Methods of Evangelism
Evangelism is the key that unlocks the glory of the Second Coming. There
can not be an effective harvest if the seed is not sown. We need to
search the scriptures to learn how this seed is planted. Salvation comes
from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ but it has to be the true Jesus and
not a false one. Jesus prepares the heart as soil is prepared for the
seed, once the seed is sown, it grows to maturity or it does not. This
is what we learn from the Bible and Jesus teaches us that the seed is
sown in the heart by us hearing the word of the kingdom. Jesus sows the
good seed that bears fruit and the enemy sows the bad seed, but it is
through us that it happens one way or another. If the seed is the Word
of God and comes by hearing, then someone must be there to speak the
word so that others can hear. This is not the word of God spoken in a
church for the church is generally made up of those that have already
heard. Peter writes of us being born again of incorruptible seed by the
word of God and ultimately that comes from God but yet it is through the
word spoken in us.
One thing that we may learn from the responses this time is that it is a
gift and must be in the power of the Holy Spirit if we are to
evangelize. The only way that one can hear the word of the Lord and be
saved is if someone is SENT to them. What I am learning here is that
those that go without being sent are defeating the purpose of the soil
being prepared. Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons are good examples of those
being sent by the evil one. They do not go in the power of the spirit,
they go from a sense of duty according to their false doctrine and it is
in the power of the flesh. We must be careful not to fall into the same
category. I still believe however, that we do have a responsibility to
make sure that there are those sent into the harvest. Whether we go
ourselves or equip others to go or just pray that the Lord will send
workers into the field, we should be doing something to bring others
into the kingdom. It was mentioned before that it is sheep that
reproduce sheep, not the shepherd. Ideally, this means that we have
first sought the kingdom and His righteousness in our own lives. If we
have done that, then we should be asking and listening to the Lord who
will give us the power to know exactly what it is that we should do. One
thing we are to do is to be a light to the world. Is that light shining
or not?
The amazing conclusion of reading the posts in this edition is of the
few disagreements concerning the methods, effectiveness or even the
validity of evangelism. We have several great messages as to examples
and methods, enough for a handbook for evangelists. There are however
disagreements of whether we should even be evangelizing or not. These
range from the Great Commission as not even being spoken by Jesus and
our Christian example should be enough, to evangelism not bringing
others to Christ because of all the poor evangelists in the past. There
is, I think valid reasons for thinking that way and it is certainly our
responsibility to reach the poor by our example and in many cases as
being sufficient. The confusion as to what evangelism is, is that it
should be bringing others the good news of a spiritual kingdom, not just
the precepts of a religion. The kingdom is to be preached to the poor
but that is my point, the gospel needs to be preached as well as lived
out, not only in the witness of Jesus but in the power of His name and
according to His word. Evangelism has been misused in the past, there is
no dispute on that score. There have been those that have brought false
doctrine and denominationalism and unscriptural dogma in the past as
money grubbing, authoritarian purveyors of crass nationalism and
exploitation. But we are to do a new thing here and not be bogged down
by the mistakes of the past. We are to put away those things and press
on to the higher calling. This means that there are some of us who
should be planting and some of us who should be watering and some who
should praying for the Lord to work in all of us for Him to bring in the
increase and harvest. We are His body, living out His life.
So what is the consensus - are we all evangelists? No, but whether we
are or not, evangelism should be a primary concern and if we are not to
do it ourselves, we should do everything that we can to help spread the
gospel. In this light, I believe that we are all agreed upon this. If
not, I will wait for some more responses on this, but if none, I believe
that we can move onto the next subject.
Jay
First of all, thanks Jay for your part in making all this possible, it
is a
real ministry to the Body.
Some Thoughts On What Evangelism Is
I don't have the gift, but I worked for a missions organization (Every
Home
For Christ) and I learned a few things about evangelism which have
helped to
form my perspective on how we should evangelize. There is a very
interesting
(should read "wise") way of looking at the process of conversion called
the
Engles Scale. It places the time of conversion at 0 and anyone
pre-conversion spread out from -1 to -10 based on their openness to the
Gospel. Our job as disciples of Christ is to discern where a person is
in
their journey and do what we can through prayer and other methods to
move
them from where they are towards 0 (conversion).
Evangelism therefore is more than preaching the conversion message which
is
really only relevant to those who are at -1 in their journey. In most
cases
people who are at -5 or greater would actually be moved away from the
Gospel
and conversion by a preacher proclaiming that they must be born again.
For
some reason the church has applauded people who "boldly proclaim
Christ",
but this "boldness" is called the "hunter" mentality. The idea being
that a
hunter comes upon a herd of deer and shoots one, but scares 49 away. So
what
is the answer for us who love the lost?
Evangelism has to be spiritual since it is a spiritual matter, that
being,
changing the spirit of man. Only God can change the Heart of man. We
can
only assist Him in doing that. Our evangelism ministry is therefore born
in
submission to the Holy Spirit, because only God knows the route and the
need
of the moment of a particular individual. I personally don't think you
should speak to a friend or relative about the Gospel until they show
signs
that they are hungry for answers. You should only pick ripe fruit.
