Living the Abiding Life: Witnessing Through God's Power
Summary
In today's message, I explored the profound concept of the Abiding Life, drawing from Acts chapter 1 to illuminate the transformative power of an intimate relationship with God. I began with a humorous anecdote about a woman named Jane, which served as a reminder that God knows us intimately, even when we change our outward appearance. This segued into the reassurance that God is fully aware of who we are and loves us deeply, desiring a personal and abiding connection with each of us.
The Abiding Life, as I explained, is about remaining in Christ, being under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and becoming more dependent on Him rather than on ourselves. Spiritual disciplines such as Scripture reading, prayer, worship, and solitude are God-given tools to help us abide in Him and live in His power. Today, I focused on the natural byproduct of an abiding life: being a witness for Christ.
I shared the story of Billy Graham, who, despite his success, realized he was ministering out of his own charisma rather than God's power. This turning point led him to a deeper surrender and reliance on the Holy Spirit, which is essential for all of us if we are to live authentically Christian lives.
I then addressed the sobering reality that the United States is no longer a Christian nation but a nation with Christians in it. With over 200 million unchurched people, we are one of the largest unreached people groups in the world. This highlights the urgency of our mission to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
The core of my message was that we are called to be witnesses, not to convert but to convey the message of Christ's love and salvation. Our witness begins where we are, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and extends to every corner of the earth. We must live our faith authentically, allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us, as we share the hope within us with gentleness and love.
Finally, I invited the congregation to respond to the Holy Spirit's conviction, whether to accept Christ for the first time or to recommit to living the Abiding Life. I encouraged everyone to surrender fully to God and to seek His help in living a life empowered by His Spirit.
Key Takeaways:
- The Abiding Life is not a transactional relationship with God but a continual, intimate connection with Jesus, where we are influenced and empowered by the Holy Spirit. This life is marked by a surrender of our own efforts and a dependence on God's grace and power. [49:33]
- Being a witness for Christ is a natural outcome of abiding in Him. It is not about our ability to convert others but about our readiness to share the hope we have in Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts and converts hearts; our role is to live out and speak our faith as He leads us. [29:50]
- The Great Commission is not just a command but a prophetic missionary plan that involves every follower of Jesus. We are called to share God's love and grace with every ethnic group, starting from our immediate surroundings and extending to the ends of the earth. Prejudice has no place in this mission, as God's love is for all people. [18:50]
- The story of Billy Graham's encounter with Dr. Stephen Olford serves as a powerful reminder that even the most successful ministries can operate in human strength rather than divine power. True effectiveness in ministry comes from a life fully surrendered and reliant on the Holy Spirit. [25:11]
- Our personal witness is crucial, even in seemingly Christianized contexts like Peachtree City, Georgia. We must not underestimate the impact of a simple invitation to explore spiritual matters or attend church. By sharing our faith, we participate in God's redemptive work in the lives of those around us. [32:39]
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Acts 1:1-11
### Observation Questions
1. What command did Jesus give to His disciples while He was eating with them in Acts 1:4? [06:40]
2. According to Acts 1:8, what will the disciples receive when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, and what will they become? [07:04]
3. How did the sermon describe the concept of being a witness for Christ? [05:02]
4. What was the humorous anecdote about Jane meant to illustrate in the sermon? [02:39]
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to be a witness for Christ according to Acts 1:8 and the sermon? How does this differ from the idea of converting others? [07:04]
2. How does the story of Billy Graham's encounter with Dr. Stephen Olford illustrate the importance of relying on the Holy Spirit rather than personal charisma? [24:02]
3. The sermon mentioned that the United States is no longer a Christian nation but a nation with Christians in it. How does this reality impact the urgency of our mission to share the gospel? [30:02]
4. What are the implications of the Great Commission being described as a prophetic missionary plan that involves every follower of Jesus? [16:15]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are you living as a witness for Christ in your daily interactions? What specific steps can you take to be more intentional about sharing your faith? [05:02]
2. The sermon emphasized the importance of spiritual disciplines like Scripture reading, prayer, worship, and solitude. Which of these disciplines do you find most challenging, and how can you incorporate it more consistently into your life? [04:01]
3. Think about a time when you relied on your own strength rather than the Holy Spirit. How did that experience differ from times when you were fully dependent on God? What changes can you make to ensure you are living in the power of the Holy Spirit? [24:02]
4. The sermon highlighted the need to share the gospel with every ethnic group and to overcome any prejudices. Are there any biases or prejudices you need to address in your own heart to fulfill this mission? [18:00]
5. The pastor mentioned that even in seemingly Christianized contexts like Peachtree City, Georgia, our personal witness is crucial. How can you be more proactive in inviting friends, neighbors, or coworkers to explore spiritual matters or attend church? [31:00]
6. The story of Billy Graham's turning point in ministry serves as a reminder of the importance of surrendering fully to God. Is there an area of your life that you have not fully surrendered to God? What steps can you take to yield that area to Him? [25:02]
7. The sermon concluded with an invitation to respond to the Holy Spirit's conviction. How can you create space in your daily routine to listen to and respond to the Holy Spirit's guidance? [35:01]
Devotional
Day 1: Intimacy Beyond Transactions with God
The Abiding Life is a journey of deepening one's relationship with Jesus, where daily interactions transcend mere transactions. It is a life where the Holy Spirit's influence becomes the guiding force, leading to a transformation that is both inward and outward. This transformation is not about ticking off spiritual checkboxes but about nurturing a continuous, intimate connection with the divine. As believers grow in this relationship, they find themselves less reliant on their own strength and more on the grace and power that God provides. This shift from self-dependence to God-dependence is the essence of the Abiding Life, where every moment is an opportunity to experience God's presence and work within.
