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Presented June 1, 2008

PERSONAL EVANGELISM

Proper Perspectives

                It is no secret that God expects us to try and reach the lost.  We have established that often in lessons.  But it is perhaps one of the most challenging things that we deal with as Christians.  We want to reach the lost but there are attitudes and obstacles that simply keep us from getting started.  We have to overcome these obstacles if we are to be everything God would have us to be.  One of the biggest obstacles we face at the beginning of our quest to reach others is a misunderstanding (or simply forgetting about) what really re aches the lost.  We think about ourselves and our own shortcomings and in the process we forget about God’s part in reaching the lost.  So with that in mind, tonight I would like for us to notice some things that will put reaching the lost into proper perspective.

I.                 I.    Realize God’s Part

a.        What keeps most of us from doing more to reach the lost is our focus on ourselves.  Mainly, we look at our own shortcomings and dwell on them.  We say, “I have never been good talking to people about this”, “People don’t want the gospel anymore”, “Door knocking won’t work”, “I just don’t know enough”, “I’m afraid of rejection”, etc. 

b.       But we must never forget, IT IS NOT ABOUT ME!  In fact, if I am trying my best, God doesn’t hold me accountable for the results. He just wants to see me put forth the effort!

c.        1 Corinthians 3:5-7 points this out clearly.  Even, Paul with his degree of success (and failure) acknowledged who was ultimately responsible – God!  He gives the increase
Acts 14:27, as Paul and Barnabas complete their missionary journey together, they come to Antioch and when they had gathered the church together they, “reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.”
When we read the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25 we note that the reason the one talent man was condemned was not that he tried and failed, but that he failed to try.  In vs. 26 he was called a “wicked and lazy servant” and chastised because he didn’t even put the money in a bank.
We must never forget that He gives the increase. 

d.       He opens the doors, etc.
Note again Acts 14:27 which says that God “had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.”
1 Corinthians 16:9 speaks of a great and effectual door that had been opened for Paul. 
The idea of an open door is opportunity.  Paul notes that God was the one who presented the opportunities and He was the one as they sought more. It was up to him (and others) to walk through that door.

e.       While we have much to do, His is the bigger part!  Never forget that.  He doesn’t!

II.                    II.    The power of the Seed

a.        God has provided us with the only offensive weapon we need to confront the enemy and teach the lost – His word. 
Hebrews 4:12 describes it as living and powerful, Romans 1:16 refers to it as “the power of God unto salvation.” 
1 Thess. 1:5 speaks of how the gospel came to these brethren, not in word only, “but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance” 
We must never underestimate the power of the word.

b.       One way the word is described is as seed! 
Luke 8:11 in describing the Parable of the Sower, Jesus began by saying, “The seed is the word of God.”  It is what we are to plant.
Have you ever given consideration to the power of a small seed?  It begins with just a germ of life.  But when planted and watered, the outer core withers away and the “germ” begins to produce what will become a plant that will produce fruit which will include many more seeds that can produce the same fruit over and over.  That is how the word of God is described – we plant it in a heart and let it germinate.   – learn to trust God in this.

c.        OUR JOB is to plant the seed and water it.

d.       Also don’t forget that we reap in proportion to how much we sow.  More seed means more fruit!  1 Thess. 1:5, 2 Corinthians 9:6 speaks to this end (sowing sparingly and bountifully).

e.       I suspect that one reason, and perhaps the MAIN reason we don’t see more souls won is because we simply don’t plant enough seed.  We talk a big game but we leave the seed in the barn.  That was what Haggai said to Judah about rebuilding the temple (Haggai 2:19) and the Lord’s promise to bless them from this day forward if they would do what they were supposed to do.

f.         Plant the seed, so that it can do its job.

III.                  III.    The power of prayer

a.        How many of us truly believe that God can present us with opportunities to reach the lost? 
How many of us actually ask Him to do that?  How many of us really MEAN IT? 

b.       Paul did!  Colossians 4:3 speaks of Paul requesting prayers so that “God would open unto us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ”
2 Thess. 3:1-2, Paul requests their prayers, “that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you…”
Ephesians 6:19 Paul requests that prayers be made for him that he might speak with boldness.

c.        Since God is the one who will give the increase and it is His word, we need to go to Him. 
We are continually told to pray for things we need and that are according to His will.
1 John 5:14-15 – He hears when we ask according to His will.  Can anyone deny that opportunities to reach the lost (and for us to prepare for that work) are His will?
Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”  Jesus proceeds by noting that God knows how to give us what we need and He will.

James 5:16 says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

IV.                  IV.    My willingness to let God use me. 

a.        He will only use those who are ready.  God is not going to force anyone to do what they do not want to do. 
There are many who would love to see the borders of the Lord’s kingdom broadened both locally and abroad.  And most will even stand behind and support those who are doing the work that is getting done.  BUT is that enough?  How much are we willing to do about it ourselves?  How much are we willing to let God use us to reach others?
In Matthew 9:37-38 Jesus noted that while the harvest is plentiful, the laborers are few.

b.       How many of us are making preparations toward this end? 
Are we learning more of God’s word so that we can adequately give a defense of our hope? 1 Pet. 3:15.
What type of a life are we living?  Are we purifying ourselves so that we can be useful to Him?  (Matthew 5:14-16,)  How much do we care about others – specifically the lost?  

c.        When we pray to God and He opens a door for us, are we prepared to walk through it?
Paul was! God answered many of his prayers and opened doors for him. 
Nehemiah was!  Nehemiah 2 demonstrates how Nehemiah was prepared to answer the king when he inquired about building the walls.
We need to be Isaiah who when the Lord sought one to take His message to a sinful people said, “Here am I! Send me.” (Isa. 6:8)

V.                   V.    Don’t take failure personal

a.        A major hindrance to doing more to reach the lost is fear of rejection and failure.  We all want to be successful and do not want to have to face continued failure.
 I am here to give you assurance: don’t worry about what might happen, you ARE going to fail and you WILL be rejected!  Not all the time and as you keep working at it you will see more and more success, BUT you WILL fail and be rejected from time to time.
But realize that while the gospel is for all, not everyone will receive it.  It is not personal!

b.       In the Parable of the Sower, (Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23) perhaps the main point that Jesus was trying to make was the fact that not all are going to accept the truth.  In fact, only 1 in 4 seed described made it to good ground.

c.        Jesus told His apostles, men to whom He gave special powers and authority, “You will be hated by all for My name’s sake.” (Matt. 10:22)
He later reminded them, “if the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.” (John 15:18)

d.       2 Thessalonians 3:2 where Paul asks the brethren to pray for them, he asks not only that the word of the Lord would run swiftly but also, “that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.” 

e.       Brethren, DON’T take rejection personal, even if the action is directed against you, if you did what you were supposed to do, it is God and our Lord they are rejecting.
YOU and I just need to care about the planting and watering. That’s it.  Let the chips fall where they may and let God take care of everything else.  All is not always lost – sometimes another will reap what you have sown (and you may not know about it)

And thus we have some perspectives we need to keep in mind as we give consideration to our need to reach the lost.  There are other things to think about, but these are some key thoughts that will help us get going if we really DO want to reach the lost. 

It want to close with this thought: Much of the preparations needed to engage in personal evangelism is about attitudes more than methods.  When we develop the proper attitudes, the methods will come and take care of themselves.  Don’t make reaching the lost about you – make it about God and His will.  When you keep that in mind you can say as Paul did, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  (Phil. 4:13).