"In House" Evangelism
Acts 16:13-15
Years ago I worked for a large manufacturing company. We had a certain project come up and we had to decide whether to produce the product "in house" or whether to "outsource" the job. We decided to contract the job out to another company and the results were disastrous. They were late delivering the product which caused us to be late shipping it. Even worse was the fact that they did not do the job correctly and we had to work overtime to correct their error. Because of this we lost a great deal of time and money.
Whoever coined the phrase "if you want something done right, do it yourself" must have outsourced some work somewhere along the way. Unfortunately, many people are tying to outsource their responsibility to reach their family with the Gospel. It is no cliché to say that "Evangelism starts at home".
Recently in this assembly we have seen the impact one person can have on their entire family. Today we baptized a mother, a daughter and an aunt. A few weeks ago we baptized a father & daughter together. Soon we will baptize a brother and sister together.
It is exciting to see families coming to know Jesus simultaneously. However, what we are experiencing is nothing new. In fact, people reaching their families with the good news of Jesus Christ is as old as the church itself. Consider:
- Andrew introduced his brother Simon Peter to Jesus.
- Peter introduced his mother-in law to Jesus.
- The apostles James and John were brothers.
- Their mother was a follower of Christ.
- Cornelius was promised that his entire household would be saved.
- The Philippian jailer received salvation and so did his family.
- Paul speaks of the faith that was possessed by Timothy, his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois.
As we arrive at our selected text we read the story of a woman named Lydia. Verse 15 tells us that she and her entire household came to faith in Jesus. I would like to examine her story and preach on the subject of "In House" Evangelism.
It is important to me that the people I encounter throughout the week have a personal relationship with the Savior. If they don't know Him, I want to introduce them to Him. It is very important to me that each of you have been born again. And if you don't know Him, I would love to introduce you to Him today. But most importantly I want to know that my wife and my children know Jesus in the free pardon of sin. If I reach the whole world and yet my children die without Jesus I have failed. Consider what the scripture says in - Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
As a father I have the great opportunity to have influence my children with the Gospel. And you have an opportunity to reach your wife, your husband, your siblings, your children, your parents and your extended family with the Gospel Journal, issue #49, p. 41.
Paul told the Philippian jailer, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” There is no guarantee that once you believe in Jesus, your family members will automatically saved. But when you trust in Jesus you have open a the door for God to move into your family’s life and to touch every member of your family! Let's look to the text and see the process of "In House" Evangelism.
During this season of ministry Paul, Silas and Timothy were traveling and establishing churches. v5. The Lord was moving and people were being saved. Paul and his associates traveled through Phrygia and Galatia. They desired to preach the Word in Asia. But the Holy Spirit did not allow this. They then traveled to Mysia & Bithynia and they were not permitted to preach there either. As they arrived in Troas Paul received what we refer to as "The Macedonian Call". He had a vision of a man asking him to "Come over into Macedonia, and help us". Eventually they arrived in Philippi. It was Paul's custom on the Sabbath day to find a synagogue and to reason with the Jews about Christ. (17:1-3) Apparently this community did not have a synagogue. As a result, the women gathered by the riverside in order to pray together. Paul confronts this assembly and delivers the message of the life changing good news of Jesus Christ.
- Notice in verse 13:
I. THE REVELATION OF THE GOSPEL - v13 And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
As Lydia is gathered with the other women she encounters someone who would change her life forever. Paul introduced her to Jesus. Consider:
A. The Origination Of This Revelation - Paul did not save Lydia, but he was a vessel that the Lord used to reveal Himself to her. God orchestrated these events so that she would hear the gospel. Remember, Paul wanted to go and preach in Asia. But Lydia was special to the Lord and He sent Paul to tell her about salvation through Jesus!
What an honor to receive a personal invitation from the Lord Himself to receive eternal life! You are just as special as Lydia! He knew you were going to be here today. Through His Word, this message and the conviction of the Holy Spirit, you are being offered eternal life as we speak! Don't neglect such an opportunity... don't reject this great offer, turn to Jesus today!
As we examine Lydia's conversion we also see:
B. The Obedience In This Revelation - Paul had honorable intentions. He desired to go and preach the Word in Asia. If Paul had been disobedient and followed his own desires... who would have evangelized those present at this prayer meeting? who would have reached Lydia and her family for Jesus? If you continue to read this chapter you will find that a demon possessed slave girl was delivered. Then the Philippian Jailer was converted and salvation spread to his household. And there were countless others who were saved as a result of this missionary journey.
It is vitally important that you follow the Lord's instructions! When you are disobedient it will have an impact on others. But when you are obedient and follow Him, He will put you where He wants you to be. When you are where He wants you to be He can use you to reach others for Him.
Interesting side note: Paul’s first European convert was from the very province (Asia) where Paul had recently been forbidden to go (16:6).This proves that God knows what He is doing... just trust Him and obey His direction.
