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.
And there is to say the least... an abundance of bad blood between the Jews and the Samaritans.
I doubt anyone said, "oh, Samaria, (Lift hand) pick me... pick me!"
Yet with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit, ... it did not take Philip long ... to create a stir.
The people were seeing something genuine.
Phillip's message about the Messiah was appealing for the Samaritans ... who were also seeking for the Messiah.
Remember the Samaritan woman's words to her whole town when she met Jesus at the well ... "could this be the Messiah?". (John 4:29)
Yet when you are connected to Jesus ... when you are walking in his will ... there will be signs and wonders ... as the supernatural kingdom of God ...intersects ... with the natural world.
Beloved ... There was what Phillip said, .... and there was what Phillip did, ... and they complemented each other.
They must compliment each other.
The key to sharing the love of Jesus is living a life connected to the Vine ... abiding to the vine.
And that abiding life in Jesus ... is a life that people want to know more about.
We are not talking about a perfect life, ... just a real one ... one that cannot quite be explained ...without God.
You may not constantly manifest the gifts of physical healing ... or casting out demons.
Yet ... you do have the Holy Spirit within you ... and his presence should be evident ... in your life.
It could be courage ... in the midst of fear, ... strength in the midst of weakness, ... joy in the midst of sorrow.
Or perhaps more importantly, ... the hope and truth that salvation can be found in no other name. (Acts 4:12)
Now an Angel of the Lord said to Phillip, Hear God's word: BIBLE "go South to the road the desert Rd that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza" END (Acts 8:26).
Stop right there!
Are you feeling a little spiritual jealous?
I do not know about you, ... but when I read that ... I think wow, ... I would love every direction from the Lord ... to be that clear!
Yet ... The Lord did more than direct Phillip to a place... he set up ... a spiritual encounter.
I could share countless stories of God directed encounters ... in the lives of his people.
And if you have not experienced this before ...well brace yourself.
Beloved it is coming.
If the Holy Spirit is in, you ... and you are seeking His will ... (Slow) it is coming.
And It may have already happened; ... and you just did not catch it in the moment.
The more you learn to pay attention to the Holy Spirit, ... the more you practice His presence ... the more you will pick up ... on these subtle ... and sometimes not so subtle ... promptings.
Brace yourself ... for when the moment comes, ... the instructions may seem bizarre and often uncomfortable.
You may be tempted to run ... rather than obey.
Phillip obeyed and the Holy Spirit moved.
Here God's word. BIBLE "so he (Philip) started out, and on his way, he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of the Treasury of the Kandake which means Queen of The Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship and on his way, home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the Prophet. The spirit told Phillip, "go to that chariot and stay near it." then Phillip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the Prophet. "do you understand what you are reading?" Phillip asked. "how can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" so he invited Phillip to come up and sit with him" END (Acts 8:27-31).
See what God can do when you are tuned in ... to the Holy Spirit?
This Eunuch is an influential man.
He was in charge of all the Treasury of Candace, Queen of The Ethiopians.
And This encounter became the gospel's doorway into Africa!
And some theologians are convinced that this meeting with the Ethiopian Eunuch was .... the foundation of the Coptic Christian Church in Africa.
Christianity changed Ethiopia ... and has greatly affected ... the entire continent of Africa.
Beloved ... it all began with one person ... a man named Phillip ... open to the Holy Spirit.
It seems amazing, ... yet I am convinced ... the Lord does this ... all the time.
When we seek the Kingdom first ... instead of what is at the end of our noses, ... when we allow God to in-ter-rupt or plans ... And in-ter-pret us ... incredible things happen.
And I have found that Life ... is what happens to you ... while we are making ... other plans!
And Often we find ......that the in-ter-rup-tion, is usually of greater consequence ... of greater importance......than what ......we were doing ... at the moment.
In light of eternity, ... I have found that those supposed interruptions ...have become the most important parts ... of my day.
