Transformative Power of Faith and Testimony

Devotional

Day 1: The Transformative Power of Testimony

The testimonies shared during the mission trip were a powerful testament to the transformative power of the Gospel. One particularly moving story was of a teenage girl who had been struggling with her faith for three years. Despite hearing the same message repeatedly, it was the words of the American missionaries that finally resonated with her, leading to her salvation. This highlights the importance of sharing our faith, as we never know when or how our words might impact someone else's life.

Another significant moment was when a man who had been resistant to the Gospel for eight years finally accepted Christ during one of the services. These stories remind us that our testimonies can be a powerful tool in God's hands, capable of breaking through even the hardest of hearts. We are called to share our experiences and the message of salvation boldly, trusting that God will use our words to touch the lives of others. [01:09:18]

Acts 4:20 (ESV): "For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."

Reflection: Think of a time when someone else's testimony impacted your faith journey. How can you share your own story to encourage someone else today?

Day 2: Faith in Action

Barnabas is a prime example of a faithful person whose actions led many to the Lord. His knowledge and emotion towards God produced tangible actions that resulted in conversions. Barnabas was not just a man of words but of deeds, and his life was a testament to his faith. He was full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and his actions reflected his deep commitment to Christ.

Our faith should similarly produce actions that reflect our commitment to Christ and lead others to Him. It is not enough to simply believe; our faith must be evident in the way we live our lives. We are called to be doers of the Word, not just hearers. By living out our faith through our actions, we can have a profound impact on those around us and lead them to Christ. [01:14:39]

James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

Reflection: What is one specific action you can take today to demonstrate your faith to those around you?

Day 3: The Fruit of the Spirit

Authentic faith in Christ should produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Barnabas exemplified this by consistently displaying love, joy, peace, and other fruits, even in challenging situations. His life was a reflection of the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, and his actions bore witness to his deep faith.

Our lives should similarly reflect these qualities, demonstrating the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. When we live by the Spirit, our actions and attitudes will naturally align with God's will, and we will bear fruit that glorifies Him. It is through the fruit of the Spirit that others will see the difference Christ has made in our lives and be drawn to Him. [01:15:52]

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Reflection: Which fruit of the Spirit do you find most challenging to exhibit? How can you ask the Holy Spirit to help you grow in this area today?

Day 4: The Importance of Sharing the Gospel

Despite the fear of rejection, it is crucial to share the message of salvation with those around us. The Great Commission calls us to spread the Gospel, not just through financial support but through our lives and actions. We must be willing to share Christ's love and truth with everyone we encounter, trusting that God will use our efforts to draw people to Himself.

Sharing the Gospel is not always easy, and we may face resistance or rejection. However, we are called to be faithful in our witness, knowing that it is God who ultimately changes hearts. By living out our faith and sharing the message of salvation, we can have a profound impact on the lives of those around us. [01:16:39]

2 Timothy 4:2 (ESV): "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching."

Reflection: Who is one person in your life that you feel called to share the Gospel with? What steps can you take to start that conversation today?

Day 5: Eternal Impact

We should consider who will be in heaven because of our testimony. The challenge is to live a life that reflects our faith and leads others to Christ. By committing to being faithful followers of Christ, we can have an eternal impact on those around us. Our actions, words, and the way we live our lives can all be used by God to draw others to Himself.

It is important to remember that our lives have eternal significance. The way we live and the choices we make can have a lasting impact on the lives of others. By living out our faith and sharing the message of salvation, we can help lead others to Christ and make an eternal difference in their lives. [01:17:11]

1 Corinthians 3:8-9 (ESV): "He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building."

Reflection: Reflect on your daily interactions. How can you be more intentional about living out your faith in a way that points others to Christ?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Tonight, we gathered to celebrate the incredible work God has done through our recent mission trip. We witnessed over 20 people come to know Christ as their Savior, and our baseball ministry alone reached over 40 individuals. The testimonies shared by our teenagers were deeply moving, highlighting the transformative power of the Gospel. One story that stood out was of a teenage girl who had been struggling with her faith for three years. It took hearing the same message from Americans to finally convince her of its truth, leading to her salvation. Another powerful moment was when a man, who had been resistant for eight years, finally accepted Christ during one of our services.

Reflecting on Acts 11:22-24, we see the example of Barnabas, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, whose actions led many to the Lord. Barnabas exemplified three key attributes of a faithful person: action, fruit, and converts. His knowledge and emotion towards God produced tangible actions that led to the conversion of many. Similarly, our faith should produce the fruit of the Spirit and lead us to share the Gospel boldly.

The challenge for us is to consider who will be in heaven because of our testimony. Despite the fear of rejection, it is crucial to share the message of salvation with those around us. The Great Commission calls us to spread the Gospel, not just through financial support but through our lives and actions. Let us commit to being faithful followers of Christ, willing to share His love and truth with everyone we encounter.

