Empowered to Share: Embracing God's Gifts and Grace

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound truth that God has equipped us with the tools and gifts necessary to spread His message across the globe. The advent of technology, such as YouTube and Facebook, has made it possible to reach people in ways that were once unimaginable. This is not just a coincidence but a divine opportunity to proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth. We are reminded that our gifts and abilities come from Christ, the living well within us, and it is our responsibility to use them for His glory.

Reflecting on the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, we see how Jesus broke societal barriers to offer her the living water of eternal life. This narrative challenges us to examine our own beliefs and to truly trust in Jesus' promise of salvation and transformation. It is not enough to hear the story; we must believe and act on it. Jesus' interaction with the woman demonstrates His grace and the power of belief, urging us to look beyond our past and embrace the new life He offers.

The sermon also emphasized the importance of yielding to the Holy Spirit. By doing so, we allow God to work through us, not just within the church but in everyday encounters. We are called to be vessels of His love and truth, speaking life into the lives of others, whether in the marketplace or in our communities. This requires a deep connection with the Spirit, drawing from the well of salvation within us.

As we prepare for communion, we are reminded of the significance of examining ourselves and letting go of past offenses. Communion is a sacred time to align ourselves with God's will, seeking forgiveness and extending it to others. It is a moment to remember the sacrifice of Jesus and the power of His blood, which cleanses and redeems us.

Key Takeaways:

- Embrace Technology for the Gospel: The digital age provides unprecedented opportunities to share the gospel worldwide. This is a divine tool given to us to spread God's message, and we must use it wisely and purposefully. [00:36]

- Living Water and True Belief: The story of the Samaritan woman teaches us about the living water Jesus offers. It challenges us to truly believe in His promises and to act on that belief, leading to transformation and eternal life. [09:32]

- Yielding to the Holy Spirit: By yielding to the Holy Spirit, we allow God to work through us in powerful ways. This involves listening to His voice and being open to His guidance, both in the church and in everyday life. [05:07]

- The Power of Forgiveness: Communion is a time to examine ourselves and let go of past offenses. Forgiveness is crucial for spiritual growth and allows us to experience the fullness of God's grace and love. [34:56]

- Breaking Barriers with Love: Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman shows us the importance of breaking societal barriers with love and grace. We are called to reach out to all people, regardless of their background, with the message of salvation. [29:13]

YouTube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:36] - Embracing Technology for the Gospel
- [01:50] - The Source of Our Giftings
- [03:19] - Prophetic Word and New Dimensions
- [04:23] - Yielding to the Spirit
- [06:24] - The Woman at the Well
- [08:43] - Living Water and True Belief
- [12:52] - Grace Beyond the Past
- [14:30] - Worship in Spirit and Truth
- [17:10] - Sanctification and Holiness
- [19:38] - Turning Inward for Answers
- [21:52] - Authority and Boldness in Christ
- [25:31] - Reaching All People with Love
- [32:51] - The Significance of Communion
- [40:08] - Examining Ourselves Before God

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. John 4:1-26
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:23

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Observation Questions:

1. What was the significance of Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well, and how did He break societal norms in doing so? ([07:54])

2. How does the sermon describe the role of technology in spreading the gospel today? ([00:36])

3. What does the sermon say about the source of our gifts and abilities? ([01:50])

4. How does the pastor describe the process of yielding to the Holy Spirit in our daily lives? ([05:07])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In the story of the Samaritan woman, what does the "living water" symbolize, and how does it relate to Jesus' promise of eternal life? ([09:32])

2. How does the sermon suggest believers should view and use technology in the context of their faith? ([00:36])

3. What does it mean to yield to the Holy Spirit, and how can this impact our interactions with others? ([05:07])

4. How does the sermon connect the act of communion with the concept of forgiveness and self-examination? ([34:56])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your use of technology. How can you use platforms like YouTube or Facebook to share your faith more effectively? ([00:36])

2. Consider the story of the Samaritan woman. Are there societal barriers or prejudices in your life that you need to overcome to share the gospel with others? ([07:54])

3. How can you actively yield to the Holy Spirit in your daily routine? Identify one specific area where you can be more open to His guidance. ([05:07])

4. Before taking communion, what past offenses or grudges do you need to let go of to align yourself with God's will? ([34:56])

5. Think about a time when you felt unworthy of God's grace. How does the story of the Samaritan woman encourage you to embrace the new life Jesus offers? ([12:52])

6. Identify one person in your community or workplace who might be open to hearing about Jesus. What steps can you take this week to share His love with them? ([05:07])

7. How can you ensure that your spiritual gifts are being used for God's glory and not for personal gain? ([01:50])

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Digital Evangelism for God's Glory
God has provided us with the incredible gift of technology, allowing us to share His message with the world in ways that were once unimaginable. Platforms like YouTube and Facebook are not just modern conveniences but divine opportunities to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. As believers, we are called to use these tools wisely and purposefully, recognizing them as extensions of our mission to proclaim the good news. This is a chance to reach people who might never step into a church, offering them the hope and love found in Christ. [00:36]

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14, ESV)

Reflection: How can you use your social media presence today to share a message of hope and love with someone who might not know Christ?


