Matthew 28

Hello. It's a great privilege for me to be here to share some words from the Bible with you.

! It's my first time. I'm sorry if you don't understand my Branglish which is Bulgarian English.

But I need to cope with me for 20 minutes. So I want to give you, to start by giving you a shocking story that happened to me this summer in Bulgaria.

In July I was in Black Sea and there was waves and big waves and the swimming was forbidden.

So the guards did hard work all day long till 6 p.m. to keep the people out of the sea.

And at 6 o'clock, three kids, when the guards went off, three kids got in.

So I'm not sure if you ever experienced what the red current or whatever it's called that is pulling you in.

And we went with my brother to tell them to come out.

Because they were quite further in. And they wouldn't listen.

And the further I went to warn them, I noticed that they are drowning.

They just couldn't come out. So we went with my brother and thanks God we managed to save three kids.

Which was difficult. We almost drowned ourselves with my brother.

But I want to link this story with the great commission which God is giving to the apostles.

Because the way it works is if we hadn't saved these kids, they would be dead now.

And if we don't fulfill the great commission that Jesus is giving us,

a lot of people will go to hell. And these are people who we love.

Our friends and part of the family and neighbors and colleagues.

So I want to focus on two things today.

To explain briefly how the great commission works.

But I want to focus on the practical implications for us.

So first, notice who is he.

And he said that he has all the power in the world.

Notice what he promised.

He promised always to be with them.

Never to leave them alone.

And what do they are supposed to do?

To go and make disciples.

But what do disciples need to do?

Just to go to church or to be baptized?

No, they need to keep the commandments.

Not just some day when we go to church.

Monday to Saturday.

Every day till the rest of our lives.

So, I have three simple points.

First, has the great commission been fulfilled around the world?

This is go and make disciples.

Secondly, has the great commission been fulfilled in UK?

And thirdly, is it being fulfilled by us personally?

By each one of us individually?

And go back to the first question.

Has it been fulfilled around the world?

Of course it has been fulfilled.

Otherwise we wouldn't be here.

We know how apostles were teaching.

How the first Christians devoted themselves to the apostle teachings.

We have 21 centuries church history already.

Because of the fulfillment of the great commission.

And so let us remember what happened.

The Holy Spirit came in the day of Pentecost.

It was a miracle.

Three thousand people were converted in that day.

I would love to have been there.

This is probably the most charismatic day in humanity.

But, these first three thousand people were called Christians.

Something happened to them.

And what happens is the Holy Spirit made them think.

People around the world go and don't think.

But these people were made to think.

That's why they answered the questions.

What should we do?

And Peter told them repent.

So that's the first thing.

The apostles are fulfilling the great commission.

By preaching the gospel.

And if we go to Acts chapter 2, 47.

Acts 2 · chapter mention

It says,

And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

That's every single day people were saved.

And if you go to the book of Acts.

There are seven references.

Like the church is being carried out by the apostles.

And the church blossoms.

And the church grows.

And multiplies in numbers.

There are wonderful seven verses.

I can give you references later on.

So, I always love the book of Acts.

Because it's always first days.

The first church.

The first Christians.

The first martyrs.

The first deacons.

The first sermon.

Everything is first day.

But, we see later on divisions.

We see what happens in church history if you go back.

That when the Pope forbid to read the Bible.

And use it as an instrument.

That people would believe that the salvation comes through.

Submitting to the Catholic Church.

And if you are cast out from the Catholic Church.

You lose your salvation.

It was a terrible time.

But, what happens after that.

Is God used Martin Luther.

A German monk.

Who God used.

To stand against all the hypocrisy.

And said.

This can't continue anymore.

So, interesting.

When I went with my wife to our honeymoon.

We went to Rome.

And we went to Verona.

And different churches.

And one of our Christian guides.

Showed us.

How much they changed.

Even the pulpit in the churches.

Was not in the central position.

But was secondary row.

That was on the side.

When you walk in.

You won't even see it.

When you see it.

You will see.

Probably Virgin Mary.

You will see her holding baby.

You won't hear the cry stretched.

In the church.

Which was sad for us.

But.

That's what happened.

And thank God.

That he used Martin Luther to change that.

And.

If we look around.

And you will see.

How.

Billy Graham went.

Took his crusades.

From country to country.

And he preached the gospel.

And that's how he was fulfilling.

The great commission.

And I've heard about.

A church in Alabama.

That.

Had about ten members.

Now this church.

Has four thousand members.

And what we do around.

The world.

Is we spread the gospel.

By giving out.

The free literature.

Books.

We even do door knocking.

Disturb people.

Tell them about Christ.

And.

We go to prisons.

We go to hospital.

We go to schools.

We go to university.

And do.

Christian unions.

But look at.

Look go back to the first century.

Even though there was still.

Apostle.

Apostle.

Or alive.

John.

The false teaching.

Started creeping in.

Even in first century.

And.

Even now.

In UK.

If you ask.

If you see statistics.

Generally speaking.

Christianity.

Is not the main religion.

Although we are supposed to be a Christian country.

What.

It's not the Buddhism.

What people believed.

Is that.

God wants them to be happy.

And to be good.

And loving.

But this is not Christianity.

This is false.

Christianity.

Christianity.

Christianity.

Is not what people do.

Christianity.

Christianity.

Is what Christ did for people.

And this is what people get wrong.

Christianity.

Is Christ going on the cross.

Taking the punishment we deserve for our sins.

And.

People very often associate the church with the.

Crusades.

With the inquisitions.

With the Pope.

With the Vatican.

And so.

That's why I want to move to the second point.

What do you think?

Is not what people do.

Christianity.

Is not what people do.

Christianity.

Is what Christ did for people.

And.

Is what Christ did for people.

And.

Is not what Holocaust.

people very often associate the church with the

crusades, with the inquisitions, with the Pope, with the Vatican

and so that's why I want to move to the second point

what do we do in UK? And I'll tell you

something that I didn't know until I went to the Bible

college. The Bible college that I studied

was planted by a very well known preacher called Dieth Lucas

who started a ministry in the 60s

or 70s and there was a church in the city with

6 or 7 elderly people. This church has over a thousand members

now. When he was asked what he did he said I preach fully

faith, faithfully preach the word and the word did its work.

So he was fulfilling the great commission by just preaching the gospel.

And you know what? You are really blessed here in UK

because where I come from

during the Ottoman and during the communism

churches in Bulgaria struggle a lot

Christians were persecuted

here nobody persecutes us or at least not yet so let's not take this freedom for granted

let's use it

and

being an immigrant is not easy

everything is difficult

different for me here. Different culture

different food

but

thanks God my best friend the Queen gave me a British passport

so

I kind of join in

and I don't find it difficult

to share the gospel with anybody

it doesn't matter whether their skin color is

were they rich or young or poor

or

old or

it doesn't matter for me

and it shouldn't matter for any of us

because

Christ didn't say

go and preach to this and this

preached

all around the world

and when we go back to

Acts

and see

verse 8 from chapter 1

he said that

you would go back to the whole world

not just

Judea and Samaria

and this is what we

we see in

verse by verse

chapter by chapter in Acts

until

21st century

and

very often people

tell me

I'm afraid

to do it

afraid from what?

we don't live in Iraq

or Afghanistan

nobody is going to kill you

if you share the gospel

or people say

I'm ashamed

ashamed from what?

Apostle Paul says

I'm not ashamed

to share the gospel

because it's the power of salvation

why do we need to be ashamed

if the apostles are not ashamed?

they were ready to die for it

they died for it actually

they knew that

the moment they die

they would meet with Christ

so they were not afraid

they were not ashamed

why should we?

or some other people

say we are busy

we go to work

and we all go to work

and

but

if we say that we are busy now

because we go to work

when are we going to fulfill

the great commission?

when we retire?

is that what we say to Christ

if he comes back now?

we are too busy?

or

if we

are already retired

we are left with no excuse

we have experience

and time

but

someone would say

well

there is a work to be done

and you are telling me

this in my lunchtime break

give me a break

I don't want you to see it this way

it is a command

fulfilling the

the great commission

but

I want you to see

the way it is

it is an enormous

privilege

to be God's ambassadors

in this world

we are not working for

Samsung

or for Sony

or for

Shell

or for Apple

or for Aston Martin

we work for God

what can be better than that?

