[Note: This author is a pre-Tribulation rapture believer, and this article reflects that view.]
“And [Jesus] said unto them, ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature’” (Mark 16:15).
I once had a conversation with a man whose life’s passion was reaching the lost for the Lord, and asked him if he believed in the pre-Tribulation rapture of the church and studied prophecy. His response surprised me.
He said that he really never considered it, and that he had found that those whom he’d encountered who studied prophecy tended to be overly consumed with it and were pretty useless when it came to witnessing for Jesus Christ.
What an indictment! And, unfortunately, through my own interactions with other prophecy buffs, often true.
This is what this short article is all about. I want to light a fire under each and every one of us prophecy lovers to honor our “first love” and answer the call of the Great Commission. Let’s show the world that prophecy is an amazing vehicle to accomplish the Lord’s desire to grow His Kingdom. Take those past prophecies of our Savior’s first coming and share them with the world – it’s how I came to the Lord!
“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:33-34).
Can I be so bold as to suggest that not even mentioning the Lord in our everyday conversations and human interactions is tantamount to denying Jesus before men?
The above verse should be motivation to get out there and share your faith and testimony with others. But, honestly, isn’t it our reasonable service, that our love for and desire to please the One Who gave His life for us motivation enough? It sure should be.
Remembering What It’s All About
Do you remember how you felt when you truly understood what the Lord saved you from? Eternity without God, forever in torment of soul, languishing in perpetual fear, sorrow, weeping and gnashing of teeth.
God’s desire is that no human being He lovingly created in His image should ever be there, passionately sacrificing His own Son in our stead.
Shouldn’t that desire be ours as well, knowing what He did for all of us?
“And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15).
There are many ways for the believer to share his or her faith with unbelievers. Some are dialog driven, some observably driven (people are watching!), some are monetarily driven, and some are quick, yet effectively driven.
I’d like to briefly touch on all four.
Dialog Driven
Talking isn’t a chore for most people. Most love to be asked questions and to give their opinions. This is the key: Ask questions. Open the lines of communication for a dialog concerning the Lord.
The proper step for evangelism is: Proving God’s existence (if the person doesn’t believe in “God”); using the 10 Commandments, showing them that they are in violation of God’s law and are guilty; and, let them know that Jesus paid for their sins on the cross in order for them to be found guiltless if they put their faith and trust in Him, allowing Him to be their Lord.
Observably Driven
The easiest of the four.
Remember, people are watching; and never forget that your Savior is watching you, too! Live like it’s your last day on earth (which it could always be), and live a life worthy of your declaration that Christ is Lord.
Walk the walk and talk the talk. Common sense and the Holy Spirit will guide you in this endeavor.
Monetarily Driven
Buy Bibles and give them to people that need or want them. Buy tracts and give them out. Buy someone gas, lunch, dinner, groceries, etc., in your everyday activities and let the recipients know that Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive, and that the gift is a gift from Him, through you, to bless them.
Quick and Effectively Driven
Tracts are the easiest and most effective way in sharing the gospel there is. Hand them out to everyone in your daily activities; the grocery store clerk and checker; the gas station attendant; the receptionists, nurses, and doctors in the medical field; put them in products in stores; leave them on cars, doors, and on waiting room tables. Get creative.
Tell others you come in contact with, “God bless you!” Ask a stranger how they are doing, and if they need prayer, and blow them away with showing the Lord’s compassion and concern for them through you. Again, get creative!
“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:1-4).
Now, I’m not going to tell you what I have done for others and inspire you with those stories. I want my rewards to come from the Lord and not from men.
But what I will do for you, is point you to an amazing ministry that can supply you with some valuable resources to make your own witnessing fruitful and productive.
That ministry is Mark Cahill Ministries. Mark does an excellent job providing you with ideas on how to reach the lost in your everyday walk with the Lord. Practical ideas and strategies that anyone can use if they just step out in faith.
I invite you to watch his videos, read his books, and purchase his witnessing products at his website (link provided below). I, personally, love his Eternity tracts, both booklets, and his amazing book, One Heartbeat Away, which I consider to be the best book available to give to the unbeliever.
The Plea
I’m earnestly encouraging every born-again believer in Messiah Jesus to answer the call of the Great Commission. The hour is late, and the day is almost spent. There isn’t much time left and the harvest is white. We are living on borrowed time and we dare not take what little we have left for granted.
One of Mark’s books is, One Thing You Can’t Do In Heaven. Do you know what that one thing we can’t do in heaven is? That’s right: Witnessing!
It should be every believer’s greatest desire to hear these Words from our Master:
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21).
To the body of Christ, I am challenging every saint to “put your money where your mouth is.” Let me rephrase that: Let’s put the Lord’s money that He has gifted us with – and our God-given talents – where His heart is… and that’s on growing His Kingdom and saving sinners just like us.
Mark’s signature valediction is apropos: “Until the Nets are Full…”
Love, grace, mercy, and shalom in Messiah Yeshua, and Maranatha
Email: mab10666@yahoo.com