There are certain basics we need to understand concerning evangelism. Evangelism is in no way only a human endeavor. Evangelism or to evangelize is something that God appointed. It is not merely something you learn and get familiar with. It is not merely something you study and learn some four spiritual laws or something God wants you to know. Today it is al about feeding the mind and equipping the mind and intellect. But although the mind has its part to play it should never be the dominating factor. The heart is what is missing in today’s evangelism. We need to return to the heart of true evangelism and the heart of the gospel. The heart of true evangelism is not merely man’s intellect perceiving some knowledge of God and Christ and man, no, that’s not it at all. The heart of evangelism is not about knowing some Scriptural methods and some form of presentation. The heart of true evangelism lies in the words of the Lord Jesus Christ and of Paul in John 12 and 2 Corinthians 4.
John 12:23-28:
“And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor. 27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name.”
2 Corinthians 4:1-18
“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
Look at this: “…all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.”
This was the spirit in which the early church operated: Every thing that happened to them, every working of God in their life’s had an overflow to the world to others salvation. They operated in the grace of God! Grace abundant, overflow to the salvation of many redound to the glory of God!
The NIV of verse 15:
“All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”
“…the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause …. Glory to God…” This is what today’s evangelism are lacking, the glory of God and the glory to God in the face of Christ!
Grace is not something you learn, it is not mere intellectualism, it is not earned, it is something that must be granted by God and received by man. It is the ability to be and do what one could never be and did. Paul said it was through the Grace of God that he labored more than others!
1 Corinthians 15:9-10
“For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. “
Grace enabled men to went forth and reach the lost for Christ! But Grace is not learned through some course or given by some training of the mind, how good it may be.
In Christ alone can we obtain Grace and in fellowship with Christ does Grace become more abundant. No man can receive Grace outside of Christ. Outside Christ is wrath and condemnation upon every man. What we need to know is how to grow in grace and favor with God. If Grace is the ability to be, then whatever we are we should endeavor to find grace more abundantly to labor more abundantly. In short God has given all mediums of grace whereby we may increase and grow in Grace.
There is a difference between grace and mercy. God’s mercy is over all His creation, but God’s grace is only in Christ, and can only abound and become more abundantly in fellowship with Christ.
Although we may say that grace is totally undeserved it still reveals from Scripture that:
· Grace can be received in vain (2 Corinthians 6:1-2) “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and he day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
· Someone can fall out of or from grace (Galatians 5:4) “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”
· Someone can fall short from or fail or lack in grace (Hebrews 12:15) “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.”
· Grace can be without effect (1 Corinthians 15:10) “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them-yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me”
Means of receiving grace revealed in Scripture:
· By dealing with sin and not excusing sin, but testifies against it and judge it and forsake all its paths. Proverbs 28:13-14 “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Happy is the man that feareth always: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.”
· To hold one’s self to what God has promised and prepared, to lay hold of the Kingdom and its ways and righteousness, to adhere or cling to and seek its rule and to be closely joined to Christ or and those that have gone before us. Hebrews 12:28 “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:”
· To be established in the righteousness and merit of Christ and not our own, not in what we can do or have done and to count our own as dung. Romans 5:21 “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”
· By submitting to the will of God, to the ways of God and to the discipline of God. To have a deepening dependence on God and by preparing to meet God. James 4:6-10 “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
· By not withdrawing but by through Christ mediation continue to come with boldness to the Throne of grace because of Him. Hebrews 4:16 (13:9) ”For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.”
· By sacrificial living and by a free and generous spirit, following Christ to learn from Him and increase in true knowledge of His mind and life and becoming like Him 2 Corinthians 8:1, 6, 7, 9; 2 Peter 3:18 (Christ likeness, by clothing with Christ, Romans 13:14) “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. 6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. :7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. 9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen. “
· By giving cheerfully, in the midst of need and poverty, one still gives abundantly, to be not swallow up in one’s own need but those of others and the measure we use will be use to measure our own supply. 2 Corinthians 9:6-9 (v8) But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. :7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth forever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth forever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
There are also other means of grace whereby God supply His grace towards us in Christ.
· Through prayer, supplication and intercession
· Through the ministry of the Word – anointed preaching and teaching.
· Through fellowship and communion with the saints
Another thing we need to receive and be established in is righteousness.
Without this preparation evangelism becomes only a human endeavor without the activity of God in it. What we need to understand is that evangelism is born out of fellowship with Christ. If it does not develop from there it is only a human effort. Matthews 4:19 gives one of the basics of evangelism.
Matthews 4:19
“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Those that follow Christ through death and resurrection and have fellowship with Him in His death and resurrection is those that can reach the lost for Christ, it is they alone that live for the glory of God because they have died to their own.
We need to see the place from which true evangelism springs forth. In very few epistles of Paul or of one of the others would you find instructions for evangelism. This may startle many! Although the evangelization of the world has such a great place and should occupy such a great platform in modern day Christianity, it was not occupied in the early Church life, at least not in what we know it to be today. Very little was said to the early Church and to the early converts to go out and share the gospel. There were a lot more emphasis to holy living, prayer, separation, forgiveness, mutual love, etc. These things would establish the basis for true evangelism and not to sustain evangelism. Evangelism was born out of real fellowship and holiness and not vice versa. We need to know and understand this. God did not merely call us to go and evangelize the world how important this may be, God did not call us as if this is our life’s calling! We need to get clear on this on thing, and we need to return to this one thing because the church has grossly departed from this basic matter. Although we were commanded to go into all the word and preach the gospel to every creature, many have translated it to become the call of the Christian. This was never the call. Consider with me the following passages:
2 Timothy 1:8-9:
“Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”
Here’s the call:
1 Corinthians 1:9
“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship
of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”
“God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son
Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” (NIV)
Philippians 3:6-12
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
John 15:5-8
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
2 Thessalonians 2:14
But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
All these passages shows the call of God not as going out and evangelize the world how needed it may be today, but a life in fellowship with Christ! Out of this fellowship, a real and vital fellowship which grows and becomes grounded and established, out of this union is and must evangelism be born!
So what we have today is men and woman who fulfills what they think is God’s call for their lives while in actual reality misses the true call of God in Christ by which they would have been equipped to bring lost men and woman to Christ! It is in no way if you are busy with evangelism how needed it may be, but how busy you are with Christ!
Evangelism should be born out of union with Christ and is maintained in a life in fellowship with His death and resurrection, with the living Christ. Whenever we start growing in the life of Christ and Christ is formed in us, evangelism will spring forth!
(Will be updated soon!)