“And from there He arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and did not want anyone to know…yet He could not be hidden.” Mark 7:24
I just returned yesterday from a student training event in the beautiful green rolling hills of Asheville, North Carolina. And the point of that training was to build a deep awareness and understanding of missions within 13 key university students. Thirteen key university students that will then fan out and teach the message of missions to 75,000 student campers that will be attending Christian summer camps all over the US this summer. And to truly teach missions, you must first teach evangelism. You must first thoroughly embrace the theology of what God’s Word calls us to do. To give out the good news of Jesus Christ. To make Christ known amongst the nations. To simply give out the Word of God.
I came across a powerful quote a while back that really impacted my idea of evangelism and the giving out of the gospel. It afforded me a mental and spiritual shift into the simplicity of what Jesus is calling me to do in making Him known in this world.
“Jesus made public was Jesus believed upon.”
You see, when you simply give out the Word of God, that is, the raw and rugged truth of who Jesus is, what He did, and what He promises…some people will believe in that truth. Simply tell those that God has placed around you today that because sin was introduced into the world through Adam and Eve, every single person born after that moment has inherited a sin nature (Romans 3:23). Tell them that everyone currently on this planet has a nature that seeks self-pleasure over God, rejects the right ways of God, and instead seeks his or her own way (Isaiah 53:6). Tell them our sin nature separates us from a perfect God that does not have sin (Isaiah 59:2). Tell them our separation from God must be atoned for in order for us to be together with God in eternity (Romans 6:23). But tell them not to worry, because God sent His only Son to live a sinless life, die upon a cross, and be resurrected to forever defeat the eternal separation from God that even one sin brings (John 3:16). And tell them that every single person that calls upon the name of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior in faith, will be saved from their sin (Romans 10:13). Folks, put simply, the gospel of Jesus Christ made public, will see people believe in Him.
There is no more miraculous display of the power of God than seeing someone repent of their sin and believe in Jesus. Only God can make the spiritually dead come alive. Only God can save sinners. I call it the miraculous moment. That is, when someone hears the Word of God and then being prompted by the Holy Spirit of God, chooses to deny their sinful life, repent of that life, and instead place their faith in the truth of who Jesus is. The single greatest thing I have ever witnessed in this life is to watch a sinful life cleansed by the gospel as they break the shackles of their sin. And all that is needed to see more miracle moments occur is to give out the gospel message more.
Our study verse above ends with 'Jesus cannot be hidden.' And that is the truth. He is here in our world today, He is in control, and He is at the ready to rescue lives trapped in the death spiral of their own sin. But for Him to be believed upon, He must be made known. And us, His followers, are the ones that are entrusted with that task. Today, share the good news of Jesus Christ with all those that God has placed around you. Be bold in sharing that good news, knowing that someone was bold in sharing it with you at one time so that you could know the peace, joy, and freedom of walking with Jesus. Today, refocus on evangelism 101 and fulfill the very last words of Jesus Christ before He ascended into Heaven:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when He had said these things, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight.” Acts 1:8-9 italics mine
A man’s last words are of utmost importance, and the very last words spoken by the only Son of God, the Savior of the world with then nail-scarred hands, hold just this importance. Be a witness of Christ today in your city, your state, your country, and to the very ends of this earth. In all places make Him known so that all can have the opportunity to believe.
God bless your beautiful feet today as you step out in faith and make Jesus public ~ Dan
“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 10:14-15
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