Vision For Evangelism
Matt. 28:19
Jesus said go and make disciples in all of the world. He was
talking to you and he was talking to me. We have a mandate, we
have a calling, we have a ministry to touch this world with the
message and the love of Jesus Christ. We live in a time when our
family our neighbors and friends are crying out for something to
believe in. What we have will fill every void and need in their lives,
Jesus will take the place of drugs and alcohol, he will take the
place of the physical longings to be loved, he will fill their hearts so
that they no longer need a psychic to tell their future because they
have hope.
The Assemblies of God in the decade of harvest grew by leaps and
bounds. In 1990 there were 16 million believers worldwide that
belonged to Assembly of God churches, closing out the year of
1999 the Assemblies of God numbered 34 million. Our fellowship
more than doubled in ten years! What a great harvest of souls for
the kingdom. It is exciting to be a part of what God is doing in the
last days. Or are we a part. You see almost all of that growth that
we saw in the last ten years has occurred outside of the United
States. Our fellow believers around the world are seeing an
incredible harvest and we are seeing mere trickles in comparision.
It is something that should burden our hearts and take notice, for
obviously they are doing things differently than we are.
Maybe the church here has forgotten what it our primary mission
is. It is not to build great buildings or to come up with the greatest
curriculum, we are called to reach and evangelize this world, and it
starts right here in our own backyard, at our work, with our
families and friends. They need Jesus!
At the beginning of the year a vision committee came together and
sought God for His vision for our church body. Every Sunday
morning we start our services with the first line of our vision
statement. The vision statement is posted on the wall just outside
the sanctuary. As we asked God for His vision we felt that one of
the important things that he wanted us to do was evangelize.
Read that part....
This week as we were a part of the Worldwide A/G 2000
Celebration, I was stirred by the Holy Spirit in what I saw and
heard. Near the end Thomas Trask, the general superintendent
read the vision for the entire A/G.
Let me read one part to you.
It is no coincidence that we were given 8 months earlier the same
vision that God gave for the entire fellowship. This is God’s
heartbeat.
We are Pentecostal people, and I believe that God is sayng that it
is time for us to start acting like one.
What do I mean?
Acts 1:8
The baptism in the Holy Ghost is what makes us pentecostal, not
the fact we speak in tongues or dance around for Him, we have
received the blessing of the Spirit empowerment.
The word says you will receive power and you will be...
It’s not power to speak in tongues or dance, it’s not power to feel
Holy Ghost bumps, it’s not power to prophesy or receive the gifts
of the spirit, it’s not for me so that I can feel good about myself
It is not about me at all, it’s about being filled with Him so that I
can have power to reach this world for Jesus.
As pentecostal people it is what we are to do. He didn’t give us
the precious gift of the spirit so we can have a bless me club, he
gave it to us so that we could step out and do His will.
I can’t imagine what the numbers would be, if we were to walk in
almost any of our churches and take a poll on reaching out and
witnessing. If we were to ask how many this week shared the love
of Jesus and what he has done for you and then asked that person
to church.
I will tell you that the numbers would less than 25% of those
polled. The growth of the church in America stands behind this.
If we were doing it, then our results would similar to the world.
The enemy has gripped the people of God in America with fear.
You even mention witnessing and people in our churches become
uncomfortable, they will find every excuse there is to not be a part
of sharing the love of Jesus.
Fear will keep you from receiving what God has for you.
2Tim 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit
of power, of love and of self-discipline.
You can not do it on your own and you can not allow the enemy to
grip you with fear and render you helpless for the kingdom
It is everyones responsibility to sew seeds into this world, we are
all to witness of our savior.
You may say well it’s not my personality, I’m just shy, so he
doesn’t expect me to really to do anything. (I have been there...)
That is a lie from the devil
Luke 12:11 When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and
authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or
what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time
what you should say."
God will use you within your personality, don’t use that as an
excuse to not spread the good news.
To accomplish God’s plan we all have to be a part.
We in America have become lazy, comfortable, and selfish.
We read in Acts 2:47 . And the Lord added to their number daily those
who were being saved.
And we sit back and say, well there you go if God wants to grow
this church then he will do it. If he did it then, he will do it again
What we fail to see is the scriptures just prior to that
2 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to
the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and
many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the
believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they
continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their
homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and
enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily
those who were being saved.
In other words the people were doing what the word said. Which
meant they were reaching out and they were in unity about it.
Here we argue about style of worship and we get mad and refuse
to worship corporately which causes problems in unity in the
spiritual realm, it is so incredibly selfish and rebellious, and yet
our brothers and sisters over seas are just glad to get into the
house of God. To come into His presence and lift up His name
with fellow believers, they understand it is not about me, it is
about Him. They read this passage in Acts and realize that if they
are to be effective in reaching out they have to do it within the
principles God has set forth.
We don’t come into the house of God because we don’t feel good
or we are tired, or we say we are trying to reach our families by
spending time with them, or our job keeps away week after week.
And yet our brothers and sisters overseas, do not forsake the
gathering together. Because they know that if they are tired they
can find strength in His presence, if they have a headache he will
heal it, if they want to reach their families they recieve
empowerment, encouragement and show them that gathering
together with other believers isn’t just something you do to please
the pastor.
Our brothers and sisters are doing something right we need to look
at what they are doing and figure out what we can do like them
that will allow God to flow through in the same way.
So How Can I Become the witness God wants me to be?
1. S- See people as God does.
Matt. 9:36
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because
they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd
Matt. 14:14
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on
them and healed their sick.
Col 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe
yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and
patience.
2. T- Tap into the power
Acts 1:8
Luke 4:14
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news
about him spread through the whole countryside.
Luke 24:49
I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in
the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
3. E- Enrich your spirit with the bible and someone who witnesses
2Tim 2:9
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from
David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the
point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not
chained.
John 14:26
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in
my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of
everything I have said to you.
1Cor. 11:1
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
Phil. 3:17
Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note
of those who live according to the pattern we gave you
2Tim 1:8
So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me
his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the
power of God,
4. Prayer
Psalm 24:3-6
Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?
Who may stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol
or swear by what is false.
He will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from God his Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
It is in prayer we find rest, strength, favor, wisdom, understanding,
encouragement. God uses something so simple to bless our lives
with the wealth of heaven.
Close: God has called us to be a people to reach this world. It is
up to us to take the S.T.E.P. that will lauch us into the ministry
and fulfill what God has for us. We have the greatest news in the
world. Don’t let misconceptions and fear keep you from the
obeying God’s mandate to the church. This morning leat’s take a
STEP forward and STEP all over satan and his plans for our
friends, neighbors and family.
