Armed & Dangerous
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How many of you like to receive gift cards? Who doesn’t right? For a few years, the Conference would send all of their staff a card for the Holidays that contained a $100 cash card as a gift. I reserved those cards for taking my wife out to eat. Well, how many of you have purchased a product, it could be new tires, or cleaning products because you were drawn in by the prospect of receiving a rebate, only to realize that it would come to you months later on a Visa or Master Card cash card. To your chagrin, you didn’t pay attention to the expiration date on the card that only gave you a few months to spend the money or lose it entirely. It’s happened to me! In 2005, USA Today reported that in America
one of five gift-card recipients never used their cards (I wonder what the stats are today), representing about $972 million in unredeemed cards. According to Consumer Reports National Research Center, the top reasons for not using gift cards:• didn’t have time: 50 percent• didn’t find anything they wanted: 37 percent• lost the card: 14 percent• card expired: 12 percent—Jae Yang and Adrienne Lewis, “Americans Neglect a Billion in Gift Cards,” USA Today (November 20, 2006)
The Bible says that God has given every one of us a measure of faith, otherwise understood as a gift or gifts. The question is, are we neglecting such gifts? Are we too busy to put His gifts to use? Something to ponder… Let us pray.
1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
There are four characteristics that made the disciples of Christ armed and dangerous for gospel service. Without this heavenly equipment they would be no match for the forces of darkness. The first of the four charcteristics is...
The Call of Jesus
The Call of Jesus
Peter was an ordinary fisherman, who probably struggled to make ends meet because the Roman government taxed the people heavily. Matthew was a despised tax collector and just like Peter an ordinary person. He undoubtedly worked hard to collect taxes and make sure that nothing was missing, or else his life would be endangered. All the disciples were ordinary people, living ordinary lives in a society that was dominated by Roman rule, sickness, disease, death, and sometimes demon possession. When someone got sick, if the physicians were unable to heal them through their crude methods, the person would most likely die. A funeral procession would travel through the streets and the person was laid to rest… and that was the end of it. If someone was demon possessed, they were probably forcefully removed from society, because nothing else could be done. That is until Jesus came on the scene. That’s when everything changed. The sick were healed, the demon possessed were freed, and the dead were brought back to life.
Moreover, the Bible says,
1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
These ordinary men who were helpless to help the sick, and powerless to exercise demons became extraordinary men through the call of Jesus. The call of Jesus also gave the disciples a higher purpose for living. A purpose that superceded catching fish and trying to make a profit, just collecting and inflating taxes to skim some off the top to sustain an opulent lifestyle. When Jesus called the disciples, He said,
Matthew 4:19 (NKJV)
19 […], “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of [people].”
You may think of yourself as an ordinary person (which is a good thing). However, you may question what good you can do to improve society, better your church, and make our world a better place. Who am I, you might be saying to yourself, I can’t preach, I can’t sing, I’m shy… but I’m hear to remind you that Jesus speacializes in turning ordinary folk into extraordinary people. Jesus’s call on your life is a vote of confidence on his part, saying to you
Philippians 4:13 (AMP)
13 [You] have strength for all things in [Me] Who empowers [you] [You are ready for anything and equal to anything through Me Who infuses inner strength into you; You are self-sufficient in My sufficiency].
Desire of Ages Chapter 86—Go Teach All Nations
The Saviour’s commission to the disciples included all the believers. It includes all believers in Christ to the end of time. It is a fatal mistake to suppose that the work of saving souls depends alone on the ordained minister. All to whom the heavenly inspiration has come are put in trust with the gospel. All who receive the life of Christ are ordained to work for the salvation of their fellow men. For this work the church was established, and all who take upon themselves its sacred vows are thereby pledged to be co-workers with Christ.
When Jesus commissioned the disciples to go into all the world… He did not send them empty handed to face the obstacles and dangers that would be thrown at them, no he equipped them with...
Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual Gifts
A little band of men and women stood no chance of counteracting the devilish influence of the enemies of Jesus. They were no match for the forces of darkness. They were often unlearned and ignorant people given a task to organize for the work of giving the gospel to a world gropping in darkness, thus Jesus equipped them to do the impossible.
11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ.
