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I. The call from four directions:
А. The Lord’s only commandment at His departure speaking forth a call from the heavens above.
B. The cry of the rich man speaking forth a call from Hades below.
C. The believers’ pressing, heartfelt responsibility speaking forth a call from inside of us.
D. The desperate need of people speaking forth a call from without.
II. Five expressions related to preaching the gospel:
А. Witnessing.
B. Leading people to the Lord.
C. Sowing.
D. Reaping a harvest.
E. Repaying a debt.
III. The spirit of the gospel producing a proper attitude toward the gospel:
А. Being fervent in spirit.
B. Not being ashamed of the gospel.
C. Using our own will.
D. Coming down from the throne of human dignity.
E. Spending and being utterly spent.
F. Not choosing the time or place.
G. Not being afraid of sufferings.
H. Leaving everything.
IV. The life of the gospel:
А. Living worthily of the gospel.
B. Abiding in the Lord.
C. Being pruned.
V. The authority of preaching the gospel:
А. The authority of Christ.
VI. The power of preaching the gospel:
А. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
VII. Some important points regarding the preaching of the gospel:
А. Praying.
B. Following the Holy Spirit.
C. Speaking the word of God.
D. Preaching the Lord Jesus.
E. Refusing questionings.
F. Correcting others in meekness.
G. Loving others.
VIII. The gospel preaching of the church:
А. Fellowshipping.
B. Striving together with one soul.
IX. The reward of preaching the gospel:
А. Receiving a reward.
B. Reaping in joy.
C. Receiving wages — gathering fruit unto eternal life.
D. Having joy and a crown.
E. Not laboring in vain.
X. The impact of preaching the gospel on the believers:
А. Providing shoes for our walk.
XI. The impact of preaching the gospel on the world:
А. Ending the age.
B. Hastening the Lord’s coming.
1. “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to all the creation”; “Go therefore and disciple all the nations” (Mark 16:15; Matt. 28:19 see also Rom. 10:14-15).
The call to preach the gospel and save people comes from four directions. The first call comes from above, from the heavens. It is according to the Lord’s command, which He spoke immediately before His ascension. Although the Lord’s call was given while He was on earth, His command comes to us today from the heavens. With regard to geography, He wants us to go into all the earth. With regard to race, He wants us to disciple all the nations. From the day of His ascension, His call from above has never ceased. Throughout the ages there have always been those who heard and answered His call. They have gone to every place under the sun to preach the gospel. According to His sovereign authority, the Lord effects changes among humanity that reflect the actions initiated by His calling. For example, the discovery of the new world by Columbus produced an east-west connection by sea that enabled many to answer His call to go to all the countries in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands, following the Reformation brought in by Martin Luther. As a consequence, God’s gospel of grace has been preached to every race. The Lord will continue to sound His call, calling some to bring the gospel to those living in every corner of the earth. May some among us hear and answer His call and go and disciple those who do not know the Lord.
1. “He said, Then I ask you, Father, to send him to the house of my father — for I have five brothers — so that he may solemnly testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment” (Luke 16:27-28).
These verses record the cry of the rich man who was suffering in the flames of Hades. His cry indicates that there must be many in Hades who have a desire that their relatives on earth would hear the gospel and be saved in order to escape the suffering of perdition. They are in Hades, and they are crying out concerning the need for their living relatives to hear the gospel. This is the second direction from which a call for the gospel comes. We should be moved by these pitiful cries and go to the living who still have a chance to repent in order to preach the gospel that can save them from eternal perdition.
1. “If I preach the gospel, I have no boast, for necessity is laid upon me; for woe to me if I do not preach the gospel. If I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a stewardship” (1 Cor. 9:16-17).
It is a marvelous fact that once we are saved, we spontaneously feel that we should preach the gospel. If we do not preach the gospel, we feel that we have let people down, that we owe them something, and that our heart is empty and without peace. Whenever we preach the gospel, our heart is joyful, satisfied, and peaceful. Furthermore, the more we preach, the happier, more released, and more comfortable we are because the Lord has entrusted us with the stewardship, or responsibility, to preach the gospel. When we receive His salvation, we also receive His commission and spontaneously feel a spiritual responsibility. This stewardship is in our innermost heart, and through the moving of the Holy Spirit, it becomes a burden, a pressing voice, that compels us to preach the gospel. If we do not preach the gospel, we feel like saying, “Woe to me.” Unbelievers think that Christians are zealous to preach the gospel, but actually this is a necessity laid upon us because we have an urgent, inward sense of responsibility. This sense of responsibility comes from within. It is the third direction from which a call for the gospel comes. This inward call is an irresistible call.
