Life-Long Evangelism

Introduction

During my years as a Director of Education, Minister of Education, and Senior Pastor, there is one thing I have learned without question. There is no end to the books, programs, classes, techniques, and tools meant to improve or garner evangelism in the local church. Unfortunately, all of them that I have seen could focus more on a fundamental need. 

I don’t mean to sound harsh, but it seems, the goal of these resources is, without them stating such, to embolden terrified, sin-laden-Christians to participate in outreach through the use of humanistic means without first dealing with the witness himself.

Let me give a disclaimer before I give you an example of which I speak. Most of the tools, I won’t say all, have a proper Gospel included in their methodologies. Also, no matter the messenger, the Word of God can and will accomplish what God desires (Isaiah 55:11). However, humanistic goals and a lack of spirituality cannot sustain a lasting evangelistic effort. Evangelism should be a natural part of every Christian’s lifestyle. 

Now for an example:

One popular ministry says that it trains people “how to share their faith in Christ boldly, lovingly, and naturally.” Notice the wording in the previous quote, boldly, lovingly, and naturally. This website has many resources that might be useful tools to open up conversations and present the Gospel. That said, where does boldness come from? Also, where does love come from? Are they not the result of the Holy Spirit working in the believer’s heart? The Scriptures are clear. 

And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31 NAS95).

With that understanding, let’s look at three keys to sustaining a life-long witness to the lost. To do so lets consider the first key: A Desire to Glorify God.

A Desire to Glorify God

The following question and answer is taken from the shorter catechism of the Westminster Confession as published on the The Westminster Standard Website.

Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?

A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.

1 Cor. 10:31; Rom. 11:36; Ps. 73:25-28.

If the chief end of man is to glorify God, then any other motive to evangelize must come into question. Even good motives, like a love of others, if they supplant the highest motive, will not sustain a life-long evangelist effort. 

This is true because its blessing is tied to success. When you have had the Gospel rejected over and over again, you will find yourself questioning your failures. Am I doing something wrong? Does God not want to use me? Am I not praying enough? Are there no elect in the area? Am I too sinful, etc.?

Don’t misunderstand, a love of others is a crucial part of evangelism, however it should be born out of a desire to glorify God. If it isn’t, you might be seeking self glorification or satisfaction.

However, a desire to glorify God has its blessing in your relationship with God. The Psalmist declares, “Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works” (Psalms 73:25-28 NAS95).

Notice the end of that Psalm. Making the Lord God his refuge in order that he might tell of all God’s works is the right order of things, not the opposite. Therefore, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NAS95). This requires a dependence upon God.

A Dependence Upon God Sovereignty

Of first importance, to maintain a life-long evangelistic effort, is to depend upon God for results positive or negative. If you want to glorify God you will accept the will of God in each and every evangelistic encounter. 

The Scriptures teach that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus Christ as Lord to the glory of the Father (Philippians 2:9-11). Therefore, whether a prospect accepts or rejects the Gospel, his acceptance or rejection in no way diminishes God’s glory.

It’s important to remember that the saved are not born of the blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9 NAS95).

This truth frees you from any performance anxiety; at least as it relates to success. No one will go to hell because you were unable to talk them into heaven. Likewise, no one will miss heaven because you didn’t do a good job presenting the Gospel. God will get all of His elect into heaven with or without you. 

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified (Romans 8:29-30 NAS95).

Additionally, you should recognize that the particular role, in which you find yourself related to evangelism, is not a cause for concern. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6-7 NAS95).

What is important is a strong relationship with God. Jesus said, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me (John 15:4 NAS95).

A life-long evangelistic effort will be born out of a heart submitted to Christ. For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:16 NAS95). Therefore, you must seek to glorify God, depend upon God, and finally, employ the Word of God. 

A Dependence Upon the Word of God

The Bible says clearly that faith comes comes hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). It is critical that you resist the temptation to water down or contextualize the Gospel to satisfy your desire for success. 

Paul gave the Galatians one of the strongest admonitions against distorting the Gospel: But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! (Galatians 1:8-9 NAS95)

Paul was laser focused on and trusting in the facts of the Gospel. He had complete trust in God’s Word. 

Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4 NAS95). For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." (Romans 1:16-17 NAS95)

Conclusion

The foundation for a life-long evangelist effort is a desire to glorify, a dependence upon God’s sovereignty, and a dependence upon God’s Word. Resist the temptation to trust in gimmicks designed to elicit emotional responses. There is a life and death difference between a prayer to receive Christ and true repentance that trusts in Christ’s righteousness. Beware of selfish motives.