Sermon Part 5: “The Best Kept Secret on Planet Earth, is that the Soldiers of Jesus Christ Are Christians!”
Don’t negotiate with Satan over witnessing Jesus Christ to the World!
WARNING: This Sermon Series serves as “Basic Training for all Born-Again Christian Soldiers to prepare them for Spiritual Combat against Satan and the forces of darkness. In teaching these Sermons, we are not giving any place to fears of sparking negative emotions or feelings that gender strife and offense.
Hebrews 4:12 says,
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
As such, we are examining ourselves in light of the Word of God, and making changes where needed so that we may test what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God for our lives—and that is, to be like Jesus Christ in this untoward world. God expects us to be “Good Soldiers” that are fit for battle, locked, and loaded with the Word of God and prayer to defeat the enemy. No matter the hardship encountered, we are determined to fight the “good fight” of faith until Jesus Christ, The Lord, returns.
Praise the Lord Saints and Happy Holidays, Ye Good Soldiers of the Cross!
Introduction
Jesus Christ has a question for the entire Body of Christ, The Church and so I will ask it of you too:
WHY DO YOU CALL ME “LORD,” “LORD” AND DO NOT WHAT I SAY? (Luke 6:46)
Dear Saint of God, think back to the day when you heard the clarion call of the gospel of Jesus Christ preached, and were convicted in your heart by the Holy Ghost to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord. You repented of your sins and invited Jesus Christ to come and live in your heart, as Savior and Lord. With your baptism in water, witnesses present, you were sealed forever in God in Christ Jesus. The Holy Ghost was given to you as a token of God’s great love for you, and you began walking in the newness of life with Jesus Christ.
Do you remember the first thing you did after you were born-again? The answer is you went and told somebody, likely a family member or friend, that you had received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. You told folks you are saved and a Christian; and you were proud of it! Oh thank God that the Scripture has declared: whosever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Rom.10:13)
The day you acknowledged Jesus Christ as “Lord,” He became just that, “Your Lord.” Jesus Lord’s in you, through you, and over you. The word LORD in the Greek translation means master, ruler, or controller. Jesus Christ is The Master, The Ruler, and The Controller of your life; He is the Supreme Authority. Say it with me please: “Jesus Christ is The Lord, Master, Ruler, Controller, and Supreme Authority in my life—and I am not ashamed to let the world know about it!”
Jesus Christ said, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (Rev.1:8)
Jesus Christ is The Lord, and whatever He has Commanded you to do; you “must” keep the Commandment (study to learn it, understand it, and in- grain it into your thinking to know it) and “go forth and do it!”
This week, we examine Christians’ adherence with the Second and Third Commandments embodied in the Mission of the Army of the Lord. (See Sermon dated, December 10, 2023, which covered the First Commandment.) They are as follows:
Second Command: Go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature to win the unsaved to Christ; with signs and wonders following. (Mark 16:15-20)
Third Command: Through the teachings of Jesus Christ, make disciples of all nations—so that Christian converts can become “Good Soldiers” like you too. (Matt. 28:18-20)
Most of the Soldiers of Jesus Christ Hide from the World the Good News that they Are Christians
Jesus Christ our Commander-in-Chief has made it abundantly clear that we are to go and preach the gospel to every person. (Mark16:15) For sure and rightly so, every Church and Ministry that names the name of Jesus Christ, has as its written Mission Statement to “go.” Yet, few Churches and Ministries, as well as Christians individually (the Soldiers of Christ) regularly journey outside of the four-walls of the Church to tell the good news about Jesus Christ and His finished works on the cross to Non-Christians; and to tell of the difference He has made in their lives.
However, Jesus Christ said that His sheep hear His Voice, know Him, and follow Him. (John 10:27) At John 10:9 Jesus said that He is the door and any person that enters in are saved, and go in and out and find pasture. If we are truly the sheep of the Lord, then we must be also followers of Him. We are to follow Jesus Christ out into His Vineyard, the World, to preach the gospel to the multitudes of lost people who have entered into the Wide Gate and Broad way, and are on their way to eternal damnation in hell; to win them to Christ to receive salvation.
