Many times I’ve met people for a brief 5 or 10 minutes in the waiting room or random places. Selfishly thinking about myself and why I was there, I failed to see the opportunity God was presenting. Every time you meet someone, it’s our duty as Christians to speak the truth to them. It’s like knowing that someone’s going to fail at something and not warning them.

We are to do as God has commanded. God has brought us here to spread the good news. Think about how lost you would be if God hadn’t used someone to preach to you?

“UNSELFESHNESS” should be an important word in our Christian walk. Jesus is our greatest example, since He laid down His life in the most unselfish act. So, next time don’t be afraid or timid. Satan can rob great blessings this way, great miracles that God is trying to perform through you!

Encouraging each other is something that the disciples learned from Christ. It’s so important that you be attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. There are days that you’ll share a word with someone and it happens to be the exact word that they needed. As humans we are weak, we get sad, emotional and we fall. How great is it that we don’t have to be alone though? We have God the father, the son, the Holy Spirit and our brothers and sisters in Christ. For someone to feel alone that’s a lot of company to have!!

Reading these verses in Acts, God spoke to me. We need to encourage and help each other, no matter how busy and no matter what situation we might find ourselves in. Paul understood this, He went to such lengths that they landed him in jail. All Paul did was help a woman in need. Paul travelled to revisit far away places just to re-encourage his new brothers and sisters. Paul realized how important it was to go back and re-affirm their faith in Christ, lift them up in case they had fallen and strengthen their relationship with God.

OK! Before I forgot let me mention this: There will be some people however, that God will instruct you to stay away from. Acts 16: 6…’The Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at the time’. Some people are used strategically by satan to come and destroy you, be very careful and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom.

Ok we’re back!! So, what a cool job we have huh?? God has given us the power through His word to encourage and help one another. This word really spoke to me, as I have so many friends and family members in need of help. I have made it my responsibility to help them and encourage them, to be a light in the dark place they find themselves in. Not just to encourage the non-believers though, but also my brothers and sisters like Paul did. This is just one of our duties and responsibilities as Christians.

God did many great things with Paul, but this was because Paul was obedient and listened to Him. If you want God to use you in this way, You have to be willing to go to great lengths to do the work of God!!

Let’s look at the life of David for example. When God called David, God used him to win many battles and do great things in his time. However when David attempted to build a temple for God, God told him that he wouldn’t be the one doing it. 1 Chronicles 22:8 (NLT) “But the lord said to me, ‘You have killed many men in the battles you have fought. And since you have shed so much blood in my sight, you will not be the one to build a Temple to honor my name.” David could’ve taken the attitude that many Christian leaders take now and days. He could’ve said No to God and complained, and given God a million reasons why He should be the one to build the temple and not his son. “This kid doesn’t know anything!” he could’ve said, But David understood that the temple had to be built and if God was choosing his son to do it than who was he to question God?.

Accepting that there is a new generation rising up can be hard, because as humans it’s hard to adapt to change. It’s difficult to let go of something you have worked so hard for and hand it down to the next generation. Trusting God and having faith is key in this process.

David’s attitude toward God’s command was to do everything and anything in his power to help his son get the Temple built. In 1Chronicals 22 and 23 we read how David spoke with His son and instructed him. David helped prepare the things needed to build the temple. Instead of fighting change David helped it.

David prayed for his son this prayer 1Chronicles 29:18-19 (NLT) “ O Lord, the God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, make your people always want to obey you. See to it that their love for you never changes. 19.Give my son Solomon the wholehearted desire to obey all your commands, laws and decrees, and to do everything necessary to build this Temple, for which I have made these preparations.”

Notice how David recognizes God as a generational God by mentioning past generations. The question now is do we recognize our God is a generational God? Do we pray for our children and youth in the manner that David did? Let’s pray for our future generations so that God may rise them up as wise leaders of this nation just as he did Solomon. Let’s not fight the change that comes from God, but help it like David did. I pray that God may utilize them in His divine plan and continue to be a Generational God.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…”

Before Jesus left this Earth, He left us with a mission. It was a mission to win the world. It is because God has always been interested in conquering the entire world, to bring back the original status of man. This commission that He left us with has a two way deal. The first deals with us and the second deals with how we will deal with those we come into contact with. So lets begin.

