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...

  God SO Loved We have a God who "SO' loves us! Let me recap a couple messages we recently heard on this most powerful topic.  John 3:14-18 "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  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.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." First, let's look at the World-wide Cross. You can listen to this message by clicking  here . We jumped to Numbers 21 with the story of Moses listing up the serpent in the wilderness to note the following: I. The sting of sin is death...

  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...

  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 ...

  What Is Your Life? Today I was reminded of a statement by a famous missionary, C.T. Studd. He said, “Only one life, ‘till soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.” There’s a great question found in James 4:14, “…For what is your life?…”  Take some time to seriously contemplate this question…when everything is said and done, and you are standing on the edge of eternity, what will the sum of your life be?  Will you have wasted your life with “riotous living?” Will you have wined and dined at the finest our world has to offer? Will you have spent your resources on frivolous things? Or will Christ and eternity have been the sum of your life? What is your life? Are you investing in eternity? Take some time to write down the areas of your life where you are certain you are currently investing in eternity for the cause of Christ. Doing this will reveal areas of your life where you can say, “Yes! My life does count for God!,” but it will also reveal areas of weaknes...