GOSPEL – PART 5 Video: WELCOME HOME
God is waiting…
And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to himmust believe that he exists
and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.(Hebrews 11:6, NIV)
What is God waiting for? (He is waiting for me to come, believe, trust and know His presence…)
What is essential for me to do in order to please God? (believe that He exists and rewards seekers…)
What does it mean for me to seek the Lord “earnestly?” (seek Him in a sincere and consistent manner…)
When have I faced circumstances which forced me to seek the Lord? Talk about it.
When I was forced to seek the Lord, to believe, trust and personally know the Lord? Talk about it.
“For I know the plansI have for you,” declares theLord, “plans to prosperyou and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.Then you will callon me and come and prayto me,
and I will listento you.You will seekme and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
(Jeremiah 29:11-13, NIV)
What is the condition for me to discover the Lord’s plan for my life? (I must seek Him with all my heart…)
What does the Lord promise me when I really call on Him and pray? (He will listen to me…)
What are the Lord’s promises and plans for me? (He promises to prosper me and give me hope and a future…)
Is thiswhat some call the “TV prosperity and wealth, everything-will-always-be-fine, gospel?” Discuss
this from both the life of Prophet Jeremiah and the life of Lord Jesus.
When have I known God heard my prayers and enriched me with hope and a future? Talk about it.
About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.
I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me,“Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” I asked.
“I am Jesus of Nazareth,whom you are persecuting,”he replied.
My companions saw the light,but they did not understand the voiceof him who was speaking to me.
“What shall I do, Lord?” I asked.
“Get up,”the Lord said,“and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.”
My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.
A man named Ananias came to see me.He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. . .
He said: “The God of our ancestorshas chosen you to know his will and to seethe Righteous Oneand to hear words from his mouth.You will be his witnessto all people of what you have seenand heard.And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptizedand wash your sins away,calling on his name.” (Acts 22:6-12, 14-16, NIV)
What is the background of this life-transforming incident for Saul from Tarsus? (he persecuted and murdered
believers and, even here, was on his way to arrest Christ-followers in Damascus…)
What caught Saul’s attention and led him to believe in “Jesus as Lord?” (his attention was captured by the
experience of the bright light and, out of that experience, he heard the voice of the Lord…)
Have I ever had anything like the “bright light” experience, like “the Lord’s calling my name?” Talk about it.
After Saul came to personal faith in “Jesus as Lord,” what was his response? (what shall I do?)
How did the Lord choose to share His personal plans for Saul? (the Lord sent Ananias, a fellow-believer to share
His plans for Saul…)
Whatplans did Ananias share from the Lord’s plans for Saul? (because Saul both saw and heard the direct
presence of the Lord, he was to become a witness to many people and became the Lord’s apostle to Gentiles…)
How did Ananias tell Saul to officially begin his life of faith and ministry? (be baptized & wash away his sins by
calling on the name of the Lord…)
The LORD is waiting for you…
…to come to Him tosee evidence of His presence and power
…to come to him to receive forgiveness and a vision of His plans for you What is YOUR response?