In last month’s newsletter I wrote, “For us to make disciples we must first be disciples of Jesus Christ.” Let’s always keep this in mind. We need to be reading God’s Word every day for our own spiritual nourishment and so that we have the strength that God gives us in the Bible to grow spiritually, resist temptation and able to believe with certainty that we are loved and forgiven by God. We also need to continue in our discipleship so that when we have opportunity to speak God’s Word to people we know that it is with Jesus’ authority and the Holy Spirit using the power of the Gospel to minister to people and be used by Him to plant and water seeds of faith.

While being a constant disciple of Jesus Christ by reading the Bible is important for our spiritual life with God and for evangelism, we must also know that evangelism is not simply learning Bible facts. Evangelism is taking part in God’s great work of redeeming the world through Christ. It is to reach out and allow God’s power and presence of the Holy Spirit to extend into the lives of people we interact with in our daily lives. When we increasingly become aware of God working within us, the result is joy—joy in our daily tasks and joy in the lives that are changed as they by God’s grace, the Holy Spirit uses the Gospel to breathe new life into them.

Many Christians are a bit hesitant to speak God’s Word of Truth to others, even family and friends. From a human perspective that is very understandable. Just look at the moral climate of this nation. James Peterson and Peter Kim in their book The Day America Told the Truth revealed from their polling of Americans that 69% do not believe in moral absolutes.

Charles Dickens wrote in A Tale of Two Cities

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness; it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

It appears not a whole lot has changed since the French Revolution. As I listen to unbelievers, read the news, and watch the television it certainly seems as though it is the worst of times with all of the chaos and turmoil in people’s personal lives that spills over to the way that they think, speak and act publicly. While very few people are absolute atheists and many are trying to live a spiritual life, they are desiring for this spiritual life to be believed and lived on their own terms according to their own rules apart from the truth of God and the truth of His Word.

I believe that it is also the best of times as God continues to place us in the lives of people who seek peace, comfort, and joy. It is the best of times because of the uncertainty and anxiety that Covid-19 has caused in many people’s lives which as the Holy Spirit wills can open them to seeing peace, comfort, and joy in our lives as well hear the Gospel which alone offers those experiences to those who believe in Christ.

Jesus commands us to “make disciples” by Going, Baptizing, and Teaching. In making a disciple of Jesus Christ, first, we must GO to where unbelievers are who need to hear the Gospel. As we Go and Live Christ’s love with them, we listen to them as they tell us their stories and proclaim the Good News to them. As God brings them to faith and repentance, He then offers to them the great gift and sacrament of BAPTISM. Finally, we must TEACH the new convert everything Jesus has commanded us. Our role of “making a disciple” is just beginning when a person comes to Christ. God will continue to use us in their lives to teach them God’s Word.

We as individual believers and as Christian community continue to disciple them … so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ (Eph. 4:12b–15).

In addition to Jesus presenting a powerful promise: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” He also promises His Church

“you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

To be a witness for Christ is to trust not in ourselves but in the power of the Holy Spirit as we bring a message that is a marvel of simplicity to a world that expects complexity when it comes to salvation: Jesus Christ is God who was born in the flesh; who died to pay for our sins; who was resurrected; who now is exalted in Heaven; who calls us to believe in Him and receive the free gifts of forgiveness of all our sins and eternal life. This is Good News that people are searching for.

There was a brief interlude of about ten days, and then the Holy Spirit was poured upon the apostles, there were tongues of fire, they spoke in other languages, and spiritual power flowed through them. It is no surprise that read how Peter and John stood before the Sanhedrin and said, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” It was in Philippi after Paul and Silas were beat up and tossed into jail that they jubilantly prayed and sang hymns to God as other prisoners listened. Luke then tells is that there was

a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer awoke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.

Though the Holy Spirit is not mentioned here, we know from Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit, the event of Pentecost, and the New Testament letters that it was the Holy Spirit who gave them the faith and the power to love and witness to the jailer and his family. As the Holy Spirit dwells in us we have this same power to not only believe with all our heart, soul, and mind but also to proclaim and sing the Good News everywhere He places us, in all circumstances, to all people.

~ Pastor Webb