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Hey everyone and welcome to The Refinery.

Go tell it to the mountains is the theme for the next few Sunday mornings, and emphasises the need for modern day followers of Christ to broadcast the good news that was proclaimed so dramatically at the time of His birth.

Today’s message is, The Motive for Telling the Good News.

Scripture Reading

Acts 8:1-8 NKJV

Saul Persecutes the Church

1 Now Saul was consenting to his death.

At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

Christ Is Preached in Samaria

4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.

6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.

8 And there was great joy in that city.

Introduction.

The angels hung out over the battlements of heaven to announce the good news that Jesus Christ was born.

It is interesting to study the book of Acts and discover the dynamic enthusiasm of the early followers of Christ as they gave testimony to Him.

Today lets consider the various incentives the motivated them to share the good news.

Persecution motivated them to share the good news.

At first the church’s members were al Jewish.

Jesus came to a group of people who were a little clannish, even cultish, and restricted in their world view.

They found it impossible to believe at first that God loved the whole world.

Soon, the pain of shock of persecution thrust them out of the city of Jerusalem into other areas.

Our Scripture tells us that everywhere they went, they shared the good news of Jesus.

The fact that they did not necessarily go because of a great love for a lost world might seem a bit difficult for us to understand.

If anything, this fact should cause us to consider the motives behind our own efforts to share the good news.

2. The joy of being bearers of good news motivated them to share the good news.

Acts 2:41-47 NKJV

41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,

45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,

47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Acts 5:42 NKJV

42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

No one likes to be the bearer of sad news.

No one like to share the information that someone has died or is terminally ill.

But we love to be the bearers of good news!

The gospel is not good advice, it is good news from God about the fulfilment of His plan for salvation.

This was such great news that once the early church grasped its implications, they could not remain silent.

They were motivated by their joy in the privilege of being communicators of the good news.

3. Their personal relationship with Jesus motivated them to share the good news.

Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

The early followers of Christ shared the good news as a personal response to the authority of their crucified but risen and living Lord.

The Lordship of Jesus Christ was real to the early disciples.

They recognised Him as Lord over nature.

They recognised Him as Lord over the demonic.

They recognised His as Lord over disease.

They recognised Him as Lord over death.

They recognised Him as Lord over their very lives.

To the early Christians, bearing witness to Christ was not optimal, it was imperative.

4. The leadership of the Holy Spirit motivated them to share the good news.

The book of Acts is a success story.

It declares the success of the early followers of Christ as they shared the good news of Christ under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

5. The exclusiveness of the gospel motivated them to share the good news.

The early Christians believed that all people away from Christ are lost from God and do not know the way home.

Salvation is found in Christ alone.

Acts 4:12 NKJV

12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Conclusion.

With the dynamic enthusiasm of the early Christians, we also should share the good news with others.

As Christians, one of our formats desires should be to lead others to faith in Christ.

Romans 10:15 says, And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

Because of compassion and the command of Christ, we should do with great joy.

Until next time

Stay in the Blessings

I really want to encourage you to be diligent with your Bible study time, because God has so much more for us than we can get from just going to church once or twice a week and hearing someone else talk about the Word.

When you spend time with God, your life will change in amazing ways, because God is a Redeemer.

Theres nothing thats too hard for Him, and He can make you whole, spirit, soul and body!

You’re important to God, and you’re important to us at The Refinery.

When it comes to prayer, we believe that God wants to meet your needs and reveal His promises to you.

So whatever you’re concerned about and need prayer for we want to be here for you! Or even if you just want to say Hi, you can contact us at www.refinerylife.org

2024 IS A YEAR OF DECISIONS AND OPEN DOORS

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