Revolutionary Leaders

Amazing Race: Seriously!
(A supliment of our Wednesday evening service)

Act 20:24
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”

Those are some serious words about an amazing race. Paul was so serious about this race he said, “my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about God’s wonderful kindness and love” (New Living Bible)

Why was this race so important to Paul?
Why was he so serious about it?
What is he trying to tell us?

I think Paul was communicating to us the need to take seriously “the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” Seriously. Paul was a missionary! That was his job – to spread the message of Jesus.

An important thing to note here is who Paul was speaking to. Verse 17 (of Acts 24) tells us that he sent for the leaders of the congregation of the church in Ephesus. Paul knew that this was his last opportunity to speak with them. He was headed for Jerusalem and knew of the hardship and imprisonment he was to face. Paul was talking to leaders and he was telling them the most important and serious things that he could because he knew that this was goodbye.

We need to realize that our time is running short as well. The signs of the times are very clear. Jesus is coming back for his church real soon. We better be ready. We best be doing all we can to make sure others are ready as well.

It's a Serious time for harvest!
“Do you not say, ‘Four month more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (John 4:35).

The disciples were trying to get Jesus to relax and eat, to take a break. Come on, there are other things to do. Let someone else do it. How many times have you heard that whisper in your ear?

Look at the whole passage here as it reads in The Message transliteration.
“As you look around right now, wouldn’t you say that in about four months it will be time to harvest? Well, I’m telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what’s right in front of you. These Samaritan fields are ripe. It’s harvest time!
“The Harvest isn’t waiting. He’s taking his pay, gathering this grain that’s ripe for eternal life. Now the Sower is arm in arm with the Harvester, triumphant. That’s the truth of the saying, ‘This one sows, that one harvests.’ I sent you to harvest a field you never worked. Without lifting a finger, you have walked in on a field worked long and hard by other” (John 4:35-38, TM).

There are students in your school that are literally dying to hear that somebody cares. You have friends that are ready for someone to invite them to your student ministry's service or to a small group. There is a serious harvest out there and there is plenty for everyone. What are waiting for? Get in the race and take it seriously!