We Proclaim Him

WE PROCLAIM HIM!

Text: Colossians 1:28 – 29

Tonight I want to talk about “evangelism”. We all have our idea of what is meant by the word, “evangelism”.

• Going door to door – canvassing.

• Passing out Christian tracks.

• Holding tent/camp meetings.

I know that many will think of the “Great Commission”:

Matthew 28:19-20

19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

All of these are part of “evangelism”.

Not too many will look to this passage for the meaning, but consider it.

“We proclaim Him..(NIV)…Him we preach…(NKJ)

1. Evangelism is a proclamation!

Paul wrote this letter to the Colossians wanting them to understand the importance of telling others about Christ. Look at Col 4:3.

Paul used the comparison of himself being imprisoned and looking for an open door. Folks, this is evangelism.

Evangelism is about proclaiming Christ at every opportunity we are given.

Consider the Day of Pentecost, and the first sermon delivered to the church. Peter simply told everyone that Jesus was and is the Son of God Who became flesh, lived a sinless life for 33 years, and was crucified on the cross at Calvary.

Peter said in Acts 2:24

“But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”

There was an A/G evangelist by the name of Bernard Johnson the preached crusades in Brazil for over 20 years, and nearly 2 million found Christ as their Savior and Lord.

He recently passed away and was asked what part of his preaching did he think was the reason for so many salvations. He simply said, “I always exalt Jesus Christ.”

Perhaps we make witnessing and testifying more difficult than it is.

1 Corinthians 2:1-2

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.

For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

God did not call us to match wits with the people we proclaim Christ to.

We should never become defensive about the Gospel of Christ.

Those who would want to argue are not looking for a Savior, anyhow.

We do not talk to others and ask them to join up with our group of people. We are nice folks, but that isn’t what we are for.

We are here for Christ.

Our message is clear and is also a warning for those who are spiritually lost. Look at Colossians 1:13 – 14.

2. Evangelism is a warning!

Many have thought of Evangelism to be about decisions…and it is that. But it is also about disciples.

3. Evangelism is about teaching!

Colossians 1:28 speaks of,

“…teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ…”

Paul had a great concern about some of the Colossians backsliding.

Read Col 1:23

Likewise, Jesus had the same concern with His followers. He said in

Matt 10:22

“…he who endures to the end will be saved.”

The job of evangelism only begins when the sinner asks for forgiveness.

Notice verse 28 in our text – Paul says “every man” 3 times.

4. Evangelism is hard work!

Look again at verse 29.

We must be ready to persevere and be disciplined in our obedience.

We should remember that God often will perform His miracles after we are obedient. Joshua and the children of Israel had to march around Jericho 7 times before the walls came down.

Jesus gave instructions to the people at the wedding in Cana to fill 6 water pots before He changed into wine.

We are to be the disciplined and obedient disciples who depend on the empowerment of the Holy Ghost to work through us so that we can work hard.

Too many pampered Christians are more interested in the sensational than they are in the supernatural.

The principle here is that we must do what we can before God will step in and do what we can’t.

Not everything God does for us is sensational. And the sensational is not always the supernatural.

When the Holy Ghost grants the church His miraculous power, it should immediately activate the church into action that is beyond our capabilities.

5. Evangelism is about relying on the Lord.

There are many times that the Holy Spirit will work through an opportunity.

Acts 16:14

a certain woman named Lydia…The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.

This is how it is happening all over the world. In the last 2 years, the Assemblies of God has opened 25,000 churches that added 6.6 million people to their roles.