Friends, I'm so excited this morning because God is speaking to us constantly through songs, testimonies, and words of encouragement. He's not done with us; He's speaking His living words into our hearts, and that changes everything. We aren't listening to the world's philosophies but to the living God who ministers to and builds us up.
This morning, I want to turn to Matthew chapter 28, verses 19 and beyond. In this passage, Jesus gives one of his final commands to his disciples before ascending into heaven: to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching them to observe all things He had commanded. The purpose was not just to have someone say a salvation prayer and then leave them, but to make them disciples—marking them through baptism and maturing them.
In Acts chapter 1, verse 8, Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were "endued with power from on high" and would become His witnesses. The Greek word for this power is "Dunamis," from which we get the word "dynamite". It's a powerful force that comes upon us when the Holy Spirit arrives. We might feel petrified or have many reasons not to share the gospel, but when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be empowered to preach the gospel to every nation.
Jesus said we would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world. The disciples initially stayed in Jerusalem, where they were comfortable, and a great revival was happening. They weren't moving out to Judea or Samaria, places God had told them to go. Sometimes, when God's movement happens in the church, we want to stay where we're comfortable. But the Lord is telling us there's a time to move out.
By "Judea and Samaria," I don't mean leaving Portland for another city; I mean speaking to the people in your immediate circle, then those a little farther away, and then those outside of your usual contacts. Don't think you only need to preach if you become a missionary in a far-off country. There are people in your circles who haven't heard the gospel or haven't heard it properly, and you need to speak to them.
When the persecution of Stephen began, the church in Jerusalem scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. But they didn't stop preaching; they went about and shared the word wherever they were scattered. The Lord used that persecution to get His people to move out and preach the gospel.
The Bible calls only one person "the Evangelist": Philip. He went to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them. Demons were cast out, and healings were performed at his hands. God told him to go to the road from Jerusalem to Gaza, and he obeyed. On that road, he found an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official, who was reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading, and the eunuch replied, "How could I unless someone explains it to me?". The eunuch invited Philip into his chariot, and Philip preached Jesus to him, starting with that scripture. When they came to some water, the eunuch asked what was stopping him from being baptized, and Philip baptized him after he confessed his belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Key Takeaways from the Sermon
God's Command to Make Disciples (Matthew 28:19-20): Jesus commanded his disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." This isn't just about conversions; it's about helping people grow in their faith.
The Power to Be a Witness (Acts 1:8): Jesus said, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." The Greek word for this power, "Dunamis," signifies a powerful force, like dynamite, that empowers us to share the gospel.
Moving Beyond Our Comfort Zone (Acts 8:1): "On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria." The disciples were comfortable, but God used persecution to get them to spread the Word beyond Jerusalem, showing us we must go beyond our own circles.
The Power of Obedience (Acts 8:26-40): The story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch is a powerful example of obedience. Philip was told to go to a specific road, and he obeyed. His obedience led to a divine appointment, and the eunuch, who was reading from Isaiah, came to believe and was baptized. Our obedience can have a profound impact on others.
Our Message to Share: We should be prayerfully prepared to share the gospel. The core message is summarized by:
Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Ephesians 2:8-9: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."
We must mix these truths with our own life testimony because that is the easiest and most powerful thing to share. The message God puts in your heart has the power to touch others.
Homework for the Congregation
I want to give you some homework. Last week, I asked you to write down the names of people to pray for daily. Now, I want you to go and prepare what you will say to a person you need to talk to. Write it down, and be ready to share.
Your message doesn't need to be exactly like what others have said, like what Peter spoke at Pentecost or what Philip shared with the eunuch. Instead, you need to prepare prayerfully.
I am telling you prophetically that God will lead you to someone who needs to hear that message. Let's set aside our fear and doubt and ask for the Holy Spirit's prompting and empowering to go and share. As the Bible says in 1 Peter 3:15, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." And as we prepare, let us also remember the promise in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through him who gives me strength." Let's pray that the Lord will use each and every one of us to be His witnesses in our community and beyond.
