Empowered Witnesses: Fulfilling Our Gospel Mission

Devotional

Day 1: Empowered by the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit empowers believers to be witnesses of Jesus Christ, as highlighted in Acts 1:8. This empowerment is not limited to the early disciples but extends to all believers, enabling them to fulfill their mission with confidence and boldness. The Holy Spirit guides and strengthens us, ensuring that we are never alone in this task. As we embrace this power, we are called to step out in faith, trusting that the Holy Spirit will provide the words and actions needed to share the Gospel effectively. [08:06]

Ephesians 3:16-17 (ESV): "That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love."

Reflection: In what specific area of your life do you need to rely more on the Holy Spirit's power to be a witness for Christ today?

Day 2: Intentional Living for the Gospel

The mission of the church is to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth, as outlined in the Great Commission. This mission is not just for missionaries but for every believer, calling us to be intentional in our daily lives. Sharing the hope of Jesus with those around us requires us to be mindful of our actions and words, ensuring they reflect the love and truth of the Gospel. By living intentionally, we can create opportunities to share our faith and make a lasting impact on those we encounter. [13:35]

Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV): "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to live more intentionally for the Gospel in your interactions with others?

Day 3: Faithfulness in Witnessing

The calling to be witnesses is not about achieving success but about being faithful to the mission. Like Isaiah, who was called to proclaim God's message even when no one would listen, we must remain faithful regardless of the outcome. Our role is to plant seeds, trusting God to bring the harvest. This perspective shifts our focus from results to obedience, encouraging us to persevere in sharing the Gospel even when it seems challenging or fruitless. [15:42]

1 Corinthians 3:7-8 (ESV): "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor."

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from seeking success to being faithful in your witness for Christ today?

Day 4: Reaching the Nations Among Us

We have a unique opportunity to reach people from diverse backgrounds as the nations come to us. Whether through simple conversations or intentional outreach, we can share the Gospel with those who may have never heard it before. Our mission field is right where we are, and we are called to be attentive to the opportunities God places in our path to share His love and truth with others. [23:21]

Acts 17:26-27 (ESV): "And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him."

Reflection: Who is one person from a different background that you can reach out to this week to share the love of Christ?

Day 5: Bold Proclamation of the Gospel

Sharing the Gospel requires words, as faith comes from hearing. We must be prepared to give an account of the hope we have in Christ, even if it means stepping out of our comfort zones. Our passion for the Lord should drive us to speak boldly about His love and grace, trusting that He will use our words to touch the hearts of those who hear them. [27:22]

2 Timothy 1:7-8 (ESV): "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God."

Reflection: What is one fear or hesitation you have about sharing the Gospel, and how can you overcome it with God's help today?

Sermon Summary

Summary:

Today, we embark on a four-week series exploring what it means to be a Gospel-Centered Church, beginning with our mission. Drawing from Acts 1:8, we are reminded of the power and responsibility bestowed upon us by the Holy Spirit to be witnesses of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. This mission is not just a task but a calling that requires us to be intentional in our daily lives. Just as NASA was singularly focused on reaching the moon, we too must be focused on proclaiming the Gospel. Our mission encompasses community, worship, and discipleship, all of which are integral to our identity as a church.

The concept of being commissioned is central to our understanding of this mission. We are appointed to share the hope of Jesus Christ, and this is not limited to pastors or missionaries but extends to every believer. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 reinforces this, urging us to make disciples of all nations. Our calling is not about the success or failure of our efforts but about faithfulness to the mission. We are reminded that the power of the Holy Spirit enables us to fulfill this calling, and we are never alone in this endeavor.

As we reflect on our role in God's mission, we must consider how we can be witnesses in our current season of life. Whether through simple acts of kindness or bold proclamations of faith, we are called to be intentional in sharing the Gospel. The nations are coming to us, and we have the opportunity to reach people from diverse backgrounds right where we are. Let us be a church that is singularly focused on the mission of God, trusting in His sovereignty and the power of the Holy Spirit to work through us.

