Ministry Involvement: Sharing Faith

all right so we're going to continue our Series so we're getting close to the end so this will be number four then we have one more Wednesday in July and we'll be wrapping up next week um I always like to just do a recap like I say every time um we've talked about prayer sacrificing we're going to Zone in this week on sharing Faith which is something we've talked briefly about over the first lesson we kind of hit all of these on the first Wednesday and we've kind of been looking deeper into each topic as the weeks go on so we're going to look this week at sharing Faith because when it comes down to it as Christians as apostolics as followers of Christ a Ministry is really just an initiative to share our faith with others that's what it's all about I like to put things in simple terms sometimes I feel like some of the things I may say seem so Elementary but I I don't feel that there's really a better way to say some things that's what Ministry is really all about is just sharing our faith sharing what God God's done you see so many people in the world they know of Jesus but yet they don't really know him because there is a difference there's people in my life that I know of them I have their acquaintance but I don't know that person I don't know their thoughts their desires I don't know nothing about them and that's the way that I feel so many in the world are they know of Jesus but they don't know him when you think about the Trinity the way people believe in the Trinity my old Pastor once made an analogy that I've never really forgotten he was talking about the Trinity and he talks about people that believe that God is three distinct being it's apparently they must just look at it as God is just on the throne with the big white beard you know he's just the King sitting there then you got Jesus you know the second in the godhead he's just like over there like a kid just going around playing right then the Holy Ghost is just over there floating somewhere right but that's what a lot of people truly believe they diminish Jesus to the second person when really he's everything and that's where it all comes back to what I said they know of him but they don't know him someone once made a comment to my dad and they said oh you're those uh one of those Jesus only people aren't you and he's like who else is there right because he is everything some people are willing to do this walk with God they're willing but they just need to hear the truth they just need a little instruction if you look around our world especially everything that's just been going on lately I'm not here to talk politics I but just looking at the political realm right now at everything that's going on just all over the world is just getting crazy I've just been watching all of the news that's been coming out about everything and I I just thought the other night all of this craziness that's happening in this world but yet all that truly matters is are we ready to meet Jesus because in the end that is all that matters we get so caught up in this stuff that's going on in the world and it's some crazy stuff I'm sure all of you know all of you know what's going on in the world but you see we have that hope we have the way out and some people again they just need to hear can you imagine if the noise out there is all that you knew that was it there was no hope see we have the greatest gift in the world and the more you look around the more you realize that so who are we to not share our faith with those in the world we have the greatest gift in that he pulled us out of the pits of this world and he has a way for us to be saved

to kind of set the tone I'm going to read a passage of scripture Luke chapter 8 I'm going to start at verse 30 go through verse 40 Jesus asked him saying what is thy name so this is where Jesus was talking to the demon-possessed man and he said Legion because many Devils were entered into him and they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep and there was there a herd of many swine feeding on the mountain and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them and he suffered them then went the Devils out of the man and entered into the swine and the herd ran violently down a steep Place into the lake and were choked when they that fed saw that saw what was done they fled and went and told it in the city and in the country then they went out to see what was done and came to Jesus and found the man out of whom the Devils were departed sitting at the feet of Jesus clothed and in his right mind and they were afraid they also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the Devils was healed then the whole multitude of the country of the gatans went went roundabout besought him to depart from them for they were taken with great fear and he went up into the ship and returned back again now the man out of whom the Devils were departed besought him that he might be with him but Jesus sent him away saying return to thine own house and show how great things God hath done unto thee and he went his way and published throughout the whole city how great things you Jesus had done un him and then ending on verse 40 it came to pass that when Jesus was returned the people gladly received him for they were all waiting for him

