And He Ordered us to Preach

December 8 (Acts 10:42)
It forever amazes me the number who think preaching the gospel is optional equipment for disciples of Christ. Of course, one of the main problems is bad teaching on things like gifts of the Spirit. I wrote a book on that topic if anyone is interested in reading it. The bad teaching on the topic of evangelism goes something like this, God calls evangelists and professional, full time preachers to show people from His word what they have to do to be saved. Unfortunately that has bred apathy and incorrect behavior on the part of believers in His church universal. All one has to do is follow the biblical pattern to know it is each and every Christian’s responsibility to tell any who will listen what great things God has done for them. And of course that great thing is not a physical healing, though He still does that. The truly great thing He has done for each of us was to redeem us from the kingdom of hell and welcome us into His kingdom.

No one needs a theological degree to know how Jesus made our once dead souls alive. It truly is akin to having the light switched on in one’s heart. In Acts 16:14 Luke wrote it this way, “. . . and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.” Paul had gone out to the river to pray supposing there would be people there to whom he could speak about Jesus. Strange thing; there were. The above verse refers to one of the ladies (Lydia), who was a worshiper of God. It troubles me that most who call themselves believers have never in their life shared that information with anyone else, other than possibly inviting someone to church. If you really became a believer at some point in your life, you know what it took for you to do that. That’s called your personal testimony. It includes the marvelous things Jesus has done for you. My younger brother led me to Jesus just that way. One of my favorite theologically profound truths goes like this, “I don’t know about that, but what I do know is, once I was blind; now I see.”

I believe when it gets right down to where the rubber meets the road, the reason so few witness to anyone in the course of their lives is they never made doing it their number one priority. A huge contingency of people I personally know actually think the way to qualify for eternity in the kingdom of God is to attend church, live a good life, tithe to the church, take care of the family, be a good husband or wife, and not murder anyone. Actually, the Catholic Church has a plan where its members can buy forgiveness. They call that satanic doctrine “indulgences.” It made them quite rich. I just had a rather heated debate with a young lady I once had as a student. She got pregnant in high school out of wedlock, which isn’t the point, but it is an indicator of her moral beliefs. She put some words from one of John Lennon’s songs on FB and hailed him as a wonderful musician who made such a marvelous impact on the world. She wrote, “May his music live forever.” I responded, “It won’t,” I also pointed out to her John Lennon was a drug addicted, polytheist, and reminded her one of his songs suggested we “imagine there is no heaven or hell.” I finally argued her time and energy would be better spent honoring someone who was, or is, actually honorable. I also pointed out to her that unless John Lennon repented before he was murdered, his is currently in Hades, awaiting his final judgment (Rev. 20), which will guarantee him a front row seat (figuratively speaking) in hell for eternity.

Her response was interesting. First she said she goes to church every week. She was a Catholic the last time I actually saw her. If that’s the basis for her salvation, she is to be pitied. Then she said she had the right to her own opinion and didn’t appreciate me suggesting she was going to hell for having an opinion. Of course, I never said any such thing, so it’s clear there was conviction by someone besides me involved, like maybe the Holy Spirit. Then, her mother and a few of her friends joined the exchange of words and attacked me for everything but loving her enough to tell her the truth. One other young lady (also raised as a Catholic) actually suggested she could believe what she wanted and she could teach her children whatever she wanted because it was “her” life and the children were “her” children. I’m tempted to write her back and point out her error (her children belong to God). Many young people are losing their children today in a variety of ways, and unfortunately most of them don’t make the connection.

My point for today is, I think, absolutely crucial for us to understand. If you love people enough to tell them they’re going to spend eternity in hell if they don’t repent of their sin, if you care enough to have them angry at you for speaking the truth, be forewarned, only those whom God has effectually called and regenerated will appreciate your intervention into, what they perceive as their own business, i.e., it’s none of yours. Many people will want to have nothing to do with you anymore. It’s nothing new. Jesus told us to move with the movers and leave the others to their own devices (Matt. 10:11-14). You can expect people to respond to the gospel in one of two ways: by counter attacking, using secular arguments, dodging the real issue, spouting words of wisdom from philosophers of this world, which is all they have with which to respond. Guess what, the religious experts in Jesus time did the same things. They hated his constant harassing them for their lies and false theological teachings. They even called him a bastard son. One used biting wit by suggesting he at least knew who his father was. Of course, the implication was Jesus, being conceived out of wedlock, was a bastard child. You can be absolutely sure if no one is offended by the gospel you preach, it isn't the gospel of Jesus Christ. You can also be sure if everyone loves you, you are not filled with Jesus' Spirit. Satan is alive and well on planet earth, and he is the first to recognize the presence of the Spirit of God if He is in you. He will quickly recognize your very presence is a threat to his kingdom. The gates of hell crumble when the gospel is preached. Also be forwarned, this generation has learned to call the gospel "hate speech." It's another one of Satan's cleverly devised plans to make us who proclaim it appear evil.

The second possible reaction you will witness when you preach the gospel is that the light will come on (regeneration), and your listener(s) will choose to follow Jesus. God's word assures us the over-whelming majority of people who hear it will reject the gospel. Jeus said, "The gate to the kingdom of God is narrow and few enter it." If you are not willing to deliver a message that most don’t want to hear, you don’t want to be a disciple of Jesus. We are ordered to go and preach to the people the message of repentance from sin. The true gospel will instantly bring dead souls alive (II Cor. 5:17), and it will make the demons of hell flee (James 4:7).

In closing, allow me to suggest you might indeed choose to be a little more diplomatic than I am. It’s my Achilles Heel. I have always been one to “tell it like it is,” which often makes people so angry at me they miss the point altogether. Actually, the direct approach served me well in prison ministries. It is also quite effective with any who know me because they watch me live what I proclaim; thus the proclamation is credible even if they don't wish to believe it. I am quite aware I'm too direct for some; and I’m working at being more diplomatic; but in the final analysis, I will not stand idly by and allow anyone to go to eternity in hell if I they give me the ever so slim opportunity to preach the gospel to them. And I urge any and all who read these daily lessons to take the order, as spoken in Acts 10:42, seriously. It was given to every single person who claims to be a part of His church. Personal witnessing to any who will listen is not optional. It is not an alternative lifestyle. It is an essential part of the daily life of anyone who claims to be a follower of “The King.” I quoted John 15 yesterday where Jesus insisted everyone who abides in the vine will bear fruit. Of course it doesn't take a rocket scientist to conclude you can't bear fruit if you never even water the garden (imagery for preaching the gospel). We must be about the business of going and preaching the gospel, making disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:18-20). It must be our number one priority. And that’s His word for us today.