1. “A certain man...was standing and entreating him and saying, Come...and help us” (Acts 16:9).
Paul, who was zealous for the gospel and active in preaching throughout the Mediterranean area, saw a vision and heard a call for him to come to Macedonia. This is the fourth direction from which a call for the gospel comes. It comes from people, and it speaks of the desperate need of those around us. Today these kinds of Macedonian calls are numerous and pressing. Regrettably, we often ignore them or do not even hear them, because we do not have a strong desire to reach others with the gospel, and our sense is quite dull. We should ask the Lord to operate and increase our desire so that our inward sense can be sharpened, and we would feel the desperate need of people for the gospel. Then we would hear their pitiful cries and answer their thirsty needs by going to help them with the gospel.
1. “You shall be My witnesses...unto the uttermost part of the earth”; “You are witnesses of these things” (Acts 1:8; Luke 24:48).
According to the Bible, there are five expressions related to preaching the gospel. The first is witnessing. The Lord commanded His disciples to preach the gospel. On the one hand, He commanded them to preach the gospel to all creation, and on the other, He commanded them to be His witnesses to the uttermost part of the earth. Bearing the testimony of the Lord involves preaching the gospel. The best way to preach the gospel is to testify how the Lord saved us and how we experienced the Lord’s salvation through His death and resurrection on our behalf. This is very effective.
2. “Go to your house, to your own people, and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you” (Mark 5:19).
The Lord spoke this word to a man who was set free from being possessed by demons. The Lord wanted him to witness to his own people and report to them the great things He had done for him and how He had mercy on him. Once we are saved, we should report the salvation that we received to our relatives and friends and should witness to them. This is a preaching of the gospel, and it can bring our relatives and friends to salvation.
3. “The woman left her waterpot and went away into the city, and said to the people, Come, see a man who told me all that I have done. Is this not the Christ?...Many of the Samaritans from that city believed into Him because of the word of the woman who testified” (John 4:28-29, 39).
The Lord met a Samaritan woman by a well in Sychar. When she realized that the Lord was the Christ, she left her waterpot and went into the city where she lived and testified of the Lord. As a result, many believed in the Lord Jesus because of her testimony. A new believer should witness for the Lord because the witnessing of a newly saved one can easily move people to believe into Him. Therefore, newly saved brothers and sisters should visit their gospel friends. They can witness in a fresh way to the salvation that they received. This can move people to repent and believe in the Lord and help them to know the Lord’s salvation.
1. “Andrew...first found his own brother Simon and said to him, We have found the Messiah...He led him to Jesus...Philip found Nathanael and said to him, We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote, Jesus...Come and see” (John 1:40-42, 45-46).
The second expression for preaching the gospel is leading people to the Lord. When Andrew met the Lord, he went to his brother Simon and led him to meet the Lord. After Philip met the Lord, he went to Nathanael (probably a neighbor, relative, or close friend) and brought him to see the Lord. These instances show that once a person knows the Lord, he should lead others to the Lord, particularly his relatives and friends. Just as Andrew brought his brother to the Lord and Philip brought his neighbor, relative, or friend to the Lord, we should lead our relatives and friends to the Lord.
In leading people to the Lord, we should pay attention to two matters. First, we must have a burden in order to know whom we should lead to the Lord. Andrew had a burden for his brother, and Philip also had a burden. We should not go to people in a loose way. We must have a definite goal so that we can lead people to the Lord one by one. Second, we must lead people to the Lord so that they can see the Lord directly for themselves. Philip, however, did not introduce the Lord so clearly when he said that the Lord was a Nazarene. This made it more difficult for Nathanael to believe, because he responded, “Can anything good be from Nazareth?” (v. 46). Philip wisely did not try to explain. He simply said, “Come and see.” If Philip had said anything more than this, he could have made more mistakes that would have confused Nathanael and caused him to doubt. Then it would have been difficult for Nathanael to believe in Jesus. However, as soon as Philip brought Nathanael to see the Lord directly, Nathanael was able to know the Lord. Often our exhortations for people to believe in the Lord are not very clear or correct. New believers especially have this problem. Therefore, we must be careful not to explain too much, because this can confuse people. We need to learn to bring people to see Jesus. We need to say, “Come and see.” We need to bring them to the Lord to see Him directly. Once people see the Lord, many questions dissipate. People have questions because they have not seen the Lord. Therefore, we should not attempt to answer all their questions. We should simply bring them before the Lord and let the Lord Himself answer their questions. Once a person sees the Lord, all his questions are answered.
