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PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
What it is: The gospel of Jesus Christ is that living gospel of Jesus Christ which is being revealed within each of us who believes. We preach it when we share the truth of Jesus Christ that we are experiencing within.
How we do it: Love, love love. Joy. Excitement. Inspiration. Want to hear what those with open or hurting hearts have to say. Speak the truth in love to the needs we see, as the doors of opportunity open to us. Preaching is giving, not trying to win an argument.
II Corinthians 3:3 You are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
If what you are sharing with another comes from your head (what you figure to be true), and not your heart (what you’ve experienced to be true), then it’s not the true gospel you’re preaching.
Jesus set the stage.
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power (dunamis….the ability to do), when that the holy spirit is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
It is the spirit, the ability of God with which we are clothed and which gives us a new identity, which makes us witnesses of Jesus Christ. For the spirit is the witness that Jesus got up from the dead.
John 15:26; 16:13,14 But when the comforter (paraklessia – the inviter, of which ekklesia….the church…..are those that respond to this inviting) is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, it shall testify of me: Howbeit when it, the spirit of truth, is come, it will guide you into all truth; for it shall not speak of itself; but whatsoever it shall hear, that shall it speak; and it will show you things to come. It shall glorify me; for it shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
The job of the holy spirit of God is to make known the living Christ……within each one of us!
Galatians 1:11,12,15,16a But I certify (guarantee) you brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after (didn’t come from) man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen;
The gospel which each one of us preaches is the gospel of that very Christ who God, by His spirit, reveals within us. It is absolutely a living gospel. Therefore, if Christ does not live within you, you have nothing to share. As Christ, by his spirit, reveals himself within you, you have lots to share.
There are two kinds of preaching in the Bible.
1) Declaring the message, with no emphasis on whether or not a connection is made; and
2) Declaring the message with an emphasis on the connection being made.
Doing the first leads to opportunities for the second.
Romans 1:16a For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power (dunamis) of God unto salvation to every one who believes……
I Corinthians 1:17-24 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel; not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them who are perishing foolishness; but unto us who are being saved it is the power (dunamis) of God. For … it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
I Corinthians 3:5-7 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that plants anything, neither he that waters, but God that gives the increase.
We do not win anyone to Jesus Christ. He does.
John 6:44 No man can come to me except the Father who has sent me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
Remember, it’s Christ we preach. Not the wisdom of the world. It’s not the gospel of strife (arguing), but of peace.
I Corinthians 3:10,11 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he builds thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay that that (which) is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Have fun in the exciting adventure of looking into being a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The exciting spiritual adventure of discovering the dunamis of God which is energized and reaches out and saves others, as we lovingly and joyfully share with others the power and wisdom of the living Christ within.
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The book, Give Me Christ … Revelations of the Glorified Christ is now available on Amazon.
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Other related studies are:
What is Fellowship?
An Un-Polluted Gospel
True Christianity – in a Nutshell
The True Purpose of Christ’s Ministers ….. Ephesians 4:11-24
The Mystery of Christ
The Glorified Christ
The Form of our Doctrine
How Christ is Building His Church