Prayer is
what ripens a person with hunger for God. In this way we are co-workers
with
God. Although we may love the lost, our love is a fraction of God's
love,
and our love is usually impure. Therefore true evangelism originates in
the
heart of God, not our own. It is motivated by His love in us, rather
than
our guilt or duty or other fleshly motive, and is expressed by an
attitude
of submission and obedience to the Holy Spirit.
The church is looking for a huge harvest but for what purpose/end? To
make
converts slaves to the Church or bond-slaves of Christ? I can say with
great
certainty that that harvest will not come to the Church, until it sees
the
great offenses it has caused to the Gospel by it's religious, self
interest.
If it will humble itself and repent before unbelievers of its failure to
love them, its religious nonsense, and its self interest, the Lord will
move
hearts. There are millions of believers who see through the organization
called the Church and reject it. They are not looking for another
organization to join, but would run toward a true manifestation of the
Body
of Christ. I hear the prophets prophesy a great harvest and yes it will
come
but not in the way they are perceiving it. To the Body of Christ
millions
will be attracted, not necessarily the Church (unless it "rights" it
many
offenses against unbelievers). Only God can do this, but there is a
tremendous need right now for small groups to help those who are "stuck"
in
their spiritual walk towards Christ and conversion. There are millions
of
people who believe but are "lost sheep" wandering and looking. The
harvest
is ripe but the Church is a stumbling block to them coming to Christ.
There
is need for a loving, relational, non-religious setting for people to
find
Christ. Home churches give the evangelist and the rest of the five-fold
ministry the prime opportunity to use their "grace" for the important
call
of loving the lost. True evangelism is for those who have learned to
walk in
the Spirit of God, love with the Heart of God, and to bear fruit by the
grace of God.
I spent the weekend with relatives from South America and across the
country. They having heard of my recent book, "A Journey In The
Wilderness -
Becoming Fruitful In The Kingdom" knew I was a Christian. They expected
me
to be offensive, extreme, judgmental, and obstinate. I suppose another
relative (christian) had inoculated them against christians and
therefore
the Gospel. I never once preached to them or judged them. I didn't try
to
imply I was better than them, nor separate myself from them. Jesus hung
out
with sinners and loved them. I respected them, and where they were in
their
journey. I tried to understand them and accept them and most of all love
them in spite of our differences. They said, that I wasn't what they
expected
and because of that, wanted to read the book and give to it what I had
given
to them, "understanding and acceptance". God always respects us in our
current position. We should respect everyone even those who are hostile
to
the Gospel. They have a right to their choice, and if we are in faith
and
not fear, we can trust God to save them, if we release HIm in prayer to
work
toward that end in their life.
Evangelism for me, has been for the most part, "prayer as the Lord would
lead", but I have made some subtle rules. If I meet a person more than
once
through circumstances, I pray for them. If they are friends, family,
co-workers, or neighbors, I pray for them. If I sense a person I meet is
open to the Gospel, I pray for them. If they are hostile to the Gospel,
I
like to pray for them. If they are in need, I like to pray for them. If
they
abuse me or cheat me, I like to pray for them. I like to pray for the
gas
station attendant, the woman at the post office, the bus driver,
sometimes I
just like to spread grace around at random. I am not an evangelist but
evangelism is more than preaching salvation, it is loving people in the
way
they can receive God's love. Sometimes that is just by smiling at them,
accepting them, and praying for them.
Here is a song I wrote for my daughters 20th birthday which
underscores the importance of prioritizing our lives to the purpose of
building up Treasure in Heaven (Evangelism).
Treasure in Heaven
Lashed to the oar and
The rules are so subtle
They make you pay a price
Even from some pulpits
In weakness and in death
Overrule the Heart of Flesh
Chorus:
© Paul K. Weigel 1999
Blessings, Paul Weigel
Hi Jay,
I think this is an on time subject. While there is, I believe, the
Ministry Gift of Evangelist, are all given the charge by the Lord to "Go
Ye" and preach the Gospel. We
have all been called to the Ministry of Reconciliation. I believe this
calling varies from those
who may be Prayer Warriors who PRAY 24/7 (or close to it), or those who
are called to live a VISABLE & FUCTIONING Christianity, to the one who
is ANOINTED to WIN THE LOST at ALL COST Evangelist.
I believe it comes down to the question asked by Worship Leader Danny
Chambers;
If Christianity were OUTLAWED tomorrow would there be enough EVIDENCE
in
YOUR LIFE to CONVICT you, not your Church, not your Pastor, but YOU
?!?!?
