Just Be A Messenger
Writer Author Rodney Smith
Christian Article
:
Evangelism
- Fiction No
It's amazing how much literature there is on reaching the unsaved. Some is complicated. Many pages of intricate strategies - often comprising more than a thousand words - as to how we should approach people. Other literature is simple and direct, like the Four Spiritual Laws of Campus Crusade for Christ.
On a more subtle theme there is Friendship Evangelism, where we slowly try to gain someone's confidence by befriending them before slipping in a sentence or two about Jesus. That's OK, but what if they pass away while we're "making friends" and before we get in the vital words? It happens.
Flicking through the Gospels and Acts we see the disciples and apostles telling the truth no matter what the reaction - and sometimes it was nasty! They preached what they knew, whether people liked it or not. They were bold and courageous.
TELL IT
Looking at Mark 16:15, Jesus didn't put any conditions on his statement of "Go, and preach the gospel to every creature." He didn't say preach it only if they appear friendly. Jesus just said - preach it!
Romans 10:14 says: "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" People generally will not hear unless we go to them.
Having decided to be a messenger, we ought to seek God as to how we get the gospel across, and ask Him for awareness in how to speak and answer. Acting solely in our own strength makes it humanistic. We must be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, but at the same time we need a thick skin like the old-time outdoor preachers. They weren't much concerned at the reaction.
DON'T BE DISCOURAGED
Many a person throwing tomatoes or eggs - or verbal abuse - at the street messenger has been saved after going home and thinking about what they'd heard.
We should remember that apparent failure isn't always what it seems. God promises His Word shall not return unto Him void (Isaiah 55:11) and that verse (among others) provides the basis for taking the gospel.
Very often we won't see the results, but results there will be.
Billy Graham held huge auditorium meetings, some in sports stadiums. He finalized the message by asking people to get up out of their seats. He didn't have handlers walking down the aisles grabbing people. The Holy Spirit motivated them to make a commitment. Billy was the messenger, though a very gifted one at that. In the words of the old song, if we are "ready, willing and able," God will do the rest.
Ways to be a messenger? Preach on a street corner; hand out tracts, or leave them in trains, buses and phone booths; converse with people one-to-one.
After all our persuasive and elaborate tactics, we cannot convert anyone. The Lord does it via the Holy Spirit. Evangelism is going in the power of the Holy Spirit, and leaving the results to God.
Messengers: that's surely what God wants us to be.
Editor's Comment:
About the Writer Author
State:
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Email:
jesuslives@beagle.com.au
Website:
users.beagle.com.au/jesuslives
Profile:
Click here!
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