Thank you, gentlemen. I appreciate that special music, and I'm really excited to have all you folks here. But I'm doubly excited to have the school kids here after I beat up them so unmercifully during chapel today, and they still came back for another dose. It probably was the free food they got. That was probably the main encouragement factor. But whatever reason you're here, God has brought you here. We'll thank you for being here. Tomorrow night, folks, you still need to come. I understand Friday night's Walmart night, okay? I understand that. I'm a real human being. I understand you get that paycheck and you just gotta go spend it and all that sort of thing. But just come on here and have a time of fellowship. I think some of the Walmarts are open 24 hours a day around here. Kmart, surely, if they're still open, you can maybe find Period, okay. If they're still in existence, then maybe you can approach one of those on Saturday, but make a good habit choice and make that choice here. You have been faithful all week long. I thank you for that. It's a lot more fun, folks, to preach to people than pews, so I appreciate your choosing to be faithful. I'm excited about tonight's message. You said you haven't been excited about the other ones. Well, yeah, but I'm real excited about this one. Get your Bibles out and turn to Acts chapter 8, if you would, please. Being with your pastor, folks, is an encouragement to my heart because his vision, his perspective of what needs to go in this ministry sure speaks to my heart, and I think God's directing him to go the right direction as far as this church is concerned. We're here to let people know about our Jesus. Folks, we're here to learn what the Bible says, and then with great boldness, without being ashamed, we're to pronounce the truths of Jesus saves, Jesus saves. Now, would you all be honest and open with me here? We don't do it to the depth and degree we're supposed to. This old flesh gets in the way. We get so busy with all kinds of things and activities. We really don't get down to the business in a faithful, God-honoring fashion like we need to. I want to help you with that tonight. Here in this passage of Scripture, I'm going to give you one of the best examples I know as far as soul-winning is concerned. Now, you may have heard a bunch of messages on this, folks, but hang on, you need to hear one more. We're going to talk about a friend of mine by the name of Philip, and the reason he's so near and dear because he's dubbed Philip the Evangelist, and that's what I am too, So, we're going to see the example, and folks, this guy has a great testimony. You'll see through this guy's outward, get-it-done testimony, he's truly in Christ Jesus. He's just not a churchgoer. He's not merely religious. He's not just playing a game, folks. He is what He says He is through this great work of salvation that only comes one way, and that's through receiving Jesus Christ as personal Savior. But it doesn't stop there. And I'm afraid far too many Christians stop at salvation. No, folks. Once you're saved, you need to have that surrendered, hey, I'll do all that Jesus would have for me to be faithful to. Christ must, as we've mentioned all week long, not just be prominent, but He must be preeminent. He must the first place. So folks, don't stop there either. Once you have that true salvation in Christ, once you have that understanding as well as heart commitment as far as surrender unto God, Him running the show, then you become a servant. You go forth in faithful, yielded giving, giving, giving until God tells you're done. And we see that through the life and testimony of this guy named Philip. Now look up here, he goes on. Once you have salvation and working order biblically, truly before God, you have that surrendered heart, you're out there serving, doing a work for God, then you develop a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit's leading. You look to go where God wants you to go and buy up opportunities that God wants you to be faithful to, and then if you're completing the package, folks, you're going to seize the opportunities. You're going to say, hey, this person needs to know my Jesus. You're going to tell them about it. You're going to buy up the time, redeem the opportunity. and be faithful as you know how to be. Again, that's the testimony that unfolds through this story of this wonderful testimony of, hey, let's tell them about Jesus through the life of Philip. So, let's bow our heads and hearts, if you would with me, please. Every head bowed, every eye closed. And I want you to understand an important fact here. I think most of the church folks know this, but maybe some of you folks don't know this or understand this. Jesus loves you just as much as anybody else in this room. And Jesus wants to meet your needs. You say, well, He doesn't know my needs. Yes, He does. And He has the power and wherewithal to meet those needs. Now, if it's the need of salvation, You know, knowing Christ as your Savior, knowing for sure you're going to heaven, I guarantee you that Jesus is the only one that can meet that need. But whatever the needs may be, would you open your heart to God's will and God's working, and let Him bring His blessed work into your heart, into your life, and set His blessed testimony of working through your life. Help us, Heavenly Fathers. We have this time of challenge from the Word of God. God, I pray You'll continue to bring conviction upon our hearts and lives, And God revealed to us what we need to know tonight. God, if there are some folks here who have never trusted Christ as Savior, God, help them to realize that's why you have them here tonight. Don't let them leave this building, Lord, without knowing that they know that Jesus Christ is their personal Savior. It may be one of these students. It could be one of the church members. It could be a visitor. But, Lord, if they do not know you in a confident biblical fashion, God helped them tonight, by faith, know Jesus Christ as personal Savior. For us believers, as we're challenged about this telling and teaching of Jesus, being a message