Love In JESUS,
Jay, I think we Christians make too big a fuss over "proper" and
"professional" evangelism. Folks everywhere and of ANY "persuasion" just
want to be treated nicely and fairly. As Christians we should DO that,
then after awhile TELL them in what power we can do it. That is, not in
our own power can it be sustained, but in the power of the Holy Spirit
in
us. Simple really, but the Pre-Christian will only wonder (and even be
suspicious) about it and with many we will be considered "fools" for our
charity and concern, not only for people's souls, but for helping them
in
the first place. It's a "dilemma" for sure, but one in which we are
CALLED to be in. "Show and Tell" Remember it in school? Just follow it
in
relating to Pre-Christians.
Loveya, a.k.a. Larry Ingle
Hi Jay,
Evangelism is one of the gifts of the Spirit that Paul was trying
to
explain in his letter. This was an anointing for any believer to help
another mature in their understanding of who they are in Messiah. This
gift is for maturing of a believer not reaching an unbeliever. It is
the
job of the Spirit of Yahveh to draw the unbelievers to Himself, not a
person. Our job is to be ready to give an answer when asked and to be
His witnesses.
When the Spirit of Yahveh moves in someone's life that doesn't mean
they are called in to lifetime ministry. If Yahveh isn't moving in a
persons life it's only their own flesh.
There is a deliberate mistranslation of Mark 16 that justifies the
position of the church to go and preach (usually with no accountability
or follow up) instead of teaching and discipline others who have been
drawn by the Spirit to serve Yahveh through His son. The earliest Greek
manuscripts do not contain Mark 16: 9-20, they have been added. Mark
16:15 is the only place you will find this man derived mandate to go
and
preach the gospel.
It is a disheartening fact that we have been taught incorrectly by
people we loved and trusted. They are not responsible for us and won't
be answering for us on the day of judgment. We can't afford to blindly
accept what we are taught.
Relationship! It's all about relationship; with the father through
His son and with each other. How well do you know the people in your
church. Think about it. You could move as an evangelist in some ones
life tomorrow. Are you ready?
Dave
Jay, I want to put in my two cents on the subject of evangelism. I am
appending here a teaching on the subject that was put together a long
time
ago when we were just starting to do evangelism of unreached peoples in
Indonesia. My first disciple and I put this together from an examination
of
the pattern in the Gospels.
Scriptural Teaching
on Evangelism
"Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation" (Mark
16:15).
There are many methods of evangelism. But in this chapter we want to
show the
method used by Jesus and His followers. If we follow the example of
Jesus and
the early church, our evangelism will surely be fruitful.
Jesus' Method of Evangelism.
From the beginning of His ministry, Jesus walked through the towns and
villages preaching the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14,15). On the Sabbath Day
He
went into the synagogues where He taught and did miracles (Luke
4:15,31-37).
After that Jesus went out into the streets looking for people that
needed
help. He said, "The Son of Man came to save what was lost" (Matthew
18:11).
Jesus forgave sins, healed the sick, cast out demons, and performed
other
miracles, which showed the power of God. Many people saw these miracles,
and
the news spread quickly.
To the crowds that gathered, the Lord Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of
God,
urging His hearers to repent and believe this Gospel.
He used very few words in bringing the Gospel to new people. Whenever
someone
received His help with an open heart, Jesus said, "Your faith has saved
you".
When people opposed Him, Jesus rebuked them with very stern words. He
taught
the people who became His followers, giving them a deeper understanding
of
the Kingdom of God.
He called a little band to be with Him in the closest type of fellowship
and
to be prepared to continue His work (Mark 3:13, 14). These disciples
were
given very deep but very practical teaching in close fellowship with
Him.
The Early Christians' Method of Evangelism.
We can see the early church's method of evangelism in the Book of Acts.
When Paul and other apostles came into a district where there were not
yet
any Christians, they normally went first into the Jewish synagogue where
they
preached and performed miracles. Usually there were some people who
believed,
but others that opposed strongly, especially the Jewish leaders. The
apostles
were always driven out of the synagogue.
Then they began to preach the Gospel outside in the streets, the market
places, and everywhere there were people to listen. The apostles'
evangelism
was always accompanied with healing and other miracles.
All the people who repented and received Jesus and believed in Him were
baptized immediately with water, and as soon as possible with the Holy
Spirit.
Then generally the apostles stayed on in the city for a few weeks or
months
to teach the new converts, encouraging them to meet together in their
homes
to pray and break bread together.
Often the apostles were persecuted by the opposition and driven out of
the
city. They would escape to another city and begin again there.
Content of the Early Christians' Evangelism.
The early evangelists stressed four major points:
Jesus' Instructions for Evangelists.
In Luke 10:1-11, we read the instructions Jesus gave His disciples when
He
sent them out:
Through our experience in Indonesia, we have found that the best
visual
aids are the ones that God produces Himself. Shortly after we moved into
our
training center in East Java, we held an evangelistic campaign in front
of
our house in a big open field. Each day for several days, thousands of
people
from town and from surrounding villages came and stood for hours to hear
the
Gospel. Most of them had never even heard of Jesus before. Over nine
hundred
people were healed of blindness, deafness, and many other ailments. We
collected a small mountain of crutches and canes from people who had
been
healed. People for miles around knew that the Christians have a living
God.
