09/17/24 WE ARE COMMISSIONED

09/17/24 WE ARE COMMISSIONED

Satan uses the coldness, callousness, aloofness, resistance, rejection, ridicule, persecution and prosecution that Christians face in today's Post-Christian world to convince believers that no one will believe our message. THAT IS NOT TRUE. (I will come back to this thought).

But even if it is true that people are hardened to God's truth, we are still given the commission to proclaim the Good News and pray for the lost. We are to be fishers of men, whether men will believe or not. The very proclamation of the gospel is the catalyst of faith. God is glorified in the declaration of His salvific work, and men will be held accountable for their rejection of His salvation.

In spite of the widespread and deep seated skepticism in our society, there are still people who will receive and believe the gospel. Some have heard and have forgotten, we must remind them; some have heard a false or corrupted message and we must correct them; some have never heard anything, even in our own country (especially in recent years) and we must seek for them, find them and tell them.
Some folks know they are bound by sin, but they do not know that Jesus saves us from our sins.
Some folks know that something is wrong, but they have no clear understanding about sin and judgment.
Some people will gladly believe, but they have not been told.

We will face terrible rejection as publishers of Good News.
We will be discounted as insane by friends and loved ones.
We will be threatened and oppressed by a hostile society and government.

We have been given this ministry of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 4:1-6
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

We are God's ambassadors.
2 Corinthians 5:17-20
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
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;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

We are God's messengers.
Romans 10:13-17
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

We are God's lights in this world of darkness. Philippians 2:12-15
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 

Matthew 5:14-16
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.