Go In Power
Therefore, Go • Sermon • Submitted
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· 5 viewsShould we be witnessing to others? How do we effectively witness in our post-christian Society? The New Testament was written in a Pre-Christian society that felt very much the same way about conversions from one faith to another. That makes the Bible more relevant than ever before in our history. So, we are going to spend the next two weeks discussing what evangelism looks like in a more hostile environment toward the gospel.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Thank You to all that served yesterday at Drug Free Paulding.
Thank You to all that served yesterday at Drug Free Paulding.
The apologetics conference.
The apologetics conference.
Should we be witnessing to others?
Should we be witnessing to others?
Barna Group Study in 2019
“Yet, today, a number of factors are curbing many Christians’ enthusiasm for faith-sharing, including the decline of religion in America, a spreading apathy toward spiritual matters and a growing cultural suspicion of people of faith.”
“Millennials in particular feel equipped to share their faith with others. For instance, almost three-quarters say they know how to respond when someone raises questions about faith (73%), and that they are gifted at sharing their faith with other people (73%). This is higher than any other generational group: Gen X (66%), Boomers (59%) and Elders (56%).
Despite this, many Millennials are unsure about the actual practice of evangelism. Almost half of Millennials (47%) agree at least somewhat that it is wrong to share one’s personal beliefs with someone of a different faith in hopes that they will one day share the same faith.”
This was published in February of 2019, a year before the pandemic. Now, I feel, the divide between Christian and Non-Believer is greater than ever before.
How do we effectively witness in our post-christian Society?
How do we effectively witness in our post-christian Society?
The New Testament was written in a Pre-Christian society that felt very much the same way about conversions from one faith to another. That makes the Bible more relevant than ever before in our history.
So, we are going to spend the next two weeks discussing what evangelism looks like in a more hostile environment toward the gospel.
Therefore, Go series Recap:
Therefore, Go series Recap:
The Mission: Go Make Disciples
The Method: Evangelize
The Message: Jesus has risen from the dead
The Means: The Power of the Spirit
The Magnitude: The Ultimate Price
Scriptural Truth
What does witnessing look like in the Spirit?
What does witnessing look like in the Spirit?
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
The power of the Spirit produces Life Transformation.
The power of the Spirit produces Life Transformation.
The Spirit of truth transforms us by guiding us into all truth.
The Spirit of truth transforms us by guiding us into all truth.
“As we conform to the truth we are transformed into the image of Christ.”
“As we conform to the truth we are transformed into the image of Christ.”
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
“Your transformation becomes the foundation for your witness”
“Your transformation becomes the foundation for your witness”
Your transformation validates the work of the Spirit in you.
Your transformation validates the work of the Spirit in you.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
“The depth of your transformation determines the scope of your evangelism.”
“The depth of your transformation determines the scope of your evangelism.”
The power of the Spirit produces divine appointments.
The power of the Spirit produces divine appointments.
The Spirit is always at work around you.
The Spirit is always at work around you.
The 3 fold work of the Spirit:
The 3 fold work of the Spirit:
8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
To convict the world of sin (which leads to repentance)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
To reveal the righteousness of God (which leads to redemption)
30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
To pronounce God’s judgement on the Devil (which leads to salvation)
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Witnessing is joining the Spirit in His work.
Witnessing is joining the Spirit in His work.
The 3 fold work of a witness:
The 3 fold work of a witness:
Pray to be used by the Spirit in his work
Look for divine appointments the Spirit sets up
Listen to the movement of the Spirit as he convinces the heart
“The Spirit brings the sinner face to face with the Savior through divine appointments with the saints.”
“The Spirit brings the sinner face to face with the Savior through divine appointments with the saints.”
The power of the Spirit Produces Words of Truth.
The power of the Spirit Produces Words of Truth.
The Spirit speaks to the inner-person.
The Spirit speaks to the inner-person.
19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
There is no way for us to know what to say because we can’t see the heart.
The miracle of witnessing is letting the Spirit speak to the individual.
The Spirit speaks through the mouths of others to the physical.
The Spirit speaks through the mouths of others to the physical.
Moses is a great example of God putting words in your mouth.
10 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”
Next Steps
What are my next steps in becoming an effective witness in the power of the Spirit?
What are my next steps in becoming an effective witness in the power of the Spirit?
1. Be filled with the Spirit of God.
1. Be filled with the Spirit of God.
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
You must determine what to fill your life with.
Fill yourself with the wisdom of the Spirit.
2. Let the Words of Christ dwell in you.
2. Let the Words of Christ dwell in you.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
These are the words the Spirit will bring to your remembrance.
3. Pray for divine appointments.
3. Pray for divine appointments.
4. Be bold as the Spirit speaks.
4. Be bold as the Spirit speaks.
Don’t be afraid to share what God has done in your life.
Stay in constant communication with the Spirit as you are speaking.