMISSION TO ALLOW ME
TO ADDRESS THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN YOUR DISCO FOR
JUST FIVE MINUTES.
HE LOOKED AT ME FROM TOP TO TOE.
YOU'RE A PREACHER, HE SAID.
I WAS STILL DRESSED IN MY SUIT AND TIE.
I NODDED.
HE SAID, IF YOU WANT TO PREACH,
YOU SHOULD PREACH IN A CHURCH.
THERE ARE NO YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH, I SAID.
THEY DON'T COME TO THE CHURCH,
SO THE PREACHER MUST COME TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE.
NOW GIVE ME FIVE MINUTES,
ONLY FIVE MINUTES, I ASK OF YOU.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING.
HE SHOOK HIS HEAD IN DISBELIEF,
THEN TURNED AROUND AND WALKED AWAY.
THERE IS NO WAY, MAN.
HE HAD NO SYMPATHY FOR MY PLEA AT ALL.
AS HE WAS WALKING, SUDDENLY THE HOLY SPIRIT
TOUCHED ME.
HE SAID TO ME, TELL HIM WHAT YOU SAW
WHEN YOU LOOKED INTO HIS DANCE HALL.
I WENT AFTER THE MAN AND TOOK HIM BY THE ARM.
HE TURNED TO FACE ME AGAIN.
ONE QUESTION, SIR, I SAID, LOOKING DEEP INTO HIS EYES.
DO YOU THINK THE YOUNG PEOPLE FIND
WHAT THEY NEED FOR LIFE IN YOUR DISCO?
SLOWLY THE FACE OF THAT MAN CHANGED.
HE LOOKED DOWN THOUGHTFULLY.
WHEN HE LOOKED UP AGAIN HE SAID,
IT IS VERY STRANGE THAT YOU WOULD SAY THAT.
I HAVE CHILDREN OF MY OWN.
I'VE THOUGHT MANY TIMES THAT THE DISCO
WILL NOT GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE WHAT THEY NEED FOR LIFE.
I BEG YOU, SIR,
GIVE ME FIVE MINUTES WITH THEM.
HE WAS THOUGHTFUL FOR A MOMENT.
OKAY, BUT NOT TONIGHT.
SATURDAY NIGHT.
TOMORROW NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT,
I WILL GIVE YOU THE MICROPHONE FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I GRABBED HIS HAND AND SHOOK IT.
IT'S A DEAL.
THANK YOU, SIR.
I WILL BE HERE.
THE NEXT NIGHT I DRESSED IN CASUAL CLOTHES.
I DID N0T WANT TO LOOK LIKE A PREACHER
JUST COMING FROM CHURCH.
I NEEDED DISCO CAMOUFLAGE.
WHEN AT LAST THE CLOCK STRUCK TWELVE,
THE MUSIC STOPPED.
I JUMPED UP AND ON ONTO THE STAGE
WHERE THE RECORDS WERE BEING SPUN.
I TOOK THE MICROPHONE FROM THE DISK JOCKEY
AND SHOUTED, SIT DOWN, SIT DOWN, SIT DOWN.
I'VE COME ALL THE WAY FROM GERMANY,
AND I'VE GOT SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOU.
SUDDENLY THE YOUNG PEOPLE BEGAN
SITTING DOWN EVERYWHERE.
IT WAS THEN I REALIZED I WAS NOT IN CHURCH,
BUT IN A DANCE HALL.
MOST OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE PLOPPED RIGHT DOWN
ON THE FLOOR.
THERE THEY SAT, SMOKING CIGARETTES AND CHEWING GUM,
WAITING FOR ME TO TELL THEM SOMETHING
VERY IMPORTANT THAT I HAD BROUGHT WITH ME
ALL THE WAY FROM GERMANY.
I STARTED TO PREACH ONE MINUTE, TWO MINUTES,
SUDDENLY THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS THERE.
I MEAN, THE WIND OF GOD BLEW INTO THAT DISCO.
SUDDENLY I HEARD SOBBING.
I SAW YOUNG PEOPLE GETTING OUT THEIR HANDKERCHIEFS
AND STARTING TO WIPE THEIR EYES,
CRYING EVERYWHERE.
