This is a continuation of the previous lesson I started in a post emphasizing the importance of getting serious about your faith in Christ in these last days and to take seriously the fact of eternity and its consequences for people who do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Silence as a Christian is not an option. The Great Commission that Jesus told us to undertake is still a standing order (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8), and too few followers of Christ know how to share their faith or have kept silent for the most part due to fear or other matters that in the long run are nothing more than excuses which will not hold up in the light of Christ’s judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10). I encourage you to go back and carefully read the previous post on evangelism and ministry to understand my concern. I have been just as guilty of not sharing my faith, and I want to both teach and encourage you to go out and tell people about Jesus. What I want to do in this post is to give you help in knowing where to start using your gifts and talents for the LORD, especially in sharing the Gospel with others.
The best place to start any work for the LORD is right where you live. Your place of work, your school, your club, your church group, and your own home are perfect areas. Why? You are familiar with the area. Jesus started His ministry in the region of Galilee, where He lived and worked. Paul started preaching the Gospel in the very city where he was supposed to have hunted down and arrested Christians (see Acts 9 for details). The apostles were told to remain in Jerusalem until the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2). Only then were they allowed to share the Gospel with their fellow Jews from all areas of the Roman Empire, fulfilling the first part of Acts 1:8.
Before the LORD used people like the late evangelist Billy Graham (1918-2018) in worldwide crusades and campaigns, he started preaching in little churches around Tampa, Florida and other towns getting experience and learning hard lessons about the attitude of people who did not want to hear the Gospel. Dr. Graham started in obscurity and over time, became more well known and used of God to reach millions over a nearly seventy-year ministry. His reputation and character never wavered. He remained a humble servant of God, and is a role model for not only preachers, but any follower of Jesus Christ to imitate. God’s greatest servants have operated in obscurity and anonymity yet have brought about a harvest of souls and results that will only be known in the annals of eternity. Obscurity builds honesty, trust, faith, determination and discipline. Ask the LORD where you need to start, and for His guidance in shaping your character, reputation, and devotion. Nothing happens without full surrender to Christ and His leadership. Prayer and the study of the Word of God are of utmost importance in your life. This should be common sense thinking to any serious believer.
Verses for further study and reflection: Luke 21:14-15; John 16:5-15; Acts 17:16-34; James 1:2-4
The core and foundation of any evangelistic message is the Lord Jesus Christ, not your pet doctrine, ideology, opinion, works, or anything else of this world system. Just a reminder before you go out and share the Good News.