By E. ROger Ammons, General Evangelism Coordinator
The new Evangelism theme for The Church of God this Assembly year (2020 / 2021) is “READY! SET!! GO!!!” The apostle Paul wrote to the Romans (1:15) that he was “READY to preach the gospel.” And to the Philippians he wrote (1:17) that he was “SET for the defence of the gospel.” Jesus Christ said, “GO ye into all the world, and preach the gospel” (Mark 6:15).
Paul wrote to the Romans, “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel… for it is the power of God unto salvation…” (1:15, 16). In the original Greek language, the word translated as “READY’ is a combination of two words: the first meaning “before”; and the second meaning “passion.” For Paul to be “READY” meant that he was predisposed and willing to preach the Gospel. The English word “evangelize” comes from the Greek word which is translated “to preach the Gospel.”
Paul was “READY” to “evangelize.” Paul’s words to the Romans refer to the Passion, the Preaching, and the Power of the gospel. Passion precedes powerful preaching. We must have PASSION BEFORE we can “do the work of an EVANGELIST” (2 Tim. 4:5). Such passion will result in effectual fervent prayers. “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him… The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months” (James 5:15-17).
Paul’s words “as much as in me is” reminds us of the words of Jesus, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength…” (Mark 12:30). Paul was not half-hearted, but rather, totally committed with his whole being to the work of evangelism. To love the Lord with all of our soul is to have spiritual passion which makes us “READY” and willing to evangelize; to love Him with all of our mind involves mental preparation to be “SET” for evangelism; and to love God with all of our physical strength is to “GO” into all the world and preach the Gospel. To be “READY” is to have an eager passion to evangelize. To be “SET” is to be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is in us. To “GO” is to be proactive in proclaiming to everybody everywhere the Good News that Jesus Saves.
“READY! SET!! GO!!!”