We did not need to show a film of something happening somewhere else,
because
it was happening right before their eyes.
One night in our fellowship, the Lord said: "Send a team to Bali
immediately. They may not speak to anyone along the way, until I send
someone
to lead them." They rode a bus to the eastern end of Java, took the
ferry
boat across to Bali, and got on another bus, still not talking and not
knowing how far they should go. At a particular moment, all felt they
should
get off the bus. Immediately a man met them and took them to his
village, A
crowd gathered and the team began to tell them about Jesus. From there,
the
Lord led them from place to place, miraculously opening doors of
ministry.
One time, as we came into a village, we were met by a blind girl. We
felt
we should pray for her. But we were hot and tired from the journey and
said,
"Let's get a drink of tea first." Afterwards we prayed for the girl
several
times with great intensity, but only succeeded in making the family
bitter
and antagonistic toward the Gospel. It was a bitter lesson.
In Javanese villages, everyone has experienced supernatural power,
but
not from the Lord. Increasingly this is true even in this country. If we
come
to them just with words, they will be polite and thank us for coming.
But
nothing will happen. They need to know that God is more powerful than
the
witch doctor, or the horoscope, or whatever involvement they may have.
When
we evangelize in a formerly unevangelized area, we ask the Lord to lead
us to
someone with a real need.
One day two of our young people went into a house where a man was
dying
of tuberculosis. He had been deserted by his family and was too weak to
sit
up. When they started to tell him about Jesus, he remembered that he had
once
been a Christian, but for many years had not followed Christ. Our young
evangelists prayed for him and the Lord raised him up immediately. His
friends and neighbors saw that he had been healed. They began to gather
regularly to hear about Jesus.
In another village a woman's stomach was swelled so badly that she
looked
like a great big balloon. She was prayed for and her body returned to a
normal shape. She and many of her neighbors turned to the Lord. The Lord
likes to help people first. After that, there is plenty of time for them
to
get acquainted with Him and learn all about Him.
Power for Preaching.
If we want to follow Jesus' and His disciples' example, we must realize
that
we cannot minister with our own ability, especially if we want to do
miracles
in Jesus' Name. We need power from on high. Remember that Jesus Himself
said,
"The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father,
living
in me, who is doing his work' (John 14:10). How much more we need this
humility.
In baptism we are given the right to all the power of the Name of Jesus.
This
is the real meaning of being baptized into (eis) the Name of Jesus.
The Name of Jesus is powerful. After Pentecost, the apostles performed
miracles in the Name of Jesus. They did not pray for healing, but
commanded
it in His Name. One day, as we were studying healing in Acts, the
principal
of the junior high school came and asked us to pray for the little
sister of
a student. She had been paralyzed for several days, and was unable to
move
her leg. One of our team members said, "In Jesus' Name, raise your leg."
She
did, and was completely healed. Her family believed, and, for days
after,
friends and neighbors came to the Lord as the result of that miracle.
When we receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, we receive the same
power
that operated in the ministry of Jesus and the early Church. Jesus
promised,
"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will
be my
witnesses . . . to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
The Holy Spirit is the power to do miracles in the Name of Jesus, and it
is
also the power that urges people from within to receive the salvation
which
is offered to them. "When He [that is, the Holy Spirit] comes, He will
convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and
judgment"
(John 16:8). While we are explaining about the Kingdom of God and
witnessing
to someone about Jesus' help, the Holy Spirit is also speaking in the
person's heart, convicting him of his condition and his need, and urging
him
to receive Jesus as his Savior. If he accepts, the Spirit will work a
miracle
in his heart and give him a beautiful new life.
Practicing Evangelism
Our purpose in evangelism is to lead people as quickly as possible
through
the four-fold process of being born anew--believing, repenting, being
baptized in water, being baptized in the Holy Spirit.
In our initial presentation of the Gospel, we use as few words as
possible.
We are introducing our friend Jesus. In making introductions, we often
tell a
few significant facts about the Person we are introducing. Then, as they
begin to get acquainted, they can fill in the details. It is not helpful
to
give a long explanation, from Creation to the Second Coming of Jesus or
the
doctrine of the Trinity, to people who are not yet born again. They will
not
understand it, and it will just raise more questions whose answers they
also
cannot yet understand.
Once I went with a young Indonesian evangelist to pray for a sick girl.
The
father was a Christian, but the mother was not. The evangelist began to
speak
to the mother, reading John 14:6 very slowly. "Jesus said, 'I am the way
. .
. the truth . . . and the life . . . . No one comes to the Father . . .
except through Me.'" He explained the verse in about three short
sentences,
emphasizing certain words. Then he told her, "Jesus loves you very
much." The
woman began to cry, and confessed her sins without being told to do so.
