Messengers of the GospelSample

A Driven Man

“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

(Matthew 9:35-36 NIV)

In these verses about the ministry of Jesus, it is easy to overlook the level of focus that guided Jesus’ life and actions. Over and over in the gospels, we see a focus on four primary ministries. Jesus focused on salvation, teaching, healing, and deliverance. He devoted His time and focus to these life-changing, eternity-altering activities. It would be easy to dismiss the impact of His life as unique only to Jesus. Sure, He did these things, but He was Jesus. Are there really people living today who make God’s priorities their top priorities?

In Todd Nettleton’s book, When Faith is Forbidden: 40 Days on the Frontlines with Persecuted Christians, he outlines the lives of men and women who have surrendered their lives fully to Jesus. They have aligned their priorities with the priorities of Jesus, shaping how they live each day.

One of the testimonies in the book comes from a man who heard about Christ while living in a very closed country in the Middle East. Up until that point in his life, he had been wrapped up in an addiction to drugs that led him to steal to fund his drug habit. He had a reputation around town as a very good thief.

From the moment he trusted Christ, his life began to change. Instead of focusing on money or drugs, all he could think about was telling every person he met how drastically his life had been transformed. Jesus had changed everything, and he wanted them to know it.

Early on, he learned that he could not share this good news in his own strength. He started a daily routine of beginning each day with a question to Jesus.

“Jesus, what do you want me to do today?”

Even though his country had very strict regulations against telling people about Jesus, he was not afraid of the consequences. The Holy Spirit was guiding him, and he would follow.

In the first four years after he said yes to Jesus, he shared the gospel and his testimony with thousands of people. He had the chance to pray with over 1,000 people to accept Christ. He knew he would eventually be arrested for such actions, and that day finally arrived.

When the police came to arrest him, he thought, “God must want me to witness to someone in that prison.” Sure enough, the first encounter in the prison was a God Sighting. He was left alone with two very serious criminals for 15 minutes in a holding area. He knew that his time with them might be short, so he quickly shared the story of Jesus with them. He told them, “God has sent me to save you.” They listened and responded to the good news he shared with them. The police returned and let the evangelist know that he could go. Before he left, he went back to the hardened criminals and hugged them as they wept together. He was learning that God can work through a willing servant even in trials.

Another time, he was arrested and thrown in jail because he had led a young man to the Lord. The young man’s father was a member of the security police. After his arrest, he spent hours in the interrogation room, days in solitary confinement, and then he was put in a room with over 400 criminals. His comment about the experience was, “It was the sweetest time of my life.” He saw twenty-four fellow prisoners come to faith in Christ in eight days. Two of those new believers were convicted murderers awaiting their executions.

In reflecting on his time in prison, he said, “I believe that when God sends us to some place, He prepares and equips us for that place. I knew I had a mission in that prison.”

Reflection:

What place of ministry has God given you in this season of your life?

Are you willing to use your story and the Good News about Jesus where you have been placed?