2011-04-03
Sharing the Gospel and Your Life as Well
Removing the Obstacles
David Wagner

A. Introduction
1 Thessalonians 2: 3 - 4
"...approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel..."

2 Corinthians 5: 18 - 6: 2
God is on a mission

Isaiah 5: 1 - 4
Vineyard "love" song.
"What more could have been done?"

Two kinds of fruit:
Internal
External

B. Background
1 Peter - spiritual growth/trials
2 Peter 1 - list of virtues - godliness leads to ministry that flows out of love
2 Peter 1: 8 - Productive and effective life for His kingdom?
It will cost us: 1) Internal, and 2) External

Colossians 1: 24 - 25 - It's for the church
2 Peter 3 - Our lives show what we really are believing!
Daniel 11: 32 - Growth will lead us to action for His purposes
"...the people who know their God will display strength and take action."

Nehemiah - even building a wall - (Isaiah 26: 8) Baruch... Nehemiah 3: 20
"For what will I rise up, and be zealous?" Is it for the purposes of God?
1 Peter 5 - the call of the shepherd

C. Review
1 Thessalonians 2: 7 - 8 - "...not only the gospel of God, but our very lives as well..." Fruit!
Internal fruit → external fruit... they got it! (1 Thessalonians 3: 10)
Proverbs 29: 18 - "Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint (perish)"

Principles of gospel sharing:
Teaching core truths
Matthew 28: 20; Luke 24; FF; "...hearts burned...")

Sharing your life as well
Proverbs 21: 22; Proverbs 11: 30; Proverbs 25: 27; Proverbs 21: 26;
Proverbs 12: 12

Developing partners and co-laborers
2 Timothy 2: 25; Proverbs 11: 24 - 25

Praying as if the others depended completely (pray until you pray!)

Responding to the promptings of the Holy Spirit (as for them!)

Solitude and intimacy with God (keeps right focus)

D. Removing the Obstacles

He left us a vineyard
Song of Solomon 2: 15 - catch the foxes, ruining it!
Nehemiah 13 - Tobiah, cleanse!
Unbelief - Abraham/Hagar/Ishmael → Abraham/Isaac/offering
But, what about you?

Self-deception - Who do I want to please, really? Let's stop deceiving ourselves.
2 Timothy 3: 1 - 9; 2 Peter 2; Jude 8 - 16
It's flesh. Is that what people are drawn to?

Surrender - whose mission am I really on? (What dominates my time, thinking, spending...)?
Die to self.
Romans 12: 1 - 2 - Life of Christ seen.

E. My Response

Ebenezer... 1 Samuel 7: 3 - 12... Philistines!
Malachi/Haggai - "I blew it away!"
Jeremiah 44: 11 "My face against you" Humility
2 Chronicles 7 I shut up the heavens, but humble and pray...
Isaiah 57 - 58 I will heal and give you peace... 1 Chronicles 29: 10 - 19