“TO ALL THE NATIONS” Luke 24:36-53
INTRO – Let’s talk about Jesus:
- He’s the Savior of the world;
- He’s the Light of the world;
- He’s the promised Messiah;
- He’s God’s one and only Son;
- He’s the one in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins;
- He’s the Lord of all creation;
- He’s the King of kings and Lord of lords;
- He’s returning for His bride, the Church, very soon;
- He’s worthy of all of our worship;
- He’s Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace;
- He’s the Lion of the Tribe of Judah;
- He’s the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world;
- He deserves our obedience, allegiance, and faithful service.
- He is “Jesus, the One and Only” – Beth Moore book
Don’t you love Him? If you are a believer, aren’t you glad that He saved you? Aren’t you glad that He keeps you saved, that your salvation is in no way dependent upon your efforts? Aren’t you glad that one day, He will save you completely, that heaven is waiting on you?
He truly is a wonderful, grace-filled, loving Savior. We sing about Him. We sing to Him. We read about Him. We hear Sunday School teachers teach about Him. We hear preachers preach about Him. We read books about Him. We do Bible studies about Him. We pray to Him. He is such an awesome Friend who was willing to lay down His life for us.
If all of these things are true – and they are true – then why aren’t we telling more people about Him? Why aren’t we living in obedience to His commission to tell the world about Him? His final words to His followers on this earth were words that challenged them to go and tell the world about Him. Like a small band of soldiers standing on the edge of the battlefield, they received the marching orders from the commander. And to the man, they took them, obeyed them, paid the price, and blazed the trail for you and me to follow. Question – Are we following? Steve Green song, “May all who come behind us find us faithful.” As we come behind the disciples, we have found them faithful to the command and commission of Jesus. But will those who come behind us find us faithful?
We have the message that will make all the difference in 2 worlds for anyone who hears it, believes it, and receives it. The message? Simply put: John 3:16. That’s it. That’s really all you need to know. FAITH is great; Roman Rd. is great; GROW is great. But all of them simply put a little more meat on the foundation of Jn. 3:16. Tillie Burgin, Mission Arlington – “Our goal is to do whatever it takes to give everyone living in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex the opportunity to know X personally. We do this by hanging out w/ folks and hovering around the Scripture John 3:16. 1,229 people made spiritual decisions for X in 2003.”
So how many of you know John 3:16 by memory? If you know it, then say it w/ me. You have the message.
I. THE PERSON OF THE MESSAGE – v. 46
A. We are not preaching the message about Baptists. We are not preaching the message about religion. We are not preaching the message about men. We are preaching “Christ crucified” (1 Cor. 1:23). The person of the message is not the person giving the message, but the person of Jesus Christ.
a. Philip and the Ethiopian – Acts 8:26-40 – Ethiopian reading from Isa. 53. Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading. Verse 31 – “How can I unless someone explains it to me?” So many people in the world waiting for someone to explain the message to them. Verse 35 – “Then Philip began w/ that very passage and told him the good news about Jesus.”
B. Jesus is the Person of the message. It’s all about Him. So focus on Him.
a. Focus your life on Him. “Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus” (Heb. 12:2) in your own life so that you will know Him deeply and personally, and will be able to communicate your love for Him to others.
i. If someone asked me to tell them about George W. Bush, I could tell you about him based on what I’ve heard others say about him.
1. Facts about him.
2. His accomplishments and achievements.
3. Even my deep respect for him.
ii. But if someone asked me to tell them about my wife, I could tell them about her based on a deep, personal rel. w/ her.
II. THE PREACHING OF THE MESSAGE – v. 47a
A. “…repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name…” – Even though it is here in the Scripture, I hesitate to use the word “preach” b/c some might misunderstand, or use that as an excuse not to share.
a. “I’m not a preacher…I don’t know how to preach…I can’t put together a sermon…I’m afraid to speak in public…”
B. All of us are preachers of the Gospel.
a. “Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” – St. Francis of Assisi
b. Tony, Ace’s friend from Australia – “I didn’t understand from your emails. But after last night, I understand now. I’ve never felt as much love as I felt here. If your parents could come over here, they would understand.”
