Sunday, February 22, 2015 pm
EVANGELISM 2015
Characteristics of a Personal Worker - 1
This year, from time to time, we are emphasizing evangelism.
The future of the Lord’s church here depends upon our willingness
to leave a generation that is grounded in the truth.
As Paul taught Timothy in 2 Tim. 2:2, what has been committed to
us we commit to others (and develop them) so that they can teach others.
Our
goal is to present some motivations and practical steps to help prepare
us and to get us started trying to reach the lost, build up the weak and
strengthen the saved. From
both experience and research (listening to many sermons, perusing
various sources of material,
studying the Bible on this subject) I have come to the conclusion that
there is no “miracle pill” that will instantly make us soul winners.
BUT, if we really want to become more effective at this, there
are things we can do to give us more confidence to get started.
In
our lesson today we want to address some qualities that will help us be
more effective in reaching the lost. This
is the first of 2 lessons dealing with these characteristics.
We will continue our study of this next month.
a.
Christians by definition
are to be dedicated TO GOD.
The idea of being a disciple is one who is committed to following Jesus
– both in teaching and example.
b.
When we are committed,
we seek His kingdom first (Matt. 6:33).
Matt. 22:37 – the first commandment is to love God with all you heart,
soul and mind.
We no longer live for ourselves – Gal. 2:20, Matt. 16:24.
2 Tim. 1:12 – we know what we believe and that He will keep what we have
committed to Him until that day.
In this case the word “commit” means to entrust.
That is associated with true commitment.
c.
This is not something to
be taken lightly – we count the cost – Luke 14:28, 33.
Luke 9:62 tells us that we don’t look back.
d.
IF that commitment is
not there, we are not going to see the need to share the gospel with
others.
IF we are lukewarm we will not care enough about others to try and reach
them. God has no use for the
lukewarm- Rev. 3:14-16
a.
Do you know you are
saved? What does that mean
to you? Throughout 1 John we
find continued assurance – 1 John 5:13, “that you may know that you have
eternal life.”
Continually he speaks of what we know – our assurance.
1 John 3:18-20 speaks of assuring our hearts before Him.
Hebrews 6:11 says, “And we desire that each one of you show the same
diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,”
Hebrews 10:22 calls for us to draw near to God through Jesus
“with a true heart in full
assurance of faith…”
b.
DO YOU LIVE LIKE YOU ARE
SAVED? When we speak
of one being converted, we mean they are have changed the direction of
their lives. They have
changed from following Satan to following Jesus.
TRUE change comes when one has assurance of his salvation.
c.
One’s assurance will
lead to the commitment necessary to serve God and to share that with
others.
In fact, our assurance
has a direct bearing on how much we work to reach the lost.
If you are not sure of your salvation, how can you share
salvation with others?
How can you tell others about forgiveness of sins if you doubt your sins
are forgiven?
You may tell them what they need to do, but will it be with the
necessary conviction? Which
leads to our next quality!
a.
Conviction means a
firmly held belief. The idea
of conviction in spiritual matters is to be fully persuaded!
I am reminded of the Jews in Acts 2:37 when it says, “they were
cut to the heart.”
b.
Heb. 11:1, “Now faith
is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
(Hebrews 11:1) The NASB
says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction
of things not seen.” The
idea of the word is convicting evidence!
Our faith helps us believe in what we have not seen!
c.
We need conviction!
We need to be convicted of our own sin and salvation!
-
Do you really believe
the lost are lost? Knowing
the terror of the Lord we persuade men!
2 Cor. 5:10-11.
Friends, souls will be lost.
Do we really believe this?
-
Do you really believe
that the only way to deliver them is through the gospel?
In John 8:24 Jesus said, “Therefore I said to you that you
will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will
die in your sins.”
Romans 1:16
d.
Such a conviction
motivates us to overcome our fears, apprehension, and doubts, to tell
others. Jeremiah 20:9,
“Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak
anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire
Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not.”
a.
Our example is one of
the most important qualities we possess in being able to teach others.
It is so true that what one sees will have greater impact than
what you tell them.
b.
As we are again reminded
in scripture in Matt. 5:13-16 we are to be salt and light.
Phil. 2:15 speaks of us being lights in the midst of this crooked
and perverse generation.
c.
A proper example means
that we are living a godly life.
Our assurance, conviction and commitment are directly related to
this godliness.
d.
The idea of godliness is
that we strive to be like God in character (not that we are God) – we
are living to please and serve Him.
2 Peter 1:5-7 – it is approaching the pinnacle of conduct.
Titus 2:11-12, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has
appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly
lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present
age,”
e.
We have noted in times
past that God despises hypocrites.
Just look at the way Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees in
Matthew 23. Hear this – God
is NOT the only one that despises a hypocrite!
f.
I am convinced that if
we are hypocritical, God will not be with us and we will fail in our
efforts to share the gospel with other. Isa.
59:2 speaks of iniquities separating us from God.
Jeremiah 5:25
“Your
iniquities have turned these things away, And your sins have withheld
good from you.”
IF God is to use us, we need to
have a proper relationship with Him!
g.
It is essential that we
LIVE by the gospel we proclaim to others!
This will have greater impact on our own motivations (we are
genuinely living the gospel) and it will go further as we strive to
teach others. 1 John 2:3-6
emphasizes the importance of keeping His commandments.
a.
We have addressed in
great detail various attitudes that we need to faithfully serve God.
These same attitudes are designed to help us reach the lost.
b.
We need:
-
Love –
For lost souls – when our conviction is where it ought to be, we will
love the lost enough to want to win them over.
For our brethren – when they are in sin or struggling.
ALSO , the Lord, teaching.
1 Cor. 13:1-3 – without it…
John 13:34-35 – Jesus said the way we love each other declares to the
world.
-
Genuine concern
– people can tell when you really care about them.
That goes so far.
Philippians 2:19-22 – Timothy, an example of genuine caring!
Jesus was moved with compassion – Mark 6:34, “But the multitudes saw
them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the
cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. And Jesus,
when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion
for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He
began to teach them many things.”
-
Humility –
arrogance and pride are quick to kill opportunities to teach!
Like Paul, we need to remind ourselves that the power is not in
us, but in God and His word – Rom. 1:16.
1 Cor. 3:5-7 – we are merely planting and watering the seed
-
Unselfishness –
people observe the way you act more than what you say.
As the saying goes, “People don’t care how much you know until
they know how much you care.”
Philippians 2:3-4 – we think about others rather than ourselves
.The very sacrifice of Jesus is a demonstration of unselfishness and
Paul appeals to that after telling us to think of others (Phil. 2:5-8)
2 Tim. 2:10, “Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the
elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus
with eternal glory.”
Galatians 6:6 says, “Let him who is taught the word share in all good
things with him who teaches.”
-
Patience – we
need to be long suffering in working with others.
Gal. 6:9 tells us not to grow weary in doing good!
1 Thess. 5:14 tells us to be patient with all.
In
this lesson I’ve said nothing new.
I have simply described the true Christian.
That is where your efforts to reach others will begin.
You have to be converted
yourself before you will have a heart to convert others.
So as you examine your life, where you find the need to improve?
What are you going to do about it?