She
spontaneously acknowledged her need of Jesus as her Savior and invited
Him to
take over her life. She was immediately transformed. Jesus was
introduced,
and received, but the introduction took only about one minute. Then we
all
prayed for the girl's healing together.
Sometimes people want to ask many questions and try to understand the
Gospel
thoroughly before accepting it. We have to tell them this is impossible,
because God is infinitely greater than their understanding. It is best
for
them to get acquainted with Jesus first, then the other things will
begin to
be clear.
One day a young Moslem neighbor came to our Training Center with a list
of
theological questions. Jerimia, one of our students, talked with him.
Jerimia
said, "There's no use of my answering all your questions, you can't
understand because you aren't yet born again. Go home now, and decide if
you
want to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. Then you will be able to
understand." The boy went home, but before six o'clock the next morning
he
was on our doorstep again. "I couldn't sleep," he said, "I want to
receive
Jesus now." Since then, he has done a great work for the Lord among the
college students in the nearby city, and effective missionary work with
the
primitive tribes on the islands of Irian Jaya and Timor.
When we go to evangelize, we don't go anywhere we like, nor do we
indiscriminately knock on all the doors on the street. It is better to
let
the Spirit tell us exactly where to go and to whom to speak. Often He
will
lead us to a person who is in obvious need of healing or of other help.
We
can then minister with the gifts of the Spirit, and a miracle can take
place.
This encourages belief. Sometimes when there is a healing or other
miracle,
the friends, neighbors, or the whole neighborhood will gather, and we
can
introduce them all to Jesus.
In a little village church started by one of our students, the
teenagers, and
even the little children began to experience the gifts of the Spirit.
There
was a word in their prayer meeting saying, "Go north two kilometers and
west
one kilometer. There you will find a lame person. Heal him and bring him
to
church." They went out as directed, entered the house the Lord
indicated, and
found the lame person. He was healed by the power of God, and walked
back to
church with them. Another time the Lord woke some of the young people in
the
middle of the night. He told them to go to a certain house where they
would
find someone in trouble. They knocked on the door, and a woman opened
it. She
was weeping and distraught, unable to sleep. They ministered the love
and
peace of Jesus to her.
We should always go out by two or three to evangelize. While one person
talks, the others can pray. If we watch the eyes of the person we are
evangelizing, and are also sensitive to the Lord's voice, we can know
the
moment when the Spirit has moved his heart to receive the Lord. At that
moment, let us not talk or explain anything more, even if we think we
have
more to say. If we delay, the moment will pass and the decision will be
more
difficult.
At that moment of desire, we must stop and say, "Would you like to
receive
Jesus now? Do you want to know Him now?" or words to that effect. Then
we
pray with them, encouraging them to pray and invite Jesus to come into
their
lives and take over as Lord and Savior.
Then a miracle occurs in their lives. They are justified (made
righteous)
before God. The peace and joy of God, which surpasses all understanding,
descends on them, and they become new creatures in Christ. Perhaps they
will
want to confess their sins, and we should encourage them to do so
truthfully
and hopefully, with full assurance that Jesus forgives, forgets, and
sets
them free. Old things have passed away, the new has begun. It is a
glorious
moment, and a great privilege just to be there when it happens.
In village evangelism in our area in Indonesia, when a new convert
believes
and repents, our workers explain to him the need to be baptized in
water.
They perhaps read a few verses from Romans 6, emphasizing that in
baptism our
old nature is buried with Christ and we receive a new life in Him.
Then they ask, "where is the nearest river?" They go to the river
immediately
and baptize the new converts. God performs another miracle. They are
dead to
sin and alive to righteousness. Our workers encourage them to burn their
old
magic charms and other instruments of heathen worship. They are free
from the
old sinful nature, free from the power of sin, and free to live in
holiness
before God. Everything looks different to them and they are new people.
A man in one of the villages near us was the only Christian in his
family.
One day, as he was sitting at his table reading the Bible, his wife got
a
stick and started beating him as hard as she could. He said that a
couple of
months ago he would have killed her. But now the love of God was so
great in
his heart that he did not even feel the least bit of anger. The Lord
changes
people.
We believe that immediate baptism is the perfect scriptural way, and
also the
most effective procedure. I am painfully aware that it is in open
conflict
with the traditions and regulations of many church denominations. But
let our
focus be on Jesus and His ways and hold fast to the real New Testament
pattern in our heart and our acts. Who knows how much our submissive
spirit
to His will may influence our fellows?
The efficacy of baptism will depend in large degree on the faith and
sincerity in the heart of the candidate. We should be as sure as
possible of
the genuineness of his repentance and acceptance of Jesus before we
baptize
him. If we are sensitive in hearing the Spirit's voice, He will give us
clear
guidance in this matter.
When the new convert has been baptized in water, he can often
immediately be
encouraged to seek and receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. In fact,
in
several instances in the New Testament, baptism in the Spirit precedes
water
baptism. The order of these baptisms is not critical, though, of course,
conversion and repentance must precede both.