Paul trusted Him and the Gospel was Revealed to Lydia. Let's look to verse 14 and see how she responded to what she heard. Consider:
II. THE RECEPTION OF THE GOSPEL - v14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
People do not always respond to evangelism the way we would like. Sometimes they patronize us, sometimes they ignore us, sometimes they reject us and sometimes they even cuss us. This is why we must remember that we are called to convey the message not to convict the sinner. Likewise, we are called to share not to save.
But every so often we may get the privilege of seeing someone come to Jesus. As Paul shared the gospel on that riverbank he was able to see Lydia receive Christ as her Savior. Consider what happened when she trusted in Jesus.
A. Religion Is Rejected - We are told that Lydia "worshipped God". Lydia believed in the God of Israel but had yet to be converted. She worshiped God and believed in him. But belief was not enough. In order to be saved she had to surrender to Christ. She rejected her religious rituals and turned to Jesus there beside that river.
If you have heard the gospel and believe in Jesus, that is great. But head knowledge is not enough. You must trust Christ as your savior, turn from your religion, reject the rituals, cease the ceremonies and be born again. Don't trust your works, good moral living, church membership, or baptism to get you to Heaven.... simply TRUST JESUS!
Not only do we see that religion is rejected when one receives the Gospel, we also see that:
B. Redemption Is Received - Lydia received the greatest gift possible on that day. She was delivered from her sins and provided with eternal life. Lydia was a woman who had a lot going for her. She was a very successful business woman. She is described as “Seller of purple”. Purple dye was extremely expensive and purple garments were worn by royalty and the wealthy. As a result, Lydia’s, business turned a nice profit. She made good money and owned a house that was large enough to accommodate Paul & his associates. But there was something missing. There was something that this world could not give her. But on that day, there on that riverbank she found Peace, Joy, Hope and salvation. She was redeemed by the blood of Jesus.
Jesus is extending you that same offer of redemption today. Redemption is the process of buying back someone from bondage by the payment of a price. More specifically it is the price Jesus paid to free us from the bondage of sin. Jesus paid the price to redeem you. If you will receive the message of the gospel, you can experience what Lydia experienced that day.
As we reach verse 15 we arrive at the heart of the message. It is here that we see the impact of "In House" Evangelism. Let us consider:
III. THE REACH OF THE GOSPEL - v15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
God sent the message of the Gospel to Lydia through Paul. The Lord opened her heart. She attended to those things which she heard. This means that she paid attention to the Gospel message. She immediately had an impact on her family. As a result they were baptized together.
I am sure that the majority of people here would testify that this is how they were brought to faith in Christ. That was the case for me, my grandparents were all Christians. This had an impact on my parents. My parents had a positive impact on my life. As a result I was saved. Now it is my turn to have an impact on my children.
Maybe you were not influenced by a family member... neither was Lydia. But if you are saved you have the privilege and the responsibility of reaching your family for Jesus. The question is... will you be faithful to that task?
Too many people today are attempting to "outsource" the responsibility of evangelism that should be done "in house". Don't expect society to reach your family with the gospel... it is not going to happen! Likewise, the school system will not teach them the ways of the Lord.
Some of you may be expecting the pastor, the Sunday School teacher or the youth/children's ministries of this church to reach them. This is our goal, and it does happen from time to time, but God has given YOU the responsibility of reaching them with the Gospel!
How can a pastor, teacher or youth worker encourage your child to read and study the Bible if they have never seen their "Christian" parents doing the same? The Bible makes it clear that parents are to take the lead in the spiritual training of their children.
In the Old Testament, Moses instructed the parents of Israel regarding their responsibility to their children - And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise (Deut. 6:6-7).
Do your children see Jesus in you? Do you teach them? Do you train them? Do you pray with them? Do you model the Christian life in front of them?
In 1978, Thomas Hansen of Boulder Colorado, sued his parents for $350,000 on grounds of "malpractice of parenting." Mom and Dad had botched his upbringing so badly, he charged in his suit, that he would need years of costly psychiatric treatment. Your children are not going to need years of costly psychiatric treatment if you are guilty of malpractice concerning evangelism. The consequences will be far worse. And those consequences are eternal.
We have a responsibility to reach our family for Jesus. It is happening with great success in this church as we speak. This applies not only to our children but our spouses, siblings, parents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
As a Christian you have a unique opportunity to reach your immediate and extended family with the Gospel of Jesus. The question is... "are you?" If everyone would devote themselves to reaching their own families, we would be amazed at the move of God we would see in this church.
C.H Spurgeon said - We deeply want a revival of family religion. The Christian family was the bulwark (stronghold) of godliness in the days of the puritans, but in these evil times hundreds of families of so-called Christians have no family worship, no restraint upon growing sons, and no wholesome instruction or discipline. How can we hope to see the kingdom of our Lord advance when His own disciples do not teach His gospel to their own children? Oh, Christian men and women, be thorough in what you do and know and teach! Let your families be trained in the fear of God and be yourselves ‘holiness unto the Lord,’ so shall you stand like a rock amid the surging waves of error and ungodliness which rage around us.
Will you do you part? Will get involved with "In-house" Evangelism? If you will do your part, God will do His and we can rejoice together as we see our loved ones come to know Jesus!
