Category: Gospel Leadership

FOLLOW

Called to Follow

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This is Part 2 of the Biblical Leadership Series. Click here for Part 1: “Called to Lead”

As we continue our series on Biblical Leadership, we began last week by asking the question, “Am I called to lead?” We said that your calling must be given by God, as well as affirmed by the church. Before we dig into more of the specifics of how God’s calling to leadership works, in this post, we will first ask the question, “Am I called to follow?”

As we approach the topic of leaders and followers, I see two problems facing the church, which must be corrected if biblical leadership is to be upheld. We will look at the first of these two problems, today, which is on the side of the followers. Then we will come back next week and look at the problem on the side of leadership.

The Age of Autonomy

One major problem we face in today’s world is the rejection of all forms leadership by people who want to live autonomously from all authority. These people believe that the idea of “all men created equal” means that there should never be a situation in which their lives must be submitted to another. They also tend to reject any outside accountability for their actions or lives. The guiding principle is “mind your own business, and leave me alone.”

This problem is obviously broader than just the church. The internet is filled with videos and teachings of crazy people who declare themselves completely free of any societal structure of leadership and law. For an extreme example, just search Youtube for “sovereign citizen” or “freemen on the land.” These are people who believe that they can reject any accountability to world governments, just by refusing to accept a personal citizenship or civil law. (It isn’t true!)

For decades (or longer), every upcoming youth generation has sought to throw off their “bondage” to all authority, whether parental, governmental, occupational, or familial. They “fight the man” and refuse to “bow down” to people in charge. The problem is that, eventually, they find themselves in need of those leaders to work on their behalf. They must then, either recant their personal convictions of “no authority,” or hypocritically claim a right to receive help from the authorities without otherwise giving deference to them. Just look at what is happening with the “defund the police” movement in America, today. Radical people want the police to be disbanded, until they themselves are attacked or abused, then they cry out for the police to help them.

Autonomous Believers

Within the church, the insistence of autonomy by some individuals creates a number of problems for both the leadership and the church people they are trying to serve. While many (if not most) born again Christians understand their need, and actually desire healthy, biblical leadership over them, those who do not can cause problems for everyone involved.

They reject submission to biblically ordained authority.

While it can be said that a good leader knows how to gain a dedicated followership, it is also true that some people will never follow a good leader, simply out of spite for the fact that leadership exists in the first place.

These people may attend church, listen to sermons, sing the worship songs, and take part in the ongoing life of the church (although many refuse to do so). However, they are also the first to criticize church leaders when things don’t fit their own definition of right, good, or true. They have no problem gossiping or causing divisions between godly leaders and the rest of God’s flock, simply because they imagine their own opinions and desires are of equal standing to those God has appointed as leaders.

This is not only a rejection of the leaders themselves, but of the biblical commands regarding leadership and the Holy Spirit’s calling on those leaders’ lives. This causes challenges for the leaders, but it also does major damage to the rebellious person’s personal growth in Christ. By rejecting any oversight and guidance from those God has called to help them grow as Christians, they actually hinder their own spiritual life, and create limitations on the possibility that they might step into a godly leadership role themselves, one day.

They reject the role of discipleship and mentoring, which Jesus called for.

God has placed leadership in the church with one great charge:

to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

Ephesians 4:12-14

This means that it is the role of leaders to do the hard work of discipleship with the people who come under their ministry. That does not mean the leaders simply require people to attend a 6-week class on the foundational teachings of the church, or attend a special small group for new believers.

It means that the leaders take an active interest in the lives of their followers, and seek to help them grow into Christ in every area of their lives. It means that the leader does more than just teach biblical truth or spiritual principles. They must also know the lives of their followers, intimately, to be able to coach and form them into mature believers.

For example: A leader doesn’t just teach biblical principles on marriage. He or she also knows and understands the challenges their people are currently dealing with in marriage, and seek to help them apply the biblical principles in real life. They pray with their people. They counsel their people. They spend time with their people, making sure they are working to grow and strengthen their marriages. I could give other examples, as well, but I think you get my point.

If people refuse to acknowledge or submit themselves to spiritual leadership, then the leader will forever be unable to fulfill God’s command on their work, and those who refuse leadership will have their spiritual development stunted, at best.

They reject personal accountability, which usually also includes a refusal to confess sin or repent of wrong behaviors.

A refusal to submit to godly authority, also usually implies a disregard for God’s truth and standards of morality. They will defend themselves against any personal failure with the famous words of Tupac, “Only God can judge me!”

This isn’t true, though! Listen to these words from the Apostle Paul (emphasis added):

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

1 Corinthians 5:9-13

God calls His people to submit to the authority He has placed in the church, and He expects the leaders He appoints to encourage, equip, and even discipline His people, as necessary.

I do realize that much of the rebellion against biblical authority has come from the excesses and abuses caused by bad leadership, so any talk of discipline can cause anxiety to some. I promise we will address much of that in the next post. But for now, we must recognize that God has ordained that there will be leaders put in place to serve His body and bride. We cannot go against Him by claiming and choosing to live otherwise.

How Do We Become Better Followers?

If God has appointed Godly leadership and expects His children to all be great followers, as well as leaders, then we must ensure we are following our leaders well. I believe the first way we can become a better follower is by first growing in our understanding of God’s design for leadership. That is why I said last week, this series will be helpful for both leaders AND church members.

We Must Identify What God Says about Godly Leadership

We first learn what godly leadership looks like by studying the scriptures. We read His commands for leadership, and we view the examples He has given of both good and bad leadership in His Word. Jesus, of course, is the epitome of a great leader, so we must pay close attention to Him.

As we learn what a great leader looks like biblically, it will act as a grid by which we will examine the leaders to whom we will submit ourselves.

We Must Submit to the Right Leaders

Once we have this grid, we must ensure that we are following those leaders who are truly appointed by God, and not those who are seeking to put themselves over us for their own pride or benefit. Even if they are fully anointed and called by God to lead in the church, it does not necessarily mean they are called to lead you.**See note.

Just because someone around you is a pastor or an apostle does not mean that they are your pastor or apostle. Leadership comes with it’s own sphere of influence and boundary of limitations. Paul was an apostle to the gentiles, but while in Jerusalem, he submitted himself to the other apostles and elders of the Jews.

To share a personal example, I was once introduced to a couple of godly leaders, who I have much respect for in their pastoral and prophetic ministry. On the advice of a leader I served under, I came to them seeking wisdom on certain issues within our ministry which they had experience in. However, after a short time they determined themselves to be some sort of spiritual authority over my life, rather than my coworkers in the Kingdom.

A few years later, when I was praying about marrying my wife Liz, the advise I received from those whom God had called me to submit myself to was “yes. You should marry her.” However, this couple was opposed to the marriage, and began to come against me as being out of God’s will for my life, and refusing to even speak to me for rejecting their opinions (given as prophetic words). Though God has confirmed many times that marrying Liz was the right decision, I am sure I am one of this couple’s many stories of rebelliousness to their ministry.

My point is that we must know how to hear and follow the Holy Spirit’s leading for ourselves, in order to make sure we are submitting to the right leaders (and in the right seasons). Not every leader is appointed to guide, counsel, and equip you. But some are!

Make Sure You Follow Jesus as You Follow His Under-Shepherds.

Paul was quick to tell his followers that in imitating His example, they should be becoming more like Christ. He told them, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). He later writes to the Thessalonians,

“And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.”

1 Thessalonians 1:6-7

Likewise, the author of Hebrews commands,

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”

Hebrews 13:7

As we seek to become better followers, we must remember that at the end of the day, we are not seeking to follow men of man’s sake. We are following those men and women in whom we see the life of Christ demonstrated and who love us just as Christ does.

We cannot throw off submission to biblical leadership! God has ordained it. Rather, we honor the Lord by following those whom He has placed to guard our lives and point us to Himself.

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Hebrews 13:17

Let’s Connect

In the next post, we look at the purpose of specific leadership roles in ministry. Don’t miss it.