If there is not real repentance, or if people still have occult
practices or
magic charms, strange manifestations can occur. We need to lead the
people to
a complete break with the past and a thorough deliverance before we pray
for
anyone to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Anyone who has taken part in
seances, playing with ouija boards, water witching, hypnotism, and
similar
practices must seek deliverance and renounce these practices before
seeking
baptism in the Holy Spirit.
One day in Sumatra, we were praying for a Catholic lady to receive the
baptism in the Spirit. She began to make very strange noises and to
shake. We
stopped her and asked if she had any magic charms at home. She said she
did
and went home and got them. We burned them and prayed for her
deliverance.
Then we prayed again for baptism in the Spirit, and within a minute she
was
praising the Lord in a beautiful new tongue.
In Chicago, I met a young evangelist who had been unable to receive the
baptism in the Spirit. The Lord told me what was wrong, so I said to
him,
"Ten years ago you were going to services at a spiritualist church. You
need
deliverance from that before the Holy Spirit can work freely in your
life."
He acknowledged that this was so, renounced the spiritualist experience,
was
delivered from all the occult powers, and was free to receive the
fullness of
God's Holy Spirit.
We must remember that we can baptize people in water in the Lord's Name,
but
only Jesus Himself can baptize people in the Holy Spirit. Our ministry
to
those who want to receive the Holy Spirit consists mainly in supporting
them
with our prayers. Sometimes it is helpful to accompany our prayer with
the
laying on of hands. We can encourage them to trust Jesus to baptize them
with
His Spirit because that is clearly promised in the Scripture. If they
believe
and yield their tongues to the Lord, He will give them a new language in
which to pray and praise Him. They will begin to speak in new tongues as
the
Spirit gives them utterance.
We should then encourage them to continue praying in this language of
the
Spirit.
When we have helped people to arrive at this point, the work of
evangelism
has been completed. They become new-born babes in Christ, and, as such,
will
need much tender loving care.
We have used few words in evangelism, but now we will need to give much
instruction. The new converts must be built up in the faith, taught to
pray,
walk in the Spirit, and maintain the new life of holiness they have
received
in Jesus.
Edwin Stube
*******************************************************************************
It is interesting that Evangelist is not seen as a gift when clearly in
EPH
4:8, it says, "...he gave GIFTS unto men." Yes sir, evangelism is a
gift.
Some have it, some don't. He gave gifts according to the measure of
faith.
Recently I was watching a very well known TV preacher by the name of K.
Copeland. He is not an evangelist, but a pastor and moves in the
prophetic as
well. He has evangelized, but not very successfully. In the beginning of
his
ministry, however, he had evangelists like Jerry Savelle and Jesse
Duplantis
who are called to evangelism, to help water!
Jay, my point here is that if K. Copeland, who is not an evangelist,
gave an
altar call, he would get few people, but, my God, let the evangelists do
it,
it is tremendous. I have seen Jesse D. get 400 at a time as soon as he
opened
his mouth. Why? Because that's their gift and no one else's. I believe
it is
everyone's calling to preach the Gospel, but the five-fold gifts are NOT
for
everyone, EVANGELISM being one of those gifts! Evangelism is not
necessarily
preaching. There are teaching preachers and there are evangelistic
preachers
too. My intent here is not to offend, but offer a view. I hope this
helps.
Dear Jay,
Jay, Your question was interesting, it is exactly the question that was
asked by the pastor of a church we visited on Sunday. His message was
with
fervent appeals to the congregation to "go into ALL the earth and preach
the gospel" and he said exactly this. WE ARE ALL called on to DO the
things the Lord has commanded us to DO. How can we say we love our
neighbors if we have no concern for their souls, if we really believe
that
Jesus is coming back and that the earth will be consumed by fiery
judgment, that all who are outside of the ARK of the SECOND COVENANT
will
be forever separated from the Lord who has loved them and died for them,
but we are withholding the GOOD NEWS from those around us because we are
ashamed or embarrassed to tell them what we ourselves profess to BELIEVE
and KNOW is TRUTH? He also made it clear this should not be done in
"Christianese", which is a language the world doesn't even speak, but
that
we need to get to know people who don't know the Lord and learn to speak
whatever language they speak so we CAN tell them. WE can PREACH loudest
at
times by what we DO even if we have no words they can "understand", we
can
LOVE and share the LOVE of Jesus with them.....that is the
responsibility
of everyone who knows the Truth, and if we truly love we will be poured
out
to the hungry and the stranger among us, both spiritually and
physically.
We will also let them know WHY we love them, because HE FIRST LOVED US!
