MESSAGE TO SECULAR BRITAIN:
Romans 1:18-25
View excerpt of this sermon by clicking on video above
A sermon to Agnostics and Atheists, by Evangelist Austin Baxter Preached on Revelation TV
A Message to Secular Britain
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How do we preach the Gospel to agnostics, atheists, sceptics and humanists? How do we win back our secular British society to God? Is there a Word in scripture that can respond to our generation who say that they do not know God and cannot find him?
In each generation, God speaks to nations and people groups a message that is relevant and timely and that deals with the spiritual condition of that generation. Today in Britain, our culture is steeped in the philosophy of Secular Humanism that has invaded the minds and hearts of people turning them away from God. Is there a Word from the Lord that will confront, challenge and defeat this false philosophy and bring men and women back to the knowledge of God? I believe there is and it is found in Paul's letter to the Romans 1:18-21. It says:
"18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 ¶ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things."
As an Evangelist, I have searched for many years and asked God how can I preach the Gospel to people in Britain who have a mindset that excludes his very existence. I was led to Romans 1:18-25 which I believe is God’s answer and response to modern people who say that they have no awareness of God and cannot find him. The Word of God tells us that God has put the knowledge of his existence in the hearts of men as well as around them in the things he has made (Rom.1:19-21). This is in direct conflict to what we are being told today by modern men and women who have adopted a secular humanist philosophy and worldview. This philosophy falsely teaches that men and women do not believe in God, have no awareness of his presence and no evidence that he exists. Romans 1:18-21 says the direct opposite. It says that God has placed within the hearts of all human beings knowledge of himself. Who are we to believe? Who do we take sides with? Do we believe God’s analysis of the condition of modern people found in Romans 1:18-25, or the lie of the secular humanists that would have us believe that men and women today do not know whether God exists?
How are secular humanism, atheism and agnosticism to be overcome? How are we Christians going to rescue human beings from a false philosophy that has blinded their hearts and minds to the reality of God that is within them and around them? (Romans 1:18-25, Acts 17:26)? One way is by preaching and teaching them the truth contained in Romans 1:18-25 and other scriptures. God foresaw the debates and questions modern people would raise in our day and has already given all men an answer to the question whether he exists or not. We have to believe and stand on what he has revealed in His Word if we really want to see Him powerfully move in our society. Only the power and truth of God’s Word can defeat mindsets and worldviews set up by the enemy to blind men and women to the truth about God.
As Christian teachers, preachers and evangelists we must understand the power of God’s Word to change society. We must understand the power of His Word that can bring down philosophies and mindsets that have taken men and women captive. The Word of God coupled with the power of the Spirit of God brings Revival and Reformation. In the book of Acts, we are told “…the word of God grew and multiplied.” Acts 12:24 Why? Because is it is the Word of God that has power in itself to accomplish great things (“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11). When Luther preached the truth of Romans 1:16-17 that the just shall live by Faith, the revelatory power and anointing that was in that truth was released into the Earth and attacked and destroyed the false religious mindset that was blinding the people to the truth of the Gospel. The same Word of Acts 12:24 that “grew and multiplied” “grew and multiplied” throughout Europe and became unstoppable. In this case and otehrs we could look at, it was the Word of God that a man meditated, studied and lived that became incarnate in the Earth and released the very power and Spirit of God to set men and women free. I believe in a similar way, Romans 1; 18-25 has the power to set men and women free from the false philosophies of atheism, secular humanism and agnosticism that is holding them captive today. As we believe and preach this truth, it will release the knowledge and reality of God that will break down the strongholds that hold them and set them free to believe, repent and come into relationship with God.
What our Ministry is Doing
As an evangelistic ministry, we are addressing and confronting secular humanism, atheism and agnosticism with the truth of the Word of God in Romans 1:18-25. We have preached the Gospel on secular radio in Birmingham and recently done a “Sermon to Agnostics and Atheists” on a Christian Channel based upon this scripture. We are believing God to do more programmes on Christian channels on this subject addressing unbelievers, atheists and sceptics and challenging their worldview with the truth of Romans 1:18-25. We are in the process of completing our booklet “A Sermon to Agnostics and Atheists” which is an expository sermon to agnostics, atheists explaining to them what God says about their position of unbelief towards him. It briefly outlines some of the evidences God has put within human beings, in their hearts and personalities that prove he exists. It then explains how according to the Word of God they suppress, ignore and reject these evidences of his existence and replace it with a lie (Romans 1:18-25). Finally, it calls one them to acknowledge the truth , repent and come into relationship with God before it is too late. The booklet can be purchased from our website at http://www.spiritandword.org.uk/ or via amazon.co.uk website. We are endeavouring to get onto secular TV stations with the same message and are approaching them to give us the opportunity to present a Christian and Biblical perspective on the “God question.”
Finally, we are involved in Evangelism Training, training up Churches to win souls for Christ. One of our courses “Basic Apologetics for Evangelism” teaches believers how to respond and preach the Gospel to agnostics, atheists, secular humanists, muslims and Jehovah witnesses. If you would like to know more about our ministry and help us preach the Biblical message to unbelievers, you can go to our website and find out more or give a donation www.spiritandword.org.uk. Also, you can watch our video on youtube that is an excerpt of the sermon we preached to atheists on Revelation TV at :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF6M2sXWlbM
In his service
Austin Baxter
Spirit of revival Evangelism
