Scripture Acts 26:15-18
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:7-8, 11-13, 16
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Jesus call to a specific person from which we see the principal of God:
Acts 26:15-18 (A man named Saul, who was persecuting Christians…and had a vision of Jesus)
"Then I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?'
"'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied.
16 'Now get up and stand on your feet.
ORDERS: I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you.
17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan to (the power of) God,
so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
Jesus call to a specific person from which we see the principal of God:
Luke 19:7-10
All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'" But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham (FAITH). For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. (more faith in GPS)"
John 20:21-22
Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
When followers of Jesus fail to share the good news of Jesus with others what happens? Then all of us miss out on the joy Paul knew from seeing other people receive eternal life. AND the Zacchaeus’ of the world die without receiving eternal life from Jesus. It is like --- we become fishermen without catching any fish – OR we become fishless fishers:
A Parable of Fishless Fishers
Once upon a time there was a group of people who called themselves Fishers. They lived in a place where streams and lakes abounded and where there were fish in abundance. Week after week, month after month, year after year, the Fishers held meetings and talked about their call to fish, the abundance of fish and how to fish. Again and again they defined what it meant to be Fishers, defended fishing as an honorable vocation and declared that fishing was the primary task of Fishers.
The Fishers continually sought new and better methods of fishing and for new and better definitions of fishing “in a new day, in a new way.” They proclaimed “the fishing industry exists by fishing as fire exists by burning,” and were ever creating slogans such as “Fishing: The Task of Every Fisher” and “Every Fisher Is An Outpost of the Fishers’ Club.”
The Fishers sponsored special meetings – rallies – called “Fishing Campaigns,” held “Fishers’ Months” and held costly national and worldwide congresses to discuss and promote fishing, to hear about new fishing equipment and “fish calls,” and to learn what new, more effective fishing bait had been discovered.
The Fishers appointed committees and hired staff and held more meetings to define and defend fishing and to decide which new streams should be considered for possible fishing. But – the staff and committee members did not fish.
Large and elaborate training units were created for the primary purpose of teaching Fishers to fish. Courses were offered in the needs of fish, the nature of fish, the care and feeding of fish and how to approach fish. Many of the teachers had earned doctoral degrees in fishology. But the teachers still did not fish. They only taught fishing.
Year after year, many completed the tedious training and were graduated and given fishing licenses. Some were sent to distant waters that were full of fish. Their going inspired others to respond to the call to be Fishers. These, too, were commissioned and sent out to fish, but, like the Fishers back home, they never fished. They built power plants to pump water for fish, supplied tractors to plow waterways and traveled here and there to look at fish hatcheries.
Others who said they wanted to be a part of the fishing parties but couldn’t go contributed funds to enable real live Fishers to go and to furnish fishing equipment. Still others thought their job was to relate to the fish in a “good, kind way” so that fish would know the difference between “good” and “bad” Fishers.
Then, after one stirring meeting in which the necessity of fishing was preached, one young person felt a “call,” and soon after leaving the meeting actually went fishing. The next day the young Fisher reported catching not one but two outstanding fish. The other Fishers were overjoyed and began to honor the young Fisher for excellent work. They scheduled appointments for the successful Fisher to share the experience of success with others and tell other Fishers’ Clubs how to do it. Soon the new Fisher, much in demand as a speaker, quit fishing in order to have time to speak – and to serve on the General Board of Fishers International where his considerable experience could benefit everyone.
Now; I am sure everyone is inspired to go up to complete strangers and share the good news of Jesus. But maybe you feel having a pastor or spiritual leader telling you what to say would be best. With modern technology – this is now possible. Picture yourself witnessing to a total stranger for the very first time, but with help: WITNESSOLA VIDEO
In a fun way we see the absurdity of trying to do something we are completely uncomfortable with and unprepared for. What about this – what if we start with simply inviting people to a place where they can hear the good news of Jesus. What if we try a 12-month experiment and become the most inviting church in the Toledo area? A ministry team has begun that is looking at ways to make Oregon and Greater Toledo know we are even here. Mailers are going to be sent out to people who have just moved into the area. We are recreating a more attractive and inviting website. We are going to give guests a few priority parking spots. But there is nothing better than an invitation from someone whom the guest will see when they come to church for the very first time. As you invite and more people come to faith in Jesus, new gifts and skill sets are added to the ministry of our church and the more we honor Jesus and reach out in His name. There are many things we can do besides just inviting people to church, but let’s begin there – the Bible says – the one who is faithful with little, will be given much. Let’s do this one little thing – be faithful in it – and watch for the blessings of God.
Acts 26:16-18
'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness. I am sending you to people to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins by faith in me.'
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