Replicating Jesus, Part Two: Proclaiming

Do you realize that you carry an incredibly contagious and anointed message with you?

Last week, we began a four-part study about the believer’s assignment to replicate Jesus. He instructed His followers to do the things that He did and even greater things because of the distribution of the Holy Spirit (see John 14:12). Amidst all of the activities recorded about Jesus, we see three that encompassed the majority of His ministry. Matthew 4:23 says, “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people [emphasis mine].” This description is stated again in Matthew 9:35, only it says that “Jesus was going through all the cities and villages” and upon observing the crowds, He realized more workers were needed for the harvest. Therefore, He commissioned His followers to essentially preach, teach, and heal just as He had been doing.

I want to underscore the ministry of proclaiming (preaching) in this blog. The verb proclaiming (kerusso) is derived from the noun kerux which defines a herald. Prior to the first century, a kerux had two functions. First, they were to enter the chamber room of the king and carefully listen to every word that he spoke. He listened to the emotions and intentions behind the words, and he listened for exact content in what was stated. Second, the kerux would leave the chamber room and step before the people of the kingdom and announce what he had heard in secret. The herald’s message was spoken exactly as the king had declared, as if the king himself was speaking. A kerux did not alter the message, water it down, or make changes to it according to the whims and wishes of the crowd. He spoke word for word as the king spoke because the message did not belong to the kerux; it originated in the heart of the king.

This description paints a picture of what our assignment entails. As believers, we are to live out of the secret place with King Jesus. Our words—messages and proclamations of good news—are not to be derived from sources other than the voice of the Lord. When you and I leave the chamber room, having been in the manifest presence of God, it is from that place of intimacy that our words reflect the nature and heart of the One with whom we have been intimate. It’s important to understand that this commission is given to every believer and not to certain pastors and leaders. We are all called into a place of intimacy with the King. Therefore, we are all called to carry these life-giving words, which we’ve been impregnated with, into a desperate and needy world.

Unlike the heralds (kerux) of earlier centuries, however, we never have to leave that intimate place with our King. Paul stated that God “raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6). We are blessed to live each moment from a place of intimacy through the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. From this position of oneness with our King (see John 17:21) we are enabled to say what He is saying; not just what He said. We never have to leave His presence when speaking to other people. Our proclamation of good news to a dying world can become the life-giving words spoken through “divine livestream.” This is why our words can become prophetic in nature, meaning that our words can be filled with Spirit and life just like the words of Jesus (see John 6:63). Our words, anointed and enlivened from heaven, can open blind eyes, drive out demons, bring conviction for sin, cause believers to hunger for a fresh baptism with the Spirit, and bring salvation to multitudes. Peter was an example of a New Testament kerux who spoke under the unction and power of the Holy Spirit. After his message was proclaimed, the hearts of three thousand people were pierced and they cried out in repentance (see Acts 2:37).

Every believer is called to become a kerux. Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach (kerusso) the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). You have been called to replicate Jesus by dispatching a kingdom message that is full of hope, truth, and life everywhere you go. Your assignment, should you choose to obey, is to speak this prophetic message, delivered to your heart through your posture of intimacy with God, into the hearts of our generation. There is no other message with greater possibility of transformation than what you carry. Your words, like Ezekiel in chapter 37, have the capacity to resurrect dry bones and produce living armies for the kingdom of God. Think about this: one of the greatest advocates for Satan is a silent believer. Why would you ever fail to proclaim the gospel message all over your city? It’s time to replicate Jesus. It’s time to speak up and speak out the good news of the kingdom. Christ is in you, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27). It’s time to let Him say what He desires to say through us.

Let’s Pray

Jesus, forgive me for being silent. May I replicate your life by dispatching the good news of the gospel everywhere I go. I will not be silent any longer. I will proclaim and preach your words to all creation. Amen.