C. Our lives speak volumes about our understanding and belief in the Gospel. Our lives speak volumes about the real change that Jesus has made in our lives.
a. Our lives speak volumes about repentance – a change of mind that leads to a change of life.
b. Our lives speak volumes about forgiveness. Do we truly understand our sinfulness?
i. “Why do I need a great God? B/c I am a great sinner. I, a great sinner, need Jesus, a great Savior.” – Joe Shelton
D. Our lives must be changed so that we can truly preach the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins.
a. We must believe it.
b. We must live it.
c. We must tell it.
III. THE PLACE OF THE MESSAGE – v. 47b
A. “…to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” To how many nations? ALL nations. Beginning where? At MONTICELLO. And going where? LITERALLY, to all nations. That is the clear mandate from Jesus.
B. Is there anywhere, any place in the world, that does not need the message of God’s love and salvation?
a. That’s why we are building a FLC – b/c there are lost folks right here in Monticello and Lawrence County that need Jesus.
i. “To open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to G, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” – Acts 26:18
b. That’s why we preach the Gospel here every week.
c. That’s why we need to begin a ministry in the apt. complexes here in Monticello.
d. That’s why we are going to mission trips this summer.
e. That’s why Brooks Wall is going to Vancouver this summer.
f. That’s why Don Palmer and I are going to Russia this week.
g. That’s why Sam Varghese will be here tonight to tell us of his work in India.
h. That’s why Richard and Christy Price moved to Kiev.
C. The place of the message is “ALL NATIONS.” As individuals and as a church, we must be committed to go to ALL NATIONS.
IV. THE PROCLAIMERS OF THE MESSAGE – v. 48
A. No doubt about this – “YOU are witnesses of these things.” Jesus’ disciples were witnesses. And the baton has been passed down through the generations to you and me.
B. You and I have the incredible, God-given responsibility to proclaim the message to all nations. We are the proclaimers of the Gospel.
a. Can’t deny this truth.
b. Can’t ignore this truth.
c. Can’t shirk this responsibility.
d. Can’t shrink back from this responsibility.
C. Someone once said, “The problem w/ the church today is NOT that we don’t know what the Word says; the problem is that we don’t DO what the Word says.”
a. There’s probably not a Christian here today that would say, “I didn’t know it was my job to proclaim the Gospel.”
b. We know that the Word of God tells us that it is our job. But are we being obedient to what we know the Word tells us?
V. THE POWER FOR THE MESSAGE – v. 49
A. Choir sang about this power at beginning of service – “Holy Spirit, rain down.” Jesus, God the Son, promised that God, the Father, would send the Holy Spirit, God the Spirit. And God did send the Holy Spirit.
B. The Holy Spirit “clothed” the disciples w/ power. What do clothes do?
a. They cover us.
b. They identify us.
c. They protect us.
C. That’s what the Holy Spirit does for us. He is the power for the message. And when we are clothed w/ that power, we are:
a. Covered – surrounded by Him. He leads us in what we are to tell, how to tell it, and to whom to tell it.
b. Identified – The Spirit identifies and verifies our witness to others.
c. Protected – not necessarily protected physically. Talk to families of 4 Souther Baptist missionaries killed in Iraq a few weeks ago. But we are eternally protected. 2 Thess. 3:3 – “But the L is faithful, & He will strengthen & protect you from the evil one.”
D. You and I have the power for the message living w/in our hearts. We must appropriate the power.
CONCLUSION – What now? How are we to respond to this message?
- Start in your Jerusalem – right here, Monticello and Lawrence County.
- Are you being obedient? Is God calling you to go to all the nations?
- Will we commit to being the people and the church that God can use?
