REWARDS OF EVANGELISM

REWARDS OF EVANGELISM

Do you want to be an evangelist?  A Zealous sharer of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  Great Benefits!

·         Meet new people – Jail in Phillipi

·         Non-conventional hours – Evangelist needed to preach through midnight.

·         Travel distant lands – Remote Island Seeking Shipwrecked Evangelist – Exp. Vipers

·         Answer the call of the Lord – and other calls all hours of the day and night!

What did the Evangelist and Apostle Paul have to say about Evangelism?  I Cor. 9:19-23

I.                   6 -  Rewards of Evangelism

A.    Personal Growth

1.      Learning new approaches to:

a.       Groups: Mixed audiences, old audiences, teenagers, prisoners, substance abusers.

b.      Individually: Strangers, friends, family, athiests.

c.       Online Forums: Textually.

2.      Encounter Variety Beliefs

a.       Preterism

b.      Indian faiths

c.       Denominational Beliefs

d.      Atheism

3.      Odd Situations

a.       Evangelizing over the phone in another language using online

b.      Baptism in a blizzard

c.       Pulpits taller than the building is deep

B.     Correction in the Church – 2 Tim. 4:1-5, Prov. 3:11-12

1.      Elders – Tough Job – A job of love

2.      Brother or sister – Immoral clothing, temper - Ex. (Afraid to ask questions in class)

3.      Being the recipient after coming down from the pulpit

4.      Song titles like, “Are you ready?”, “In the service of My King”, or “Lord Send Me” (Thanks for singing)

·         Col. 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.

5.      Sometimes at the painful end of a spanking.  (Thank you to my parents) (Children can thank me later)

C.    Conversion of Souls – The Jews of Acts 2, Paul, Phillipian Jailer

·         To see bad men become good, the blasphemer become a man of prayer, old things pass away and all things become new, the life which once they loved they now hate and the life which once they hated they now love; this is a fantastic transformation. 

·         Ex. John Hicks – 30 Years worked on a friend.

·         Ex. Juan Cruz – Prison until the age of 63.

·         Ex. Bob Eber – 30 Years an alcoholic.  God to get a woman.

Paul wrote, "1Th 2:19  For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?  For ye are our glory and joy.”

·         What general from the army, what President from the White House, what Senator or Congressman from the halls of government, what brilliant scientist or what financial wizard from Wall Street can carry his accomplishments or gold up to the judgment seat and say, "These are my joy and crown.”

·         The greatest rewards are those which shine when the sun is no more. Giving up his life, the evangelist finds it again through Christ in lives of those twice born. He “has meat to eat that the world knows not of.”  (John 4:32)

D.    The sense of fellowship with our Lord.

·         Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, the evangelist follows His path. When one is weary in body and in mind and tempted to discouragement, he can recall the life giving message, "If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him."

1.      True Fellowship is hard to find in this World.

a)      Family and Friends – Mistake to look for spiritual rewards here. Beyond the approval of conscience, the smile of God, and the rewards of godly living, we are told by the Bible not to look for our reward as servants of God in this life from men.

b)     Mankind – The world will hate us if we live in Christ Jesus: (John 15:18)

-          We shall suffer persecution; (2 Tim. 3:12) – “All who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

-          Men will say all manner of evil against us; (Matt. 5:11)

-          Our good, will be evil spoken of;  (I Cor. 10:30, I Pet. 3:16)

-          We will be strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Heb. 11:13)

But there is a fellowship of His sufferings.

c)      The Church - The closer we live to God the more we will be misunderstood; even in the church.

·         Having a deeper spiritual experience than others is a mystery to them; has led to the dungeon, stake, and headsman's axe in the past; and it means anything but an easy time in the present.

·         Ex. Persecuted Saints – Wycliffe, (Translated Bible to english) Infuriated Catholics.  Burned and ground his bones to dust after digging up.

·         Today, we must lay down our reputation at the door and consent to be ridiculed by the world, discounted and struck down by many in the church, misunderstood by their own household, and walk a lonely path to Heaven. 

