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As the end times draw near, the importance of Jesus' command in Matthew 28:18-20 grows increasingly clear. Unfortunately, a poor understanding of evangelism and the hostility of a godless culture have caused many believers to become reluctant to share the Gospel with others. Thankfully, the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit can equip us with the understanding and courage necessary to boldly share the Good News with the unsaved.
For example, one of the most crucial points to understand about evangelism is that God does not expect us to do it on our own. Throughout the book of Acts, the early church believers' dependence on the Holy Spirit is made apparent. Specifically, the Spirit led them to people who would accept the Gospel, empowered them to preach with boldness, and even taught them what to say while preaching. Fortunately, the Scriptures note that God promises to do the same for us when we evangelize. Among these promises include Him teaching us where to go (Psa. 32:8), always being with us (Mat. 28:20), strengthening us in our weakness (2 Co. 12:9), and teaching us what to say when evangelizing (Luk. 12:11-12). Because the Holy Spirit will perfectly empower us to preach the Gospel, no weakness or enemy should discourage us from doing it.
Another noteworthy point is that we should be content with the opportunities God gives us to evangelize. While some believers are called to preach before large crowds, others are led by God to evangelize to individuals. The book of Acts records how Philip found himself in both situations. Specifically, while Acts 8:5-8 shows him being led to preach the Gospel before large crowds in Samaria, verses 26-38 show the Spirit calling him to share the Gospel with an Ethiopian eunuch. Because he was content and obedient in both circumstances, the Lord used him mightily in them. Likewise, following Philip's example in whatever circumstances we find ourselves in can lead to successful harvests of lost souls.
One other point to remember when evangelizing is that the way we live our lives influences the effectiveness of our witness. The early church believers excellently demonstrated this truth, living lives that were truly devoted to serving God and exemplifying His joy, love, and graciousness even amid severe persecution and tempestuous trials. The presence of these godly traits drew the curiosity of unbelievers, with many of them accepting Christ as their Savior due to them desiring the new lives these believers had. This is why Christ commands us in Matthew 5:16 to publicly exemplify His life by letting it shine like a light, that unbelievers may be drawn to our witness and receive salvation. Furthermore, Romans 1:16 describes the proper attitude we should have concerning our salvation in public: not ones of shame or embarrassment but ones of joy and courage with a passion to share the Gospel. Thus, because our lifestyles heavily dictate the effectiveness of our witness, we should purpose to exemplify Christ in all things so that others may see and desire His salvation and new life.
Christ's command to preach the Gospel always remains constant, regardless of the world's ever-changing state. However, our successfulness in accomplishing this mission will exponentially increase when we depend on the Holy Spirit's power, are content with the opportunities God gives us, and ensure our lifestyles exemplify Christ's. By applying these points, we make ourselves available to be the laborers in the plentiful harvest of souls Christ mentions in Luke 10:2.
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