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"So Jesus said to them again, 'Peace to you!
As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.'"
(John 20:21)
We often complicate that which in essence is simple. Take for example evangelism. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, defined evangelism or witnessing this way: "It is sharing the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God." Sharing our faith should be something we do on a regular basis, but the vast majority of Christians do not. The devil provides us with many excuses for us not sharing, but they are just that: excuses. Evangelism is simple, but it is not easy. The reason it is not easy is that the devil fights tooth and nail to stop you from telling someone on their way to hell how they can go to heaven instead.
Pastor Levi Skipper, pastor at Sagemont Church in Houston, has a powerful message he teaches on evangelism entitled, "No Sweat Evangelism". In this lesson on evangelism, Levi gives Four Steps to Make Sharing Jesus Simple:
Own your role as a missionary. If we are saved, then we are called and commanded to tell. Pastor Levi referenced 1 Peter 2:9: "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." What a powerful verse. Every Christian is to be a Great Commission Christian, an ambassador, a witness, a missionary, a fisher of men. Evangelism is not just for pastors like salvation is not just for pastors; it is for all. When we accept Jesus as Savior and Lord, we are called to be His witnesses.
View yourself biblically. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:20, "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." Ambassadors represent their country and speak on behalf of that country. Their main concern is for the best interests of their country and its citizens. That is who we are for Jesus. We represent Him and speak for Him to a lost world. This is our role, our calling, our privilege, and our responsibility. I love that Paul says "we implore you"; We plead with and exhort others to follow Jesus; we do not simply invite them to our church or a religious event, though that is very important. That, however, is not a Gospel conversation; that happens only when you share the Gospel. Steve Gaines, pastor at Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, TN, said it is not a Gospel conversation until you share Jesus and then give the person an opportunity to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord.
Tomorrow we will pick up with the next point in Pastor Levi's lesson on evangelism. In John 20:21, Jesus speaks a word of peace to His fearful disciples and then commands them to go. We are all called by God to be on mission. We are at our best when we are sent. May God bless you today with His peace and power, and may you go and bear witness for Him.
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