Author: icbc

 

Introduction

The theme for this piece of writing was taken from Mat 28:18-20. It is discovered here, that, believers are not only saved to rejoice themselves in their new faith but to go and make disciples for Christ Jesus. Jesus commissioned His early disciples to go out with the good news of His kingdom to all nations far and near. This ambassadorial commission extends also to the believers of today. It is not to be taken lightly or with laxity because it is very an important and urgent assignment.

The Urgency of the Ambassadorial  Mission.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Mat 28:18-20).

Jesus told His disciples “Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves, do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road” (Luk 10:3-4 NIV). The disciples were not to take nor do anything that would delay their mission. We read of a similar instruction from Elisha when he told Gehazi “tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand and run. Don’t greet anyone you meet, and if anyone greets you, do not answer. Lay my staff on the boy’s face” (2Kgs 4:29 NIV). Gehazi was asked to be in a hurry to save or recover life with the authority (staff) of his master. The preaching of the good news of the Kingdom of God is likened to saving people from dying. This explains why Paul writes in verse 23 of Jude, urging his readers to save others by snatching them from the fire; while showing mercy, mixed with fear to others.

Again, Jesus informs His disciples that the harvest could no longer be postponed because the field is already ripe for harvest (Joh 4:34-38). The harvest time is now, but not in the future. Believers need to stand up today and embark on their ambassadorial missions of evangelizing the world and winning souls for the Messiah. It should not be forgotten that we have not only been saved to enjoy the benefits of being believers on earth and then go to heaven. Our greatest responsibility as Christians is to preach the good News of Christ.

It should also be mentioned that believers´ failure to evangelize makes them accountable for the death of sinners. It is written “when I say to a wicked person, ‘you will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood” (Eze 3:18). The urgent need of evangelization makes Paul advise Timothy to do the work of an evangelist in season and out of season (2Tim 4:2). In both good and bad times believers ought to speak about the Gospel of Christ to the dying world.

Tools for Evangelism

God has not sent us empty handed to go to the mission field. He has given the Church His authority which is His Spirit. He says that the disciples shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost has come upon them: and that they shall be witnesses unto Christ both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8KJ). This authority is manifested in His presence as it has been indicated, that, He is with us always until the end of the world (Mat 28: 18-20).

In fact, the giving of the Holy Spirit is not just for the speaking in tongues, but to be empowered to witness about the true Messiah, the Christ. Believers have been promised that as they go out evangelizing, they would walk upon snakes and scorpions and upon all the powers of the enemy and nothing shall hurt them (Luk 10:19), and if they drink of poisonous substances, they would not be hurt (Mk 16:15-18).

Again, it is this Spirit of God that gives us the right word to speak and the wisdom to use in our discourse with the world (Luk 21:15). Paul asked the church to pray with him so that he would be given the utterance to speak the mystery of Christ, for which was in bonds (Col 4:3). The utterance here refers to the power of speech concerning the council of God, which is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The wisdom of God in this sense does not nullify human efforts in studying to understand the word of God. The Holy Spirit reminds us of what we have learned from the word of God (Joh 14:25-26). The Holy Spirit is there to help us but we need to prepare ourselves in prayer and in the study of God´s word as we plan to embark on evangelism.

Furthermore, God has given Christians His word to aid us with our witnessing. It is not about any person (s) or denomination (s). Our testimony is all about the gospel of Christ, the Son of God. This is clear in the command that the Lord gave when He said: “go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mk 16:15). It is the gospel that is to be preached but nothing more and nothing less. The gospel is that Christ came to die for the ungodly (Rom 4:5, Rom 5:5), so if anyone believes in Him, s/he would be saved (Rom 10:8-13). A witness could use his/her personal testimony or life experience for evangelism, but the ultimate goal should be to elevate Christ Jesus and present Him to the audience.

Conclusion

The call to evangelism is a divine assignment given to all believers and it is a divine mandate that needs to be executed urgently in order to save the dying souls. Believers need not fear to evangelize because the Lord God has promised to be with them until the end of the world. He would give them His word and wisdom to carry out the mission.

Prayer: Lord God Almighty, we ask you to make us zealous with the task of soul winning as you have commanded us. Energize and empower us to reach out to our friends, families and our communities. In Jesus´ name, we pray. Amen!

Introduction

In our previous two Newsletters, God´s leadership over believers, where He leads believers to Himself to provide them with comfort were discussed. In this edition, what are expected of both the leadership of the local church and the laity are briefly discussed. According to scriptures, the pastorate, elders and the diaconate, forming the leadership of the church must be respected because they are ordained by God to serve His church.

Commitment of good shepherds

It needs to be mentioned that Christian leaders are responsible for the total development of the people they lead. It is their responsibility to nurture and care for them and leads them to develop spiritually. The church leaders are also shepherds, so they are expected to be godly and selfless as they feed the sheep. In John 21:17, Jesus Christ challenges Peter to feed His sheep if he so loves Him. Believers are being encouraged to obey them that have the rule over them, and submit themselves to them because they watch for their souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for the church (Heb 13:7-17). “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls” (1Pe 2:25).

The leadership of the church functions as shepherds over the congregation because they are committed to:

• Constantly praying and engaging in spiritual warfare for the church (Col1:9). Paul writes of this in Acts 6:4, where he mentions that the church must appoint some workers in the church to take care of the distribution of food while they (the apostles) give themselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4).
• Preparing and waiting on God to receive a Word to the church that is able to build them up. Peter writes to young believers to see themselves as newborn babies, and desire the sincere milk of the word, so that they may grow by it (1Pt 2:2).
• Sacrificing their lives and resources for the sake of the church. This is learned from the word and the practice of Christ Jesus. Christ is the good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep (Joh 10:11).
• Strengthening the diseased and the weak, healing the sick and bounding up those that are broken, and seeking and bringing back those who have been driven away (Eze 34:4)

What good shepherds are not

• Good shepherds do not feed themselves while neglecting the sheep. It is written “Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?” (Eze 34:1-2)
• They do not take advantage of the sheep to enrich themselves. The shepherds of Israel were accused of eating the fat, and clothing themselves with the wool from the sheep. They killed them that are fed, but they did feed not the flock (Eze 34:3).
• Good shepherds do not rule or lead with force or with cruelty (Eze 34:4).

The role of the church

“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you” (Heb 13:17).

As could be deduced from the above scripture, the sheep also have responsibilities towards the shepherds. These include obeying the shepherd (leadership) willingly so that the shepherds would not be grieved. The grieving of the leaders is unprofitable to the church because it results in the spiritual weakness and death of some of the members.

Again, the church is expected to support the leadership of the church with prayers and physical resources (Heb 13:18, Col 4:3, Eph 6:18-19, Num 18:24). This is to enable them to do the work of God effectively with joy.

If a member or a group of members of the church is/are not willing to submit to the authority of the church, they would not receive the blessings and the care of God. In this case, it is advisable for such people to leave the church if they cannot repent and stay in the church. People need to be in churches where they could willingly submit to the orders of those churches. It is expedient that believers ask themselves if their leaders are leading them to Christ or into a ditch, for it is said that if the blind leads the blind, they both falls into a ditch (Matt 15:14, Luk 6:39).

Conclusion

The church belongs to God and He appoints its leaders. He, therefore, expects all members of His church to respect and submit to the leaders that He has ordained to lead the church on earth. Disobedience to God´s leaders is a direct disobedience to God Himself.

Prayer: May God give us the spirit of submissiveness so that we would respect and honor the orders of His church. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.