Key Takeaways

1. The Power of the Holy Spirit: Acts 1:8 reminds us that we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to be witnesses of Jesus Christ. This power is not just for the early disciples but for all believers, enabling us to fulfill our mission with confidence and boldness. We are never alone in this task, as the Holy Spirit guides and strengthens us. [08:06]
2. The Mission of the Church: Our mission is to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth, as outlined in the Great Commission. This is not just a task for missionaries but for every believer. We are called to be intentional in our daily lives, sharing the hope of Jesus with those around us. [13:35]
3. Faithfulness Over Success: The calling to be witnesses is not about achieving success but about being faithful to the mission. Like Isaiah, who was called to proclaim God's message even when no one would listen, we must remain faithful regardless of the outcome. Our role is to plant seeds, trusting God to bring the harvest. [15:42]
4. The Nations Are Coming: We have a unique opportunity to reach people from diverse backgrounds as the nations come to us. Whether through simple conversations or intentional outreach, we can share the Gospel with those who may have never heard it before. Our mission field is right where we are. [23:21]
5. Proclaiming the Gospel: Sharing the Gospel requires words, as faith comes from hearing. We must be prepared to give an account of the hope we have in Christ, even if it means stepping out of our comfort zones. Our passion for the Lord should drive us to speak boldly about His love and grace. [27:22]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:50] - Introduction to the Mission
[02:58] - The Space Race Analogy
[06:08] - Understanding Commission
[08:06] - The Power of the Holy Spirit
[10:03] - Being Witnesses
[12:34] - Sharing Personal Testimonies
[13:35] - The Great Commission
[14:27] - Intentional Living
[15:42] - Faithfulness Over Success
[17:03] - The Calling of Christians
[19:06] - Everyday Ministry
[20:08] - Simple Acts of Witness
[21:52] - Confession and Proclamation
[23:21] - The Nations Are Coming
[25:56] - Proclaiming the Gospel
[27:22] - Practicing Evangelism
[30:09] - Role in God's Mission
[33:12] - Closing Prayer

Sermon Clips

"But when we think about being commissioned, we have to understand something, that the mission that we are to follow or to do, Jesus is addressing in Acts 1a. He says, you will be my witness. Who is the you? It's the church, right? It's the church of God. Who is the you? So you can't think about it and go, well, it's just really those disciples at the beginning, right? It's who it originally was, but it's a continuation to you and I. We are, as the church, we are to be something. You will be. Now, it's interesting. If I tell my kids, you will be home at 530 tonight, it's not a suggestion. It's not a, you know, if you really feel like coming home at 530, you can go ahead and do that." [00:08:26]

"Now, the interesting thing about the idea of being a witness, it is two parts. it is a people right and it is an action if you've ever been in a court of law when I was in high school just out of high school I got to sit in on a jury which I know most people try to get out of jury duty but I found it as a 18 year old amazing and interesting I got to sit in on a jury and listen to witnesses tell about what took place they were bearing witness to what they saw they heard or they learned through some means or fashion so it is a people you and I are if you profess faith in Christ you're a disciple of Jesus right you're a follower of him so therefore you are to witness what you've seen and heard John and Peter in a few chapters in the book of Acts tell the high council you know you can tell us that you're going to beat us you're going to hurt us you're going to do whatever with us but I can't help but tell what I've seen what I've heard because they're going to bear witness to what Jesus has has shown them but it's also an action meaning a testimony of a proclamation of what God has done in your life God has done something in your life if you profess faith in him do not diminish it because you were five or six or seven I don't know how many times people tell me I don't really have much of a story to tell because I became a believer early on praise be to God you didn't have to sin a ton in your life to figure out who Jesus was because I can tell you someone that came in their 20s and said I don't believe in God I don't believe in God I don't believe in God I don't believe in God because a lot of trying to I don't four of us look at to say who somebody is when God does funny things you do a lot of things and I think I father myself I think so you won't and you have a testimony about what God has done and what not funny but you have a testimony of what God has done in your life sometimes though in order to pay attention to what's going on around us what God is doing and how he is acting and and those types of things be bear witness be a person who gives a testimony because I won't believe what you're doing God will be afraid to believe tomorrow but I want you to believe" [00:10:07]

"The mission of God's church is to be his witness. And if we think about Matthew 28, 18 through 20, go therefore and make disciples, baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that I've commanded you. And lo, I'll be with you to the end of the age. Amen. If that is the great commission, which we'll look at when we think about discipleship, and we think about, you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. We tie those two things together, and this is the mission of the church, is to make disciples through the proclamation. People can't call on him whom they've not heard, according to Romans. I'm getting ahead of myself, though." [00:13:20]

"Imagine the space race, right? NASA was fixed on one goal, get to the moon. What if the church became so singularly focused that we were so, what do we need to do to proclaim the gospel to people in our lives? It's not our job to save people. We are not the savior of the world. We are the people God has entrusted with the mission to proclaim the truth, and then God does the work. Work in their lives. The sovereign Lord, sovereign savior. So we must be reminded about the commission on our lives, that you and I have a mission." [00:13:58]

