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Day 20

Pastor Sean Downs

Topic: Our Witness

Scripture Reference: Mark 16:15–16

Devotional:

We are close to the finish line of our 21 days together. We have spent many hours in worship together and prayed and contended for many things such as ourselves, our families, our workplaces, and our church. When we worship, we are declaring who God is. When we pray, we are agreeing with what God says He will do. This begins to build up faith inside of us for evangelism. Think of it like a balloon that you blow up and then release the air. Times of encounter in worship and prayer give fuel for evangelism and blow air into the balloon. Positive or negative encounters in evangelism release the air in our balloon and fuel our worship and prayer. It is a divine cycle that God created to partner with His children.

Evangelism can be looked at as:

• “something that isn’t for me.”
• “something I am not ready for yet.”
• “something that requires too much time.”
• “something that God hasn’t called me to do.”

It doesn’t matter who you are, all of these are incorrect. We are all called to respond to the grace and mercy of God by making disciples in all nations. God isn’t waiting for you to get a seminary degree or take a year off to go to the 10/40 window. You can proclaim the gospel of Jesus right here and now.

What is the gospel? It is “good news.”

In Mark 1:14–15, we read:

Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming thegood newsfrom God. “The time has come,” Jesus said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

We see four things defining His gospel:

1. Who = God
2. What = His Kingdom
3. How = Man’s repentance
4. When = Now

The gospel that Jesus is asking us to share with the world is as simple as that. God’s Kingdom is here. Repent and respond to His mercy and grace. We tend to think we need to break down the Bible or all of life’s issues so we can convince people our argument is better. Jesus didn’t die to raise up a group of lawyers. He died to raise up a family of children who look just like Him.

So, how do we respond to this calling from God? Easy. Ask God for open doors. Trust me. He is more than eager to open them.

Father, give me an opportunity to share the good news of Your Son. Give me boldness through the Holy Spirit to say yes when that opportunity comes.

Here is the fun part. Jesus is only asking you to do the easy part: to go into the world and proclaim the gospel. All you need to do is go and plant the seeds. We don’t need to convince or prove. It’s up to those who hear to choose to believe or not, and “whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). Remember, our worship and prayer remind us of who God is and what He wants to do. That gives us faith and courage to respond and share with others who He is and what He wants to do. He isn’t relying on us. He is partnering with us. Plant the seeds. He will do the rest.