“Therefore if anyone is in Christ (that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior), he is a new creature (reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit); the old things (the previous moral and spiritual condition) have passed away. Behold, new things have come (because spiritual awakening brings a new life). But all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ [making us acceptable to Him] and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [so that by our example we might bring others to Him].”
2 Corinthians 5:17, 18 AMP
There’s no need for an identity crisis in the Body of Christ. God has a specific purpose for us to fulfill during our prearranged - set time here on this earth. We are on assignment and the assignment does not end until Jesus’ return. We have repented. We have been forgiven. Our previous sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus. We are clean before God. We have peace with God. God is our friend. We have been anointed with fresh oil – every burden has been removed and every yoke has been destroyed. We are fully equipped with this new life, as born-again believers, to fulfill our God given purpose. We have been entrusted with (made stewards over)the ministry of reconciliation – this is our primary purpose. As ministers of reconciliation, we have been anointed and graced by God to preach Christ crucified – reconciling/restoring man (woman) back into God’s divine favor – just as someone preached Christ to us.
Where Would I Be If No One Preached Christ to Me?
I would be dead, not only spiritually but in the natural as well. My wrong choices and the wisdom I continued to apply from the world – demonic, sensual and, earthly wisdom (according to James 3:15) would always have me at the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong people saying the wrong things experiencing unfavorable results. From the outer appearance I looked like all was well but, deep inside I was lost and confused, empty and void of true meaning for my life – destitute and without hope – I was tired of being tired. Only God knew my condition. Only God knew my heart was contrite - open and ready for change. He sent an angel (is what I called him) across my path, an obedient minister of reconciliation, preaching Christ crucified. His obedience changed my life coupled with the continued ministry of the Holy Spirit, Who was all the while leading me to this place of freedom only found in Him.
Just as the Apostle Paul declared in I Corinthians 2:2, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified…” this is the same stance this minister took when sharing with me. He only shared Christ and His resurrection along with the new life made available for whoever believed. My faith was increased with these words. He encouraged me to go visit this faith teaching, spirit-filled ministry in Chicago and I obeyed. The moment I entered it was as if I’d made it home. The atmosphere was peaceful with the sense of a Presence (God, Himself) this bought me to my knees and a rainfall of tears throughout the beautiful sound of worship to the God I continued to run from. Then there was the altar call… the Holy Spirit nudged me immediately and without hesitation I ran to the altar, received Jesus as my Lord and my Savior, got water baptized and, spirit-filled (with the evidence of speaking in another tongue) all within the same hour. My eyes were finally opened the moment I repeated these words, “Father God, I repent. I know in my heart and I confess with my mouth that Jesus died and rose again for me. I come to You just as I am, live in me and through me. Jesus, I make You my Lord and my Savoir. I am saved. I am born again, in Jesus name.” I was called out of darkness and I entered God’s most marvelous light!
Once I Was Blind but Now, I See
“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.” I Corinthians 1:26-29 NKJV
You have been chosen and no man can stop God’s timing. Religious people may refuse to believe that you are healed and not the same. Your family may be in fear and restricted by religion, their thinking, or tradition to support you. This is all okay, be encouraged and determined to preach Christ and Him crucified – that’s it, and your calling will be made sure and clear to all. The evidence will be people (multitudes) coming to Christ as a result of your witness of whom His is and what He has done for and through you.
I’m reminded of the man born blind in the 9th chapter of the book of John; he had an encounter with Jesus. Jesus healed him. The religious people refused to believe him when he declared (basically preached) a man healed him on a day that healing was not allowed.
They continued to probe him until... “He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples? (John 9:27)”” Jesus performed a miracle in the eyes of many that caused them to believe. He opened the eyes of a man that was born blind. You are a miracle. I am a miracle. When people hear that you are saved their eyes will be opened and they will be healed. Our lives and what we have been delivered from are our greatest witness of the power of God. As a minister of reconciliation, it is crucial that we be reminded constantly of our primary purpose… “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. If I am in the world, I am the light of the world.””John9:4-5NKJV
The Luke 4:18 Anointing
“And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”” Acts1:7-8NKJV
The Spirit of the Lord is on you and in you. You have been anointed to preach the good news of the gospel. You have been sent to heal the brokenhearted. You have been sent to preach deliverance to those who are bound. You have been sent out of this world into this world ‘again’ to help others see who are - spiritually and physically - blind and to set those who are oppressed free. You are a minister of reconciliation and you proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord – meaning you remind all those to who you will encounter that God’s favor and peace is available right now, if they only believe.
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe; in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:15-18 NKJV
The call to minister reconciliation is for every born-again believer - whether in pulpit or in the pews. Preaching the gospel to the world could be right around the corner, down the street, at the bakery, at the bank, at the cleaners, at school, to your neighbor, your family, your friends, your co-workers or in another country. Jesus’ harvest is everywhere. Wherever you are, that’s your pulpit and you should preach Christ crucified – you are equipped to do so. Pray in the Spirit even more in this hour in an effort to remain built up in your most holy faith (Jude 20) – not so easily moved by test that will come your way to get you off focus. I pray this message will eradicate any fear and cause the believer to boldly fulfill this assignment. This is the purpose. This is who we are. This is the ministry of the Holy Spirit operating through the believer here on the earth. ~TLW
“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” II Timothy4:2-5NKJV