1. “He who reaps...gathers fruit unto eternal life, in order that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together...One sows and another reaps” (John 4:36-37).
The third expression for preaching the gospel is sowing. The word of the Lord’s gospel is the seed of life, and a person’s heart is like a field of earth for planting. When we preach the gospel to people, we are sowing the seed of the Lord’s gospel into the field of their hearts. When the seed of the gospel grows in their hearts, it can be harvested. Sometimes others sow, and we reap; sometimes we sow, and others reap. For example, a brother who is baptized today may have received a gospel tract that gave him an impression of the gospel five years ago in another place. Thus, the seed of the gospel, which was sown into him through the tract, was reaped and brought in by us five years later. Therefore, we should preach the gospel whenever we meet people and sow the seed of the gospel into their hearts so that there will be a harvest in due time.
1. “The harvest is great, but the workers few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest that He would thrust out workers into His harvest” (Matt. 9:37-38).
On the one hand, preaching the gospel is a sowing, but on the other hand, it is a reaping of the harvest. Sowing emphasizes preaching the gospel. Reaping emphasizes gathering in people’s souls. Gathering in people’s souls is like reaping grain and bringing it into a storehouse. Those whom the Lord wants to save are the harvest He wants to reap. Our preaching of the gospel is for harvesting these people. Thus, reaping a harvest is another expression for preaching the gospel.
In these verses the Lord spoke of the harvest being great, but the workers who preach the gospel to reap the harvest being few. Therefore, we should beseech the Lord of the harvest that He would thrust out workers into His harvest. If the harvest was great when the Lord spoke this word, the harvest must be even greater now. Therefore, we must beseech the Lord even more to thrust out workers into His harvest. If we want to reap the Lord’s harvest, we must preach the Lord’s gospel. Reaping a harvest requires the preaching of the gospel.
2. “Lift up your eyes and look on the fields, for they are already white for harvest...One sows and another reaps. I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored” (John 4:35, 37-38).
According to the Lord, the fields are white for harvest. Brothers and sisters, if the fields were white when the Lord spoke these words, they are even whiter today. Speaking only of the Chinese people, there are many whose hearts are ripe for harvesting. But who is willing to go?
When we preach the gospel, we will harvest what has already been sown. According to the Lord’s word, we should expect to reap where we have not labored. The seeds of the gospel have been sown on the earth by the church for two thousand years. Even in China many seeds have been sown over the last few centuries. Therefore, the harvest truly is ripe and waiting for us to reap. By the Lord’s mercy, may we lift up our eyes and look on the fields, and by the Lord’s grace, may we receive His sending to go and reap this ripened harvest.
1. “I am debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to foolish; so, for my part, I am ready to announce the gospel to you also” (Rom. 1:14-15).
Paul said that he was a debtor to every type of person. Therefore, he endeavored to preach the gospel to everyone. This word shows that preaching the gospel is the repayment of a debt, which is the fifth expression for preaching the gospel. According to this expression, preaching the gospel to our relatives, friends, and those to whom we are close is the repayment of a debt. Therefore, we should preach the gospel in order to repay our debt to the gospel.
When we preach the gospel, we must have the spirit of the gospel. When our spirit is full of burden, it becomes a power within us and causes us to be so driven that we cannot help but preach the gospel. This is the spirit of the gospel. This spirit causes us to be eager to preach the gospel, to be consumed with preaching the gospel to the point that we care for nothing else and fear nothing else. Our only care is for preaching the gospel, and our only fear is that people would perish. When we have such a spirit of the gospel, we spontaneously have a proper attitude toward the gospel outwardly. We should pursue and ask the Lord for such a spirit.
1. “Being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus” (Acts 18:25).
The spirit of the gospel reflects a fervent spirit. If we want to preach the gospel, we must be fervent in spirit. Apollos was fervent in spirit, and he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus. If we want the gospel to be released and not be held back by us, we must be fervent in spirit. We must be fervent even to the extent that we appear to be crazy. We should become a “fanatic of Jesus” to the extent that we do not care for anything but announcing the Lord Jesus.
