Sunday Words of Encouragement May 22, 2022

We continued to study Revelation in Sunday School on April 24, 2022. We were in chapter 13 and referred to Daniel Chapter 11, both talking about the future and a time of one world government.

Church service opened with worship, including the wonderful hymn, How Great Thou Art.
Our interim pastor continued his current series regarding Christ’s death and sacrifice with the message titled: "What Now?"

Pastor asked: Who is He? What did He Conquer? Matthew 28:19-20.
Zechariah 9:9 your king is coming.
The Disciples had been on roller coaster leading to the death of Jesus on the Cross. What now? Jesus appeared before them and gave them what we call “The Great commission”. This is an assignment to every believer. Go, enroll as student, teach, and tell the world. Make disciples then baptize them, teaching and giving instructions.
How do we fulfill our assignment? We must be doers, not just hearers.
These are three things the believer should do:

1. Carry your cross. daily. Matthew 16:24.
The cross was for the guilty. Our cross is the awareness of our sin. Psalm 51:3-4; the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life. Romans 6:23 - Jesus was innocent of our sins. Our cross is also our awareness of who we are in Him. Revelation 1:6.
Carry your cross AND follow Jesus. If we know the guilt, the debt He paid, the love He showed, then we should follow. We should choose to surrender our lives to Him. Corinthians 6:19-20. The message of the cross for the believer is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18. The saved are (should be) willing to surrender and suffer for Him.

2. Carry their cares. Galatians 6:2.
Meet others at the point of their need. James 1:27. Save some...leading them to faith in Jesus.
1 Corinthians 9:22. Pay attention to the cares of the lost.

3. Carry His conversation. Mark 16:15.
Preach the gospel. Proclaim, publish, share.
Pastor challenged us to share the message of salvation with others. Do not be ashamed. Romans 1:16.
It is our assignment. Message to family, friends, neighbors, and others. John 5:24, Glorify the name of the Father just as Christ did. John 12:48.
Let God use you.

I had this song in my list and it fits for me today: Stand!

Verse for Today:
1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV
Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Lord, help me to be surrendered to you; use me to spread your love and message of salvation.