Justyn Smith • A Heart For Revival

TEENAGE SUMMER BAGGAGE #1: Am I Really Saved? One of life's challenging questions, "Am I Really Saved?" is asked within our passage (Acts 16:25-34).  We read the question in Acts 16:30, "...Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Here's my question for you...do you know if you are really saved? In the Bible, being saved means trusting in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins. He arose three days after dying to display His power over the grave. When you believe in Jesus Christ, you receive eternal life! In Acts 16:31, God sent a preacher to answer this important question, "...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Praise the Lord for people who God calls to point us to the answer of this question. I. The d efiance against the workmen proclaiming salvation. Acts 16:19-24 A. Faithful men proclaimed the truth. vs 19-20 B. Defiant men refused the truth. vs 21-22 C. The faithful men were beaten and disrespect...

  Don't Let Your Light Go Out! We must not let our lights go out! Let me recap a couple messages we recently heard on this most powerful topic.  First, we must not  Hide The Light.  Listen to this message by clicking  here .  2 Corinthians 4:1-6 "Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our...

  THE BEAUTY IN VIEW Our vacation has been wonderful! One of the highlights for me (among many) has been awaking before the break of day, heading a couple miles down the mountain from our condo, finding my seat at a table at the Inn at Silver Creek and then spending time in prayer, study and sermon prep (the work of a preacher is never through). ;-) While enjoying this “God and I time,” I have had the privilege of seeing many sunrises like the one pictured, but today’s (the one pictured) takes the cake.  Instantly, upon noticing the beauty of my morning view, I quickly made my way outside and snapped the picture… Amazing, isn’t it?! God quickly brought the following verse to mind, Malachi 4:2, “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings…” Do you know the beauty that is in view for those that fear His name? O what power! O what glory! O what beauty! O what healing our Lord shall come with when He comes again! This truth of Chri...

  Time Is Of The Essence!! We must reach our city for Christ, or sin will continue to overcome and overrun.  Sin always takes us farther than we want to go, keeps us longer than we want to stay, and costs us more than we want to pay! Sin brings death, but Christ brings life! Let’s get busy keeping the main thing the main thing. Let’s purpose to live in the joy of the Lord that we may spread the joy of the Lord. Let’s fall more in love with Jesus so others may fall more in love with Jesus.  Always remember, you could be the one who makes a difference in your town for the cause of Jesus Christ! Live on for Jesus, and thank you for serving Him today! Let’s witness the abundantly more than we could ask or think! Blessed Beyond Measure, Pastor Justyn Smith CrossroadsPeoria.com

  Time For Some Door To Door! It’s time for some down to earth ministering while out door to door.  Oh, Christian, there are so many missed opportunities when we won’t go and tell! Opportunities to pray with people, opportunities to witness the Gospel’s power to save, opportunities to make life time friends, opportunities to stand for the truth, opportunities to rejoice with other believers, opportunities to invite people to church who wouldn’t normally receive an invite, and opportunities beyond comprehension of how the Lord desires to work through a simple testimony like yours and mine! You may not have as much freedom as a Pastor has to get busy in this type of work, but please purpose to make time for this great commission work…you never know how the Lord will use you…yes, YOU! Never believe the lie that going and telling is just for preachers…its for all that name the name of Jesus Christ!  And remember, if you aim at nothing, you will miss every time. Set purposeful...

  Love making visits with this lady!  Love making visits with this lady!  We love serving the Lord together! (at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center)

  Why Is Immersion (Dipping Under Water) Our Only Mode of Baptism at Crossroads? First, let’s start with the translators of the Bible. When they were translating from Greek to English, every once in a while they would transliterate a Greek word because there was not an English word to describe it. When transliteration took place in the translation process they would make a new English word based on the formation and sound of the Greek word at hand. The Greek word “Baptidzo” (to dip, bury, place under, or fully immerse) therefore became transliterated in the English to “baptize”. The Greek word for baptism was used when one took something and placed it into and fully under something else. For instance, women of the past had to dye their clothing to make it colorful. So to allow the whole garment to be fully dyed the garment had to be fully immersed in the colored water. Likewise, to be baptized in a church should still carry the definition of the word to dip, bury, place under, or t...

  Are You Prepared For Death? My mind has rested upon my family several times through out this day, for, today, my great aunt on my mother’s side was “laid to rest,” as they say.  Death certainly has a way of creeping around and revealing its grim face when you least expect it. The spontaneity of my aunt’s passing has me asking myself that question we all come back to from time to time, “Am I prepared for death?” My answer? In some ways, most definitely! In other ways, I’m not so sure. Let me major on a couple areas that I have most definitely prepared myself for when it comes to dying, but first, a verse from the Scriptures! Hebrews 9:27 “…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment…” This verse reminds us that life as we know it will come to an abrupt halt at some point…it also reveals that many will face judgments they aren’t prepared to face because they do not take the time to prepare for such judgments before their passing. This verse invited me to ...

  Created For A Purpose As you glance at the posted picture, what do you see? Well, at face value you see a neat old truck (some of you can tell me what kind) that represents one of Seward, Alaska’s great restaurants. But as I think about this picture I see a truck that was once created as vehicle to get someone from point A to point B while having the ability to carry a great load. We would call this the truck’s “main purpose” for being created. Now before I carry on any further with this illustration, please understand that I like that old truck that’s just sitting there holding a sign that advertises a unique Alaskan restaurant. I realize that that truck was once (or still is) someone’s “baby,” but I must give you a life application that I believe will help us to further glorify God as we take heed to the message in picture. The Scripture that comes to my mind is Proverbs 15:22,  “Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are establ...