Life On Mission - Share

Let us pray......

Hear God's word: BIBLE "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him who they have not heard? And how shall they hear without someone preaching?" END (Romans 10:14)

Beloved this is all about ...you.

It is all about me ... you and all those ... who call themselves followers of the Christ.

It is all about ... sharing grace ... about sharing the Good News of Christ Jesus ... with those that God places in our lives. (Pause)

There is an ancient Christian fable ... that tells of Jesus encounter ...as he reentered ...Heaven.

As the angels spoke with him, ...Gabriel, noticed ...that Jesus bore the marks of the cross, ...and being inquisitive, ...said to Jesus:

"Master, ...you must have suffered terribly for those people ...down there."

"There was some suffering," ...Jesus replied.

"And" ... said Gabriel, ... "Do all of them know ... how you loved them ...and what you did for them?"

"Oh no," ... said Jesus, ... "Not yet." ...... "Just a few ...in Palestine know."

"So, what have you done," said Gabriel, ..."to let everyone know?"

Jesus said, ..."I have asked Peter, James, and John and a few others... to tell others ...about me,

And the others ...to tell yet others ...and others, ...until the world has heard... what has been done." (Pause)

Gabriel... was less than convinced... that this was ... a workable plan.

He said to Jesus: ... "What if Peter, James, and John... and these others ...get tired ...and fail?

What would happen ...if many years from now ...people just do not tell others about what you have done?

Are there other plans? ...Is there a back-up strategy?" (Pause)

Jesus replied: ..."I have made no other plans.

(Slow) I am counting ...on them!" (Long Pause)

The same call Jesus extended to Peter, Andrew, James, and John; ... He extends me and you ... and to all ...who have received... His call... to salvation.

Beloved... Jesus is counting on me ... and Jesus is counting you.

Remember who you are in Christ.

You are a Fisher of Men ... You are a Fisher of People. (Matthew 4:19) (Pause)

I am convinced ... the opposite of Love is not Hate, ... it is Fear.

Is it fear ... that is keeping many ... from stepping out ... to help save ... the drowning?

Is it fear ... that is keeping many from loving the lost, ... sharing God's love ... and portraying unexpected grace?

Remember our Lord's words: (Very Slow) BIBLE "Fear Not"! ...I am with you always (always) ...even to the end of the age." END (Matthew 28:20)

Jesus shares with disciples ... and with us this day ... that you should love one another ... Just as I have loved you.

That makes sharing your life in Christ ... That what makes being fishers of men ...so much easier.

If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior ...well ... than you are a integral part of God's plan ...for saving the world.

No pressure or anything ... yet it is true, and it's brilliant.

And the reason you do not have to feel all the pressure ... is because you are ... not alone.

There are fellow followers ... walking beside you.

And the Holy Spirit ... is working in you ... and through you.

Beloved ... Remember ... "You are a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old is gone the new is here." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The gifts of the Holy Spirit ...in all their abundance ... are available to the new you.

And ... Your purpose is to utilize God's power and gifts to live out ... a life on mission.

And that life on Mission ... will become the biggest adventure ... of your life. (Pause)

We are going to take a brief look ... at one of the original followers of Jesus ... who was not one of the twelve.

His name is Phillip, ...one of the disciples who had been with Jesus from the beginning.

Hear God's word: BIBLE "those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Phillip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Phillip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed, or lame were healed." END (Acts 8:4-7).

Remember ... Jesus told these early disciples that they would be his witnesses where ... "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8)

Ends of the earth also includes Northeastern Ohio.

Well, ... Phillip drew the ... Samaria straw.