so a lot of us we know this story very well we've heard this story many times but when you really think about this situation that this man had that it's pretty bad I'm sure worse hopefully than anything any of us have went through that this man was facing but yet just like that when Jesus healed him his life was completely changed he wanted to go with Jesus right then and there but yet what did Jesus have him do after he performed this great miracle he told him to go and tell he didn't tell him you know this is just between me and you right give him a fist bump you know no no he told him to go tell so I just want to ask maybe not to this extreme situation that you've hopefully not faced but has God done something for you ever has God ever done something good for you has he ever performed a miracle in your life have you told others about that notice that in this scripture Jesus told him to go to his return to his house and then it says the man went and published throughout the city so he was telling everybody I'm sure some people remembered who he was like the scriptures said they knew I'm sure he was well known throughout that City so I'm sure some people had some reservations about seeing that man coming through but he didn't care about that because he just had an encounter with the Healer that was a Ministry that that man had from that moment forth despite the fact that he just had a legion of devils within him once Jesus cast those out it didn't matter he went and started telling others about it and you notice in verse 40 it says that when Jesus returned the people gladly received him for they were all waiting for him I read this and I wondered did they gladly receive him and were waiting for him because of what that man told them that's what it looks like he prepared them what if he had not have shared what God had done with him with that place some people just don't know they just don't know again going back they know of Jesus but they don't know him sometimes it may take somebody that has that relationship that's had that encounter to just tell it and there's those people just like in this city that will gladly receive it every single day every day God is blessing each and every one of us I know that's true or we wouldn't be here right now and I'll include myself in this but I'm sure that not a one of us deserve to be here right now it's like the old saying that I'm sure you've heard a hundred times I'm better than I deserve and again I'm including myself in that every day is a blessing why are we not telling people about it how often in our lives do we just forget about God just being real for a moment how often do we just get so caught up we don't purposely forget about him but we're just caught up in everything that's going on we got to tell people how many people you don't have to raise your hand but how many people have you told lately can you think of a Time recently in your life that you've truly shared Jesus with somebody he he had an example but honestly the last time that we really shared our faith in some way or witness to somebody and I'm not just talking about saying oh I'll pray for you that's great but when's the last time we really dug into the word we really interceded for somebody we really let the wisdom of God work through us to speak into somebody's life or have we just been too busy it's not hard it's not hard what are some steps that we can take like I said it's so simple just approaching people with kindness and openness can be a way you don't have to be a Bible scholar you don't have to have the Bible memorized from front to back that'd be pretty hard to do but there's so many ways that you can still make such a difference and share this word and to share the faith that you have with somebody understanding their views and reasons that they have those views is another way because so often people in the world are so pushed away and feel disconnected from those in the church because they feel that they are not understood they feel that they will never understand why I'm the way I am so that puts up a wall but it's up to us to draw that other person out of that because once we tear down those walls that the world's placed up with the church that's when we have our opening to then step in and truly share something with them we have to show genuine an interest in what the world has to say because again they may not have a way or an outlet for what's going on in their life they may not know the master like you do sometimes we have to be that person that they can just let it out and that can again open a door for us to then Minister and witness sometimes a way to really grab a hold of someone is to look for common ground because so many people again they feel like they're down here and maybe they've placed the church up here it's really hard to reach through to people when you have that great distance but when you can truly put yourself on their level that can open up their heart to receive what you have to say and once you get in that's when you can then start transitioning that Spirit those spiritual topics whatever it may be and steer the conversation with that person I I feel that so often those in the church not this church but just so often in Christianity in the world that people come on too strong at times and they just end up pushing people even farther away that's why it's so important to first genuinely do whatever it takes to get that person's heart open up opened up and ready to receive what you would have it's really hard to plant a seed if you haven't tilled the ground a little bit first maybe you can't just go into acts 238 on the first conversation with someone right you have to prepare their field sometimes and that's when you can start the work now just know this is not the instance for every person it's going to be different but I feel that that is a mistake that we so often make is that we just don't truly try to prepare the person to receive so then once we start pouring into them them they're not taking it even then once we've planted that seed another very important thing that I feel we often forget is to reconnect don't let that be the last time that you water that seed follow up continue building that relationship continue to show them what a life lived for Christ is like be the example but when it comes to sharing our faith just telling people isn't the only way that we can share our faith it's obviously very important to tell people but that's not the only way there's so many other ways number one is to just live a Godly life again this is kindergarten Apostolic 101 for you all right just live a Godly life be authentic and consistent in your faith show love kindness compassion again it's so simple but when we are not authentic and consistent with our faith we may tell people but when they're not seeing it lived out through us it's not going to be as impactful what we tell them words don't hold a lot of water when there's not action behind them it's just like you can tell