and

you have no idea

how much easier

it is to share the gospel

in UK

than in

in Bulgaria

we don't have

in my country

500

years

of Protestant heritage

and

some

something

someone might say

but

we don't live in

first century

things are changed

there is so much

brainwashing

on the TV

and

all this

anti-Christian

propaganda

it is

bad influence

homosexual marriages

abortion

and so on

I know it is not easy

but it is much easier

than Bulgaria

and I want to

that I

want to tell

that I am so

encouraged

to see how people

do it in UK

when I

studied in the

Bible college

there were

Christians

students from

all around

UK

different churches

and I spoke

because I love

sharing the gospel

and I spoke to each

one of them

what they do

in their church

how they do it

and I was so

encouraged to see

that all of them

are involved

in some kind

of activities

invite people

invite friends

and they invite them

to share the gospel

then take them

to the church

for further discussions

with the pastor

with the elders

and that is great

it really

makes me feel sad

though

when I see

churches

converted into

flats

so

we really

have work

to do

and by

fulfilling

the great

commission

we can stop

seeing these

churches

converted

to flats

unfortunately

there is a

decrease in

Christianity

in UK

and it is

not the same

as it was

during the

times of

Puritans

and during

the revivals

so that is

why I would

ask you

to be careful

what you

read

and what you

allow your

kids and your

grandkids to

read

not to miss

reading the

Bible in the

evening before

they go to

bed

this is very

important

because we

establish in

our faith

they are not

and it is

up to us

to do it

and this is

one of the

part of the

fulfillment of

the great

commission

moms can

talk to

even

school

and do

other moms

in

schools

in parks

it takes

10 to 15

seconds to

invite somebody

to come to

church

which brings

me to

our last

point

are we

personally

fulfilling

the great

commission

think about

how to

share the

gospel with

everybody

no

exceptions

everybody

you might

think he

would never

believe

he would

believe

or he is

so stubborn

or he is

a scientist

and so on

everybody

no exceptions

just pray

that God

will prepare

their hearts

and use

any opportunity

to do it

and I can

give you some

practical

advices

and it is

just

I want to

understand you

this

you don't

have to be

a preacher

or to

have studied

in a Bible

college

or to be

a pastor

or deacon

or elder

to share

the gospel

everybody

can do it

it is so

easy

it is so

simple

I need

a good

public

speaker

neither

a good

preacher

but I

just love

sharing

the gospel

with people

and that is

why I went

all the way

to Jerusalem

to see the

empty

grave

of Jesus

so

am I

going

if I am

going to

speak to

you at the

end of

my life

about the

empty

grave

I need

to see

it

and so

not to

be convinced

but to

use it

as a

good

illustration

and I

have to

tell you

a story

that

when I

entered

the grave

I didn't

expect to

see the

body

but I

saw a

verse

that says

he is not

here because

he is risen

and that

brought me

back 2000

years ago

when the

angel

whispered

these words

and believe

me it is

so special

experience

it can

replace it

compared

with anything

and so

let me

give you

some

practical

advices

there are

three things

that you

need to

share

with people

when sharing

the gospel

and

when I

preached

in

Bulgaria

last month

I even

get my

kids to

do some

visual aids

and so

the first

thing is

the creation

so kids

do this

everything

creation

so the

second

thing

was the

fall

and

the third

thing

was the

redemption

so let me

explain briefly

this

so the

first thing

is to

tell people

you can't

really share

the gospel

unless you

tell them

that we

live in

the world

that God

created

so he

created

everything

unfortunately

they did

not submit

to his

command

not to eat

the fruit

of the

knowledge

in evil

and that's

what we

call the

fall

that's why

we are in

this shape

now

because we

are sinful

people

we do

what we

want

not what

God

wants

and every

one of us

does it

you don't

need to

teach a

young

baby

to sin

it's in

their

heart

so that's

the second

thing

that we

need to

tell people

because

unless we

tell them

this

our

rebellions

we won't

be able

to explain

the key

or the

puzzle

of the

Christianity

is Christ

the

sacrificial

and the

atoning

work

of Christ

what he

actually

did

on the

cross

and

that

is

taking

the

punishment

we

deserve

for our

sins

and

depending

on the

situation

when you

have

with

people

depending

what you

have

what time

you

have

you

might

need

to

listen

more

you

might

need

to

tell

them

stories

about

God

making

covenant

with

Abraham

God

giving

the

Ten

Commandments

to

Moses

but

the

most

important

thing

is

to

bring

them

to

Christ

people

do

two

common

mistakes

they

talk

about

the

love

of

God

and

they

forgot

to

say

that

God

is

angry

when

we

sin

you

can't

share

the

gospel

without

telling

them

the

punishment

that

is

awaiting

unrepentant

sinners

secondly

when

people

give

their

testimony

they

focus

on

how

bad

they

were

and

how

good

they

are

now

that's

wrong

it's

what

God

did

in

our

hearts

that's

what

we

need

to

talk

about

it's

all

the

glory

bring

to

God

so

!

the question

we need

to ask

ourselves

though

is

have

our

hearts

been

transformed

because

some of

you might

know

the story

of John

Wesley

he was

going

all the

way

to the

ocean

to

America

to share

the gospel

and do

evangelistic

teachings

without

being

converted

until

one day

he discovered

that he

needs

to be

converted

himself

so

that's

the

question

we need

to ask

ourselves

and

if

there is

somebody

here

who hasn't

done

this

yet

who hasn't

committed

this life

to Jesus

just ask

us

after the

service

we will

be happy

to say

that

to give

you

some

advice

because

at the

end of

the day

we live

once

and the

Bible

says

that

after

that

everybody

will die

nobody

can

escape

that

and

after

that

becomes

judgment

and I

recently

read

one of

the books

by Dr.

