Recurrent Thought

Our Primary Response to the Power of His Resurrection is to Accept the Substitutionary Work and appropriate it for ourselves. Second, we respond by telling others about it.

The Resurrection Story informs us of how much God loves humanity. He loves human beings so much that he was willing to bridge the differences—between Him and them— with the Death of His Son. God has another desire, He wants the message of the Resurrection be told to all, so that all may have an opportunity to make a choice whether they want to have this relationship. To do this, God commands the Church—His missionary people—to broadcast this wonderful news (Gospel) to all Nations. 

Three ways of Responding to God’s Act of Love God as demonstrates by the Death, Burial and Resurrection of the Christ

1. We Respond by Obeying the Lord (Acts 26:19)
   • Indeed, the Resurrection of Jesus and its attending impact on humanity demands a grateful response from those who have experienced his saving love.
   • Apart from many other demands, the basic response that Jesus demands from his followers is obedience to his commands and charge. 
   • Jesus declared that those who love him, obey his commands and they follow him.
     Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him (John 14:21)
   • A strong response to the Resurrection is when we obey him and share the gospel to others.
   • One cannot but preach to others. Our testimony is that “the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”(Act 26:23)
   • The New Testament Church as shown in the Acts of the Apostles demonstrates this fierce obedience to the Command and Charge of Jesus. 
   • The narratives of the Early Church are told through the narratives (or stories) of six men: Peter (Ch.1-10); Stephen (Ch.7), Phillip (Ch.8), Barnabas (Ch. 11-13) and Paul (Ch.13-28). All the narratives reveal the Church that is obedient to follow.
   • We Respond by obeying the Heavenly Vision which centers on Wining Souls and Discipling Believers. Paul tells the onlookers that he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision (26:21)                                                   
2. We Respond by Enduring Persecution
   • Paul effectively states that his Faith in the Resurrection led to his arrest (26:6)
   • Paul shows how absurd it is to be arrested for having Hope in the God who raises the dead.
   • Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?
   • Paul says, I kind of understand this, because I persecuted believers before for being heretics and societal deviants (26:8-11)
   • I persecuted others for the Resurrection, now I too I am being persecuted for the same.
   • There are all forms of rejection that the witness of Jesus experiences. But don’t stop Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ
   • But Jesus showed me different. He rescued me from my madness as I went to Damascus to persecute believers (26:12-18)
   • Believing in the Resurrection May Attract Mockery. Festus described Paul as being out of his mind (Acts 26:24)
   • Your determination to preach the truth that people have not yet accessed may make them see you as a lunatic (mad).
   • If you are in the academia liberal practitioners will have a field day on your faith. 
   • But Paul declares he was totally sane. Act 26:25  But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words
3. We Respond by Passionate Investment into the Lord’s Mandate
   • Passion is a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something. Passion is fuel that drives action. It can be generated either in a good or bad heart. 
   • Passion is a good thing, but it does not exist “in itself.” It exists in a certain character, and where the character is imperfect or dangerous the zeal is imperfect or dangerous. But we speak(write) of good and harmonious passion that drives great achievements impacting nations. 
   • Passion has to do with my investment into the cause. The goal of Jesus is to seek and save that which is Lost (Luke 19:10). How much can you invest to go to others and deliver to the Lost?
   • The Holy Spirit empowers the Church to do the works of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit enables the church with the Power to speak and do the works of Jesus. He also inspires Passion to fervently do the works of God. The Holy Spirit is the chief inspirer of Passion
   • Passion is seen through our Actions. Those who are passionate about what the Power of His Resurrection has done for them, they must show it in their action. They must passionately honor and worship God. They passionately execute his mission of the Savior. 
   • What is the mission of the Church? Win Souls and Disciple Believers. Believing that the world out there needs what you have is the best motivation to propel you forward and create change. 
   • To fulfill what you are passionate about implies you invest what is necessary to make it materialize.
   • Proper use of the fuel of passion is critical to achieving goals. 
   • Remember, we start to reach out targets when our passions become our obsessions.  Jesus was obsessed with seeking the Lost until they are found (Luke 19:10). 
   • Paul’s Apostolic Trips are passionate ways in obeying the Lord
   • Paul was a passionate and obedient investor in the Mandate of Winning Souls and discipling believers. He wrote in 

Rom 9:3  For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

2 Cor. 12:15  I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?

How Much Are You Investing (loosing) in Winning Souls, and Discipling Believers?

Altar Time

• Give Me Grace to Respond appropriately