Show Yourself to the World

John 7:1–9 ESV

1 After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. 2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. 3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For not even his brothers believed in him. 6 Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After saying this, he remained in Galilee.

Introduction:

Central Idea: Christians ought to be bold in showing the world the message of salvation even though it is opposed to it.

This message on Boldness has 3 objectives:

I. to encourage us to...Live and Speak the Faith we have got to show the world Christ and His message by our speech and by our actions.

II. secondly we’ll try to realize that...Our Time is Now and Always, there will never be a better time and place for you and I to promote the Gospel. God has set the stage for our successful evangelism.

III. lastly we will put into perspective...The Hated Message, it’s a message of light called to confront the darkness a fragrant message which smells like death to many.

[So let us consider this Christian character of Boldness, so that we might “Show Ourselves to the World”…]

I. Live and Speak the Faith

A. Show ourselves to the world by our speech

Psalm 19:14 ESV

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

B. Show ourselves to the world by our actions

Titus 2:7–8 ESV

7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

[There will be no better time for us to act in Boldness to show the Gospel to the world…]

II. Our Time is Now and Always

[God Himself has set our stage and chosen our scenes, the opportunites by which we assist in the saving of mankind's soul…]

A. Be Bold because God has chosen our time and our place

Acts 17:26–27 ESV

26 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, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

B. Be Bold even though it is difficult in this time and place

2 Corinthians 6:1–10 ESV

1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

[It certainly is difficult to be bold because the message is hated by men…]

III. The Hated Message

[Which is the Word of God, must be shown to the world…]

A. Present to the world this message of light

John 3:19 ESV

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

[To those in darkness the light of the Word of God does not smell good…]

B. Present the message which smells like death to many

2 Corinthians 2:14–16 ESV

14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

[How does that smell to you?]

Conclusion:

I pray for those who it smells like a beautiful fragrance of Hope and Love that you would adorn yourself with it everyday.

Till the end of time the Lord’s Invitation of Salvation and Redemption will be preached. Extended to a world that mostly refuses it.

What will be your decision today?

The Invitation of Redemption

Hear - Romans 10:17

​Romans 10:17 ESV17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Romans 10:17 ESV

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Believe - John 1:7

​John 1:7 ESV7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.

John 1:7 ESV

7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.

Confess - Hebrews 4:14

​Hebrews 4:14 ESV14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Hebrews 4:14 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Repent and Be Baptized - Acts 2:38

​Acts 2:38 ESV38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38 ESV

38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Remain Faithful - Matthew 25:21

​Matthew 25:21 ESV21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Matthew 25:21 ESV

21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

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