“But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.” – 2 Timothy 4:5 NLT
Can you recall how challenging college was? Getting up early every day, even if you were exhausted, late evenings of study, group readings, and several projects. Despite all of these hurdles, you persevered to the end. If you can be determined when it comes to earthly aspirations, how much more so when it comes to soul-winning?
We’ve been studying evangelism and why we need to proclaim the gospel, yet preaching has its challenges. Let’s look at Matthew 13, the Parable of the Sower. Some will hear the word but will not receive it (the rocky soil), others will hear the word but will be blinded by the problems of the world (the thorny soil), and still others will hear the word but will not receive it (the wayside soil). When this happens, brethren, do not give up.
The capital is Go! (Mark 16:15). When you preach and the person rejects the word, you may become discouraged. But don’t let it stop you from spreading the good news. Jesus was faced with this challenge. He taught the Gospel, and many did not accept Him, but He did not give up. (Luke 7:30). This ought to spur us to be like Jesus and pray for that person.
We will also encounter persecution as we preach the Gospel. In our anchor verse, Paul tells Timothy not to be afraid of suffering for the Lord. The Gospel is alive and true. You should not be ashamed to tell it, as Paul says in Romans 1:16. In Revelation 2:10, Jesus assures us that everything will not be rosy. But this we know for sure, that He who sends us will back us. Never give up!
Another challenge with evangelism is that most believers have not made it a priority. We have been called to know and make Christ known (Matthew 28:19–20). We prioritise evangelism because we realise the urgency of the Gospel. The souls of your family, friends, coworkers, loved ones, and everyone else are more important than everything in the world.
Be intentional about spreading the gospel as you become more intentional about praying and studying your Bible. Tell it, preach it, and make Him known until the Gospel has filled the earth.
So, do we allow the challenges that come with evangelism to hinder us? No! It didn’t discourage Jesus, and it shouldn’t discourage you either. Don’t give up!
Bible Reading Plan: Proverbs 4-6