I HAD PREACHED ENOUGH TO KNOW
THAT WHEN PEOPLE START SHEDDING TEARS,
IT'S TIME FOR AN ALTAR CALL.
I SAID, HOW MANY OF YOU WANT TO RECEIVE
JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?
HOW MANY WANT TO FIND FORGIVENESS FOR YOUR SINS
AND ENTER GOD'S PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE
AS OF TONIGHT?
EVERY HAND THAT I COULD SEE IN THAT PLACE
WENT STRAIGHT UP.
I SAID, ALL RIGHT, REPEAT AFTER ME.
WE PRAYED THE PRAYER OF SALVATION TOGETHER.
MY FIVE MINUTES WERE UP.
MY WORK WAS DONE.
I LEFT WALKING ON CLOUD NUMBER NINE,
REJOICING, ABSOLUTELY REJOICING.
A YEAR LATER I RETURNED TO KIMBERLY.
HAROLD MET ME AT THE AIRPORT.
HE SAID, GET IN MY CAR.
I HAVE A SURPRISE FOR YOU.
I GOT IN HIS CAR.
HE DID NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT,
HE JUST DROVE THROUGH THE WINDING STREETS
UNTIL HE CAME TO THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT.
THE CAR STOPPED.
I LOOKED OUT OF THE WINDOW.
I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EYES.
I WIPED THEM AND LOOKED AGAIN.
INSTEAD OF SEEING THE BIG DISCO SIGN,
THERE WAS A HUGE WHITE CROSS
ON THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING.
THIS IS NOT THE SURPRISE, HAROLD SAID, COME INSIDE.
WE WALKED UP TO THAT DOOR
WHERE HE HAD STOOD ONE YEAR AGO.
ARE YOU READY FOR THIS, REINHARD?
HAROLD SWUNG THE DOOR OPEN
AND I LOOKED INTO THE PACKED HOUSE
FULL OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
THEY WERE CHANTING, BONNKE, BONNKE, BONNKE.
I CRIED OUT WITH JOY.
THEY RUSHED TO ME, HUGGING ME AND SHAKING MY HANDS,
BRINGING ME INSIDE.
ONE YOUNG MAN SAID,
REMEMBER ME?
I WAS THE DISK JOCKEY THAT NIGHT.
ANOTHER GRABBED MY HAND.
I WAS OPERATING THE LIGHT SHOW.
ANOTHER SAID, WE WERE DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY,
NOW WE ARE SERVING JESUS.
AFTER YOU LEFT TOWN, THE DISCO WENT BANKRUPT,
HAROLD SHOUTED TO ME.
THIS DISCO IS A CHURCH!
HE WAS BEAMING FROM EAR TO EAR.
A FINE-LOOKING GENTLEMAN CAME UP TO ME.
WE HEARD ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE YOUNG
PEOPLE HERE.
MY CHURCH HAS SPONSORED ME
TO BE A PASTOR TO THESE KIDS.
I STOOD AGAIN ON THAT DISCO STAGE
LOOKING AT THOSE FACES,
SO DIFFERENT FROM THE ONES I HAD SEEN
IN THE STROBE LIGHTS A YEAR AGO.
THE LIGHTS WERE UP FULL NOW.
EVEN MORE, THE LIGHT OF THE LORD'S FAVOR WAS
SHINING ON EVERY FACE.
I POINTED MY FINGER TO THE HEAVENS AND SHOUTED,
JESUS, JESUS.
AND THEY SHOUTED BACK TO ME AS ONE,
MAKING THE WALLS TREMBLE.
PRAISE JESUS.
HE IS LORD.
HALLELUJAH.
NOW THAT DISCO WAS ROCKING THE RIGHT WAY.
KIMBERLY'S TRUE DIAMONDS WERE SHINING
IN THEIR FATHER'S EYES.
I LOVE THIS STORY SO MUCH.
THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT MEANS
TO BE A FRIEND OF SINNERS.
REINHARD DID NOT LIKE THE SIN GOING ON
IN THE DISCO CLUB,
BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT BURDENED HIS HEART
FOR THE LOST INSIDE
AND GAVE HIM A VISION THAT SHOWED
HOW BROKEN AND EMPTY THE PEOPLE WERE.
