This morning I asked God to teach me or show me something new. I just want to share with you what He has shown me today. This applies to me just as much as anyone else and my prayer is that I would be able to learn more and live this out.
Today I was reading a book, Simple Church by Rainer & Geiger. The introduction to chapter 4 began with a story about Jesus asking His disciples a simple question, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” After a response He asked His disciples one more question. It comes out of Matthew 16, and what the authors take from this passage ignited something in me that could only come from God. It helped me ask questions of myself and sparked a need to share it with others. This is what they had to say:
“Jesus then asks the disciples the same question. He wants to know what they think. “Who do you say that I am?” (v. 15). Peter, of course, speaks for the entire group. He replies, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (v. 16).
Jesus loves his response. He calls Peter blessed. The words Peter spoke came not from man but from God. Jesus then says, “Upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matt. 16:18 NASB).
The gates of hades will not overcome it. Hell will not be able to hold back the church. Jesus says he is going to unleash a movement that will be so powerful and intense that it will be unstoppable. This movement is the church. It is not an institution, a building, a program, a creed, or a doctrinal statement. This movement is people. Jesus started the church, and the gates of hell will not be able to contain it.” As I read, I began to ask “If the Bible, the very words of God, say that the gates of Hades will not overpower the church, then why are we so afraid and unprepared to share Christ with others?” Instead, this should be an extreme encouragement for believers.
Is it because Satan is really more powerful than the living God that dwells in us and speaks through us?
Or is it because we are not prepared and don’t have the confidence or the know-how to be able to share Christ in the most effective ways?
When we learn how to do something, we gain the confidence and ability to go do it. And more times than not, when we learn new things, like how to “evangelize” (or share the message of salvation), God will spark a passion inside of us so that it is our desire to see lost souls come to know the eternal, loving, all-powerful God that will never let the gates of Hell overpower His Church!
Please pray that I will learn more and gain more confidence to share Christ with others. It’s not an easy task. God has ignited in me the desire to see people come to know Him, and it’s our responsibility as His church to carry out the “Great Commission” (Mark 16). We must invite others to know Him, instead of being stuck, not knowing where to begin.
As a tool, I soon hope to read the book “Share Jesus without Fear” by William Fay, and I hope this may be a help to some of you. It is designed to help us share our faith with others in practical and effective ways!
May God light a fire in you to bring lost souls to HIM!
