RELEASING JESUS, July 18, 2021
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or to be used for a sermon group discussion. CLICK HERE to find a discussion group. Enjoy!
Sermon Title: Releasing Jesus: The Day Jesus Said, “No”
Main Scriptures: Revelation 13:16-18; Luke 8:38-19; John 4:39-41
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Pastor Coon showed us a Chart of the End Times for the purpose of helping us see the urgency for being ready and sharing the Gospel with others.
Teaching Notes:
Pastor Coon explained that chapters 4-18 in Revelation were not referencing the church but Israel and what was going to happen in the tribulation. In Chapter 19 he spoke of the Last Supper but it actually happens after the rapture while the treat tribulation is going down on earth.
Revelation 13:16:18
”It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.”
The Day Jesus Said “NO.”
What Would Jesus Be saying “No” To?
A temptation …
Taking something that’s not yours…
Breaking the Ten Commandments…
Disobedience
So what was Jesus saying NO to?
Luke 8:38-39 NIV
The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.”
The man who was delivered from the demons begged to go with Jesus. That was a good thing.
But Jesus told him “no” when instead he told him to “return home and tell how much God has done for you.”
Yes, we are called to follow Jesus and draw close to him; but we’re also called to take time to share our testimony.
It was important, while his testimony was fresh, that he shared it with others. They would see the difference.
QUESTION: What is Keeping Our Attention?
Remember the list from last week: “tired, bored, sickly, busy, scared, overwhelmed, distracted, discouraged, defeated, hurting, worried, nervous, in denial and self-absorbed.”
There is another list to consider:
Work, Friends, Chores, Shopping, Reading, Hobbies, Errands, Family, Sports, Cooking, Lawn Care, Cleaning, Church, Ministry, Pleasure, TV, Internet ETC….
Who has time to witness?
Who has time to spend with God?
The Man in Luke was admirable. He was excited and committed to follow Christ literally.
But something much deeper and profound is going on here.
This teaching and decision of Christ for all time was being Instituted on this day.
“Why did Jesus Come? “To seek and save the lost.”
So, what is Jesus saying to us?
IT’S TIME FOR US TO GO BACK
TO WHERE WE CAME FROM
AND TELL OTHERS
WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US!
It’s time to BE a disciple and witness!
Remember the two lists of things? (1) the things that keep us from feeling like we can witness? (2) The things that take our time so we feel like we don’t have time?
The good things, the necessary things in our lives can MOVE God out of the picture if we are not careful.
We can spend a lot of time being in church, doing ministry, being busy doing good things, taking another class, attending another Bible study; BUT we NEED to take time to RELEASE JESUS!!
If we are not careful, we let too much stand in the way of releasing Jesus.
Explanation:
This is a good list and necessary things in our lives but are we taking Jesus with us and releasing Him to those around us?
Are we looking for opportunities or just moving along?
Are we consciously aware of people and sharing Jesus?
QUESTION: How can we take Jesus into these areas of our lives?
Let’s keep coming and spending time soaking in His Presence and learn and get close to Christ FOR THE PURPOSE TO RELEASE CHRIST TO OTHERS.
Matthew 5:16
“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praise-worthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.”
Good behavior produces good works!
Good works produces good behavior!
This shows us that our growth in Christ should produce righteous living and good deeds that will glorify God and be a witness to others.
Matthew 28:19-20 NIV
”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, And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
All who are disciple of Christ are to make more disciples and teach them how to grow in their relationship through your example and sharing what you know from the Word.
Romans 10:13-15 NIV
For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And How can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How Beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
For people to be saved they need to HEAR the Gospel shared with them.
We have been changed by the gospel so we should not be ashamed to share the gospel because it has the power to transform lives.
Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes:”
THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON
The most powerful weapon God has on this earth is YOUR TESTIMONY!
John 4:39-41 NIV
“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony. “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers.”
It was the WOMAN’S TESTIMONY and HIS WORDS that many in the town became believer.
Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem to minister but he traveled through Samaria and stopped at the well. He took TIME to visit with the woman at the well.
Because he took time to get to know her and minister to her, she believed and became a follower.
She immediately, without any evangelism training or Bible study, went and shared her testimony and what Jesus has told her.
The Holy Spirit did the rest in convicting and drawing the people to Jesus.
Jesus then took two more days to stay with them and disciple them.
It takes more than our example; it takes our VOICE – your personal testimony.
Romans 8:28 AMP
”And we know (with great confidence) that God (who is deeply concerned about us) causes all things to work together (as a plan) for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.”
Pastor shared how has Kidney disease and had to start dialysis in December of 2020. God did not give him a bad kidney or cause this condition. But God is using my experience as an opportunity to RELEASE JESUS.
Releasing means “allow to be known” or “discharging an obligation or responsibility.”
To release Jesus we allow Him to be seen through our example, good deeds and through our testimony.
Pastor Coon Sr. considers himself a “Spiritual Medical Missionary”
God has given me a new assignment at the dialysis center.
Being an example through the way I treat the nurses and other patients. (being patient instead of complaining)
Being a witness by sharing Christ.
Praying and reading the Bible while there.
Praying for those coming for treatment and the nurses.
Nurses actually ask for prayer in front of others.
I’m just being Christian and God is doing the rest.
I’m just “Releasing Jesus!”
I live by the following:
WHEN YOUR NON-VERBAL TESTIMONY IS WHOLESOME
THEN YOUR VERBAL TESTIMONY IS CONVINCING.
Proverbs 11:30 AMP
”The fruit of the (consistently) righteous is a tree of life, And He who is wise captures and wins souls (for God – he gathers them for eternity.)”
Takeaways:
GOD NEEDS YOUR WHOLENESS – keep getting close to God for the purpose of releasing Christ to others.
GOD NEEDS YOUR EXAMPLE – good deeds – physical testimony
GOD NEEDS YOUR VOICE – testimony
WHEN WE DO OUR PART, GOD DOES WHAT ONLY HE CAN DO
Discussion:
What was one big takeaway for you from today’s message?
What is something new you learned, from the message?
What scripture verse stuck out to you and why?
How do we “release Jesus” in our lives at work? School? Our Community? Etc?
How might we be allowing good things to crowd out time to share our testimony?
Is there an area in our life that needs to be a better example so our physical example lines up with our verbal witness? (fruit of Spirit?)
What did you sense the Holy Spirit was saying to you during this message?
The most important decision you will ever make!
Are you ready to experience salvation and be transformed we encourage you to say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I see my sin and how wrong it is. I see how without Jesus I’m lost. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me from my sin, my past, this world, and your judgment. I repent, I turn away from that life and I put my faith and life in Jesus! Amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!