Transforming Obstacles into Opportunities for Faith
Summary
In my sermon, I emphasized the importance of viewing unbelievers not as obstacles but as opportunities for spreading the word of God. I shared the story of an event we held years ago, where we provided services to the community with the hope of attracting new members to our congregation. Initially, it seemed like our efforts were in vain as no new faces appeared in the congregation following the event. However, weeks later, a woman named Dena, who had attended the event, walked into our church and expressed her need for Jesus. Five years later, Dena and her family's lives have been transformed by God's grace, proving that our efforts were not in vain.
In the second part of my sermon, I prayed for the congregation, asking God to open doors and establish conversations for people to come to know Him. I prayed against the spirit of fear, reminding everyone that we have been given a spirit of love, joy, peace, and a sound mind. I encouraged everyone to be bold in their faith, trusting that God will give them the words to speak and lead them to the people He wants them to minister to. I expressed my anticipation for the harvest of souls we will reap as a result of our efforts in spreading the gospel.
Key Takeaways:
- We should view unbelievers not as obstacles but as opportunities for spreading the word of God ([39:42
- God can use anyone who is willing and available to minister to others ([36:34
- We should not be afraid to share our faith, as God will give us the words to speak ([41:50
- We should anticipate a harvest of souls as a result of our efforts in spreading the gospel ([43:07
- Our efforts in spreading the gospel are never in vain, even if we don't see immediate results ([38:57
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1) 2 Timothy 1:7 - [41:50
2) Matthew 28:19-20 - [36:34
3) John 3:16 - [43:07
Observation Questions:
1) In 2 Timothy 1:7, what are we given instead of a spirit of fear?
2) What is the Great Commission as mentioned in Matthew 28:19-20?
3) Who is the "he" that John 3:16 refers to and what did he do?
Interpretation Questions:
1) How does 2 Timothy 1:7 relate to the fear of sharing the gospel with others?
2) What does it mean to "make disciples of all nations" as stated in Matthew 28:19-20?
3) How does John 3:16 explain the motivation behind God's plan for salvation?
Application Questions:
1) Can you recall a time when fear held you back from sharing your faith? How can you apply 2 Timothy 1:7 to overcome this fear in the future?
2) Who are the people in your sphere of influence that you can start making disciples of, as per the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20?
3) How can you communicate the message of John 3:16 to someone who doesn't know about God's love and sacrifice?
4) What specific steps can you take this week to change your perspective of unbelievers from opposition to opportunity?
5) Can you think of a specific person in your life who needs to hear about the hope you have in Jesus? How can you initiate a conversation about faith with them?
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace Holy Boldness
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, joy, peace, and a sound mind. As believers, we are called to step out in faith, trusting that God will give us the words to speak and the courage to share His love with others. This holy boldness is not something we muster up on our own, but a divine empowerment that comes from God Himself. [41:50
Acts 4:29-31 - "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt God calling you to step out in boldness. What was the outcome?
Day 2: See Unbelievers as Opportunities
As believers, we are called to see unbelievers not as obstacles, but as opportunities. Each person we encounter is a chance to share the love of Christ and the hope of the Gospel. This perspective shift can transform our interactions and open doors for meaningful conversations about faith. [39:42
Luke 19:10 - "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
Reflection: Who in your life could you view as an opportunity to share the love of Christ with?
Day 3: Be Available for God's Use
God can use anyone who is willing and available. He doesn't require us to have all the answers or to be perfect. He simply asks us to be open, willing, and ready to be used by Him. When we make ourselves available to God, He can do incredible things through us. [36:34
Isaiah 6:8 - "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'"
Reflection: In what ways can you make yourself more available for God's use this week?
Day 4: Trust God to Open Doors
When we ask God to open doors for ministry opportunities, He is faithful to answer. We can trust Him to guide us to the right people and to give us the right words to say. Our role is to be obedient and to step out in faith when He calls. [35:23
Revelation 3:8 - "I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name."
Reflection: What doors might God be opening for you to share your faith?
Day 5: Care About What God Cares About
God's heart breaks for the lost. As His followers, we are called to care about what He cares about. This means developing a heart for the lost and a desire to see them come to know Jesus. When we align our hearts with God's, we can be used by Him in powerful ways. [41:05
Ezekiel 34:16 - "I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak..."
Reflection: How can you align your heart more closely with God's heart for the lost?
Quotes
1. "God, I pray that you would begin opening doors this week. I pray that you would begin establishing conversations this week for people to come to know you. God, I bind the spirit of fear in Jesus name for we have not been given a spirit of fear but of love, joy, peace, and a sound mind." - 41:10
2. "I want you to know somebody who will be there even when nobody's there. I want you to know somebody who will heal you. I want you to know somebody who cares about you, who wants the best for you, who wants to provide for you. I want you to know somebody who will never leave you nor forsake you." - 31:54
3. "What will it take for us to take this seriously? What will it take for us to change the way that we've seen unbelievers? Here's the thing, I know you might be like, 'I just don't know what I'mma say, I don't know that I know enough.' Don't worry about that. Here's how much God loves you, he will set up the situation for you to have the conversation and then tell you what to say while you're in the conversation." - 31:54
4. "They just want Jesus. They just want hope. They want to know about the hope that you have. They want to know about the faith that you're walking in and how you're able to do that. That's what they want to know, that's all they want to know." - 34:54
5. "Once you've done it, you're like, 'Man, that felt good. I can't believe I did that. I think I'm ready for another one.' Why? Because you realize it wasn't as hard as I thought and now you have this confidence in you that God can use you just like he would use anyone else." - 34:54
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