He kept telling the disciples there was one reason for His life: He was born to die. He had to go to Jerusalem and suffer on a cruel Roman cross. He was the Lamb of God, who would take away the sins of all people of all times.

The day finally came that He fulfilled His life's ultimate purpose. He hung on the cross and cried, "It is finished." He had accomplished the task to which He had been called. However, the Father in Heaven didn't allow the Son to suffer defeat by the wicked forces of the universe. He raised His Son from the dead and exalted Him above everything in existence. He gave Him a name that is above all names.

Before Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, He appeared to His disciples. He gave them a commission to go into the whole world and preach this good news: every person, no matter how sinful, can now be reconciled to his holy, pure Creator because of the blood that was shed on that Roman cross outside of Jerusalem. The disciples were to proclaim Him. He was the good news. They were to teach men and women to obey all He had taught them. They were to proclaim His sinless life, His atoning death and the power of His resurrection.

But Jesus told His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem before they began their mission. Why did Jesus tell them to wait? The world was such a needy place. Why didn't He want them immediately to be about the task of world evangelization?

The answer was simple. They needed to be "clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). Consequently, the New Testament church didn't begin with its focus outward, but with the hearts of the believers looking upward. The New Testament church began in a prayer meeting. Jesus laid the foundation of the church by turning the hearts of the disciples heavenward. It's interesting to note the pattern that develops throughout the book of Acts. The church prays and then it proclaims the good news of God's salvation to man.

It's in prayer that the church finds its power to proclaim the forgiveness of Jesus. The purpose of prayer is to worship Jesus Christ. In the worship experience we find the power to witness of His love and of His power to save those who believe in Him. The ultimate purpose of world evangelization is to fill the whole earth with His glory. The effective witness of Jesus is the one who has the glory of God written on the tablet of His heart.

The purpose of telling others about Jesus is primarily for the glory of God. Many have become discouraged and ceased witnessing because of an inadequate understanding of the purpose of witnessing. If I were to ask most evangelical Christians why we should tell others the gospel, I would probably receive a variety of responses. Some would say, "People are dying and going to hell. They need to be saved." That's true, but it's an inadequate answer for three basic reasons.

First, it places the focus of salvation on the needs of man. Second, it places a great burden on the one witnessing for Christ rather than on the Holy Spirit. The work of salvation is a work of God's grace produced by the Holy Spirit. It's the responsibility of the Christian to be obedient in sharing his faith. It's the responsibly of the Holy Spirit to draw people to the Savior. Third, escape from hell is a secondary benefit of salvation. The primary benefit is that men and women are brought into a proper relationship with God, which brings glory to God.

When I came to this understanding, my entire perspective on witnessing was transformed. I ceased telling others of Christ out of a sense of guilt. I began sharing Christ as a result of my love and worship of Him. I wanted others to know Him because of how great and majestic He is. My witnessing began to result from overflow of my own worship.

The great heroes of the faith have been men and women who were consumed with the glory of God. Their every action was motivated by the majesty and glory of God. This motivation has inspired the great preachers of every generation. It has ignited the flames of missionary movements and world evangelization.

Those who have most impacted my life and my philosophy of ministry have not necessarily been the most well-known Christians. They have been the ones who have given their lives to worshipping the Savior and making His worthiness known to all people. They will probably never be known throughout the Christian community, but their worship is well known in heaven.

While ministering in India, I met a young Indian who was ministering among the tribal peoples in the state of Gujarat. He probably will never speak at any large conferences. His name will probably never be a household word in the Christian community. This young man lives among the tribal peoples at the risk of contracting deadly diseases. Hundreds of people have died recently as a result of a cholera epidemic. He works with the Methodist church in the Gujarat, sponsoring medical clinics for needy people. He helps them plant and harvest their crops. He helps to educate them; he teaches them the Bible; and he has brought a number of them to Jesus.

What has motivated a young Indian Christian to risk deadly disease and rejection, choosing to live away from his peers? His salary is low. There's no fame in his work. He lives in uncomfortable surroundings. He is motivated by the same thing that motivated Judson, Carey, and Brainard. They have seen the glory of the Savior in such a way that their entire lives have been dedicated to telling others about Him. They haven't shared Christ in order to build their own ministries or kingdom. The cry of their hearts has been, "For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen" (Matt. 6:13).