1. You. Before we can begin winning the world, you have to win yourself. Have you completely given your life to God? Have you really had an encounter with God to the point where you can leave your sins behind? We cannot go preaching a gospel that we don’t believe. Do you really believe what the Bible says? You need to be in line with the Word of God in order for this to take effect. We cannot just be hearers of the Word, we need to be doers. Jesus spent His whole life trying to teach and minister the people that were suppose to set the example to the entire world. But they didn’t get it, only a group of 12. He gave Himself to them for about three and half years teaching them everything. He had to correct them and teach them a lot of stuff that religion didn’t teach. He had to reprogram their minds and hearts. When it was time for Jesus to leave, they were ready to reach the world. And as soon as the Holy Spirit fell on them, that’s exactly what they did. They conquered the known world. But it began as a personal transformation. You really need to evaluate your life. You have been chosen for this time, its time to get up and rise to your calling. This is where we know who the real men and women are. In times of trials, great leaders are born.
2. Make disciples. After you have surrendered your life to God, it is easier to go out there and win. The problem is that some are sacred to be leaders because that will mean they have cut back on some “white sins”. In order to make disciples, you need to be a disciple first. For you to have authority, you need to be under authority. There is a process in becoming a leader of nations. When you have gone through that process, it’s easier for you to help others go through it. So we have this calling of making disciples, the question for us is, when will we become disciples? We have to let go of pride and submit ourselves to a leader. We all need someone to learn from. When you submit yourself to an authority, you learn to leave behind all those childish and arrogant ways. You learn how to depend on God and less of you. Everything you learn will help when you become a leader. Making disciples has a lot to do with you. You will reproduce yourself into others. That’s why Jesus spent so much time with His disciples. He made sure that when the time came for them to train others, they would be like Jesus. And what an impact they made. Would you say that your disciples are like Jesus? Or better yet, is your life a reflection of who He is? God’s plan involves that we reproduce the image of Christ in others.

God desires for the world to be saved. He also wants the Church to produce disciples that will impact the world. With just a few, God was able to shake nations and kings. I believe He wants to do it again. Will you be a disciple of Christ and make other disciples of Christ? It’s our time now!

In Acts 3 (please read first), Peter and John show us an excellent example of how words that activate faith can make  a world of difference in a persons life. In verse 2 we see that a crippled man was begging people for money in front of a temple. When Peter and John approached the crippled man, Peter spoke words that the man was not expecting:

“Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Acts 3:6 (NIV)

The crippled man was expecting a donation, but what he received was much better! I’m sure money wouldn’t have helped the crippled man’s condition, perhaps it would have given comfort, but only for a moment.

Giving something material, many times may be easier than activating faith with your words or actions. Its the idea of introducing someone to the giver instead of the gifts that can change a life.

However, it doesn’t end with words but with action. Later in the chapter we see that after Peter spoke to the crippled man, he took an action:

“Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.” Acts 3:7 (NIV)

The crippled man might have been thinking that Peter was crazy, until Peter started to help him up. The man must have started to think differently at that time. Perhaps his thoughts were “Could it be? Maybe today is the day I receive a miracle! Yes, it must be!”. When he did get up, he was instantly healed. His faith had been activated!

Peter’s faith in Jesus must have rubbed off on the crippled man through his words. I invite you today to do the same. Find a way to activate faith in the name of Jesus in another person’s life.

“By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.” Acts 3:16 (NIV)

In this verse, as in many others in the bible, we can see a clear distinction that God makes between sheep’s and goats. The question is, which are you? Is there a clear distinction between you and a nonbeliever (One who does not believe or have faith, as in God or a philosophy)? Well, keep reading and you will find out.

First, lets take a look at why God refers to humans as sheep’s and goats. There is a huge difference between a sheep and a goat. There should always be a difference between us and nonbelievers. We shouldn’t act, speak or think alike. We should always strive to be the light, to be different and be an example. Sure, we will always make mistakes, but everyday we can choose not to repeat those same mistakes and learn from them instead. It’s important to live our lives so that people know us as Christians, not because we say we are, but because they see the way we live. Sheep are sheep because they look and act like sheep. Goats are goats because they look and act like goats.

John 15:18-19 (NIV) “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you”

Sheep and goats face challenges differently though. If you look closely at the life of a goat, whenever it has to face a challenge it runs away, it rebels against its master and runs off alone. Sometimes for us it’s the easiest thing to do too, to runaway. I know I’ve said many times “maybe if I left the country or the state, all of my problems would go away.” and as nice as that would be, it’s just not true. So unpack your bags, you’re headed for quite a journey.

So what about sheep? when they face a challenge they like to do it together, they stick together and they look for their master for guidance. As a team, we need to stick together. We are called to care for each other, pray for each other and lift each other up. More importantly though, we need to look to our master who is Christ and be guided by Him and our Pastors/Church Leaders.

Another important distinction between the two is that sheep like multitudes of sheep and goats like leading sheep astray. Sheep become stressed out when they are separated from their flock members. Ask yourself, does it bother me at all when I miss a service? Or am I satisfied congregating once a month, or once a year? Have I conformed? As sheep it’s important to surround yourself with other sheep at all times. To influence and be influenced by other sheep.

Meat packers have an interesting nickname for goats. They will train an old goat and name him “Judas”. The purpose of this goat is to lead sheep to the slaughter house. In a congregation goats will divide it, leading the sheep astray. This is what happens sometimes within our church walls. Undercover goats work hard to lead sheep astray. It is something that needs our attention and needs to change.

Sheep also have good hearing. This tells me that as Christians we must be good listeners as well. I believe that a good listener is a good winner of souls for Christ. People want to be heard. Be someone that listens, someone that comprehends and brings people towards Christ. Not one that leads others astray. Don’t be like the goat that is capricious, impulsive & unpredictable. Goats don’t care about anyone but themselves and will trample you to get what they want.

If you want to be a sheep, start acting like one. If you want to be a follower of Christ, you have to be like Christ. This requires you to listen and treat others with kindness just as Christ does. Respect people and treat them as if they were Christ Himself.

So you decide, are you a sheep or a goat?

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