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Hear current audio messages by Pastor Scott Burr at:
http://sermon.net/dayspringchurchag

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

“Opening Up Our Faith”

(part 1 of 2)

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20

If this is where the gospels ended we might be left to wonder just how serious Jesus’ disciples took these final instructions. However, we are blessed to have been provided with the Book of Acts that documents the tremendous lengths, extreme difficulties and painful trials the disciples went through to fulfill Jesus’ last directive.

I began to consider this week the great commission and was struck by the idea that His final instruction to His disciples was not only directed at them, but was for me as well. I began questioning how seriously I have been taking His departing words.
I rejoiced a couple of Sundays ago when a young man visiting our church gave his life to Christ, but as magnificent as it was, it pales to compare to the harvest recorded in Acts 2:40-41:

“With many other words he warned them; and pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about THREE THOUSAND were added to their number that day.”(emphasis mine)
Acts 2:47 goes on to tell us that the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. As I considered this, I realized that it is hard to do what the disciples did if we “compartmentalize” salvation to a Sunday morning experience. According to Acts 2:42-46 making disciples was an “every day” occasion:

”They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people and the Lord added to their numbers daily those who were being saved.”

Every day they continued to meet together in the Temple Courts. They ate together and took care of one another. They worshipped together and devoted themselves to the apostles teaching. Sharing their faith became an “every day” occasion. They shared their faith openly with one another and the Lord added to their numbers those who were being saved!

Pastor Scott Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/

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