Category: The Gospel

The Second Coming Is Fundamental to the Gospel

Christ’s Second Coming is an important tenet of faith for Christians and is fundamental to the gospel.

1971. That was the year that the Holy Spirit opened my spiritual eyes and allowed me to see that Jesus is who the Bible says he is. The result was that my life was fundamentally altered. Everything changed inside. My purpose for living became entwined with Christ’s plan for my life, which resulted in pastoring a small church for thirty-four years and teaching the Bible for many more. I have written a few books, too. When God reveals Christ to us, the impact is dramatic. Just ask Paul the apostle.

You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion—how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it. 14 I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors. 15 But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him 16 to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. 17 Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus. 18 Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days. 19 The only other apostle I met at that time was James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I declare before God that what I am writing to you is not a lie. 21 After that visit I went north into the provinces of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And still the churches in Christ that are in Judea didn’t know me personally. 23 All they knew was that people were saying, “The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the very faith he tried to destroy!” 24 And they praised God because of me. Galatians 1:13–24 (NLT)

During the sixties and seventies, God orchestrated a gigantic in-gathering of people into his kingdom. Some called it the “Jesus Revolution,” during which thousands of so called “hippies” and others from that generation of “Baby Boomers,” as well as people from other age groups, became followers of Christ. Concurrent with that “awakening” was another “movement” called the Charismatic Renewal, in which thousands, if not millions, of people across a wide range of denominations and “non-denominations” received what many call the baptism and fullness of the Holy Spirit, complete with speaking in tongues, prophecy, and other manifestations of God’s Spirit. Many of those who came to Christ during that time became leaders in the church. What God did during that decade still impacts the church more than fifty years later.

One of the hallmarks of that ingathering was a profound interest in Christ’s Second Coming. People were fascinated with trying to piece together a proper sequence of future end-time events. Those who professed to know all about it worked out all kinds of charts showing their predicted scenarios. Many of us expected that Jesus would come very soon, just as did the early church.

The Gospel is the good news about a person named Jesus, who is the promised Messiah King of Israel. His grand mission is to reclaim and transform all creation under God’s rule. Jesus began his public ministry by proclaiming that “the kingdom of God is at hand.” The reason he could say that was because the King himself was then present on earth. Wherever king went, the kingdom was at hand. He introduced his kingdom rule into the lives of those who followed and believed in him by releasing them from the power of the devil and sin and calling them to follow him without reservation or hesitation.

His new way of living asks us to renounce all competing allegiances and surrender to his lordship in every area of life. This is what it means to follow Christ.

While he was here on earth physically, he was the epicenter of the kingdom of God and the focus of the messianic expectations of those around him. These expectations reached a crescendo when he entered Jerusalem on a donkey to the shouts of the crowd: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Those present proclaimed that he was the long promised successor to David’s throne – the Messiah!

Believing that Jesus was a spiritual and political threat, the religious and civil authorities put him to death, apparently dashing the hopes of his followers. But this was all part of God’s eternal plan to redeem us from our sins. The Messiah King first had to suffer and die in order to pay the penalty for our sins. Three days later our hope was restored when Jesus emerged from the tomb! For forty days he instructed his band of faithful followers in the things related to his kingdom. Then Jesus ascended to heaven to sit at his heavenly Father’s right hand upon the throne of God, waiting for his enemies to be made his footstool and for the appointed time for his return, this time as the victorious and glorious King of Kings, the Son of Man prophesied by Daniel, who will judge the living and the dead and put an end to every other rival kingdom. He will permanently install God’s long awaited rule over all creation!

The Second Coming will be the culmination of God’s grand plan to redeem and restore all things to himself through his Son.

On Pentecost the Holy Spirit was unleashed to baptize and empower Christ’s followers. The apostle Peter, filled with the Spirit, preached the first sermon in this new age of the Spirit-filled church. His conclusion is quoted below.

“So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” Acts 2:36 (NLT)

Peter’s listeners responded, “What should we do?” Why would they feel the need to do anything? It was because they realized that they were answerable to God for rejecting and murdering his Son, who, amazingly, was still alive and sitting on God’s throne!

Jesus’ resurrection made him the de facto ruler of the universe to whom everyone must answer.

Behind Peter’s words is the understanding that Jesus will come again as the glorious Son of Man to judge every human being and punish those who choose to reject his benevolent rule.

The gospel is an invitation to all who have previously rejected the Messianic King to finally get right with God by confessing that Jesus is indeed the LORD, who has risen from the dead and who will come again one day to judge those who reject his kingly authority.

In Acts Chapter Three, Peter again preached.

Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. 20 Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. 21 For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.  Acts 3:19-21 (NLT)

The Gospel preaching of the early church was completely focused on the person named Jesus Christ, his lordship, and the Second Coming, which included the resurrection of the just and the evil, the last judgment, and the restoration of all things under God’s rule. It is no wonder that when this Gospel is preached, whether then or today, that those who hear and believe will become intensely interested in Jesus’ Second Coming!

The faith that saves is based on the Gospel revelation that Jesus is the Messiah King who is coming again to firmly establish God’s rule on planet earth.

Sadly, if all we do is present this glorious coming Lord as a “personal Savior” who rescues us from the consequence of our sin, it is no wonder that some people are not greatly moved and changed when they believe in him. A “personal savior” requires little or nothing from his adherents, but the glorious Lord of lords expects complete surrender from those who follow him!

Have we yet seen him for who he really is? Have we surrendered to him? Until we do that, we have not really known him.

Ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes and heart, just as he did for those who heard Peter’s sermon so long ago.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, I ask you to reveal Jesus to me so that I may properly surrender my life to him. My desire is to know Jesus to the greatest degree possible and serve him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Amen.

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How to Present a Concise Gospel Message

Understanding the basic elements of the gospel message will enable us to share the good news in a concise way when we have limited time.

The gospel is the true story of Jesus Christ, who he is, what he did, and what he will do when he returns, which deserves a response of repentance and faith from the hearer. The gospel or good news is found in the four New Testament books that carry that name, the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Being able to summarize the Gospel is very important. Its core truths provide a framework for any presentation we have the opportunity to make.

The following passage from Peter’s first sermon on Pentecost in Acts Chapter Two is a great example of a brief gospel presentation. 

"People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23  But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24  But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip... "This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33  "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. 34  "For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: 'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, 35  UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET."' 36  "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified." Acts 2:22-24, 32-36 (NASB)

Now, let us break apart what Peter said.

  1. Jesus died as the Lamb of God for the forgiveness of our sins. This ministry was prophesied by John the Baptist (John 1:29). After his death, he was buried.
  2. Jesus rose from the dead in power (Romans 1:4), which was witnessed by many people, and was exalted to the right hand of God’s throne as the Lord. He now has all authority (Matthew 28:18) and currently reigns in heaven. He sits at God’s right hand, and his church is spiritually seated with him (Ephesians 2:6 & Colossians 3:1), waiting for his enemies to be brought into submission. Jesus is both Lord and Messiah. He is the Son of God, the messianic King of Israel, who was introduced through prophecy by John the Baptist (John 1:34).
  3. Jesus ascended into heaven and “poured out” the baptism in the Holy Spirit upon the church to equip his followers to be his witnesses and fulfill the Great Commission. This fulfilled his role as the Baptizer in the Spirit and Lord of the Harvest, just as John the Baptist prophesied (John 1:33).
  4. A fourth point, which is implied in John 1:35, is that Jesus is the Son of Man (Matthew 25:31-32), who will return to earth in glory and triumph over his enemies. He will judge the living and the dead and rule over a new heaven and earth.

These gospel pronouncements, if understood and believed, will elicit a response of repentance, faith, and and allegiance to Jesus.

Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38  Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins, turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness for your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39  This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” 40  Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” 41  Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. Acts 2:37-41 (NLT)

Declaring allegiance to Christ and coming under God’s sovereign and benevolent rule is what saves us. (Romans 10:9-10) When we do this, our sins are forgiven and Jesus will send his Spirit to equip and empower us to be his disciples and witnesses.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 (NLT)

Let me recap the four main points of the gospel.

  1. Jesus is the Lamb of God.
  2. Jesus is the Lord.
  3. Jesus is the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, and
  4. Jesus will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.

If we include these four points in our gospel presentation, we will have included the core truths that people need to understand. We can go into as much depth as we want relating to each part. You may wish to ask yourself, have I ever really understood the gospel and made this transaction with God? If not, why not now?

Prayer

Jesus, I realize that you are very great and deserve my worship and allegiance. I believe that you died for me and rose again as the Lord of Lords. Thank you for forgiving my sins and making a way for me to be right with Father God. Thank you for giving me eternal life. Thank you for setting me free so I can live for you. I receive you into my life to live through me. Baptize me in your Spirit and help me to live the rest of my days for you. Amen.

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Healing and the Gospel

Physical healing is part of the good news about Jesus the Messiah King.

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2  and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal… 6  And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. Luke 9:1-2, 6 (ESV)

As proof of Jesus’ authority and ability to set prisoners free, he regularly healed people when he walked the earth. After his resurrection and ascension, his disciples also healed people through the power of the Holy Spirit to demonstrate the reality of God’s rule. Healing is linked to the gospel message.

Jesus launched his public ministry in a synagogue in Nazareth by sharing his messianic mission statement from the prophet Isaiah.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19  to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19 (ESV)

The Father in heaven sent Jesus to planet earth to release those who under the oppression of the devil. This oppression manifests itself in many ways, including sickness and disease, which is sometimes caused by demonic oppression.

The gospel is not limited to the forgiveness of sins. It provides liberty to the entire being – body, soul, and spirit.

When Luke wrote his gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, he included this marvelous summation of Christ’s ministry, which was spoken by the apostle Peter:

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:38 (NLT)

The anointing of the Holy Spirit, mentioned in Luke 4:18, empowered Jesus (and us today) to heal those who oppressed by Satan by overcoming sickness, demonic oppression, and even death, not to mention the spiritual and psychological oppression related to sin, guilt, and condemnation.

Paul also operated in healing and miracles when he presented the gospel.

For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 (NLT)

Was this a peculiar operation of grace for those early days, or does it continue? Some theologians have proposed that the gifts of the Spirit ceased after the deaths of the twelve apostles and the completion of the New Testament. This is a human theological construct designed to account for the lack of the miraculous today by claiming signs and wonders were only for the early days following the resurrection, before the church came into possession of the New Covenant scriptures. According to this theory, now all we need to do is to proclaim the truth without having any confirming signs of Christ’s reign over the oppression of the devil.

It is always a bad idea to build our theology around our experience instead of around the Word of God.

Nevertheless it is a common practice, since we all tend to explain away that which makes us uncomfortable. It’s what psychologists call denial. We don’t want to be confronted by the truth; so, we build walls and fences to keep it at a distance.

The truth is that Jesus never stopped setting the captives free, body, soul, and spirit. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

If the early disciples needed the confirming signs of God’s presence and power in their presentation of the gospel, how much more do we need it? Evil and deception is just as strong today as ever, perhaps even more so.

