INTRODUCTION
Today we begin a six week series entitled “Becoming Contagious”. How do we, as believers in Christ become more contagious in making a difference in the life of one who’s life either does not show evidence of Christ or is unchurched.
A. WHY THIS SERIES
1. We All Have the Desire to be effective in influencing another for Christ.
a. Storms, Trials, Deliverance
b. Miracles of Prayer and Times of Call
c. Gift of Salvation
2. Satan does his part to make us feel:
a. Ineffective
b. Not Equipped – Don’t know enough
c. Not my responsibility
B. YOUR APPROACH TO “BECOMING CONTAGIOUS”
I’ve learned my approach to worship, Bible Study, etc. determines what I receive!
1. If I prepare through prayer, meditation, and expectancy
2. God always out gives my effort
3. If I approach Expecting to Receive God Outgives
4. The Same Applies to You
5. WE WILL NOT OUTGIVE GOD.
C. “THE STOCKPILE FACTOR”
1. TEXT: 2 KINGS 7:3-10
2. The Time Period
a. Barbaric
b. King Enlarging Territory or Protecting Territory
c. Walls around City
d. Gates Allowed Imports/Exports
3. The Setting: 2 Kings 6:24
a. “laid siege” “besieged” – Took control of Wall and the Gates to the City
b. Explain “famine” (Vs. 25, 27-29)
1. Siege so long it caused a famine
2. Selling a donkey’s head (unclean animal) for 80 shekels (approx. 50.00)
3. Selling a ¼ kab (1/2 pint) of seed pods, dove’s dung, dove/pigeon manure or green leaf, root but most say dove manure or dropping sold for 5 shekels (approx 3.00)
4. Cannibalism
4. The FOUR LEPERS
a. Leprosy was an infectious disease
b. An outcast of city, home, or farm
c. Lived in a Leper’s Colony or Camp Outside of City
d. Received provisions from a family member or friend who would leave at camp’s boundary.
e. The Famine effected them also!
I. THE FIRST STEP IS THE HARDEST
A. THE LEPER’S CONDITION - READ 7.3-4
1. Their situation seemed helpless
a. Guards kept family from delivering their provisions
2. They thought they were on their own
3. We’ve all gone through days of trial and tribulation that made our situation seem helpless.
B. THEY TOOK THE FIRST STEP - READ 7.5-7
1. Took the “First Step” having no idea of what they would find
2. God had set up their way (before they took the first step)
Bible says “God knows what we need before we ask”
3. Describe the Camp “left the camp as it was” (7)
a. Livestock
b. Food
c. Provisions
C. THE LEPER’S “STOCKPILE” - READ 7.8
All they were hoping to find is FOOD! But notice what they found!
1. The Tents
2. The Filling of Food (“Stockpile of Blessing”)
3. The Provisions were Hid – Their future secure!
APPLICATION:
1. How many are guilty of just that – hiding our stockpile of blessings!
2. God has given us more than we asked, and we may have even thanked Him but we’ve kept it to ourselves!
D. THE DAY OF GOOD NEWS IS NOW– READ 7.9
1. “a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves”
a. We need to remember “today is the day” We DON’T KNOW TOMORROW
b. Silence was an unthinkable crime at that point.
2. In VS. 10 they went back announced the STOCKPILE —and the city was saved.
ILLUSTRATION:
While running errands one day, a well-known pastor ran into a man from his church who wanted to share something with him. The minute the guy began talking, he started tearing up. He said, “God did something in my life over Good Friday and Easter that was so awesome in my life. I feel like I am just about ready to explode!”
What he was really saying was that he had a spiritual stockpile that was so huge and so wonderful, it can hardly be contained.
APPLICATION
1. When God’s People have a proper understanding of their spiritual STOCKPILE, they won’t be able to stop themselves from sharing!
2. The problem with God’s People today is that we are NOT MATURE ENOUGH to stand up to the schemes of Satan who does everything in his power to keep us from sharing the good news of Jesus.
