COMFORT IN TRIALS
The Lord Having Entrusted Us with the Responsibility to Preach the Gospel
Psa. 23:4 Even though I walk / Through the valley of the shadow of death, / I do not fear evil, / For You are with me; / Your rod and Your staff, / They comfort me.
Lord Having Entrusted Us with the Stewardship,
or Responsibility to Preach The Gospel
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.”
Preaching the Gospel Being Leading People to the Lord
Another 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.
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.” We need to learn to bring them to the Lord to see Him directly. Once a person sees the Lord, all his questions are answered. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 3,”ch. 28)
Before one brother was saved, he was nearly blinded by an explosion. Later, his daughter died, and he suffered a nervous breakdown. He was greatly dejected by these matters, and he began to search for the truth. One day he found the truth and received the Lord Jesus as his Savior. Immediately, he inwardly experienced a great and wonderful change ;his darkness was turned to light, his sorrow to joy, his weakness to strength, and his dejection to elation. Overnight he was completely changed because another life, a higher life, had entered into him. (CWWL, 1966, vol. 3, “Gospel Messages,” ch. 4)
Receiving a Reward Because of Our Labor for 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. 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. (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, vol. 3,” ch. 28)
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Before i was suppressed in sin. Thank You for saving me and making a wonderful change in my life. Now You have entrusted the gospel to us. Lord I am willing to preach the gospel. Lord, please open the eyes of the world to let them know You. By our preaching let them belive into You and let you have joy. Amen.