Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser
Our work as part of the great commission has shown us that the good news of the gospel saves lives and it’s vital for producing change and improving people’s lives for all eternity. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Rom. 1:16). Believers have been given power to witness, so let’s exercise it. The gospel is so important to God that He sent His son from heaven to earth to declare it and die for it. The saving gospel is God’s number one priority and once it becomes your top priority, God is pleased with you. If you are looking for the best person for the job, then every true believer in Christ must be the perfect fit. Sure enough, every true believer must be a witness for Christ because He has given us the power to do so.
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Despite the power given to us, and a clear job set for us to serve as witnesses for Christ, many believers in Christ have turned down the great commission because they think the job doesn’t apply to them. They have been attracted to doing other stuff other than witnessing for Christ. Besides that, many believers don’t even know of the great commission which Jesus launched in Mathew 28. Jesus came to this earth with a very clear mission. He came to save those who were lost and He gave His followers authority and power and commanded them to tell His story. Whether we travel to the remotest parts of the world or knock on our neighbour’s door, our motivation is summed up in the great commission.
Christ has told His followers to win souls and disciple them. He issued this command just before He ascended into heaven. “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 (Mat. 28:18-20). This passage of scripture (Mat. 28:18-20) reveals to us the area that needs attention. Therefore, we must be most concerned about what this says to us. Not to a neighbour or someone else but to us as individuals, as Samuel once said: “Speak to me Lord, your servant is listening”.
As we read this, let us today, with ready ears and open hearts heed to it. God has given us the most incredible power to carry out the task of saving souls and discipling them because it is not something we can accomplish by our own strength. Who can measure this power? Think about the extent of His power – there is no limit. Nothing from us but all from Him. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us” (2 Cor. 4:7). The power of the Holy Spirit gives us the courage to embark on the great commission assignment and witness for God. Witness is the word for a person who gives testimony regarding an event or another person’s character. Believers are to tell the truth about Jesus Christ. Paul said it is the power of God unto salvation.
" God has given us the most incredible power to carry out the task of saving souls and discipling them. "
Every child of God has the most important message the world needs to hear – the Good News of Jesus Christ. Share the story about Jesus; we must not forget about our saviour, we must be witnesses for Him. We are to share our faith in a number of ways. However, the best way is ‘word of mouth,’ that is witnessing, preaching and teaching. It is the only way that some people will have an impression about who Jesus is and what He offers. Jesus said to His disciples “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” It is really important that we declare to the world what Jesus can do. It is the most urgent and pressing job.
As true believers in Christ, we have the more urgent and pressing mission, and that is to witness for Christ. This begins at where you live and work or your community, school etc. As you follow His leadings, God will extend your territory of influence. He has given us the power and authority to take territories. He gave us the most urgent job to do. We were loyal to Him at our conversion, we believed in Him, but how long are we to take to understand our task and how late are we to see it? Let’s follow the apostles’ example; they filled everywhere they went with the doctrine of Christ. “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” (Acts 5:28)
Andrew is another great example, because he didn’t keep information about Jesus to himself. “One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus (John 1:40-42). Philip, like Andrew, did not keep information about Jesus to himself either. Having responded to Jesus’ invitation to be His disciple, he introduced Nathaniel to Him. “The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (John 1:43-45)
Witnessing for Christ must be demonstrated, and the best presentation is to say, “come and see”. Having known Christ, invite others to Him. Everyone loves to hear good news. It might be about football, films, random facts etc. But God’s word is more important than any media message or human opinion and yet people trust and put their hope in messages from these sources. Believers have the truth of the gospel, and we are accountable to the almighty God to sound forth the gospel truth to the hurting world. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
The believer’s life is a lifetime’s devotion. “He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:15). The Christian life demands quality of devotion and utter self-sacrifice to God and our neighbours. Every true Christian is to remain steadfast in the work of the Lord throughout his or her entire lifetime on this earth. ‘Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord’ (1 Cor. 15:58). It is a total lifetime of commitment from that moment we received Christ as our Master, Lord and Saviour. Our Lord Jesus promises to praise and reward us for such faithful living. He will say: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Mat. 25:21). I pray that you will exercise the power given to you to save souls today
