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(Matthew 22:35-40)
I. Introduction.
A. Orientation.
Last month,
We watched four Alistair Begg videos
On different aspects of evangelism,
To encourage us in our need to be engaged in it.
He showed us:
Why we can be confident that the Spirit will bring the new birth:
Because Hes in control
Hes the One who brings the people He does across our path,
That Hes intending to save.
B. Preview.
This evening,
I want us to consider a few things
That the Lord may use to motivate us to reach out more.
Motivation is so important:
Without it, we have no desire no want to
If theres something we really want to do,
Its difficult to stop us
But if theres something we dont want to do,
We just wont do it,
Unless and until enough force is applied.
We know this is true from experience.
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When we have it,
Its amazing what we can do.
II. Sermon.
A. So what are some of the motives we have for this work?
We saw a couple of things from Spurgeon the other night.
One is: this is reason He made us.
Spurgeon writes, God has formed us for Himself that we may show forth His
praise. The main end of a Christian man is that, having been bought with
precious blood, he may live unto Christ and not unto himself.
That Jesus has promised to help us: we dont have to be afraid of man.
We saw this morning,
He is the Good Shepherd who goes before His sheep:
When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him
because they know his voice (John 10:4).
He told His disciples, when He gave them the Great Commission,
And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matt. 28:20).
Thats why Peter can write, Do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled
(1 Pet. 3:14).
There is nothing those who reject the Gospel can do to us
That Jesus is not willing to allow for our good.
Hes even given us His Spirit to give us courage.
Paul writes to Timothy, For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power
and love and discipline (2 Tim. 1:7).
We dont have to be afraid:
Jesus is with us.
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silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each mans work will become evident;
for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself
will test the quality of each mans work. If any mans work which he has built
on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any mans work is burned up, he will
suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire (1 Cor. 3:11-15).
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Jesus said, YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL
YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR
MIND. This is the great and foremost commandment (Matt. 22:37-38).
Why should we love Him with this kind of intensity?
Because of who He is: the infinitely beautiful and glorious God.
And because of what Hes done for us:
Because He made us in His image.
Because when we were His enemies,
He loved us and sent His Son to die for us.
Because He adopted us into His family.
Because He takes care of us every day
He watches over and protects us.
Because one day He will bring us to heaven
Where He will bless us for the rest of time.
God deserves that we love Him in this way.
And if we do love Him like this,
We wont find it hard to endure the little bit of difficulty we will face,
For doing what He calls us to do.
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We shouldnt want that for our neighbor.
If we were walking by a pool and saw someone drowning,
We would do what we could to save them
How much more
When we see people all the time
Who will one day sink down in the lake of fire
Where they will suffer for eternity?
H. Finally,
How can each of these motivations
Have a stronger impact on our evangelism?
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