We exist to glorified God, and what glorified God the most is making disciples of Jesus.
Disciples are the people who follow the word and the way of Jesus, and from the great commission, we learnt that every
Christian are commissioned to make the disciples of Jesus.
This morning we focus on incentive, which means something that motivate or inspired us to do things.
So, regardless what stage in life we are now, children, college students, athletics, adults, we have this incentive
to move us forward to do something. Incentives are helpful because they motivate us and inspired us do what we
need to do, although the task is tough and hard.
We need to be aware of the incentive that inspired us to do what Christ has called us to do.
"Christian are called to be Christ's witnesses"
This is not a new idea, however, knowing what we called to do and actually doing what we called to do are two very
different things. Most of us knowing what God wants us to do, is to make disciples, but many of us struggle to put
that into an action, and obey that commandment.
Act 1: 6-11
Why Witness?
Why should we do that?
4 Incentives(motives) For Serving as Christ Witnesses
1. The Promise of God's fixed plan v.6-7
Disciples came to Jesus and asked him about when is He restore His Kingdom, they have been asking these questions throughout the journey
with Jesus. They still thinking God will restore a political and military Kingdom and back to Israel. The problem is, that's not Jesus' point,
no matter how many times He reminds them, they still don't get it. Jesus still kind, graciously, and patiently answered them that no one
knows God's timing. God has fixed the time of Christ returns, so we shouldn't be worrying for that, but instead, our job is to trust Him, and
tell others about this good news. Even angels, and Jesus, don't know the exact day, that's mean today could be the day that Jesus returns.
We should be urgency because it could be Today.
2. The assurance of the Spirit's empowering. v.8a
Jesus promised that they will receive power with the Holy Spirit.
Disciples had been through lots of failure, so when Jesus wants them to take the Gospel to the end of the earth, they doubted it, and that seems
so much for them. It seems like they were given an impossible task, that sounds frustrating. Jesus gives every Christian the Holy Spirit
dwelling and empowering them to everything He called them to do.
The same God who created the world, who conquered the grave, He promise that He will walk through with us.
3. The clarity of the Christ's command. v.8a
They will have to spread the Gospel from Judah, Jerusalem, Samarium to end of the world.
Witness means testify what they have seen and faced, or what they believe that's true, or the event that they have experienced. That's
what God exactly calls his origin disciples to do, and same as us too. By telling others who Christ is, what He has done, and what His
promises. We are not called to be Savior, or changer of people, or Messiah, we are just called to be witnesses.
If you have experienced God's grace in your life, you can tell people about it, that's what witness does.
When we think about evangelism, we tend to stop in front of that, we afraid to do it wrongly, or we afraid how people see us and
judge us. We just over complicated it.
If you are worrying what to says, here are 3 Essential Gospel Elements.
1 Corinthians 15：3-4
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried,
that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
- Christ died for our sins.
- Christ buried with our sins.
- Christ rose again conquering our sins.
4. The anticipation of Christ's return. v.9-11
Knowing Jesus will return will fill us with joy, because we have the real and eternal hope. We should share it out because one day
when Jesus returns, we have to stand in front of Him. We shouldn't just think about what that day would mean for us as a
Christian, but thinking about that day would mean to those who are not. That should flood our heart with compassion, and we
should warn them before that day comes, and we should witness the only true hope that's found in Jesus.
Not just stand before Christ, but we also have to gives the account for our faithfulness.
Specific to this calling: Christ witnesses to the world.
Will He says to us: "Well done, my good and faithful servant." ?
Challenge:
Don't let another opportunity goes by without telling them about how good Jesus is and everything He had done to our life.
When Spirit prompts, let's obey;
when He opens a door, let's walk through it;
If He presents us an opportunity, let's seize and grab it.
Carry the Truths to the next generation.
PS: Sorry for late update, this took me a little longer to arrange.
20th November 2016 record
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