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." (John 15:4 ESV)
Reflection: What does 'abiding in Christ' look like in your daily routine, and how can you cultivate a deeper awareness of His presence throughout your day?
Day 2: Witnessing as a Way of Life
Being a witness for Christ is not a task to be performed but a lifestyle to be lived. It is the natural outflow of a life that is rooted in Jesus and nourished by the Holy Spirit. This lifestyle does not hinge on one's eloquence or ability to persuade but on the readiness to share the hope found in Christ. The Holy Spirit is the true agent of change, convicting and converting hearts. As individuals live out their faith and speak of it as led by the Spirit, they become vessels through which God's love is communicated, and His transformative power is witnessed. The call to witness is not a burden but a privilege, allowing believers to be part of the redemptive story God is writing in the lives of others. [29:50]
"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" (Mark 16:15 ESV)
Reflection: How can you demonstrate the hope of Christ in your interactions today, and who might God be leading you to share this hope with?
Day 3: Embracing the Prophetic Mission
The Great Commission is not merely a directive but a prophetic mission that encompasses every follower of Jesus. It is a call to extend God's love and grace to every ethnic group, beginning in one's own community and reaching to the ends of the earth. This mission knows no bounds of prejudice or discrimination, for God's love is inclusive of all people. As believers engage in this mission, they become part of a larger narrative that transcends cultural and geographical barriers, reflecting the kingdom of God in its beautiful diversity. The prophetic nature of this mission is a reminder that the church is not static but is actively participating in God's unfolding plan for humanity. [18:50]
"And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.'" (Revelation 5:9 ESV)
Reflection: What is one step you can take this week to engage with someone from a different cultural or ethnic background, showing them the love of Christ?
Day 4: Surrender for Spiritual Effectiveness
The story of Billy Graham's encounter with Dr. Stephen Olford serves as a poignant reminder that true effectiveness in ministry and life comes from a posture of surrender to the Holy Spirit. It is not the scale of one's work or the charisma one possesses that defines success in God's kingdom, but the degree to which one relies on divine power. A life fully surrendered to the Spirit is marked by authenticity and power, as it is God who works through the individual to accomplish His purposes. This surrender is a daily decision to let go of personal agendas and to trust in the Spirit's leading, allowing God's strength to be made perfect in human weakness. [25:11]
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 5: The Impact of Personal Witness
In a world where the Christian faith is often assumed to be understood or even ignored, the personal witness of each believer becomes increasingly crucial. Even in communities that appear to be Christianized, such as Peachtree City, Georgia, the simple act of sharing one's faith or extending an invitation to explore spiritual matters can have a profound impact. By living out their faith authentically and engaging in conversations about spirituality, believers participate in God's redemptive work. This participation is not about grand gestures but about the everyday moments where one's life testimony can draw others towards the love and truth of Christ. [32:39]
"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:6 ESV)
Reflection: Who in your circle of influence could benefit from hearing your personal testimony, and how can you create an opportunity this week to share it?
Quotes
1) "The truth is it's a crazy way to think about the Great Commission. There are times I sit down and I go, God, did you really mean for us to be the hands and feet and the voice of Jesus? Was this really your plan? You kind of put your plan into the most unqualified, goofy, self-centered people that could possibly exist. Why in the world would you do that? Because that's what he did. He entrusted you and me with the gospel." [21:05]
2) "Our witness starts where we are, but the power of our witness comes from God. It doesn't come from you and me. It comes from God. See, before Jesus sent his disciples into the world, he sent the Holy Spirit to them, and he sent the Holy Spirit to you and me. And he sent to empower us, meaning that we're not supposed to go out alone." [21:45]
3) "The second thing about a witness is your job and my job, it's not to convey, it's to convey, not to convert. Let me explain that. In fact, I want everybody to repeat after me. I can tell everyone. I can save no one. Repeat after me. I can show everyone. I can save no one. Third, I can love everyone. But I can save no one." [13:16]
4) "It's estimated there are over 9,800 unique ethnic groups that exist who speak over 6,000 different languages and dialects in the world. And God has told his people, that includes you and me, as we go into the world, we go to the nations, to every tribe, every nation, every ethnic group for the purpose of sharing his love and his grace." [18:50]
5) "Billy Graham would say, in fact, this is in a book that was written about him, he says that this event changed his life because in those two days, he realized that he was living his Christian life. He was doing his ministry out of his ability, out of his charisma, even though it was for all the right reasons, but not out of the power of God." [25:11]
6) "A recent study has shown that there are over 200 million people in America today who are completely unchurched. 200 million. And growing. That makes the United States the fourth largest unreached people group in the world. What it also says is that we are not, may have never been, but we're certainly no longer a Christian nation." [30:46]
7) "The interesting thing about this statistic goes on to say that over 80% of people said if someone would just invite them to have a cup of coffee, to talk about spiritual things, they would show up. If someone just invited them to come to church, they would go. Folks, if we who have the truth are not willing to share the truth, what's going to happen?" [32:39]
8) "As we continue our series in the Abiding Life, let me assure you, God knows who you are. He knows where you are. He knows what you're all about. He knows you're coming. He knows you're going. He knows what drives you. He knows what thrives you. He knows the good, the bad, and the ugly. And here's the beauty of it. In spite of all that, He loves you and desires an intimate, personal, abiding relationship with you." [03:08]
9) "The Abiding Life is living in a close, continual, non-transactional relationship with Jesus, where He invites you to remain in Him, to abide in Him. And the cool thing about it is God has given us a number of spiritual activities, a number of spiritual disciplines to help us to abide." [04:17]
10) "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. You'll be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the other most parts of the world. I want you to notice three things very quickly this morning that are in this passage that apply to us as people who abide in Christ. Number one, first, Christians are witnesses to God's story." [08:03]
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