We need both God’s truth and his power to be effective witnesses.

Denying the power of God to heal is a serious error which deprives our gospel presentation from being confirmed by the Holy Spirit the way God intended.

When Jesus sent out the seventy-two disciples in Luke Chapter 10, he told them:

Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’ Luke 10:9 (NLT)

When we engage those who do not yet know Christ, it is a divine strategy to pray for their healing. When we do so, we give God the opportunity to reveal himself to the hearer in a way that confirms his existence, power, and love. Healing is a function of God’s divine compassion for our predicament.

Healing reveals God’s love in a way that anyone except the most hardened religious people can understand and accept.

Healing confirms the words of the gospel and opens the heart to believe that Jesus is both Lord and Savior. Some call miracles the “dinner bell” to salvation. Evangelists in third world countries know the importance of signs and wonders. Have we become so intellectual that we no longer require God’s power? How foolish!

We do well to take Jesus’ commands to those early disciples to heart.

We should look for any and every opportunity to pray for the sick in order to open the door to sharing the gospel of grace with people we know and love.

It is not up to us to actually heal anyone: that remains under God’s jurisdiction. However, as Christ’s representatives, we have an amazing opportunity to open the door for God to work. If we pray for the sick, we may see a miracle with our own eyes! More importantly, we may open the door for our hearer to receive eternal life through faith in Jesus!

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The Evangelist: Part 4 – Front Line Soldiers

Evangelists are not only fishers of men; they also are God’s front line soldiers in a clash between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness.

The gospel is the most powerful weapon we have been given to bring down the kingdom of darkness. (Romans 1:16) Satan recognizes this and resists those who preach it in order to try to stop the advance of the kingdom of God.

Because evangelists carry the heavy weaponry of the kingdom of God and are targeted by the kingdom of darkness, they must be fearless front line soldiers.

Even though persecution is mediated through human beings who oppose the gospel, Paul made it clear that the real battle is a spiritual one.

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)

Where evangelists preach the gospel, it opens the door for God’s kingdom to break through.

This happened in Samaria when Philip took the good news there. (Acts 8) Conversely, it is not uncommon for all hell to break loose, too, in a counter attack, as happened when Stephen preached to the Jews in Jerusalem (Acts 7) or pretty much anywhere Paul preached. It has been my experience as a pastor that the devil usually gets riled up any time an individual or group starts sharing the gospel.

The evil one will tolerate unopposed many church activities, but not the preaching the gospel or actively making disciples, the two chief components of the Great Commission.

If we are easily intimidated, he will push back against us and try to crush our resolve. Satan knows how powerful the gospel is. The bigger question is, “Do we?”

Jesus said that he was sending his disciples out as “sheep among wolves.” (Matthew 10:16)

It takes great courage from the Holy Spirit to go up against the powers of darkness to preach the gospel.

This is one of the chief reasons we need the baptism in the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8) When the first apostles were threatened and told not to preach the gospel any more, they prayed the following prayer, which should be ours, too.

And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30  Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31  After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:29-31 (NLT)
Conclusion

I hope that what I have shared in this series on the five-fold ministry gift of evangelist inspires all of us to become more dedicated fishers of men. May we all apply ourselves to becoming gospel fluent so that we are able to present Jesus from any and every angle, from Genesis to Revelation, depending on the need of the moment. May we all receive the baptism in the Spirit and enroll in the Great Commission army of disciples under the command of the Lord of the Harvest. Let us become proficient in listening to the Spirit’s voice and operating in the spiritual gifts. Let us determine to spend time in fishing for people. Lastly, let us also spend time in prayer for the lost, asking God to give us his heart for them. May the Lord open doors of opportunity for us to herald the gospel to individuals and great crowds. May he work in the hearts of those who hear to enable them to understand and receive the good news by faith. May the Lord give us great success as his ambassadors of reconciliation and may he raise up many more fishers of men and true evangelists. Amen.

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The Evangelist: Part 3 – Fishers of Men

Jesus told his disciples that he would make them into fishers of men.

Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” Matthew 4:19 (NLT)

Jesus’ disciples fished for a living using boats and nets. There was nothing fun or romantic about it, but I imagine it was something that at some level they loved. Otherwise, why not find another occupation? Today we still have commercial fishermen, but most are recreational anglers who love the sport. They invest in acquiring the proper equipment, sometimes spending far more than what they could ever recoup in the value of the fish caught. Fishermen have to go to where the fish are. They cannot be passive just waiting at home for fish to show up. Avid fishermen learn as much as they can about fish, so they will not waste their time using unproductive techniques. They use all their creativity and expertise to catch as many as they can. For those who truly love to fish, it is almost an obsession. You will find them at the lake or the coast whenever they can find the time. If that is how you think of evangelism, you just might be a true evangelist.

Evangelists are deeply motivated to “catch” people with the gospel.

They dedicate significant amounts of time and effort in this pursuit. They invest in becoming fluent in the gospel by much study. We should allow ourselves to fall into the rut of using simplistic formulas and trite sayings or only sharing our personal testimony.

As seen in the four books called “gospels,” the gospel is the true story of an amazing Person that demands a response.

Evangelists practice presenting the gospel to refine their abilities.

They listen to the Holy Spirit to learn how to reach the hearts of lost people, just as Jesus did.

They work at becoming proficient in allowing the Holy Spirit to operate through them via the spiritual gifts, just as Jesus did.

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! Matthew 10:8 (NLT)

Evangelists use the spiritual gifts as “dinner bells” for salvation. God heals people and does miracles to reveal that he is real and cares about them.

