Jew or Gentile, slave or free – salvation is for everyone. Jesus made a way for all to get to heaven. No matter someone's background or where he or she came from, God can move. No matter what nationality, race, size, or age someone is, God can move in his or her heart and give that person eternal life, too. Jesus died for everyone when He was sacrificed on the cross. Pastor Mark wants you to know through today's message that the good news of Jesus and salvation needs to be shared with everyone, because that's who it's for. Jesus didn't die for just a select few; He died for every single human being.

If God is for you, who could stand against you? When you commit your life to service for God and spreading the Good News of salvation, you have nothing to fear. Whatever obstacle comes your way, you can get through it because God will make a way. You just have to trust that He will when the time comes. Pastor Mark is going to encourage you today to face your obstacles and hardships with confidence. When God's on your side, He'll provide everything you need to go where He's called you. Even if you have nothing to offer, God can still use you, right where you're at. And He'll take care of the details.

Just like a soldier trains for the battlefield to be prepared for times of war, a Christian soldier should train to be ready for times of spiritual warfare. While times are easy, you should be learning and memorizing God's Word, so you can draw from those Scriptures when the days get harder in the battles. Today, Pastor Mark will encourage you to put in the work behind the scenes in your walk with God. In your alone time, spend time in prayer. Spend time in God's Word. Grow your faith so it's unshakable when it's time for you to face the war. You can go into battle with confidence that God will get you through it.

Opposition to the advancement of God's Word always follows revival and movements of God. Satan, the enemy, doesn't want to lose more people doomed to hell with him. He wants them to serve him and ultimately have the same judgment he does. When God moves, so does Satan. You need to be ready for it. In today's message, Pastor Mark will warn you to be on the lookout for Satan's opposition. Living out your faith isn't guaranteed to be a walk in the park, and Satan will do what he can to make sure of that. But if your hope is in the Lord for salvation, and you keep your heart focused on His will, you have nothing to fear.

Opposition will eventually come when you commit your life to serving God. Satan won't just sit by and idly watch people be saved without doing something to interfere. It might be big, it might be small, but he moves wherever God moves. Your heart needs to be ready for those times when they come. Today, Pastor Mark is going to prepare you for the times of the enemy's attacks. They usually come when it will hurt the most, but it's not the end. Make sure you soften your heart to God's Word and harden it toward sin, and keep your focus on serving God and doing His Will. He can bring good out of anything.

There is always hope while you’re still breathing – you can be saved simply by placing your trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. But, as Pastor Mark will warn in today’s message, it doesn’t get easier as you get older. The more you resist His invitation and say “no” to the offer Jesus extended on the cross, the more likely you are to continue down that path. You do not want to continue to put off this decision. None of us knows the time we have. Many don’t get the luxury of knowing when they’ll enter eternity. It could be decades, or it could be a matter of hours from now. Eternity is not something to gamble with.

Have you ever talked with a devout member of the Mormon church or perhaps a Jehovah’s Witness? They may offer some of the most challenging conversations you’ll have in sharing the Gospel. They often have very strong convictions and a comprehensive understanding of their own religion, along with a playbook for every argument you may try to present. As Pastor Mark will point out in today’s message, Paul faced a similar challenge, likely even harder, as he confronted his fellow Jews with the Gospel. They were very stubborn in their beliefs and had strongly rooted convictions about the expected Messiah. 

Before you start going around examining others’ lives, it’s important that you dedicate time to some honest introspection. What kind of fruit are you bearing? Would the people around you say that they see Jesus in your words, actions, and attitudes? If you’re following Him, you won’t live a perfect life, but your life should demonstrate a trend of growth in the fruits of His Spirit. As Pastor Mark continues our study in the book of Acts today, he’ll challenge us to be bold in our love for the people around us. When you humbly approach them, allow the Spirit to provide discernment, as you seek to draw them closer to Christ.

In a battle, the element of surprise brings a massive advantage to the attacking party. Even an outnumbered, outgunned force significantly increases its chances of victory if its enemy is caught off guard. As Pastor Mark will warn us in today’s message, we’re entrenched in a spiritual battle, and it’s crucial that we’re alert and ready for the attacks of the enemy. Our enemy loves to lull us into a sense of comfort and ease. When we relax and start to think this journey is smooth sailing, that’s when he sees his chance. He’ll draw us into compromise and introduce deceptive thoughts that lead to destruction.

Do you remember the last time God spoke to you? I’m not talking about an audible voice coming down from Heaven, that’s rare… but when’s the last time you heard His voice speak to your heart? For many believers, it’s a challenge to remember a moment like that. It isn’t something unique to the people we read about in Scripture; God will speak to you if you give Him the opportunity. As Pastor Mark will challenge us in today’s message, we need to set aside time with our Father. His Word is more readily available today than it’s ever been, and He’s ready to listen and speak to you when you dedicate time in His presence.