Marty Lloyd

Jones

a great

Welsh

preacher

from the

previous

century

and he

said

that

at the

end of

we are

not

travelers

at the

end of

our

lives

our

soul

will go

on the

last

journey

and it

will go

alone

so think

about

we all

believing

or not

believing

in God

we are

going to

meet

him

and

he is

reaching

out

to you

now

call

his

name

and be

saved

15

years ago

when I

came to

England

I was

playing

a

dangerous

game

I

realized

that I

played

this

game

for

25

years

I

was

so

arrogant

that I

was

bargaining

with

God

if you

do

this

and

this

for

me

I

will

do

this

and

that

can you

believe

that

until

one day

I was

listening

a song

that says

God is

so good

he took

my sin

and now

I am free

and believe me

I was

31 years

old

and I fell

down

and started

crying

and since

that day

I have been

experiencing

indescribable

joy

joy that I

want to

share with

everybody

in this

world

and so

coming to

our

conclusion

I want

to give

you some

examples

of

sharing

the

gospel

with

people

when I

came

in 2001

and got

converted

I was

working

for

less than

the minimum

wages

and I

was

studying

half day

English

half day

work

sometimes

night shift

work

sometimes

early shift

and it

was

very

difficult

and one

of my

colleagues

in the

language

school

here in

Ealing

asked me

why are

you so

happy

why are

you always

joyful

I mean

your work

is terrible

you're

underpaid

your relatives

your family

is away

and I

said

well let

me tell

you why

and I

told him

about God

how difficult

is that

oh

my new

approach

that I

do

recently

is

talk about

heaven

it doesn't

matter what

people

talk about

you don't

have to

have

occasion

like

Christmas

like Easter

which are

the best

occasions

never ever

miss

to invite

people

and to

talk

about

God

but

it's very

simple

just give

me any

subject

any

discussion

just give

me any

discussion

any point

sorry

oh

that's

that's a

difficult one

believe it or

no

I don't like

football

but

but

it's always

bad

I always

talk to

people when

they mention

something about

football

people said

listen

I don't

like

football

but

I'm very

impressed

when

Brazilians

team

and they

gather on

the pitch

and they

pray

and let

me tell

you why

they pray

who they

pray

what they

win

how God

is blessing

them

so it's

simple as that

you can change

any discussion

and say

there's a pollution

there's a corruption

there's murder

there's rape

and whatever

in heaven

it's not going

to be like that

how simple

is that

so

and to finish

I want to give

you

another story

I spoke with

a friend

recently

and he said

I'm an engineer

and

for me it's

difficult to

believe in

an invisible

God

I know

there's a

supreme being

we are not

alone

there is

something

I'm not

an atheist

but I just

find it

difficult

and I told

him this

we spoke

on the phone

and said

I will

ask you

to repeat

after me

if you want

if you not

I will send

you a written

prayer

and just

say it

in your

own time

and it was

just simple

like

he told me

that he has

family problems

he told me

that he has

different

difficult

issues

with health

and I told

him

just say

God

if you

really exist

help me

reveal yourself

to me

I know

that there

is something

I don't

know you

I want

to know

you

please

forgive my

sins

because I've

done terrible

things

in my life

that I'm

not proud

of

help me

to deal

with my

family

with my

health

issues

and I

just told

him

just ask

God

to do

it

God

has done

it

with so

many

people

around

the

world

he

would

do

it

for

you

he

would

never

turn

down

your

prayer

and so

I want

to finish

with this

as I

started

remember

if I

hadn't

been put

on that

beach

at that

moment

when the

kids

are

drowning

they

would

have

been

drowned

now

and so

that's

what we

do

if we

don't

talk

to

people

they

would

go

to

hell

and so

there

are

two

responses

the

father

of

these

children

said

I

went

to

share

the

gospel

with

him

he

said

I'm

a

biologist

I'm

a

scientist

and I

explained

him

the

gospel

there

are

two

responses

to

say

I'm

a

scientist

or

like

people

in

first

century

in

chapter

2

of

Acts

they

said

to

Peter

what

should

we

do

!

and

Peter

tell

them

repent

and

the

moment

we

repent

we

hear

his

voice

he

said

come

welcome

I've

been

waiting

for

you

let's

pray