Power To Preach

Act 19:8-10 NASB

(8)  And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.

(9)  But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

(10)  This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

Paul spoke boldly in the synagogue at Ephesus for about three months.  Speaking boldly is not something that is reserved for the Preacher.  We all are called to share the gospel. We all receive the same Holy Spirit.  We all have a ministry.

After three months Paul left.He separated the Disciples.  They went about spreading the Gospel and in two years all that dwelt in Asia heard the gospel.

What do you need to share the gospel?  (Choose the ones you think you need)

a.       Confidence in Self.     b. Power of the Holy Spirit   c. Nice Smile

d.   Understanding of the Gospel   e. Theology degree.  f. Big Bible

g.   Acceptance of Great Commission   h.  Heart of compassion and passion

Answer:  b.  c.  g.  h.

All it takes to tell others is the Power of the Holy Spirit, a nice smile, acceptance of the Great Commission and a Heart of compassion and passion.

GO and TELL

The Power to Save

Act 19:1-7 NASB
(1)  It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples.

(2)  He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said to him, "No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit."

(3)  And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism."

(4)  Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus."

(5)  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

(6)  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.

(7)  There were in all about twelve men.

Paul asked two questions that opened the door to share the Gospel.  Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?       Into what then were you baptized? 

These men had been baptized unto repentance by John.  They were still waiting on the Messiah to come.  They did not know that Jesus was the Messiah.  They did not know that his work on Calvary was complete.  They needed to believe in Jesus.

After hearing their response he immediately shared the gospel with them.  They immediately accepted Jesus as their savior. 

We all have a commission to share the gospel with the world.

They received the Holy Spirit immediately when they believed on Jesus Christ.  When you were saved you immediately received the Holy Spirit.  God does not hold things from his children. 

So is there a second work of grace?  YES 

And a third

And Fourth

And a 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

It is the growing process of a Christian. 

What’s Your FUNCTION?

1 Corinthians 12:12-14

12  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

14  For the body is not one member, but many.

There is unity in Christ Jesus.  In Him we are all one body.  How many functioning parts are there in the human body?  How diverse are all those parts? 

It is no wonder that Paul compared Christians to a human body.  Each Christian is totally different from the other one.  No two people do things the exact same way and being a part of the body of Christ we all have our distinct function. 

When we are saved we do not lose our identity as individuals. We bring our perspectives, ideas, goals and dreams to Jesus Christ and work together for the advancement of His Kingdom.

While we are all one body we must take caution that we don’t develop an inferiority complex. 

For example let’s compare hands and feet.  What are some things the hands can do?  What are some things the feet can do?  Since the foot can’t be the hand then he just needs to take a walk. 

NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH

The hand can’t get to the fringe to fix a sandwich unless the foot takes him.  We all work together to accomplish a common goal and that goal is to bring God all the Glory.

We also don’t want to develop a superiority complex.

Let’s look at the Eye.  He’s a big shot. He can see everything, He might say, “if it wasn’t for me the rest of these guys would be walking around in the dark. I bet they don’t even realize how much I do for this outfit. I am the most important part of this organization. Look at that hand down there, he likes to grab everything he can, if it wasn’t for me he’d just be grabbing the wind”.

Now, think about all the things that needs taken care in God’s Kingdom.  There is certainly no one who is above anyone else.

Yes, we are all different and we all have unique talents and abilities that need to be a part of your church and its ministries.  Yes, we are all called to be a witness to a lost and dying world and we must always tell others about Jesus.

However, God made each one of us with our own special skills and talents.  Churches need people willing to function within its ministries.  If you are not involved in your church what is being missed out on that should be taking place. 

With God all things are possible.  God gave you talents and skills to bring Him Glory.  There is a church ministry waiting for you to use your gifts.  

If you are not actively involved in some type of ministry, get involved and help edify the body.

One Mother’s Walk

Ruth 1:15-17 NASB

(15)  Then she said, "Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law."

(16)  But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.

(17)  "Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me?"

First let me wish all the Mothers a Happy Mother’s Day.  It is certainly a special relationship between a mother and her children. 

This week let’s take a few minutes to examine Naomi.  Earlier in chapter one of Ruth we find that she has lost her husband and her two sons.  What a tragic turn of events.  However, this is not our focus on this day of celebration.  What a testimony Naomi must have had upon her two daughters-in law.

Here we see two young ladies ready to leave their families to be with Naomi.  One can only imagine the obedience to God that Naomi most certainly exhibited in the presence of these ladies when their family was intact.

It is how we build relationships in the good times that sustain us through the rough times.  Later in the chapter we see that Orpah chose to stay with her family.  In verse 16 and 17 we hear Ruth pledge to stay with Naomi and serve God.  Ruth would later marry Boaz and become a grandmother in the linage that would bring Jesus into the world.

What an important role Mother Naomi played.  Mothers have a special place in God’s plan.

Ruth took time to let Naomi know how much she meant to her.

Take time this weekend to let your Mother know how much you love her.

What Did You Get?

1Co 12:4-7 NASB

(4)  Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.

(5)  And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.

(6)  There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.

(7)  But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

 Spiritual gifts have been graciously allocated and God decides who gets what.  It is not based on spiritual maturity.  It does not indicate that some have received a greater portion. God gives gifts to everyone.  What it does mean is that NO ONE has an excuse for not being involved and using your gift to His glory. Each and every one of us has a ministry.

 I am not a science teacher but I have watched enough “Law and Order” to know that we all have DNA.  It is our own God given genetic code that makes us who we are.  It sets us apart and just like our DNA we are given our own spiritual gift.  You are the only person who can use your gift the way God intended it to be used. Just like no two snowflakes are alike no two people serve God the same way.

 God’s gifts have a mutual benefit.  God gives gifts to His children so they can minister one to another.  God never gifted anyone to sit on the sidelines. Health and age can limit what we can do, but we need to always be involved. We must depend on Him to make us what He wants us to be.

 So here is the question:

 WHAT DID YOU GET?