The Power of the Gospel of Christ
by Bro. Peter Rahme
Have you ever thought about where you would be if someone hadn’t shared the Gospel of Christ with you? I know I have! I remember those dark times and places I was in without Christ. How desperate and destitute we were… some of us were even suicidal and didn’t have any hope for the future. But, glory to God, the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is the power of God to save, to heal, to deliver and set the captives free.
If the Gospel sets us free we should probably define exactly what the Gospel is.
The word gospel comes from the Greek word which means to announce good news, to preach glad tidings, or to proclaim and herald the good news.
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.” Matthew 4:23 Jesus being the life-giver also brought healing for all kinds of sickness and disease. He restored lives and reconciled them to God. This is now the responsibility of every person who has accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Jesus went about preaching the Gospel of the kingdom or proclaiming the glad tidings of the kingdom. This is the function of the Church, to share the good news of the kingdom of our God. Every believer who has been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, who has been sanctified and set apart from the things of this world, should be seeking to save, deliver and set free those who are bound by the enemy of our souls. Our aim should be to show all people the truth and lead them to the way, the truth, and the life-giver, Jesus Christ.
ALL believers should be proclaiming this glorious gospel of the kingdom, with freedom and liberty worthy of the Kings of kings, and Lord of lords. We must get the fight and passion back in us, stop playing church and BE the church. It’s time to stop playing the religious games that we have been delivered from. The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8-10 “…your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” Satan is ruthless! He is out to steal, kill and destroy and the only way to stop him is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and hit him with the power of God’s Word. We must hit him with the name of Jesus and hit him with the blood of Jesus. This is the only power that stops the devil and makes him flee in stark terror. Hallelujah!
“For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds” 2 Corinthians 10:4 (AMP)
The Message Bible says it this way: “The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture.” I like that, demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. If we leave it up to others, the job of leading others to Christ will never get done. Why do we have to wait for the enemy to attack us personally, or our family, or our school or our community before we begin to do something? We have been born again by the incorruptible word of God which lives and abides forever (1 Peter 1:23). Let’s use the sword of the Spirit to bind and to loose. This authority came through the Lord Jesus Christ and not from man.
We, as Christians, are a force to be reckoned with if we will get our act together. We have the triune God living within us. We have been given the name of Jesus which is above every name. There is power in His name, I can tell you story after story of miracles, healing, deliverance and casting out of demons. The book of Acts is still in operation today, even as you read this devotional. We have His blood that washes whiter than snow, there is healing in the blood of Jesus, deliverance in His blood and it sets the captives free. I know firsthand. I was bound by drugs, alcohol and violence. Street fights were just a way of life for me, and I ended up being stabbed twice. I was full of sickness, riddled with arthritis and ulcers. But glory to God the Gospel still works! It has never lost its power! Jesus still heals and Jesus still saves. Jesus is still setting the captives free by the power of this glorious gospel. What are we waiting for? The days are short. Let’s get on with the work of bringing in the harvest.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17
If we will preach the Gospel without reservation, but with enthusiasm, with all of the authority, all of the ability, and all of the boldness in us, we will literally see cities and towns shaken, bars and stripper joints closed down and people flocking to Christ by the tens of thousands. This Gospel of the kingdom must be preached in the highways and the byways, in the small towns and villages, in the cities. Preach and teach it to your neighbors, to your college students, tell others in your schools, your businesses. The day will come when you will stand before the great God of heaven and earth and give an account of your life. Let Him find you doing His will, His plans, and His purpose, so when you stand before Him you will hear Him say “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” Matthew25:21
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Bro. Peter Rahme
|