delivery person, concerning the message of salvation through Christ and Christ alone, help us, God, to commit to be faithful, or Lord, make a commit to be more faithful in this responsibility that you've entrusted unto us. God, we can't do this apart from You. We look for You to intervene on our behalf and bring forth a work, God, that only You can bring. We just praise and thank You now, for it's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Look at Acts chapter 8. If you don't have a Bible, maybe scoot next to someone who does. Don't be embarrassed if you can't even find the book of Acts. There's this wonderful thing called a table of contents to help you. But get your Bible out, find Acts chapter 8, and go down with me, please, to verse 25. What a wonderful story, folks. And if you haven't heard it, boy, you're going to receive a major blessing tonight. Look down with me at verse 25. It says, And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise and go toward the south, unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. Now, folks, look up here for just a minute. The next verse, I can preach on heartily till Jesus takes me home. What's the next verse all about? Well, look at the first phrase alone. It says, He arose and went. You know what I have found has been the biggest problem as far as my life, getting a job done? It's getting up and getting going. It's putting the pedal to the metal. It's saying yes instead of no to what God places before me. And folks, I want to please God. I want to serve Him, and I have a struggle with that every single day, and I guarantee you if you're not reading your Bible, I guarantee you if you're not looking unto Jesus as the author as well as finisher of faith, you're just stopped dead in the water as far as getting up and going is concerned. but that's not pleasing unto God. And that's not the way of the Christian life if you're choosing to be faithful. Here's the example again, folks. Look back with me. It says, "...he arose and went." And what did God do? God swings open a barnyard door opportunity to tell of Jesus. It says, "...he arose and went, and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority, under Candace Queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning and sitting in his chariot and read Isaiah, the prophet and the spirit said unto him, said unto Philip, go near and join thyself to this chariot. And what did Philip do, folks? He says, oh, I can't do that. If I had to go, oh, look at this guy. He's got on those nice Tommy go figure robes. He's got that fancy chariot. He's probably a brainiac. Oh, God, I can't handle him. Let me ask you a question. in your soul-winning ministry responsibility in telling and teaching of Jesus, can you handle anybody? No! That's not your job. That's God's business. Your job is to simply say yes to God, be faithful and tell what you're supposed to tell, and then God brings forth conviction. God brings forth the challenge to the heart. God converts the soul. You can't do that. But you can't do what God's asked you to do. And God has called all of us as believers in Christ to be just like Philip and go into all the world. And as God opens opportunities, just simply tell what you're supposed to tell and let God bring forth His perfect, powerful working. Philip caught on to the program, folks. He doesn't let this big bucks brainiac boy intimidate him as far as his faithfulness to God is concerned. Look how it happens, folks. It says down here in verse 29, Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near and join thyself to this chariot. And look what Philip does. And Philip ran thither to him. Let's say the word thither together, okay? Thither, you know my problem. I'm not going to remind you, but this word just greatly tickles me. Now, folks, what does this mean? He got up, he went going, he was excited about it. Folks, how does the average Christian approach any responsibility for Jesus? Watch me carefully. Oh yeah, I love God. Oh, this is exciting. Woo, woo, woo. Yeah, baby. This is good stuff. You know, no wonder people don't want what we have. We act like we're kind of dragging our life through the most dreaded thing known to mankind. But folks, aren't we supposed to be rejoiced in the Lord always? And again, I say rejoice. Is there anything more important, anything more satisfying, anything more gratifying, anything more fulfilling than being in Christ and doing His will? No! But some of you have never experienced that because you missed out on verse 27. You're not willing to get up and get going and trust and obey God and seek to be faithful no matter who, no matter what God places before you. You're going to get a job done for Jesus because, folks, I'm not here for me. I'm here to do all I can to be pleasing and faithful unto God. And listen, folks, for all of us, I don't care how shy you are. I don't care how bold you are. I don't care what your personality or lack thereof may be. You still are called of God to be a faithful witness concerning the truth. Jesus saves. Jesus saves. Now look on to this passage, folks. It gets gooder than good, as you know. It says in Philippians 2, And heard him read the prophet Isaias and said, understand us, thou wilt thou read us. Now, folks, this guy no doubt was a brainiac. I mean, his position needed that. He was probably big bucks. He probably was pretty fancy in his presentation of life. But folks, look at the humility. Look at this guy. Can I tell you right now? I don't care if it's the richest guy in the Detroit area. Without Jesus, he's still empty. I don't care if he has the biggest house, the biggest bank account. He's had 14, 15, 16 wives. The guy is still a miserable dog and empty in his soul because only Jesus can fill the hole in the soul of man. Only Jesus can bring true joy, peace, contentment, and satisfaction in this old world we're parked in, folks. But you know what? Most people choose to bypass that which fixes, that which is broken. And that's a biblical personal relationship in Christ. This guy's in search mode. Look what he says. He says, How can I except some man should