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**Note: if you are a member of a church, then that church’s pastor and leadership team are your leaders. You don’t get to rebel by staying in the church, but not following the appointed leaders. If God isn’t calling you to follow that pastor, then it is time to find a different church.

If you’re enjoying the content I produce, a little caffeine to keep me going would be appreciated!



© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for purchases made using the links on this site. 
Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry! 
You can also donate to my missionary work and ministry through Sozo Ministries, here.

CALLED

Biblical Leadership

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Let’s talk about leadership. Some, in both the religious and secular world, would argue that quality leadership is among the highest priorities of any group of people with a goal to achieve. In the famous words of John Maxwell, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” This is true whether you are running a business, building a community organization or social club, forming a movement to change culture, or overseeing the church of God.

Declaring Spiritual Independence

For some, talking about spiritual leadership carries a connotation of oppression, and they fight against it. There are entire movements within the Christian community that argue against “organized religion” or any kind of spiritual oversight within the church.

Partly, this comes from evangelicalisms roots in the Protestant reformation, when the unbiblical overreaches of the Catholic hierarchy were overthrown. To be sure, this was necessary. The church was never intended to have a king claiming to sit on the throne of Jesus Christ in the world. The church was also never intended to choose its leaders based on wealth, family lineage, or political and military abilities.

Jesus said that the leadership structure of His church would be “upside down” from the world’s leadership, and that the highest level leaders would be “servant of all” (see Mark 10:42-45). Remembering the long history of spiritual abuses by church leaders for centuries, we thank God for reforming the structures, and moving Christianity back to the grassroots levels. This, however, does not nullify the need for leadership.

Still, there are many today who want to throw off all spiritual authority. They believe that “personal salvation” implies complete autonomy in their spiritual life and sanctification. Not only do many want to do away with large organized structures of leadership, such as denominational oversight or national fellowships, but they want to do away with pastors and elders in the local church.

In my ministry in East Africa, where I oversee Sozo Ministries’ 35 churches, I have been accused of being an abusive spiritual dictator for simply following clear and biblical church discipline procedures to correct or remove unqualified pastors within our network. Recently, when I removed a pastor from our ministry for refusal to repent of sin and comply with our ministry policy, I felt the need to let our broader network know. There was nothing said about his sinful behavior or that he had been removed for wrongdoing. I simply said that this pastor “has chosen to leave Sozo Ministries International and will no longer be representing our ministry in any capacity.”

This, however, was met by a personal attack from someone outside of our ministry, who knew the pastor, but not the full details of his sin. They claimed I had made a direct attack on this pastor, intending to destroy his future in ministry, and accused me of unbiblically elevating myself over others, whereas (in their opinion) God has made everyone equal. According to this person, no ministry leader has the right to pass judgement (i.e. attempt to correct the sinfulness) of other leaders who serve under or alongside them.

I am not sharing this story to justify the actions I have taken within our ministry. I believe the Bible when it says I will stand before God and be held to a higher standard for how I have led my ministry (James 3:1), and I do not take that reality lightly. I am simply using this experience to point out how some want to throw off any spiritual leadership, as though God’s intentions were to invest all authority into individual Christians privately, rather than to publicly call leaders to stand as overseers of His church.

God Appoints Leaders

The truth is that God’s original plan was that every individual would be equal, and would be led by Himself alone. However, since the day sin entered into the world, God has appointed leaders among humanity.

  • He appointed the man to be the leader in his home (Genesis 3:16).
  • He appointed the formation of nations (Genesis 11:8, Deuteronomy 32:8), and the establishment of national leaders (Genesis 17:4, Daniel 2:21).
  • He began to raise up righteous men to stand in positions of leadership for the benefit of His people, like Joseph (Genesis 41:44 and 50:19-20) and Daniel (Daniel 2:47-48).
  • He appointed men who would be deliverers and defenders of His people, Israel (Moses, David, Nehemiah).
  • He appointed the Judges (male and female) to defend His people, and keep the peace within Israel.
  • He appointed Priests to act as mediators between Himself and sinful humanity.
  • He appointed Prophets (male and female) to declare His Word and call His people to faithfulness and repentance.
  • He appointed Kings to lead the nation of Israel in righteousness.
  • In the New Testament, Jesus appointed the 12 Apostles to build the church He established, after He returned to heaven.
  • Later, He gave to the church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (male and female in each category) to lead the church until we all, finally, reach maturity in Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16). (I believe this will happen at His return.)

While it is true that at the final judgement men will cast all their crowns (authority) at the feet of Jesus, we cannot deny that until that day comes, God looks for, calls, and appoints men and women who will lead in every area of life, including the church.

Am I Called by God?

One of the most challenging questions we must ask ourselves, if we are to take on a role in spiritual leadership, is whether or not God has called us to that role, and if we are qualified to step into the work.

As we move ahead in this series, we will discuss the qualifications for spiritual leadership, at length. For now, let me focus on the “called” question.

I am convinced that God’s “calling” of people into ministry hinges as much on our own willingness and desires, as it does on His sovereign appointment. For example, in the Old Testament, God often speaks of “searching for a man” who had a heart to seek God and lead the people:

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

Isaiah 6:8

(God says) And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.

Ezekiel 22:30

(In anointing King David) But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him…

2 Chronicles 16:9

Of course, we know that the leaders God called – Isaiah, David, Ezekiel, and others – had been moved in their spiritual pursuits by the Holy Spirit, to lead them into the place of willingness to lead. Yet, it was ultimately their response to the love and calling from God which made them acceptable to be appointed.

As we begin to look at the appointment of spiritual leaders within the New Testament church, Paul writes to Timothy,

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.

1 Timothy 3:1

This implies that being “called” into the position of a pastor or elder has as much to do with your own desire and pursuit, as it does with Jesus’ calling.

Discussing this verse, Simon J. Robinson says,

“The word ‘aspires’ is the translation of a word which describes someone who is taking specific steps towards a goal he has in mind and the word ‘desires’ refers to the passion that drives him. Paul is not talking about someone who might like to be a leader because of the status it brings, but about a man who has a conviction that God has called him to this ‘noble task’.”

Simon J. Robinson, Opening up 1 Timothy, Opening Up Commentary (Leominster: Day One Publications, 2004), 55–56.

The first step to knowing you might have a calling from God to ministry is that you have within you a desire and a willingness to serve God’s people without seeking personal glory or benefit. This is a rare characteristic to be sure, yet as Paul continues to list the necessary qualities these men and women must demonstrate (1 Timothy 3:2-13 and Titus 1:5-9), and this selfless lifestyle shines through in each one of them.

Am I Called By The Church?

A second question that must be asked, which is also under attack in the modern world, is “has my calling by God been verified by the church?” Meaning, if you say that God has called you, has this been confirmed by the men and women who have led you in the faith throughout the course of your Christian life.

One of the qualifications we will discuss in a future post is that they “must not be a recent convert” (1 Timothy 3:6). There is a need for them to have been discipled and raised up to maturity in the faith.

From the examples given in the Old Testament, continuing throughout the history of the church, there has been a process of “ordination,” where a persons gifts and callings are recognized by the church, and hands are laid on them, commissioning them into public ministry. We see this in Acts 13:

Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers…While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Acts 13:1-3

This was the public recognition of God’s ministry calling on Paul and Barnabas by existing church leadership. Yet verse 4 says of this ordination ceremony that, they were “being sent out by the Holy Spirit.”

Paul also reminds Timothy of the time when the elders laid hands on him, appointing and releasing gifts into him for ministry.

Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.

1 Timothy 4:14

Paul later writes to Timothy that as he appoints elders in the church not to prejudge what he sees or to show partiality in this work. He specifically commands him, “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands…” (1 Timothy 5:22).

Self-Appointed Leaders

Biblically speaking there cannot be legitimate spiritual authority that has been established on it’s own. If there is a call to lead God’s people publicly, there will first be recognition and release by existing church leaders who have seen you grow in spiritual maturity, develop your gifts, and discover the calling on your life.

