Some people seem gifted, they are like the Apostles on the day of Pentecost, boldly going forth to proclaim the Gospel and hope offered by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Then you might be like me, someone who was ignorant of the need for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Photo by Lucas Suárez on Pexels.com
There’s one thing you can do that will certainly help equip you to better act for God and that is to read the Scriptures with the intent on knowing who God is and thirsting to know what He desires His people to do.
But, if you don’t have serving Christ at the center of your intentions, the Bible will only serve your academic curiosity and not be the instrument of truth and change inspired by the Holy Spirit.
After surrendering to Christ, it takes time to move from the pagan, roulette wheel, Ouija Board manner of discerning spirit led directions that the world takes to understanding the will of the “higher power”.
One thing is for certain, God desires people to come to faith in Him for salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. And sharing Christ may mean acting without a sense of peace, while being confronted with fear and anxiety as many have been throughout the age of the Church.
Peter writes it sensibly:
13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 1 Peter 3:13-17
To reiterate, always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.
That hope resides in the crucifixion death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ, The Son of God, died for my sins and then rose from the dead, defeating death, so that through repenting of my sin and trusting in Him, I am reconciled to God.
What ultimately leads to action has much to do with the actual surrendering of oneself to the Lordship of Christ. Time as a Christian must result in the changes that come with being transformed by the Holy Spirt.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23. Yet changes must be rooted in the humility that puts Christ first before anything or anyone else. There is none worthy of worship but Christ, the Alpha and the Omega, the King of kings and Lord of lords, our great High Priest who intercedes for us at the right hand of God.
Matthew Chapter 7 is a warning to anyone who thinks they are a Christian Jesus but are missing the mark. The path to destruction is wide.
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. – Matthew 7:13-14
The way to hell has a sign that says “heaven” but it is as though satan, the master of lies and deception, has created counterfeit signs and is posting them in as many places as possible.
It leads to the most shocking truth. One of Jesus’s primary tasks in HIs earthly ministry was to enlighten people about truth about Kingdom of God, the purpose of the Parables were to address the Kingdom of God. To miss the mark of discipleship and evangelism lends itself to what Jesus taught: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ – Matthew 7:21-23.
When one is impacted by these teachings to the degree that it causes people to spiritually fall to their faces in submission to God (our inherent self-righteousness takes us that far off course). After surrendering, the subsequent process of discerning leads to daring to follow the Great Commission of sharing the Gospel.
For a one minute explanation of the Gospel, watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCP9UcC7BzE
For a review of the Ten Commandments: https://www.challenyee.com/the-ten-commandments/
CKY
P.S. Typos and all, I do not use AI.
12.9.23