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Today
is as good as any other day to share the love of Christ with an
unbeliever. I know we rationalize we don't know how, don't know what to
say, don't have the personality, don't have the skill sets, don't have
the courage, don't have the time, but the Lord is clear. Sharing our
faith is a command and an urgent
matter. Jesus said in John 4:35, "Do you not say, 'Four months more
and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the
fields! They are ripe for harvest." (NIV)
So what exactly is evangelism? Let me summarize the components but they
don't have to happen in this order but you will find these 5 items
throughout the bible:
1. Pray…for open hearts
to receive the word and for opportunities to share the gospel. The Lord
needs to be involved in our evangelism, go to the Father first.
Romans 10:1, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for
Israel
is, that they might be saved." (KJV)
Colossians 4:3, "And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for
our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I
am in chains." (NIV)
This is the lifestyle of faith it prays for the salvation of others and
it prays for opportunities to share the message…second
2. Go to People…you have
to take the initiative to go, this is the one that stops the whole
process of evangelism, we don't go, and the result people don't hear the
gospel and people don't come to Christ.
His last command in Matthew 28:18-20, "Then Jesus came to them and
said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching
them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you
always, to the very end of the age." (NIV)
Mark
16:15
,
"And then he told them, 'Go into all the
world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere.'" (NLT)
Jesus Christ has issued an order, a command, "Go and make disciple,
preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere." And no true believer
should take our Lord's command lightly,
casually, or just ignore
it completely.
Whether it's the universal church or the local church and you can try
all the methods you want, promote all kinds of programs but it's when
you go, that you get results. It's still the most strategic strategy of
evangelism - TO GO!
But no matter, you'll still have your nay Sayers, who insist you must
develop a relationship first. Well, my response is look at the Jesus and
the model of the New Testament. What did Christ command of us, to
go…What did Christ do himself, he went, one example the woman at the
well, he met her and immediately engaged in spiritual conversation and
she came to know the Lord.
It's good to develop a relationship and valuable but here's what people
get confused with, we think unless I develop a solid relationship I
don't have the right to share the gospel, or the most effective way to
share the gospel is through having a relationship and lastly, I can't
share the gospel unless I've established a relationship with this
individual. Not true, and it is not the biblical pattern, and this kind
of thinking limits God's power in salvation.
This approach at best bears fruit but sparingly, at average this
approach waits months or years before it shares the gospel and at worst
this approach is just an excuse we use -- "Once I develop the ideal
relationship with this person then I'll communicate the
gospel"…and it never happens, if the gospel is such great news
why do we wait to tell others or never tell at all…
What was the model of Christ, he immediately, deliberately, and
relationally shared the gospel with the woman at the well. Peter in Acts
two, same model to the crowd, immediate, deliberate, and he was
relational. Same with Paul in Acts 14, he found a synagogue to set up
his revival tent, immediately, deliberately and relationally shared the
gospel. You will find this biblical pattern throughout the New
Testament.
What about you and I…where is our synagogue, a place that we frequent
to share the gospel? A place where the gospel can be shared
deliberately, relationally, and immediately?
Next Monday I'll address the 3rd, 4th and 5th components of evangelism.
Until then, pray and then Go!
God Bless, Pastor Alex Garcia
Destino Coaching Center
100 Lake Hart Drive Dept 2500
Orlando, Florida 32828
1-800-678-5462 ext: #1205
destino@uscm.org
See also: www.MyDestino.com
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Monday Minutes