So, ... are you in tune with the Holy Spirit ... are you listening?
Are you willing to be in-ter-rup-ted?
Are you willing to be in-ter-pre-ted ...to be illuminated? (Pause)
By the way ... this is the passage of scripture ...that the eunuch was reading ... when he met Phillip.
Hear God's word: BIBLE "he was led like sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before it sheerer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice..." END (Isaiah 53:7-8)
The eunuch asked Phillip, "tell me, please, ... who is the Prophet talking about ... himself or someone else?" (Acts 8:34)
Then Phillip began with that very passage of scripture... and shared with him the Good News in Jesus. (Acts 8:32-35).
The man asked Phillip a question about the passage he was reading from Isaiah.... and Phillip began with this same passage ... to share the story ... of Jesus.
Phillip did not begin with a prepared speech ... or an evangelistic formula.
He began with the Ethiopian's question.
He didn't say, ... I see you are reading Isaiah can I ask you a question?
If you died tonight, ... do you know if you would go to heaven?"
Beloved, ... the best evangelistic tools you have ...are stuck on the side of your head: ... your ears.
If you are listening ... people will often hint or even outright tell you ... what their concerns are.
Once you know them, ... you can ask more questions.
Questions ... that will allow you ... to relate ... and to connect ... to their lives.
Again, ... we learn from the master.
Jesus was always asking ... questions.
Also ... Phillip did not beat about the bush.
It is important to be sensitive, ... yet we do not do anyone any favors ... if we dance around ...the truth.
We can become so concerned about offending people ... that we do not speak ... with clarity.
Phillip took this man... to Jesus.
That can be uncomfortable, ... yet the name of Jesus is ... powerful.
It saves, ... it soothes, ... and it sometimes offends.
Yet God's word is clear ... BIBLE "Salvation is found in no one else, or there is no other name under heaven given to mankind but by which we must be saved" END (Acts 4:12).
Now The Scriptures do not record ... all that Phillip said to the Ethiopian, ... yet we know Phillip said it clearly ... and that the man listening ... and understood it.
He was enthusiastic, ... responsive ... and was even able to articulate the next step.
For the Ethiopian said, "look! There is some water. Why can't I be baptized?" (Acts 8:36)
Apparently, ... Phillip had explained the message of Christ so convincingly ... that the man knew what the next step should be, ... and he was ready to take that step.
By the way ...within the Anglican tradition ... in an emergency situation ...any baptized Christian ... can officiate the sacrament of baptism.
Beloved ... If Jesus said he is the way, the truth, and the life, ...... then he is the way, the truth, and the life.
There is no other way to God.
If there were, ... God would have never let Jesus die on the cross.
It was the Ethiopian who saw the water and said, "let's do this." ... don't you love that?
If you want to live a life on mission, ... be ready for adventure.
You cannot imagine ... all that God wants to do... in and through ... your life.
We need to listen carefully ... and keep our eyes open ... for what the Holy Spirit ... is ready to do.
Practice His presence ... connect to vine ... walk in His will ... and I assure you ... that your life filled with ... adventure.
Beloved ... stop talking yourself out of living a life of Mission:
You need to not only live a life in Christ by your actions, ... but you must share your life in Christ ...by your testimony ... with those God places ... (Slow) in your life. (Long Pause)
There is a saying ... "Preach the Gospel at all times. ... Use words if necessary" that is attributed St. Frances of Assisi.
This saying ... which many have inadvertently used was never spoken by him... or any in his Order.
Though it may seem like a nice statement.
It ... In fact, ... blatantly contradicts ... not only the Franciscan order ... but the Scriptures.
It would be like saying "feed the hungry; and when necessary use food."
Both are silly.
When people need bread- give them bread.
When people need the bread of life... you share with them Jesus ... the only Bread of Life.
So, we must share it verbally ... with those who are without Christ.
People are not going to guess their way ... to the good news.
