Means for Evangelism

Every study of the witnessing habits of professing Christians produces a frighteningly similar result; only about 2% are ever engaged in personal evangelism.  This begs the question, "Why?"

A common answer is, "They do not know how.  They need more and better training."

But thousands of believers are trained in evangelism methods every year (Evangelism Explosion, F.A.I.T.H., etc.).  There has not been another time in history when Christians knew more about the message and methods of evangelism than we know today.

"I do not have the gift of evangelism" is an often repeated excuse for not evangelizing.

There are those people whom the Holy Spirit has gifted for harvest ministries (evangelism).  In Ephesians 4:11-12, Paul was inspired to write, "And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ."

However, when Paul told young Timothy to "do the work of the evangelist," there is no indication that he was writing to a gifted evangelist.  Instead, he was addressing a relatively inexperienced young church planter and missionary.  He was stressing that evangelizing is essential for an obedient follower of Christ.

When Jesus told his followers, "you will be My witnesses (Acts 1:8)," He did not say, "This applies only to those of you who have the gift of evangelism."

We must conclude that evangelizing is more a matter of obedience than our doing what we are gifted to do.

So, if every believer is commanded by our Lord to evangelize (Matthew 28:19), why are so few doing it?

Could it be that most true Christians have tried to share the good news about Jesus with lost people, and they have discovered that they are not very good at doing it?

This is essential to your understanding:  Of yourself, evangelism is not difficult; it is impossible!

In John 15:5, Jesus said, "I am the vine; you are the branches.  The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me."

When He called common men to drop everything and follow Him, Jesus said, "I will make you fish for people!" (Mark 1:17)

The Greek verb translated "make" is poieo.  It means to cause something to happen, to be the author of something.

When Jesus said, "You will be My witnesses (Acts 1:8)," He prefaced it with, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you."

When he commissioned His followers to "," He said, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go, therefore, and make disciples..." (Matthew 28:18-19)

When Jesus said, "Go, therefore, and make disciples," He was saying, "Consequently, because all authority has been given to Me, you go."

In John 20:21, He said, "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."

As a follower of Jesus, you are a "sent one."  Rejoice, because the One who is sending you is with you (Matthew 28:20).  You have His authority to proclaim His message (Matthew 28:18) and you have His power (Acts 1:8).

You have been commanded to do something that is impossible in your own strength, but God makes the impossible possible.  Paul discovered this and wrote, "I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me."

Evangelizing is not something you do for God in your strength.  It is something He does through you in response to your availability and obedience.  Evangelism is the Holy Spirit doing a supernatural work through yielded human instrumentality.

Comments

[Dr. Mark Richardson]

It really is amazing how God draws the lost to Himself; what great confidence we should have in His work of evangelism. This truth has done more to embolden me in witnessing than any class on evangelism. Great word, Bro. Wayne, thanks for the reminder.

In Christ,
Mark