Evanglism – I think it’s the action of spreading the message, the good news, the message of Jesus Christ.
What is remakable about our message is that Jesus *is* the message. You might have heard that statement before “the medium is the message” and in the case of Christians, our message is Jesus more than it’s any one or two things He said.
How do we spread this message if it’s not actually just a series of words and teachings? This is one of the key messages that I think we Christians misunderstand. God can be understood through the life of Jesus, because Jesus is the exact likeness of God. How do we understand Jesus? Which of His teachings do we use to understand such a remarkable person who made such an impact on society that our date system begins with His birth and most major technology inventions have been done by His followers (even to this day).
The only message that truly explains His message… is… Himself. We simply need to look at His life and His choices and the things He did.
So then, if we are to show Jesus to other people, which teachings should we use? Or, should we do something more radical… show His actual life. How do you show His life?
My little children, for whom I am again suffering birth pangs until Christ is completely and permanently formed (molded) within you, – Galatians 4:19
This is not a fantasy, it’s reality. I’ve written about Jesus’ one command… and the enormous promises. You might doubt that obeying His command will literaly result in Him and the Father making their abode with us. Consider this then. A few weeks ago a visiting teacher at church asked “who here has met Jesus FACE TO FACE” and asked them to raise their hands. Around 5-8 people raised their hands. I was astonished that so many people had phsyically met Him in maybe 150-200 people.
Jesus said:
I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father. – John 14:12
Faith in Him is the key, because if you don’t believe that He can do what He said… then you’ll never try! So what is the signficance of this? I’m saying that to do true evangelism, our lives that must be reshaped. People should see Christ in us.
Are we beginning again to tell you how good we are? Some people need to bring letters of recommendation with them or ask you to write letters of recommendation for them. But the only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves! Your lives are a letter written in our hearts, and everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. Clearly, you are a letter from Christ prepared by us. It is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on stone, but on human hearts. 2Co 3:1-3
Think about that… your life is to be a letter that everyone can read and recognize. You are to be a letter to the people around you from Christ prepared by the Holy Spirit (and co-prepared also by the people around you as they encourage you on in your walk).
What will people see in your life that might make them sit up and take notice? The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace etc. This world is badly lacking in love for one another. Just smiling at other people and naturally caring for them is enough for them to know that you’ve got something they want.
Will they listen? Yes… if just a few of us could walk down to the lake and stand on the water as it gently laps on the sand and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ… everyone would listen. They would have to admit that there is something to this Jesus person and that His Kingdom is truly in control of this world. They’d listen. They’d consider. And many many Christians would be encouraged to believe and they too would grow up into Him and do the stuff. We all should do the stuff.
Jesus often said we should walk as He did. Then He put His Spirit within us. May Christ be formed in us… soon.
Faith + Hope + Love 