2. “His spirit was provoked within him as he beheld that the city was full of idols” (Acts 17:16).
The spirit of the gospel involves not only a fervent spirit but also a spirit that can be provoked when we see people sinning and perishing in darkness. When he was in Athens, the apostle Paul was provoked in his spirit because he saw that the whole city was full of idols. With his provoked spirit, he preached and released the gospel in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there, as if he were crazy (v. 17).
1. “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16 see also 2 Tim. 1:8, 12; Mark 8:38).
It is quite strange that a person can feel glorious when speaking to others about a theory of science but be ashamed to speak of the Lord Jesus and the gospel. Without a doubt, this is the work of Satan to hinder people from preaching the gospel. However, if we have a spirit of the gospel, we will not be ashamed of the Lord and the gospel. On the contrary, the more we speak of the Lord and the gospel, the more glorious we will feel. If we want to preach the gospel, we must be “thick-skinned”; if we want to be thick-skinned, we must have the spirit of the gospel. With the spirit of the gospel and “thick skin,” we will feel glorious rather than ashamed when we preach the gospel.
1. “I preach the gospel...If I do this of my own will, I have a reward”; “I will most gladly spend and be utterly spent on behalf of your souls”; “I am ready to announce the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:16-17; 2 Cor. 12:15; Rom. 1:15).
We must preach the gospel of our own will. This necessity comes from the spirit of the gospel and cannot be done without the spirit of the gospel.
1. “Though I am free from all, I have enslaved myself to all that I might gain the more...To the weak I became weak that I might gain the weak. To all men I have become all things that I might by all means save some. And I do all things for the sake of the gospel that I may become a fellow partaker of it” (1 Cor. 9:19, 22-23).
All people sit on the throne of their human dignity. Both rich and poor people have a throne because both have a sense of dignity. Married women and unmarried women have a throne because both have a sense of dignity. College professors have such a throne, but elementary school teachers also have a throne. Regardless of whether a person is a manager, doctor, nurse, college student, or just a common person, everyone has a throne of human dignity. This throne of human dignity in a believer can be a great barrier to the release of the gospel. Often a brother who is a manager is unwilling to preach the gospel to a clerk, or a sister in college is unwilling to speak about the Lord Jesus to a person who has little education. Thus, in order for the gospel to come forth from them, they must be willing to come down from their throne. This is a matter of the spirit of the gospel; it cannot be done without the spirit of the gospel. The apostle Paul was full of the spirit of the gospel, so he came down from his throne, discarded his human dignity, and became all things to all men so that he might save some. He enslaved himself to all in order to gain more people. For the sake of the gospel, he was willing to lower himself so that he might become a fellow partaker of the gospel. He was a person who came down from his throne, discarded his self-importance, and was full of the spirit of the gospel. Those who are according to the pattern of Paul can release the gospel to any person of any class or position. With them the gospel is completely unhindered and unrestricted.
1. “I will most gladly spend and be utterly spent on behalf of your souls”; “What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may present the gospel without charge”; “I am ready to announce the gospel to you” (2 Cor. 12:15; 1 Cor. 9:18; Rom. 1:15 see also Matt. 10:8).
The pattern of the apostle Paul in the gospel shows that a person with a spirit of the gospel will spend and be utterly spent for others’ souls. In Greek spend and be utterly spent means to spend all we have and all we are. Paul presented the gospel without charge and was always ready — spending himself — to preach the gospel. A person full of the spirit of the gospel does not care for himself and loves money even less; consequently, the gospel can be released by him. Caring for ourselves and loving money are two great barriers to the release of the gospel. Only the spirit of the gospel can break through and overcome these barriers.
1. “Proclaim the word; be ready in season and out of season” (2 Tim. 4:2).
The spirit of the gospel also causes people to preach the gospel in season and out of season without choosing a time or place according to their preference. D. L. Moody was in bed one night when he suddenly realized that he had not preached the gospel to anyone that day. He got up, put on his clothes, and went outside to find someone to whom he could preach the gospel. There was no one on the street because it was late at night. Nevertheless, he looked until he found a night patrolman. He told the patrolman that he must believe in the Lord Jesus and that if he did not believe, he would go to hell. Even though the patrolman was very angry after hearing this, he went to find Moody the next day. Moody then preached the gospel to him in more detail, and he believed. Moody’s willingness to preach the gospel in season and out of season earned him the nickname of “Crazy Moody.”
