SHARING HOPE
1 PET 3:15
1 PET 3:15 (KJV) Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Sanctify- set apart. To make the Lord 1st place in your life.
Give an answer- basically share your testimony of what your relationship with Christ means to you.
Hope that is in you- remember, you have something that Lost people do not have. You have salvation, hope, peace of God, eternal life.
With meekness and fear- We are to share in meekness, not like some expert spouting out superior knowledge. Never forget that there was a time when you were once lost also. With fear? It’s not that you are afraid, but that you are in awe of the power of the gospel to change the lives of the Lost.
* 3 points to ponder about become a witness for Jesus Christ.
A. THE CALL.
In John 1, John the Baptizer and his disciples were at the river and Jesus approaches and John said “Behold the Lamb of God.”
Jn 1:35-42 35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 And Jesus turned and saw them following, and *said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” 39 He *said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He *found first his own brother Simon and *said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus.
1. Andrew is convinced that Jesus is the Messiah and excitedly tells his brother Peter and brings him to Jesus.
2. Who is the other disciple? Almost assuredly it is John, the writer of this Gospel. He brings his brother James to Jesus.
Jn 1:43-46 43 The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He *found Philip. And Jesus *said to him, “Follow Me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip *found 46 Nathanael and *said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
Again we see an example of someone being so excited about Jesus that they bring others to Him.
* Each of them had been longing for the promised Messiah and when they found Him, they wanted everyone they loved to know about Him.
* That’s what sharing hope is all about.
* It’s about one man telling a thirsty man in the desert where to find refreshing water.
* If each of us would personally adopt the vision of “Each One Reach One” we could see many come to salvation in Jesus Christ.
B. THE CLASSIC EXAMPLE.
In John 4, we find Jesus on a journey from Judea to Galilee, but on the way He has an encounter with a woman at a well.
Jn 4:3-4 3 He left Judea and went away again into Galilee. 4 And He had to pass through Samaria.
There were main routes that Jesus could have taken. This one is not even the one most Jews would have chosen because it runs through Samaria which Jews have a disdain for. But it says that “He had to”. Why? Because there was 1 heart crying out to God for hope and redemption. So, Jesus was traveling to Galilee and He chose this route to meet and share hope with this woman.
* Jesus is tired and weary, so He sends His disciples into to town for food while He rests by a well.
* When the woman arrives Jesus asks her to draw some water. This was the starter question that led to Him talking about the Living Water that God gives to people when they are born again.
* Jesus went there to share with 1 person. Yet, this 1 person shared her testimony with the whole town and practically everyone came to see Jesus that day because of her testimony.
* Never think that your sharing hope with 1 person won’t impact the kingdom much.
Edward Kimbell- a meek SS teacher, Edward Kimbell, felt compelled to share the plan of salvation with a young shoe store clerk. He found him in the stockroom and there he said he gave the poorest plea for Jesus Christ that a person ever spoke. Yet, this young clerk was so moved that he prayed to receive Jesus Christ on the spot. 1 person. Not a huge impact on the Kingdom? Wrong. This 1 person was Dwight L. Moody who went on to become one of the greatest evangelist in the world.
* You can count the # of seeds in 1 apple, but you cannot fathom the # of apples gathered from 1 seed.
C. THE COMMISSION.
Before Jesus ascended back to Heaven, He spoke to the disciples about sharing hope to all the world and making disciples. This same Commission still applies to us today.
1. The Precept.
Mt 28:18-20a 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;
* The authority is Mine. I am giving all believers a commandment.
Go therefore- Can be read “As you are going....” going about your day.
going about your business. Going about your journeys. Wherever you are going, carry and share the hope that comes with salvation in Jesus.
Make Disciples of all nations- our duty is not merely to share, but to ensure that they become disciples. If you cannot personally bring them into your local church, then give them a contact that can follow up.
2. The Promise.
Mt 28:20b and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
When we begin to serve God as a witness and especially in missions, we often find ourselves way out of our comfort zone. Fear of failure, fear of danger, fear of persecution, etc can make us feel vulnerable and alone. But, Jesus promises us that He is always with us and we can draw upon His strength in our moments of weakness.
3. The Provision.
So, what do we do when we feel that we are not up to the tasks that God has commanded of us?
Act 1:8 you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
* NOTICE: He did not say “we might” or “maybe we will”. He said “You shall receive power”.
* This power comes in many forms....
(1) courage
(2) ability
(3) opportunity
(4) guidance
* But, notice that we receive this power when the Holy Spirit has come upon us. No Spirit, no power. We receive the Holy Spirit at salvation, but we become Spirit-filled through our close relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
* Notice also that this power from the Holy Spirit is with us wherever we go.
