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Need
of Preaching
Evangelism
Commitment to
Coca-Cola has fulfilled
their own version of the Great Commission many times over. They have virtually
put a bottle of Coke in everyone’s hand. If they can do it with a soft drink
we can certainly do it with the gospel.
Evangelism
Commitment to
Many Christians are like
the Arctic River—frozen over at the mouth! In evangelism
the hardest thing
seems to be to open your mouth to get the first word out.
Evangelism
Commitment to
Each human soul is like a
cavern full of gems. The casual observer glances into it through some cranny
and all looks dark and sullen and useless. But let light enter into it and lo!
It will flash with crystals and amethysts and quiver under the touch of
brightness. If souls do not shine before you it is because you bring them no
light to make them shine. Throw away your miserable
smouldering
fuming torch
of conceit and hatred
lift up to them the light of love
and lo! They will
arise and shine; yea
flame and burn with an undreamt of glory.—Canon Farrar
Evangelism
Commitment to
When Henry Ford purchased a
large insurance policy
the Detroit newspapers blazoned the fact
since the
amount was so large and he was so prominent. The story was read by one of
Ford’s old friends
who happened to be in the insurance business. The old
friend went to confront Ford to see if the story was true. When Ford assured
him that it was
the friend asked him why the policy was not purchased from
him
since he was a personal friend and had been in insurance for many years.
Ford’s reply was
“You never asked me.”
How
many of our friends can say to us
“You never asked me
” as to our sharing
Christ with them?
Evangelism
Commitment to
Jehovah’s Witnesses spend
at least ten hours a month pounding the pavement in their hometown
looking for
new members. “Our religion is not just a formality
” said Jared K. Hardie
a
public-relations officer for the Dallas Watchtower Convention. “Our whole
lifestyle revolves around our obligation to follow the command of Jesus. We
have five hours of meetings each week in addition to our personal study. And
our door-to-door work is not an effort to pester or harass people. I think most
people know that we do it because they know we are sincere.
Evangelism
Commitment to
Once
when walking down a
certain street in Chicago
D.L. Moody stepped up to a man
a perfect stranger
to him
and said
“Sir
are you a Christian?”
“You
mind your own business!” was the reply.
Moody
replied
“This is my business.”
Evangelism
Necessity for
A young boy about seven
years old went to Disneyland with his family
but in the excitement of going on
all the rides
he was separated from them. He was having such a wonderful time
that it was quite a while before he realized that he was lost. When he
discovered the predicament he was in
he at first figured that he could find
his way back to his family. But
after a time
it finally hit him that he
didn’t know where he was going or how to get there. He was lost
really lost!
The
same is true for unbelievers. They may not know it yet
because they may still
be having a wonderful time
but they are lost all the same. Sooner or later
it’s going to hit them that they don’t know where they are going or how to get
there.
Two
things were necessary for the boy to be reunited with his family. First
he had
to recognize his condition. Second
someone had to show him where he could find
his family. So
too
in evangelism—the Holy Spirit will first convict
individuals of their lostness (John 16:8~10)
but we Christians are
commissioned to show them the way of salvation.
Evangelism
Necessity for
Evangelist Vance Havner
preaching at the Moody Bible Institute’s Founder’s Week in 1974
stated:
“Evangelism is to Christianity what veins are to our bodies. You can cut
Christianity anywhere and it’ll bleed evangelism. Evangelism is vascular
it’s
our business. Talk about majoring on evangelism
you might as well talk about a
doctor majoring on healing. That’s our business.
Evangelism
Necessity for
The following excerpt is from a Quiet Revolution
(Waco
Texas: World
1977) by John Perkins
a black evangelist and social worker in Jackson
Mississippi.
Many
years ago
before the term “civil rights” was a household phrase
one Southern state was reforming its penal
system. The latest refinement was the installation of the state’s first
gas chamber. The day had come for the chamber to be used for the first time.
The victim
a black man
was brought into the chamber and strapped into the
chair. He became hysterical and began to scream
“Save me
Joe Louis! Save me
Joe Louis!”
He
had been found guilty by the courts. He paid the price. I don’t find
any meaning in that. But his words
his last words
could be the words of a
whole generation of black people
few of whom have heard the real truth about
salvation through Jesus Christ. They represent the majority of black people
looking for something to save them
to make them whole
to give them meaning
and peace and happiness
but who are without access to the central truths of
the gospel.
Evangelism
Necessity for
Hudson Taylor told of a Chinese
pastor who always instructed new converts to witness as soon as possible. Once
upon meeting a young convert
the pastor inquired
“Brother
how long have you
been saved?” The man answered that he had been saved for about three months.
“And
how many have you won to the Savior?”
“Oh
I’m only a learner
” the convert responded.
Shaking
his head in disapproval
the pastor said
“Young man
the Lord doesn’t expect
you to be a full-fledged preacher
but he does expect you to be a faithful
witness. Tell me
when does a candle begin to shine—when it’s already half
burned up?”
“No
as soon as it’s lit
” came the reply.
“That’s
right
so let your light shine right away.”
Great Commission
When Jesus
ascended to heaven after his mission on earth
the angels asked him: “Did you
accomplish your task?”
“Yes
all is finished
”
the Lord replied.
“We have a second
questi0on
” said the angels. “Has the whole world heard of you?”
“No
” said Jesus.
The angels next asked
“Then what is your plan?”
Jesus said
“I have left
twelve men and some other followers to carry the message to the whole world.”
The angels looked at him
and asked: “What is your Plan B?”
Friends
there is no Plan
B. Jesus desires to reach the world through men and women like you and me.