Such demonstrations of power validate the message and the messenger, creating openness to the gospel.

Evangelists use the authority of Jesus to cast out demons when necessary, giving proof of Christ’s authority over the kingdom of darkness. (Luke 11:20) Evangelists are careful to keep themselves free from the corrupting power of money, freely giving away the good news.

There are evangelists who fish for people with huge nets, such as Peter in Acts Chapter Two, speaking to massive crowds, and there are those who go after individuals, such as Jesus at the well in Samaria or Philip sharing with the official from Ethiopia.

Evangelists listen to the Holy Spirit to learn how to present Jesus to people in a way that meets their deepest longings to be forgiven, to know God, and to experience his life and love.

Examples of Fishing for Individuals and Crowds

At the well in Samaria, Jesus showed us how to fish for the single individual. He addressed a very unlikely person, a Samaritan woman coming to the well alone in the middle of the day to draw water. Jewish rabbis did not talk to women, especially not Samaritan women or those who probably were being shunned by the other women in town. That did not matter to Jesus. He saw her as a lost sheep who would be open to him and his message.

Evangelists are not restricted by what people think.

They are not held back by man-made customs and rules. Their love for the lost overcomes traditional barriers. Evangelists engage least likely people that many in the church might choose to avoid, just as did Jesus.

[Jesus said]...“Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” Mark 2:17 (NLT)

As a good fisherman, Jesus invited this woman into a conversation, hoping she would “take the bait,” so to speak. Unless we engage people in conversation, how will we ever be able to share the gospel with them?

Evangelists learn to use the art of conversation as a springboard for sharing the gospel.  They understand how to present Jesus in a way that arouses their curiosity and interest.

Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14  But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” 15  “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” John 4:13-15 (NLT)

She did not grasp all that Jesus communicated to her, but she understood enough to make her want to find out more. This set up what became the turning point for the entire interaction.

When Jesus instructed her to go get her husband, which was the proper thing to do, it set the stage for him to operate in the spiritual gift of the word of knowledge. When he told her things that only God would know, it revealed to her that God and he knew about her sordid past and present, but loved her anyway.

Her encounter with God’s power and amazing love opened her heart to Jesus, instantly transforming the conversation.

She believed in Jesus, and God used her to win an entire village – all because Jesus loved the least likely, overcame cultural barriers, engaged her in conversation, and demonstrated God’s power and love to her. This is the way evangelists fish for individual people.

Peter used a huge gospel net to catch 3000 in a single message. He explained that Jesus, whom the Jews had just put to death, was the long awaited Messiah King. When they showed remorse and asked for help, he showed them how to escape God’s judgment for their recent horrendous crime of killing their own Messiah. Peter met a very real felt need in those guilty people by offering them forgiveness through the gospel, if they would pledge allegiance to the One they had previously rejected.

The evangelist helps people understand their sin of rebellion against God and offers a way of escape from God’s judgment through repentance and faith in Christ.

Fishing for people with the gospel under the direction of the Holy Spirit is most rewarding and exciting. There is nothing like it. Those who make a regular practice of praying for the lost, preparing their minds through studying the gospel, practicing their presentations to refine their abilities, learning how to operate in the gifts and power of the Spirit, and devoting significant amounts of time to the pursuit of lost people fulfill the call to be fishers of men. Who knows, the call of evangelist might be on your life, too!

One thing is for sure: we are all called to “go and make disciples.”

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The Evangelist: Part 2 – Shepherds of the Lost

Evangelists seek the lost in a similar fashion as good shepherds go after lost sheep.

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NLT)

Love for those without hope motivated God the Father to send his Son to die on a cross as the Lamb of God to rescue us from the consequences of our sin. Love for his Father and a desire to be part of this great salvation plan were the primary motivations for Jesus to voluntarily lay down his life for those who were his enemies.

Love for the God who loves the lost is the first and greatest motivation for the evangelist. Such love for God translates into love for his lost sheep.

Jesus, who is the perfect image and representative of the Father, came to the earth to “seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)

His love was and is most amazing because it extends to his enemies.

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9  And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10  For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11  So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. Romans 5:8-11 (NLT)

When Jesus began his public ministry, the Bible says that his own people rejected him and his message.

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11  He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12  But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:10-12 (NLT)

Although many accepted his message and believed that he was indeed the Messiah, the Jewish leaders hated him and eventually put him to death. Jesus knew beforehand that this would happen but was undeterred.

His love for his Father and those who were at that time God’s enemies gave him the strength lay down his own life to rescue them.

Sharing the gospel causes those who are open to it to be saved, but those whose hearts are antagonistic toward God become angry.

Inspired and empowered by God’s Spirit, evangelists are willing to risk their own lives in order to show love to those who are still God’s enemies by sharing the gospel with them.

Jesus taught that his shepherd’s heart was behind his willingness to die for lost sheep.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11 (ESV)

The evangelist is a shepherd at the core, who is sent to those outside the church rather than to those who are already saved.

Whereas shepherds of those who are already in the church are willing to lay down their lives to protect the sheep, the evangelist is willing to lay down his to go after the ones who do not yet know Christ.

Jesus explained that the evangelist experiences more joy over one lost sheep being rescued than he has for a hundred already saved people. (Luke 15:7)

The evangelist is motivated to leave the safety and comfort of the local church to go into the world after the lost, thus fulfilling Christ’s command to “go and make disciples.” (Matthew 28:19)

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37  He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38  So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” Matthew 9:36-38 (NLT)

Evangelists see people with the eyes of the Good Shepherd.

