The Gospel is news.
It contains facts that only become effective when preached.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV
[3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
[4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
I delivered unto you, in other words, I told you.
Jesus' last words are instructive
They demonstrate in pellucid terms what the gospel means.
Matthew 28:18-19 KJV
[18] And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations...
We are to take the initiatives and educate, inform, explain His gospel to men.
Mark 16:15 KJV
[15] And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
To preach here in the original words implies the duty of a town crier.
He heralds, announces, shouts it, makes it available for hearing.
Not preaching the gospel is rendering it inoperative.
Romans 1:16 KJV
[16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Its potent ability is its saving power.
If it's not saving, it's not working and if it's not working, then it's been treated unduly as sterile.
The "password" to the power of this message is to GO!
Until you Go, you are making it of non-effect.
Like salt losing its savour.
Matthew 5:13 KJV
[13] ...but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
We mustn't trivialize it, turn its facts into tease, jokes, mere knowledge, if we do, it loses its saving power as it were
The gospel is an aroma, it's workability is in its spread, it's being taken from place to place
2 Corinthians 2:14 KJV
[14] Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
Every place is for the aroma of this message.
We must spread it.
That said.
Let's see what exemplifies this.
Notice we aren't to expect men to come and hear it, even though that could occur too
We are to go to them.
Jesus demonstrated the meaning of this in his actions and his Precepts
Matthew 4:23 KJV
[23] And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom...
Matthew 9:35 KJV
[35] And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom
Have we observed he didn't set up a building or monument?
The work of the gospel supersedes structures.
It's a work on the go!
Structures can be put in place to make the "going" more effective but must never be seen as the work itself.
Peter says he went about
Acts 10:37-38 KJV
[37] That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
[38] How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good...
It was published, announced, everywhere.
We mustn't allow either unserious believers or unbelievers blackmail us,
Some say "too many churches", etc too many Christian programs on tv and radio etc.
Yes, it's the meaning of the gospel.
Every space!
In his teaching, Jesus gives clarity to how this is done
Luke 19:10 KJV
[10] For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
To seek means to look for, search for, find, dig out.
This is done passionately.
He gave parables in this regard
Luke 15:4 KJV
[4] What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
Notice the terms, Go after.., you search for, look for,
John Hyde, a renown gospel minister will ask for the names of all the unsaved in towns he visited. In order to reach them.
The above parable is very instructive.
In commercial terms, it's unwise to leave 99 (ninety nine) and search for 1 (one)
You cut your losses and even tell folks you made more profit this year.
Lives aren't articles of commerce.
They must be sought out.
That one person is dear to God as much as the rest.
Luke 15:8 KJV
[8] Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
Seek, diligently.
Evangelism must be done passionately.
Not just saying it without gusto, tears, commitment or rigor to see men hear it well and receive it.
The gospel is a message that affects and effects eternal things, beings and issues.
We must discuss it, talk about with vigour, handle it more passionately than we discuss sports, politics, entertainment, arts, happenings, business, etc.
Paul had an attitude Like this, recall he had his own career too and responsibilities to cater for others
Acts 18:3 KJV
[3] And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
Acts 20:34 KJV
[34] Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
Yet, he pre-occupied himself primarily with the spreading of this aroma, this message
1 Corinthians 9:16 KJV
[16] For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
He calls it necessity.
We must be known by this message, seen talking about it, we must seek those who should hear it, ensure they do.
If we don't, we live in disobedience. It's a sin not to preach the gospel.
Sin is to disobey.
Are you in obedience?
It's not enough to listen to "Word" materials and be excited, then do nothing about it or say nothing meaningful for others to hear it.
We must outline when and where we should look for and find our hearers
Once again, What are you doing with the gospel (to be continued)
Have a blessed day ahead
I call you blessed
Jesus is Lord, We Win
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