It’s Time to Enlarge The Family - Stacy Siedlecki

It’s Time to Enlarge the Family
Stacy Siedlecki – 11-28-06

Everyone has a job to do.  Everyone has a mission.  Some can be specific and some can be generic.  Either way, we all have something that we need to be doing.  A lot of people feel that their mission is something special and personal.  Well, regardless of that, there is at least one thing that we all have in common.  As a moving body of believers, we all have something that we are supposed to be doing.  What’s my job?  What’s your job?

Matthew 28:19-20

What’s the first word in verse 19?
                GO
Not “when you get a chance”
Not “when you’re feeling up to it”
Not “when I find the time in MY busy schedule”
It’s just a flat out blatant statement.  GO.
It’s a command.  Jesus Christ was not suggesting something to them.  He was commanding them to do something.  We have been told to be doing the same things.

That word teach is the Greek word

Math-ayt-yoo’o
It means to disciple.  To instruct or to teach

To Disciple by Webster’s definition is to teach or to train.  We aren’t just supposed to throw the word out there and hope that it sticks.  Were to disciple young believers, or people who are just receiving the word for the first time.  Or even the second or third time.  Sometimes it takes 22 different believers opening their mouth for the word of God to stick with some people.

Also, it says “all nations” 
So not just your family or your friends who know you really well.  It’s all people.  It’s the clerk at the grocery store.  It’s the woman at the coffee house.  It’s anyone and everyone.  Because all people need the word.  People want and desire to be delivered and you have the answer.  You have the keys.

Also, take note of what it says in verse 20
“I am with you always”
He is always with us.  So if you have the opportunity to speak to someone.  You don’t need to fear.  God will give you the words.  He will tell you what to say, when to say it, and how to say it.  It’s truly a wonderful thing to have.

I Corinthians 3:7-9

God will bring the increase.  Not you.  Not your fellow believers.  Not the guy on the pulpit.  God.  God is the one who will bring the increase.  But realize that God can’t bring increase to something that hasn’t been planted.  That’s where we come in.  We need to be out there in the field sharing the word.  We need to be out there on the battle grounds for our God.  It’s going to continue to be a mystery if it’s no revealed to someone.  It’s revealed in the word and we are Stewarts of that word. 

People don’t have to open the word if they don’t want to.  But guess what, they can’t close your mouth!

It’s our job to make it known.  We learned that God is with us when we go to plant.  And that God is the one who brings the increase
IT’S TIME TO ENLARGE THE FAMILY

Acts 2:36-41

The people saw this and immediately asked “what do we do” Peter told them to repent and they would be filled with the Holy Spirit.  Then after this, it says in verse 41
     “And the same day there were added unto them about three thousand      souls”

Three thousand.  Not 3 or 30 or 300.  Three thousand souls.  That’s a lot of people that are going to be rejoicing with you in heaven.  But look at what it was that got them.  It was the proof.  It was the Holy Spirit being manifest.  People can say whatever they want and give whatever opinions they want.  And they can do it whenever they want.  But I don’t care who you are. 

No one can deny the love of God manifest in you!  No one can deny the Joy of God manifest in you.  No one can deny the peace of God manifest in you. 

YOU ARE THE PROOF!

If were going to do our job, we need to step out there like Peter.  We need to be preaching the good word and people need to see, be witness to it.  Be witness to the proof.

Faith cometh by what?
                HEARING
And hearing by what?
                THE WORD OF GOD
How are people going to hear if we don’t open our mouth?

Acts 6:1-8

Look at the reward.  Look at the outcome.

Acts 6:7 – and the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly;

The disciples didn’t just multiply.  They multiplied greatly.  Stephen had a job to do.  He did it and look what happened.  The word of God increased and the number of disciples multiplied.  And that came from serving widows.  Imagine what would happen if we, as a body, moved together to teach (disciple) people about what is in the word of God. 

Imagine the reward.  Imagine the outcome.  Imagine the deliverance!

In Acts 17, it talks about how the believers turned the world upside down.  (Or right side up).  We have the same Holy Spirit they did.  And just think, we are not going to get stoned for preaching the goodness of God.  We are not going to be killed for telling someone about what we have seen and heard. 

Acts 4:18-20

They couldn’t help themselves.  What else were they going to talk about?  Nothing.  They were going to do what was commanded.  Preach, teach and heal.  And that’s what they did.  And people got delivered.  Peter and John did their job and saw great things happen because of it.

Another great example is Paul.  Paul did his job.  And guess what, we just a happen to have that same holy spirit that Paul had.

Acts 22:6-15

God chose you.  God has called you to be his witness.  A witness of what you have seen and heard.  So what have you seen?  Well, I can tell you what I have seen in our home fellowship.

I’ve seen the love of God manifest in our fellowship
I’ve seen the Peace of God manifest in our fellowship
I’ve seen the Joy of God manifest in our fellowship
I’ve seen Healing take place in our fellowship
I’ve seen great faith in the people in our fellowship

What have we heard?
I’ve heard messages from God in tongues and prophesy in our fellowship
I’ve heard of great healings and great believing
I’ve heard of the deliverance in each one of us and in those we come in contact with. 
I’ve heard the word of God preached with great boldness and confidence. 

Here’s the thing.  I already know the mystery.  We can never be reminded enough of what the word says and what God promises in his word.  But he called it “the great mystery” for a reason.  We are the stewards of that mystery.  We need to do our job. 
In Eph 6:19, Paul asks the church to pray that he may speak boldly, to make known the great mystery of the gospel. 

You need to realize how important you are to God.  The ratio of “truth believers” to other people is probably a little weighed on one side.  You know the truth.  You know the truth of his word.  You know what that word and that truth can do for people.  But people are not going to be delivered by us hanging out in a cave somewhere having fellowship by ourselves.  God needs each and every one of us to go out and preach, teach, and heal.  To SPEAK BOLDLY that which has been revealed to us. 
 
I’m going to be lame and quote a movie. 
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
You have great power.  Therefore you have great responsibility.  To make the truth known.  To go out and be a witness like Paul.  To serve like Stephen and watch as God brings the increase.  I guarantee that we will see the church be multiplied.  We will see the fruits of our labor.  So I encourage all of you to make it a point to make known the truth each and everyday of your life.  If not by word, then by the Love, Peace, Joy and all else of God manifest in you.