God allows us to take part in evangelism. God allows us to participate in bringing others into His kingdom.
Motivations
Ephesians 2
2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Reasons why we tell people the Good News
Ephesians 3
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
God’s grace towards us and the working of His power in us is what motivates our sharing the gospel. If God’s power hasn’t worked in you… if His grace hasn’t been evident in your life, then why would you tell anyone about Christ? In order to preach the boundless riches of Christ, you first need to have partaken in some of those riches. I am motivated to tell everyone I can about Christ because I know what He’s done in my life… I know the changes He’s made in my life… I know what He’s done in my life and I want you to know that He can do the same for you. That’s the gospel. I didn’t deserve to know God and God made a way so that I could.
Colossians 1
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
He’s saying here that the Gospel has been preached to every creature under heaven.
I don’t believe that anyone will go to hell based on what I did or didn’t do. Because that means, if someone out there doesn’t do their job there’s a chance that I wouldn’t be able to go to heaven and I don’t believe my salvation is based on what someone else did or didn’t do. If I don’t tell others about Christ, God will raise up others to tell those people. But now, I don’t get to participate in the blessing of bringing someone into the kingdom. The Lord said even the rocks will cry out if we don’t praise Him, how much more the good news of His Kingdom?
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
Unless God is working in you mightily, you won’t warn every man in all wisdom about Christ because our desire to share God with others is going to be proportional to what He’s done for you.
If God has saved you from Hell, you’ll want to tell others. If God has changed your life, you’ll want to tell others about it. If God has healed you, you’ll want to tell others, especially those that are hurting. If God has made you a new creation, you’ll want to tell others about it because the Holy Spirit in you has made those changes. That power drives you. Without that power you have no hope of preaching the gospel.
1 Peter 3:13- 22
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
We must be ready at any time to give an answer for the hope that is within us. But if we are to give an answer, that means someone is asking the question. Has God made a deep enough impact in your life that people notice it and ask you about it? It doesn’t have to be overt. It doesn’t have to be, “Who is this Jesus?” It can be as simple as, “Why are you so nice to me?” “Why do you seem so at peace in this crazy situation?” “Why don’t you judge me like the others?” Always look for the opportunity to interject Christ.
2 Timothy 4
4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Administer -
2. dispense or apply (a remedy or drug).
Minister - verb
attend to the needs of (someone).
It really does come down to having the cure and in turn, telling others about the cure you’ve found. If you got cured from AIDS and you saw someone else who had AIDS, wouldn’t you tell them? Not only that, God has put you in different peoples lives as a means to administer that cure. Whether it’s telling them that there is a cure or actually being able to administer it to them. If God has done something powerful in your life… if His power is running through you… you’ll want to tell people that His power can change them. You’ll want to tell them that the God of the Universe wants to know them just like He wanted to know you.
“Go into all the world making disciples…” As you are going make disciples. Wherever God has you, make disciples. But be motivated out of the grace that God has shown you and the power by which He has changed your life. That power is the grace of God… you didn’t earn it. It’s a gift. It’s a gift that God wants you to give to others. And it’s by His power that you are able.
Some of you may say, “I don’t feel like God has dramatically affected my life?” To which I would say, don’t discount the small things God has done in your life.
In Philippians 2 it says:
2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Has knowing Christ encouraged you? Have you experienced comfort from His love? Have you felt tenderness and compassion from the Lord? If you answered yes to any of those, then you have the power running through you to share Christ with someone. God has touched your life. There’s a world out there dying for His touch. Won’t you tell them? Won’t you reach them?
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