GOD GAVE HIM A BURDEN AND COMPASSION
FOR THOSE YOUNG LOST CLUB-GOERS.
AND IT MOTIVATED REINHARD TO MINISTER TO THEM.
AND LOOK AT THE TRANSFORMATION
THAT HAPPENED.
ONLY GOD.
WE HAVE TO ALLOW GOD TO GIVE US A HEART FOR THE LOST.
IT'S NOT ABOUT US LOVING THE WORLD
AND WHAT'S IN IT.
IT'S ABOUT SHARING GOD'S BURDEN
AND HEART FOR THE LOST,
BECAUSE GOD DESIRES ALL TO COME TO HIM.
WHEN WE SEE IN SCRIPTURE WHERE IT SAYS
JESUS HAD GREAT COMPASSION ON THE PEOPLE,
THIS WORD FOR COMPASSION,
OR SOMETIMES EVEN SYMPATHY,
IS ACTUALLY THE GREEK WORD, SPLAGCHNIZOMAI.
IT MEANS A DEEP FEELING FROM WITHIN YOUR STOMACH,
A DEEP PAIN, A TWISTING OF THE INTESTINES.
EVEN WHEN JESUS WAS EXHAUSTED MINISTERING,
WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT WOULD GIVE HIM THAT FEELING
DEEP WITHIN HIM
OF THAT PAIN, THAT BURDEN FOR THE PEOPLE
HE NEEDED MINISTERING TO,
JESUS WOULD KEEP GOING IN MINISTERING TO THEM
BECAUSE HE WOULD FEEL GOD'S PAIN
FROM THE VERY DEEPEST PART OF HIMSELF FOR THE LOST.
AND HE COULDN'T STAND BY AND DO NOTHING.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO HAVE FOR THIS WORLD.
WHEN WE GO TO MINISTER TO SINNERS,
WE DON'T GO TO PARTICIPATE IN WHAT THEY'RE DOING,
TO JOIN IN THE REVELRY.
WE GO WITH THE HEART OF GOD TO REACH THE LOST.
WE GO WITH AN INTENTION AND A PURPOSE,
NOT TO JOIN IN,
BUT TO MINISTER AND TO TRANSFORM THROUGH
THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL AND JESUS CHRIST.
NOW, I'VE TALKED ABOUT JESUS BEING A FRIEND TO SINNERS.
AND WE KNOW THAT HE IS ONE.
BUT NOW I HAVE AN IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR YOU
WHO ARE WATCHING.
ARE YOU A FRIEND TO JESUS?
IN JOHN 15 JESUS SAYS,
THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE
THAN TO LAY DOWN ONE'S LIFE FOR ONE FRIEND.
YOU ARE MY FRIENDS IF YOU DO WHAT I COMMAND.
I NO LONGER CALL YOU SLAVES
BECAUSE A MASTER DOESN'T CONFIDE IN HIS SLAVES.
NOW YOU ARE MY FRIENDS.
SINCE I HAVE TOLD YOU EVERYTHING THE FATHER TOLD ME.
WE HAVE THE HONOR OF KNOWING GOD
AND CALLING JESUS OUR FRIEND.
BUT ARE WE A TRUE FRIEND TO HIM?
THE BIBLE SAYS IF WE LOVE HIM,
WE WILL OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS
AND IF WE LAY DOWN OUR LIFE FOR HIM.
BUT THE QUESTION IS,
HAVE YOU DONE THAT?
ARE YOU WILLING TO DO THAT?
MY NEXT QUESTION TO YOU IS
WHERE DOES YOUR HEART LIE?
IS THERE ANY IDOLATRY THERE?
YOU SEE, THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
BEING A FRIEND TO SINNERS,
AND LOVING THE WORLD.
1 JOHN 2 SAYS, DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD
OR THE THINGS IN THE WORLD.
IF ANYONE LOVES THE WORLD,
THE LOVE OF THE FATHER IS NOT HIM.
FOR THE WORLD OFFERS ONLY A CRAVING
FOR PHYSICAL PLEASURE,
A CRAVING FOR EVERYTHING WE SEE
AND A PRIDE IN OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
AND POSSESSIONS.
THESE ARE NOT FROM THE FATHER,
BUT ARE FROM THIS WORLD.
