Recently, after fulfilling my Sabbath speaking appointment at one of our churches in beautiful Bermuda, I had the opportunity to attend an evangelistic meeting that night. The musicians sang energetically and the preacher preached with vigor. There was a baptism that same evening. I was thoroughly inspired. Everything seemed well-thought-through and prepared. A videotaping of the program was even beamed into the prison where inmates could watch live the baptism of their former inmate.

As I sat and soaked up the spiritual aura of the meeting, I was impressed with the thought that usefulness is the great desire of all who want to be effective disciples of Christ. In order to be useful, we must be prepared. The gospel of Matthew enjoins us to tell in the daylight what we are told by Christ in the dark, and what we are told in the ear, we ought to preach on the housetops (Matthew 10:27, NIV). This presupposes a personal relationship with Christ. What “I tell you” is personal and genuine, Christ says, and what I “whisper in your ear” is urgent and true. In other words, we must not run to do battle with the enemy of our souls until our hearts are prepared through personal communication with our Commander-in-chief.

As we engage in the business of soul-winning during this Year of Evangelism, it is imperative that we prepare ourselves by listening to the authoritative voice of truth. Jesus declared that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Truth is more than theory or speculation about Christ. He is truth. “Verily, verily” was His motto. In other words, “of a truth it is so,” says our Lord. While truth from humans is mixed and adulterated, truth from Christ is unalloyed and undiminished in character.

As a result of what we’re told through God’s holy writ and what we hear in the ear through the mediating of His Holy Spirit, we bear witness in our testimonies and spoken word. We are then prepared to shout it “on the house-tops” and give the trumpet a certain sound. What shall we shout about? That there is peace in the blood of Jesus; there is sanctifying power in His Holy Spirit; and there is rest by faith in our Lord and God.

During the infamous ice-storm in New England this past winter, my wife and I attempted to wait out the electrical blackout by huddling under the blanket in front of the fireplace, hoping its heat would keep us warm. Big mistake! No matter how big the blaze, the heat just seemed to go up the chimney instead. Likewise, we must be careful that the grace and truth afforded us by Christ not be used merely for ourselves only with the result that our heat goes up our own chimneys and never blesses others?

What I heard that Saturday night in Bermuda was “housetop preaching” and “housetop singing” according to Matthew 10:27. And it blessed my heart. May their tribe increase! As the song says, “Take my lips and let them be, filled with messages from Thee.”

Donald G. King is president of the Atlantic Union Conference and chairman of the Atlantic Union College Board of Trustees.