###

Key Takeaways

1. The Power of Testimony: The testimonies shared by our teenagers during the mission trip were a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel. One story highlighted a teenage girl who had struggled with her faith for three years but found salvation after hearing the same message from Americans. This underscores the importance of sharing our faith, as it can have a profound impact on others. [69:18]
2. Faith in Action: Barnabas is a prime example of a faithful person whose actions led many to the Lord. His knowledge and emotion towards God produced tangible actions that resulted in conversions. Our faith should similarly produce actions that reflect our commitment to Christ and lead others to Him. [74:39]
3. The Fruit of the Spirit: Authentic faith in Christ should produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Barnabas exemplified this by consistently displaying love, joy, peace, and other fruits, even in challenging situations. Our lives should reflect these qualities, demonstrating the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. [75:52]
4. The Importance of Sharing the Gospel: Despite the fear of rejection, it is crucial to share the message of salvation with those around us. The Great Commission calls us to spread the Gospel, not just through financial support but through our lives and actions. We must be willing to share Christ's love and truth with everyone we encounter. [76:39]
5. Eternal Impact: We should consider who will be in heaven because of our testimony. The challenge is to live a life that reflects our faith and leads others to Christ. By committing to being faithful followers of Christ, we can have an eternal impact on those around us. [01:17:11]
### [77:11]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[49:42] - Introduction and Thank You
[68:16] - Story from the Trip
[68:51] - Teen Girl's Salvation
[69:54] - Church Service and Invitation
[70:49] - Message of Salvation
[71:21] - Gratitude to Parents
[72:21] - Baseball Ministry Impact
[72:48] - Future Plans and Prayer Requests
[73:18] - Acts 11:22-24 Reflection
[74:00] - Barnabas' Faithfulness
[74:39] - Three Attributes of Faith
[75:14] - Faith Produces Action
[75:52] - Fruit of the Spirit
[76:39] - Importance of Sharing the Gospel
[77:11] - Eternal Impact
[79:04] - Challenge to the Congregation
[80:00] - Commitment to Faithfulness
[80:31] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What were the three key attributes of Barnabas mentioned in Acts 11:22-24? ([01:14:39])
How did the teenage girl come to believe in Jesus after struggling with her faith for three years? ([01:09:18])
What was the reaction of the man who had been resistant for eight years when he finally accepted Christ? ([01:10:21])
How did the baseball ministry impact the community during the mission trip? ([01:12:21])

Interpretation Questions

What does it mean for our faith to produce action, fruit, and converts, as exemplified by Barnabas? ([01:14:39])
How can the testimonies shared by the teenagers during the mission trip inspire us to share our own faith stories? ([01:08:51])
Why is it important to consider who will be in heaven because of our testimony, as mentioned in the sermon? ([01:17:11])
How does the Great Commission challenge us to share the Gospel through our lives and actions, not just financial support? ([01:16:39])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you were hesitant to share your faith. What held you back, and how can you overcome that fear in the future? ([01:16:39])
Barnabas was known for his faithfulness and encouragement. How can you be an encourager in your community or church this week? ([01:14:00])
The teenage girl found salvation after hearing the Gospel from a different perspective. Is there someone in your life who might need to hear the message of Christ from you? ([01:09:18])
Think about the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc.). Which one do you feel you need to cultivate more in your life, and what specific steps can you take to do so? ([01:15:52])
The sermon mentioned the eternal impact of our testimony. Who is one person you can share your faith with this week, and how will you approach the conversation? ([01:17:11])
How can you actively participate in your church's mission efforts, both locally and globally, beyond just financial support? ([01:19:04])
Reflect on the statement, "When we get to heaven, who will be there because of you?" How does this challenge you to live out your faith more boldly? ([01:14:00])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for outreach

1. "And she said, They came from a different country. They speak a different language. And they're preaching the same Jesus. It has to be true. And so for a teenage girl who for three years has been struggling with her salvation, it took Americans to go across the world, right, to preach the gospel. And she got saved." [01:09:18] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The message is the most powerful message in the world. That there's a Savior that loves you. Who gave his son to die for you. So you don't have to spend eternity away from him. We don't deserve it. There's nothing we can do to earn it. It's all by faith alone, grace alone, faith alone, and God alone." [01:10:49] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Why are we afraid to share the truth of Christ? And that's the question we all must ask ourselves. But I can tell you one thing. When we get to heaven, we'll see 20 people who can say thank you for taking time to come to Dominican and share the gospel with us. And that is through the balance of your account for your faithful giving and sacrifice and support." [01:17:51] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "It's really easy to give your money and say, hey, we support you. But it's a different thing to say, Lord, here's my life, and I give it to you. And I want to challenge you tonight. I know it's short, and I know we're out of time. But I want to challenge you and say, Lord, my life is yours. My desires are yours. My will is yours. My focus is yours. My finances are yours. Whatever you would have of me, wherever you would lead me, I will follow it and I will do it." [01:19:38] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for members

1. "When we get to heaven, who's going to be there because of you? When we get to heaven and you look around, who's going to look at you and say, thank you so much for sharing the message of salvation with me? Barnabas was a faithful man. He was a faithful friend. He was a faithful follower of Christ. And it talks about how he was an encourager. But most importantly, Barnabas was faithful to God and God's calling." [01:14:00] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Barnabas was a faithful man of action. His knowledge of God, his emotion towards God produced action and produced him to follow the Lord's leading and to lead many to the Lord. And much people was added unto the Lord because of Barnabas' actions. Then fruit, and we look at the fruit of the Spirit and we understand it's not the works of the Spirit, right? It's the fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." [01:15:14] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The hardest people to share the gospel with are your friends and family. Because you buy the lie that maybe they'll disown me or maybe they'll stop being my friend. But I would venture to say, it's better for you to be disowned and it's better for you to no longer be a friend and for them to hear the truth than for them to live their whole lives without hearing the truth and one day die spend eternity separated from God." [01:16:39] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "If you can think about the last time you shared the gospel, I'm curious to know what the results were. Maybe you say, Pastor Mike, it's been a while since I've shared the truth of God. Let's change that. If you say, I don't know how to share the truth, come talk to me, I'd love to show you. It's really easy. It's one of the easiest things in the world to share the gospel. All we have to do, is say, you know what, Lord, I don't care what the world thinks about me. I only care that you've accepted me, and I'll show you a message of salvation." [01:18:35] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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