[Jesus] called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.

Luke 9:1-2 (ESV)

 

Preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom is not limited to the pulpit. A community that reveals Christ makes more impact than a single preacher. The Holy Spirit has made us kings, priests, and prophets, and we have the privilege of proclaiming the gospel over every situation and bringing it into alignment "on earth, as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). We can learn from the example of the Apostle Peter. He proclaimed the truth about who Jesus is and what He has done to enable the crippled man to be healed.

Jesus empowers each of us to preach the kingdom and heal the sick. The question is: Do we believe what Jesus has done for us? If we truly trust Him, all we must do is step out in boldness and courage and do what He tells us. However, we are often too afraid or hesitant to share the gospel because we are concerned about the response (or the lack of it).

Sometimes we get the opportunity to share the gospel with strangers or new people we meet. However, we usually need to build relationships with people to minister to their deepest needs through the love of God. God will work with and on us so that, like the Apostle Paul, we may have the boldness to say:

I refuse to be ashamed of sharing the wonderful message of God’s liberating power unleashed in us through Christ! For I am thrilled to preach that everyone who believes is saved—the Jew first, and then people everywhere! Romans 1:16-17, (TPT)

Can you think of someone God is calling you to love and reach out for Christ?

Success begins with your obedience to God and is not determined by your result. Remember, someone loves you enough to take the risk of sharing Christ with you so that you can do the same for someone else. The best part is that you can invite and involve others in praying for your friend and reaching out to him or her for Christ. This is one way we can help to transform our city for God.