The Function Of Fellowship

 

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on July 11th 2021 by Colin D via zoom. For the audio please click here.  To listen to the worship please click here.

THE FUNCTION OF FELLOWSHIP

 

Last week we looked at the importance of fellowship. As a church, we have the mission to reach the lost. Reaching the lost is like raising the dead. People without Christ is spiritually dead. The Bible says that they are hostile to God.

Our job is to tell people about the Gospel. God will bring them to life.

Sharing the Gospel is a great privilege. We gather every Sunday and at gyms where we hear God’s word through the worship and the word so that we will be transformed.

Throughout the week, we are scattered into the world. Jesus had two aspects of his life – His relationship with His Father and his ministry among people. Jesus came for the lost. He died, rose again, and went to heaven. But he passed on the baton of sharing the good news to us. There is no sharing the Gospel in heaven.

Most people are not keen on sharing the Gospel. Imagine if we had two seminars: ‘How to be blessed’ and the other on ‘How to share the Gospel’. Which one do you think most people join?

God has saved us for a purpose, and we need to remind ourselves of this.

Remember your history/heritage, i.e., the history of the church. WE are part of God s family. Acts 1:15 120 gathered. And after Pentecost, they were 3000. Acts 4:4, the number of men grew to 5000 (not counting women and children).

Act 5:28 – The high priests and authorities told them not to preach in Jesus’ name. Even today, it’s the same thing. Authorities and religious people are against the Gospel.

Acts 6:1 The number of disciples was increasing, i.e., rapidly multiplying

Act 21:20 Thousand of Jews came to faith.

 So, this is in our genes and our heritage. So let faith arise in our hearts. The Gospel is potent and has the power. Rom1:16 It is the power of God for everyone who believes.

Rom 10:9 – this is how the Gospel makes a difference in peoples lives. If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved.

Rom 10:14- People need to hear the preaching of the Gospel. You and I need to share the Gospel with people. This is our primary call. We are blessed to be a blessing.

2Cor 5:18 – All this is from God who reconciled us from God and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

2 Cor 5: 20 We are Christ’s ambassadors and have been given the ministry of reconciliation.

There are some things that we need to do

PRAY FOR WORKERS

Matt9:35- 38 – Jesus went through towns and synagogues and proclaimed the good news, healing every disease and sickness. HE had compassion for the crowds. This is our model. People are hopeless, helpless, and harassed. Jesus said that the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. As we pray, things will begin to happen.

PRAY OPEN DOORS

Col 4:2devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful and pray for us too that God may open a door for our message. We need to pray for opportunities. Pray for who you can invite to Friendship Sunday. Pray for your friends when they share their troubles with you.

Col 4:3

PRAY FOR OURSELVES

When we came to Pune 20 years ago, we spoke to anything that moved!!! We took every opportunity to befriend people and eventually share the Gospel with them. And God opened doors for us.

1Pet 3:15 Always be ready to answer everyone who asks for the hope you have but do this with gentleness and respect. We need to learn how to interact with people. We need wisdom.

 PRAY FOR THE LOST

John 6:44 – Jesus says no one comes to the Father except through Him and unless the Father draws them. So we pray that the Father will draw them to Jesus.

2Cor 4:4 tells us the God of this age has blinded their eyes so they cannot see the light of the Gospel. We need to pray for them. We do not know how long it will take. God will bring them to salvation in his time. Our responsibility is to be faithful in sharing the Gospel.

Pray for them when they are sick. Stephen was an ordinary man, and he moved in signs in wonders. God expects that from each of us.

PRAY FOR THE WORD TO SPREAD

2Thes 3:1 – Pray that the message of our Lord may spread quickly. Along with the spread of the Gospel comes persecution. It is like a gift that comes with gift wrapping paper. So, we also pray for protection.

We need to persevere. Which knock breaks the coconut? The first or the last? Each know played its part. You may sow the seed, another waters it, but God gives the growth.

 You and I have a great history and legacy that goes back to Abraham. We need to pass it on to the next generation. The Bible says he who wins souls is wise and will shine like the stars.

 

Amen.

   Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is a part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.