Becoming a Messenger

All born-again believers are called to take the Gospel into all the world. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, then, yes, that means you. It is what we are all called to do. Proverbs 11:30 in the Amplified Bible tells us that he who is wise captures human lives [for God, as a fisher of men – he who gathers and receives them for eternity]. The Word has numerous references to being a messenger or becoming a messenger for Jesus – click here for a complete list.

What does it mean to be a messenger? The American Heritage Dictionary defines messenger as

Becoming a messenger for the Lord is easy. There is no formula or steps to follow or classes to take or diploma to earn. It does not matter how old you are, how much money you make, or your level of education. It is a matter of your heart being in the right place. All you need is a heart for the Lord, a desire in your heart to share all of the wonderful things Jesus has done for you with other people — to share the message of salvation that you treasure so dearly with others in your “sphere of influence.”

Sphere of influence? Yes. No matter who we are or where we are in our lives, each of us has people in our lives that we come into contact with on a daily basis. They may be friends, family members, coworkers, neighbors, social club members, hair dressers, sales clerks, telemarketers (yes, we can even share the Gospel message with a telemarketer!) and so on. Almost every day we come into contact with someone for some reason. Those people are in our sphere or circle of influence. Those are lives we can touch with the message of Jesus. Every time we come into contact with anyone, it is an opportunity to show and share with them the love of Jesus.

Does that mean that every time you see someone in your sphere of influence you need to share the Gospel message with them? No, not necessarily. Trust the Lord to guide you in this area. It may be that you simply let the new life you have in Christ show in you and through you through the words you choose to say and those that you don’t say, through the things you do for others and through the things you no longer do to others. Let your life for Jesus show through your kindness and the way you treat those around you.  Your actions, in many cases, may speak more than your words. The Lord will let you know when the time is right to share more about the Gospel message. Or it may be that you simply share what the Lord has done in your life and what He means to you. You can tell how He has changed you and turned your life around — how He has healed you or made your life whole. Whatever it is that He has done for you, share it with those in your sphere of influence. Let them know that whatever He has done for you, He can do for them too, if they only believe.

Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15 KJV. Many times when we hear the scripture to take the Gospel into “all the world” and “teach the nations” we somehow think that means we have to move to another country other than the one we live in to share the Gospel message. Scripture does not say, taketh thouist andith thouist familyith toith anotherith land and shareth the Gospel thereith. It simply says “into all the world.” You are part of “all the world.” Your family is part of “all the world.” As are your coworkers, friends, neighbors, etc. We don’t need to move our families overseas or go on a missions trip to be in the “mission field.” Our mission field is right where God has placed us in our lives. Everyone needs Jesus right where they are. It may be the unsaved members of your family, or the person living next door to you. Those may be the very people God is calling you to become a messenger to; they may be your mission field.

You may be thinking, but I am not a pastor I don’t know how to preach. You don’t need to be a pastor with a big church or the leader of a large ministry to be a messenger. Scripture does not say that only people like Billy Graham or Oral Roberts are qualified to go into all the world and preach the gospel. It says “go ye.” Ye can be anyone, even you! People all around us, right were we are, may be hurting and need Jesus just as much as someone halfway around the world from you. You don’t need to be a preacher to share the message of Christ. As a believer you already are a representative of the Most High God. Your words and actions are a direct reflection of who you are in Christ. You don’t need to stand in a pulpit to share the message of Christ. You can do it every day of your life right where you are by showing the love of God to people in your circle of influence. You may be the only way some of these people come to hear or know about Jesus.

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? (Romans 10:14 NKJ)

If you are considering becoming a messenger for the Lord, spend some time with Him in prayer. Talk with the Lord about sharing His Word with “every creature.” Ask Him to show you what He would have you do. Be still and listen to what He has to say to you.