"Now, when I served in northern Uganda, every morning I woke up reminded that I was there for a purpose. I was there to share the gospel with every person I came in contact with. But then I came home, and I let life happen, and I kind of allowed, well, I got to do laundry, and I got to fix my car. I got to do, and I started to allow things to overshadow the mission, and I'm sure many of you have the same thing. But if you were going on a mission trip, you were laser focused on the goal and the tasks that you have while you're there, right? What if we kind of flip the script and we realize that while we're at home doing our lives, our goal is to be all about the mission. That requires intentionality, though." [00:14:39]

"Now, we see in the Bible, God calls people to do all sorts of things. Isaiah 6, verses 8 -13, God calls Isaiah. He says, We usually stop there. It's a great little on -the -mug thing. Here I am, Lord, send me. It's a great mission statement. We always use that for those kinds of things. And then we move on. Do you know, though, if you read the rest of the chapter of Isaiah, Isaiah asks God, I'm going to go proclaim to these people, but how long will it take, Lord? And he said, until they're dead. They're never going to call on the name of the Lord. They're going to lay waste. If we're realizing we're called into a mission that people may never actually call on the name of the Lord, will you still be a part of that mission? Because that's hard." [00:15:42]

"But you may be here today and go, you know, Pastor, that's great. I'm not a prophet though, and I'm not a pastor like Paul. And I understand that. Not everyone is called into full -time ministry, but all are called into the ministry. Matthew chapter 4, verses 18 and 19, Jesus calls his disciples to follow him. If you are a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, you are a disciple therefore you are called into the ministry of the Lord and it's not limited to pastors and missionaries everyone has a ministry that's why Paul writes in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 12 that it's the job of pastors to equip the saints you for the work of the ministry you will all you were all ministers of the gospel don't lose sight of the calling on your life to be a minister of the gospel where you are in your life because God has a plan where you're planted to bloom and grow for his glory because all if we reminded are all called are all called to the mission of Christ it's not relegated to some specific people but the problem is not all answer the call" [00:17:38]

"And I think there's two parts to this mission, of the confession part. One is an outright confession of faith in Jesus, right? That you've come to faith in Christ. You know, when we think about it in simplistic terms, you, you have to call on the name of the Lord to be saved, right? We talk about, as kids, we say the ABCs, right? It's really easy, if you will, to admit, believe, confess, right? Admit that you're a sinner, that you have done no good. Romans 3 .23 tells us that we've all sinned in part of the glory of God. We must believe, though, as Peter read from us in Romans chapter 10, that, that we must believe in our heart that God raised, raised him from the dead. And it says that all who, in Romans chapter 13, or chapter 10, verse 13, it says, all who profess faith in Christ will be saved. So we must confess this to the Lord. So if we admit that we're a sinner, believe that Jesus' death on the cross is necessary, and confess, that's how you are saved." [00:20:44]

"If we're going to have people who are commissioned to the mission and called to the mission, we must proclaim to them the hope that we have, right? Romans chapter 10 verses 13 to 18 tells us how are people going to call on the name of the Lord if nobody has ever told them? And how is anyone going to tell them if they aren't sent? And then it goes on and ends with how beautiful are the feet of those who are sent. We use that for missions as well. But do you know that as Cloud told us in the mission moment, the nations are coming to us. The nations are coming." [00:22:16]

"But there's just so many nationalities that when we think about proclaiming the gospel to these people, we must proclaim what we believe. If we believe that Jesus Christ is the only hope, we should have no problem telling people about it. I've used, I've talked about, I've talked about this numerous times, what you're passionate about people will talk about. If you talk to Levi and ask him, what do you enjoy, buddy? He'll talk about Pokemon until the cows come home. He's probably got, I don't know, 600 and some odd cards of Pokemon and he can tell you all kinds of different stuff about them and he's passionate about Pokemon. If you're passionate about the Lord, will you talk about him? To those who don't know him." [00:23:57]

"And this is the beauty of it. Even if you muddle through it and you don't do it well and you fumble over your words, guess what? We serve a sovereign God who can take those fumbled words and make someone believe the truth of the gospel. I think I've shared this with you. I remember one Sunday I preached Psalm 96. It was the most horrendous sermon I've ever preached in my life and I'm so ashamed that I did. But a lady got saved, not because of the words I used, but because God was working in her life. Be faithful to open your mouth and share the gospel. You don't know who might come to know the Lord because of that." [00:29:08]

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