3. We have forgotten WE ARE NOT ON OUR OWN.
READ ACTS 1:8
II. THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH – EPHESIANS 4
There is a lot of talk in the NT regarding our “Spiritual Gifts”. What I’ve come to believe in the church is that we really don’t understand those gifts!
READ EPHESIANS 4:7
A. Your Gifts of Enablement - Ephesians 4:7
a. Your Gifts of Enablement were given for Me!
b. My Gifts of Enablement were given for You!
c. VS 12 “works of service” – Our WITNESS
1 John 4:17 “love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment because in this world we are like him”
d. We become “like him” through the church so that in the world, we are not like the world but like Him!
B. Growth in ALL THINGS - Ephesians 4:15-16
a. The Church TOGETHER grows the INDIVIDUAL so he/she can be God’s WITNESS!
APPLICATION
- Jesus said that “you are going to receive power”. You’re not on your own.
- The Holy Spirit is going to make you an effective witness by ENABLING YOU through THE BODY WORKING TOGETHER TO ACT LIKE HIM WHEN IN THE WORLD!
Maybe we need to remember what the world is FACING without JESUS. We need to be reminded…
III. THERE IS A LITERAL HELL
JESUS’ ENTIRE MINISTRY SHARED “THERE WAS A LITERAL HELL”
You know, I hate thinking and talking about this, but the plain truth is that hell is real and real people go there for eternity! The reality of hell was a major theme in the ministry of Jesus.
1. LUKE 16 – PARABLE OF THE “RICH MAN AND LAZARUS”
a. Rich man dress in purple and fine linen & lived in luxury
b. At his gate, there was a beggar named Lazarus
1. Illness that covered him
2. Poor and longed to eat the food from the rich man’s table – crumbs
3. Both died. The poor man had accepted God’s forgiveness. The Rich man did not and ended up in hell.
c. Describe VERSES 23-26
d. READ VERSE 27
APPLICATION
1. May none of us ever forget the stakes are sky high! We’re not playing games! We’re not playing church! It’s eternal life and eternal death that hang in the balance.
2. Isaiah 66:24 (MSG)
24 "… Maggots endlessly eating away on them, an endless supply of fuel for fires…"
The reality of hell should move all of us to understand that we are GOD’S “PLAN A”.
SUMMARY
So, How Will YOU use God’s “STOCKPILE OF BLESSING”
Will you Hide it because You are Protected – You’ve been blessed?
Or will you Take That First Step and “Become Contagious”
1. The Day of Good News is NOW and we need to Be Contagious!
Understand YOU are God’s PLAN A in sharing the Good News – The STOCKPILE GOD HAS PROVIDED FOR YOU!
2. Understand the Role and Importance of The Church!
Yes it is for your worship but YOU are also for another’s maturing so that they too can be more contagious!
3. Remember the Is a Literal Hell
Where the worm never dies
The fire never stops
“THE REWARD OF LEADING SOMEBODY TO CHRIST.”
Ray Boltz sings a popular song called Thank You. Some of its lyrics go this way:
I dreamed I went to heaven, And you were there with me
We walked upon the streets of gold, Beside the crystal sea
We heard these angels singing Then someone called your name
You turned and saw this young man And he was smiling as he came
And he said friend you may not know me now
And then he said, but wait; You used to teach my Sunday School
When I was only eight.
And every week you would say a prayer Before the class would start
And one day when you said that prayer I asked Jesus in my heart
The song continues telling how many were influenced by this person’s life:
CHORUS
Thank you for giving to the Lord; I am a life that was changed
Thank you for giving to the Lord; I am so glad you gave
I Love the Ending:
And I know that up in heaven You’re not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure There were tears in your eyes
As Jesus took your hand And you stood before the Lord
He said, my child look around you - For great is your reward
For me, it’s really NOT ABOUT THE REWARD. But rather to here Jesus look at me and say “THANKS FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE”! THANKS FOR BEING CONTAGIOUS!