Day 2: The Transformative Power of Living Water
The story of the Samaritan woman at the well illustrates the transformative power of the living water that Jesus offers. This narrative challenges us to move beyond mere acknowledgment of Jesus' promises to a deep, transformative belief that leads to eternal life. Jesus' interaction with the woman demonstrates His grace and the power of belief, urging us to look beyond our past and embrace the new life He offers. It is a call to trust in His promise of salvation and transformation, allowing His living water to renew and sustain us. [09:32]

"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" (John 7:38, ESV)

Reflection: What past experiences or beliefs are holding you back from fully embracing the new life Jesus offers? How can you begin to let go of these today?


Day 3: Yielding to the Holy Spirit's Guidance
Yielding to the Holy Spirit is essential for allowing God to work through us in powerful ways. This involves listening to His voice and being open to His guidance, both within the church and in our everyday lives. By doing so, we become vessels of His love and truth, speaking life into the lives of others. This requires a deep connection with the Spirit, drawing from the well of salvation within us, and being willing to act on His promptings, whether in the marketplace or in our communities. [05:07]

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you create space in your daily routine to listen for the Holy Spirit's guidance and act on it?


Day 4: The Liberating Power of Forgiveness
Communion is a sacred time to align ourselves with God's will, seeking forgiveness and extending it to others. It is a moment to remember the sacrifice of Jesus and the power of His blood, which cleanses and redeems us. By examining ourselves and letting go of past offenses, we open ourselves to spiritual growth and the fullness of God's grace and love. Forgiveness is not just a one-time act but a continual process that liberates us from the burdens of resentment and bitterness. [34:56]

"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Colossians 3:13, ESV)

Reflection: Is there someone you need to forgive today? How can you take a step towards extending forgiveness and experiencing the freedom it brings?


Day 5: Breaking Barriers with Christ's Love
Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman shows us the importance of breaking societal barriers with love and grace. We are called to reach out to all people, regardless of their background, with the message of salvation. This requires us to look beyond societal norms and prejudices, embracing others with the same love and grace that Jesus demonstrated. By doing so, we become conduits of His love, offering hope and transformation to those who may feel marginalized or overlooked. [29:13]

"For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26-28, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life might feel marginalized or overlooked? How can you reach out to them with Christ's love and grace today?

Quotes

"God has given us this technology not to put into the hands of the devil but to take it, Amen, and use it to proclaim the gospel around the world. But you know when we first started back in the 80s, we were over there on Decar several times at television there. I was on a regular pastor's group." [00:00:44]

"Now we've got YouTube and we're able to reach the world quickly because the end is coming. I'm here to tell you what, and God has given us this technology not to put into the hands of the devil but to take it, Amen, and use it to proclaim the gospel around the world." [00:00:40]

"By yielding to the Holy Spirit, we allow God to work through us in powerful ways. This involves listening to His voice and being open to His guidance, both in the church and in everyday life. For there's a day that's coming that my word is being released in many of you sitting in this place." [00:04:23]

"If you'll yield and plug into my spirit and flow with my spirit and listen to my voice, I too will use you. For yay, there's words of knowledge, words of wisdom, and gifts of the spirit residing within each of you. For think it not strange when the word of the Lord comes out that you too can connect." [00:04:36]

"Jesus answered and said to her, 'Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.'" [00:09:41]

"Do you really believe if you died today you would go to heaven? Do you really believe in eternal life? Amen, praise God. Do you believe that right now Jesus can heal you right where you're at? Believe me, I'm speaking from the Lord to you, believe me." [00:11:06]

"Jesus never did anything like that. He ministered to all men, women, and children. So I gave the altar call, and all of a sudden one of those dear brother, dear young men ran to the altar. Come on, when I gave that altar call, he literally ran." [00:25:31]

"Jesus spoke to this adulterous woman. Come on, what are we talking about? The wells of salvation. Well, you ought to just be preaching to the rich people. I never saw Jesus do that. He preached to every area, rich, middle class, and poor." [00:25:56]

"Communion is a great place and a time, or what we call sacrament or ordinance of the church, that we recognize and believe that God can really work in a service like this. You know, and we've talked about this, and people's been healed in our services besides our communion day." [00:33:16]

"The key is the thing is be judged by the word, and what I mean by that, how many ever been to a chiropractor? Some of you have, some of you haven't. It's an adjustment, and when we say being judged by the word, we're letting the word do the work through the Holy Spirit in us to examine ourselves." [00:34:56]

"This is the time to forget about the past relationships. Come on, are you listening? Things that are in your crawl that you haven't letting go because it could very be blocking God's will of operation in your life. Come on, thank you for that hand, one hand clap." [00:35:30]

"Forgiveness is crucial for spiritual growth and allows us to experience the fullness of God's grace and love. We need to be able to rejoice and say, 'Well, I don't like that.' Well, it's too bad. I'm telling you what the word says. I have to go through it, so you have to too." [00:36:36]

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Transcript
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