guide me? Well, he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. And look how God sets things up, folks. Verse 32. The place of the Scripture which he read was this. He was led as a sheep to the slaughter like a lamb done before his shearer, so he opened not his mouth. In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away, and who should declare his generation, for his life was taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered, Philip said, Who's this talking about? What is this all about? And Philip said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophetess of himself or some other man, And Philip opened his mouth and began at the same Scripture and did what, folks? He talked about the socks just won the World Series. Yeah, baby! Who thought it was going to happen? Hey, hey! We're going to get some sunshine tomorrow. Hey, did you hear about that, Parkesley? The buses have ribbons. You know, there's all kinds of information. Are you all with me? But folks, are those things more important than the message that Jesus is the only hope of getting to heaven for all eternity? But how much of replacement has taken part in all of our lives when we'll talk about everything and anything but the most important truth that man needs to hear, and that's Jesus saves, Jesus saves. Now, I watched the Sox. I was shocked, okay? I was in total disbelief, you know? And I've talked about today, but you know what? I don't want that to supersede the best conversation. the most eternal, lasting presentation of verbiage, and that's the message concerning my Jesus. I want you to write this word down in your Bible, would you please? If you're going to get this job done the right way, folks, if you don't do this, it's just not going to happen. You ready for the first word? Write it down. You need to be informational. Say with Brother Maynard, Informational, a little louder please. Informational. We don't have the Iwana workers, so I need a little more volume, OK? Informational. What does that mean? I don't think people are catching on, but folks, if you don't know what you're supposed to be saying. Are you going to be real bold in presenting that truth? It makes sense to me. But I don't think some people have caught on. For no other reason, some of you folks need to come to this altar tonight as a believer in Christ Jesus and say, God, forgive me for being lazy. Forgive me for not taking time to memorize Scripture, to know the Word of God well enough so without hesitation, without apology, unashamed, I can tell people from the Bible how to be saved. That's what Philip's doing here, folks. Again, is the reason you're hesitant? The reason you hinder a testimony of faithfulness? Because you have yet to say no to your flesh, commit yourself to the information you need to learn, and then go forth in boldness through the Holy Spirit to present it. You need to make a decision. And that decision is to get yourself in a position of faithless so you could. What was that word again? You can be informational, say with Mr. Rogers one more time. Ready? Informational. But folks, don't stop there. Think my mic, either I went dead or the mic did. Okay, look back at the passage and look what he does here. It says, and Philip opened his mouth and began at the same scripture and preached unto him, Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water and the eunuch said, see here is water. What does hinder me to be baptized? And Philip says, well, I've done my job. I've done my duty. Hey, I've got to go to the mall. I'll see you later. No, that's us people. We're so busy we forget why we're here. The main business at hand, folks, is the same business Jesus set forth. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost, and now he's left us in charge of that great opportunity. And we just kind of pass it by like it's no big deal. Folks, it's a big deal. It's the biggest deal we can be a part of to bring glory and honor to the name of Jesus and help people escape hell for all eternity and for all eternity know Jesus as their personal Savior. That is a big deal. Folks, you don't just want to be informational. Say the word again, informational. You need to finish the program. You need to be confrontational. Let's say it together, please. Confrontational. Now look how Philip answers this very inquisitive, brainiac man. Look what happens. It says down here in verse 36 again, as they went on their way, they came to a certain water and the eunuch said, see, here's water. What does hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, if thou join us to churches, thou cannest. Is that in your Bible? No, it's not mine either. If thou become as the betterest person, thou mayest Is that in your scripture? No, people. What brought this baptism thing into being and what order is set forth through the word of God? First, he believed on Christ and then he was scripturally baptized. Look at the first people. And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Now, folks, I'm going to take time to park here for just a moment, because there's great perversion, distortion, and confusion on this topic of baptism. And you may be one of these people. And please, don't take what you think. Find out what God says. See, folks, baptism is an important part of your Christian life. But it's a part of your Christian life. What is baptism? Baptism is simply an outward testimony of your new life in Christ. Once you believe on Jesus Christ, an ordinance, a command of God through the Word of God, Jesus says, I want you to be scripturally baptized, and here's why. You're buried in the likeness of His death and raised in the likeness of His resurrection. You don't have that kind of testimony until you first believe on Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Now, kids, I know you're here. May some of you fear water, young and old. You've never been scripturally baptized. You need to ask God's forgiveness and get it done sooner than later. Maybe your fear is getting your hair wet. I never had that fear, OK? But I don't know what's hindering you, folks, but if you're looking to be obedient