Truett McConnell Assignment
After being raised from the dead, Jesus gives the disciples, and us, the great commandment. In Matthew 28 He says, “So wherever you go, makes disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember I am with you until the end of time.” This is the reason we evangelize. In Luke 10 Jesus says “ Go! I’m sending you out like lambs among wolves.” He instructs to heal the sick, raised the dead, and force out demons, and to “Give these things without charging, since you received them without paying.” Jesus died for the suffering in this world, so it costs nothing. Romans 10: 14-16, “ But how can people call on him if they have not believed in him? How can they believe in him if they have not heard his message? How can they hear if no one tells the Good News? How can people tell the Good News if no one sends them? As Scripture says, “How beautiful are the feet of the messengers who announced the Good News.”” We evangelize because there is no other way to spread the Good News, so we all must step out in boldness and do it.
The greatest way to connect with people’s hearts is to share your story with God. There is power in your testimony. Revelation 12: 11 “And they have conquered him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” This is the greatest way to defeat evil by proclaiming your story of Jesus cleansing all your sins.
Acts 8:4-6 “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by philip when they heard Him and saw the signs that he did.” People pay attention when you are walking in alignment with the Spirit and listening to the voice of God. There have been so many times where people will ask me, What’s different about you? Being Christ-like is the perfect door into sharing my testimony.
Another example of this is Peter and John using miracles to glorify God’s name and proclaim the gospel. Acts 4 :10 “Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead- by this man is standing before you well.” They were in front of Jewish rulers, leaders, and scribes, being put on trial for preaching about in Jesus’ name the dead can be raised. There are dangers sometimes to evangelizing. “ Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.” says Matthew 5. When preaching there can be many who doubt and slander what God does through you. Recently through the power of Jesus, in prayer, faith , and boldness, the Lord healed my back in a time of worship! Many people on the team I’m traveling with did not believe me and gossiped that I made it up all together. Obviously this was painful, but I feel abundantly blessed that God chose me for such a miraculous healing that I can proclaim to everyone.
Paul says in Acts 20:24 “But i do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” This is the mindset all missionaries should have when preaching. Our bodies are not our own. They are here solely to be a vessel to spreading the love and grace of God.
In my personal experience, evangelism can be difficult. It is hard when no one speaks English, so my only job is to love like Jesus would. There is also very much fear behind it, at times. Fear of rejection and hatred. However, there is an emergency behind evangelizing because people are dying around us everyday. This, along with what God instructs of me, fuels my fire to sharing the Good News.
Recently my team was in Cambodia, and one afternoon we were celebrating a teammate’s birthday by having a picnic in the park. A man kept walking by our blanket until it was around the 5 time. We called him over, and the Lord gave us the boldness to share Jesus with him. It was truly incredible, I could see and hear his hunger for something more. We pointed him to a great local church we attend, and we also gave him the new testament in his language. People are hungry, hungry to be different from their ancestors and to make make sense of their pain. Jesus is the greatest, He just is.
