12/06/2018
BEGINNING FROM JERUSALEM
The ministry of our Lord Jesus on earth was a ministry of preaching, teaching accompanied with signs and wonders and divers miracles
Acts 10: 38: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
However in the beauty of this account as revealed by the scripture, it is not a ministry or task embedded in disorderliness or unprecised delivery of God’s mandates. There was a point of start (Matt 4:12-13). Same way Jesus upon his resurrection (having spoke of the things pertaining to God’s kingdom for 40 days), instructed the disciples to stay in Jerusalem to do two things:
To receive the promise of the father Act 1:4
To start heralding his word from there Act1:8 to witness about his death burial and resurrection I.e the gospel
1Cor 15:1-3: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand.
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
Which they did. After the church was birthed in Acts 2:4, the new testament ministry began. The ministry of prayer and the word laced with demonstrations of the Spirit. Peter preached (in Jerusalem) and 3000 were saved Acts 2:38-42.
It is crystal clear from the word of God that everybody have been sent by instruction (is not an opinion or advice) to preach Christ Matt 28: 19-20, Mark 16: 1-5.
Paul calls it the ministry of reconciliation
2Cor 5:18: And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given us to the ministry of reconciliation;
He explained further what that ministry is I.e the word of reconciliation
2Cor 5:19: To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Jesus will not come and do this for us, he has committed it to us the believers (Not the Pastor and Evangelist alone).
But then how can we carry this out? The scripture is a complete book. Jesus instructed the disciples to start from where they were, from there it will spread to Judea, Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Jesus said go ye into ALL THE WORLD and preach the gospel. The world includes where you are, using yourself as a reference point. It starts from where you are and the people around you. That fellow in your hostel room, your bunk mate, classmate, the brother or sister you see everyday. The gospel start in its preaching from where you are. Going to Samaria without reaching the people in Jerusalem is all hypocrisy or shying from the kingdom identity to your friends.
That name ‘man of God’, sister in Christ, brothers in the lord that your classmates call you because they see you go to prayer meeting, bible study or carrying bible. Have you taken time to share the word of faith with them ?
Answer: No sir, because they are already believers.
The bible teaches that the recognition, acknowledging (literal greek, epignosis) of every good thing which is in you is in Christ Jesus makes the fellowship, communication of your faith becomes effectual. The communication involves both believers (onto spiritual growth and maturity) and unbeliever (onto salvation).
You don’t need a pulpit or congregation to do that, you only need your bible (the proof of your faith) and a willingness to do his will. Begin from Jerusalem and see his word spread through you, around you with free course.
UCCF EVANGELISM UNIT
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