Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:20 (NASB)
A good friend of mine asked me a “simple” question: what do I like best about street preaching and evangelism. I have to admit I had a really hard time answering this question because there is a lot I like about the topic. If it wasn’t for me meeting a street preacher witnessing in NYC I might be still stuck in a heretical church. It was through this preacher and his friendship thereafter that God used and is using to make and help me grow in my Christian walk.
After some time I did answer and I said that for me, the “best” thing is knowing that we have been handed the “cure” to share with everyone. I say “best” because as a Christian we know both the result of taking that cure, eternal life through Christ; or rejecting it, eternal life in hell.
I know many folks would have a problem by me calling the work of Christ a “cure”, but I like it so sorry.
I know many folks would have a problem by me calling the work of Christ a “cure”, but I like it so sorry.
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."
Mark 16:15
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
Matthew 28:19
A lot of times it is pride that stops us flat when it comes to sharing our faith. Do I know enough? Am I too outspoken? Soft spoken? Am I, am I, I am….etc. It is these internal questions, while some are good to ask, that usually stop us before we go to share. Jesus says that we should share the gospel everywhere “while going”. This is a command to all Christians to share the Gospel of Jesus with everyone we can. Does this mean that I think everyone should be on a street corner preaching? As great as that may be, I do not think that should be. But we all have coworkers, family, friends, and neighbors that very well may not be believers who we should be sharing with. But what is stopping us?
Those questions we ask ourselves stem from our pride. We ask because we are looking at our own abilities to properly convey the message because we feel that if we just deliver it a certain way or use the right words we will have an “instant save” and that person will be converted. By asking and making questions like these our main focus we are not relying on the saving power of the Gospel and God, but ourselves to save. How full of ourselves do we have to be to know what God commands of us and know that “hearing comes by the word” and not do it?
Some us are constantly fighting our own selves over the work of evangelism and in each of us there is a fear of man, especially in the days that we live in; but it is not an excuse not to. How can we fear man who can kill the body and not fear God who will send both body and soul to hell? How can we love man made in the image of God and NOT tell them what Jesus has done?
As I am finishing up this post 50 people were murdered and over 50 others were injured in a horrific killing spree in the name of Islam. This occurred in a homosexual club/bar in Florida. We can probably assume that these people, made in the image of God, were celebrating in their love of sin and denying God. How many of these people woke up in eternity to judgement and hell? Tragedies like this should fuel us even more. Jesus said that He is the only way to see God and the only way to heaven. How many of these people might have been saved if someone were preaching outside or preached to them through the week prior to the events on a street corner?
God is sovereign. We know that without a doubt, but were they confronted with the cost of their sin during their last days or are we just expecting them to go into a random church and pick up a bible and read it for themselves? Seriously, what are the odds of that happening?
Those questions we ask ourselves stem from our pride. We ask because we are looking at our own abilities to properly convey the message because we feel that if we just deliver it a certain way or use the right words we will have an “instant save” and that person will be converted. By asking and making questions like these our main focus we are not relying on the saving power of the Gospel and God, but ourselves to save. How full of ourselves do we have to be to know what God commands of us and know that “hearing comes by the word” and not do it?
Some us are constantly fighting our own selves over the work of evangelism and in each of us there is a fear of man, especially in the days that we live in; but it is not an excuse not to. How can we fear man who can kill the body and not fear God who will send both body and soul to hell? How can we love man made in the image of God and NOT tell them what Jesus has done?
As I am finishing up this post 50 people were murdered and over 50 others were injured in a horrific killing spree in the name of Islam. This occurred in a homosexual club/bar in Florida. We can probably assume that these people, made in the image of God, were celebrating in their love of sin and denying God. How many of these people woke up in eternity to judgement and hell? Tragedies like this should fuel us even more. Jesus said that He is the only way to see God and the only way to heaven. How many of these people might have been saved if someone were preaching outside or preached to them through the week prior to the events on a street corner?
God is sovereign. We know that without a doubt, but were they confronted with the cost of their sin during their last days or are we just expecting them to go into a random church and pick up a bible and read it for themselves? Seriously, what are the odds of that happening?
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
2 Timothy 4:2
How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Romans 10:14-17
We are all the sent of Christ. We are all preachers of the Gospel of Christ. What are we really saying if we refuse to preach? Are we saying that the goodness of God isn’t good enough to share? Well maybe we don’t think that but that is the picture that we are showing the world. We are saying that Jesus is Lord in my life, but I can choose what I want to follow of His commands and with that He really isn’t Lord. That is pride.
We MUST be humble to evangelize. We MUST be humble AND evangelize. All power has been given to Christ and He commands us to GO and while GOING. Don’t feel comfortable on the box, then hand out a tract. Tracts are a wonderful resource to deliver the gospel and can be handed to anyone or left anywhere for someone to pick up.
Don’t like those but are good at conversations then get in some individual conversations on the street, at work, at the grocery store, where ever, but just PREACH. Get the gospel out there and the Holy Spirit, not you, will do the work in a person’s soul. We are just called to deliver the message and not held to make the message work. That is the work of God, not us.
We MUST be humble to evangelize. We MUST be humble AND evangelize. All power has been given to Christ and He commands us to GO and while GOING. Don’t feel comfortable on the box, then hand out a tract. Tracts are a wonderful resource to deliver the gospel and can be handed to anyone or left anywhere for someone to pick up.
Don’t like those but are good at conversations then get in some individual conversations on the street, at work, at the grocery store, where ever, but just PREACH. Get the gospel out there and the Holy Spirit, not you, will do the work in a person’s soul. We are just called to deliver the message and not held to make the message work. That is the work of God, not us.
Mitchell Lebron
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