There is enough potential in this room to see Barbados saved many times over. It is a terrible thing to just conduct church and not rescue the perishing. We should not forget that there is a world in desperate need for the gospel. The book of Genesis details the broken relationship between God and Man but the rest of the Bible sees God pulling Man together again. In the Word, we see the fall of Man and Sodom and Gomorrah as sin walked through the Old Testament into the New Testament and into the world today. Children are becoming adults before their time, sexual perversion and wickedness of every kind are showing themselves more than ever today. However, the Bible speaks of the Prince of Peace, the Mighty One who will save the world from sin. We serve a God that still saves today.
As we focus our attention on Jesus, we see that the Bible says that Jesus came to seek and save the lost and the answer for the problem of sin will always be Jesus. Jesus drove out demons, healed the sick, set captives free, loved the unlovable and came to root and destroy, but He also came to establish and to build up. He called others into the great adventure and we see scriptures that declare that “he who believes in Me will do great works and because he believes, he will do greater works.” Jesus also exhorted us to go into all the world and spread the gospel. Indeed, we are beneficiaries of the gospel because the disciples spread it to the world. There is a definite call to take the gospel to the four corners of the earth, beginning with Barbados. If we say that we are followers of Jesus, then evangelism is part of our mandate. Many of our local assemblies have ignored the call of God to win the lost and any church that does not win the lost, is lost itself. However, God is stirring in our hearts once again, the passion to see the lost saved and now is the time that we must go forth and win the lost.
We preach the gospel in schools, prisons and other places for as Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 9:37, “the harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few; go ye therefore into all the world and preach the gospel.” For many years, we have reduced the church to a pleasure boat for the saved rather than a lifeboat for sinners. It makes no sense throwing out the life preserver in the church; it needs to be thrown out to the lost world. John Piper once said that worship is the ultimate goal of the church, but missions exist because worship does not. Revelation says that at the end of time, there will be worshippers of every colour, but we must get out and reach them first so that worship can reach every corner of the earth.
Kingdom evangelism must be intentional. It must become a lifestyle. We do not need to have a big name ministry, but we need to represent the Jesus that we serve. Too many believers are too quiet in their journey and passive Christianity is no Christianity at all. When Jesus called the disciples, they went through all kinds of hardship for the gospel, but they did it because they were called. They turned the world upside down. Following Jesus has always been agitating to people who are around us.
Matthew 5:16 says “Let your light so shine before men that they see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” The gospel frees us from ourselves as we avail ourselves before God. The key to intentional evangelism is that we must shine in dark places. Light gathering in the church is not effective. It is when it goes out to the world which is in darkness and transforms it, that the will of God is accomplished. 2 Corinthians 3:2 says “You are our epistle written in our hearts and read by all men.” We are living too near the border where sin is and get caught up in what the world is doing, but God wants us to move away from the border where the illegal territory is. When we squeeze an apple, we get apple juice. Likewise, when a Christian is pushed and pressed, all that should come out is Jesus. We are more effective on the outside that we are in the Church, so shine forth and let the world see Jesus.
Kingdom evangelism must be fuelled by prayer. The first one is the prayer of authority. This is about how connected we are in Christ, not how strong we are. Our authority comes from Christ, but if we are afar off from Him, we have no authority. However, if we are connected to Him, then we can pray and accomplish much; if we are topped up on the Word of God, then we will find it so much easier to fight life’s battles and take authority over the enemy. 2 Corinthians 4:10 says “But the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty to the tearing down of strongholds.” The power that we hold, is much mightier than weapons and guns of this world. Take authority over all types of wickedness. Before we effectively evangelize communities, we must pray prayers of authority and also of intercession. We must spend long hours praying and travailing over the communities of our nations. David Livingston did a lot of work in Africa, but after all the work he had done, he was found one day on his knees and died there. He was committed to the cause of the gospel.
Kingdom evangelism must be gospel centred. If we want to see original results, we must preach the original gospel. Our prayer everyday should be: “Lord help me to preach the gospel strong and clearly everyday.” Evangelistic ministry is focused toward the world not toward the Church. The gospel has the power to cut to the core of the vilest offender, as it is a sword. The gospel is really God’s razor blade and is to be sued in the world. “Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins” is the gospel. The gospel works when it is declared, when it is sent forth, when it is preached and when it is spoken in the lunch room and other places. What is the gospel? That Jesus lives!
Kingdom evangelism must be saturated with the Spirit. Evangelism has its roots in the very womb of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has been the key component in ministry in the days of the early Church. We cannot be believers who do not want to share the gospel, as the Holy Spirit must be in us. The Holy Spirit is the key component in our ministry; He is our covering and our strength. The Holy Spirit is for everyone and when He comes, speaking in tongues is not the only thing that happens. Indeed, anything can happen when He comes, so we can go forth and take the gospel and operate in signs and wonders. True revival comes when every believer follows Christ and His power is then seen in the four corners of the earth. Never try to be average, but always try to operate from the supernatural. There are too many average Christians in the world today. Kingdom evangelism must be global. It would be incorrect to only focus our attention on Barbados. Mark 16:15 “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” We must therefore reach our communities with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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