There is a major crisis in the modern church in this regard! On the one hand, we have many self-proclaimed apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, overseers, bishops, and more, whose giftings have never been publicly recognized or verified by the broader church body. These men and women simply take on the title for themselves, and enter ministry without support or connection with others.

Right now, one of our Sozo Ministries’ pastors in Uganda has been handed the reigns of a church which was founded and built by a self-appointed “prophet.” This man was able to use deceptive means (and likely a lot of witchcraft) to build a big following in the name of Jesus, but by the grace God, the truth about this man was revealed, and he was chased out of the community. Our pastor is now working with this large, but spiritually immature group of people to disciple them into true Christianity. It has proved to be a difficult task, as the faith they have been taught has no foundation in truth. We must be wary of any spiritual leaders who have not been affirmed by spiritual fathers and mothers in the faith

On the other hand, the crisis in the church extends to the fact that many called and appointed leaders remain ignorant and insecure in their spiritual authority, and they do not attempt to raise up and release other leaders into public ministry. Either they do not know the responsibility they have to equip leaders in the church, or worse, they blatantly ignore it because they fear it would threaten their own leadership role if other anointed men and women are raised up.

Let’s Look at Leadership

As we spend the next few weeks looking at the requirements for biblical leadership, it is my desire to call all men and women of God to rise up and meet the qualifications of mature Christianity. If you are already in a spiritual leadership role, it is my desire to spur you on in your personal growth and development in Christ, as He leads you to repent and/or further affirms your standing in the church.

If you are desiring to step into a spiritual leadership role, then I pray you discover what it means to truly be a man or woman of God who leads from truth and integrity, rather than simply relying on the fact that “God called me.” After all, “many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14).

If you are someone who despises the thought of spiritual leadership, I hope you can see that the bible not only mandates it, but also gives guidelines to keep it healthy and on track. On the other hand, if you are currently in submission to bad spiritual authority, I hope you will discover God’s true plan for His leaders, and can be set free to submit yourself to better pastors and overseers, who will represent Jesus well.

Whether you feel a calling to ministry or not, I encourage you to stay tuned to this series, as spiritual leadership will affect your life in some way or another. Let’s seek to find out how to live in submission and in authority, biblically.

Let’s Connect

If you are encouraged and helped by this post, it would be my honor to have you sign up for my weekly newsletter, below, to keep up with all my new content. I promise not to spam your inbox or share your information with anyone.

You can also follow me on social media. I can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Parler. I’d love to see you there.

Don’t forget to leave your thoughts and questions in the comment section!

If you’re enjoying the content I produce, a little caffeine to keep me going would be appreciated!



© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for purchases made using the links on this site. 
Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry! 
You can also donate to my missionary work and ministry through Sozo Ministries, here.

IMG_2205

Tips for Leading Someone to Christ

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As we wrap up our series on “God’s Gossip,” we have come a long way. We have looked at how the story of Jesus does not become a “gospel” until we share it with someone. We then looked at two practical ways to share the story of salvation. The first was the ground-level gospel, which is the simplest way to lead someone, personally, to Jesus Christ. The second was the sky-level gospel, which gives a broad view of God’s redemption story throughout history. 

After that, we looked at how to share our personal testimony as a means of connecting people to God’s story, and last week, we put some scripture verses to memory, which will aid us in our witnessing to others. 

Now, I want to finish this series by giving you some practical advice I have learned over the years, for sharing the gospel with others. I pray they are beneficial to you.

Explaining Clearly

As you boldly go out to share the gospel with non-believers, remember that the people you are sharing with may have no grasp of the Christian-ese language we speak to one another at church. Make sure that you tell them what they need to know, very clearly, and don’t add so many extra thoughts you have in the moment that it confuses them.

To do this, use “street language,” rather than “church language.” I am not saying that you should be crass or try to look cool with slang words. I am simply saying to make sure they understand you.

Don’t say, “With the introduction of original sin in humanity, the imago Dei was marred in all people. However, God sent Jesus to be a propitiation for our sins, and through His imputed righteousness, we can be redeemed to fellowship with the Godhead, both in this life and at the final consumption of all things.”

Instead, say something like this: “The Bible says we are all sinners. That means God created us to live within certain boundaries that He set for us, and we broke all the rules. Jesus is the only one who can save us because He was the only sinless person to ever live. On the cross, He died to pay our debt to God and as we believe in Him by faith, rather than trying to be good enough to earn it, He will save us.”

A brand new believer does not need to know terms like depravity, atonement, propitiation, or sanctification. In the moment of salvation, no one cares about the immaculate conception, dispensational theology, or what it means to be Calvinist. As simply and as clearly as possible, just bring them to Jesus.

Dealing with Nervousness

When the opportunity arises to lead someone to Christ, the first thing that happens for most of us is that we immediately get nervous and feel uneasy. 

I remember when I first began doing evangelistic meetings outside the United States, I would get so nervous during the altar calls, that after I invited people to accept Christ as their Savior, I would often chicken out of praying with them. I would instead try to look humble by asking another local pastor on the team to come up to speak to them and pray with them, so that he could share in the moment. In all honesty, I preached well, but I couldn’t bring myself to walking people personally into the kingdom out of nervousness and fear of messing it up.

Since that time, I have had the privilege to walk hundreds, if not thousands of people through this decision. The truth is that I still get nervous sometimes. However, I have to remind myself that it is the Holy Spirit leading that person, not me, and that I can trust Him to give me the words to say when I need to say them. 

You might get nervous, but that doesn’t give you the right to back down. As the Holy Spirit for boldness and guidance, and then give people the opportunity to change their eternal destiny.

Fear of Rejection

Another reason we don’t always respond as the Lord leads us in ministry situations is the fear that the people will reject what we are explaining to them, and by extension, reject us. However, this is a situation where love and the opportunity to see their lives change must win out. 

Again, we must remind ourselves that it is ultimately not us that they are rejecting, but Christ, yet even in their rejection of Him, He still loves them and wants them to find His salvation. Our goal is to share His love, and when we do that love will cast out our fear (1 John 4:18).

Feeling Like You Can’t Do This

The first person I ever led to Jesus was a young man in a Juvenile Detention Center (a youth prison) in Dallas, Texas, back when I was in college. I was excited to go be a part of this outreach with my friend and his church’s youth pastor, but that all changed when the invitation came and a young inmate came to me wanting to receive Christ. 

Having never shared with anyone, personally, I couldn’t help but be afraid that I would mess it all up. Even though I knew God wanted to use me to lead others to salvation, in the moment I felt unqualified for the job. I thought to myself, “I know I’m saved, but I don’t know how to get this guy saved.” However, as I prayed in my head for God’s help, and began leaning back on some of those scriptures I had memorized to share with him, like Romans 10:9, I managed to explain that Jesus died for Him and how faith works. After a brief time, I had the privilege to lead him in prayer, and I have celebrated that one guy’s salvation more than any other, simply because I got through it.

In moments when you feel like you are unqualified or that you just can’t do it, the one thing you must remember is this: Jesus saves… not us. 

Despite our worrying because we don’t want to mess up, we have to remember that just like we cannot be good enough to earn our salvation, neither can we mess up so bad that it might cause others to miss out when Jesus calls them. It is their faith in the response to the call that saves the person, not the perfection of the words they are told by the ministry team. Use the scriptures. Listen to the Spirit lead You. I promise you will get through it.

Unanswerable Questions

The biggest fear many people have in leading other’s to Christ is, “What if they ask me a question I don’t have the answer to?” The truth is, no one has all the answers where God and salvation are concerned. Never be afraid to admit that you don’t know. If you are pressed for an answer, then be willing to seek help from other believers around you, other members of your ministry team, or from the your pastor. 

Paul tells us that until we see Christ face to face, all of our knowledge and understanding is like looking in a foggy mirror. We only know in part, but when Christ comes, then we will know Him the same way He knows us (1 Corinthians 13:12). Until then, sometimes we just have to accept the mystery and admit we don’t have it all figured out. Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know.”

