HIGHLIGHTS: The Prelude to the “Gospel Cycle.”
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe, in my name they shall cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them, they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. (Mark 16: 15-18)
These were among the last words Jesus Christ spoke to His disciples before He was taken up into heaven. Every born-again Christian is commanded by the Lord to participate in the Great Commission. Every born-again Christian is a minister of the Lord. Every born-again Christian is commanded to leave their homes and go out and preach the gospel, the good news, of what Jesus Christ has for mankind and the world. To be a reaper of the lost is God’s plan for your life!
When you make it your habit to preach the gospel and give your personal witness of Jesus Christ to others, you will find the pathway to the abundant life that Jesus came to give to every person who would believe on Him. (John 10:10) Preaching the gospel turns on a supernatural cycle of events in your life, and can forever change the lives of others. But, before we get into the “Gospel Cycle,” it is very important to first get a clear understanding of how God sees you, and has entreated you with loving kindness. As a born-again Christian, your life is hidden in Christ, and when God looks at you, He sees His son Jesus. (Col. 3:3) God has called you to a holy vocation—to reap the lost. (Eph. 4: 1-3) Most Christians do not know, nor have they given much thought to how God views them. As a result, Christians live their lives in disorder and far beneath their privilege. Having full knowledge of how God sees you makes an astronomical difference in the effectiveness and efficiency in the way you preach the gospel to the lost.
Because of the finished works of Jesus Christ on His cross:
- GOD SEES YOU AS HAVING NEVER SINNED BEFORE! Your sins and iniquities have been erased from your record eternally. (Heb. 10:16-17) Most Christians see themselves as sinners saved by grace. No, because your life is in Jesus Christ, God sees you as having never sinned! God sees you as one of His kings who reigns on the earth. He has clothed you with a robe of righteousness, placed a crown of gold on your head, and placed a scepter in your hand. (Rev. 1:5-6, I Pet. 2:9, & I John 4:17)
- GOD HAS HEDGED YOU ABOUT WITH A MIGHTY IMPENETRABLE FORTRESS. The enemy of God, Satan, cannot touch you, and his fiery darts of accusation fall far short of the intended target—you and your family! (Psalm 91:1-16, I John 5:18, II Thess.3-3, & Luke 10:19) For God has declared that you are blameless, guiltless, faultless, and un-reproveable in His sight! (Rom 8:1-2, Eph. 1:4, Col. 1:22, & Jude 24, 25)
- GOD HAS ENTREATED YOU WITH LOVING KINDNESS. God dwells in you and you in Him. (I John 4:15) From the millhouse of His goodness, God has bestowed upon you honors. In the Spirit, He has lavishly adorned you with mantels, medals, and medallions. He has made you an overcomer, triumphant, victorious, the winner in all of life’s circumstances. (Romans 8:37, I John 5: 4)
- GOD HAS GIVEN TO YOU THAT WHICH IS MOST PRECIOUS TO HIMSELF—THE WORD OF GOD! You did not just purchase your Bible from a bookstore, nor was it handed down to you, or given as a gift from a loved one. No, God has entrusted you with His Holy Word, which he has placed above His own name.(Psalm 138:2) He has made you the steward of His Word. When you speak the Word in faith, as is with God, it always accomplishes what you desire and achieves its purpose. (Matt. 4:4, Mark 4:14, & Is. 55:11) When you preach the gospel the power of God is released and brings forth salvation to all who believe. (Rom. 1:16)
- FINALLY GOD HAS PLACED A SPECIAL GIFT IN YOUR BACKPOCKET! Never forget that God has given you, as an inheritance, the power of forgiveness. You own forgiveness! (Eph.1: 6-7). If you commit a sin, you don’t need to ask God to forgive you for it—just pull out your inheritance of forgiveness, and by the blood of Jesus Christ, forgive yourself of the sin. Sin has no dominion over you. (Rom. 6:14) Moreover, be sure to love and forgive everyone who wrongs you, including your enemies. It’s your blood bought right to be as perfect as God! (Matt. 5:43-48)
If you will rehearse the aforementioned affirmations and declare them by faith in the finished works of Jesus Christ, the “Spirit of Faith”, which we talked about last week will rise up in you. Then, when you preach the gospel to unbelievers, you will see the power of God manifest to save, heal, and deliver people from darkness and the clutches of the devil.
Next week, we will delve into an examination of the “Gospel Cycle.”