By Rick Vacek
GCU News Bureau
Ever heard someone speaking in another language and thought, “I wonder what they’re saying?”
Warren Stewart Jr. of Church of the Remnant is not one of those speakers who's tough to understand. He makes it very clear how he feels. So there was no mistaking his message when he told Chapel on Monday morning in Grand Canyon University Arena that no one should ever have that trouble with what a Christian shares.
“God saved us to send us out,” he said. “So God never limits who and how we are to share the Gospel.”
Stewart’s delivery is so powerful, just listening to him recite the miracle of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-12 is moving. But even if you’re simply reading these words on your own, they still are mind-blowing:
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
“Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? … We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!’ Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’”
Stewart urged listeners to be like the apostles and do the exact same thing.
“What happened on the inside with just a select group of people shifted on the outside so they could share with an elect group of people,” he said. “… I believe that we should have some amazement as believers in the world when we preach the Gospel and share the Gospel and, most importantly, live the Gospel. …
“Jesus doesn’t have exclusive people that He just want to be His and those that He doesn’t. He does call and elect us to be saved, but it doesn’t matter their ethnicity, it doesn’t matter their language. If Jesus calls you and you respond, you’re His. ’Nuff said.”
Stewart emphasized to his mostly student audience that the message of Jesus is far more important than telling people about a great new restaurant they’ve found or a relationship they think will last.
“When you’re sharing on social media, I want you to be reminded that there is a greater message that you can share. It’s the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We can’t hear this enough,” he said.
“… Jesus is the only name that can bring everyone together under His name and be glorified. He’s the only name. He’s the only slogan. He’s holier than a hashtag.”
These messages are particularly important, Stewart declared, in light of what’s happening in the world today – both inside and outside the church.
The church was “never supposed to be divided,” he said, but that division pales in comparison to the social issues that keep dominating communication of all types.
“The world needs to hear more of the message of the love of Christ than the divisive natures and the messages that keep coming out of our social constructs in this nation,” he said.
But that message isn’t about Christians.
“We don’t share us. We share Him,” Stewart said. “We don’t share how good we’ve been. We share how good He’s been.”
Fittingly after a talk filled with so many exclamation points, Stewart got his listeners to rise as one and join him in declaring their acceptance of the mission. Then he closed with this:
“May God be glorified, the people of Christ be edified and the devil be terrified.”
'Nuff said.
● Here's a replay of the entire Chapel session.
● Here's a slideshow from Monday's Chapel.
● Next Monday's speakers: Don and Renee Worcester, Young Life
Contact Rick Vacek at (602) 639-8203 or [email protected].