1. “Suffer evil with the gospel according to the power of God”; “Striving together along with the faith of the gospel, and in nothing being frightened by the opposers” (2 Tim. 1:8; Phil. 1:27-28).
Preaching the gospel will bring in suffering and persecution. However, when we have the spirit of the gospel, the fear of such things will not hinder us from preaching boldly.
1. “There is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he shall receive” (Mark 10:29-30).
Our power in preaching the gospel is based on our ability to leave everything for the Lord and the gospel. We must do this in order to release the gospel with power. This ability is part of the spirit of the gospel, and it comes from the spirit of the gospel.
The most important point in preaching the gospel is not how well we can speak; the most important point is whether we have the spirit of the gospel. When we have the spirit of the gospel, the gospel can be released from us and can enter into others. The spirit of the gospel is the way of the gospel.
1. “Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Phil. 1:27).
In addition to the spirit of the gospel, we must have a life of the gospel. The emphasis of the spirit of the gospel is on power; the emphasis of the life of the gospel is on our living. Some have a great measure of the spirit of the gospel, but their life of the gospel is lacking. Their living is not worthy of the gospel. Our living must be worthy of the gospel that we preach. If it is not, the gospel will not find a proper outlet in us, even if we have a spirit of the gospel. A living that is unworthy of the gospel hinders people from accepting the gospel and from believing in the Lord.
1. “He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit” (John 15:5).
According to the Lord’s word, we must abide in Him if we want to preach the gospel and bear much fruit. To abide in the Lord is simply to fellowship with the Lord. When we fellowship with the Lord, we can bear much fruit and bring many to the Lord. Preaching the gospel does not depend only upon power; it depends also upon life. If we do not fellowship with the Lord and abide in Him, we cannot bear much fruit. Even if we bear a little fruit, it will be the fruit of an inferior life. It will not be rich and bountiful, because different kinds of fruit are produced by different kinds of life. If we have a good life that comes from constant fellowship with the Lord, we will bear good fruit.
1. “Every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:2).
If we want to preach the gospel and bear much fruit, we must be pruned. This does not refer merely to being pruned of things related to filthiness and sin; it refers even more to being pruned of everything that is not proper before God. God prunes every branch that bears fruit so that it can bear more fruit. Pruning is not merely a washing but also a cutting. Everything that is not proper, everything that hinders the branch from bearing more fruit, must be cut away. Although we need to thoroughly deal with sin in order to eliminate all filthiness, we must also receive God’s dealing in order to eliminate everything that hinders us from bearing fruit or from bearing much fruit.
Often we cannot bring people to salvation or bring more people to salvation because we have not received enough dealing from the Lord. The Lord desires to deal not only with our errors but also with our being. A person who tends trees must prune the tree’s branches so that the tree can bear fruit or bear more fruit. Once the branches are pruned, the tree can bear fruit or bear more fruit. The fact that we have not brought anyone to salvation for a long time or that we have not brought many to salvation proves that we have not allowed the Lord to do a pruning work upon us. We should beseech the Lord to enlighten us and show us the areas that we need to allow Him to prune. The Lord wants to inwardly enlighten us through the Holy Spirit on the one hand and to outwardly deal with us through our circumstances on the other hand. If we receive the Lord’s enlightenment inwardly and receive His dealing through our circumstances outwardly, we will be able to bring people to salvation or bring more people to salvation. A brother who comes to every meeting, reads the Bible, prays, and is irreproachable in his conduct may still not be able to bring anyone to the Lord. This does not mean that he has committed some sin; it may mean that he has not allowed the Lord to deal with him. Since the Lord wants him to bear fruit or more fruit, He may change the brother’s circumstances. Perhaps He will cause him to lose his job, become sick, or have difficulties at work or at home. The Lord will deal with the brother through his circumstances in order to break him so that he can receive the Lord’s pruning and cutting. After a new beginning he will be able to bring people to salvation. The number of people that we can bring to salvation depends on how much dealing we have received from the Lord. We have fresh power when we receive the Lord’s fresh dealing. If we had power last year but not this year, we must receive fresh dealings in order to have fresh power to bear fresh fruit. We need to let the Lord prune what needs to be pruned and to break what needs to be broken in order to bear fresh fruit. We must receive the Lord’s constant dealing in order to constantly bring people to salvation.
