Here is where you can find the video: https://www.facebook.com/RichlandNaz/videos/271255693897475/
Today – I want to hear what God is doing in your life. What is God saying to you, through reading your Bible, maybe through listening to someone speak, or maybe through a book you’re reading? Share that with me.
I hope that you are plugging in to the resurrection power of Jesus through intentionally asking the Holy Spirit to plug you in. Just like a lamp needs to be plugged into electricity and the switch then turned on, we need to be plugged into Jesus – and that’s through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, He turns on the switch for us. Here is another example of what it means to be plugged in.
John 15:1-8 (NIV) “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
If I understand this Scripture, sharing the Gospel is not about what we know, it’s not about what we can memorize, it’s not about our abilities in any way shape or form. None of that is what makes it possible for us to do what God needs us to do to spread the Gospel; yep – I said needs.
This is how God has planned all of this. Now you must know that I’m with you if you’re thinking couldn’t God have found a better way than to speak through you and me to spread His Good News? But – would that have worked? Wouldn’t God presenting this all Himself, right in front of us every day be better?
Well – remember, that didn’t work with the Israelites. They were afraid of God so they made Moses the go between them and God. And then when he came back from speaking with God, they were frightened because his face glowed. Moses had to wear a veil.
So yes – people talking to people – is what God needs to spread His Good News. But here is where I think we get scared or shy or uncertain. We want to all give this message out to people wonderfully wrapped with a bow – the perfect presentation of the Gospel, and none of us are Billy Graham.
I said yesterday that we need to realize that God made you the only you there is. And right now my mom is in Harrington thanking God there was only one of me – right mom?
But seriously God made you, to be you and we don’t have to be someone else – we have to be who God created us to be. And as far as I can see, that Scripture we read earlier, said if we are going to bear fruit then we have to be connected to the vine. It said nothing about abilities
So – how are you connecting, are you reading or listening to your Bible? The You Version app is awesome for this. Put on some headphones and you can listen to a lot of Scripture.
One way you’re connecting is listening to this live stream. I’ll bet – if I were a betting man – that you listen to others live stream too. How about sharing in the comments today, what you’re doing to connect with God. That is one way we can help each other. I see these comments and have realized maybe what you have realized we all struggle with similar things. Now, it may not solve the struggle, but it shows we are not in this alone – by ourselves – I’m not the only one who struggles with this.
I say (and write all of this because), God doesn’t call us to write these wonderful, inspiring sermons and preach online like televangelists to lead our family, friends, and neighbors to Christ. As far as I can see, this sharing the Gospel thing is simply this, we need to as a branch - stay connected to the vine. And when the subject comes up simply talk about what God is doing in your life, how is He working in you today?
And remember as you go through today, share something in the comments about what God is doing in your life today. What is God showing you about you?