someone you love them but your actions can say otherwise you got to have both going back to what we said just spend time with people listen to their needs what is it that they need what is it that's truly going to make this light come on for them sometimes it's up to us to figure that out our ministry with sharing Jesus with people is not going to be the same every single time that would be nice but it's just not the case and how can we truly know how to reach someone effectively if we don't spend time with that person if we don't know that person we don't listen to that person and genuinely care about them like it goes actions speak speak louder than words pray for opportunities as well it was mentioned few Wednesdays ago we can't always just wait for them to come to us pray that God lay someone in your path that needs to hear what you have to say that needs to hear your testimony that opportunity may come to where you have the testimony that will reach that person like no one else anything else anyone else could tell them I always look at testimonies as such a great tool despite the fact that they're they always come out of something terrible right I've talked many times about my own situation my brother passing away when I was right before I turned two so I don't remember him but obviously my family does my parents do and I couldn't imagine that terrible situation but I always say there's so many people that my parents have been able to minister to that have went through the same thing because they understand that's part of getting to know somebody and listening to what their need is when people in the world go through these terrible things sometimes they don't know what to do they don't know how to get out of it but when someone that's living for God has went through that same terrible thing but yet they still have a life of Joy but yet they can still smile that makes such an impact on that person and that gives them the hope to know that if they can do it maybe I can do it I urge you ask God to bring people into your life that need him pray that he opens doors for you to share to minister to people in a way that only you can and along with all of that along with being consistent in our faith I also urge you cultivate a habit of reading God's word cultivate a habit of praying being at church that's part of being authentic when you live for God is reading his word talking to him going to his house if you don't do these things but yet you're trying to reach somebody it's not truly authentic to them let your passion for Christ truly shine through because when you have passion they will see that in you passion truly drives people and it can be contagious sometimes so when you have that maybe the person you're talking to will get that same passion for God and then just what we're talking about share the gospel with people be prepared to EXP explain that God has a plan for salvation God has a plan for peace for Life forgiveness through Jesus John 3:16 it's one of the verses probably that more people know than any other but yet it's so important to stress this that God means what he says he really does love this world just as that verse says he so loved the world that's everybody and some people just need to feel love and also through all of this you're going to point them to Jesus personally when you you share that testimony of God's provision in your life of that healing that took place in your life those restored relationships that God mended whatever it is that's all pointing to him through you through what he's done in you as the saying goes I know we have a lot of sayings tonight you may be the only Bible some people read they may never pick up the word but yet when you've hidden it away in your heart when you live it people read you they see God in you God equips the called and when we follow him we're all called to share what he's done your words and actions can draw others closer to him if you tell and if you do we talked about prayer a few weeks ago we talked about just a few moments ago praying for opportunities well pray that God opens people's hearts to receive the Gospel everything we've talked about all goes together all of it prayer is so important when it comes to sharing and ministering our prayers have an effect on people they feel that I kind of jokingly said earlier that if you don't know what to pray for just pray for the unknown needs the unspoken needs I truly believe that when you pray for people they feel it have you ever had a situation to where you completely felt it turn around you don't know what it was I bet somebody was praying for you prayer is a way to share our faith even if we don't see it the effects of that people feel that those friendships that we make sometimes it may not be the easiest but remember even in Jesus's time they said that he dined with Sinners sometimes those people that may not be the easiest relationship they need him too they need to hear it too when you build that relationship with somebody you're opening the door for their relationship with Jesus but if you don't take the time who will so many people again are turned off by the church because they feel so judged by us they feel so below but just be a friend I know it's been said before that when visitors visit this church that one thing they say is well they were definitely friendly that's great that's what we need that's what people need they just need a friend with all of this all of these horrible things that's going on right now some people just need a friend because when you have a friend you listen to them a little closer than you may listen to others so when you've formed that relationship with that person they're going to listen to what you have to say they're going to listen a little closer the easiest way to share faith in your Ministry it's just live it out and profess it in every way you can when you truly authentic authentically did I say that authentically live for God it's not going to be hard when those people come to you with questions when those opportunities come to where the Lord lays it on your heart it's not going to to be hard in fact you're going to get so excited here's another opportunity God this is what I've been praying for you may not always know exactly what to say but when you're filled with the spirit and you're just living it he's going to be there with you he's going to give you exactly what to say to reach that person