Changing Someone’s Eternity

All of the previous tips have had to do with getting over our own insecurities in order to help others get saved. As a final note, I just want to remind you that when you get the privilege of leading someone to the Lord, that moment is no longer about you. In overcoming your fears and worries, you get the opportunity to look someone in they eye, ask them the golden question – “Would you like to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior” – and then lead them in a decision that will change the outcome of eternity for them (and likely many others they will encounter with the gospel as well). You will experience fear and doubt and insecurity, but you must ask yourself, is it worth it? 

I think it is. Jesus thinks it’s worth it, too. That’s why He died, and that is why He has called you to this.

Let’s Connect

If you are enjoying what you are reading, it would be my honor to have you sign up for my weekly content newsletter, below. I promise not to spam your inbox or share your information with anyone.

You can also follow me on social media. I can be found on  Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Parler. I’d love to see you there.

Don’t forget to leave your thoughts, questions, and any tips you think I missed in the comment section!

© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Cover Photo by Dylan McLeod on Unsplash

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Gospel Scriptures You Should Know

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As we have spent the last four posts discussing the why’s and how’s (#1, #2, #3) of sharing the gospel, it seems like a good idea to now get our heads full of the Word of God, to aid us in this great task. 

In leading someone to Christ, it is most helpful to have some scriptures memorized to share with them. Here are some of my personal favorites.

Gospel Scriptures

John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

1 Timothy 2:5-6 — “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 — “For our sake he (God) made him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”   

1 Peter 3:18 — “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit…”

The Romans Road

One of the most famous sets of scripture for leading someone to Christ is know as “The Romans Road.” This is a set of scriptures taken completely from the book of Romans to show that everyone of us is sinful and in need of a Savior, and that God has made Jesus to be that Savior to all who believe. The Romans Road is:

Every Person is Sinful and Needs a Savior:

Romans 3:10 —“as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one;’…”

Romans 3:23 — “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Jesus Christ Died in Our Place to Be Our Savior:

Romans 5:8 — “..but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 6:23 — “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

To Be Saved, Simply Put Your Faith In Christ, and Ask Him To Save You:

Romans 10:9 — “…because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Romans 10:13 — “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

The benefit of the Romans road for many people is that it is easily marked in your Bible. In the front of your bible you would write yourself a note that the Romans Road starts with Romans 3:10. Then in the margin next to Romans 3:10, you would note that the next scripture is Romans 3:23. Beside that you would write that next is Romans 5:8 and so on. Because they are in chronological order, you could also just mark each verse with a star, and follow through the book in order.

Other Helpful Scriptures

In addition to knowing scriptures for leading people to Christ, it is also helpful to have various other scriptures memorized that will point believers to Christ in other areas where they may struggle.

Remember, “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” That means that when scripture speaks into the life of a person, it cuts in like a surgeons scalpel, in order to bring healing and life to the person in need. Make it a priority to use scripture to encourage and build people up. 

Some scriptures you might want to put to memory would be:

Jeremiah 31:3b — God says “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”

Romans 8:1 — “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 — “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Matthew 11:28 — “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Hebrews 13:5-6 — “he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’”

Romans 8:31 — “…If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Luke 11:13 — “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

1 Peter 5:7 — “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

Jeremiah 29:11-13 — “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

Exodus 14:14 — “The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

You probably have other verses that come to mind. What other scriptures would you add to this list? I would love to hear them in the comments.

Let’s Connect

If you are enjoying what you are reading, it would be my honor to have you sign up for my weekly content newsletter, below. I promise not to spam your inbox or share your information with anyone.

You can also follow me on social media. I can be found on  Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Parler. I’d love to see you there.

Don’t forget to leave your thoughts, questions, and favorite scriptures in the comment section!

© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Cover Photo by Dylan McLeod on Unsplash

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How to Share Your Testimony

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As we continue our series, “God’s Gossip,” and discuss the need to share the gospel, we have looked at two, simple methods for telling the story of Jesus: the ground-level gospel and the sky-level gospel. In this post, however, I hope to persuade you that it is not enough to simply know the gospel story with your head, and be able to communicate that information clearly. You must also know it to be true and effective with your personal experience, for your words to carry any meaning to those you are sharing with.

Your personal gospel testimony is your direct connection to God’s story in human history and is a tool He will use for leading others to Himself. In sharing your testimony, you are connecting your own personal story and experience to the gospel story from 2000 years ago. When people hear the effects the gospel has on you, it opens them up to what it might do in them.

The Power of Testimony

“The Hebrew word for testimony, ‘edut,’ and the Hebrew word for witness, ‘ed,’ both come from a root word meaning ‘to duplicate or repeat.’ This means that in sharing our testimony, we are asking God to repeat the action in the lives of those we share with. This can be our salvation testimony as well as our testifying to other works of God in our life, such as being healed or set free from addictions. 

Sharing the testimony is a way of saying, ‘If God did it for me, He can do it for you.’ This honors God by giving Him credit and it raises faith in the person, so that they can believe God will do it again for them, as well.

Keeping the Testimony is Commanded by God

If sharing a testimony is declaring ‘God can do it again,’ and builds faith in Him, then is it any wonder that all throughout the Old Testament God commands His people to share the testimonies of His faithfulness with the next generation? In fact, the command to keep God’s testimonies is usually connected equally to keeping His law!

Just look at Deuteronomy 6:17,

You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded you.

Look at King David’s charge to his son, Solomon, from his deathbed,

…keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn…

1 Kings 2:3

It even seems like one of the major messages of Psalms is that mankind lives best when we follow God’s laws and remember His testimonies. For example, read through Psalm 119, which begins like this:

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,

Psalm 119:1-2

Sharing the Testimony is Expected by Christ

In the Old Testament, testimonies were to be passed down through the generations. In theNew Testament, however, we see that it is the privilege of the Christian to be Jesus’ story-tellers, spreading the testimony to the world!

We are called to be witnesses. In legal terminology, when a “witness” is called in court, he shares his “testimony.” For us to be witnesses for Christ, we too must be able to share our own testimony of the gospel. What is it that we have seen and experienced of the gospel we are sharing.

This is exactly what the first apostles were doing, that displeased to leaders of Israel. When they were tried and ordered to stop sharing their stories, the first apostles couldn’t obey!

So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

Acts 4:18-20

Testimonies are Prophetic

As we have seen, the Old Testament word for testimony means “do it again.” However, to extend this idea further, John writes in the book of Revelation,

 “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Revelation 19:10

What this means is that when we declare the good things God has done for us in the past, it not only builds faith in the hearers, but there is actually a prophetic release that what God does for one, He will do for another. It should create hopeful expectation.

This is why when we do large gospel events in Africa, sharing testimonies plays a large part in everything we do. When I preach the gospel, I always include my own testimony of who I was before Christ, and the effects on my life and destiny that have come from believing in Him. These are verifiable details. You can call my high school friends to find out if I was really an alcoholic. You can call my family to find out what my life dreams and goals were before. You can see, in reality, that God has done a great work in transforming me to the man I am today.

When it comes time to pray for the sick or do deliverance ministry, I always share testimonies and stories of the great healings we have seen in the past. If people in the crowd have been healed, we invite them to come forward and share publicly what God has done for them. We have seen, over and over again, that through the sharing of testimonies, the expectation for healing goes up, and so does the fruit of the ministry. More people get healed when they hear what God has been doing already.

How to Share Your Salvation Testimony

Since we are talking about sharing the gospel, I want to give you some idea of how you can share your own “gossip” of what God is doing in your life. Simply put, sharing your personal testimony requires you to know where you were before Christ found you, how the gospel came into your life, and the change God has brought in you now.

