2 Timothy 3:16-4:7 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
The church, “ecclesia”, is a body of “living stones” 1 Peter 2:4-5 “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” The body of Believers called to a person, Jesus Christ, and elected to salvation in Him, but also elected to a mission. A good Christian friend of mine, involved in street ministry, came by this week and asked me why, when we first accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are not taken up to Heaven immediately, unless God has ministry work planned for us (the children of God, born of the Spirit) still here in this world (the world system that is hostile to God)? John 17:16-18 “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”
The Christian church has many purposes, but evangelism is the first priority. We are commissioned by the Lord (Matt. 28:18-20) to engage our world, bringing the light of salvation to people waiting to hear the gospel. “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Do the work of an evangelist.” Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” The advancing of the kingdom of God is, essentially, the saving of souls. Every decision for Christ is one more soul in Heaven and one less in Hell. What else in life matters if there is no salvation?
Lately, the church has became known for what we are “against”, and there a many godly and holy issues that the body of Christ stands firmly against, like that which the Word of God declares “sinful”. The Bible is the authority and Christians must be faithful to what it teaches because it is the standard that truth & righteousness is measured by, but the church needs to also proclaim what we are “for”. The focus of the church’s message is Jesus. Sharing your faith is “sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ the Savior of the world", and the power is in the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12-13 “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Ephesians 6:17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” And this is the gospel message: Recognize that you are a sinner and deserve God’s wrath. But realize that by His love, grace and mercy, Jesus was sent by God to pay the price for the sins of the world and to save us, if we repent (regret & turn from our sin) and receive Christ as our Lord and Savior.
This side of Heaven, the battle for souls is priority one in the "good fight" of this race called life for the child of God, where we are not to sit on the sidelines but get into the game and run with all we have to the finish, always faithful to our Lord. Fight, finish, & faith.
Blessings, in Christ
Brian
3 comments:
I surely wish that you lived in in SW Washington! I would love to partner with your evangelistic zeal and energy as I plant this church in Longview! Your heart for evangelism can't be hidden. I love you for that.
I love the lost, but my gift is teaching and my passion is to teach God's people His word, including our responsibility to do the work of an evangelist.
God bless you brother!
Thank you Pastor Gregg for your enthusiasm and heart for ministry also. We all serve the same Lord God ans give all teh glory, honor and praise to Jesus. It is as important to equip the saints of the church for the Christian life as it is to seek and save the lost, and everything in between (plant new churches, community outreach, philanyhropy, provide worship, music, Bible study, discipleship and fellowship opportunities, missions, youth ministry,etc. etc. to use our God-given gifts reach and teach and preach for the Way, the Truth and the Life in Christ. God bless you and your ministry, for it is done in Christ's name.
Amen! We, believers, sometimes get so wrapped up in many activities for the church. Forgetting that the priority must be to reach out to those who are still lost. The way Christ had found us and reached out to us. God bless.
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