Evangelism & Hope

I was stirred up last month to do a blog on evangelism. During a prayer session with JJ, I meditated on the Great Commission. The Lord began to impress on me with a revelation. Later that week, our boss asked JJ to do a podcast on evangelism with me. Then, my pastor asked us to preach on evangelism at my home church in Jacksonville. Looks like the Lord was stirring things up for a reason.

Anyways...Holy Spirit is downloading on me a Great Commission update. Matthew 28:18-20,

"And Jesus came and said to (the eleven disciples), All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

The disciples did life with Jesus. They followed him for three years and Jesus instilled his most prized teaching into these men. Before He went to Heaven He commanded them to teach others what I have commanded you. Commanded in the greek is entellomai which means to give charge, give command, or enjoin. Enjoin means to prescribe an attitude or action to be adopted. I read this and began to realize...the Great Commission is sharing what Christ has enjoined to me. What have I adopted in action and character? What has Christ instilled into my very being? What is the truth that shakes my soul that awoke my spirit to the revelation of Jesus Christ? This is what I share, this is what Christ has taught me.

The testimony of the Lord in our lives goes beyond our moment of salvation and reaches the depths of what has been enjoined to our very being. How has Christ deeply impacted your life? How do you know that He is more than a historical reference, but that He is the son of God, a triune being with us through the Holy Spirit. Think in the midst of the chaos of the world, what is your evidence that Christ is who He says He is. Reflect, journal, declare, live accordingly, and be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. I will share mine, because this is my blog, but I challenge you to think

My very first prayer coming to the Lord was not standard. I was driving on I-295 and I challenged/asked God, "If your love is really that good, then remove all the pain from my heart and fill it with your love. I am tired of feeling lack". He miraculously removed my pain and troubles that burdened me and filled me with Him. I felt healing and peace as I began to trust that God alone is enough. Months later when I was called to go on my first expedition, I was afraid of men. All men. I was afraid of their thoughts towards me and potentially their actions, and the last thing I wanted to do was stand in front of them. I didn't want them staring at me because I didn't want to be sexualized. At this point in my life, I felt so used and I didn't want to be in a missions setting. I cried out to God, and being new to my Bible did the whole shut your eyes and open to a random page and point to a random verse. (I suppose I did what the disciples referred to as casting lots). Go figure, I rolled a Yahtzee and landed on the perfect verse. Acts 18:9-10, "And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people." Yahtzeeee. That is all I needed. I believed it and I followed this command into the nations. Jesus proved to me that He was with me and surrounded me with Overland, who are God's people, and I have never stayed silent. I stopped being afraid of men and their sinful minds and starting waging war against darkness for their souls.

In the chaos of this time with COVID-19 on the rise, what is your testimony to the goodness of God? What are the teachings of God that you will teach and pass on? Please recognize that the spreading of a virus such as this has been happening for centuries in the spiritual. Hate, anger, fear is a bacteria that spreads quickly. We must stand as people of faith holding fast to the truth of Christ. We must remain wise, yet not afraid. We must steward our lives and bodies, yet not stray from laying hands on the sick. We must be compassionate with those who are afraid, and comfort them wherever they are in their faith and not condemn them. We must be a voice of hope. A voice of truth. The voice of Christ.

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If you want to learn more about sharing your faith in a way that builds up and not puffs up, check out my other blog: https://www.newellmissions.com/post/knowledge-puffs-up