to my God, once you trust Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you need to be scripturally baptized. What's baptism again? Watch me carefully. You've not been there and done this. You ready? Buried in the likeness of His death. raised in the likeness of his resurrection. Well, Brother Maynard, I believe in Acts. No, no, no. Read what comes before and after. Never take one verse of Scripture and write Heidi O. Silverway and do your so-called God-honoring Christian thing. Read the verses in context. And if you read the context of this passage alone, you'll see that he first believed on Jesus. And then he was scripturally baptized. Isn't that good, folks? But what happened here, people? Philip, a saved, surrendered, serving, Holy Spirit guided, seeking to seize opportunity, servant of God, says, hey, I want to be faithful, God. God says, OK, hey, kids, kids, sit back down, Bubba, sit back down, sit back down. I don't want anybody else getting up again, okay? You're big boys and girls, and we can go to the potty later, okay? I don't want anything to interrupt what God's doing here. We've already had about five exit stages left. Mom and Dad, duct tape them to the seat, okay? If there's a mess, I'll clean it up later, okay? If they're dying a thousand deaths, it's flowing from their tears, that's okay. But you know what? We need to keep them parked. Because God is looking, again, to park certain truths in our mind and hearts. When people get up and get going, it distracts what God's trying to do. So, again, boys and girls, especially you older kids, stay put, okay? And if you're dying, son, I didn't mean to embarrass you, but I probably did. Okay, now, again, what do we have in this passage? The girls thought you were very manly, though, not to spit at me and go anyway. They did. They're impressed with you. I can tell right now. Are you with me? Quit talking to me. Okay, I got the message. All right. What we have in this passage, folks, is a guy who simply says, I want to be faithful and do the will and working of God. I scared the rest of you to death, didn't I? Yeah, I did. So what happens, folks, with this same surrender, giving over self to do the will of God type of life, God throws open an unbelievable opportunity to get a job done we're all supposed to be faithful to. Why are we here? Well, to glorify God. How do we do that? I preach that to these wonderful junior high and senior high people today. You're not that wonderful. Okay, don't get carried away. Okay. I taught him a song, folks, that I'll probably regret the most of my life called I'm so great. I'm so faithful, humble as I can be. And I think it's going to be his theme song the rest of his life right here. I'm convinced of that. But folks, listen, listen, we're not here for us. I'm nothing. He's everything. And if I'm going to please Him and glorify Him, I told the kids, here's my verse, folks. You want to know a verse that motivates and stirs me up? Jesus says, if you love Me, what? What is that again? All of them? Even the ones you're not comfortable with? Even the one your flesh goes, I don't want to? Yeah. And folks, one of those commandments, a very clear commission of God, is for you personally. to go into all the world and buy up every opportunity that God avails to you. How are you going to get it done? What's that first word I gave you, folks? You need to be, what's the first word? Informational. But folks, that's where most people start. I guarantee you, most of you folks in this room know the Romans road. How many, how many of you think you know all the Romans road? Let me see your hand. Okay. Now I'm going to help you with that tonight. You talk to me. If you were going to lead someone to the Lord, being informational from the book of Romans, what verse would you start with? This will help. Now listen, most hands didn't go up. So get your pencil and paper out and write this down. Okay. Here are some verses folks that will help you be faithful in your message delivery business. You don't know it. Guess what? You're not going to tell it. I'm helping you and letting it be easier for you instead of harder. And I don't care how old you are, how young you are, this is your responsibility. Where would you start if you're leading someone to the Lord through the book of Romans? Talk to me. I'd probably start with Romans 3.10. And let me give you a helpful hint. Write that verse and page number in the front of your Bible. Because the first two or three times you try to be faithful telling someone about Jesus, you'll forget your own name, let alone what verse and what book of the Bible you're supposed to go to. Are you all with me on that? So in the fly leaf of your Bible, write Romans 3.10 and the page number. Once you turn to that page number, you're going to read that verse which says what, folks? There's none righteous, no, not one. Say it with me. There's none righteous, no, not one. What's that mean? We're all sinners, people. And to add to that, you'd go then, like these guys said, to Romans 6.23. Excuse me, Romans 3.23. Let's say it together. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Don't fall asleep on me. I will come and wake you up, sir. I love you to death. But you need to know this so you can demonstrate this through your don't fold your arm. It'll cut the circulation off your brain. Stay with me. I'm going as fast as I can without tripping over my own tongue. Hallelujah. So here we are, people. Romans 3.10. Then Romans 3.23. Where are we going to go next? What verse? 623. What does that say? Say it with me. