PREACHING ON JUNE 02, 2024:

Pastor Antonio Russo

HOW TO BECOME EFFECTIVE WITNESSES OF THE GOSPEL

The theme we will cover is based on a profound truth that we draw from the Bible: not gold or silver, but souls are the most precious treasure for God. Every human being is a precious pearl to God, and His main purpose is the salvation of the lost; indeed, the Bible tells us that when a sinner repents, the angels in heaven celebrate. Our mission is to preach the Gospel to all creatures, as Jesus commanded us. The apostle Paul reminds us that without someone to preach, people cannot believe, and therefore it is our responsibility to give everyone the opportunity to know Jesus. We, as children of God, know the difficulties of life, but we have hope in Jesus and the possibility of seeking comfort in prayer and in the community of the Church. This hope is what is lacking for those who have not encountered Christ, and we must feel privileged to be able to share it. Our task is not only to receive the blessing of faith, but also to become channels of blessing for others. Moreover, we can witness to what has happened in our lives and have at heart the salvation of others. Let us remember that salvation is not complicated: it only serves a believing heart and a confessing mouth.

Romans 10:10; 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Salvation is neither superficial nor automatic; we accept Jesus because we believe deeply in our heart and confess it with our mouth. Christ has entrusted us with the greatest ministry, the ministry of reconciliation, he has given us the mission of reconciling people with him, and this call is destined for each one of us as members of the Body of Christ.

2°Corinthians 5:18; 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Through our testimony we can influence the eternal destiny of people. Each individual is separated from God because of sin, but Jesus' death offered reconciliation with God. Jesus often spoke of hell, more than he spoke of heaven, because he knew that hell is a definitive destination for those who do not believe, while heaven is a promise of God for a new eternal justice. Reconciliation does not mean that God ignores our sin, but that He has found a way to forgive us and bring us back to His Shalom. This is the ultimate goal of our faith: to be reconciled with God and to live eternally in His Kingdom.

1°Peter 1:9; 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

It is essential to understand how to become effective witnesses of the Gospel, for we are all called to proclaim Jesus and to preach the Gospel excellently. God has given us a clear vision with four fundamental steps: evangelizing, consolidating, discipleship and sending. Evangelization is crucial because people must know the true Jesus and the meaning of His sacrifice for salvation. After evangelizing, our task is to consolidate, nourish new souls with basic teaching, then disciple them, help them grow in faith, and finally send them, so that they in turn can make disciples. To be effective witnesses requires not only to share our experience with Jesus, but also to do so in a convincing and prepared way. Preaching the Gospel requires study, commitment and faith, but it is with the assistance of the Holy Spirit that we conquer people, because He is the one who convinces them of sin, judgment and justice. To become a witness of Christ means to strive to win souls for the Kingdom of God, responding to His desire.

1°Timothy 2:1/3-4; 1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Our way of praying in this way is pleasing before God, our Saviour, who desires the salvation of all and the knowledge of the truth. Hell is not the destiny that God has designated for human beings, but who refuses the salvation offered by Jesus will end there. Every individual is eternal, so our mission of evangelization is not only about temporary issues, but eternity. That is why we must excel in being effective witnesses. We conclude by giving some suggestions of preparation to become an effective witness:

1) We must know that God has called us.

Matthew 28:19-20; 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

We have received a call from God Himself.

2) We must have a heart full of compassion for the lost.

Matthew 9:36; 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Jesus is teaching us that passion in preaching is crucial: when he shared the message, he did it with all his heart. We must cultivate compassion for the lost, this means identifying with their needs as if they were our own.

3) We must be equipped with the Word of God.

We cannot tell people stories; we must know and share the Word of God.

2°Timothy 2:15; 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Our message is powerful, capable of changing the eternal destiny of people because it is founded on the Word of God. Jesus taught us that as heaven and earth pass away, His words will remain eternal and we must know and proclaim these words, exposing the truth righteously. The truth of the Word is like a double-edged sword that penetrates up to the division of the joints and of the marrow, judging the feelings and intentions of the hearts, It reaches the marrow, where life is generated, and brings with it life and transformation. However, we must handle this sword with care and precision, in order to convey God’s message correctly.

4) We must learn to live in the power of the Holy Spirit.

When we preach the Word, we encounter the devil’s opposition, but the presence of Christ and the Holy Spirit in us makes us stronger than any dark force.

Zechariah 4:6; 6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.

Therefore, we must draw our strength from His presence, not from our natural energies or abilities, God invites us to lay down our strength and receive His.

Isaiah 40:31; 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

These are those who put their hope and trust in the Eternal, who await His intervention with confidence.

5) We must have a good testimony.

People who do not know Jesus perceive from afar whether what we say is genuine or false; therefore, it is essential to ensure that our actions reflect the characteristics and love of Christ. Just as a candlestick should not be hidden under a table, but at the center of the room to illuminate, we too must be at the center of life, bringing light and transformation.

6) We must immerse ourselves completely in the Vision of God.

The divine vision stimulates us to become true disciples of Christ, immersing ourselves completely in what God is telling us, so that we can be blessed, transformed and able to positively influence the lives of other disciples.

7) We must have Readiness and Frankness in the Preaching of the Gospel.

Every opportunity can become an opportunity for God to act, and we must be ready to take it. God will offer us unexpected moments to make a difference, even with people we don’t know, we must be ready to stop, pray and witness that Jesus can heal. For this reason, God wishes to free us from shame and to give us the courage to preach the Gospel with frankness.

Romans 1:16; 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.

Let us therefore, without fear, cry out that we are not ashamed to speak of Jesus, for the Gospel of Christ is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe.