“Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” (Mark 16:14-20 NKJV)
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” (Matthew 28:16-20 NKJV)
Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.” (Luke 24:44-53 NKJV)
It starts with going. That might mean going to the mirror and reminding myself of who I am and what I possess in Christ. Then it might mean leaving the mirror and going across the hall to my children. Or going across the road to my neighbor. For some it will mean leaving everything behind and going to an unreached people group somewhere on the other side of the planet. Once I go I will need to be ready and willing to share.
Just like the fact that going will look different for each person, sharing has many faces. It might be sharing an encouraging word to a discouraged coworker in Jesus name. It might be sharing a meal with someone who’s loved one just passed away. Sometimes it is sharing words of life. The bottom line is that every time we share an act of kindness it gives us a platform to share the message of the Gospel (good news of what Jesus accomplished for us in his life without sin, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension).
Jesus declared what he called the “Gospel of the Kingdom.” It was so much more than leading someone in a simple prayer in a church building. While God has used this introductory method in many lives (including mine), it is not actually found in scripture. The “Gospel” is an ongoing life message that results in becoming a disciple of Jesus. Salvation (being born again) is the means by which the Kingdom of Heaven invades my life. The Kingdom of Heaven manifesting in my life brings repentance (the change of mind that brings my thinking, speaking, and actions in line with the Father). The Gospel of the Kingdom deposits the Kingdom of Heaven in my heart and mind. It results in the death of the “old man” and the birth of the “new man” (a brand new species of being that never existed before).
The “Gospel” delivers the good news of redemption. I have been redeemed. I have been restored. I have been forgiven and delivered. I have been set free. I have been, am being, and will be saved. I do not work to produce these things in order to be “saved,” these things flow out of me as the result of being “saved.”
As I go and share, I place myself in position to begin demonstrating the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth (here and now) everywhere I go.
Let’s go and share in keeping with…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 398: The Great Commission – Share