REVIVAL #6: SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS!
(June 2008– Beausejour Church – Pastor Chris Jordan)
REVIEW REVIVAL: First few sessions:
• Revival #1: Hunger and the Need for Revival – don’t be satisfied with church as usual
• Revival #2: The Fullness of the Spirit – to be empowered to make a difference
• Revival #3: Returning to our First Love – first things first – love rel. with Jesus
THE BIG IDEA: Although the foundation for revival is a renewed, passionate relationship with Jesus, it’s not good enough to just stop there. God wants us to share the Good News about His love with the lost and dying world around us!
OPENING STORY: Zacchaeus
“1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." 8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." 9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:1-10).
LESSONS FROM THIS STORY:
1. Zacchaeus is an example of how Jesus loves to change people’s lives.
2. Even though Zach was a notorious sinner, Jesus still called and accepted him.
3. After Zach met Jesus, he was changed. He made restitution for past wrongs.
4. Jesus said that Zach’s good works were signs that he had truly been saved.
5. Jesus came to seek and saved the lost, and we are called to follow His example.
TEXT: “22 And everyone will hate you because of your allegiance to me. But those who endure to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I assure you that I, the Son of Man, will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel. 24 A student is not greater than the teacher. A servant is not greater than the master. 25 The student shares the teacher’s fate. The servant shares the master’s fate. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, how much more will it happen to you, the members of the household! 26 But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything will be revealed; all that is secret will be made public. 27 What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ears, shout from the housetops for all to hear! 28 Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows. 32 If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will openly acknowledge that person before my Father in heaven. 33 But if anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before my Father in heaven… 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it.” (Matthew 10:22-39).
FIVE KEYS TO BEING WITNESSES FOR JESUS:
1. Don’t be afraid. Jesus said this three times in this passage.
2. Shout it from the rooftops! If Jesus is alive, and has really made a difference in our lives, we should be sharing this Good News with others!
ILLUSTRATION: When Liza and I were dating, I would sing to her, climb the wall outside her apartment building with a rose, and I didn’t care what anyone thought about it.
Do you know how much God loves you? How can you keep quiet?
3. Fear only God. We need to care more about what God thinks than people.
4. Jesus wants us to acknowledge Him publicly before other people. You don’t have to know how to preach – just tell someone what Jesus did in your life!
5. We need to be willing to take up our cross and follow Jesus. Being a Christian isn’t just about going to church, but going to the world!
QUOTE: "Witnessing is that deep-seated conviction that the greatest favor I can do for others is to introduce them to Jesus Christ." (Paul Little, How to Give Away Your Faith).
ILLUSTRATION:
Church is like a huddle in a football game. 30,000 people don’t pay $30 - $70 a ticket to watch the Blue Bombers huddle. What if you went to a Bombers game and for 2 hours you watched 11 men stand in a circle and talk? That’s not what you pay for. People pay a ticket to see what difference the huddle makes. Church is not about what we do in our Sunday morning ‘huddle’, but what we do when we break our huddle and head to the field – the harvest fields in the world. *Hopefully they’ll be able to do better against the Saskatchewan Roughriders this year*
PERSONAL TESTIMONY:
Share my personal salvation story & experiences with Jesus.
CLOSING TEXT:
“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:35-38).
Then read the very next verse - Jesus’ response to His own heart cry and prayer:
“And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease… And as you go, preach, saying, ’The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:1,7-8).
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20).
PRAYER: “Now, Lord, grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word.” (Acts 4:29).
