2023 The Year to TLP

Series: Focus

Texts: Luke 24:47-49; Acts 8:4; Acts 22:1-15; Col. 4:6; 1 Pet. 3:15

Introduction: (What?)

Every year for the past 13 years we have selected a theme or a focus for the coming year. The focus that I have suggested for 2023 is “TLP” which stands for “Tell Lake Placid”. The goal is to get the gospel to every person in Lake Placid during 2023. It is an ambitious goal for a small church, but we serve a BIG God. In order to accomplish this goal we must have every born again believer who is part of Faith Baptist Church armed and ready to tell their “story” (testimony) to those in their circle of acquaintance.

Examination: (Why?)

1. Why? Because Jesus said so

Lk 24:47-49 “46 He also said to them ‘This is what is written, the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead the third day, 47 and repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.””

When Jesus mysteriously appeared in the locked room where the disciples were “hunkering down” away from the Jewish authorities, He gave them Luke’s version of The Great Commission”. Luke later reiterated some of these same ideas and words in the first two chapters of the Book of Acts, often referred to as “The Acts of the Apostles”. Some also call it the “Acts of the Holy Spirit”. I would mesh these two and call it “The Acts of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles and the Church”.

Jesus told them that He had fulfilled His assignment on earth and that now the core of the Gospel message, “repentance for forgiveness of sins”, would be proclaimed to all nations…and that they would be the ones to do the proclaiming. Acts 1:8 “8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”” Today we have gutted the power of the plan of Jesus by interpreting it as having been given only to the 11 (Judas had not yet been replaced) or perhaps to the 120 who were in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost. The reality is that everyone who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit (if Holy Spirit does not live in you, you are not saved) is to be a witness for the Good News of Jesus and the result of surrendering to Him. Why? Because Jesus said so!

2. Because the 1st Century Church did

Acts 8:1-4 “1 Saul agreed with putting him to death. On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. 3 Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison. 4 So those who were scattered went on their way preaching the word.”

After Stephen was martyred for preaching the Gospel, those who had been saved on the day of Pentecost and the days following were persecuted by the Jewish establishment and “all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land..” That phrase lets us know that the Great Commission was given to the church, not just the apostles. V 4 tells us what they did as they were being scattered all over the known world… “preaching the word.” Thus they were fulfilling the command of Jesus to be witnesses “as they were going”.

3. How? Follow the example of the Apostles (Acts 22:1-15; Col. 4:6; 1 Pet. 3:15)

Acts 22:1–15 ““Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.” When they heard that he was addressing them in Aramaic, they became even quieter. He continued, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strictness of our ancestral law. I was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. I persecuted this Way to the death, arresting and putting both men and women in jail, as both the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. After I received letters from them to the brothers, I traveled to Damascus to arrest those who were there and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished. “As I was traveling and approaching Damascus, about noon an intense light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ “I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are persecuting.’ Now those were with me saw the light, but they did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me. I said, ‘What should I do, LORD?’ The LORD told me, “Get up and go to Damascus, and there you will be told everything that you have been assigned to do.’ Since I couldn’t see because of the brightness of the light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and went into Damascus. Someone named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, who had a good reputation with all the Jews living there, came and stood by me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And in that very hour I looked up and saw him. And he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the words from his mouth, since you will be a witness for him to all people of what you have seen and heard.’”

This is one of two places in the book of Acts that Paul gave his story (testimony) In both instances he

Told of his life before Christ (briefly)

Explained how he met Christ.

Told about his life since receiving Christ.

That is the pattern you should use in telling your story. Briefly tell about your life before you surrendered to Christ. Then tell how you realized you needed to surrender to Christ. Follow this with how you actually went about surrendering to Christ, and finish with what your life is like today with Christ in control.

Later Paul gave us information as to HOW we should share our story.

Col 4:6 “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.”

This applies to when you “speak to outsiders” (unbelievers) John McArthur wrote that being gracious means “To speak what is spiritual, wholesome, fitting, kind, sensitive, purposeful, complimentary, gentle, truthful, loving, and thoughtful.”

He further said that being “seasoned with salt” means that your speech should act not only as a blessing (flavoring) to others, but also be a purifying influence within the decaying society of the world.

Application: (How should I respond to this challenge?)

Write out your story on a 3x5 card using the pattern that Paul used. Keep the card in your pocket or purse and read it until you have it firmly in your mind.

Share your story with a family member or close friend who is a believer. Tell them than you need to practice, and ask them if they understand what you are telling them.

Pray for a specific person that you desire to see surrender to Christ. Ask God for an opportunity to tell them your story. When the opportunity comes, seize it.

Make sharing your story a part of your monthly, weekly and daily life. Each day ask God to give you an opening to share your story with someone.