You
can't really love them and watch them die in a fire without rushing in
to
at least TRY to pull them out! I think all the letters the Apostles
left
for us are written to admonish and exhort us to WALK in this world as
JESUS
walked, doing good and healing and loving and being the AMBASSADORS of
another world, the KINGDOM of HEAVEN which Jesus clearly tells us is NOT
OF
THIS WORLD....the real problem is we live here as though we are quite
"at
home" in the world, not like we are the ones who are pilgrims and
strangers
here, more like we are the OWNERS of the WORLD. We get to grasping,
clasping and holding onto our goods the same way the world around us
does,
which makes it pretty hard for them to believe we believe a word we are
saying about the WORLD TO COME, the UNSEEN HEAVEN in our hearts. I think
EARTH and WORLD are as different as BODY and FLESH, so I will just
define
my terms for any who may wonder what I mean when I am saying that. I
think
the EARTH will be made new as the world as we know it is consumed by the
Judgement that is to come upon all who are outside the gates when He
gets
here.
"God so loved the world He gave HIS ONLY begotten SON". Jesus became
God's very own offering to sacrifice on the alter (He didn't spare HIS
own
son as HE had Abraham's). Jesus IS the sacrificial lamb who has been
slain
so we can be saved from the very RIGHTEOUS judgement of a very RIGHTEOUS
creator who has suffered mankind for all this time, waiting in LOVE for
ALL
MEN TO BE SAVED...
God doesn't WILL for ANY man to perish. And when I think there are
people
who won't evangelize or witness to others because they believe God has
already elected who will be saved and it makes no difference what we say
or
do, it is only the SOVEREIGN move of God to save them, I have to wonder
if
they have read the whole gospel story! It certainly isn't the message
Jesus
gave us by HIS life, death and resurrection. He says, "any who COME to
ME
I will in NO WISE cast out" and He weeps over Jerusalem who "stones her
prophets and drives out their MESSIAH"....He took the Kingdom away from
the
"elect" and "gave it to the Gentiles" (most of us, you and me!) and they
will be LAST to enter into these promises they were FIRST to receive!
It's
up to the Church now to get the word to the world, THE MESSIAH has COME.
THE ARK OF THE NEW COVENANT IS BUILT, ALL WHO WANT TO BE SAVED THROUGH
THE
FIRE OF GOD'S JUDGEMENT ARE FREE TO ENTER" and I think it's time we are
out
gathering in the lost, the lame, the blind, any who realize their NEED
of a
SAVIOR. The first ark was filled with a few people and lots of animals
(what does that say about human intelligence?) Again, how we go about
this
gathering of souls is key to our "success" in getting them to follow us
to
the ARK, and we aren't supposed to be out there driving men like they
are
cattle, just simply "calling them home"....gathering in the strays,
searching for the lost or those who have been driven out, loving the
world
back to the ONE who has most LOVED them. Gently leading, with a
SHEPHERD'S
STAFF, not a cattle prod. Many are still afraid to come home, afraid
they
won't be accepted or welcomed because of the guilt and shame they still
carry around as scars from the snares they've fallen into. That's OUR
job,
to convince them it isn't true that the Lord won't take them back.
If we KNOW HIM then we ought to SHOW THEM the LOVE we TELL them THEY
ought to
HAVE inside of them! How else can they know if we don't share with them
what WE HAVE LEARNED and what we CLAIM to believe? Any of us who have
been
prodigals or prostitutes caught in the act and saved from the stones
ought
to know what kind of Merciful Savior we are serving. If we are ashamed
of
Jesus, then why should He not be ashamed of us when we show up wanting
to
reap all the benefits of those who have been out laboring in the
Harvest?
Why should we eat from THEIR sacrifice or their labor if we just sit
around
waiting for dinner to be served and the feasting to begin? I don't
think
so! We have a big job out there to do and the fields are RIPE and
READY,
the laborers are FEW, and the LORD of the HARVEST is calling and giving
out
jobs to anyone who is AVAILABLE to GO into those fields. He has been
giving us lots of WAKE UP calls, but it's my guess that there will still
be
those who will be sleeping, gambling, or playing games on the shoreline
when the SHIP pulls in that is heading HOME....when it comes time to GET
ON
BOARD....
I read something Frances Frangipane said recently that really hit
home for me. When God told Noah to BUILD the ARK before the first
judgement of all the earth (the great flood) He never gave him the time
or
the DATE it would happen, He only gave him the mission. He told him
what
to do and how to do it. When Noah finished the assignment, did exactly
what he was told, he took his family and went into the ark. Anyone
could
have gone on that ark who wanted to be saved, they didn't. The door
closed, and THE FLOOD CAME and did exactly what Noah had been told it
would. It's the same for us. We are all here with a mission, and Jesus
made it quite clear to us what we are to do until the moment HE gets
back
to TAKE US HOME....to establish HIS KINGDOM from the throne in Jerusalem
HE
will bring down from HEAVEN with HIM....believe it or not, our choice.
