Sermon Central
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The Obedient World Christian
Contributed by Timothy Finch on Mar 7, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: The purpose of this message is to convey the importance of allowing the believer’s Christian values impact the world.
The Obedient World Christian Is:
17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life." 21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin-- the full assembly of the elders of Israel-- and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, 23 "We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside." 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were puzzled, wondering what would come of this. 25 Then someone came and said, "Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people." 26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. 27 Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood." 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead-- whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." (NIV)
I. Seriously in tune with God’s heart for the world.
A. Entire world remains lost apart from Christ.
B. Entire Word reveals God’s desire to be known, loved, worshiped and praised by all the peoples of the world.
C. Entire work results from God’s compassionate love and comprehensive commission.
II. Significantly informed about God’s blessings in the world.
A. God’s wonder working power.
1. During 1998-99 year more than 30,000 turned to Christ in India during evangelistic efforts.
2. During 1998-99 year in a restricted country, one death-row inmate met Christ and led 42 others the Him.
3. During 1998-99 year in a major Muslim nation, 200,000 New Testaments were distributed.
4. During 1998-99 year the first Christian radio station was approved for Cambodia.
5. During 1998-99 year in Brazil, 326 people accepted Christ when they heard the Gospel.
6. More than 10,000 baptisms a year take place in the Ukraine.
B. God’s worldwide purpose:
1. Readying the populations of the world.
2. Revealing the person of Jesus.
3. Redeeming the people who turn to Him.
C. God’s wise plan (Acts 1:8).
1. Cleansing, commissioning Spirit comes upon you...”
2. Changed, chosen servants for His missions (“you shall be my witnesses.”).
3. Clear, concise scope of His mission plan.
a. Jerusalem: the near people.
b. Judea: the neighboring people.
c. Samaria: the neglected people.
d. The ends of the earth: the next people... and the next, and the next until all peoples have heard the Good News of Jesus. (Herb Hodges)
III. Strategically involved in bringing in God’s harvest.
A. Praying consistently to the Master of the harvest. The harvest is ready (Matthew 9:37-38)!
B. Participating consistently in the ministry of the harvest. It is ripe (John 4:35)!
Do you not say, ’Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. (NIV)
C. Praising continually with the multitudes of the harvest. It is rich (Revelation 5:9-10)!
9 And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." (NIV)
