Manifestation of children of God on earth!
In this sermon outline we see the need of the Church is to let the Holy Spirit work through them. The supreme task of the Church is the evangelism of the word but many times we see the almost impossible task and forget that the Church is the most powerful force on earth because the Church (the people) are the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
Rom 8:19 for the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (KJV)
I. The whole world is looking for an answer to the problems of the earth and the Church has the answer.
A. We must do something.
Isa 66:8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. (KJV)
1. We must pray, seek God and turn from our ways.
2 Cron 7:14-15 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
B. It will cause us to do the commission of Jesus.
(Mark 16:15) "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
(Mark 16:16) "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
(Mark 16:17) "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;"
(Mark 16:18) "They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
(Mark 16:19) "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God."
(Mark 16:20) "And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."
II. This is the Work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
1 Cor 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
A. How does he use us?
1. He uses us when we can say here we are.
(Gen 22:11) "And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I."
(Gen 46:2) "And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I."
(Exo 3:4) "And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I."
(1 Sam 3:4) "That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I."
B. If present ourselves first to God, then we need to say I will go where you want me to go. SEND ME.
(Isa 6:8) "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me."
B. We must yield ourselves to Him and be broken before Him..
The Use of Broken Things
God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume--it is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.
He the Holy Spirit helps us clean up our lives for the world to see us.
2 Cor 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. (KJV)
A. Let us say to the Lord to look at us closely.
(Psa 139:23) "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:"
B. Then present our lives as a living sacrifice.
(Rom 12:1) "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
1. We can only do this by trying to be more like Jesus.
(Rom 12:2) "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
III. The Holy Spirit then will give us direction in the way to follow Him.
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
The Dove Man
It is said that a certain guide lived in the deserts of Arabia who never lost his way. He carried with him a homing pigeon with a very fine cord attached to one of its legs. When in doubt as to which path to take, he threw the bird into the air. The pigeon quickly strained at the cord to fly in the direction of home, and thus led the guide accurately to his goal. Because of this unique practice he was known as "the dove man." So, too, the Holy Spirit, the heavenly Dove, is willing and able to direct us in the narrow way that leads to the more abundant life if in humble self-denial we submit to His unerring supervision.
V. We then can do the perfect Will of God for our lives and say with David Livingstone: When you are ministering to the sick and dying share these words of "I am immortal until the will of God is accomplished in my life!"
Success: is knowing God’s will and being right in the center of it.
* George W. Truett
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