GOSPEL IS FOR WHOM NOT SIMPLY WHAT

The Gospel is one of those things we often hear in the churches but we rarely see the power of it.  Nowadays there has been debates going on about the gospel.   I have often heard about the “watered down” gospel because it meant that the gospel has been compromised.  A lot of these are happening because of the method being used by churches in reaching the lost.  I don’t know everything but I do know that I need to act on the things that I do know.

Most Christians know gospel as the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It’s the application where they are having difficulty.  It’s best to read what the Bible says and simply obey it.

Luke 4:14-19 (NKJV)

¹⁶ So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. ¹⁷ And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

¹⁸ “ The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
¹⁹ To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”

JESUS’ JOB RESPONSIBILITY

If you read carefully the verses, one would see what Jesus is supposed to do.  This was His job description.  An His job description is to preach the good news; proclaim the freedom; proclaim the recovery of sight; to release, and to proclaim the year of the Lord.

FOR WHOM

The most critical part I think is for whom.  And the passage reveals that very clearly.  Preach the gospel to the POOR. Heal the BROKEN HEARTED. Proclaim liberty to the CAPTIVES. The recovery of sight to the BLIND. Set at liberty those that are OPPRESSED.

MAIN POINT: THE GOSPEL IS NOT SIMPLY WHAT, BUT FOR WHOM.

I can’t help but wonder why the church is having a hard time understanding the WHOM part because they are not going to them.  If they do understand WHAT the gospel is, then shouldn’t they be reaching the people to whom it was intended for? Shouldn’t the church be going to the slums where severe poverty strikes.  Shouldn’t be the church at welfare centers because that’s where the broken hearted are?  Shouldn’t the church be going to the prisons because that’s where the captives are?  Shouldn’t the church be going to the hospital or welfare centers for handicapped because that’s where the blind are?  Shouldn’t the church go to the justice hall or police station because that’s where many people are oppressed?

Unless the church goes where God tells them to go, then what’s the use of the gospel they know?

After Jesus said these words, He did go out and went to them. The Gospel is for Whom simply not What.  Let’s take our cue from Jesus – He went to the people and brought them the good news.

And Jesus simply used KINDNESS and SERVICE to bring His message to the people.  And this the same thing we need to do.  This world is very suspicious especially if we talk of religion.  But people are disarmed and receptive when we show God’s love through love and kindness.   It’s about time the church becomes bold and creative in sharing the gospel where God tells them to share it.

Churches should learn from the people where they live and see their need and help out because they love God.  Let me share a video I believe that shows the gospel.

Is your gospel for Christians or Non-Christians?

Is your gospel inside the church or outside the church?

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This is an edited version of the message given last July 11, 2010 at Full Life Baptist Fellowship, Dagupan City.