WHAT DOES BEING A WITNESS FOR CHRIST INVOLVE? – “PREACH THE GOSPEL AT ALL TIMES AND BY ALL MEANS”

“WHAT DOES BEING A WITNESS FOR CHRIST INVOLVE?” It involves that we as Christians are to “PREACH THE GOSPEL AT ALL TIMES AND BY ALL MEANS” and to ALL PEOPLE. The command of the LORD Jesus Christ is clear. *We are called as His disciples and ambassadors to be His witnesses to the whole world.* This witnessing involves “going into the whole world, and preaching the gospel to every creature.”
– “15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature…and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” – Assorted from Mark 16:15-16, Matthew 28:19

The LORD Jesus, when He was about to ascend into heaven, gave the final instructions to all His disciples, which includes us too, even this day. This is what He had said…
– “8 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

The commands of the LORD Jesus – “you shall be witnesses to Me in…” – from the above references, tell us very clearly that we are to be His ambassadors, and proclaim the gospel to everyone in the whole world. As we continue to explore the theme, “LIVING as a WITNESS” to the LORD Jesus Christ, and “Preaching the Gospel” to everyone – let us see what is it all about, and what all is being asked from us.

1- PREACH THE WORD AT ALL TIMES
– “​1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” – 2 Timothy 4:1-2 

2- WOE TO ME IF I DO NOT PREACH THE GOSPEL
– “16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” – 1 Corinthians 9:16

2- BE NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL
– “16 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.” – Romans 1:16 

3- NOTHING IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN PREACHING THE GOSPEL
– “24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” – Acts 20:24

4- AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST
– “20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:20

5- MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION
– “18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” – 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

6- PROCLAMATION OF THE FORGIVENESS AVAILABLE IN THE LORD JESUS
– “46 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, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” – Luke 24:46-47

7- PRAYERFULLY SEND, IF WE CANT GO
– “14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” – Romans 10:14-15 

Dear brothers and sisters, WITNESSING the LORD Jesus to the world is the God given responsibility to each of us, who are called to be His disciple. When we become His disciple, we are automatically His ambassadors. As ambassadors of Christ, it is laid upon us to represent our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ, our Master, and be His witnesses at all time, to the whole world. How are we faring on this count? Let us seek out LORD’s face and ask Him to help us PREACH the GOSPEL, at ALL TIMES, by ALL MEANS and WITH ALL OUR HEART, SOUL and MIND. Even so, the LORD Jesus help us.