Friday, September 24, 2010

How can we get the "Evangelists" out of the Building?


OBSERVATION - - just returning from the streets tonight and thought about the number of "evangelists" on facebook and wondered where they all are? What do you call an "evangelist" that never actually "evangelizes?"

1) I am not an Ephesians 4:11 "Evangelist", yet I cannot help myself but to "evangeliize" the lost and dying. Even the "Apostles" where first called to be "fishers of men" (Luke 5:10)

#2) If, as Jesus' "disciple" - I am to "follow or immitate" Him, then what He "primarily" came to do was to "seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10) . . . shouldn't "soul winning" be at the forefront of my walk, rather than an incidental afterthought?

#3) If I am His diisciple (Matt 16:24) and I truly love Him (1 John 2:3) then I will keep ALL of His commandments, which would include "going" and "preaching the Gospel" (Mark 16:15)

#4) As a believer (any believer) I have (a) been reconciled to God (b) been given the ministry of reconciliation (c) have had committted to me the WORD of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18-19) - that "word" (logon') is something "said" - so if I never go "say" anything am I being faithful to that responsibility?

#5) Further, He calls us His "ambassadors" (2 Cor 5:20) or one acting as His representative - - So, if we are representing, demonstrating, or commmunicating who Jesus is to the world -should we not be walking as He walked - - that being with the primary task to evangelize the world? (John 3:17)

#6) With all of the prayers that He has answered of mine - given the chance - would I not want to answer the one prayer request He made? "pray[ing] the Lord of the Harvest would send forth laborers [not even "Evangelists"] into His harvest" (Matt 9:38)

#7) If we believe that the return of the Lord Jesus is near, and we know that it is His desire that not perish (2 Pet 3:9) then why would we be so "passive" about telling as many people as possible about Him before it is too late? Why wouldn't we make the "main" thing the "main" thing?

#8) While there are certainly "diversities" of (a) gifts (b) administrations (c) operations (1 Cor 12:4-6) It is the "same" Spirit - and that Spirit (The Holy Spirit) came to "convict the world of sin, righeousness and judgment" (John 16:8) - - and because He is in us (John 14:7) We are now His voicepiece of this "reproof" [elengxei] - admonishment, tellling, and rebuke (2 Tim 4:1-2) - - differing "merthods" perhaps - but the same "message"

#9) Paul exhorted Timothy concerning the errors that would find their way into the "last days" Church: (a) loving pleasure or pleasurable things more than they love God (b) having a "form of Godliness, but denying the "power" (2 Tim 3:1-4)

#10) That "power" (Acts 1:8) is designed to make us "witnesses", not (a) administrators (b) helps (c) pew warmers, locally and unto "all the world"

#11) That the way to stay grounded in the word when many will cease to hear and recieve sound Biblical teaching (2 Tim 4:3) is to "do the work of" or "take the responsibility assigned to" an Evangelist - to make full proof of your ministry.

I pour over the scripture for hours each day and I just cannot escape the responsibility that has been handed over to all beleivers to GO and PREACH to the lost - - maybe not where I have been blessed to go do it - but somewhere! and with urgency and responsibility!

I want the whole world to know.

Romans 10:14-16 says, [read it all] " But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!" But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, "Lord, who has believed our message?"

Do you welcome the Good News? or would you rather leave the responsibility of "telling the world about Him" to someone else? Which would bring us to. . .

#12) Are you qualified to tell people about Jesus (evangeliizing)? We will always speak about that which is in the greatest supply within our hearts (Luke 6:45) Not every person who claims to be (a) christian (b) evangelist (c) church goer will make it to heaven (Matt 7:21) but only those that do "His will" - - which is to "seek and save the lost"

Many will try to tell Him about the many great "church" things that they did on the day of judgment (Matt 7:22-23) but He will tell them that He never knew them (or walked in true intimacy with them) - and will call them "lawbreakers"

I just want to be found faithful and do not want to see anyone go to hell without an opportunity to hear about my sweet Jesus - - regardless of what title I go by.

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