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Now, folks, won't you help people understand that they're a sinner? They also need to understand the way to get saved and away from this sinful destruction is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. I'm gonna let you on on a big secret here tonight. Are you ready for this? Hang on, grab your seat, grab hold of your children. This could bring terror and so much unbelievable wowing to the crowd. Are you ready for this? When you're leading someone to the Lord, to the book of Romans, you ready? You can use other passages from other books. Is that amazing or what? And if you're telling me, thank you, calm down, children, calm down, please, please, please give them a sedative, please. All right. Now, where would you go, folks, if you're trying to help people know that salvation is not of works? And I guarantee you, if you're just like me, you grew up thinking if your good works outweighed your bad, God would let you into heaven. You know what two verses blew that out of the water for me? Ephesians 2, verses 8 and 9. Let's quote it together, folks. For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of... You mean if I go to church all the time, that won't make me a Christian? No. If I help 14,324 old ladies across the street every day, won't that help?" No. Folks, not of works, lest any man should boast. Just to God be the glory. The only way to heaven, folks, is by faith, receiving Jesus, that free gift of eternal life, and it only comes through Christ. Now, what's another verse to go to after you get done with Romans 6.23? Yes, sir? What? No, not yet, brother. We're staying in the book of Romans. I want to hold you were eager. You were excited. It's a tremendous verse, but I'm looking for another verse and someone over already quoted. Yes, ma'am. No, no, we're not there. We're still in the book of Romans. We may hit that one. But what verse Romans five, what folks? Eight. Let's put it together. But God commended his love toward us in that. Why were we yet sinners? Christ died for us. Now, folks, you know what she said? She said, John three, 16. And that's a good verse to tag on with Romans 5, 8, because most people, even from the nutty guy with the hair behind the backstop, you know, I know Mrs. Bush was behind there last night, but the person with the real crazy hair who has the sign that says John 3, 16, they know the reference. Now tell them about the verse. Let's quote it together. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Hallelujah. That's for you. Jesus loves you so much. He died for you on the old rugged cross. Doesn't get any better than that, folks. Then where would you go next? I'd probably go to Romans chapter 10. Turn to your Bibles there. I'm going to give you several verses here. I won't make you tax your brain too much this late in the week. Look at Romans chapter 10 and go down with me to verse 9. Now, folks, again, these verses, you need to know where they are, but let me challenge you to commit tonight to memorize these verses. To let them be as common to you as your name and anything else you know in a very, very familiar, good fashion. Look down at verse 9 of Romans chapter 10. Romans chapter 9, chapter 10 of verse 9 says this. Are we there? Yeah, I'm in the wrong book here. It says, for with a heart, let me get there myself or I'll misquote it. Romans chapter 10 in verse 9 says that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Now listen to verse 10, for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness And with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. Now, folks, look up here. Important fact. Parking spot. Help you much as far as your message delivery business is concerned. People have no idea what it means to believe on Jesus with your heart. You know what they think it is? Some spooky unga bunga poof, fuzzy feeling that overwhelms the body. Now, folks, does salvation involve the emotions? Well, yeah, I mean, you're you're being you're being taken from the pit of hell for all eternity as such and put on the rock Christ Jesus for all eternity. That's a big emotional deal. But I found some folks get saved who don't get overly emotional. But folks, it involves the heart. It involves the mind, the intellect. But folks, it encompasses all you are, your will. Your intellect, your emotions. When you discuss this heart business, help them understand it's all of who and what you are. And folks, people need to understand that. It's not some surface, quick prayer thing. No, folks, you know when you mean it or not. Do you understand me? You know when you're giving me a baloney con job. You know when you're just trying to let me hear what I want to hear instead of doing what you need to do. And God knows the same thing, people. When God says, for with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness, yes, it involves the intellect. Yes, it involves the emotions, but it also involves your will, folks. With the heart, man believeth unto righteousness. With the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. Then look down at verse 13. In verse 13 it says this, for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Now folks, if I know the person I'm leading to Christ, if I know their name, you say you've led people to the Lord, you don't know their name. More than not. Folks, if you're active as a soul winner, you're going to do it when you're on the street, you're at Walmart, Kmart, you're at Mickey D's or wherever you're going. You're going to look to, again, give forth the information that God will use to convict, cut to the heart, and convert a soul for all eternity. Glory, hallelujah. Don't just go Thursday night, you cheat yourself. Folks, the soul winning this guy's after is 24-7 to every God-given opportunity. And that's what God's after, people. And that's what God's after as far as your challenge here tonight. You know, folks, I didn't always take time to do what I just did tonight, take the Roman's Road and present it the way I did. But one night I was preaching in southern Indiana, and this farmer came the next night after I preached the message and challenged people just by statement, you need to know the Roman's Road. Now, folks, I've known this guy for 14, 15 years to this point. And this guy, he's been in church all his life that I know of, a fundamental Bible-believing church. And he came to me the next night and said, Brother Maynard, Mom and I was talking last night, and we're not sure what you're talking about as far as the Roman's Road's concerned. And I thought, you brain-dead churchgoer you. Your preachers told you this. You should already know this. I didn't