Their hearts go out to the lost, confused, and helpless all around them. They know when they are in the presence of people who need Jesus. Their hearts are pulled toward them. Compassion for the lost not only propels the evangelist into the harvest field of the world, but it motivates him or her to pray for God to raise up more shepherds of the lost.

Evangelists equip others to do the work of evangelism, in fulfillment of the Great Commission mandate to make disciples.

We are able to give away what we have. Through the Holy Spirit, evangelists are able to impart to others their love for the lost.

Prayer

Jesus, I ask you to give me your heart for the lost. Holy Spirit, motivate and empower me to lay down my life for those who are still your enemies. Father God, let me fall so deeply in love with you that I become totally immersed in your will. I want to be someone who puts your glory and honor above all else. Amen.

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The Evangelist: Part 1 – The Message

An evangelist is a herald of gospel. As a representative of the Good Shepherd, he announces the amazing good news that God has made it possible for those who are helpless, harassed, and lost because of their participation in mankind’s rebellion against God to once again have hope. The evangelist proclaims Jesus, the Savior-King, who conquered sin and death and made a way for those who believe and receive this good news to be reconciled to God by being born again into God’s eternal family, to receive eternal life, to participate in his glorious mission to announce this good news to the world through the power of the Spirit, and to share his glory and rule for eternity. His plea is for people to be reconciled to God.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV)

The evangelist’s desire is to present the gospel accurately and passionately. Since the gospel is the power of God to save people (Romans 1:16), he takes great care to present it fully and correctly, not watering it down into some sort of easy to remember formula or consumerist sales pitch.

The evangelist’s goal is to make disciples who worship and serve Jesus, not merely add more uncommitted believers to church rolls.

Part 1: The Message

The First Evangelist: Seeker of Those Who Are Afraid and Hiding

When Adam and Eve turned their backs on God, choosing a self-directed life instead of one of joyful dependence on their Creator, in the very act of pronouncing righteous judgment on his wayward creatures, God himself preached the first gospel message. Our Lord was the first evangelist. He told the serpent, the one who orchestrated the rebellion, who no doubt believed that he had just pulled off an amazing victory, that in the future one of Eve’s descendants would bruise or crush his head, at great cost to himself.

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. Genesis 3:15 (ESV)

The good news was that God would judge evil on man’s behalf, even though it would be very costly to him personally. This was the first Messianic promise, the first announcement of the gospel. Someone was coming who would turn things around!

The evangelist offers hope to those who are under judgment for their sin.

Adam and Eve had been hiding in the garden due to their guilt and fear, but God the Evangelist came looking for them, which foreshadowed the Good Shepherd, who came to seek and save the lost. This foreshadowed the Great Commission through which Jesus sent the entire church to go after those who don’t know him yet.

One of the marks of an evangelist is that he seeks those who are lost. He doesn’t passively wait for them to come to him.

God of the Impossible

Many centuries later, God the Evangelist, who is also God the Promise Keeper, undertook to launch his program to judge the Evil One and redeem his fallen people. He chose a particular individual named Abram, through whom he would eventually bring his Messiah King into the world, a second Adam who would restore the universe back to God’s purposes. This is the good news that evangelists continue to herald.

God reached out to the least likely of people, which is another mark of the evangelist.

Abram was an old childless man married to an elderly barren woman. They had long before given up on having children; yet, the God of the impossible selected him and gave him the following amazing promise.

I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18  and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” Genesis 22:17-18 (ESV)

God would use Abram and Sarai to begin a lineage that would eventually produce the offspring God promised Eve in the garden, the one who would crush Satan. Here the Lord expanded the promise, saying that this Promised One would gain a victory over his enemies and become a blessing to all the nations of the earth! This was another proclamation of the gospel!

And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9  So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. Galatians 3:8-9 (ESV)

The evangelist announces that God has done the impossible, what we could never do for ourselves, in order to keep his promise to save us from our sins.

God Who Sets the Captives Free

Centuries later God the Evangelist chose another very unlikely person, a fearful man who was hiding from his destiny. Moses had been trained to be a leader, but was living as a lowly shepherd in the wilderness. God appeared to Moses and told him that he had heard the desperate cries of the descendants of Abraham who were cruelly enslaved by the powerful nation of Egypt. He told Moses that he had chosen him to confront Pharaoh and demand their liberation.

Through Moses, God demonstrated the good news that he will use his power to strengthen the weak, humble the proud, devastate the powerful, and liberate the oppressed.

This is when God first revealed the need to sacrifice a Lamb so that a people could be spared from God’s wrath, foreshadowing the Lamb of God who died for our sins.

Evangelists today also herald the wonderful news that God uses the death of Jesus, the Lamb of God, to spare his people from judgment and set them free!

Good News Beyond Our Wildest Imagination

Much later God the Evangelist chose another unlikely person, a lowly shepherd boy named David, the youngest in his family. David never dreamed or aspired to be Israel’s king; nevertheless, God elevated him to become probably that nation’s greatest ruler. A man after God’s heart, he desired to honor God by building him a proper house. God’s response, communicated through a prophet, overwhelmed David. It was beyond anything David could have ever imagined. Here is what God told him.

When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13  He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 2 Samuel 7:12-13 (ESV)

Instead of David’s building a house for God, God would build an eternal house for himself from David’s line!

This foreshadowed the coming of the Messiah King Jesus who rose from the dead as the King of Kings, re-establishing God’s rule in the earth, something Adam had forfeited. This Messiah King would build God’s house, the true temple made without human hands, transcending anything man could ever create.

