I am speaking at the Templo Cristiano in San Salvador, El Salvador. The theme of the convention is, “Having Received Holy Spirit Power, We Are Witnesses.”
My goal is to start the conversation with the absolute joy of Acts 1:8 being for us today. Almost unbelievably, God has chosen us to cooperate with Him in the redemption of mankind. We are co-laborers with God! WOW!
Following are my message notes.
Having Received Holy Spirit Power, We are Witnesses
The Joy of Being Chosen: God is Creating a People of His Own through Me
Have you ever wondered about the significance of your part of Christian mission? How do you have joy in the face of questions like…
• Is there any significance to my ministry?
• Could anything I do make any real difference?
• Does my faith promise pledge make any real impact?
• I have been a pastor at MCA Church for 29 years (1,508 Sundays). Does it make any difference at all?
Bad things happen when we lose sight of the significance of our part of God’s mission. When we lose the joy of being chosen…..
• We tend to give only part of our heart, soul, mind, and strength to the cause.
• We become mechanical and robotic rather than life giving and transformational.
• We save more of our self for our self rather than taking up the cross and giving our lives away for the cause.
• We lose the joy of the perceived risk of faith. Living within our limits removes the delight of seeing God come through.
God’s Bigger Plan Includes Creating a People of His Own
1. God is creating a people of his own in Adam and Eve. Genesis 1:26, 27
2. God is creating a people of his own in Abraham. Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 22:15-18
3. God is creating a people of his own in the Holy Spirit through you and me! 1 Peter 2:9,10
There is great joy in knowing that God has included you and me in fulfilling His desire for Adam and Eve and His promise to Abraham by including us in creating a people of His own.
Paul calls the joy of being included in making a people of God’s own, “the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:7
1. Ephesians 1:3 Blessed with every spiritual blessing
2. Ephesians 1:4 Chosen by God to be holy and blameless
3. Ephesians 1:5 The advantage of being adopted into God’s family
4. Ephesians 1:7 Redemption through his blood
5. Ephesians 1:7 The forgiveness of sin
6. Ephesians 1:9 Knowing the mystery of God’s will
7. Ephesians 1:10 The advantage of unity with Christ and all things on heaven and earth
Now we have Biblical answers to our questions.
• Is there any significance to my ministry? Yes, God is creating a people of his own through me!
• Could anything I do make any real difference? Yes, God is creating a people of his own through me!
• Does my faith promise pledge make any real impact? Yes, God is creating a people of his own through me!
• I have been a pastor at MCA Church for 29 years (1,508 Sundays). Does it make any difference at all? Yes, God is creating a people of his own through me!
Great things happen when we remember that God is creating a people of his own through us:
• We tend to give all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength to the cause.
• We are not mechanical and robotic; we are fully life giving and transformational.
• We take up the cross and giving our lives away for the cause.
• We discover the joy of the living beyond our human limits by faith.