say that, but that's what I was thinking. And this old farmer, he was ready, people. He had on his Sunday go-to-meat and bib overalls. Are y'all with me? You folks might not know what those are in the Detroit area, but they're very popular where I grew up. And he had on his good Sunday go-to-meat and flannel shirt, too. And folks, down in these bib overalls, he reached down and pulled out a pad of paper, of course, corn and oats and stuff flying out. And he digged a little deeper and he found a pencil. And folks, when I was giving these references, not like some of you should have, like some of you should have been doing, should have been doing, He's writing down all these verses, and I said, why now? And he was 70-some years old. I said, why now are you concerned about knowing the Romans road like you should? He said, Brother Maynard, you know that graveyard back behind the church? I said, yeah. He says, I've got a lot of friends parked there, and I'm not sure where they're spending eternity. And he says, there are a lot of folks that I'm hanging around with right now are going to be there sooner than I want them to be, and I want to make sure they know about my Jesus. Can I have an amen, please? Folks, that should stir you up and convict you that it's time for you. I don't care if you're 72 or 7. It's time for you to learn the information that God has entrusted to you through the Word of God and be informational concerning Jesus' faith. But don't stop there. While you're on your face before God committing like you should have before anyway, say, Oh God, help me to be confrontational. Folks, don't stop there. Continue on as God opens the door and say, hey, would you like to pray right now and know my Jesus as your personal Savior? Let me give you an illustration of how this works and I'll be done. I was flying somewhere from Indianapolis to Chicago to infinity and beyond. I don't even know where I was going, but folks, I knew I had to go via Chicago. Won't the rapture take place through Chicago, people? Come on, talk to me. Unless it's Northwest Airline, we may be late. OK, now here's the thing. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It's a personal wound. But what happened, folks? You remember the good old days, people, when you could get to the airport five minutes before you could still get on your flight? You remember those days, you older folks here back before 9-11, all that stuff? Well, folks, back then, you know, I didn't. I tried to get there a half hour ahead of time anyway, you know, make sure everything's the way it should be. I've been away from home about four weeks, and I didn't get there like a half hour ahead of time. I was going through the airport, and I got down to that ramp about the time they were closing the door to take the plane off. Folks, I'm running through the airport like O.J. Simpson without the knives. I mean, I'm jumping over suitcases. I'm, get out of the way, I'm coming through. And I get down to that little door and that ramp down there, and this lady was not real happy with my tardiness. Get on the plane. We love you. Fly with us. Hurry up." You know, that sort of thing. And I'm, folks, I'm just, I'm out of breath. I'm just panting, but I'm still thinking about winning people to Jesus. I know that's hard for you to imagine, but folks, when it's parked on your heart as well as your head, You don't get away from it. You're always conscious of the opportunities around you. I've got tracks with me. I've got my Bible, and I'm walking onto the plane. Now, these little stewards and stewardesses, some of those are real unique, aren't they? Well, these folks weren't real happy campers at me being late either. It's kind of like, just get on the plane and sit down. Of course, you always look to dive into first class. Are you all with me here? The wisdom involved in that. But it was full. Folks, I go into coach. It's full. I'm walking. Two or three days later, I'm still walking. I can't find a seat, people. I mean, I'm just looking for someplace to dive into all the way at the end of the plane, past the restroom, past the galley, almost past the plane. There are two empty seats. And I have a twofold bummer at this point. One, I don't like my travel agent at this point very well to put me where I'm parked. Secondly, there's nobody in the other seat. They're the only two empty seats on the whole plane, so I guess it's, you know, not for Jesus is my battle cry. So I get buckled in, I'm settled in, and a pilot all of a sudden comes on the P.N. says, Ladies and gentlemen, It seems as though we have a connection to the state of Washington. And if it wasn't for the bald guy, we'd already be gone. Now, he didn't say that, OK? But I know that's what he was thinking. And folks, now listen, I was getting excited because unless this guy who's coming, who's going to the state of Washington, is going to sit on the co-pilot's lap, he's going to park next to evangelist Mike Maynard. And my heart's a thumping, my adrenaline's rushing. I'm going, oh God, I'm going fishing. God help me, really, man. And I was so excited about this new opportunity. Folks, talk about a sitting duck. Are you all with me on that? So here he comes. It was very funny. Let me use you guys. This guy, he was, he'd just been at a science convention. He looked like Jerry Lewis, the nutty professor. He was all tattered. Kind of, excuse me, pardon me, pardon me, excuse me, pardon me, excuse me, pardon me. And this guy was coming and it was kind of like this, people. It was like, come to Papa. Come to Papa. And I sat there going, I am God's man. You will be blessed by my. No, I got up, people. I have buckled my buckle and I stood up and I helped him get his briefcase settled and getting him down. And we sat down and God just struck up an instant rapport. Now, folks, that doesn't always happen, even though I'm a baloney breath. Sometimes these people are just rude. They don't want to talk to you or whatever. But this guy was ready for God's working in his heart. You know what I found out? I found out this guy went to a liberal, non-Bible preaching church. See, folks, it's