The apostle Paul, another herald of the gospel, wrote about this spiritual temple.

So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20  Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21  We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22  Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22 (NLT)

The evangelist announces that it was not enough for God to merely forgive us. The good news exceeds our wildest dreams, informing us that God has restored his benevolent rule on the earth and made a way for us to be united to the Spirit of God forever. Jesus, the Messiah King, will come as Emmanuel – God with us.

The Angel Evangelist

When God’s timing was perfect, God chose a young virgin to be the mother of his promised Messiah King. God sent an angel evangelist to herald this amazing and wonderful good news to Mary.

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33  and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Luke 1:30-33 (ESV)

This soon to be born baby was the one promised in the garden, the one promised to Abraham and to David. The angel told Mary the good news that she had been chosen by God because he highly favored her.

The evangelist realizes that  the proclamation of the gospel is a demonstration of the favor of God to those who hear it.

John the Evangelist
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7  He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. John 1:6-7 (ESV)

God selected Jesus’ cousin John to be the one who would introduce the Messiah to Israel and ultimately to the world. John is a wonderful example of an evangelist, who knew that Jesus must have the preeminence. He said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

John heralded that Jesus was the Lamb of God who would die for our sins, (John 1:29), explaining in more detail what the Exodus Passover lamb foreshadowed and what Isaiah had prophesied centuries before.

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all. Isaiah 53:6 (NLT)

John also announced the good news that Jesus is the Son of God or Messianic King (John 1: 34) and the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit (John 1:33).

Evangelists continue to herald the message that Jesus is the Lamb of God who died for our sins, the risen Lord who rules over all, the baptizer in the Spirit, who is Lord of the harvest, and the coming Son of Man who will judge the living and the dead.

Jesus the Evangelist

When time finally arrived for Jesus to begin his public ministry, he made an amazing announcement at the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth.

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, 19  and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” 20  He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. 21  Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” Luke 4:18-21 (NLT)

The Promised One was fully aware of who he was and is. He understood that in and through him the good news announced through the centuries was being literally fulfilled. He is the good news!

Evangelists understand that the good news is a person whose name is Jesus!

Peter the Evangelist

When Jesus rose from the dead, he announced that all authority in heaven and earth had been given to him. (Matthew 28:18) Our Lord shares his authority with those who follow him. God has authorized us to speak on God’s behalf to announce the gospel.

Evangelists understand that it is an amazing privilege to be given the authority to announce to people how they can be forgiven and reconciled to God.

When the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples on Pentecost, fifty days after the crucifixion in fulfillment of Jesus’ promise that they would be baptized in the Spirit, Peter stood up and publicly heralded the gospel to the assembled crowd, closing with these convicting words.

“So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” Acts 2:36 (NLT)

Evangelists pin on their listeners the responsibility for Christ’s death. Our sin nailed him to the cross. They also proclaim the good news that Jesus also rose from the dead as the Lord of lords.  They look for the appropriate Spirit-inspired response of repentance coupled with surrender and a declaration of allegiance to Christ.

Paul the Evangelist

After his dramatic conversion, Paul, the former persecutor of the church, became one of its preeminent evangelists, a herald of the gospel message. (2 Timothy 1:11) As an evangelist, he trumpeted the good news, using his ability to persuade and reason with people.

As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people. 3  He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah.” Acts 17:2-3 (NLT)

The evangelist should be “fluent” in the gospel and able to speak persuasively about Jesus the Messiah.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for promising to rescue us and following through on that promise. Thank you that you sent evangelists to bring that good news to us. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for working in our hearts to make us receptive. I give you my heart and my life. I receive your promise and life in exchange. Thank you for forgiving my sins and setting me free from guilt and shame. Help me to be a bearer of good news to those around me who are still without hope. Amen.

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Freedom from Fear of the Unknown

The gospel provides freedom from the fear of the unknown.

People generally resist change because we fear the unknown. Why else would an abused spouse choose to stay with someone who routinely hurts her instead of venturing out on her own away from danger?

We fear what we do not know because it makes us feel vulnerable and out of control.

Do we take the new better paying job or stay with the one we have, which seems familiar and secure? Do I risk marrying the one I love, or stay in relationship limbo out of fear that the marriage may fail? Should we have another child, even if we are not positive we can “afford” it?

Fear of the unknown is another reason people feel so confused and frightened when unpredictable bad things happen for no apparent reason. It is why we are so prone to assign blame for tragedies, when there was none.

We want to be able to predict the future and control it, but God does not allow for that. In fact, he wants us to become comfortable in being uncomfortable. He wants us to trust him in our uncertainty and fear.

Albert Smith wrote the familiar hymn, I Know Who Holds the Future.

I know who holds the future , And I know he holds my hand;
With God things don’t just happen ev’rything by Him is planned.
So as I face tomorrow with its problems large and small,
I’ll trust the God of miracles, Give to Him my all!

These words are based on one of the most foundational of all Bible doctrines, the sovereignty of God. I wrote an article devoted entirely to this truth, entitled The Unexpected Key to Happiness. I encourage you to read it.

Faith in God’s loving sovereignty is the key to happiness.

This is based somewhat on the following verse and other related verses that agree with it.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 (NLT)

Jesus believed this, which is proved by the way he lived and the words he spoke. If Jesus believed that his Father is absolutely sovereign and nothing happens outside his will, we should believe it, too. Another way to put this is that, even though God is not the author of evil, he bends and shapes evil to conform to his purposes and makes everything, even bad things, work for our good and his glory. Otherwise, he would not be sovereign at all.