Jesus Christ promised that as the sheep go in and out of the Strait Gate with Him that we would find pasture. Meaning we will learn of Him (For His yoke easy and burdens are light), take on His personality and conduct and do the things He did, and by so doing, learn who we really are in Christ! We find our “true life” as we follow Jesus Christ into His Vineyard. For the Apostle Paul wrote we are dead and our lives are hidden in Christ Jesus. (Col. 3:3) When you find your life in Christ, you will find your pasture. God gives you all things freely with Jesus Christ in this material world: health, prosperity, longevity with persecutions tagging along; and eternal rewards in heaven for your service. Note the promise of Jesus Christ at Mark 10:29.
And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
But, if we do not follow the Great Shepherd into His Vineyard and preach the gospel to the lost, our witness of Jesus Christ is silent; our witness is “dead.” And, though we as Christians think we are alive and blessed of God, we really are just “dead people” walking in and out of Church every Sunday, not yet awakened to the Life and Mind of Jesus Christ within us.
Here we are at Christmas time to celebrate our Lord’s birth in the earth, and many-to-most Christians have no thought about earnestly winning a soul to Jesus at Christmas. Only the thoughts of the exchange of gifts and cozy comforts of chestnuts roasting on an open fire, with family and friends to consume them. I am not trying to take the holiday away from us. But to make the focus of Christmas a true “Holy Day!” Can we even imagine any more winning a person to Jesus Christ on Christmas Day? Tell me, is the altar closed on Christmas?
The fallout from our disobedience to the Lord’s Commandment to take the gospel to every person in America and around the world has been great! (Without Jesus Christ, the hearts of human beings only grow wax worse with evil!) We fail to see the enormous spiritual, mental, and physical devastation done to our youth and generations to come because they know not the Lord. All because our mouths are glued shut to hide the name Jesus Christ from the world, our communities, and families.
In Washington, D.C., the District Government recently issued a report for the 2022-2023 school year, indicating that over 40-percent of public school students were chronically absent from school. (www.dcnews.com) If the children are not in school, where are they, what are they doing, and who gave them permission to skip school? The reason so many children are skipping school and committing crimes is because they are not being brought to Sunday school by parents!
Jesus Christ was recorded at Matthew 24:12 as having said:
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
On Judgement Day, what will Jesus Christ have to say about our adherence to His Command to win the lost to Him?
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
The Soldiers of Christ have heard and read the following Scriptures about evangelizing/witnessing Christ to the lost many times. This is nothing new to us. As we read the Scriptures below examine your own obedience, or lack thereof, in doing them. The Word of God is speaking directly to you.
John 4:35-38
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”
Luke 14:23
And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Mark. 10:32-33
Therefore, everyone who acknowledges Me before men and confesses Me [[a]out of a state of oneness with Me], I will also acknowledge him before My Father Who is in heaven and [b] confess [that I am abiding in] him.
But whoever denies and disowns Me before men, I also will deny and disown him before My Father Who is in heaven.
Matthew 9:37-38
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
I Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.
It is this last Scripture that I call to your immediate attention. God is asking you, Good Soldier, “Are you ready to give an answer to every person who asks about the hope that lies in you?” For example, right now, are you ready to answer if a Non-Christian (family member, friend, or stranger) came to you and asked these three questions:
- Why are you a Christian?
- Why should I become a Christian?
- How do I become a Christian, should I decide to become one?
When I ask my fellow Christian friends and associates these questions they hesitate, become puzzled, remain silent in answering, or change the subject. Even the first question stumps them!
Tell me Good Soldiers: Why are you a Christian?
If the Christian Soldier cannot provide the answer to the first question, the Non-Christian may likely reason, if the Christian does not know why they are a Christian, then why should I bother to become one. And, this would not be pleasing in the sight of God, as a soul could be lost.
