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| Message Type: Immediate Listen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Click Here To Hear Message Now | Click Here To Request Message on CD | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Spread The Flame" (Matthew 5:14-16) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Originally Delivered: January 24, 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Message Length: 32 min. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract - Where 2009 was the year of "Personal Spiritual Growth", 2010 is the year for even more personal growth. 2010 is a year for "Making a Positive Difference In Someone's Life In The Name Of God". It's the next natural step in personal spiritual growth. You have received everything necessary to be bold for Jesus - now go out and do it! While Pastor Don is away on a missionary trip in the Dominion Republic Elder Steve delivers a message about being the salt and light of the world, as Jesus commands us to be. Are you ready to take the next step? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Message Outline Introduction: Last week Don spoke about Fanning The Flame God gave us gifts – Roman 12: 6 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Fanning the flame – II Timothy 1: 6 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
He spoke about leaders leading – I want to point out some of Jesus’ leading . . .
Jesus spoke about “we” being the “salt” and “light of
the world”.
Verse 13 Jesus illustrates using the effectiveness of salt Jesus is essentially saying in verse 13 - Just as tasteless salt lacks value to the person who uses it, so does a professed disciple (Christian) without genuine commitment to go out and spread the gospel have no value to Christ. Verses 14-16 Jesus illustrates using light · Light is a tool we use daily, and like salt, it’s abundant!
· You are the light of the world. o Up to this point the world was full of darkness. Meaning there was no way of eternal life because we are sinners and fall short of God’s glory. But as a child of Christ (we claim to be Christians so show it) we have accepted the light and now must pass it on. § The Light is “truth” § The Light is “wisdom” § The Light is “salvation through Jesus” § The Light is “living with love and harmony” § The Light is “the tool for spreading God’s Word
§
The Light is “YOU” · A city on a hill cannot be hidden. "For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us; so that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall shame the faces of many of God's worthy servants . . .” John Winthrop - aboard the Arbella
· Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. · In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. o Jesus calls us to be his light to the nation and the whole world. o Isiah 42: 6-7 I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. o A disciple whose life reveals none of God’s works is like invisible light for vision: useless. Claiming to belong to Christ means we must want to spread his commitment of eternal life, because . . . This is what he commanded us to do. Matt 28:19-20Therefore 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."
Paul J. Bucknell (Biblical Foundations For Freedom) In verses 13-16 Jesus turns to His disciples and spills out the heart of His mission. Jesus is taking God’s truth and power and placing it in some feeble, fumbling disciples. He knows He Himself will one day be leaving, but through the Holy Spirit [He] will be living in these same disciples (and in us!). People will not be able to say, “Look - there is Jesus.” We cannot do this today. His disciples after a few more years would not be able to do this. The key to all of this was that Jesus was turning the mission over to these very disciples that were just learning what these commandments were, let alone have mastered living them out. Lake Country Christian Church’s challenge for 2010 . . . · To be a light in the community in the name of God · But in all cases – make sure they know your efforts are being done in the name of Jesus · Help church leadership identify programs to help those in need o Bite-The-Bird Program o Give away 50 turkeys This week think about whose life you are going to improve in 2010 · 2010 is the year that Lake Country Christian Church needs to get on fire for the Lord in our community.
Make me a city on the hill Fill it with the strength to do thy will Make my spirit yearn With the fire of love you burn Oh make me shine like a city on a hill Taylor Armerding
“Get on fire for the Lord and people will come out to watch you burn!” |
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