Spirit 40 2022 – Week 6

SPIRIT 40 – WEEK 6 APRIL 3 – APRIL 9, 2022

I AM READY TO PREACH THE GOSPEL

Ro. 1:15, “So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also”. 

Paul often expressed this desire when writing to Churches with which he had been involved, (1 Thes. 2:17-18). He was anxious to see people from multiple cultures come to faith in Christ. The apostle knew from his own experience that sin had caused humanity to reject God as creator and provider. He also knew that these sinful practices would lead, not only to a life of misery now, but to an angry judgement in the age to come. Regarding himself as ‘an ember’ snatched from the fire, one who was a debtor to the gospel, he was ready to preach Christ at every opportunity. 

Christ, Himself, had given Paul the mission to preach to the Gentiles of all nations. He said to Ananias, “Go, for he (Paul) is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles…”(Acts 9:15). So, here in the early stages of his epistle to the Romans, Paul signals his readiness to obey the Lord and go preach the gospel. His decision to visit Rome was strategic, since, within this great metropolis were to be found representatives of all cultures and people groups. It would be a prime destination to distribute faith in Christ to all nations. This had become his life’s mission. It ought to be ours too. Are you ready? 

According to the apostle Peter, Christians should always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that they have, (1 Pet. 3:15). Scripture records that after he had finished preaching on the day of Pentecost, men came and asked him, “What shall we do?” He answered, “Repent and be baptized and be saved from this crooked generation”. Like him, we must always be in a state of readiness because opportunities to share the gospel may come when we least expect it. 

The primary way that God reaches people is through people—people just like us, (Ro. 10:13-15). The reality is though that some of us are ready some of the times and at other times we feel lethargic. Here then are a couple indispensable things that will help to make us ready: 

(i) We should set apart Christ as Lord in our lives. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts…” (1 Pet. 3:15). The most fundamental element in our preparedness to witness is that we are in a right relationship with the Lord. Set Him apart and above our every other ambition and achievement, “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection…” Make sure that He is our acknowledged Lord and that He is sitting and reigning on the throne of our hearts. (ii) Keep a clear conscience. How can we always be ready if we have guilty consciences? There should be nothing standing between us and God. For instance, there may be some unconfessed sin that we are refusing to lay aside. We should get our consciences right with God; have our sins confessed, dealt with, and forgiven. We will then have the boldness and the grace to minister. 

Like the apostle Paul, let us hold ourselves in readiness to preach the gospel at all times. 

Let us Indicate our readiness by employing these simple steps:

(i) Actively look for opportunities to share the gospel.

(ii) Pray for the salvation of an unsaved person by name.

(iii) Invite an unsaved person to church with you. 

We, as believers, are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus, and like the apostle Paul, we are conscious of the debt we owe to share it with all people at every available opportunity. 

The question is, are we ready? 

“Have your feet shod with the ‘preparation’ of the gospel of peace” (Eph. 6:15).