There is not one way to answer these questions, but many ways to defend the faith and witness Christ through the Scriptures. However, the answers to the questions will always lead a person to Jesus Christ as the way to God and eternal life. (Next week, on Christmas Eve, we will have a Special Session called: “Jesus’s Workshop” to assemble clear answers to these three vitally important questions.)
This notwithstanding, we are not called by Jesus Christ to just wait on people to ask about the hope that lies within us, before going forth and sharing the gospel with them. No, no, no we are not just sit around in Church and hope that a Non-Christian stumbles through the doors and says, “here I am convince me to become a Christian.” We must be proactive and take the gospel of Jesus Christ into the highways and streets and preach and witness Christ to everyone to receive salvation through Jesus Christ. Now is the Accepted time, now is the day of Salvation! (II Cor. 6:2)
My, my, my, wouldn’t it be wonderful if you, God’s Good Soldiers, were always prepared to approach a Non-Christian in the Spirit of meekness and love, ask them for a few minutes of their time, greet one another; and then explain to the Non-Christian why you are a Christian, why the Non-Christian should become a Christian, and how they can become a Christian?
Oh, what great power would be released from the Holy Ghost within you to bring salvation and supernatural wonders from heaven to heal the broken hearted and set captives free. The best kept secret that the people of the world need to know is that you—The Good Soldier—are a “Christian.” That you have the Spirit of the Life and Mind of Jesus Christ inside of you, and rivers of living water flow out of you! (John 7:38) The amazing thing is that not only rivers of eternal life flow out from the Good Soldier, but if the Non-Christian would believe in the name of Jesus Christ, these same rivers of living water would begin to flow out of them too! (Mark 16:16-17)
However, most of the Good Soldiers of Christ who have this treasure in Christ (The Anointed One, and His Anointing) hidden in their earthly vessels, have chosen to remain “silent” in the world and keep the goodness of God in Christ to themselves; lips sown tight. This is not the way of the Good Soldier! This is ungodly! (Matt.10:32 & Acts 1:8)
Listen to what the late great Dr. Billy Graham Jr. one of the most prolific American Evangelical Christian leaders in the 20th century said in regard to Christians’ adherence to the Command of Jesus Christ to evangelize:
“In more than 50-years in traveling around the world, I have never had anyone witness to me about their Christian faith. Though several have confessed their faith after I initiated a conversation.”
Dr. Graham also said, “surveys indicate that the vast majority of Bible believing Christians do not witness to others about their faith in Christ, that 85-percent never invite anyone to church, and 95-percent never win any one to Christ.”
I have certainly not had the kind of exposure and experience to evangelism as Billy Graham. But, I can also confirm from own experience with evangelism over the past14-years of Outreach Ministry in the streets of Maryland, that I have never been approached by another Christian who initiated a conversation with me about Jesus Christ. Moreover, rarely have I seen other Christian Soldiers on the battlefield evangelizing in the neighborhoods I serve. Yes, in my experience the Soldiers of Jesus Christ are mostly, “Silent Witnesses,” and a Silent Witness is a dead witness!
Furthermore, studies also echo our “lackluster” performance as Christians in obeying Christ’s Command to evangelize in the United States. For example, one Church Media outlet, Bible.Org, recently published data on evangelism statistics. Similar to Dr. Graham’s observations, they found that 95-percent of all Christians have never won a soul to Jesus Christ. Eighty-percent of all Christians do not consistently witness for Christ. Less than two-percent of Christians are involved in the ministry of evangelism. Seventy-one percent do not give toward the financing of the Great Commission.
Additionally, Bible.Org shared the results of a survey administered by a Church denomination (unnamed) of its leadership ministries. The results are as follows:
- 63-percent of the leadership in this denomination, including deacons and elders, have not led one stranger to Jesus in the last two-years through the method of “Go Ye” evangelism.
