Effectively Winning the Lost

 

“Effectively Win the Lost”

2 Tim. 4:5; Acts 4:1-40

 

SUBJECT: EVANGELISM

THEME: Practice the essentials to win the lost and overcome the distractions, and discouragements involved with evangelism.

INTRODUCTION:

1. You might say that I have it on my heart to speak especially to all who are interested in propagating the Gospel to the ends of the earth. That is carrying out the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus and winning the lost of the world for whom He died.  Paul said to Timothy in 2 Tim. 4:5, “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

• Do the work of an evangelist. That work is always proclaiming the gospel to all people, calling on them to repent and be saved. Whatever the obstacles, opposition of false teachers, problems of church administration, distractions, or discouragements, Timothy was not to allow any of them to keep him from his appointed task. The phrase means, “do the work of preaching the gospel,” or of one appointed to proclaim the glad tidings of salvation. This is the proper business of all ministers, whatever other position or function we may maintain. This is a major part of our ministry.

• Make full proof of thy ministry. We are to push all our primary duties to their utmost energy and activity! That is carrying out each duty toward all their consequences and trusting God to work with us and through us.  We are not to neglect any part of our sacred functions; perform faithfully all the duties of our ministry; and do God's work in his own way and in his own Spirit.

• Nothing should deter us from carrying out our duties until the day when our ministry would be completed (that is, at our death). How can we know when we have fully carried out our ministry? By defining ministry in terms of lifelong goals instead of temporary jobs, positions, and opportunities.

·       Then, when life ends, we will be able to say with Paul, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” (2 Tim. 4:7). Paul also tells us to “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.” (1 Tim. 4:15).

2. These are challenging days however. I need not remind you of that. One thing that amazes me about the Bible is how minutely and accurately it describes the last days in which we currently live.  It characterizes the last days before the Lord Jesus returns as “evil days.”  Currently there are many enemies to fundamental, Bible-believing, soul-winning churches, workers and preachers.

·       Men in the last days will have a form of “godliness, but denying the power thereof.”  This generation is seeing this statement fulfilled like no other has.  There is worldliness and modernism on every hand.  Wickedness occupies high and low places nationally and around the world.  Thus, this presents the modern preacher and Christian worker with some extremely challenging days in which to minister.

·       Consider the prophet Elijah as an example of a man of God discouraged while attempting the work of Evangelism.  In spite of the fact that he reached great heights in the Lord’s work, enjoyed tremendous power in executing his ministry, and experienced great victories over the enemies of the Lord, he still encountered periods of discouragement.

MESSAGE:

I.           We Need to Witness with Reality (Acts 4:13, 20).

Christ had originally chosen the Twelve to be with him and to send them out to preach the Gospel in power and authority (Mark 3:14-15). Here we find Peter and John, fishermen by trade, who had never received formal theological or special training. Yet their testimony before the members of the council was astonishing. Peter and John were bold, composed, confident, and undaunted in their defense. Christ and the Gospel message was a reality to them. As the apostles stood there with the healed cripple man, speaking with authority, the members of the Council recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. Though the Council still rejected Christ, they were certain the apostles totally believed what they were declaring.

A.   To Witness with Reality Means to Really Believe What We Are Declaring (Acts 4:19-20). 

                                             i.     They Were Convinced of the Truth of the Gospel.

Commanded by Christ to be witnesses (Acts 1:8) and utterly convinced of the truth of the gospel, Peter and John announced their rejection of any such ban on speaking in the name of Jesus. 

                                           ii.     They Were Compelled by Their Personal Experiences With Christ.

A.    These men had indeed “been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13), and he had completely transformed their lives. They had lived with him; they had witnessed his resurrection; they had experienced the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

B.    And so they said, “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” To have obeyed the Council's command would have been to disobey God.

                                         iii.     They Were Careful to Sustain a Credible Witness of the Gospel. 

A.    What if, when threatened by the Sanhedrin, the disciples had abruptly changed their story and curtailed their witness? How credible would the gospel have been after that?