1. “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore” (Matt. 28:18-19).
To preach the gospel, we must have authority. Today the world has been usurped by Satan. All the people in the world lie under his hand (1 John 5:19). People do not receive the gospel, because of the work of Satan. Although many know that believing in the Lord is good and honorable, they simply do not believe. Even though they are not foolish, many do not believe, because the devil cheats and usurps them. The devil hinders them from believing and receiving the gospel. Since preaching the gospel results in demons being cast out, demons can have some ground in those who do not believe and receive the gospel. Casting out demons is not a matter of power but of authority. When a policeman stands at an intersection and raises his hand, cars stop because of his authority, not his power. According to the Lord, we must deal with demons by using authority, not power, and He has given us authority to overcome the power of demons (Luke 10:19). The Lord has given us all authority in heaven and on earth. He rose from the dead and received all authority in heaven and on earth. Consequently, He wants us to preach the gospel to the entire world. We should preach the gospel with His authority as our base. For this we need faith. The gospel that we preach is the gospel of the Lord who received all authority in heaven and on earth. It is the gospel of the One who ascended to the heavens and was made both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). He has given us His authority in heaven and on earth and commanded us to preach the gospel. We should apply His authority by faith to deal with all the demons who oppose the gospel, usurp people, and cause them to reject the gospel. We have been sent by the Lord of heaven and earth to announce the glad tidings of release to the captives by preaching the gospel of His salvation (Luke 4:18). We should stand in this position and announce His authoritative gospel by faith, casting out demons and forcing them to leave those whom they have usurped. When we preach the gospel, we must apply this faith. We must have faith. We must believe that Satan has been defeated and that the demons must leave. We must believe that the Lord has won the victory and that sinners should be saved. This faith is based upon the Lord’s authority, which He has given to us.
When we go to preach the gospel, we should use this authority to deal with Satan, to deal with the storms and hindrances that he raises up in our path, and even more, to deal with the disturbances and opposition that he stirs up in our environment. When the Lord wanted to cross the sea with the disciples to cast out demons, Satan raised up a storm to hinder the Lord. What did the Lord do? He commanded the winds and the sea. He used His authority to deal with the storm raised up by Satan. The disciples, however, did not realize this, and they did not have faith (Mark 4:35—5:20). When the apostle Paul was in Paphos on the island of Cyprus, Satan stirred up a man called Bar-jesus to oppose him. In response, Paul used the Lord’s authority to deal with him (Acts 13:6-12). Often when we are on the way to preach the gospel or are preaching the gospel, we encounter difficulties that require us not only to pray for a solution but also to apply the Lord’s authority to deal with the power behind the difficulties. This requires faith. We need faith to pray and to apply the authority that the Lord has given us.
1. “Repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed...I send forth the promise of My Father upon you...Put on power from on high”; “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be My witnesses...unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Luke 24:47-49; Acts 1:8).
When we preach the gospel, we must also have power. This power is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit coming upon us as our power. Before the apostles preached the gospel on the day of Pentecost, they received power. The Holy Spirit promised by God came upon them and caused them to receive power from on high; then they preached the gospel. They received authority at the time of the Lord’s resurrection and ascension, but on the day of Pentecost they received the power of the Holy Spirit so that their gospel preaching would be effective. The authority of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit are interconnected. Authority is a matter of position, whereas power is a matter of condition. According to position, we have the authority of Christ; according to condition, we need the power of the Holy Spirit. We should confess and apply the authority of Christ by faith, and we should pursue and receive the power of the Holy Spirit by faith. We must have the authority of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit so that our preaching of the gospel would be with authority and power.
1. “In prayer and in the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4 see also 4:31).
There are some important matters that we must pay attention to in preaching the gospel. The first matter is prayer. In order to preach the gospel, we must pray. A person who preaches the gospel must be a person who prays. Merely preaching the gospel is not sufficient. Prayer must accompany the ministry of the word. Sometimes we cannot release the word of God through ministry, but we can release it through prayer; sometimes we cannot speak the word of God into people, but we can pray it into them. We must have sufficient prayer to lead, accompany, and follow our gospel preaching. We should not have many outward activities that have only a minimal amount of prayer behind them.
