Just Deliver the Pizza
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Last week -
Our dependency on Christ:
in what we say - James 3:8-9
Why do you need that?
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
1. Difficult Circumstances Make Controlling the Tongue Hard
1. Difficult Circumstances Make Controlling the Tongue Hard
11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
Synagogue: central hub
Would cost social standing
financial standing
Social suicide
Count the cost/ know what it will cost you to follow Christ
1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
Peter gave him life
beggar was a death sentence
no government welfare
5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
God led them to preach the Gospel
nothing magical
no special ceremony - salvation in no one else except Christ
ILLUS: Balloon afloat
APP: The words needed for a defense are found in Christ
Here is what we need
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Goes for a wide range of things, but also our tongue
Let the Spirit lead
So what do I do?
2. Preach the Gospel
2. Preach the Gospel
25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.
21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation,
16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord,
18 With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel.
8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”
proclaimed in the OT
Paul’s charge
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
He did not have a PHD thesis paper written out to share Christ
ILLUS: Go to a Friend’s New House (Dark)
Don’t give technical support on lights
Don’t explain amps, volts, and ohms
Don’t try to convince them which is better LED’s or Halogens
What do you do? Turn on the light!
As you share the Gospel, you don’t have to pretty it up and defend
The LION of the Tribe of Judah is very capable of defending Himself
APP: Christ promised hatred from the world for preaching the Gospel
you will face persecution
you will face rejection
you will face desertion
They did it to Him
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
People will mock
People will slander
People will hate the light
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”