1 Thessalonians 2
I know that many believers are afraid to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people. Or at least many are very anxious about it. I understand that trepidation. But whether not we are gifted with evangelism, it is still a command of Jesus to us, and it is a core purpose and manifestation of love and our response to our own salvation. Matthew 28:18-20 reads,
“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
But many of us, leave evangelism to the two people in our church who are gifted. We say we don’t know how. Many of us associate evangelism with knocking on doors and asking, “If you were to die tonight, where would you go?” Many of us associate sharing the Gospel with men on street corners carrying signs that read, “Repent Today!” But evangelism, truly witnessing to the lost is not like that at all. And as believers we not only have the compulsion to share the love of Jesus with the world, we have the ability and the authority to do so. When Jesus ascended to Heaven, He didn’t leave us. He said He would be with us until the end of the age. His Holy Spirit came to us, indwelt us and fills us. (John 14:15-17). He makes it possible for us to testify to the awesome love of The Father. Verses 1-4 read,
“For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.”
The Lord entrusted us, He commended us with the wonderful Truth. This is a secret and a mystery to the lost, but it is not supposed to remain an enigmatic secret. Ephesians 3:4-13 says,
“When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.”
We don’t share the gospel because we want to impress the church. We don’t testify to the Lordship of Jesus Christ to please men. We do it because The Lord loves us so deeply and we want to please Him by giving Him what He wants, which is for everyone to come to know Him. (1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9). And sharing the Gospel does not always mean walking up to people at the bus stop and having a pre-scripted conversation ending in leading them in the ‘sinner’s prayer.’ Sharing the Gospel is done when people see how we respond to suffering. Witnessing is done in our relationships and conversations when we deliberately bring the conversation to Jesus. Evangelism is done through our acts of love and faith to people. Verses 5-8 say,
“For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.”
When we share the gospel we are not selling something. We don’t have to cajole people to like us. We don’t need to persuade anyone with sweet-talk. We are genuinely loving, kind, and giving as The Holy Spirit has made us to be. (Galatians 5:22-24). If we love The Lord then like Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, we desire people to come to Jesus just like God does. (1 John 4:7-21). We love Him and our desires align with The Spirit of God and not with our selfish flesh. (Philippians 2:12-13).
We witness by our attitude and love toward one another. (John 13:34-35). We mentor believers and make them disciples by our love toward one another. Verses 9-12 read,
“For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.”
When we witness, we don’t have to be fearful. We do not have to worry about not knowing how or what to say. The Holy Spirit will do the work. He saves, not us. The Holy Spirit emboldens us and even gives us the words to say. (Acts 4:23-31, Matthew 10:19-20). Verse 13 says,
“And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.”
There is persecution for believers today and it will only get worse as time gets closer to The Day of Judgement. But that is all the more reason to spread the Gospel, people need Jesus or they will burn in Hell. We will face opposition because Satan hates people, he is our enemy and he schemes and plans to keep people from the fullness of God. (1 Peter 5:8). As, the body of Christ in a world of people who do not know Jesus we need one another and we need to remain faithful witnesses and keepers of The Gospel. The enemy and his followers will experience the wrath of God. We can snatch the lost out of his hands and lead them to Jesus. Verses 14-16 read,
“For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!”
Do we love one another as Jesus loves us? Do we love people as Jesus loves them? If we do, we can’t let them walk to Hell without giving them a chance to know Jesus. If we do we can’t leave the newly born again as orphans without a way to know their Father more. We are responsible for dispensing the Gospel. Verses 17-20 read,
“But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.”
First of all, love people with the Love of God. Be bold and courageous, not fearful. Trust and obey the Lord. This is not a job for 1% of the church. This is a job for 100% of the church. We were given our gifts for a reason, which is the building up of the church. (Ephesians 4:11-16). How will people know Jesus of they never hear about Him. Romans 10:13-17 reads,
“For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
I know that many believers are afraid to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people. Or at least many are very anxious about it. I understand that trepidation. But whether not we are gifted with evangelism, it is still a command of Jesus to us, and it is a core purpose and manifestation of love and our response to our own salvation. Matthew 28:18-20 reads,
“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
But many of us, leave evangelism to the two people in our church who are gifted. We say we don’t know how. Many of us associate evangelism with knocking on doors and asking, “If you were to die tonight, where would you go?” Many of us associate sharing the Gospel with men on street corners carrying signs that read, “Repent Today!” But evangelism, truly witnessing to the lost is not like that at all. And as believers we not only have the compulsion to share the love of Jesus with the world, we have the ability and the authority to do so. When Jesus ascended to Heaven, He didn’t leave us. He said He would be with us until the end of the age. His Holy Spirit came to us, indwelt us and fills us. (John 14:15-17). He makes it possible for us to testify to the awesome love of The Father. Verses 1-4 read,
“For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.”
The Lord entrusted us, He commended us with the wonderful Truth. This is a secret and a mystery to the lost, but it is not supposed to remain an enigmatic secret. Ephesians 3:4-13 says,
“When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.”
We don’t share the gospel because we want to impress the church. We don’t testify to the Lordship of Jesus Christ to please men. We do it because The Lord loves us so deeply and we want to please Him by giving Him what He wants, which is for everyone to come to know Him. (1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9). And sharing the Gospel does not always mean walking up to people at the bus stop and having a pre-scripted conversation ending in leading them in the ‘sinner’s prayer.’ Sharing the Gospel is done when people see how we respond to suffering. Witnessing is done in our relationships and conversations when we deliberately bring the conversation to Jesus. Evangelism is done through our acts of love and faith to people. Verses 5-8 say,
“For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.”
When we share the gospel we are not selling something. We don’t have to cajole people to like us. We don’t need to persuade anyone with sweet-talk. We are genuinely loving, kind, and giving as The Holy Spirit has made us to be. (Galatians 5:22-24). If we love The Lord then like Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, we desire people to come to Jesus just like God does. (1 John 4:7-21). We love Him and our desires align with The Spirit of God and not with our selfish flesh. (Philippians 2:12-13).
We witness by our attitude and love toward one another. (John 13:34-35). We mentor believers and make them disciples by our love toward one another. Verses 9-12 read,
“For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.”
When we witness, we don’t have to be fearful. We do not have to worry about not knowing how or what to say. The Holy Spirit will do the work. He saves, not us. The Holy Spirit emboldens us and even gives us the words to say. (Acts 4:23-31, Matthew 10:19-20). Verse 13 says,
“And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.”
There is persecution for believers today and it will only get worse as time gets closer to The Day of Judgement. But that is all the more reason to spread the Gospel, people need Jesus or they will burn in Hell. We will face opposition because Satan hates people, he is our enemy and he schemes and plans to keep people from the fullness of God. (1 Peter 5:8). As, the body of Christ in a world of people who do not know Jesus we need one another and we need to remain faithful witnesses and keepers of The Gospel. The enemy and his followers will experience the wrath of God. We can snatch the lost out of his hands and lead them to Jesus. Verses 14-16 read,
“For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!”
Do we love one another as Jesus loves us? Do we love people as Jesus loves them? If we do, we can’t let them walk to Hell without giving them a chance to know Jesus. If we do we can’t leave the newly born again as orphans without a way to know their Father more. We are responsible for dispensing the Gospel. Verses 17-20 read,
“But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.”
First of all, love people with the Love of God. Be bold and courageous, not fearful. Trust and obey the Lord. This is not a job for 1% of the church. This is a job for 100% of the church. We were given our gifts for a reason, which is the building up of the church. (Ephesians 4:11-16). How will people know Jesus of they never hear about Him. Romans 10:13-17 reads,
“For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
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