For me, that means I share something like this, in as few or as many words as I have time for:

Before Christ

“I am not the man I was before Christ saved me. I was a teenage slacker, alcoholic, trying drugs and experimenting sexually. Even visiting churches with friends, I was a hypocrite, drinking with my youth leader on Saturday nights, just pretending to be a good person… 

How I Was Saved

“Thank God, He used an unknown evangelist at a small church camp when I was 16 years old to speak to me. I was sitting under a tree, praying and asking myself questions about my own salvation, when he came by, took time to talk to me, and led me to full faith in the Lord. Though I knew the stories of Jesus my whole life, I finally put my faith in Christ to be saved…

After Salvation

“Today, I am free from all those addictions and perverse lifestyles. I am faithfully married, and have the privilege of sharing this gospel all around the world as a missionary.”

What is your Gospel story? 

It is not a shame to share what your lost self did before Christ saved you, as He will use it to bring others to Himself. We must know the gospel in our heads and with our lives. Then God will use us to reach others as well.

I encourage you, if you have never taken the time to do so, spend a few moments this week writing out your own testimony. Who were you before Christ? How did He finally reach you and save you? And what has happened to you since? After you write it out, practice reading it out loud. Get comfortable sharing the points that excite you. Don’t hesitate to share the things that used to bring shame and condemnation. I promise, as you find the boldness to share with others, God will use it to change lives for eternity.

I would love to have anyone who wants to share, post their testimonies in the comments below.

Let’s Connect

If you are enjoying what you are reading, it would be my honor to have you sign up for my weekly content newsletter, below. I promise not to spam your inbox or share your information with anyone.

You can also follow me on social media. I can be found on  Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Parler. I’d love to see you there.

Don’t forget to leave your thoughts, questions, or personal testimony stories in the comment section!

© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Cover Photo by Dylan McLeod on Unsplash

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The Sky-Level Gospel

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As we continue our seres on “God’s Gossip,” we have already discussed that for it to be a “gospel,” it must be shared. We then looked at the first of two storylines1, which will enable you to easily remember the gospel story and share it with others. In this post, we will look at the second storyline. I call it the “sky-level gospel.”

Though the first method is simpler, and can be used for a quick presentation of the gospel, the second method is, by far, my favorite. Whereas the first method keeps things close to the ground, this method will take the person up higher, and give them the 30,000-foot view of the entire gospel narrative. 

This method uses the full story of scripture to lay out God’s beautiful, original plan; the problem of sin in humanity, and the reason for which Christ came into the world. If the person is far from getting saved, it can also be shared conversationally when giving an explanation of your faith, without adding the immediate pressure of a response. It can act as the starting point to impart faith in God, that may lead to a later decision.

The four keywords to learn for this method are Creation – Fall – Redemption – Restoration. Let’s take a look at them.

Creation

God created all things in the beginning and made them good (Genesis 1:1-31). He put humanity in charge of His creation, giving him authority to rule as a steward of God’s universe (Genesis 1:26, 2:19). Again, this creation was perfect and holy, and man himself was righteous having been created in the image of God.

God’s original intention was that creation, from Eden, spreading to the ends of the earth, would be a physical representation of heaven. Righteousness would rule, and mankind would live in harmony and fellowship with God, as they lived out His will on the earth (Genesis 1:28).

Fall

After God created the world and placed man in the Garden, He gave one commandment, which would ensure that Adam and Eve – the first man and woman – were faithful to the covenant He made with them to rule the earth. They were not allowed to eat of one tree in the garden, lest they die (Genesis 2:15-17).

It didn’t take long for mankind’s curiosity to rise up, and one day Eve was admiring the fruit of the tree, with Adam by her side. Taking it as his first opportunity to tempt the humans and mess up God’s plans, the devil tempted the man and woman, and they ate the fruit (Genesis 3:1-6). 

When mankind sinned against God for the first time – the event we call ‘The Fall’ — not only was man affected with a curse, but the whole creation as well. This is why everything we see in the world is not as it was originally intended to be: war, famine, sickness, violence, natural disasters, etc (Genesis 3:14-19).

Another downside of the fall was that the authority over the earth which God had given to mankind was then delivered to the devil (Luke 4:5-6), who has become ‘the God of this world’ and ‘the prince of the power of the air…at work in the sons of disobedience‘ ( 2 Corinthians 4:4 and Ephesians 2:2). The world mankind was intended to rule, is now controlled by sin, death, and the devil.

Redemption

The good news (gospel) is that God has a rescue plan for humanity and all of His beloved creation. When we say “redemption,” it is a theological word meaning that on the cross, not only did Jesus die for our sins, but He also came to break the curse over creation and reclaim what was lost in the fall. According to Luke ‘…the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost’ (Luke 19:10).

This goes beyond just the salvation of souls, but also the restoration of righteousness and justice in the earth, and ultimately the redemption of authority over creation. This is why after the resurrection, Jesus tells the disciples that He has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18).

The promise of redemption for individuals comes when we begin to trust Jesus as the Savior from God. This is where an offer of personal salvation comes in to the story. If Jesus is the Redeemer of all things, that means He also redeems us, and brings us back to our original intended relationship with God the Father. He also gives us new life and restores our ability to walk in holiness by faith in Him.

Restoration

The Greek word for “be saved” is the word “sozo” which I think is a great name for a ministry. It literally means we are saved in every way. It translates as “to be saved from judgement for your sins,” “to be healed (saved) from sickness and disease,” and “to be delivered (saved) from the power of your enemy (the devil).” Not only does salvation bring eternal life for the believer, but it begins the process of restoration, when we will be returned to God’s original intention for the creation.

Though we are not made completely perfect in the moment of salvation, we now recognize Jesus as the Lord of our life and submit to Him. As we work to build our relationship with Him, we also begin to be conformed to His image once again, just as we were originally created to be in the beginning (2 Corinthians 3:18).

This presentation of the gospel then looks forward to the day when Jesus will return and we will see the final restoration of all things back to the way God intended them to be in the beginning. Sin and death and the devil will be dealt their final blow. Jesus will judge the world according to whether or not their faith was in Him, and then He, along with all those who believed in Him as Savior will see all things finally made right. There will be a new heaven and new earth, and all the promises from the Bible will finally be fulfilled.

It is now the role of all believers to be living their lives with restoration in mind. That is why we share the gospel, pray for the sick, and cast out demons wherever they rear their ugly heads (Matthew 10:1,7-8).

Lead Them Toward Discipleship

One final note about this gospel story line: even if you do not use this method for reaching the person in salvation, it is an important story for them to understand once they are saved. Therefore, if the person gets saved using the ground-level version of the gospel, then the high-level gospel should be discussed with them, in depth, as you begin the process of discipleship.

No matter which method you use to preach the gospel, what must be made clear is that our goal in sharing the gospel is to take a lost person and lead them to salvation in Christ. We must be bold to share the gospel, and we must give them the opportunity to accept Christ as their personal Savior. 

Let’s Connect

In the next post, we will discuss why sharing your own testimony is an important part of your gospel witness, and how to share your story clearly. To make sure you never miss a future post, it would be my honor to have you sign up for my weekly newsletter. It goes out every Sunday morning. I promise not to spam your inbox or share your information with anyone.

You can also follow me on social media. I can be found on  Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Parler. I’d love to see you there.

Also, if you want to find out more about the ministry I oversee, sharing the gospel and planting churches in East Africa, you can find it a www.SozoMinistries.net. There are plenty of opportunities for you to get involved!

1 These two story lines do NOT originate with me. I have heard these two ways of sharing the gospel repeated in many teachings and writings by various pastors, especially during my time working for an Acts29 Network church, so it would be impossible for me to footnote any specific reference. Suffice it to say, (though I have not read it) I believe Pastor Matt Chandler of The Village Church has explained these two ideas in depth in his book, The Explicit Gospel, published by Crossway.

© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Cover Photo by Dylan McLeod on Unsplash

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The Ground-Level Gospel

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After reading the first post in this series, I hope you are convinced that sharing the Gospel is a must! As Christians, “gossip” about Jesus should always be on our lips. Therefore, in this post and the next, I will share two, easy-to-remember story lines, which will help you share the gospel narrative with others.1

Both story lines I share will contain four simple words for you to remember, which will guide you any time you have an opportunity to share. If you can remember the four words, you can share the gospel.

I call the first story line the “ground-level gospel” because it keeps the story simple, and very personable to the people we are sharing with. Though using scripture is always necessary, this method doesn’t go as deep into the history of the bible as the second method will. It is very simple, and may have even been the method used by the person who led you to Christ. The ground-level is made up of the following four words: God-Man-Christ-Response

God

In this story line for presenting the Gospel, you begin by explaining who God is; that He is perfect and holy, and that when He created everything in the universe He made it ‘very good.’

You can share as much or as little about the creation story, and the nature of God as you want, but the goal is to explain that because God is perfect and holy, He cannot associate Himself with the unholy. This will bring us to the second point.

Man

Man, though he was created holy in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), chose to disobey God’s command and eat of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:6). With this one action, sin entered the world and man lost his connection with God. The judgement came with the curses pronounced in Genesis 3:14-19, as well as eternal separation from God in this life and in the next.

It is at this point, you will begin to bring in the individual’s own life and sinfulness into the equation. You might ask questions, such as:

  • What do you think sin is?
  • Is God just to judge sin?
  • Have you ever sinned?
  • If you have sinned, why should God forgive you?

We must explain to them that sin is real, and all of humanity is guilty. We must also help them to understand that doing good in the present does not excuse our sinful past. For example, if I commit murder, it doesn’t matter what good I might do afterward, any good judge must hold me accountable to the law.

The scriptures can help make this point:

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”

Romans 3:23

“As it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.'”

Romans 3:10-12

When you can bring their own life and sinfulness into the light of scripture, the discussion will show that there is stark contrast between the holiness of God and their own sinful humanity. There is a great chasm which has been formed, and it would take a miracle for us to come back to God, but…

Christ

This is where Christ comes in. When you have a Holy God, and a sinful humanity, there has to be a major move on both sides in order to make reconciliation. The problem is that mankind could not make that move back toward God on their own. So when Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and birthed by Mary, God actually took on flesh and became a man, and became the representative of both sides! 

“He is the [physical] image of the invisible God…”

Colossians 1:15

Jesus, as a man, lived a sinless life according to the law of God, then when He died on the cross, it was in our place. He took the punishment from God for our sin, and made a bridge to reconcile us to God.

“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

As God, in Christ moved toward us, we now have the offer of new life and righteousness through faith in Him, to every human being who will repent and believe.

At this point, we once again become personal. We must share with the person that though they can never erase their own sinful history, they must understand that Jesus stood in their place. He took their punishment and He is offering them a new life in Himself, if they will believe.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 6:23

Response

With these three things in mind — the holiness of God, the sinfulness of man, and the atoning work of Jesus Christ — the person must then be given an opportunity to respond. Will they accept Jesus as their Savior and be reconciled to God through faith in Christ, or will they reject Christ as Savior and continue in life separated from God?”

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:13

We must ask the golden question: “Would you like to accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord?”

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

John 3:16-17

All of our witnessing is in vain, if we do not come to the point where we actually make them an offer to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior. I know I am glad someone asked this question of me, many years ago, and I am sure you are, too.

“if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, ‘Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.'”

Romans 10:9-11

Let’s Connect

In the next post, we will look at the “high-level” gospel, which dives deeper into the full, biblical narrative from creation in Genesis to the re-creation in Revelation. It will be a little more in-depth, but it is also my favorite way to share the gospel. Stay tuned.

As always, I would love to hear your thoughts, questions, and testimonies in the comment section below.

I hope this series will be a blessing to you! You can make sure to never miss a future post by signing up for my weekly roundup newsletter, below. It would be my honor to have you, and I promise never to spam you or share your information with anyone!

You can also join me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Parler, to continue the discussion on this post and more!

1 These two story lines do NOT originate with me. I have heard these two ways of sharing the gospel repeated in many teachings and writings by various pastors, especially during my time working for an Acts29 Network church, so it would be impossible for me to footnote any specific reference. Suffice it to say, (though I have not read it) I believe Pastor Matt Chandler of The Village Church has explained these two ideas in depth in his book, The Explicit Gospel, published by Crossway.

© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Cover Photo by Dylan McLeod on Unsplash

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God’s Gossip: A Story Worth Telling

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In the Christian world the word “gospel” is thrown around a lot. We believe the gospel. We preach the gospel. We share the gospel. We stand on the gospel. And so on… The question I have, however, is with a word used so often, how many people actually know what it means?

When I say “the gospel,” what am I talking about?

A Basic Definition

In the Greek New Testament, the word gospel is taken from the word, “euangelion.” We get our word evangelism from a similar Greek word, “evangelizo.” While the english understanding of the word gospel is typically translated as “good news,” the reality of the original context is that this is a “good news that is shared.” It is the “good news brought by the evangelist or angel (messenger).” 

What I want us to grasp is that in the New Testament, the word “gospel” is generally used to describe the proclamation of the good news, rather than just the idea of the good news itself. In other words, it is not a “gospel” unless and until it is proclaimed!

The original idea comes from a message of victory being declared over a nation at war. As the Theological Lexicon of the New Testament says,

In secular Greek, angelos was “messenger” (especially of the gods) and angelia “message.” Euangelos referred to “one who bears good news,” a messenger of joy… Usually, the announcement concerns victory and peace: the bringer of good news (euangelos) arrives from the battlefield, sometimes by ship, sometimes by horse or by letter, but also on foot, by a runner.

Ceslas Spicq and James D. Ernest, Theological Lexicon of the New Testament (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1994), 82.

Therefore, when we say “Gospel” what we are actually discussing is the announcement of Jesus’ victory through His sinless life, death on the cross and resurrection from the dead.

God’s Gossip

The English form of the word “gospel” comes from an Old English word, “godspel,” or literally “good spell” meaning “good story.” To share a godspel was to tell a good story that would capture the attention and possibly altar the course of a person’s life.

Interestingly, the English word “gospel” comes from a similar root as the English word “gossip,” which means sharing a “good story” about a “sib,” as in a sibling or relative.

Obviously we would say that gossiping about our relatives, friends, or acquaintances is wrong. However, the truth is that when the “gossip” is about our brother Jesus, then it is good news to share – gospel.

The point I want to make is that the Gospel is not something that can be kept to oneself. There is no “gospel” if it is not being proclaimed, the same as there is not “gossip” if people keep their mouths shut!

God wants us to “gossip” the story of Jesus.

Paul’s Gospel

Just look at how the Apostle Paul talks about the Gospel. He does so in very specific terms:

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

He says the gospel is something that: 

  • Is “preached” or proclaimed; also “delivered”
  • Is “received” or heard
  • Gives the ability to “stand” and “saves” — again, this is the idea of the message being a declaration of victory over your enemy.
  • Is a message that must be “held fast” — not traded for other “truths” being taught. Don’t fall under someone else’s “spell” or story.

The Gospel Must Be Shared

In almost every case, the word “gospel” is used in the New Testament with the understanding that this is a message to be proclaimed. This is why Paul’s line of questioning in Romans 10:14 deals with preaching:

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

The truth is that we live in a world where the gospel is available to most of humanity, if they were to search it out. Through internet, websites, podcasts, bible apps, radio, television, etc, a major portion of the world could discover the gospel on their own. Every single day, that availability grows. Yet at the most foundational level of what the gospel is, that plan can never work!

God’s intention from the beginning was that the gospel of Jesus Christ would be transferred from person to person by proclaiming and hearing. People, by nature, are not looking for a savior. The sinful, human heart makes its own plans and strategies for overcoming every negative thing in life. Even those who recognize sin, seek to justify themselves by “doing good.”

God’s good news, however, is that the battle is already won. Though it is not a message people are seeking, it is one that will change their eternal reality once it comes to them. It must be shared!