We need not fear the unknown because God will make it work for us, no matter what. Another reason we need not fear the unknown is because God is always with us. (John 14:16)

When the Lord challenged Moses to confront the most powerful ruler in the world, to assuage his fear and uncertainty, God promised him, “I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:12) When David fled for his life from King Saul, and his future seemed very uncertain, he wrote these beautiful words that confirmed his trust in the ever present sovereign God.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (NASB)

As Thomas and the other disciples contemplated their uncertain future, Jesus comforted them with these words.

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2  There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3  When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4  And you know the way to where I am going.” 5  “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6  Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:1-6 (NLT)

Even though we do not know the way, the Way knows us. He promised us that he will be with us, keep us, and guide us. The future is in his hands, and so are we.

No matter what unknown confronts us, the answer to our fear is always the same. God is with us and controls our destinies. Whether we live fearlessly or timidly largely depends on whether or not we believe this. Which is it going to be for you and me?

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Freedom from the Fear of Pain

The gospel provides us with freedom from the fear of pain.

In this series, I address some of the common fears we all experience and show how the gospel sets us free from them. I have often heard people say that they are not afraid of dying, just of what leads up to it, which often includes pain. Some have a higher tolerance of pain than others, but no one in his or her right mind would choose to experience pain.

Because of this, torture is often used to break people’s wills. In the military, those who go through SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) training are taught how to endure various forms of torture, but they are also told that everyone eventually breaks. The early church experienced awful forms of torture at the hands of Jewish and Roman authorities. Many of them endured those horrors rather than deny their allegiance to the Lord Jesus. None of us knows what pain may be ahead us as individuals, or even as a society, whether it be emotional, physical, or social. When pain comes our way, how will we cope? The Bible gives us hope.

The first thing we need to know is that our Lord willingly endured the excruciating pain of flogging and crucifixion for us. The Romans used this form of torture to remind their subjects of what could happen to those who rebelled against their rule. Public crucifixions were commonplace and served to intimidate the populace. That form of death could normally last for days as the victim slowly and painfully dehydrated and asphyxiated. Jesus warned his followers that serving him would require us to “take up our cross.” Everyone knew what this meant, which tended to “weed out” those who were not serious disciples.

Our Lord encouraged his disciples not to be afraid of those who could harm and kill the body.

I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5  But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6  Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7  Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:4-7 (ESV)

Jesus did not avoid the pain issue. Instead, he asks us to face it squarely with trust that God will be with us through every form of suffering.

Jesus found strength through the Holy Spirit to endure his ordeal. In the Garden of Gethsemane, he asked his Father to spare him, if possible, but, knowing the unalterability of his coming sacrificial death, he steeled himself against what lay ahead.

The Bible tells us that God’s grace is sufficient for everything that comes our way, including pain.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

If we approach pain with the confidence that God’s grace will see us through, it will help us to have the strength in our wills to endure.

It requires faith to persevere without capitulating to fear.

Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance. Hebrews 6:12 (NLT)

Endurance, patience, and perseverance are proved through testing. We cannot have these things without going through difficulties. Consider what James the Lord’s brother wrote to the church in Jerusalem.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4 (NLT)

The first Christians were prepared to endure because they expected to suffer for the sake of their faith.

Life back then did not include the great variety of pain numbing drugs we have today. Most people would at some time face physical suffering, perhaps great pain.

Whenever pain and fear come calling, it is an opportunity to trust in God’s grace to keep us.

King David gave us a most glorious truth to hold close.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (ESV)

God will be with us and in us in every situation up to and including physical death.

Because of that, we are  more than conquerors, according to Paul. (Romans 8:37)

Lastly, the Bible tells us that, when Christ was flogged by the Roman soldiers, he carried our pain.

In other words, not only did he experience pain for our sake, he “carried” it so that it has no power over us.

But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain; even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done. Isaiah 53:4 (NET1)

The same Hebrew word that says our Lord carried our sicknesses and pains are used to describe how he bore our sins. If our sins were forgiven by his death as our scapegoat, then so are our diseases healed and our pain assuaged.

We can focus our eyes upon the one who was so unmercifully beaten and find the strength to endure.

Perhaps the pain inflicted on us will lose its sting, since he already carried it on our behalf. We may find that God’s grace will do far more for us than we now imagine. The key is to stay focused on the Lord and the help that will be given to us when we need it.

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9  But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. 10  After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 11  To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:8-11 (NASB)
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Freedom from the Fear of Invalidation

The gospel provides freedom from the fear of invalidation.

Before they disobeyed God and fell from grace, Adam and Eve knew nothing about fear. Afterward, sin began its deadly work of twisting their souls. Where before there had been innocent bliss, afterward they felt guilt, shame, and fear. Whereas before they had openly walked and conversed with God, afterward they hid from him. Before they had simply accepted their identity and security in God; since then all of that came into question. Our first parents were removed from their original home, a judgment was pronounced over them, and a horrendous reaping process began. God’s warning that they would die if they ate the forbidden fruit began to take effect. The first thing that died was their glorious spiritual connection to the Creator, which supplied them with everything they needed for joyful living.

After judgment began, Adam and Eve and all their descendants have had to try to figure out who they were and are apart from God.

Humans began a journey of attempting to “discover themselves,” instead of understanding and embracing their identity and purpose as received from the Creator. When we look inside to find the answer, sadly, we end up being confused and lost.

We can only know who we are in relationship to our Creator.

Invalidation is related to two other fears – rejection and abandonment. These three fears are intertwined and faced by everyone on the earth to one degree or another.

Invalidation is the result of not being properly affirmed, leaving us, depending on our personalities, in some condition of insecurity.

