GETTING THROUGH TO PEOPLE WITH THE GOSPEL MESSAGE
(Part 2)

  

Imagine, a spectacularly beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky. You want to share your excitement about it with someone, so you turn to the person next to you and say, Isn't that beautiful to behold?” The person doesn't seem to be as excited about it. In order to elicit a like reaction from the person that doesn't seem to be 'getting it', you begin to share specifics about what you saw and why it excites you so, but to no avail. Then you find out that the person is blind.

Only if we recognize that the unbelieving are spiritually blind, can you not get frustrated. The gospel is not a rational message that can be understood by just anyone, but it is a spiritual message, that requires God's involvement as we share the message with people. "We are co-workers with Christ" (1 Cor. 3:9)


"The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. "(col. 2:14)


So how can we get the message though to people so they can understand, receive, and and believe unto salvation? We can't, that is, not on our own. Remember first that we are coworkers with Christ (1 Corinthians 3:9)


Let's look at two examples from Scripture. First, Luke chapter 24:


36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”


40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.
The Scriptures Opened


44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He (Jesus) opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.


46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.

In Acts 16:13 we read, ”On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

We preach the message and the Lord gives the hearer the ability to understand and believe unto salvation. "We are co-workers with Christ" (1 Cor. 3:9)

But how about those who still don't get it? I personally didn't 'get it' the first time I heard the gospel message. Those who shared the message with me were frustrated that I wasn't getting it, but five years later I did and I believed.

Until next post, "Occupy until He comes"