A. INTRODUCTION
This series is not about ordaining women or women pastors, but about ministry that is given to everyone; that includes women. Most evangelicals recognize the nine serving gifts that are given to believers. This series will feature nine women who best characterize these nine spiritual gifts.
1. Evangelist – the woman at the well
2. Helper – Phoebe
3. Exhorter – Esther
4. Teacher – Lois and Eunice
5. Giver – Lydia
6. Administrator – Martha
7. Mercy Shower – Naomi
8. Prophet – Deborah
9. Shepherd – Mary Magdalene
1. Special ability. What is a spiritual gift? God has given special abilities to His servants to serve Him in the body of Christ. “There are different kinds of abilities or gifts that come from the same Spirit. These gifts serve in different ways, but come from the same Lord. These gifts produce different results, but the same God does the work in everyone” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6, ELT).
2. Ministry. What is the purpose of spiritual gifts? “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace” (1 Peter 4:10, NIV).
3. Everyone. Who has spiritual gifts? “As everyone has received a gift, even so let them minister to one another” (1 Peter 4:10, ELT).
4. Yes. Can our ability to minister (gifts) grow? “Earnestly desire the greater gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:31, NIV). “For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you” (2 Timothy 1:6, NIV).
5. Yes. Can you have a dominant gift? Each one has his proper (unique) gift” (1 Corinthians 7:7, ELT).
B. WHAT IS THE GIFT OF EVANGELISM? (JOHN 4:1-39).
The one with the gift of evangelism has a consuming desire to see lost people believe in Christ, the ability to point people to Christ, a desire to find ways to share his/her faith and discerns when the Holy Spirit is moving a person toward conversion and helps them accept Christ.
1. Shared her experience. What was her desire? “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is this not the Christ?” (John 4:29).
2. Conversions. What was her result? “Many Samaritans of that city believed on Him” (John 4:39).
3. Went looking for others. What did she do after meeting Jesus? “The women then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith unto the men” (John 4:28).
4. Testified. What did she say to her lost friends? “Many of the Samaritans . . . believed on Him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did” (John 4:39).
What should be included in your testimony?
a. What I was before conversion.
b. How I received Christ.
c. What happened at your conversion.
d. What Christ means to me now.
5. Jesus Christ. What changed her life? “The woman said, ‘I know that Messias cometh, which is called the Christ’” (John 4:25). Notice how Jesus answered, “Jesus saith unto her, ‘I that speak unto thee am He’” (John 4:26).
C. IDEAS TO TAKE AWAY
1. Lay person. You do not have to be ordained to point others to Jesus. Philip was the only person called an evangelist in the Bible; he was originally a deacon (6:5; 21:8).
2. Personal. You do not have to be a public speaker to point others to Jesus.
3. Conversation. You do not have to be in front of a public meeting. “Went her way into the city, and saith to the men” (4:28).
4. Do not argue. The woman wanted to argue, “Our father worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem” (4:20). Jesus answered, “Woman, believe me . . .” (4:21).
5. Point people to Jesus. “Come, see a man. . .” (4:29).
6. Salvation is the greatest gift. What is the greatest belief?
7. Everyone should witness. Some people do not share their faith because they wrongly say, “I don’t have the gift of evangelism.” Everyone has all gifts. Why?
a. Everyone is commanded to witness (Acts 1:8).
b. A spiritual gift is the Holy Spirit, and all believers have Him.
8. Fear keeps us quiet. Wrong ideas about evangelism keep us from doing it. We wrongly think evangelism is “arm twisting” or a “sales presentation” or “arguing about faith.”
9. Know yourself. We all have different strengths in using our spiritual gifts. Some are weak, i.e., 4 or 5, they can talk about Jesus. Some are strong, i.e., 10, they can answer objections to lead people to Christ.
Know your giftedness.
Know your strengths.
Do most what you do best.
Be faithful in small abilities.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
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