- 49-percent of leadership ministries spend zero time in an average week ministering outside the church.
- 89-percent of the leadership ministries have zero time reserved on their list of weekly priorities for going out to evangelize.
- 99-percent of the leadership ministries believe that every Christian, including leadership, has been commanded to preach the gospel to the lost world.
- 97-percent believe that if leadership had a greater conviction and involvement in evangelism, that it would be an example for the church to follow. Because of this, our results in evangelism have been mediocre, at best. (Bible.org.)
I thank God for the boldness of this Church denomination to undertake the Survey, and I hope from it they have set a plan in place to change their practices and obey Jesus’s Commandment to evangelize. There are some very important aspects of the survey I want to focus on in a minute, but first—let’s not just look around at the poor performance of other Churches, and Ministries, and Christian Soldiers in evangelizing—let’s examine our own witnessing habits:
- When was the last time you preached the gospel and won a soul to Christ?
- When was the last time you invited someone to church that was a Non-Christian?
- Do you believe that Church Leadership and all able bodied Christians have the responsibility to go and preach the gospel outside of the four-walls of the Church?
This Ministry has done a “poor” job of consistently evangelizing. My prayer is that God will send forth more laborers into His Vineyard of Maryland to reap the lost. To me it is a complete shame that Jesus Christ had to tell His disciples to pray that God would touch the hearts of His own people, saved by the blood of His Son Jesus Christ and on their way to heaven, to go and work to save the lost.
Why wouldn’t Jesus have just said to the disciples (turned Apostles) when His Church is established to have Church leaders make sure that their congregations go out and reap the lost? Instead, Jesus said pray directly to God to send out laborers because they are scarce. View again what Jesus said at Matthew 9:37-38.
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
I believe the reason Jesus told us to pray directly to God to send out laborers into the harvest to evangelize souls, is because God cannot count on Church leaders—many of the Apostles, many of Prophets, many of Evangelists, many Pastors and many Teachers set in the Corporate Church of Jesus Christ, to do the “work of the ministry” in the streets. I know this is a very radical statement to make. But I believe it’s true—more on this in a minute.
I also believe that Jesus Christ is telling us all to pray with God for workers to be sent into the field, because He hopes each one of us will hear God tell us directly to “go!” You cannot pray to God for somebody else to go work to win souls, without being drafted yourself into duty!
Regarding Church leaders, The Apostle Paul wrote at Ephesians 4:11-12
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
The Berean Standard Bible states Verse 11 more clearly:
And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
Not all Church leaders sitting in positions as Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers have been placed there by God—the majority of the leaders of our Churches are not “God-sent;” but are man-appointed! Paul says God gave “some” to be in each of the Five-fold Ministry gifts. The Ministry Gifts to the Church of Jesus Christ were given to the body of Christ to carry out three things: 1) for the perfecting of the saints, 2) the work of the ministry, and 3) edifying the body of Christ.
We have many Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers in the body of Christ who are neglectful and down-right disobedient to the Commandment of Christ to preach the gospel outside of the four-walls of the Church. Many leaders within the Five-fold Ministry have not taught their congregations, nor have any plans to teach their members how to do the “work of the ministry.”
As noted in the survey reported by Bible.Org, among the churches surveyed, “less than two-percent” of congregates are involved in the ministry of evangelism.
At its core the work of the ministry is evangelism, teaching the people how to (1) preach the gospel and witness their faith in Jesus Christ to the lost, (2) invite people to Church, and (3) do the works of Jesus Christ (miracles) and greater works. (John 14:12)
Examine yourself and ask whether you believe you are trained to do the work of the ministry? In your entire Christian experience have you attended a Church that required training of all of its members to receive education and practical experience in doing the work of the ministry?
The reason why so few Christian Soldiers are competent and practicing doing the work of the ministry—evangelism—is because Church leadership has been under attack by Satan, more specifically the spirit of the antichrist has worked to hinder, block, and stop Church leaders from obeying the Commandment of Christ to “go.” And, most leaders of Churches and Ministries are not even aware of it!