AND THIS WORLD IS FADING AWAY,
ALONG WITH EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE CRAVE.
BUT ANYONE WHO DOES WHAT PLEASES GOD
WILL LIVE FOREVER.
JAMES 4:4 IS VERY CLEAR.
IT SAYS, YOU ADULTERERS, DON'T YOU REALIZE THE
FRIENDSHIP OF THE WORLD
MAKES YOU AN ENEMY OF GOD?
I SAY IT AGAIN.
IF YOU WANT TO BE A FRIEND OF THE WORLD
YOU MAKE YOURSELF AN ENEMY OF GOD.
AND SO MY QUESTION FOR YOU TODAY IS THIS.
ARE YOU A FRIEND OF GOD OR ARE YOU AN ENEMY?
IF WE ARE FRIENDS OF GOD
WE DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD OR THE THINGS IN IT,
BUT WE SHARE GOD'S HEART AND BURDEN FOR THE LOST.
THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.
FINALLY, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU WITH THIS
IMPORTANT TRUTH,
THAT WE WOULD LOVE GOD FOR HIS SAKE,
NOT JUST OURS.
I HEARD THIS FROM A LIFE-CHANGING SERMON
I HEARD A FEW YEARS AGO.
AND IT CHANGED MY PERSPECTIVE FOREVER.
THE PASTOR SAID, WE START OFF AS BELIEVERS
LOVING GOD FOR OUR OWN SAKE.
WE ARE LOST AND NEED HIS HELP AND HE SAVES US.
WE ASK GOD FOR WHAT WE NEED
AND HE GIVES IT TO US.
BUT THERE HAS TO COME A POINT
IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
THAT WE DON'T JUST LOVE GOD FOR OUR OWN SAKE,
BUT THAT WE LOVE GOD FOR HIS SAKE.
WE DO WHAT HE WANTS
BECAUSE WE LOVE HIM.
THIS IS SPIRITUAL MATURITY.
I REMEMBER BEING LOST,
AND IN MY DESPERATION TURNING TO GOD.
I WAS MUCH LIKE THE LOST SINNERS
JESUS MINISTERED TO IN HIS LIFE ON EARTH.
I WAS AT ROCK BOTTOM AND DESPERATE FOR HELP.
AND I KNEW AFTER TRYING EVERYTHING ELSE
THAT HE WAS TRULY THE ONLY SOLUTION.
I SURRENDERED MY LIFE TO HIM,
KNOWING THAT HE COULD CHANGE IT.
KNOWING ONLY HE COULD FULFILL ME.
SHORTLY AFTER I HEARD THIS SERMON, THOUGH,
I HAD A TOTAL SHIFT.
I KNEW JESUS IS THE WAY
BUT I CAN'T JUST SERVE HIM FOR MY OWN WELL-BEING.
I HAVE TO SERVE HIM FOR HIS SAKE.
EVEN IF IT COST ME.
AND SO MY QUESTION THAT I WANT TO
LEAVE YOU WITH TODAY IS,
DO YOU LOVE GOD FOR HIS SAKE
OR FOR YOUR OWN?
JESUS WAS A FRIEND TO SINNERS,
BUT THE WORLD WAS NOT A FRIEND TO HIM.
THOSE WHO HEARD HIS TEACHINGS,
KNEW THE COST OF FOLLOWING HIM,
BUT THOSE WHO CHOSE TO FOLLOW JESUS,
WILLINGLY PAID THE PRICE
AND WERE HONORED TO FOLLOW HIM.
EVEN IF IT MEANT PERSECUTION
AND THE WORLD HATING THEM.
WE HAVE THE SAME PRIVILEGE TO FOLLOW CHRIST TODAY.
WE CAN SHARE GOD'S HEART FOR THE LOST
AND REACH OUT TO THE HURTING AND OUTCAST
IN SOCIETY WITH THE LOVE OF CHRIST
AND SEE THE WORLD CHANGE AS THE KINGDOM OF GOD SPREADS.
WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO CALL OURSELVES
FRIENDS OF GOD.
SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS THIS.
CAN GOD CALL YOU HIS FRIEND?
HEY, GUYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.
BE SURE TO LIKE, COMMENT AND SUBSCRIBE,
AND YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM,
AT REBECCA LAMB WEISS.
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