Topic: Success In Evangelism [Tuesday March 24, 2015]
Text: Matthew 4:1-22
Key Verse: “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).
In very rapid succession, quite a lot of events take place after the defeat of Satan by our Lord Jesus Christ during the temptation in the wilderness. First, He hears about the imprisonment of John the Baptist. Then, there is the fulfilment of the prophecy in Isaiah 9:1,2 which spoke about Jesus being the Light that would bring succour to a people under the “shadow of death”.
Next the Bible reveals that “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Then the Lord walked by the sea of Galilee where He won the souls of two brothers Simon Peter and Andrew who “Straightway left their nets and followed Him” (verse 20). More evangelism work was to follow as Jesus preached to other fishermen, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They too “immediately left the ship and their father and followed Him” (verse 22).
These strings of success came after Christ overcame the devil during His temptations. It’s obvious the Christian’s chief foe in evangelism is Satan. And we can overcome him by holy living, faithfulness and obedience to God’s word.
We must be alert to the manifold tricks of the devil as we heed the Lord’s call to evangelize. The accuser of the brethren will seek to throw impediments on our way through seemingly harmless temptations. As he did to our Lord, he will allude to the Scriptures to back his claims. He may sometimes use false brethren and unsuspecting relations and members of the church. We must “be sober and vigilant” putting on “the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).
Bible in One Year: Mark 4-6
Thought for The Day: Only overcomers are fruitful in soul-winning.
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
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