Don't miss sharing Jesus

Don’t Miss the Ministry Opportunity!

^13-16 The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: “Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom.Mark 10:13-14 (The Message)

Why do we miss ministry opportunities…Why do I miss ministry opportunities?

I had just gotten off work and was driving home.  It had been the warmest day this year and I was thinking of taken a quick nap when I got home. Ugh! Almost out of gas. I was thankful that one of the cheapest stations was on my way home.  I pulled to the inside lane which had the most shade. Got out and started the pump.

A black ford expedition pulled up to the pump on the opposite side of me.  A man got out slowly from the driver’s side, but he did not make his way to the pump.  My thoughts, “with gas going up I bet this is going to take almost $50.00 to fill up.” Another man from the other side of the truck went inside to pay for their gas. My thought, “I wonder how many people still pay cash for their gas?” 

The driver said to me indirectly, “Probably two more years and we will be dead, then we won’t have to worry about this sh’t anymore.”

My thought, “was he talking to me? Was he worried about the gas prices? Was he depending on the other guy for gas money?  His truck is nicer than my vehicle, surely he has what he needs?  I probably should say something spiritual. I just had a birthday and I am in my 50’s, he doesn’t look that much older…what does he mean we are going to die in a couple of years?  Does he know Jesus”…he closed his door and drove away.

Later that night I was attending a city-wide prayer meeting.  The last prayer point was to pray for the salvation of our community. Salvations only occur when the gospel is shared…My prayer was one of repentance. I knew I had missed an opportunity to share the hope that is in Jesus with that man at the gas station.  I had failed. I asked Jesus to forgive me. Oh, how I wished I had the right attitude earlier, but I did pray for the next Christian that the gentleman was around to “make the most of every opportunity to share about the hope we have in Jesus.”

Are there some steps helpful for us to take to keep us prepared to share at any moment?

4 Preparation points to be ready to share the gospel

1.    Youare His witness.  Repent for not taking every opportunity. Repent for your silence. Repent for thinking it is somebody else’s responsibility who is more gifted. Accept the personal responsibility and privilege to be the Ambassador for Christ in your sphere of influence.

2.    Be completely influenced by the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 says that we SHALL receive the power from the Holy Spirit to be a witness.  The Holy Spirit empowers each one of us to be the representative to declare what Jesus has done for us. Are you being continually filled with the Holy Spirit’s presence and power?  What can you do to keep in step with the Holy Spirit’s leading?

3.    Pray to God to increase your love for the lost.  When we love someone, we will go out of our way to bless them.  We find opportunities to let them know we are thinking of them.  We send flowers, notes, and find ways to meet them.  Probably, our biggest need of repentance is that we really don’t love the lost people, at least not like Jesus loves them.  He came to seek and to save the lost.  Paul said the love of Christ COMPELLS him to share with others.  Love is a strong motivator and reminder of our mission to share Jesus. Ask God to reveal our lack of love, and then increase our desire to see the lost saved.

4.    Pray to be a worker in the harvest.  Jesus said the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few.  Pray to God for more workers (and for you to be one of those workers) and for the ripe fruit to be harvested.  I have an idea that God just might honor your prayer and send lost people along your path.  People that HE has already primed for the conversation that is within you. Remind the Lord daily with all humility…”Here am I, send me”

Ezekiel placed a heavy load of responsibility on us.  If we see trouble coming and do not blow the warning trumpet, the innocent blood that is shed will be our responsibility.  This generation of lost people (all those who do not know Jesus as their savior) is our responsibility.  If they don’t hear the good news…whose bears the weight? How will they hear and respond to the good news…unless some tells them?

Questions for reflection to discuss with another Christian friend

When was the last time that you turned a conversation intentionally to talk about Jesus?

Do you have the tools ready to share? (Do you know how to share your testimony? Are you prepared to share a gospel presentation? Do you carry gospel tracts? Do you wish you had more training to be proficient in witnessing?)

Do you know how to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit nudging you into a faith conversation?

Have you ever lead someone through a “sinner’s prayer”?  When was the last time?

Feel free to share feedback…silence about the gospel message is not good. Open our mouths LORD.