From the text we will be looking, even the great missionary Paul requested prayer knowing that it is a powerful force when sharing the gospel. He asked his readers to pray for opportunities. He asked prayer for boldness. He asked prayer for clarity. He wanted to be able to clearly articulate the gospel when he spoke so that people would hear the message of Jesus Christ. May we pray for the same as we seek to share the good news.
Pastor Jim takes us through a journey in Isaiah’s view of heaven as he first looks at God and His holiness. He is then introspective as he considers himself in view of the holiness of God. He concludes with accepting the invitation by God to go and preach the good news. Upward, inward, and then outward. When we see God for who He and what He has done in forgiving us, we should be compelled to go and share that great news with others. Like Isaiah, let’s accept the invitation to go.
Rev. Larry Pauley, from Slavic Gospel Association, concludes our missions conference weekend with a challenging message from John 4:31-38 with our need to consider the partnership of the gospel message as we endeavor to carry out the great commission. We must be stirred to action because we each have a part in the partnership.
We are called to be salt and light to a world that needs to see the gospel lived out. Our character should be such that people are drawn to the Savior through how we live. The faith we live out must be attractive. If our words don’t match our message, then we send a message that is unclear and repels people from the gospel instead of compelling them to investigate further the claims of Christ. Our character matters when it comes to being a witness.
We can understand our commission from the Lord, our capability through the indwelling, empowering Holy Spirit, and the courage we need to witness, but we also need to understand our commitment. Paul helps us see his commitment to sharing the gospel.
In Matthew 28 we have been given a commission by Christ to witness to the ends of the world. In Romans 1 we have been given the capability through the Holy Spirit to witness about Christ to the ends of the world. In Acts 1 we have the courage to witness for Christ because the gospel is the power of God for salvation. That power in the gospel gives us the courage to be witness, again to the ends of the world. Let’s put aside our excuses and get busy.
In Matthew 28, we are given the commission for witnessing by the Lord. In the passage today from Acts 1, we are given the capability for witnessing. It’s not through anything in ourselves, it is through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We can have all the tools and strategy but without the power of the Spirit, efforts to share the gospel will fall flat.
In this passage we are given our marching orders by Christ to make disciples. He then tells us how that is to be done. It’s power His power because He has authority in heaven and earth, and He passed on that authority to us. It’s in his plan through His people, to go to all places for the purpose of going, baptizing and teaching. It’s in His presence. His presence is seen in its fact, its frequency, and in its future. He would always be with us. Let’s do our part to share the gospel.
If we are going to serve others, we must surrender ourselves first to the Lord as Romans 12:1-2 tell us. Verses 3-21 then unfold what that serving looks like in our actions and attitudes. While there is a specific spiritual gift of service, every spiritual gift is, in a way, a serving gift as they each are used to benefit the body of Christ, His church. Whatever your spiritual gift is, you serve Christ and His church.
We apologize in that we had some technical difficulties and were unable to record the Sunday service. Please read John 10 and ask yourself if you know the voice of the true Shepherd.