B.    The fact that they stood strong in the face of severe persecution gave their message a lot more credibility.

C.    Likewise, when we make the daily decision to do what is right, when we stand up boldly for Christ against a hostile crowd, people take notice. They look closer at our lives and listen more carefully to our message. (From Dr. C. Malone)

                                          iv.     Our Conviction for the Truth Can Be Used of God in Witnessing.

A.    We must possess a belief to such a degree that the listener will be compelled to note the authenticity of our faith. 

B.    Even if they reject or disagree with our message, they will still be convinced that we truly believe it.  The message must be real to the messengers of the Lord.

B.   To Witness With Reality Requires a Belief in Heaven and Hell.

                                             i.     I had a lengthy witness with a young man on visitation. While working the front gate and intersection between Katterbach and Bismark Kaserns, a tall young man came along in uniform. So, I introduced myself and extended to him an invitation to the church. Then I asked him if he had a religious background as I customarily do during witnessing encounters and episodes.  He stated that he was Catholic and once studied to prepare to become a priest.  He said he left the movement because his father was a strong ‘Christian’ all his life until he lost his faith on his deathbed.  He tried to find peace with this experience as he wrestled with whether his father went to heaven or did his failure of faith cause him to finally go to Hell instead. His priest could not assure him of his father’s salvation, therefore he dropped out of school. As the conversation continued, I assured him that salvation is strictly through faith in Christ and his finished work at Calvary. I proceeded to share with him the gospel. During the presentation, I pressed home the truth that Jesus Christ is the ONLY Way, Truth and Life. But this very thing he could not accept.  He believed that there were other good religions and that many ways lead to heaven. He rejected the idea that Jesus is the only way, and he said with all the seriousness in his soul. “If you really believed that the rest of the world was dying and going to hell, and the only way they could be saved is through Jesus, then why aren’t Christians telling people all over the world?”

I told him, “I believe this so much that I am a missionary here in Germany to servicemen and their families; I generously support missions around the world; and I am standing here on this corner telling you about Jesus.”  He stood there in disbelief and said, “I have difficulty with accepting one way as the only way to heaven.”  I assured him that I really believe what God said directly about this matter without a single doubt!

Yes, I believe it with all my heart. With all my soul I believe as Jesus taught, that every lost man and woman, buy or girl who has not been born by God's Holy Spirit is forever lost and will spend eternity in Hell.

That young man looked deep into my face and said, “If that is true, it is mighty serious business.”

I prayed, “O God, give to my heart and the heart of every Christian the seriousness of this unbelieving young man.”

 

                                           ii.     My friends, it is true, and it is serious business. Multitudes are lost. They are lost in our city; they are lost all over Germany and America; they are lost on every mission field. We need to enter the holy presence of God in travail of soul and in earnest supplication and prayer until we can go out with a message and the people can say, “Those people actually believe what they are saying.” We need to witness with tremendous reality.

 

                                         iii.     It is said that some years ago in England there was a great actor giving a reading in a room filled with people. Someone suggested that he give the 23rd Psalm.

                                           He asked, “Do you really want me to?”

                                           An old clergyman stood up and said, “Yes, Sir. Give the 23rd Psalm.”

It is said that the great actor, with the most precise intonations and the finest of elocution, began to recite. When he finished, the people smiled, nodded their heads and applauded.

 

                                           Then the actor said, “I want that elderly preacher to give it.”

That gray-haired preacher rose like a giant for God and began, “The Lord is my shepherd.” He walked with God in the green meadows; he walked with God beside the still waters; he walked with God down in the dark valley that came out on the bright side. Finally, with his face turned toward Heaven, he closed, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

                                              He sat down. Nobody applauded but heads were down and people weeping.

The great actor arose and said, “The difference between me and this preacher is that I knew the Psalm, but he knew the Shepherd.” (From Dr. C. Malone)

                                          iv.     Beloved, our witnessing must be done with a reality that will grip hearts. It must not be vague. It must not be filled with doubt. We must witness so that the lost shall take knowledge that “we have been with Jesus.” Listen, the world today has enough doubt without getting anymore from you and from me. We must witness with the tone of reality.