I do not expect this blog post to be overly long, or to be very complex. I just want to share some of my experiences with those who would read this and I invite all to seriously consider these words.
A few weeks ago I preached at my church and the theme was evangelism. Before I preached that sermon, I had a sermon on the person of Christ prepared for months. However, the week I was scheduled to preach the Lord moved me to preach on evangelism. Now that I can look back on that sermon, I see that God's purpose in calling me to preach on that topic wasn't so much for the congregation as it was for me. Honestly I have never been the same since I preached it. It has transformed my mind and my person completely, I feel like a train hit me. As I studied the passage I was teaching on, 1 Corinthians 1 and 2, I began praying that the Lord would give me a revelation of Christ and Him crucified, and that I would have a passion for the gospel. The more I prayed that, the more a desire grew in me to live and die for the gospel. It began to consume my thoughts and I began to change. The emphasis in my life was not so much on election than on simply knowing what happened on that cross. It has gotten to the point where I think about it almost all the time, and marvel at the gospel more than ever before. I have even seen new power over old sins in my life--as I meditate on the gospel, the things of the world are becoming less and less appealing!
The other day I felt the call of God to preach the gospel at the park. I have wanted to open-air preach ever since I got saved but was too cowardly to do it. I was scared and worried what others would think of me, but this new passion overcame me and I preached on the sidewalk. Since then I wake up in the morning hoping for the chance to proclaim the gospel wherever I go, however I can, regardless of the consequences. I have been totally consumed by this one thing that I have caught a glimpse of, and my only desire is to spread it to the entire world: The bloody, rugged cross of Christ. All glory be to Jesus Christ for His eternal salvation!
So the Lord has truly done a work in me. It's not that I think that maybe the Lord has done something to me, no, I know that he has. I have gone from a passion for debates in the blogosphere to a passion for the foolish message which is the only power of God unto salvation. I have gone from fearful and defeated to victorious in the area of evangelism. I ask you, would you join me in seeking out the knowledge of Christ and the gospel? The first thing I learned in this endeavor is that it is very hard to get help when preaching the gospel--Friends, this ought not be. I hope and pray that Christians would be driven to their families, their workplaces and the streets by an all-consuming love for Christ and Him crucified. In the words of Jesus, GO!
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