Just as gossip ceases to exist when people stop sharing it, so does the gospel. It becomes useless; having no effect in bringing people into salvation. The truth is, you cannot have a gospel unless it’s proclaimed.

You Are Already Commissioned to Preach

The day you became a Christian by believing this gospel, you received a commission to share it with others. You cannot “hold to the gospel” without sharing the gospel. Just look at passages like Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18, and Acts 1:8

What I want to do, over the next few weeks, is help you find your voice in sharing the gospel with others. My goal in this series is that you will feel better equipped to share the good news of Jesus Christ with your family, friends, and anyone else God brings across your path. You don’t have to be an evangelist to be a witness for Christ. You simply have to be willing to open your mouth.

In the next two posts, we will look at two basic ways you can express the gospel, in simple terms, that will help people understand the message you share. (First one is here.)

After that, we will talk about the importance of your own testimony in sharing the gospel story. The gospel is our “family gossip,” and your story is an invaluable part in sharing the story of Jesus.

Finally, I will offer you some tips that will make your gospel witness even more effective, as you willingly step out and share.

You can do this! Take it from me. I am not called as an evangelist, and my introvert nature can hold me back at times. Yet, as I have learned to obey the Holy Spirit’s leading, and have grown in my understanding of how to share the news, I have been privileged to lead thousands to the Lord. You have the same Spirit living in you, if you’re willing to learn and to step out in faith.

In This Series

In this blog series, we look at:

Let’s Connect

As always, I would love to hear your thoughts, questions, and testimonies in the comment section below.

I hope this series will be a blessing to you! You can make sure to never miss a future post by signing up for my weekly roundup newsletter, below. It would be my honor to have you, and I promise never to spam you or share your information with anyone!

You can also join me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Parler, to continue the discussion on this post and more!

© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Cover Photo by Dylan McLeod on Unsplash

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Praying in the Spirit

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Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

Ephesians 6:13-18a

Up to now in this series on spiritual warfare, we have gone through each piece of God’s armor of protection, which Paul exhorts us to put on daily. We have looked at the pieces given to help us “stand firm,” namely the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the shoes of the gospel of peace. We have also discussed the pieces of armor given for active battle: the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.

As we now wrap up our discussion on the Ephesians 6 passage, we will finally take a look at the role of prayer, which I believe supplies our armor with its power.

Praying in the Spirit

As we read the Bible, there are many discussions of prayer and its role in the life of the believer. Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, with the model prayer or “the Lord’s prayer,” showing them how to connect with God as their powerful Father; capable of bringing heaven’s reality to earth. He also modeled the importance of prayer for them in His many nights away in the secret place.

Later, the Apostle Paul begins sharing how he prays specifically for the believers and churches under his apostolic care. He also asks, many times, for prayer for his own life and ministry. It is Paul who charges the Thessalonian church to “pray without ceasing,” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). This command is one that Bible students have argued over for centuries, as to the literal abilities of a person to do so.

However, the idea of “praying in the Spirit” is actually one that is not discussed very often in the Bible. In fact, there are only four passages in the New Testament where the idea is presented. The first is in the armor of God passage, in Ephesians 6:18,

praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

The second time the idea is stated distinctly is in Jude 20-21,

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

The question we must ask, however, is, “how does a person pray in the Holy Spirit?” I believe the answer is two-fold, based upon the other two passages of scripture where prayer in the Spirit is found. These passages offer two forms of prayer, which believers throughout history have practiced regularly, and which qualify as “praying in the Spirit.” Both of them are important for us to learn.

Praying in Tongues

The first form of praying in the Spirit is quite controversial in many areas of the body of Christ. That is the practice of praying in tongues, which Paul gives a lot of instructions about in 1 Corinthians 14.

For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 14:2

Right at the outset of his discussion, Paul says that someone speaking in tongues is praying – speaking to God – and that this prayer is hidden from human interpretation as “mysteries in the Spirit.” Although flesh may not understand the words being spoken by the Spirit, Paul also makes it clear that speaking in tongues is a gift from God given to build up the one praying.

The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself…

1 Corinthians 14:4

Although speaking in tongues gets a bad reputation among non-charismatics, anyone who thoroughly understands Paul’s explanation of the gift, would understand his statement, “I am glad I speak in tongues more than all of you” (1 Corinthians 14:18). He has a high value for the gift on tongues, because he had seen the impact of it on his own spiritual life!

He encourages anyone who has the gift of tongues to pray, both in tongues, led by the Spirit, and in their native language, using their own mental capacity.

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

1 Corinthians 14:14-15

I can say, as someone who received the gift of tongues from the Lord in my Baptist Bible college dorm room over 15 years ago, that there is a supernatural power for spiritual breakthrough that comes, as we speak out those mysteries in the Spirit.

Though space doesn’t allow me to give a full explanation of the gift here, I encourage you to read my ‘Speaking in Tongues FAQ’ to learn exactly what the gift is and does, and how to receive this gift for yourself.

Praying by the Holy Spirit’s Leading

The other way we can pray in the Spirit is to submit our minds to His leading in how to pray over an issue or circumstance, and often, even the words we should speak to God in the situation. Paul says this is necessary because sometimes, though our hearts are inclined to prayer, we are limited by our humanity, and do not know how to pray effectively:

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Romans 8:26-27

Although there are some people who say that the “groaning too deep for words” implies speaking in tongues, I disagree. When you listen to someone praying in tongues, it is very distinctly a spoken language with individual words and structures. That goes against what Paul says.

Instead, I believe this passage is saying that when we are in that place where our prayers turn to groaning, because the weightiness of our need is greater than our ability to verbalize it, the Holy Spirit will meet us in that place and teach us exactly how to pray according to the will of God.

This happened to me very recently as I was fasting and seeking God for some breakthrough in specific areas of my life and ministry. I know what I needed to pray about, and I know the promises of God on my life which ensured what I was asking was according to His will. Yet, I did not know how to put words together that would cause the devil to flee and have effect in the courts of heaven. Having learned, long ago, that the Holy Spirit is my helper and guide, I turned to Him for wisdom.

As I laid out every need I had before the Holy Spirit, asking Him to teach me to pray over the issues, He gave me step by step instructions on how to repent, how to rebuke the devil, and how to bring God’s promises back before Him to claim what He already says is mine.

I can testify, just a couple of weeks since that time, that God has granted my requests in both the personal and ministry areas I was interceding for.

The Secret to Praying in the Spirit

There are a lot of sermons and articles available to you which will tell you a number of biblical principles or series of steps to get God to work for you or do what you ask. Most of them are garbage, and should be deleted from existence permanently. Yet there is a “secret” we must all learn in order to pray in the Spirit, and that is simply: we must know the Holy Spirit.

Praying in the Spirit is not a method, strategy, or technique. It is a relationship with a person. We don’t manipulate God to do anything for us. We live in relationship with Him, and as we are guided by His Spirit we will capture His heart for our lives and the world, and we will learn to pray perfectly according to His will. The desires of our heart will be shaped by the desires of His!

It is through this relationship with the Holy Spirit that we will learn to pray in such a way that our armor is intact. He will show us where there are gaps, or when we have forgotten to gear up at all. He will lead us as we build our defenses against the schemes of the enemy, and He will give us our battle plan as we charge ahead with the Word of God.

This relationship with the Holy Spirit must be built, though. It grows over time. It isn’t something that a Christian, walking in the flesh can ever achieve. Prayer in the Spirit is a giant step above the best prayers the human mind can offer.

So as we wrap up this series on spiritual warfare, we must once again learn the lesson that our battle is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). In order to find victory, we must move ourselves into the spirit realm, through intimacy and union with Him.

When we do, we win!

Let’s Connect

I pray that this series on spiritual warfare has been a blessing to you! As always, I would love to hear your thoughts, questions, and testimonies in the comment section below.

If you have enjoyed what you read, you can make sure to never miss a future post by signing up for my weekly roundup newsletter, below. It would be my honor to have you, and I promise never to spam you or share your information with anyone!