2.      Don’t Fret! True Fellowship is Found In Christ

·         How does it feel to think we are thinking the thoughts of Jesus after Him.

·         We are giving ourselves to the same task which consumed our Lord. – Saving Men!

·         Looking to Jesus, we are not disappointed in the fellowship with Him. Ex. Sometimes Wife disappointed in fellowship with me.

E.     It can bring revival to the Church.

1.      In Worship Settings

·         Converts sinners, reclaims backslider, sanctifies believer

·         Creates joyfulness, activity, and conviction on the part of the church.

·         A revival brings with it responsiveness in worship.

·         Brings warmth and power in prayer.

·         A spirit of love and generosity that it cannot be mistaken.

·         This state happens because of faithful preaching of the word and faithful witnessing.

2.      During Times of Community Crisis

·         Evangelism kicks into gear and revs the church!

Ex. Gulf Coast outcry to aid needy… vs. spread word.  Even Jesus fed spiritually first.

a)      In times of emergency such as wars, earthquakes, floods, storms, people:

·         Forego ordinary comforts.

·         Revise their habits

·         Do things they never would do in ordinary times.

3.      If earthly crisis brings men to unusual sacrifice, how much more should impending judgment day?  This is a community Crisis that demands revival!

·         Go out and win souls for Christ while time lasts!

·         Judging from many christians talk and actions, one would never suspect that Jesus is coming soon His witnesses in the last days.

·         There are cable television salesman with more zeal than most brothers and sisters trying to rescue souls or preach the word.

·         Pray that Evangelism Revives Our Churches!

For what will you give your life? Will you give it to collect money toward a doubtful goal? Will you spend your life in earthly pursuits that have no ultimate value? Will you spend it in selfish ease? Ours is a task that is fashioned for eternity and he that winneth souls wins a reward that will outlast the stars.

F.     Our Greatest Reward will be Standing  in the presence of the King of kings and Lord of lords

·         Hearing Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joys of thy Lord."

·         How can we describe the award of that day?  To read expressions that are dropped here and there in the Bible about thrones, crowns, kingdoms, glorious bodies, is exciting. It is still more astounding when we realize that these wonderful terms are but hints in themselves of the reward which Christ has promised to all who will be faithful to Him unto the end.

Ex. Standing next to own father – knowing he is proud of me.  Just to hear those words.  How much greater coming from God who knows each and every failure and still forgave us.

Poem about Rewards

Though you may blunder 'round like a drunk on a bender If your eyes are tear-filled and your heart is tender, You can win a lot of souls to the Lord. 

If you can preach against sin and stand firm as a tower, If you can contend for the right and not get sour, If you can battle the Devil and still keep sweet And walk in the path of the nail-scarred Feet, Then you'll do a lot of good for the Lord. 

If you can preach the Bible and not compromise, If you can point men and women to a home in the skies, If you can pass through this world and not bow to its toys, If you can preach profoundly and yet win the boys, Then they'll believe you're called of the Lord. 

When they say things about you that are nothing but lies, And your heart is crushed 'til it nearly dies, If you can go on like Jesus with no words of defense, If you can love your enemies without pretense, Then you'll keep your soul for the Lord. 

If you can come down to your old age And not backslide and soil the page, If you can finish your course without disgrace, If you can run with joy to the end of the race, Then you'll go home to be with the Lord.

II.                CLOSING

The Reward of Evangelism

Within twenty-four hours, he knew he would be dead. What would you do during your last day? washed the dirty feet of his disciples. Why did he do that? To impress upon them the fact that “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.”  Serve one another.

Christianity is a religion immersed with service and sacrifice.  We serve, because he serves us. We are commanded to serve our brethren in Christ, and even our enemies. This means evangelism.

When we render our sacrifices of service, we help others find their God and their way home.  Perhaps the most ironic thing about the type of service demanded by the religion of Christ is that by serving others, we find our own greatest fulfillment.  Ex. Chinese finger trap – worry and try to get…. have to give to get.

You will never be more contented than when you help someone else improve his station in life or improve his relationship with the Creator through Evangelism.