This Sunday service Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh continued preaching about ‘The power of the Gospel’. Her main text was taken from the Book of Romans. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness… because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful… being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 1:16-18, 1:21; 3:24; NKJ). She said that like Apostle Paul, we must not be ashamed to believe, preach or identify with the Gospel of Christ Crucified and Resurrected, for it is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe.

In the dictionary, shame is defined as a painful emotion of being embarrassed or self-conscious; being confused or guilty because you, a religious person, have been caught in sin; when you boast that you have money but you are unable to pay your bills; poverty makes many ashamed of their God; being humiliated in public; when you are afraid that people have discovered your past sin; when you feel disappointed that your hopes and dreams in life and not coming true; shame is a social sin!  This is a question: What makes you ashamed? How do people of the world avoid shame? By avoiding situations that make them ashamed. They become skilled hypocrites and cowards! But for believers, the assurance, and the joy of their salvation is the antidote to shame! The opposite of ‘shame’ is to stand up, to be confident, to have the assurance or your salvation and boast that you know God!     

WHO REJECTS AND IS ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL?

The Gospel always produces strong reactions in people. Some believe and others reject it. Paul was not ignorant of these reactions. He was prepared for persecution and still preached the Gospel. The people who reject the Gospel will try to intimidate you and to make you ashamed of your God and the Gospel. The following people hate the Gospel:

*The reprobates (the confirmed religious unbelievers who decided to go to hell): “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44)

*The enemies of the Cross whose mind is fixed only on earthly prosperity: “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:18-21)

*The Men-pleasers; those who desire fame and popularity. They believe in another ‘gospel’ (fake prophetic entertainment) that can never save: “As we have said before, so I now say again, if anyone is preaching to you a gospel different from that which you received [from us], let him be condemned to destruction! Am I now trying to win the favor and approval of men, or of God? Or am I seeking to please someone? If I were still trying to be popular with men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ” (Galatians 1:9, 10)

*The Cowards/ those who Fear men “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe” (PV 29:25)

Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh said that some people complain that preaching the Gospel is too hard to understand. They say that there are many words in the Bible that people nowadays do not use; for example: Justification, Redemption, Sanctification … It is true that these are difficult words to understand. But these are Biblical words. We need to pay the price to understand them. By doing this, we honor God and our faith increases. We need the revelation of the Gospel! Preaching only about material prosperity is ‘a pulpit sin’ that God will judge! We need to invest time and effort in things that have eternal value!

What is Justification? It is a great Biblical word. It is a Gospel Word. We need to pray for the revelation of this word. The doctrine of ‘justification by faith’ is the greatest doctrine of the Protestant Reformation. Revival starts with believing that God has justified you freely because Jesus died for you! Justification is God Almighty speaking! It is a declaration made by the Sovereign God. It is a forensic, legal proclamation made by God as the Judge of the Universe, in the supreme court of heaven. God sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to take flesh upon Himself and to die on behalf of sinners. This is a heavenly ‘drama’. Use your imagination and listen as God speaks to the sinner: “you, sinner, I sent My Son to die for you. He took your sin and died on the Cross for you. By the authority I have as the only Living God, the Maker of heaven and of earth, the Sovereign and Supreme God, the Judge of the living and of the dead; by My grace, by My will and good pleasure, because of the Blood of My Son shed on the Cross for you, I declare you forgiven and free from all sins. I translate you from the Kingdom of darkness, where sin and death rule, to the Kingdom of My dear Son, where grace rules and all the citizens have eternal life. I am the One who foreknew you, predestined you, called you, now justify you and glorify you. This is My eternal decree. Fear not! From now on you are My son. My Spirit will be in your heart to teach you. I give you to My only Begotten Son Jesus Christ. You belong to Him. He bought you with His Blood. Learn from Him. Be like Him. Follow Him. Serve and worship Him! From now and forever! This My decree that justifies you cannot be revoked. For I am not a man that I should lie, not the son of man that I should repent. Before angels and men, I have freely justified you. Your salvation is guaranteed by My Word! You can never lose it! Your work from now on is to praise and to give Me glory forever! I the Lord I have spoken!” 

Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh said that justification is once in a lifetime declaration. Sanctification is a lifetime process. If you receive the revelation of justification by faith, you will never fear losing your salvation! Praise the Lord! The Gospel is a heavenly package of ‘good news’. The Gospel was not invented by religious men on earth. It comes from heaven to earth. That is why it is the power of God unto salvation! This is the mystery of the Gospel! It is a great glorious life transforming Gospel! It is the Gospel of the Kingdom of God! It brings everything in creation under the feet of Christ and enthrones Him as KING!  As you obey God, power from above will come on you! Receiving the power of the Holy Spirit, the power of resurrection, is your reward from God, because you faithfully stood for Jesus and His Gospel! Power and anointing for ministry are God’s vindication to His faithful servants! Glory!

Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh testified: “This Gospel saved me and now, it sanctifies me. I know the power in it. I may not be a trained speaker, but I know what I am saying. I felt the power of the Word of God in my spirit, in my soul! I serve my Lord Jesus Christ by preaching His Gospel. I must share it with others. Like Peter I say: “I must obey God rather than man!” I am not ashamed of the Gospel! I boast of it! I preach the Carpenter, the Galilean, the Fourth Man in the furnace, who is my God! Dear friend, I know that without Jesus you cannot go to heaven; you cannot be free from the shame, power, pollution, and bondage of sin; you cannot die in peace for fear of seeing God on His judgment seat. Give your life to Christ! Repent and believe the Gospel! Salvation is of God! The Trinity is interested in you!  Come to Jesus! On Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand!” Worship the Lord!

PROPHETIC SCRIPTURES James 1:2-4