1. “The Spirit said to Philip, Approach and join this chariot. And...Philip ran up” (Acts 8:29-30).
Philip preached the gospel to the Ethiopian eunuch in response to the leading of the Holy Spirit. When we preach the gospel, we should learn to follow the Holy Spirit as we move. We must follow the leading of the Holy Spirit concerning whom to visit and what to say. However, when the brothers and sisters preach the gospel, they often visit people in a loose way and say the same thing to everyone. This does not work. Those who receive our gospel speaking should be chosen by the Holy Spirit. The words of our gospel speaking should also be chosen by the Holy Spirit. When D. L. Moody was preaching the gospel in a certain place, a man came to him after the meeting. Moody had the leading to ask him if he had peace. He angrily said that he had peace. Moody said, “My God says that an evil man shall not have peace!” The man went home, and the Holy Spirit used this word to work in him. The more he considered his situation, the less peace he had. The next day he went to see Moody and said, “Yesterday, when I told you that I had peace, I was lying. After I went home, I felt deeply within that I did not have peace.” Moody then brought him to know the Lord and His salvation. The word that Moody spoke was not some customary word. He spoke the word that the Holy Spirit directed him to speak in that instant, so it was a living, powerful word. We should pay attention to, pursue, and learn how to be led by the Spirit in the matter of preaching the gospel.
1. “Speak the word of God” (Acts 4:31 see also Luke 1:37; Jer. 23:29; Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12; Isa. 55:10-11).
The word of God is powerful. It can burn and melt like fire, and it can break and conquer like a great hammer. It can pierce and divide like a sharp sword, and it can water and refresh like rain and snow. Wherever it goes, it never returns in vain; rather, it always accomplishes God’s goal. When we preach the gospel, we must speak the word of God. Our message should be the word of God. The content of our message should include words from the Bible. This is effective. Charles H. Spurgeon once preached the gospel at the Crystal Palace in London. Before the event he tested the acoustics of the building by standing on the stage and shouting the words in John 1:29: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” A carpenter who was working in the galleries heard the word, believed, and was saved. A. Paget Wilkes, who was much used by the Lord, once spoke at an outdoor gospel meeting in Japan. While he was speaking, he shouted 1 Corinthians 1:18: “The word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness!” A Japanese man heard this word as he was going past the meeting place to a bad part of town to engage in sinful things. His heart was moved, and he stopped to listen. Eventually, he was saved. There are many examples like this. Thus, in our gospel preaching we must learn to use the words from the Bible. We must become familiar with the words of the Bible in our daily living. Then we will be able to use them at the appropriate time.
1. “Preach...Christ Jesus as Lord”; “Taught accurately the things concerning Jesus” (2 Cor. 4:5; Acts 18:25).
When we preach the gospel, we should preach nothing but the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. We should not preach Christianity. Christianity cannot save people; only Christ can. Christ should be the topic and the center of the gospel. We should preach Christ Jesus as Lord and tell others the things concerning Him. We should bring others to know Him, believe in Him, receive Him, turn to Him, and confess Him as their Savior and Lord of all.
1. “Foolish questionings and those arising from an untrained mind refuse” (2 Tim. 2:23).
When we preach the gospel, we must avoid debating with people. Debating brings in questionings, which can cause people to reject us or become angry. Debating does not help.
1. “Bearing with wrong; in meekness correcting those who oppose”; “Being always ready for a defense to everyone...yet with meekness and fear” (2 Tim. 2:24-25; 1 Pet. 3:15-16).
When we preach the gospel, we will always meet people who mock, question, oppose, and accuse. We need to be meek in order to answer and correct them in meekness. We should not become angry, lose our temper, or fall into our flesh. No matter what someone else does or says, we should speak in meekness.
1. “If I love you more abundantly, am I loved less?” (2 Cor. 12:15).
In preaching the gospel we must have love toward others; that is, we must have a love for their souls. Having only methods, ways, doctrines, and exhortations will not work. We must have love. We must love people’s souls from our heart. Paul loved the Corinthians. He spent and was utterly spent on their behalf. He spent his very being and all he had so that he could bring them to salvation. If we want to bring people to salvation, we must have a heart to love them.
1. “Your fellowship unto the furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now”; “Stand firm in one spirit...with the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:5, 27).
