"Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.'" – Mark 16:14-15
The Lord Jesus Christ commands all of His followers to go and preach the gospel to all of creation. However, many who've tried doing that failed for a variety of reasons. Still, there are others who haven't tried sharing the gospel because they think they can't do it.
Are you one of those who've tried to share it but failed in your attempt? Or are you one of those who don't know how to share the gospel? Let me encourage you. If you rely on Christ's love and the Holy Spirit's power, you can do it.
Here are some things you need to be able to preach the gospel effectively.
1. A Personal Faith in Christ's Atoning Sacrifice
You can never share the power of the cross if you haven't experienced it yourself. If you don't believe in what Christ has done for you, your testimony won't have any power at all.
Notice that in Mark 16:14, Jesus rebuked His disciples for not believing the testimony of others who've seen Him return from the grave. Of course, Jesus spent time with His disciples for three years, telling them of His coming death and eventual resurrection. The question is, did they really believe Him?
The question is, do you really believe Christ and what He has done for you?
2. The Holy Spirit's Power
In Revelation 19:10, we're told that the Holy Spirit will always point to the testimony of Jesus Christ. If you want to share the gospel with power, you need the Holy Spirit's help! He will guide us into all truth (see John 16:13).
Jesus Himself spoke of this in great detail in Matthew 10:18-20:
"You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you."
Pray for and rely on the Holy Spirit's help in preaching the gospel. He knows what to say better than we do.
3. The Father's Love and Christ's Compassion for the Lost
Compassion is very important in the work of preaching the Gospel.
John 3:16 tells us that God sent Jesus to save us because He "so loved" us. Christ Himself saw us as sheep without a shepherd, and in His compassion for us wanted to gather us as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings (see Matthew 9:36, 23:37). Such compassion is what we need to share the gospel.
If we don't sense God's compassionate love for other people, we will be unable to bring God's love to them. God's compassion can be stifled by our apathy and indifference. Let's ask Christ to give us His compassion for all men.