Some of you here have been gifted to teach, you be gifted to preach, you’ve been gifted to share, you’ve been gifted to sing, you’ve been gifted to organize… Don’t allow your gifting to expire. Don’t be one of those who is too busy to cash in your gift and help make this church a better place, this city a better city, this world a better world.
I’ve found that those who criticize the church and how it functions in a particular area are often the very persons that God has called to serve in the very area they see a deficiency. Don’t be part of the problem by neglecting the problem. Be a part of the solution by allowing God to use you through your gifting.
Some say, well I don’t know my gifting. We need a seminar so that I can know my gifting. While this can be helpful, most people discover their gifts by answering the call to service that tugs on the strings of their heart. You may feel a burden to pray because God is calling you to be a part of the prayer ministry of the church. You may feel a burden to preach. You may feel a burden to teach. You may feel a burden to ensure that people feel at home and at ease in your church because God is calling you to be a part of the hospitality ministry in the church.
[Share my testimony about preaching… fear… stammering… not everyone has a strong desire to stand before people and preach… I thought that everyone felt like me, and was surprised to learn that many people would rather be stung by bees than be caught preaching before people.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Everyone here is vital for the furtherance of the gospel. Without you exercising your gift, the work of God will be hindered.
The third characteristic that made the followers of Jesus armed and dangerous was...
The Word of God
The Word of God
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
Through the word of God, the followers of Jesus were unstoppable. The enemies of Christ could not contain the spread of the gospel, because of the power of the living word of God, that changed lives, turned people from ignorance and darkenss to light.
19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;
The world is groping in darkness and searching for solutions to impending financial disasters, rapidly mutating viruses, sickness, war, crime etc… The Word of God is the confirmed prophetic word that contains all the solutions that the world needs.
Share testimony of why I love Bible studying… just sharing and watching people change.
God is calling you to wield the Word of God, the Sword of the Spirit to preach and teach the gospel to those who are lost, set captives free from from diabiliating habits and strongholds, and to give courage to the oppressed. You don’t have to be a pastor or theologian to know how to effectively employ the Scriptures. Everyone is called to...
15 Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.
The Final characteristic of effective, armed and dangerous disciples was...
Empowering of the Holy Spirit
Empowering of the Holy Spirit
Jesus promised His followers the gift of the Holy Spirit, who would make every word hit it’s target, and convict listeners of their need of a savior, and alert disciples of opportunities to touch the lives of others. Jesus said,
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
How did a disfunctional band of twelve men, and a few women pioneer the greatest movement the world has ever known? Through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit does not want to be a spectator in our lives, He wants to empower us, personally to reach the unreachable, teach the unteachable, and heal the unhealeable.
Many think of the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a future event to wait for. An event that will radically transform their live in the future. But Jesus encouraged his listeners to...
9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.
13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
Review and Herald March 19, 1895: Recount God’s Dealings
The descent of the Holy Spirit upon the church is looked forward to as in the future; but it is the privilege of the church to have it now. Seek for it, pray for it, believe for it. We must have it, and Heaven is waiting to bestow it.
1001 Illustrations that Connect (Illustration 537: Powering up with Dad)
A father watched through the kitchen window as his small son attempted to lift a large stone out of his sandbox. The boy couldn’t get enough leverage to lift the rock over the side. Finally, he gave up and sat on the edge of the sandbox with his head in his hands.“What’s wrong, Son? Can’t you lift that rock out?” the dad asked.“No, sir,” the boy said, “I can’t do it.”“Have you used all the strength that’s available to you?” the father asked.“Yes, sir,” the boy replied.“No, you haven’t,” the father said. “You haven’t asked me to help you.”—Bob Russell, Louisville, Kentucky
Appeal
Our heavenly Dad is waiting for us to cry out, I can’t do… can you help me be all that I can be. Without any hesitation, He will help you be all that you can be for the kingdom. Jesus has called every one of you, He has blessed you with gifts that are not to remain untapped and dormant. He invites you to dig into His Word, and employ His Word to brighten the corner where you are. And Finally, the Holy Spirit is ready, and waiting to turn every one of us into extraordinary people. Won’t you accept that call? Won’t you allow Jesus to use you in ways you never dreamed people?