Sharing Is Caring
Pine Valley United Methodist Church Pastor Barry’s recent video devotion was shared by his wife, her sisters and their friends. Word got back to Pastor Barry that a nurse, out of state, had received the devotion and it brought her much peace. The ripple effect is wonderful! Pastor Barry said God is still teaching him what God intends is much more than we can comprehend. God is so much bigger than us!
So many PVUMC members have sent cards, notes, and letters of encouragement to homebound members and those who have lost loved ones recently. Some members have made masks for friends, neighbors, and healthcare workers. Some members have provided meals for homebound and bereaved neighbors. Great job spreading the Gospel, church!
We are told throughout the Bible that we are to spread the Gospel. Matthew 28:19, "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..." Psalm 96:3, "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples." Mark 16:5, "He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’" Mark 13:10, "And the gospel must first be preached to all nations."
While we can't open someone's heart to God's Word, He can. Apostle Paul was not eloquent but God used him in a mighty way because Paul depended on the Holy Spirit to guide him. You can’t open someone’s heart to the truth of the Gospel—but God can, by His Spirit. The Apostle Paul wasn’t eloquent, but God used him because he depended on the Holy Spirit to guide him. Moses asked God to get someone else to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land. Jonah did not think the Ninevites deserved God's mercy and tried to run from God. But they were all obedient. Even then, God did not call the equipped, but equipped the called. We are still being called to share what God has done for us. God's last words on earth were from Matthew 28:19, "Go and make disciples of all nations.” God is not asking us to share but commanding us to share our faith."
Sometimes we do not feel worthy to share what God has done for us but the Holy Spirit will guide us. ! Corinthians 2:1-5, "And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power." Wow, with the Holy Spirit we do have supernatural powers. We can do things that we could not do on our own!
I believe God sends people in our paths that need to hear our stories. I like the way John Acuff says it, "Sometimes God redeems your story by surrounding you with people who need to hear your past, so it doesn't become their future." Maybe if someone would have talked to us prior to our big mess ups, maybe we would have done things differently. Some people are hurting so bad that we have to do more than preach a message to them. We have to send a message to them.
This is our purpose. To enrich the kingdom of God. To be the church. Exodus 9:16, "But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." Let's be witnesses in Wilmington, and in all North Carolina and the United States and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth." Let's declare Deuteronomy 32:3, "I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!" Christ’s resurrection offers a promise of renewed life. Go out and spread the good news, for Christ has risen! Easter continues whether our church doors are open or not! We are the church!!