March/31/ 2019 Filed in:
Awkward Conversation Awkward Conversation
Part 2
How We Witness
Luke 5:17-20 “17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
Three things about bringing people to Jesus:
1. Share your life
2. Share your church
3. Share your story
Luke 5:24-25 “So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.
Three things that Jesus told him…
a. Get up:
b. Take your mat:
c. Go to your home:
Luke 5:25 “Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.”
Philemon 4:6 NIV “6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.”
March/20/ 2019 Filed in:
Awkward Conversation Three reasons we are called to be a witness…
1. The world is full of HURT.
Acts 3:1-3 “One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money…”
Acts 3:2-8 “Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.”
2. The lost are on God’s HEART.
Luke 19:10 (MSG) “For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost.”
Two different attitudes toward people who are lost.
A. The Loving father - is consumed with WHO’S MISSING
B. Older brother - is consumed with HIMSELF
3. Jesus is the only HOPE.
Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
2 things…
1. Be aware
2. Be available
Isaiah 6:8 “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
March/17/ 2019 Filed in:
book of PrayersMatthew 9:35-38 “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Three things about the harvest in this prayer…
1. The harvest was PERSONAL to Jesus
verse 36 “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Luke 19:41 “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.”
2. The harvest was PRIORITY to Jesus
John 4:35 NKJV “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!”
Luke 14:23 “Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.”
3. The harvest will PERISH without workers
Romans 10:13-15 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
What does that prayer look like? Three things
1. God open our eyes
verse 36 “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them.”
2. God break our hearts
verse 36 “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Luke 10:33 NLT “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.”
3. God move our feet
Luke 10:2-3 “He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you.”
March/03/ 2019 Filed in:
book of PrayersBook of Prayers
Part 2
Restore My Heart
Psalm 51:10-13 NLT “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.”
Notice a few of the ways our hearts can drift:
1. Distracted heart
James 1:8 “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
verse 10 “Renew a loyal spirit in me”
2. Discontented heart
Verse 11 “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from your presence…”
3. Discouraged heart
verse 12 “Restore to me the JOY of your salvation”
Ecclesiastes 5:19 “To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life--this is indeed a gift from God.”
4. Distant heart
2 Samuel 11:1 “In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.”
Matthew 26:57-58 “Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance”
Verse 12b “and make me willing to obey you. 13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.”