The Spirit of the Anti-Christ is in the World today, and Has Found its way into Most of Our Churches to Prevent the Spread of Evangelism
The Apostle John wrote these words at I John 4:1-6, that sounded the alarm for Christians that the spirit of the antichrist, (as well as other false spirits) are in the world. John wrote,
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
The Apostle John wrote that the spirit of the antichrist is in the world today. The spirit of the antichrist is a duplicate or representation of Satan’s spirit. Because of this, the qualities that are inherent in Satan, are the same qualities that are found in the spirit of the antichrist. This spirit is an “influencer” against Jesus Christ. The spirit of the antichrist denies that Jesus Christ is the Son of God—Messiah, His Resurrection on the third-day, and Exalted and seated at the right-hand throne of God. He is contrary to and against every Commandment of Jesus Christ, and denies all of the work (miracles, signs, and wonders of Christ) and calls them false and not to be believed. I tell you this spirit is straight from the pit of hell!
This spirit is “Anti”-Christ Jesus, the Anointed One, and His Anointing in every way possible! And, the spirit of the antichrist seeks to invade the body of Christ (The Church of Jesus Christ), first within the leadership of Churches and Ministries, and then moves throughout the congregation to “influence” them to not only to disobey the Commandments of Christ, but to lose sight of and forget the Commandments altogether; and to instead follow after the world’s way of doing things. The antichrist spirit wants the Bible to be destroyed in the heads of Christians, so they are ruled by the love of the things of the world. (I John 2:15-17)
The spirit of the antichrist is influencing many Church Leaders, like the surveyed Church denomination, not to obey the Commandment of Christ to “go.” This is what the spirit of the antichrist is all about in the world today.
Having no concrete Church plans, strategies, and implementation efforts to teach, train, and send out Christian Soldiers, as well as the Church leaders themselves to do evangelism on a regular basis, cooperates fully with Satan and the spirit of the antichrist to let the unsaved people of the world remain that way!
Remember, we are in a war against Satan and the kingdom of darkness. Satan is determined not to lose any human beings to Christ. (John 10:10, Eph. 2:1-2, & I John 3:10) He will not step aside and let a Christian Soldier go into the world and win the lost without a fight. Neither will he freely take his hands off of his children, unless we “saw his hands off of them with the blood and name of Jesus Christ!”
This is a war over the souls of human beings. The battle is over who will walk through the Wide-Gate and Broad Way to eternal damnation and Hell with Satan, or walk through the Strait Gate and Narrow Way to life eternal in heaven with God in Christ Jesus!
Most Church leadership has been “bewitched,” “lulled to sleep, and are in a state of neglect over the souls of people that are in the world, without Jesus Christ. Frankly speaking, the apathy of most of God’s Soldiers in evangelizing, is sending the message to God that they just don’t care whether the people of the world go to hell or heaven. Poor evangelism ensures that few people enter the Strait Gate and the Narrow Way.
Consider this for a moment. Every Sunday and perhaps during several weeknights, our Churches hold services and the Soldiers of Christ assemble there. At the same time, many people of the world are walking down the same street of the church before, during, and after Services—and no one from the Church stops them and compels them to come in or invites them to come to the next service being held.
Moreover, we as Christians are famous for congregating in front of the Church after services—which would seem the most opportune time to flag down the passer by—but most often, Christians are content to not even speak to them and continue on with their conversations. What an opportunity lost; fresh out of church!
This is the spirit of the antichrist at work—making Christians insensitive and unware of evangelistic moments. The spirit of the antichrist movement echoes throughout the world, and in our churches and ministries—the world’s sentiment—“to just let people be who they are,” “let them find their own way to God,” “let them worship whatever god they choose,” “there are so many different ways to God.” “Mind your own business, and leave people alone!”
