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Christianity is not a spectator sport

Christianity is not a spectator sport

Luke 24:46-47   Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

You can’t sit under Dr. Ed Gravely and not see the gospel in wherever he might be teaching from at that time. Of how it is woven into the entire Bible, and the way we are to share it. We are starting a study of Acts, which I label a book of action. The book of Acts is a book full of the reassurances of our risen Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit He has enabled believers with. We have Christ residing in us; and the evidences of Him are everywhere in the book of Acts. The  book of Acts and the gospel of Luke go hand in hand and written by the same author; the great physician Luke.

Are you living a life of action in relation to what you believe? Are you professing Christ, but yet living in sin? Are you claiming heaven, but yet never sharing your faith? Are you ashamed or fearful of sharing that faith you proclaim? There are many direct warnings of denying Christ, but do you share Christ? An assurance of Salvation is the desire from deep within for those who are lost without Christ. From that desire comes a heart that lives for God and desires to share a hope that eternally saves. Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. We are by no means saved by works, but we are called to and judged by them. Can you imagine standing before God saved; yet telling Him you never shared or did anything?

You always hear of peoples death bed requests, or their dying words. Sometimes a summary of life’s lessons, and a word to live by for those left behind. A ‘charge’ if you will. Christ’s last words came from a man that had RISEN from the dead, and returned to edify and charge those He was leaving behind to do His remaining work. He not only charged them with the work, He in-dwelt a part of Himself with them to help them. His call to them was to spread His name throughout the world so that the world may be saved. His parting words were known as The Great Commission. Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. You too are called to action. Christianity is not a spectator sport.

 
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Posted by on September 6, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Equipped to Share

Equipped to Share

2Timothy 1:8-11 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

Yesterday I was listening to a sermon on the weight and responsibility of teaching God’s Word. A good friend and I were talking about it last night and of how it that weight can scare you away from doing it. I decided to spend some time in the books of Timothy this morning because I knew Paul was encouraging Timothy in how to live and preach the Word of God. Satan will plant all types of fears into you to keep you from ever sharing your faith, or even a scripture at what may seem to be the perfect time. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Those fears can be weakened and your faith strengthened by the amount of time you spend with God in prayer and His Word. The strength that comes with that time will keep you from being ashamed of God’s Word and remaining silent.

We all have those times when we feel like we want to share our faith, or even what feels like a perfect scripture for someone at a time of need. Those promptings are the Holy Spirit inside of you, using you to encourage others. He may be bringing your testimony or the perfect scripture to that person before you at just the right time. John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Your response to that prompting is key, and God is using you at that time. Don’t deny that prompting from fear, but know that God is equipping you for His service. He may be even leading you to explain what that verse means to you. If God is placing that scripture before you for someone, He will equip you to deliver what He has to say. This strength and equipping comes from seeking Him daily. That places His Word in your heart, and your heart that is equipped will be prepared to share when His time comes.

 
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Posted by on May 29, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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