The power of an individual who preaches the gospel is small, but the power of the church is great. On the day of Pentecost the church preached the gospel, so the preaching was powerful. In our localities we must pay attention to the gospel preaching of the church. The first thing that is needed in order for the church to preach the gospel is fellowship, participation. Brothers and sisters, everyone must have one spirit, one heart, and one will so that the power and blessing of the gospel can be brought into the church.
1. “With one soul striving together along with the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27).
When the church preaches the gospel, the brothers and sisters should not merely fellowship but also strive together with one soul. Fellowship, participation, is the consideration in our heart concerning the gospel. Striving together with one soul is our outward action for the gospel. Having only the consideration of fellowship is inadequate. We must also have the action of striving together with one soul. Those who can pray should strive to pray. Those who can offer money should strive to offer money. Those who can pass out tracts should strive to pass out tracts. Those who can invite people should strive to invite people. Those who can preach should strive to preach. Those who can lead in the singing of hymns should strive to lead in the singing of hymns. Those who can visit people should strive to visit people. Everyone should strive according to his ability, carrying out his function. This is striving together with one soul. If the church preaches the gospel in this way, there will be a rich harvest.
1. “If I do this of my own will, I have a reward” (1 Cor. 9:17).
There is a reward for preaching the gospel. If we act according to the Lord’s will, we will receive His reward. We need to be faithful in this matter.
1. “Those who sow in tears / Will reap with a ringing shout. / He who goes forth and weeps, / Bearing seed for scattering, / Will no doubt come in with a ringing shout, / Bearing his sheaves with him” (Psa. 126:5-6).
Those who sow the gospel in tears will reap with a ringing shout. Today we rejoice when we see people being saved and coming to the Lord as a result of preaching the gospel. In the future we will rejoice when we see the harvest that our gospel preaching has produced. Joy is a reward for preaching the gospel.
1. “He who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit unto eternal life, in order that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together” (John 4:36).
The Lord promised that those who preach the gospel would receive wages, gather fruit unto eternal life, which is to gather saved souls into the heavens and keep them for eternity, and rejoice. These blessings are a reward for preaching the gospel. Many brothers and sisters are busy with the things of this world and do not pay attention to the gospel. They receive material wages, but they do not receive spiritual wages. They gather up much money on earth like a temporary night-blooming flower, but they do not gather up many souls in the heavens as fruit unto eternal life. They have an earthly joy today that brings only sorrow, but they will not receive the heavenly joy of glory. This matter is too important to ignore.
1. “My brothers...my joy and crown” (Phil. 4:1 see also 1 Thes. 2:19-20).
Those whom we save are our inward joy and our outward crown, our glory. This is a reward for preaching the gospel.
1. “Always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).
Our labor for the gospel is not in vain. Our fruit will be according to the extent of our labor. This fruit is a reward for preaching the gospel.
1. “Having shod your feet with the firm foundation of the gospel of peace” (Eph. 6:15 see also Luke 15:22; Rom. 10:15).
The Holy Spirit associates the gospel with shoes for our walk. Preaching the gospel is like shodding our feet with shoes. Shoes help us to walk, protect our feet from injury, separate our feet from the earth so that they do not get dirty from the dust of the ground, and enhance our beauty. If a brother or sister preaches the gospel often and well, their feet are shod from a spiritual point of view. This helps them walk in the Lord’s way, protects them from being injured by the world, separates them from the world so that they are not dirtied by the filthiness of the world, and enhances their spiritual beauty. If a brother preaches the gospel to his associates at work, they will not ask him to go to a show or to gamble on the Lord’s Day. Instead, they will say that he is a lover of Jesus and will not ask him to participate in sinful things. Thus, he will be separated from the world and not dirtied by the filth of the world. His spiritual walk will not be injured by the world; instead, he will walk in the Lord’s way with a spiritual beauty. Preaching the gospel is an item of spiritual armor because it has such a strong effect on believers. It enables us to overcome the power of darkness. We must not despise the gospel or have a lack in this area.
1. “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole inhabited earth...Then the end will come” (Matt. 24:14).
The end of this age will come when the gospel is preached in the whole inhabited earth. Thus, the impact of preaching the gospel will result in the ending of this age.
1. “Until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in...‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion’” (Rom. 11:25-26).
When the fullness of Gentiles comes in, the Lord will return. Preaching the gospel hastens the Lord’s coming.