This is devilish and sensual! It demonstrates a strong neglect for our brother and signifies to heaven that we do not love our brother, nor God! What greater love can be expressed for your brother, than to offer to him Jesus Christ? See I John 4:7-11.
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
One of the best times for churches to consistently evangelize in the community is right after Church Service, when we all are assembled together. But the Church leaders’ and congregates’ priorities are not God’s priorities at that time, are they? We have something more important to do after church is over than soul saving. The antichrist truly is in the world today!
Let’s go back now to the Church denomination that undertook the survey of its evangelistic practices. Take a close look at the spirit of the antichrist at work. The results show the spirit of the antichrist is at work through the churches within the denomination, just as it is in most Churches and Ministries in the United States today. Watch the thief carefully in the data presented:
- 99-percent of the leadership ministries believe that every Christian, including leadership, has been commanded to preach the gospel to the lost world.
- 97-percent believe that if leadership had a greater conviction and involvement in evangelism, that it would be an example for the church to follow.
- 89-percent of the leadership ministries have zero time reserved on their list of weekly priorities for going out to evangelize
Nearly all of the denominations’ leadership ministries indicated agreement that they are to preach the gospel to the lost, and believe if they had greater conviction and involvement in evangelism, it would be an example for the Church to follow (most leaders of the churches in the denomination believed so).
Yet, most of these same respondents said they had allotted “no time” in their weekly priorities for going out and evangelizing. Within this denomination, the Five-Fold Ministry fully recognizes the importance of the “go” Commandment of Christ, but takes little or no initiative to actually “go.” This is lip service, minus the actual service.
We know that the spirit of the anti-Christ is present in the denomination, and operating in most of our Churches and Ministries because the Apostle John wrote at I John 4:2-3:
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:
Here me now. As Christian Soldiers our duty is not just to confess Jesus Christ is the son of God—God manifested in flesh inside the four-walls of the Church. We must also confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh before the world! What good is our confession of Jesus in places where we all believe, only to remain silent in places where there is opposition, or little or no knowledge of who Jesus is? Jesus said if we will not confess Him before men, He will not also confess us before our Heavenly Father. (Matt.10:32)
The truth is, the spirit of the antichrist has negotiated a settlement with most Church leaders not to have full participatory evangelism in the communities they serve. He has talked leadership out of doing evangelism with “conviction” and the leaderships’ involvement.” The spirit of the antichrist has convinced most leaders that regular preaching of Christ on the streets and compelling people to come to church is unnecessary, too dangerous, and will not net successful results. He wants leadership to totally neglect establishing formal training for all Christians in how to do the work of the ministry, and few have done so.
The last thing Satan and his forces want is for Christian Soldiers to learn and follow the example of Jesus Christ in the street, how He was anointed with the Holy Ghost and power and went about healing all that were sick and oppressed of the devil for God was with Him. (Acts 10:38) The spirit of the antichrist wants to ensure that every person born in this world continues on the pathway to the Wide Gate and Broadway until they make their entrance into death, hell, and the grave for all eternity.
If the antichrist can successfully agree to terms with Church leaders not to “go” and regularly evangelize, he knows that the Christian Soldiers can more easily be discouraged and dis-hardened from participating in evangelism, with many embracing convenient excuses for not witnessing Christ at all in the world. Also very important, this assures that few if any of our Churches will add new Christian converts, which limits discipleship opportunities and places Christians in direct disobedience with the Lord’s Third Commandment, that we “make disciples.” If we have no new Christian converts, then no Good Soldiers can be added to our Holy Army!
Today, ask any Christian Soldier if they went and witnessed for Jesus Christ on Saturday past—their answer will be no, with a ready-made excuse in hand. Not realizing that the excuse was planted into their heads by the spirit of the antichrist.
