By Jeremy Bonnesen
Last month, we looked at how the Apostle Paul saw his life in the light of the Judgment Seat of Christ as Paul talked about in 1 Cor. 3:12 “to build upon the foundation of Christ” in our lives with eternal conversations that are “gold, silver, precious stones” - eternal and valuable instead of conversations that do not matter in the face of eternity.
It truly comes down to seeing how Jesus exchanged His life for ours. To see ourselves as followers of Jesus and to daily follow Him in His mission. He saved us to take up His mission and to walk in His steps of being fishers of men. To make His mission, our mission each and every day; to practically and purposefully live out His mission. This is practically done by intentionally infusing our daily conversations with others including His name, His word, and His gospel. In April, I also challenged us to pray, plan, and be prepared to infuse our daily conversations by saturating our speech with His word as the Spirit of God leads.
This month, let’s look at the purpose, power, and privilege of our charge to reach out with the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost world.
Purpose
As we have been learning from Pastor Brian’s series in Acts, we are to be witnesses. In fact, Acts 1:8 states, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
We are to be ready whenever He wants to use us, not when we feel like it as Peter says in 1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”
Power
But did you catch what God told us in Acts 1:8? The amazing thing is that God will give us (YOU & ME) supernatural power when we (YOU & I) trust Him by faith and proclaim Jesus and His gospel to others! How amazing is that?
Privilege
We have the incredible privilege of turning the lost from darkness to light and the power of Satan unto God! Notice what Jesus said to Paul as our LORD was preparing Paul to be used as a model to lead the church as witnesses for Jesus’ name to the world. He told Paul to rise up for the purpose of being a minister and witness. Jesus said, in Acts 26:16-18, “But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Jesus sends YOU and ME with that very same mission because we all (Paul, YOU, and I) are just taking up Jesus’ mission in this world.
In fact, we get to be used as God’s instruments in loosing people from their sin. Sharing the gospel is a privilege that we have as servants of King Jesus. It reminds me of Mark 11:2, where Jesus instructs His disciples to go and loose the colt that was tied up, “And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.” Just like when Jesus sent some of His disciples to loose that colt that was tied up and bring him unto Jesus, today He sends us as His servants to loose people from sin and darkness and bring them to Him. How incredible is it that God Almighty uses us in His work.
It seems scary sometimes, but it is a matter of turning from fear to faith. Trusting that God, as He guides our words and actions. It is not complicated. Just as Sharon De Leon shared in a recent Sunday morning service, it is a matter of listening, sharing Christ’s love, and giving the light of God’s word to the lost. Ask them questions, pray for them, love them by being kind.
Let’s continue to be praying for each other as a church that God would open the doors of our heart, mind, and mouth to speak His name, His word, and His gospel during our daily conversations and interactions.