But, if we DO believe it and if we CALL HIM LORD, then we WILL DO what
HE
SAYS and we will preach the gospel to EVERY creature, take the message
of
HIS death, resurrection and COMING KINGDOM into ALL THE EARTH, into
until
every kindred, tribe, nation and tongue has HEARD that message, THEN HE
WILL COME, according to everything we have been TOLD by HIM and HIS
APOSTLES, the prophets, the teachers and all who have OBEYED that
HEAVENLY
VISION and brought us the TRUTH....it is all up to us now, the laborers
here coming in at the last hour to finish up the work the Apostles
began,
and the LAST will be FIRST, the FIRST will be LAST, but all who labor
together will ENJOY the fruit of the harvest and eat from the abundance
of
the Lord's House when we bring in ALL our sheaves and lay them at HIS
FEET,
our Righteous and JUST and HOLY and GOOD KING JESUS!
If we don't know HE really loves us by now, folks, it's pretty doubtful
that we ever
will....what more could HE possibly do to have proven so GREAT a LOVE as
this? He LAID down HIS LIFE for us!!! What on earth do we have to be
ashamed of? This kind of LOVE? The greatest MAN who ever walked the
earth?
OUR FRIEND, OUR LOVER and our KING? We should be so honored to be
called
by that NAME that JESUS has given to us, and proud to belong to HIM, the
creator of all HEAVEN and EARTH, greatly privileged to be chosen to be
HIS
BRIDE! What causes me shame is to think I have ever failed to love HIM
in
return as HE has loved me, or that I could ever have caused Him pain by
being unfaithful or unwilling to serve HIM due to my own selfish
pursuits
in this fallen, greed-driven world we live in! I am a little fervent
today
and feeling the heat rather passionately, but you know what? This is
FIRST
LOVE and it is being so very rekindled in my heart, stirring up all
those
passions of the first day I came to look into the face of JESUS and
realize
HOW MUCH HE LOVES ME! That is HOT and I love this JESUS with everything
IN
ME....I also really love the people I see around me, both lost and
found,
and my earnest desire is to see EVERYONE on that glorious day
celebrating
the great marriage supper of the LAMB, while I am rejoicing at that
table
and filled with everlasting JOY in HIS KINGDOM!!! Where I will sing of
HIS
LOVE forever, starting YESTERDAY and going on and on Forever, love you
guys! Keep up the GOOD work til HE COMES. Karen
July 21, 2000
Driven by the drum
The corporate media mirage
Bombards us till we're numb
They tell us who we are
They tell us who we aren't
If we bow down and serve them
They tell us we are smart
They are rarely ever spoken
But you are under suspicion
If any of them are broken
We're slaves to acceptance
We want to belong
We sell our lives for things
Worth as little as a song
If you don't want to belong
To a system that is failing
And will collapse before too long
To them you are a failure
If you live your life for more
Putting everything you have
Into bags that can't be tore
It is taught without shame
That if you don't appear prosperous
You don't know the power of Jesus' name
But that price is cheap, compared
A greater price was paid
Treasure will cost you your everything
But no better deal can be made
The Spirit brings success
In poverty and brokenness
There is victory that will bless
If you choose to become a poor man
To share the second birth
You will enter Heaven a rich man
And see your true net worth
And the folly and lusts of it
Repent of the idolatry of image
And walk in the Spirit
Throw off the bonds that hold you
To the values of this world
Invest in treasure in Heaven
That returns a thousand fold
Store up treasure in Heaven
Prove that you are very smart
Bring to the Father, souls and righteous deeds
And a pure and faithful Heart
"A Journey In The Wilderness - Becoming Fruitful In The Kingdom"
www.theforerunner.net
paul@theforerunner.net
Bro. GENE
Comments are welcome.
love in Jesus, Joseph
Ap77joseph@cs.com
I am sorry, i cannot agree with you this time...i do not think that
evangelism brings people to Christ. It may bring people to His name,
out of
fear, pain or simply the want (in 3rd world countries) for food and
medicine. I spend much of the year in Mexico, and i spend my time among
the less fortunate. The people are poor but happy. This to me is the
important part. Even though the missionaries have brought their version
of
Christ to where i visit, it seems that they have brought mostly dogma,
ritual, (not to mention bloody murder) and a sense of moral superiority.
But the people follow the example of Christ more fully than most
Christians i
know here. This did not come from evangelism, but from truly
understanding
the message of Jesus. Evangelists go on and on about how Christ died
for
us, rather than, to me, the more important fact that he LIVED for us.
These
people are poor, they understand suffering, and being cast out, and
persecution....my philosophy is that they rejoice because for them
sorrow
has no meaning, it would profit them nothing and they understand this.
They
are kind to each other, they feed each other even when it means going
without themselves. They take in family members in need without
judgment.
They love and accept each other. Maybe we should go and learn from them
rather than trying to turn them into a carbon copy of us, after
stripping
their culture bare of anything that goes against our beliefs. It is my
belief that we lead by example, this is what i feel is important to
God....i
do not think that we get points for huge meetings where scared children
who
don't speak english are given standing ovations for being able to
pronounce
the name Jesus. As far as i can see it's just a big money grab, and i
can't
stand it.
Just my opinion,
With love,
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