Reasons Given by Christians for Not Evangelizing Show the Spirit of the anti-Christ Influencing Disobedience with the “Go” Command
Christians cite many reasons why they do not evangelize, most of which come about because of poor Church leadership in teaching them to do the work of the ministry. Most Christians permit the spirit of the anti-Christ to convince them to muzzle their mouths and tie their hands and feet and remove themselves from the battlefield—staying as far away as they can from preaching and witnessing Christ to the lost.
The Christian Website, “Courageous Christian Father” identified 10-reasons Christians do not evangelize. The reasons given for not evangelizing are similar in many respects to other surveys I have seen, as well those I have personally heard from Christians.
I will not discuss all the reasons listed, but note how the anti-Christ has influenced and negotiated agreements with Christians that result in disobedience to Christ Commandment to “go.” We are not to negotiate with Satan on any of the Commandments of God. Rather, we are to put on the “Whole Armor of God and with Prayer with God in the Word of God stand, resist and defeat the spirit of the anti-Christ.
Many Christians reported the following reasons for not evangelizing, as they believe:
⦁ It’s Pastor’s job—Christians believe it’s not their job, but the clergy to “go.”
Belt of Truth: No, according to Acts 1:8, every born-again believer in Christ Jesus is filled with the Holy Ghost and power and is to serve as a witness unto Jesus Christ throughout the world. No sinner can hear and receive the gospel of Jesus Christ without a preacher. God not only expects clergy to get the good news out about Jesus, but all Christians are to do the work of the ministry. (Eph. 4:11-12)
⦁ No time or lack of priorities—Christian is too busy with work, family, etc. to go and witness. Other things are more important. This is a fiery dart!
Shield of Faith: Remember, it is written that thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul and Strength. Thus, God is to be the Christians all and priority in life. Yes, the Christian Soldier always has plenty of time to do the Lord’s bidding. (Matt. 6:33 22:37, 8:21-22 & I John 2:15-17)
⦁ Don’t feel qualified and equipped—Christians doubt whether they have been called to serve and have what it takes to preach the gospel and work miracles.
Breast Plate of Righteousness: We hold that God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. He has chosen, called, and made every born-again Christian Soldier Holy and Accepted in the beloved before the World began—before Lucifer was even created! (Eph.1:3) Again, God has given to every Soldier the Holy Ghost and power to serve as a witness to Him and told you to “go.” So tell the devil to shut up and “go!” (Acts 1:8, & Luke 10:19)
⦁ Too Shy and Lack Confidence—Christians fear failing in witnessing to others because they don’t know how to approach the unsaved.
Helmet of Salvation: Shake it off Christian Soldier, God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and a sound mind. (II Tim. 2:7 & Heb.10: 35-37) We remind ourselves continually that Jesus died for our sins, so that we might be saved. Thus, we cannot neglect laboring with Christ to see to it that others are saved by His blood too. (John 13:34) We never shall forget what God has done for us and are determined to see it happen for every other person in the world.
⦁ Afraid of what people think—Christians fear being laughed, at, treated rudely, perceived negatively, and don’t want to offend others.
Shield of Faith: As the Soldiers of Christ, we are in the world, but not of the world. (John 17:16) We are God’s elect and a peculiar people unto the Lord. (Col. 3:12 & I Pet. 2:9) We are godly, and yes we already know we will be persecuted by people and consider it light affliction. (I John 3:13, & II Tim. 3:12) To reign with the Lord, we must also be willing to suffer with Him. (II Tim. 2:12)
⦁ Lack of Trust—The Christian doesn’t totally trust God for the outcomes of witnessing Christ. This is the main intent of the anti-Christ to tempt Christians to doubt and disbelieve that the preaching of the gospel with signs following the Word will work.
Shield of Faith: This is a fiery dart. Hold up the Shield of Faith to knock down to the ground the blazing dart. Hold fast to the Words of Christ. Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb.13:5) What can the spirit of the anti-Christ do to stop you when you know Jesus Christ is with you? Nothing!
Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God the Father in all power and majesty, and delegated His authority to Christian Soldiers, the sons of God here on earth. (John 1: 10-12 & Matt. 28:18-20) Therefore, we hold and maintain that we are the authority as we preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in the streets. We have the healing power of Christ as we lay hands on the sick and cast out devils with Jesus name. (Mark 16:17) We are the ones graced to remove heavy burdens and yokes because we have Christ living on the inside of us. (Col 3:3 & John 14:12) Satan and the anti-Christ tremble because they know we bring the message of salvation; and their wicked days are numbered and will be all casted in the lake of fire for all eternity .( Rev. 20:10)
Be free and go with your golden sandals everywhere and preach the gospel without fear of failure or persecution. Pleasing God is our sole desire and we care not what man can do to us—we rather obey God than human flesh. (Acts 5: 29 & I John 5:2)
There is nothing that is impossible to us because we believe in Him! (Mark 9:23) Jesus is able to do exceedingly above all things that we dare ask or think, according to the power in us. (Eph. 3:20) There is nothing we can not accomplish through Christ that strengthens us. (Php. 4:13) Greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world. (I John 4:4) This is what we believe, know, and accomplish in Christ. Tell the anti-Christ to bow down to the name of Jesus Christ and get under your feet now! (Php. 2:10-12) Our confidence has a great repayment in Christ. (Matt. 19:29 & Heb.10:35-37)
In closing, all these attacks by Satan through the spirit of the anti-Christ are waged on Church leadership and individual Christian soldiers. These are mere tactics used by the enemy to draw us into negotiations over the Word of God/Commandments of Christ. To agree to disobey and disregard what the Lord has told us to do. He desires that we settle in our heads that we will not “go” and win souls to Christ; and instead remain in cushy pews with heating and cooling until Jesus Christ returns. Saying that we love God, but bearing no peaceable fruit for the kingdom of God. Bound and handcuffed tight to our pulpit chairs and seats; once again because we have yielded our wills to Satan to not evangelize; no matter how many times we are called on to do so. To let the Commandment of Jesus Christ go in one ear and out of the other like water down a drain.
We need the Whole Armor of God on with prayer in the Word of God without ceasing to defeat the spirit of the anti-Christ. We must stir up the gift of God in us through the testimony of Jesus Christ and His finished works on the cross and our personal testimony of how the Lord saved us. This is what is needed to bring forth the Spirit of God with power, love, and a sound mind to beat down the spirit of fear, which has torment, from Satan and the spirit of the anti-Christ.
We must rebuke and resist all attacks from the spirit of the anti-Christ which would have us fear our true witness of Christ before men. We must train diligently to do the work of the ministry with all leadership and members committed involvement. Then finally, we must regularly evangelize our communities and compel the people to come to receive salvation and come to church and become disciples, so they may also become Good Soldiers in the Army of the Lord.
The fallout from the body of Christ’s mediocrity in evangelism has been enormous in the United States and around the world. Data now show that the United States ranks third (3rd) following China and India in the number of people who are not professing Christians; in other words, the U.S. is becoming an ever increasing “un-reached people group.” (Church Leadership.Org)
Other data report, America’s Christian majority is shrinking, and could dip below 50-percent by 2070. The U.S.’s Christian majority has been shrinking for decades. A Pew Research Center study shows that as of 2020, about 64-percent of Americans identify as Christian. Fifty-years ago, that number was 90-percent. (NPR New Letter, Sept. 15, 2022)
We must not keep our gift to the world a secret that Christ dwells richly in us and has the answer that the world needs to be saved and set free from death, damnation, and eternal hell with fire. Heaven is the rightful place of all people because of Jesus Christ sacrifice. Let not it be said for any person—it’s too late. Now is the day of Salvation give everyone the opportunity to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Amen, apply your hearts to James 1:22 (NIV), which reads:
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Next week, don’t miss our final Session of Series, entitled “The Jesus Workshop on Christmas Eve!” See you there!
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