You can also join me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Parler, to continue the discussion on this post and more!

Photo by Henry Hustava on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

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The Sword of the Spirit

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Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

Ephesians 6:13-18a

In this series on Spiritual Warfare and the Armor of God, we began by looking at the foundational pieces of our armor, which give us the ability to “stand firm.” These included the Belt of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, and the Shoes of the Gospel of Peace. Next, we turned our attention to the active battle armor which Paul commanded us “in all circumstances” to “take up.” Of these, we have already looked at the Shield of Faith and the Helmet of Salvation, and with this post we will look at our last piece of armor with the Sword of the Spirit.

The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God

With this piece of armor, Paul leaves us no doubt as to what he is talking about. He says very specifically that the sword of the Spirit “is the word of God.” I believe this includes both scripture and prophetic utterance. (*For discussion of the Greek, see my note on “rhema” vs “logos” below.) 

The idea of God’s word being a sword is repeated over and over again throughout the New Testament. Most famously, we have the description given by the author of Hebrews:

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

The idea presented is that the word of God is both His sword of salvation and of judgement. It discerns a person’s thoughts and intentions, to see if they are by faith, or sinfully motivated. This goes directly back to our discussion on the Mark of the Beast in the last post, where the mark on your head implies your thoughts while the mark on your hands implies your intentions and works.

What this means is that God’s standard for a person’s life is not a vague sense of right and wrong or culturally defined morality. Rather, everyone will be judged by the word of God, alone. This is why James writes that we must,

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

James 1:22-24

If we judge ourselves by the word of God, and live accordingly by faith in Christ, we will escape His final judgement by the sword.

The Sword of His Mouth

The Bible is very clear that every word spoken from the mouth of the Lord, will be the final arbiter of justice to the world. Just listen to these descriptions of Jesus in Revelation:

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

Revelation 1:12-16

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword…So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

Revelation 2:12,15-16

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

Revelation 19:11-15

The Power of God’s Word

Reading these verses from Revelation, it is helpful to remember that not only is God’s Word the tool of His judgement, but it was also the tool of creation. In Genesis, God simply spoke the word, “let there be…” and everything was created (Genesis 1:3, et al).

John, revealing Jesus’ role in the creation story says of Him,

In the beginning was the Word (**see note below), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:1-3

Paul adds that Jesus, “is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17), and Hebrews says, “he upholds the universe by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3).

We would do well to remember, then, that it is by the Word of God that creation was formed, is held together, and will be judged for eternity. It makes me think of the old cliche, spoken by parents to disobedient children for generations: “I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.” God’s word gives us life at creation. God’s WORD (Jesus) gives us the opportunity to receive new and eternal life in Him. And God’s word will be the final decree over the eternal destiny (or destruction) of every human.

The Sword in Our Hands

With all of this backdrop built in, we now come to understand the weight and the privilege it is to carry the Sword of the Spirit in our own hands.

The Bible makes clear that everyone who is called by God are supposed to live their whole lives in accordance to His word. They hear His word (John 8:47); they conform their lives to His word (Matthew 4:4), and they feel the unquenchable urge to speak His word to others (John 3:34, Acts 6:2). We are the ones to carry the sword in this world!

In fact, one of my favorite verses in the Old Testament is concerning the inability of God’s servant to withhold the word of God from others. Jeremiah, who was known as the “weeping prophet,” and whose ministry was marked by little to no fruit, declared his intention to stop preaching, and yet he simply could not. Jeremiah proclaimed,

O LORD, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me. For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, “Violence and destruction!” For the word of the LORD has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.

Jeremiah 20:7-9

The Sword Advances the Gospel

We said in our last post that to wear the helmet of salvation is to set our minds on joining Jesus in battle for the redemption of the whole world. Now, with the sword of the Spirit, we are actually putting our hands to the task of bringing salvation to the lost. As we go to battle with the kingdom of darkness, the sword of the Spirit is our only weapon of attack. As we share the word of God, in the present day before the final judgement comes, we do so with one main goal: to make Jesus known so people will turn to Him and be saved. This is how God’s Kingdom is established. This was the only aim of the early church!

They sought God to give them boldness to preach:

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Acts 4:31

And the result of this preaching? People turned to Jesus!

The word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Acts 6:7

Even Paul’s prayer request at the end of our passage on the armor of God is with this goal in mind:

To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel

Ephesians 6:18-19

The Sword Defends God’s People

The other thing the word of God does for us, is that it offers us the ability to bring a counter attack to every scheme of the enemy. As the devil tries to penetrate our belt of truth, with his lies, we defend ourselves with the word of God. When our breastplate of righteousness is weakened by temptations and lusts of the flesh, we defeat them with the word of God. When our peaceful foundation is shaken, we defend it with the promises of God’s word. When the devil tries to get at us in any way, it is the Word of God that gives us the ability to resist him and see him flee ( James 4:7)!

This was the exact tactic Jesus used when the devil came to Him in the wilderness in Luke 4. For every attempt the devil made at Him, Jesus responded with the words, “It is written” (Luke 4:4,8,12).

Take Up Your Sword

Once again, as we “take up” the Sword of the Spirit, we must understand that this is the ONLY active weapon we have in battle. The belt, breastplate, and shoes, are for our stability. The shield and helmet are for our defense in battle, but the word of God is our only weapon to use to attack and to fight back. 

As Christians who are filled with the Spirit and wearing God’s armor, we do not fight the devil by any other means or strategy. We are not called to be politicians, seeking to legislate morality among sinful men. That cannot change hearts. In the same manner, we are not social justice warriors sent to protest and bring awareness to the plight of the oppressed and poor. Jesus is their only hope for vindication and justice. His word is their only salvation.

The Kingdom of God is not a democracy, where the majority gets to rule. It is a dictatorship, led by a loving King who has already made His eternal decrees to govern everything, and it is by every word from His mouth that we will stand or fall.

To take up the sword of the spirit, you must hear His word, and let it guide you every day. You must know His word – both through the scriptures and in every promise He has spoken over your life personally – and wield it boldly as you go. It will defend you when you are under attack, leading you through the darkest moments of life and every demonic stronghold with victory. More than that, it will be used to charge forward in battle, bringing God’s promise of salvation to all those you rise up to fight for, as you take your place in the fight beside your King. 

Let’s Connect

I would love to hear your thoughts, questions, and testimonies in the comment section, below, and you can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Parler, to continue the discussion on this post and more!

In the next post we will look at the Paul’s call to pray in the Spirit, as we wrap up this series. You can make sure to never miss another post by subscribing to my weekly newsletter below. I promise never to spam your inbox or give out your information.

Notes

*It is often said that the Greek usage of two words used for “word”, “logos” and “rhema,” tell us different things about the subject. Many argue that “logos” means the written word and “rhema” means spoken word, through the Holy Spirit and prophets. Although there is some legitimacy to this claim, there is also a LOT of overlap in scripture and other ancient Greek writings. It seems most scholars view these two terms as generally synonymous, and our case in this post is better suited not to attempt to draw heavy dividing lines.  I will not make a distinction between “logos” and “rhema” in discussing the word of God in this post, because it leads to unnecessary speculation and division. When the Bible talks about the “word of God,” unless otherwise specified to be talking about the Torah, the Old Testament Scriptures, or another set of writings, it should generally be understood to mean every decree of the Lord, both in scripture and in extra-biblical prophetic utterance. [Before you get mad at me for affirming “extra-biblical revelation, remember, Jesus did and spoke many things not recorded in scripture (see John 20:30), and the expectation of the coming Holy Spirit is that He would bring more revelation of Jesus to the believers, which Jesus couldn’t speak in person (see John 16:12-14).]

**One exception to the synonymous nature of “logos” and “rhema” is that the Apostle John refers to Jesus with the formal title of “Logos,” which is intended to address Greek philosopher’s speculations on the supernatural and eternity.

Photo by Henry Hustava on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

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