When the shepherds who were abiding in the field, watching their flock by night, the angel of the Lord came upon them and said, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. (Luke 2:11-17 KJV)

Listen to NIV translation:  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child. (Luke 2:17-18 NIV)

When the shepherds saw the child for themselves, they now had evidence that would satisfy others; and accordingly they became the first ones to spread the word, and went and proclaimed to others that the Messiah had come.

The great Creator and Architect of the Universe, invaded our planet. We had a ‘visitor from out of space’, a second person in the Godhead, Jesus Christ. He tabernacled here for 33 years reaching out to men: fishermen, businessmen, religious men, unsaved men, poor men, rich men, Jewish men and Gentile men, lettered men and unlettered men.

Listen to Jesus in Luke 24:46, 47…

46 Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Jesus was saying to his apostles, you must spread the word to all nations.

The apostles were arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin Council, and charged, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine. Acts 5:28

·         You have filled the city fathers with your doctrine.

·         You have filled the city that crucified Christ with your doctrine.

·         You have filled the city where King Herod resides with your doctrine.

·         You have filled the city where Governor Pontius Pilate resides.

·         You have filled the political infrastructure of Jerusalem.

·         You have filled the religious structure of Jerusalem with your doctrine.

This was given as a criticism, but God fixed it for a compliment. They had captured Jerusalem for Jesus. They were spreading the word for Jesus.

Until now, the Jerusalem church had stayed in Jerusalem, capturing that city for Christ, but there arose a great persecution against the church at Jerusalem and they were scattered abroad. Then they began to spread the word in Judea, reaching out in Samaria. Philip went down to Samaria spreading the word for Jesus. (Acts 8:5) Philip went down to Gaza from Jerusalem spreading the word for Jesus and baptized the Eunuch of Ethiopia. The Bible says in Acts 8:4… ‘Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.’ This is saturation evangelism, every member using every available person at every available time by every available means to preach the glorious gospel. This is how the first century church accomplished the most amazing results. The whole paganistic Roman Empire was undercut and overthrown by the power of the Gospel of Christ which was on the lips of Christ-conquered disciples who crossed seas and deserts, who pierced the darkest jungles, who seeped into every city and town, and who turned the world upside down as they were spreading the Word.

MY CHALLENGE TO THIS CHURCH IS THAT WE MUST SPREAD THE WORD TO THIS CITY.

The most important work of the church is soul winning. Soul winning is God’s No. 1 business. (John 3:16) Jesus said, ‘For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.’ (Luke 19:10) Proverbs 11:30 says, ‘He that winneth souls is wise.’ Why is he wise?

·         He is arresting a stream of evil influence, turning back a human spirit from a downward direction to a heavenward direction.

·         He is originating a stream of holy and helpful influence which will bring unimaginable good.

·         He is wise because he is rescuing the perishing and caring for the dying.

·         He is wise because he is getting men to build their hopes on things eternal, so they can hold on to God’s unchanging hand.

When I think about millions dying in their sins every month, soul saving becomes urgent. When I think about how our country is hypnotized by television, mesmerized by rock music, hip hop music and addicted to drugs and alcohol, I know that we must spread the Word. When I think about how our city and our country are scandalized by divorce, pornography, teen pregnancy, suicide, abortion and crimes, I know that soul winning is urgent. While technology grows, religion shrinks, and God is reduced to a convenience item, for casual use. No community can demand respect from without while its senior citizens are afraid to walk the streets in the daytime, not to mention night time. When I think about millions caught up in false doctrine in man-made churches, where the blind are leading the blind, I know that we must spread the Word. Jesus said in John 8:24, ‘If you die in your sins, where I am you cannot come.’ Oh can’t you see that we need more soul winners in the church?!

We need more soul winners in the pulpit, in the leadership, in the membership, in the office, in the factory, in the bank and on the streets. I don’t know how you feel about it, but I can tell the world…

Though storm clouds may rise, strong winds may blow,

But I’ve found a Savior and He is sweet I know.

Let me sound my trumpet, every chance I get, I’m going to tell somebody about Jesus, the wonderful Savior. Every chance I get, I’m going to tell somebody about the Savior’s wonderful church and his wonderful plan of salvation.