Invalidated parents usually have no idea how to affirm their children, causing a potentially endless repetition of dysfunction. Invalidated individuals tend to be insecure. Often they are desperately looking for others to affirm them, making them vulnerable to those who would use their fears against them. Rejection is what we experience when others do not like or accept some or all of who we are or what we say or do. It may involve some sort of exclusion or shunning. Abandonment is the final stage of invalidation and rejection. Abandoned people are forced to be on their own, alone in life. This article will focus on invalidation. The next one will address rejection and abandonment.

It is easy to see how invalidation is connected to our broken relationship with God.

Unless God himself affirms us, we will never know who we are.

Sin broke our connection with the Creator, leaving us “unplugged” from our proper source of validation. Every other source for affirmation is inferior and unable to satisfy.

The French philosopher Blaise Paschal wrote:

What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself. (Ichthus)

Jesus came into this world without ever having had to experience the results of Adam’s sin. He was not under its curse or judgment, he did not have an innate sin nature, and he was not cut off from his Father. As a result, he had no gaping hole in his soul crying out for validation. Nevertheless, his Father wonderfully validated him at the beginning of his public ministry for all to hear and see, which is what all good fathers do.

...a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” Matthew 17:5 (NLT)

Here Father God shows us what it looks like to properly validate a person. He made known to his Son and to all of us who would later put our faith in Christ what it means to be a child of God. Below is an explanation.

  1. Dearly loved son. The essence of validation is to be loved for no other reason than we are a child of the Father. (1 John 3:1) Children are meant to experience unconditional love. We are invalidated when that love is withheld or conditioned upon our earning or keeping it in some fashion or another. Because of sin, apart from Christ, none of us is ever “good enough” to deserve God’s love. We know in the depths of our souls that we deserve to be excluded, but the gospel undoes the lethal effects of sin and opens the door for us to receive supreme validation from our Father. Every person needs to hear God speak these words into his or her heart, just as Jesus heard them. When you read these words in the Bible, ask the Holy Spirit to minister them to you personally.
  2. Brings me great joy. This part of validation affirms that we are delighted in not only for simply being a son or daughter, but also because we bring joy and pleasure to the Father’s heart. It is one thing to be loved in spite of our faults and sins, but quite another to actively create joy in the beholder. Another way to put this is that God not only loves us: he likes us! It is extremely invalidating to find out we are loved because we are in the family but not liked at all. God likes us not because we deserve it, but because Jesus earned God’s approval for us. His Spirit resides in every believer, joined to our own spirits. How can God not like us? Every child of God needs to hear that he or she is well-pleasing from Father God in order to experience validation.
  3. Listen to him. This final part of validation tells us that we are significant. We are not some sort of trophy of grace to be set on a shelf and observed, but has no real function. We have been given an important part to play in God’s plan and have something important to say. We are highly regarded by God and should be by those who know and love the truth. Many of those people who experience the first two aspects of validation, do not receive this part. God wants every child of his to know how important he or she is to the work of the kingdom and to engage in that work.

Invalidated people struggle with feeling loved, appreciated, and significant. It is hard for them to fulfill their callings from God because of the hole in their souls.

In order to experience remediation, one of the most important things we can do is approach God the Father and ask him to minister his loving words of validation to us personally. A good place to start is by meditating upon the verse quoted above, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to us at a heart level their meaning.

Here is another great verse to consider.

No man has ever seen God at any time; the only unique Son, or the only begotten God, Who is in the bosom [in the intimate presence] of the Father, He has declared Him [He has revealed Him and brought Him out where He can be seen; He has interpreted Him and He has made Him known]. John 1:18 (AMP)

Jesus alone truly knows the Father, and he came to make him known to us.

“My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Matthew 11:27 (NLT)

Jesus died on the cross and rose again to enable us to enter into a relationship with his Father.

He wants us to know the Father’s love, and he will reveal the Father to all who ask him. (Matthew 7:7) Knowing the Father is eternal life and completely validating (John 17:3). Once we know him, it is our privilege to come boldly and confidently into his presence on a regular basis to spend time with him, talk to him, and listen to what he has to say. (Ephesians 3:12) We also have the life-transforming privilege of reading and meditating on his Word. Jesus told us that the Holy Spirit is the one who teaches us and reveals to us the meaning of God’s words, applying them to our hearts so that we can know, believe, and receive all the benefits. (John 14:26)

In order to overcome the fear of invalidation, we must first come to God, the only real source of validation, through believing the gospel.

If we confess our sin of rebellion and insubordination, trusting Christ to forgive us, and declare allegiance to the resurrected and reigning Lord of lords, we will be saved. (Romans 10:9-10) Then we can allow the Spirit of God to do his validating work in our lives, setting us free from the residue of lies that invaded and entrenched themselves in our hearts and minds when we were lost and separated from God’s truth.

Knowing that we are sons and daughters of the Creator God will set us free to overcome the related fears of rejection and abandonment that plague the souls of so many. I will cover those fears in the next article. In the meantime, consider the following.

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5  God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6  And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7  Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. Galatians 4:4-7 (NLT)
Prayer

Father God, I now realize that you are the only one who can fill the hole in my soul. Thank you for sending your only son to make the only way for me to be reconciled to you. I confess my sin of going my own way. I thank you for forgiving me and setting me free. I confess that Jesus is risen from the dead, and I surrender to his lordship. Holy Spirit, thank you for coming into my life. I ask you to fill me up and teach me everything I need to know about God and his Word. I give myself to you. Use me as you see fit to help others and spread the Good News. Amen.

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