Reach Out Before We Pass Out!

   Someone noted that a church that is not reaching out is passing out. The "Great Commission" gives disciples of Jesus their marching orders in every age. Matthew’s account reads: "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen." Mark’s account is the same in substance: "And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned’ " (Mark 16:15-16). 

Early disciples understood exactly what the Lord meant, as we read in Mark 16:19-20, "So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen." 

The book of ACTS pictures a church that was out, loud, proud, and not intimidated about speaking the gospel! It depicts a church where every saint this side of heaven was involved in a mission to get the gospel to every sinner this side of hell. Unlike millions today, many church members among them, those early Christians clearly believed souls were lost without the gospel of Christ, and that as disciples of Christ their number one mission and task as the church was to stay busy reaching out with the gospel. They faced obstacles and experienced constant pressures from people without and problems within. But they could not be stopped! When threatened with punishment if they didn’t stop preaching Jesus, they said, "We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20). When told they had "filled Jerusalem with your doctrine" in spite of having been told by Jewish leaders to cease and desist, they boldly asserted, "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:28-29). After being beaten and commanded yet again that "they should not speak in the name of Jesus," Acts 5:41-42 states that they were "rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name [that is, the name of Jesus]. And daily in the temple and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ." Acts 8:4 says Christians scattered by persecution "went everywhere preaching the word." In words not originally meant to compliment, Acts 17:6 says, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too." In 1 Thessalonians 1:8, the apostle Paul complimented the church at Thessalonica for being a reaching- out church: "For from you the word of the Lord has sounded out forth ... in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out."  

A classified ad’ in a newspaper said: "Used tombstone for sale. Ideal for a family named Jones." The gospel is ideal for the Jones family, and everyone else! Millions are hurtling toward hell while many Christians are silent saints. Let each Christian pray: "Send us a revival of soul- winning, O God! Let it begin with me. Help Your church reach out before we pass out." Think about it. 

   Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN