MOTIVES FOR EVANGELISM
Luke 6:17-19
As Christians, we have been washed in the precious blood of the Lamb, we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we have been redeemed, delivered from our sins, and raised to walk in newness of life. Our loving God has given us a future, granted us eternal life, provided us with an eternal home in Heaven and a promised reunion with our loved ones. No matter what we face in this life, we have the assurance that one day we will see Jesus face to face. The Apostle John said, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is”. (I John 3:2).
In the early days of Jesus’ ministry, there was no shortage of crowds who were excited about following Jesus. Sadly, there came a time when the crowds turned away. In the Church, there are many people who once possessed great passion and were excited about following Jesus and sharing Him with others, but somewhere along the way they too have turned away. All of us are at risk for doing the same, therefore it is imperative that we continue to “fan the flame” concerning our walk with Jesus. One way for us to do this is to spend time examining the amazing life of our Lord and also remembering all that He has done in our lives. When we do this, it will serve to reignite our passion and excitement for Jesus and for evangelism. I would like to examine Luke 6:17-19 and consider some “MOTIVES FOR EVANGELISM”.
- One motivation for evangelism is the fact that:
I. JESUS POSSESSES POWER THAT CANNOT BE HIDDEN
Jesus is not just powerful; He is all powerful; He is the omnipotent God. His mighty power is evident on every page of God’s Word, and it is apparent in the world around us. His power is evident in the work of creation, it is evident in the miracles that He performed, His power is evident in His glorious resurrection, and according to the Bible, we haven't seen anything yet! There is coming a day when He will split the Easter sky, with a shout, with the sound of a trumpet and the voice of the Archangel. When this happens the Saints will rise and meet Him in the air.
- Christ’s power cannot be hidden. Verses 17-19 show us that:
A. JESUS POWER IS EVIDENT BECAUSE OF HIS MIGHTY WORKS
v17 He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, 18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. 19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.
This is one of several summary sections found in the gospels that covers numerous miracles that Jesus worked on a certain occasion. He healed "many" diseases, He cast out "many" demons, and an entire multitude came to Him seeking a miracle. Throughout the gospels we are told that Jesus:
1) Turned water into wine - (John 2:1-11)
2) Healed the Nobleman's son - (John 4:46-54)
3) Healed many lepers - (Mark 1:40-45)
4) Healed the Centurion's servant - (Luke 7:1-10)
5) Healed Peter's mother in law - (Mark 1:29-31)
6) Healed the man with the withered hand - (Mark 3:1-6)
7) Healed the woman with the issue of blood - (Mark 5:22-24)
8) Healed many blind, deaf and mute men - (Matthew 9:27-31; Luke 11:14)
9) He calmed a raging sea by saying "peace be still" - (Mark 4:35-41)
10) He walked on water - (Mark 6:45-52)
11) He fed over 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread & 2 fish (Mark 6:31-44)
12) He raised at least 3 people from the dead. (Luke 7:11-17) (Mark 5:22-24) (Jo
Even with all of the information that we have concerning the miracle working power of Jesus, there is no way for us to truly know it all. The Apostle John said, “there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written…" (John 21:25).
- Jesus power is evident because of His mighty works, and it is also true that:
B. HE POWER IS EVIDENT BECAUSE OF HIS MANY WITNESSES
v19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.
Why would this vast multitude come from all over the region and fall at the feet of Jesus Christ. I think it is safe to say that many of them came because someone else told them of the Lord’s previous miracles. Some in this multitude were eye witnesses and recipients of a miracle at the hand of Jesus. Filled with excitement and compassion for their loves ones, they went to where they were and took them to the Savior.
This will be our response when we are truly excited about Jesus. Those of us who have been born again are witnesses and recipients of the greatest miracle that one can receive. I am referring of course to the new birth. Jesus has brought us from death unto life and He can do the same for our loved ones. When we are excited about what Jesus has done for us, our natural response will be to spend our days as witnesses of Jesus Christ.
- Let’s take a moment and consider three specific actions of a witness.
1. A WITNESS TELLS THEIR LOVED ONES ABOUT JESUS
These witnesses went and told others about Jesus. They explained all the many miracles that Jesus has done in their midst. When we meet the Savior, we should do the same thing. We should go to our loved ones and tell them what He has done for us. Furthermore, we should let them know that He can and will do the same for them.
- Secondly:
2. A WITNESS TAKES THEIR LOVED ONES TO JESUS
When Andrew met Jesus, the first thing he did was to go and take his brother (Simon Peter) to Jesus. In Luke 5, Jesus healed a paralyzed man who was brought to Him by 4 of his friends. They wanted to get him to Jesus, but the crowd was so great that they couldn't get in the door. They did not let anything prevent them from getting this man to Jesus. They went as far as to climb up on the roof, tear it up and let the man down through the ceiling to get him to Jesus and as a result he was healed.
We should have that same trust in Jesus, and we should have that same kind of burden for others. Let us do our part to be witnesses of Christ and let us take others to Jesus. May we do all that we can to get our loved ones to the Master.
- A witness tells others about Jesus, they take their loved ones to Jesus and:
3. A WITNESS TALKS TO JESUS ABOUT THEIR LOVED ONES
It is not enough to point people to Jesus; we should also intercede on their behalf. There is ample evidence that proves that our Lord hears, honors, and answers such requests that are made on behalf of others.
- This leads us to another motive for evangelism, and that is the fact that:
II. JESUS PERFORMS MIRACLES THAT CANNOT BE DENIED
v19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.
The things that Jesus did, only He could do. His works were absolutely amazing and the people were astonished. When these people walked away after encountering Jesus, no one could deny that something miraculous had happened to them. There were always skeptics in the crowd, and they may not have believed that Jesus was who He said He was, but no one could deny that many miracles had occurred by the touch of His hand or the sound of His voice.
It is the same way when Jesus saves a lost soul. The people of this world may not understand what has taken place in the life of a new convert, they may never come to faith in Christ themselves, but they will know that something amazing has happened in their midst. However, for us to have such an impact, we cannot lose our excitement about Jesus or our passion for evangelism.
The people in this crowd had serious issues; some were sick, some were possibly at the point of death, others were possessed by demons. The fact that Jesus could cure all of these various issues was absolutely incredible. Not only were the miracles of Jesus incredible, they were intimate. Though there was a vast multitude of people, each and every miracle was personal and specific. Jesus invested time in each person and did a special work in their lives. That is the case when Jesus saves a soul. Many people may trust Christ simultaneously, but each one is touched and changed individually!
Jesus’ miracles were incredible and intimate, and they were also immediate. As soon as Jesus touched these people they were healed; and they were healed permanently. Likewise, when He saves a soul, the transformation is immediate and it is eternal. And it is something that should cause us to be and remain excited about Jesus and devoted to evangelism.
- There is yet another motive for our involvement in evangelism and that is the fact that:
III. JESUS PRODUCES EXCITEMENT THAT CANNOT BE CONTAINED
The people in this crowd were so excited about Jesus that they could not contain themselves. Let's take a moment and consider:
A. THE REASON FOR THIS EXCITEMENT
These people had seen Jesus work amazing miracles. Many of them had experienced His miracles in their own lives. The things that Jesus had done among them were not small, simple tasks; they are called miracles for a reason.
The work that Jesus has performed in us is amazing as well. What He has done for us is even greater than making a deaf man hear or a mute man speak. It is greater than cleansing lepers and casting out demons. It is even greater than raising someone from the dead who has been in the grave for 4 days. Jesus Christ has delivered us from our sins, rescued us from hell, and granted us eternal life. These realities alone should prompt an excitement within us that cannot be contained.
- Notice also:
B. THE RESULT OF THIS EXCITEMENT
As these people began to publish the news of Jesus and His amazing power, His fame continued to spread throughout the region. As His fame began to spread, the multitude that followed Him began to grow. A few people got excited and that led to a few more. Then that crowd got excited and the crowd grew even more. This led to a very great multitude following Jesus.
Pastors and church leaders all over the world are trying to find ways to fill up church buildings and to reach people for Jesus. The answer is seen right here in Luke 6. When people who have been touched by Jesus, get excited about Jesus, and tell others about Jesus, then others will come to Jesus, and they will get excited and tell others, and then even more will come.
Are you genuinely excited about Jesus? If you are not excited to the point that you are willing to share Him with others, then something is wrong. I encourage you to pause and remember where you were when Jesus found you. Consider all that He has done for you, realize what He is currently doing for you, and remember what He has promised to do in the future.
- Remember that:
Jesus Possesses Power That Cannot Be Hidden
Jesus Performs Miracles That Cannot Be Denied
Jesus Produces Excitement That Cannot Be Contained
May we focus on these truths and allow them to serve as “Motives For Evangelism”.
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