The global challenges around us, creates urgency in our Spirit to fulfill our mandate, to preach the gospel whether it is convenient or inconvenient. This urgency propels us to preach as never before because, the world is bound in wickedness and ungodliness as well as the fact that the end time signs is here with us. All that is happening globally are signs marking the return of our Master Jesus Christ. Such end time signs include false Christ’s, wars and rumors of war, earthquakes and pestilence in various places; betrayal among brethren, hatred of the name Jesus, the rise of false prophets who will deceive many, iniquity abounding and the love of many waxing cold, famine, abomination and desolation, lying wonders, partying as well as marrying giving in marriage these signs are indicative that the trumpet could sound anytime.

After giving our lives to Christ, God left us in this world to occupy ourselves with preaching the word – witnessing for Christ wherever we may find ourselves. Global events have created the opportunity for witnessing as never before. During the Covid-19 lockdown, I saw clip of Indians getting rid of their gods at a river, because these gods/goddesses they claimed did not deliver them from the pandemic. Also, the happenings in our country create an opportunity for us to preach the gospel as never before. When people come to their wits end, they create room for God’s intervention.

In biblical times, the gospel prospered more in adversity as seen when Stephen was stoned to death, James killed and Peter arrested. When this happened, the church stood up in prayers and Peter was miraculously freed. However the attack on the church made people who usually scuffle over food or petty things to spread abroad and with it went the gospel, which they preached where they found themselves. Like the church of old, the happenings today create a great opportunity to preach the gospel: “Preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; Reprove” – (reprimand with kind intent not because we hate unbelievers but because we are duty bound to tell the truth).

When you see someone doing wrong or evil, something that would take him or her to hell, you have to reprove him or her; do not mince words when you tell him or her of the consequences. To rebuke is to express sharp disapproval or criticism. To exhort is the strong urge or encouragement to do something right; with long suffering and doctrine is not giving up in preaching in season and out of season [2 Timothy 4: 2 – 4]. Revelation 1:7 says, “Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they that pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him. Even so, Amen.” The stage is set, the signs are evident for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and therefore our mandate to preach the holistic gospel of Christ cannot be compromised.

Why do we need to preach in season and out of season?

1. Jesus commanded it in the great commission; Mark 15: 16 – 20, Mathew 28: 19 – 20.
2. Jesus showed us an example as seen John 9: 4 – 5, where He says, “We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. When I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” We serve a master who will always lead by example.
3. There is urgency. John 4: 34 – 35, “Jesus saith unto them, my meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to accomplish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white already unto harvest.” There is urgency because the harvest is ripe.
4. The reality of heaven and hell places on us the urgency to preach the gospel [Isaiah 5: 14]. There is no repentance in hell. Also the doctrine of purgatory is demonic in that a wicked man who dies would be resident there and prayers or monies, paid here on earth to enable him do his labour, purging himself of sin in order to graduate to heaven. The story of the rich man and Lazarus in the Bible is the reality of heaven and hell. Heaven is for the godly; nothing evil will go there.

According to world statistics from wordmeter.com, says we have no fewer than 7.9 billion people on earth and of this population only 2.6 billion are Christians. There is a difference of 5.3 billion people that are not Christians. According to this record, 65 million people die every year, 178 thousand people die every day, 7,425 people die every hour and 120 people die every minute. This statistics indicates the urgency needed to preach the gospel.

5. The reality of His soon coming. Rev. 22: 12 says that Jesus is coming quickly and His reward is with him.

We can preach the gospel through personal evangelism in addition to the regular collective evangelism. Every church programme or service is not complete until altar calls are made. All programmes of the church should be evangelism based. Ceremonial events such as marriage, birthdays, burial, community meeting, office meetings and the likes are to be evangelism based. You can do this by sharing your testimony of how you came to Christ. It is irresponsible not to preach the word of God where you find yourself.

Benefits of sharing the word of God

1. You shall be as stars. Daniel 12: 3 “And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”
2. God’s numerous blessings – protection, provision and deliverance.
3. A crown shall be give to a soul winner, 2 Timothy 4: 8, James1: 12, Revelation 2: 10, 4: 4 and 9: 7 and 1Peter 5: 4, 1Corinthians 9: 25

As children of God we are supposed to be agents of light wherever we find ourselves. The world is drifting and wickedness is on the increase. We are not to sit in church just to enjoy God’s blessings. Since we spend more time at our places of work, we are to preach this gospel of Christ to save those who are lost, whether it is convenient or not. In doing this we would be fulfilling God’s mandate to us, enjoying His blessings and pleasing Him.

QUOTES:

“It is irresponsible not to preach the word of God where you find yourself.”

“We can preach the gospel through personal evangelism in addition to the regular collective evangelism.”