The joy of evangelism
August 4th, 2009 Posted in Harvest Crusades, Pastor's corner, encouragement, essentials, sermons |No Comments »Hey everyone!
In the days leading up to the Southern California Harvest at Angel Stadium, I thought I would focus on the topic of evangelism.
Before that, a couple of updates:
First, I spoke at Mariners Church in Irvine last weekend.
We had a tremendous response to the invitation to receive Christ. We had at least 500 people come forward at invitations at one of the three services I spoke at! It was fantastic!
Second, I am speaking at Saddleback Church this next weekend. This is, of course, pastored by Rick Warren, who has written the best-selling Christian book of all time (next to the Bible, of course), The Purpose Driven Life.
We will show the newly-edited Lost Boy: The Next Chapter film, and I will speak after each showing.
Now, back to our topic . . .
We over-complicate evangelism
It is my firm belief that God can use you to bring others into His Kingdom. Why would God tell us to engage in this thing we call evangelism if it were not so?
Know this: the calling of God is the enabling of God.
I believe that God wants to use all of us to bring people to Himself.
The book of Proverbs says, ”The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). Scripture also tells us, “Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who turn many to righteousness will shine like stars forever” (Daniel 12:3).
So, with the Southern California Harvest only days away, I thought I would talk about the who, where, why, what, when, and how of evangelism.
Who is called to share their faith?
Let’s start with the question of who is called to “go into all the world and preach the gospel?”
Answer: You are! We are! Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).
In the original language, these words are addressed to everyone. Not just pastors, evangelists, and missionaries, but everyone.
Businessmen, housewives, students . . . everyone. No one is exempted.
Also, in the original language, this is a command. Jesus is not saying, “If you can find time in your busy schedule, as a personal favor to me, would you mind ‘going into all the world and preaching the gospel?”
No, as our Savior, Lord, and Commander-in-Chief. He says “Go!”
Not a suggestion
This is not “The Great Suggestion,” but rather “The Great Commission.”
If I am His disciple, I am commanded to go and make disciples of others. If I am not making disciples of others, then I’m not really being the disciple He wants me to be!
For many of us, however, it is “The Great Omission,” instead of ”The Great Commission.” We are simply not doing it.
Let me say something provocative to you: to not do it is a sin! The Bible tells us, “Any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).
But God doesn’t want you to share the gospel out of mere duty, but with joy and passion. One of the most exciting and fulfilling things you can do is tell others about Jesus.
This message God has given us was meant to be shared not hoarded. You were blessed to be a blessing.
When you do not share, you begin to stagnate; when you do, you revive. Scripture tells us, “Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25).
We have a choice: evangelize or fossilize!