For all they know, you are only doing nice things because you want good karma.
You could seem peaceful ... because you spend a lot of time meditating in the moonlight!
Beloved ... We know the difference between "feeling calm" ...... and having the Prince of peace by our side ... when the storm is raging.
God's word proclaims this question "How will they hear ... how will they know unless we tell them?" (Romans 10:14)
It's not that complicated ... All you need to do ... is share your story.
And the great thing about sharing your story is ...that no one can argue ... with your story.
You do not need a degree in theology ... you are already an expert ... in how your life was changed!
And you do not have to embellish it ... or hide the mistakes and fears, ... because you are not the hero of the story.
We can all relate to the bleak emptiness of losing someone we love, ... whether by death or abandonment.
We relate to the seasons of financial crisis ... and feelings of despair ... and worry.
We have all experienced feeling insignificant ... or obsolete.
We have all made stupid mistakes ... that we have lived to regret.
These things make us human ... and are experienced by all.
Do not hide the parts ... where you failed, ... for those are the parts... that allow a connection ... with others! (Pause)
As you and I look at the needs of the world......six billion people, ... many of whom are perishing daily......we could become ... overwhelmed.
We want to help, ...but we hardly know where ...to begin ... or where ... to stop.
The temptation ...is to despair, ...... to wring our hands ...and feel that anything we might do... would be of little ... or no significance.
Quite the contrary.
Where your ability ... and the world's need intersect... is where you are most needed ......and can and will be ... where you will do the most good. (Pause)
The author Loren Eisely ... would go to the ocean ...to do his writing.
He had a habit ... of walking on the beach ... before he began ...his work.
One day, ...as he was walking along the shore, ...he looked down the beach ...and saw a human figure ...moving like a dancer.
He smiled to himself ... at the thought ... of someone who would dance ... to the day, ...and so, ...he walked faster ...to catch up.
As he got closer, ...he noticed that the figure ...was that of a young man, ...and what he was doing ...was not dancing ...at all.
The young man was reaching down to the sand, ...picking up small objects, ...and throwing them ...into the ocean.
He came closer still ...and called out ..."Good morning!
May I ask ...what it is ... that you are doing?"
The young man paused, ...looked up, ...and replied ..."Throwing starfish into the ocean."
"I must ask, then, ...why are you throwing starfish ...into the ocean?"
To this, the young man replied, ... "The sun is up ...and the tide is going out.
If I don't throw them in, ... they will die."
Upon hearing this, ... Eisely commented, ..."But, young man, ...do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach ...and there are starfish ...all along ... every mile?
You can't possibly ...make a difference!"
At this ... the young man bent down, ...picked up yet another starfish, ...and threw it... into the ocean.
As it met the water, he said ... "I made a difference...... to that one!" (Pause)
Beloved ... the Lord will place people in your life ... who do not know Jesus.
And you ... and I ... can make a difference ... to that one.
A life changing difference to each one. (Pause)
If you are willing to receive it ... There is a small metal starfish ... in an individual packet ... for each of you ... in the back of the Church.
You can place it ... in your pocket ... in your purse, or you can put a chain on it ... and wear it.
I pray ... that as you see it ... or feel it ... it will remind you ... that as a disciple of Jesus ...you are called ...to share ... to make a difference. (Pause)
As we close: Hear again 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 ... me ... and this is all about ...you.
It is all about those who have turned to Jesus for salvation.
There is no other plan ... the Lord is counting on you ... on those who have declared Jesus ... as Savior and Lord.
If you want to live a life on mission, ... connect to the vine ... abide in the vine.
And to be ready for the adventure ... of a lifetime.
Beloved we need to listen carefully and keep our eyes peeled for the movement of the Holy Spirit.
Practice His presence ... walk in His ways ... walk in His will ... and I assure you ...that your life will be filled with ... adventure.
Filled with adventures that will take you from Glory ... to Glory.
Amen!!!
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