Mission To Spread The Gospel By Jose B. Cabajar


Spreading the Gospel of Christ is not an easy task for believers. We extremely need the help and power of the Holy Ghost to do the work. No doubt that soul winning is a God-entrusted ministry of all believers, but without the Lord working with us, the result will be fruitless. Certainly, we cannot do anything without the Lord and it takes God’s miracle to win one soul for Christ.
The early disciples of Christ were undeniably reliant on the power of God in their evangelization and the Bible tells us that the Lord was with them and working with them. In Mark 16:20, it is written, And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. (KJV) What an encouraging assurance of the Lord’s presence to every missionary labouring in the mission field.
As we see the needs of the lost and dying world, true believers should be faithful to the Lord, mindful of the things of God and be more supportive to the ministry at all cost. This sin-darkened world truly needs Spirit-controlled believers to shine and lead lost souls to the saving knowledge of Christ. The devil is using all kinds of tricks and manipulations to hinder Christians from getting involved in mission program, and knowing such truth should stir our conscience and realize that if we neglect the Great Commission, many souls will go to hell. Bear in mind that we have a debt to pay.
Paul said in Romans 1:14-16, 14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (KJV) We really need a mindset like Paul so we may have the boldness to tell others the simple plan of salvation, for truly, the Gospel is the extreme need of the world and we should not be ashamed to proclaim it.
A prayerful study of the Book of Acts will show us a glimpse on how God used Spirit-filled believers in spreading the Good News in every place during the early Christian era and it will also touch our hearts to be more serious in our soul winning activities and more sensitive to leading of the Holy Ghost.
(I) Essential Things To Be Considered Concerning Mission-related Task
Acts 13:1-12
Truly equipped missionaries were not produced overnight in Bible Schools, but they have gone through rigid trainings and testings. Some Christians say “we prefer availability rather than ability” and that is partly true. Christian workers must be available for training and equipping so they may gain the needed wisdom to be used in their God-entrusted ministry.
-The needed preparation of workers
· Involvement in Christian service
New believers should get involved in the work of the Lord so they may grow and become contributors of strength to their Local Church. Bible students should have their own Christian Service. We must be warned that keeping what we have learned as mere knowledge without application will make us stagnant and selfish.
In Acts 13:1-2, it is written, 1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. (KJV) The believers in these verses were not easy-going Christians, but were dedicated, faithful and were involved in Christian service. They were the kinds of servants who had the desire to follow the will of the Lord for their lives and fulfil it at any cost. Get involved in Christian service and be a blessing to others.
· Deep communion with the Lord
We strongly believe that deep communion with the Lord produces deep spirituality. Spiritual Christians are the fitted people to go the mission field because their strong faith in the Lord will pave their way to successful evangelization. Every Christian must establish a consistent fellowship with the Lord and be sensitive to the calling of God.
· Chosen by the Holy Ghost
Christians who are being called by the Lord to His harvest field are those that are pleasing to Him, obedient and possess a servant’s heart. Paul and Barnabas were chosen by the Holy Ghost because they had these attitudes which were exceptional and commendable.
In Acts 13:2, it says, As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. (KJV) We count it a great privilege and honour to be called by the Holy Ghost to serve our Almighty God through spreading of the Gospel.
· Prayer and fasting
Prayerful believers are powerful bearer of Good News in the mission field. Their inspiring attitude of self-denial and fasting led them to a Christ-like character which is much needed in the work of the Lord. Behind a great ministry are people who are prayerful and who practice self-denial for the sake of Truth.
· Obedience to the Holy Ghost
Disobedient and murmurers are not usable in the ministry because they seek their own and not the things of God. On the other hand, obedient Christians are being used of God because they willingly follow the leading of the Holy Ghost without grieving and quenching Him. Be obedient to God and be used for spreading of the Gospel throughout the whole world.
-The needed co-workers
We noted that the early disciples were not sent alone, but with companion and help in the mission field. We really need helps from other brethren while we serve the Lord. It is Biblical to have co-workers and truly they are of great help especially when the demand of the growing ministry becomes greater. The Apostle Paul had companions in his ministry (Philippians 2:25) and even our Lord Jesus Christ was surrounded by His disciples during His earthly ministry. Co-workers are great blessings in the vast harvest field.
-The involvement of spiritual warfare
Going to the mission field is going the battle field. The presence of spiritual warfare is inevitable in the ministry. Christian workers should be prepared and equipped for such spiritual battle. Prayerfulness and watchfulness are must haves when engaging in a battle against the power of darkness.
As illustrated in Acts 13:6-8, 6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: 7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. (KJV) These verses remind us that devil-prepared resistance is always present every time we spread the Word of God. The devil does not want anybody to hear the Gospel and that exactly what happened when Sergius Paulus desired to hear the Word of God.
-The advantage of being Spirit-controlled
The advantage of being filled with the Holy Ghost was undeniable when Paul and Barnabas went to Paphos to preach the Word. In Acts 13:9-11, 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. (KJV) Christians are on the winning side because they are on the Lord’s side; but they should be Spirit-filled before they could claim such victory in Jesus.
-The blessing of soul winning
Soul winning is exciting and rewarding. Seeing people getting saved and being transformed to Christ-likeness brings joy to the soul winners. It is a great honour to win lost souls to Christ and we count it a wonderful opportunity to disciple new believers and be a part of their spiritual growth.
Even heaven rejoices when sinners repent from their sin and keep right with God. In Luke 15:7, it is written, I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. (KJV)
· Salvation of souls
Souls being saved give great joy to the Lord because it is the fulfilment of His will to give salvation to the fallen human race. In I Timothy 2:4, it is written, Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (KJV) What a blessing also to know that behind His long-suffering toward human kind is His intense desire to see lost sinners come to repentance as written In II Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (KJV) We really thank God for His loving-kindness by sending us His Son our Lord Jesus Christ, to die at the Cross for all sinners. In spite of our unworthiness, God still loves us so much. What a caring and forgiving God we have.
Acts 13:12 says, Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord. (KJV) What a wonderful result of preaching the Word of God. Undoubtedly, there was great rejoicing over Sergius Paulus’ historic salvation.
· The joy of winning souls for Christ
The joy of salvation is truly incomparable. Every saved person is undeniably experiencing the unspeakable joy of salvation and we praise and thank God for such salvation so great and free. We must realize that Jesus left the splendour of Heaven for the sake of sinful people like us and His death at the Cross was the proof of His boundless love for us. Many of us are hesitant to go the harvest field because of fears, but where is the evidence of our well-spoken love for the lost? True love for the Lord and for the lost has no fear, rather rejoicing in Truth.
Certainly, we will not live long in this sin-messed world; but the best thing we could do is to proclaim the Gospel of Christ and lead souls to Christ. Keep on telling people that Jesus saves.

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