Living Desperate for Jesus

Forty years ago, I was a dentist. God was doing crazy things in my life, and I decided to follow Him full blast — all in, no turning back. I wrote a letter to the college of dental surgeons and burned my bridges. You know what that means? I couldn't go back even if I wanted to. That's what a total, all-in decision looks like.

A couple of weeks ago I was on an airplane, and — as is typical for me — I woke up and just had to grab my iPad and start writing. The message title was I'm Desperate. It takes me back 40 years, and nothing's changed. I could be more desperate now than ever before. I never want to get comfortable living in a place that isn't really my home. Heaven is my home, and Jesus is coming back.

The Apostle Paul was doing everything he could to be a minister of the gospel, but sometimes God has to get hold of us. He knocked Paul off his horse, and Jesus spoke to him: "Why are you kicking against me?" Paul turned his life around, and from then on his whole life was desperate for God.

We don't often realize the number of days we have is limited. The number of decisions we can make is limited. We were created for a purpose — not just to exist. So many people think if they make it 70, 80, 90 years without dying, they've succeeded. That's actually a waste of life. Our goal is to accomplish what God has called us to, and that purpose is bigger than us.

The Word That Never Fades

Last week Pastor Angela preached on Acts 12 and reminded us: people fade, but the Word of God never fades. It's really all about God's Word. The most simple truth is this — you get to know God, and as a result you get to know who you are. But you don't get that without the Word of God.

"The Word of God is God actually opening our eyes and showing us who He is. And then that becomes the mirror to understand who we are."

A physical mirror will only show you what you look like. Only God's Word can show you who you truly are. Coming to church needs to be more than convenient — it needs to be a priority, because what walks in the parents runs in the kids.

If you were to ask, 20, 30, 50 years from now, what would the story of your life be? My wife Helen told me she wants a particular song played at her funeral — one whose lyrics say, "Let my children tell their children, He was everything to me." We're not doing this for a more comfortable life or because it's socially acceptable. We're doing this because we represent generations on the other side.

The Hinge Point — Acts 13

Let's look at Acts 13:1-3. In the church at Antioch — a busy, culturally chaotic city — there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen, and Saul.

"As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, 'Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.'"

Notice who called them — the Holy Spirit. We often wait for someone to prophesy over us about where we're supposed to go, but when someone lays hands on you, they are confirming, not initiating. We need to learn to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit ourselves. You have the Word of God. You have the Holy Spirit. He is leading you.

This moment in Acts 13 is what Pastor Angela called the hinge point of the book of Acts — the point where what you believe becomes action, where your conviction becomes your commitment.

Have you had that hinge point? Can you identify it in your own journey — the moment your conviction turned into action? For me, it was February 18th, 1979. I was at a banquet listening to a doctor share his testimony about miracles. He ended with Acts 1:8 — Jesus telling His apostles to wait for the Holy Spirit's power to be His witnesses. He asked if anyone wanted that power. I got up, not thinking twice.

He prayed a simple prayer for me, and I was filled with the Holy Spirit from head to toe. I started speaking in tongues without even realizing what it was — it was evidence that I received what I'd asked for: power to speak, after a lifetime of stuttering. I recognized I'd been lied to by the enemy, who only has one weapon: lies.

Everything changed after that — my marriage, my role as a father, even my dental practice. I stopped seeing patients as dollar signs and started asking what was truly best for them. That hinge point changed everything, because I finally understood who I was through the blood of Jesus.

"Jesus on that cross looked across the years and said, 'I'm doing this for you.'"

Because a missionary came and changed my life, we now send missionaries to the rest of the world. When you know what God has given you, you can't help but give it away.

Lesson One: Expect a Fight

If you're going to take the gospel into enemy territory, expect demonic attack. Jesus already beat the devil — the battle is already won.

In Acts 13:6-12, Paul and Barnabas encounter a sorcerer, Bar-Jesus, who tries to turn the proconsul Sergius Paulus away from the faith. The devil comes immediately to steal the Word whenever it's about to change someone's heart. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, confronted him directly, and the sorcerer was struck blind.　The proconsul believed when he saw the results.

If you're going to carry the good news anywhere, there will be a fight. If there's no fight yet — just wait, it's coming. When the attack is blatantly satanic, I take it as confirmation I'm on the right side. We win because we know Jesus.

Lesson Two: Know Your Listeners

Paul tailored his message to his audience. In Acts 13, preaching to a Jewish crowd, he traced the storyline from the Old Testament through David to Jesus — because that's what they could receive.

Say what people need to hear, not just what you want to say. Know their culture, their history, what they're feeling right now — then speak to them accordingly. And don't just repeat someone else's story; tell them what genuinely touches your own heart, because that's what will touch theirs.

Later, in Acts 17, speaking to a non-Jewish, unbelieving crowd, Paul never mentions the Old Testament at all — he speaks to what they can see and understand. Paul shaped his message to what people could hear and what they needed to hear.

Lesson Three: Expect Cultural Opposition

If your way of living doesn't confront the culture around you, you might be drifting in the same direction as everyone else — and that's not right. Living for Jesus should provoke questions.

In Acts 13:44-52, almost the whole city came to hear the Word, and many believed — but the religious leaders, filled with envy, stirred up opposition and expelled Paul and Barnabas from the region.

"But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit."

Our lifestyle needs to convict and conflict with this world's ungodly culture — refusing to worship the idols of today, whether social media, sports, education, or celebrity status. Paul and Barnabas even refused to be worshipped as gods when a healed man wanted to sacrifice to them. There is only one Lord.

Lesson Four: It Will Cost You

Preaching the gospel cost Paul dearly — he was stoned and dragged out of the city, left for dead. It will cost you comfort, convenience, time, and lifestyle. If you only come to church when it's convenient, ask yourself where your priorities really lie.

An Invitation to Decide

Every time the gospel is preached, it provokes a decision. So what's your decision today?

For some, it's recommitting to the hinge point you already crossed. For others, you've never truly jumped — never gone all in, no matter the cost. And for some, you may not even be sure this applies to you yet.

If you were to take your last breath today, where would you open your eyes? Heaven is your home if you belong to Jesus — and it's a decision away.

"Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me. I believe You're the Son of God. You died on that cross to pay for my sins. I invite You — be my Lord right now. I choose to give my life to You. I ask You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Empower me to be Your witness. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."