not just important to tell what you need to tell. You also need to be a good listener. Because you need to hear where they are, where they need to go, then through the truths of Scripture, help them be where God would have them to be. Well, I found out he loves God from head to toe, but he's lost as lost can be. And we're taxing now, folks. is. I love what Detroit, Detroit used to have the ugliest airport in America. Are you with me folks, please, please. Amen. Me here. Surely you've been somewhere other than Detroit. Okay. But they've got a nice airport now, but folks, they've got it kind of down where you can get out in a hurry. They really do better than most airports, but what happened Indianapolis folks, you go from Indianapolis to Plainfield, from Plainfield back to Indianapolis about five or six times. And if they like you, then they let you take off. Today, I didn't care because I had a responsibility to tell about my Jesus. Well, folks, I asked him a question. I said, Have you ever seen through the Bible? How you can know for sure you're going to go to heaven. Folks, he looked like a deer in a headlight. I mean, he did. He just, it was kind of like, can you really know this? And I pulled my Bible out. Now folks, here's what happened next. The pilot comes on again. He says, uh, ladies and gentlemen, it seems as though we're having some trouble up trouble up in Chicago here. Yeah. The radar seems to be shut down. We're going to be stuck here on the runway for a little while. You just kind of sit back. And I went, I wanted to stand on my seat and go, God is so good. Come on, everybody on the plane. God, I was so excited because I believe, folks, you'll think I'm a nutcase. You'll think I'm charismatic as the day is long, but I really believe this. I believe God so loved this nerdy science guy from the state of Washington that he put Mike Maynard next to him. He shut down the world's largest airport so I could very clearly, through the Word of God, show him how to know Jesus as personal Savior. You really believe that? Folks, I believe that. I know my God loves us that much, and I know my God's that powerful. And that's, that's why God brought you here tonight. God loves you so much that he puts you under the sound of God's blessed, perfect word. So you don't have to frustrate or doubt whether or not you're going to heaven for all eternity. Folks, what happened now? Now remember, I'm in the back of the plane. You remember y'all know how quiet I am. Y'all with me? You people in back have trouble hearing me, right? Yeah, right. All right. You know, folks, I breathe loud. OK, my wife is deaf in one ear and I take all the credit. OK, I do. It's my fault. But here's the scary part. I am the quietest one in my family. OK, it's a noisy family reunion. Well, what happened was this. I start showing him all those verses we just quoted. And folks, people were starting to lean their chairs back. Folks were kind of leaning out and out. What's going on with this stuff in the back end of the plane? And I didn't scream it, but I didn't tone it down too much either. Well, this guy kind of caught on to the program and he's answering me just as loud as I'm talking to him. Now folks, I don't know how many people got saved that day. But I know one man did. When we got down to the end of the presentation about how to be saved, I said, you know, I've been tired. I've had a long, long summer and I just need a nappy wappy. OK, can I talk to you later? And did I do that? No, folks, I was informational. What was that second word? Confrontational. I said, would you like to pray right here and receive Jesus as your personal Savior? And he starts crying. I start crying. Who knows how many other people are crying? And this guy prays one of the sweetest sinner's prayer I think I've ever heard in my life. After we got done, folks, almost immediately, don't miss this, the pilot comes on again. Well, ladies and gentlemen, it seems as though they got the radar fixed up in Chicago. We're number three in line to take a buckle up. You know, I went, God is so good. Come on, stay with me. God is so good. Yes, he is. And let's all line up. Mike Maynard is going to turn like this. And I want everybody in the church to come by and pat me on the back, because I'm a wonderful example for all of you people and you children to behold. Right. No! I was just doing what all of us should be doing on a normal, day-by-day, faithful, blessed opportunity basis. But you're so caught up in you, you're so consumed and controlled by the world and the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, you forget why God saved your hide that doesn't deserve to be saved. He saved you, yeah, so you can spend eternity with Him. But He saved you so you could do the job that He's kept you here to be faithful unto. And folks, that's the tell and to teach of Jesus. Hey, you've got the track rack. Empty it out. You've got bills to send. Put tracks in that. Send emails and put some Scripture at the bottom when you're going through the checkout line, when you're buying this or doing that. Let the opportunity be bought up, folks, and be informational and confrontational concerning Jesus saves, Jesus saves. Folks, we got for 30 minutes. This guy got saved before we took off, okay? For 30 minutes, we had discipleship time, okay? With Uncle Mike. And folks, I was so excited, but he was real excited. We got to the airport. Every flight in America is messed up because Chicago broken down. Now, I'm running through the airport this time, and he's behind me going, Brother Maynard, slow down, slow down, Brother Maynard, slow down. And he just wants fellowship, people. And we got to the place where I'm taking off. He's got two hours before his flight leaves. And it was kind of like one of those sad movies. Bye! Bye! You know. And you know what? I may never see this guy here on earth, but I know this is a fact, folks. One day I'm going to see him in heaven. And we're going to rejoice in the love and goodness of God, because this guy understood he was a sinner deserving hell for all eternity. That Jesus died to pay his sin debt. And right there on the runway of the Indianapolis airport, he asked Jesus to forgive him and come into his soul now for all eternity. He's going to be with Jesus. But is that the case with you? Are you still so stubborn? Stuck on what you thought? What you feel? Or would you park on the facts of the Word of God? Either you're saved, or you're lost. Either you're going to hell for all eternity, or you're going to a perfect place called heaven. You say, I won't go to heaven. Well, it only happens one way according to the Bible. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes unto the Father but by Him. You'll never be good enough. You'll never be churched enough. You'll never get your life in order enough to merit eternity with God. So why don't you do it God's way and quit listening to you? By faith tonight, ask Jesus to forgive you, come into your heart, and save you. You know you can do that right here tonight? You know, folks, I've led people to the Lord in graveyards, checkout lines, airplanes. You know, folks, about every place imaginable. And you know what, folks? God can save you even here in this service tonight. if you'll simply turn from your sin and by faith receive Jesus as your personal Savior. Now, you know I gave a clear presentation on how to get to heaven, but folks, why aren't you telling that? Well, I don't know the Romans' road yet, Brother Maynard. Okay, use your testimony. Come to the altar tonight. Commit yourself to be informational. Learn what you need to learn so you can tell what you need to tell. But until that time comes, still be faithful and tell people how you got saved. Well, I don't know how to do that. Then you need to come and get saved. You hear me? If you cannot explain to me from a biblical perspective how to get to heaven for all eternity, I guarantee you, folks, you don't have a clue what it means to be with Jesus for all eternity. It's not a guessing game. It's not human reasoning. It's simple truth of the Word of God. Either you're saved or you're lost. He that hath the Son hath life. He that hath not the Son of God hath not life. Do you know my Jesus? If you do, how come you're so ashamed of him? How come you're running and rebelling and rejecting the greatest privilege availed to man of simply being a message delivery person to help people know Jesus as personal Savior? Folks, you want to get it done? Come to this altar tonight. Commit yourself to be informational. What was that second word? confrontational. God, don't just lead him to the truth. Just be there when God bursts them into the family. God, boy, that's exciting, people. You've done the water and the sowing, and don't discount that. But how great it is, how exciting it is to be there when God, through his power, his wherewithal, saves a soul for all eternity. And praise God, he wants us to be a part of that. May God be the glory. Would you bow your heads and hearts, please? And eyes closed. Now, folks, on this invitation, let me explain it again very clearly for the visitors that are here tonight. This invitation is not just for folks who belong to this church. This invitation is for anybody that God has brought here under the sound of the preaching of his holy word. What's that mean? God spoke to your heart. Maybe God spoke to your heart about salvation. Pastor is going to be at the front. And pastor knows people in this church who can very clearly, very specifically, but very simply from the Word of God show you what we talked about here tonight. You've got questions. Let me borrow a phrase from the world. We've got answers. OK, not our opinion, not our perspective. but truths in the Word of God. And we'll tell you whether or not it's our opinion or perspective in conjunction or versus the Word of God. But let us give you an opportunity to tell you what the Bible says. You have a hole in your heart, in your soul, in your life that only Jesus can fill. And that comes by faith receiving Jesus. We can't help you. unless you give us that opportunity. Are they going to embarrass me, Brother Maynard, down here at the front? No, no, no. They can take you back into a side room here, back around the corner here somewhere, and just show you very clearly how to know Christ as Savior. Kids, do you know that for sure? You say, I go to the Christian school. I'm asking again, do you know for sure? Do you know for sure that Jesus is your Savior? Take care of that tonight. Now, Christian, you'd be thrilled to death to see those unsaved people trust Christ, wouldn't you? But you still In your whatever stubbornness, laziness, rebellion, you won't put yourself in a position to be faithful like you're supposed to. Get out of your seat, get on your face before God, and just ask Him to help you. Commit yourself to be faithful like you've never been before to the message Jesus saves, Jesus saves. We're going to sing here in a moment, and if we could, I love to tell the story. I would love to sing that tonight. I love to tell the story. It will be my theme and glory. But folks, let's do it right now. Let's tell everybody we can about our Jesus. Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you, Lord, for this challenge concerning delivering the message of Jesus saves soul winning responsibilities. Lord, there's not a person probably in this room that goes to this church, especially that doesn't know this is their job, this is their mission, this is their responsibility. But Lord, how come we're not being faithful? How come, again, we're making excuses to do what we want instead of what you would have done? Lord, it's a battle. And God, I pray victories will be won over the old flesh, that victory will be won over the excuses, the junk, Lord, that clogs up the arteries of faithfulness. And God, you'll help Christians tonight. come to the committed time and presentation before God that I am now going to get it in my head, put it in my heart so I can set it forth through my life and out my mouth. God, help me to be a faithful teller and teacher that Jesus saves, Jesus saves. Help us tonight on this invitation, Lord, we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.