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There is an event in the first church that manifests this great mandate. In Acts 5:42,"Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ."
We must take note that the word "THEY" in this verse refers to all the disciples, to all believers of Christ. In the same way, this applies to the end-time church of Christ. This verse, therefore, is applicable to each one of us.
Another incident that happened in the first church can be seen in Acts 8:2 and 4, "On that day a great persecution broke out against the church of Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria [...] Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went."
If we focus on verse 4, it is said that those who were scattered, referring to the disciples, preached the word of God wherever they went. In the previous verse, it is narrated that a great persecution happened to the first church, and that they were scattered. But, instead of hiding, they still proclaimed God's words wherever they went. And the great result of this bold preaching can be read in Acts 11:21, "The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord."
Isn't this a wonderful and miraculous work of God that by boldly proclaiming God's words, souls are saved from condemnation? And how important is one soul? Not even the whole world is at the level of one soul's importance as said on Mark 8:36, "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?"
4th Watchers are instructed followers of the doctrine of end-time, because we are taught in the apostolic way, and we are led by the apostle of the end-time. A good example is Apostle Paul. Paul's way of life is being taught in churches in his time, so we have good pattern on how we can have that apostolic way.
Apostle Paul even regarded evangelism as a priestly duty and has been his ambition as what is written on Romans 15:15-16, 20, "I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation."
Taking the first church as a portrait in proclaiming the gospel. how did they evangelize?
- Preaching the word of God with courage.
They were just ordinary men. But they presented themselves as men that had been with Jesus. Their acts manifested that they are followers of Christ. And another evidence of their courage is written in Acts 4:29, "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness."
- Proclamation with boldness.
"for two whole years Paul stayed there in his won rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ." - Acts 28:30-31
There will be times that the disciples of Christ will be persecuted because of evangelizing but there are men that can risk their lives in preaching the gospel. "men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." - Acts 15:26
Now, let us focus on the word "daily" or what is said in Acts 5:42, "Day after day". The word daily speaks about doing it regularly, never-ending , continuing evangelism. We can take for example what is written in Acts 17:17,
"So he reasoned in the synagogue with Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there."
"Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ." - Acts 5:42
Also, in these verses we can see that it is done in various places: temple courts, house to house, and marketplace. Therefore, the proclamation of the Gospel must be done in the entire world. And when we proclaim, God furthermore strengthens His message of grace through signs and wonders.
"So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders." - Acts 14:3
And by God's grace, our proclamation is always decorated and confirmed by signs and wonders; this is the apostolic way of proclaiming the will of God.
We have a pattern; you know why? If the first church has the apostles, we in the end-time, also have the apostle so we can have the same pattern of "apostolic way". It is God who will confirm and give the enablement.
Also, in these verses we can see that it is done in various places: temple courts, house to house, and marketplace. Therefore, the proclamation of the Gospel must be done in the entire world. And when we proclaim, God furthermore strengthens His message of grace through signs and wonders.
"So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders." - Acts 14:3
And by God's grace, our proclamation is always decorated and confirmed by signs and wonders; this is the apostolic way of proclaiming the will of God.
We have a pattern; you know why? If the first church has the apostles, we in the end-time, also have the apostle so we can have the same pattern of "apostolic way". It is God who will confirm and give the enablement.