in Matthew 2 when the Shepherds heard about the Messiah when the angel came to them it goes on to say that when they had seen it when they saw the Babe lying in the manger they made known abroad they told everybody going back to the very beginning we all know the Messiah but are we telling people about it how can we have a Ministry if we're not telling others about him what if those Shepherds had kept that good news to themselves that same Messiah has revealed him himself to us in our lives and he's placed his name on our lives and he didn't do it for us to just keep it in while our flesh does make it hard sometimes while there are the times and situations where we struggle to share with others while it's not always the popular thing to do how many times have you said well I know that family member needs it but I don't want to make thing things awkward between us you know at the Thanksgiving meals you know if I bring up Jesus you know they're going to get mad how often do we do that the world doesn't like what we have to say sometimes but that doesn't diminish the call that God's placed in us to do it Matthew chap 10 ver 22 Jesus said You shall be hated of all men for my name's sake but he that endureth to the end shall be saved and then he goes on to say in verse 32 and 33 whosoever therefore shall confess me before men him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven but whosoever shall deny me before men him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven it's right there if we confess him to this world he will confess us before the Father in Heaven what more could we want what more do we need to hear to get us out there telling the world sharing with the world we don't want to deny him and I guarantee that at some point in our life we've all done that in one way or another it's not always a verbal thing but by action we can deny him as well whatever situation maybe that's in your life you can't let that tame your Witness and change it to what I call a wit Miss because you missed that opportunity because you let your situation make you pass by that person well I'm just not in the head space right now I'm just too upset right now I'll get the next one what if no one else gets the first one what if it was for you

as we get ready to close Matthew chapter 26 starting at verse 69 Peter sat outside in the courtyard a servant girl came to him saying you also were with Jesus of Galilee but he denied it before them all saying I do not know what you are saying when he had gone out to the Gateway another girl saw him and said to those who were there this fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth but again he denied with an oath I do not know the man and a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter surely you also are one of them for your speech betrays you then he began to curse and swear saying I do not know the man immediately a rooster crowed and Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him before the rooster crows you will deny me three times so he went out and wept bitterly see Peter he was a disciple he walked with Jesus he talked with Jesus he was used so mightily but he let that situation that he was in tame his witness I'm sure Peter had not given up on Jesus I'm sure that he hadn't walked away from Jesus but again if you're not careful the situation you might find yourself in can cause you to deny him when you're not being authentic IC because in all reality we know when we cast all our Care on him he cares for us so when we're truly being authentic when we're going through those situations it don't matter we're not going to let that stop us in sharing this faith and ministering the main thing is when you make a mistake just get up we're going to fail sometimes but true failure is when we don't learn and do better next time true failure is when you fall and decide not to get up and go on we're not going to do everything right we're not always going to be as prepared as we need to be it's just life we're not perfect we're not Jesus but when we strive to do the best that we can when we strive to truly live this when we strive to pray to sacrifice to truly just have a desire to tell others then we're doing what God has called us to do we have to be careful to not just be an outward Christian to where we make people think that we're the stuff right but we're not fully living for him because they're going to find out we can't trick people forever we might trick ourselves for a while say oh I'm I'm where I need to be I'm doing what I need to do but when you're not 100% when you're not out there sharing when you're not out there praying we're not 100% being used in our ministry you don't want to just share half of it you wanted inside you want it out you wanted all around you you want to share it all as they get ready to sing I just I urge you strive to tell just one person somebody maybe there's someone that's been on your heart for a while and you know I got to tell them something I got to tell them what God's done for me they need to hear it what are you waiting for be used in that Ministry

let's pray as they get ready Lord we thank you for your grace we thank you for your mercy God we thank you for the faith that you've given us God let us be effective let us want to tell others about you let us want to further your kingdom let us want to make a difference in those around us Lord let us just have a desire to share what you've done for us the fact that you saved us from the pits of Hell God we couldn't do that on our own Lord just give us a desire to see Souls saved give us a desire to see these seats of this church filled God maybe the empty seat next to us Lord maybe you're just waiting on us to fill that se seat with somebody God lord when that Mission Bell Tolls let us heed that call let us tell that person let us share your goodness in the name of Jesus