Evangelize. It means to share the good news of Christ. We are all commanded to evangelize. We are all evangelists. Look at your neighbor and say "YOU ARE AN EVANGELIST." Now say, "I AM AN EVANGELIST." Not only are Billy Graham, Steve Hill, and other prominent ministers evangelists. We all have been commanded to share the good news of our Savior.
This morning, I am going to talk about what it means to be an evangelist. As I share, don’t be guilty of the tragic mistake we all have made when listening to a sermon. You know, when you are thinking, "THIS IS A GOOD MESSAGE FOR BROTHER BILLYBOB" Or "I NEED TO GET A TAPE OF THIS FOR SISTER SUZYQ." But like the old gospel spiritual, "It is not my brother, or my sister, but me Lord that stands in need." This message is for you, it is about you, you need it, apply it to your life and it will do you some good.
I. The Call of the Evangelist
Acts 16:6-12
A. THE CALL HEARS THE DESPERATE CRIES OF THOSE IN NEED OF CHRIST
B. THE CALL IS SENSITIVE TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
C. THE CALL SIEZES UPON DIVINE APPOINTMENTS -- UNDERSTANDING GOD’S SOVEREIGN FOREORDINATION
1. Example of Tom Lane
II. The Commission of the Evangelist
Mark 16:1-20
A. THE COMMISSION IS COMMANDED AND NOT OPTIONAL FOR BELIEVERS
B. THIS PASSAGE HAS TWO COMMANDS: GO & PREACH THE GOSPEL, THE REST ARE PROMISES
C. TO INHERIT THE PROMISES, YOU MUST OBEY THE CONDITIONAL COMMANDS
D. THEY OBEYED AND THE LORD WORKED WITH THEM TO CONFIRM THE PROMISES
E. MIRACLES FLOW THROUGH YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU ARE A RIVER OF GOD’S BLESSING, NOT A RESERVOIR OF GOD’S BENEFITS
III. The Vision of the Evangelist
John 4:34-35
A. JUST AS THE EYES OF ELISHA’S SERVANT GEHAZI WERE OPENED TO SEE REALITY OF GOD’S PROTECTION, SO ARE OUR EYES OPENED TO SEE THE NEED FOR THE GOSPEL
B. DAVE WILKERSON’S TEEN CHALLENGE MINISTRY GREW OUT OF HIS SEEING A YOUNG GANG MEMBER IN THE PAPER ON TRIAL
C. HE DIDN’T SEE A CRIMINAL BUT A BOY IN NEED OF A SAVIOR
D. CHRIST DID NOT SEE A THIEF ON THE CROSS NEXT TO HIM, BUT A BELIEVER WHO JOINED HIM IN PARADISE
E. WE DON’T SEE WITH HATE, VENGEANCE, OR THE LIKE
F. WE VIEW THE HARVEST AS RIPE, NEEDY, READY MEN/WOMEN TO RECEIVE GOD’S MERCY. ALL THEY NEED IS TO BE SEIZED BY HIS GRACE
G. WE REMEMBER THE TRANSFORMATION OF OUR OWN LIVES BY GOD’S MIRACULOUS GRACE
IV. The Heart of the Evangelist
Matthew 9:36
A. COMPASSION -- NOT COLDNESS
B. AS A SIGN OF THE TIMES, THE LOVE OF MANY HAS GROWN COLD
C. COLD -- NOT NECESSARILY TO FAMILY, SPOUSE, CHILDREN -- BUT LOVE TO A NEIGHBOR
D. WHERE ARE THE GOOD SAMARITANS
E. HAVE YOU PASSED MEN BLEEDING & DYING ON THE JERICHO ROAD AND THOUGHT, THEY WERE FOOLISH FOR TRAVELING ALONE
F. DO YOU PICK THEM UP, MEND THEIR WOUNDS, AND POUR IN THE OIL AND THE WINE -- LIKE JESUS DID FOR YOU WHEN YOU DESPERATELY NEEDED HIS GRACE
V. The Prayer of the Evangelist
Matthew 9:37-38
A. WHEN YOU SEE THE ABUNDANCE OF NEED, YOUR PRAYER FOCUSES NOT ON WHAT YOU NEED IN YOUR LIFE, BUT WHAT HIS KINGDOM NEEDS -- THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE
B. LORD OF THE HARVEST, SEND LABORERS
C. HERE AM I, SEND ME
VI. The Reward of the Evangelist
Daniel 12:2-3
A. THE EVANGELIST’S REWARDS ARE ETERNAL, BECAUSE THE FRUIT OF HIS LABOR IS ETERNAL
B. LABOR NOT FOR GOLD WHICH CORRODES, OR BREAD WHICH PERISHES, BUT FOR THE ONLY THING IN THIS LIFE THAT IS ETERNAL, THE SOULS OF MEN
C. I WOULD NOT STOOP TO BE A:
1) SURGEON AND HOLD A LIVE BEATING HUMAN HEART IN MY HAND, AND TRANSPLANT AN ORGAN INTO A MAN TO "SAVE HIS LIFE" AND HE DIES 3 YEARS LATER
2) I AM A GOSPEL PREACHER -- I REACH MY HAND AND TOUCH THE ETERNAL SOULS OF MEN, AND THEIR SPIRITS ARE QUICKENED TO NEW LIFE AND LIVE FOREVER
3) POLITICIAN -- TO SPEND ALL MY ENERGY TO CREATE URBAN REFORM TO GIVE A FEW BUILDINGS A FACE LIFT
4) I AM A GOSPEL PREACHER -- I SHINE FORTH CHRIST INTO THE DARKEST ALLEYS OF HUMAN DEPRAVITY AND SEE THE HANDS WHICH HANG DOWN LIFTED UP, THE HEARTS WHICH ARE HEAVY TRADED FOR THE JOY OF THE LORD
5) BUSINESSMAN -- TO SELL NEW TOYS, MAKE LOTS OF MONEY AND DIE AS NAKED AS I CAME INTO THIS WORLD
6) I AM A GOSPEL PREACHER -- I TRADE IN THE ETERNAL COMMODITIES OF LIFE AND DEATH. WHEN I OPEN MY MOUTH AND DECLARE JESUS TO THE HOWLING HORDES OF HELPLESS HOPELESS HURTING HUMANITY, THE GOSPEL DOES NOT RETURN VOID, BUT LAYS UP AN ETERNAL PAYROLL OF THE SAVED SOULS OF MEN THAT WILL SHINE AS JEWELS IN MY CROWN PERPETUALLY
D. SHARING THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS IS THE HIGHEST CALLING, OCCUPATION, USE OF YOUR TIME IN THIS LIFE.
E. BE AN EVANGELIST. JUST DO IT.
