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What on Earth Am I Here For?
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Thursday, October 2, 2003
My Prayer Today
Dear God, I thank you for saving me from my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life through you Son Jesus. You have given my life purpose and hope. In response to your love, I want to be able to love others by sharing with them what you have done for me so that they too can be saved. Help me to see the lost around me. I pray that your Spirit would guide me in the things I say and do. May my life be a testimony to someone today. Lead me at all times, and help me to be bold for you. I need you help in all of this! I love you Lord and I pray this in your name, Amen.
Bible Verses
Matthew 28:16-20
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Reflecting on Evangelism
Read Matthew 28:16-20
1. What does Jesus' authority have to do with sharing our faith? Why would he want us to know he has all authority?
2. When Jesus says "go" does this mean that we should be active or passive about evangelism? How can we be active in sharing our faith today?
3. What does it mean that Jesus would be with us until the end? How does this effect how we approach sharing our faith with others?
Exploring Evangelism
We do not have to be in another country on a mission trip to be an evangelist. The word "evangelist" often turns people off because we often think of them as being pushy and rude. However, being an evangelist simply means communicating the love of Jesus and sharing about what he has done in our lives. Can you think of three unsaved people in your life that you would like to especially focus on building a friendship with. Just be their friend by listening to them, crying with them, laughing with them, and just being a part of their lives. If you do this, pray that God in his perfect timing would open a window of opportunity to share your faith with them. Remember Jesus is with you!
Understanding Evangelism and My Purpose
The life of Jesus demonstrates God's power to overcome the devil and bring about salvation to all who believe in his name. The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness reveals his consistent dependence upon his Father to resist and defeat the devil. The final defeat of the devil came after Jesus overcame death and resurrected from the grave. Jesus not only in life, but also in death, and in the resurrection provides opportunity for the human race to escape sin and find salvation. One of the most popular verses in the Bible is John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believeth on him will not perish but find everlasting life." This verse reveals God's love for humanity, enough where he would be willing to give up his only Son so that we might be able to be saved from sin. What an awesome thing to think about! John 3:16 basically sums up the whole message of the "gospel" (or "good news") of Jesus. The verse is so simple, yet so profound. This message is one of hope, healing, restoration, and redemption. So shouldn't we share it with as many people as possible? Evangelism is taking the "good news" of Jesus and communicating it in a way in which someone can understand and appropriate the cross of Jesus in their own life. Communication may involve words like a testimony, or sharing a verse such as John 3:16. But communication involves much more than words, for it involves actions and attitudes as well. It was once stated by a well known evangelist, "preach always, and if necessary, use words." The way we live our lives projects a message to others. The question is, what and who's name does it project? In the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20 we see that because Jesus defeated the devil, he therefore has all authority in heaven and on earth. Based upon Jesus' authority, he therefore commands his disciples to "make disciples" and to "baptize" and "teach" them all that he has commanded. He concludes by offering a promise that he will be with them (and us) until the very end. Jesus both commands his followers to be committed to both discipleship (mentioned yesterday) and evangelism. People cannot become disciples until they hear the good news through evangelism. Evangelism therefore happens before salvation, and discipleship happens after salvation. God's purpose for our lives is that we share our faith with others. This may seem to be hard at first, but if we are to obey his commandments we must be willing to take that step. Jesus has promised us that he will be with us, and if we take the step to share our faith, he will give us the right words at the right time.
Applying Evangelism to My Daily Life
God gives each of his children gifts. Each of us, if we are Christians, have a gift in which God has given us to be used to reach others and minister to specific needs. Our past can also be used to be a ministry to others. Some of the most tragic, painful, and horrible things that have happened to us, can also be redeemed and used to reach others. You may think "no way, God could never take my past and use it." Yes he can! If we will allow for his Spirit to heal us and build us up in him, those experiences can actually become a "doorway" by which we are able to minister to those who are currently facing what we once faced. Most of us have a hard time getting beyond our own past to think that God could possibly use it to reach someone else. You may already be thinking of an experience already -- which maybe you haven't told anyone about. But if we will allow God to touch, heal, and forgive our past -- He can redeem our mess and use it as an agent of healing for someone else. What would have happened if someone you trusted came to you years ago, when the experience happened, and told you that they also went through it but God healed them and brought them through with victory. What a blessing that would have been! So here is the big question -- could you do that for someone else? Just think what a blessing you could be! Yes, you are a minister and God wants to use you. But we must all give God everything and ask that he can make things a blessing to others. Pray that God would both heal you and make you an agent of healing to someone else.
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