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Portrait of an Evangelist (May 22, 2011)

What does an evangelist look like? That is the question the series of sermons we are beginning seeks to answer. If we were to take a blank canvas and sketch out a portrait of an evangelist – what would we have?

For many of us the very word – evangelist brings thoughts of those men and women who were heroically gifted to take the word to the nations. The Apostle Paul.

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George Whitefield. Billy Graham. But here is what I want you to know with all your heart. You are an evangelist. You may not have the gift of evangelism but every person in this church is called to evangelise. Unfortunately the task of evangelism is often only thought to be for those with the gift of evangelism. I have only met a few evangelists in my time – and they are hard to live up to. When I was at seminary I had a lot to do with a missionary who was back home on furlough. This man was an evangelist – no doubt. I remember pulling into a petrol station to fill up the car. And I wondered what was taking Peter so long? I looked around, and here was some poor guy just trying to fill up his tank and Peter had put his nozzle in the car and called across – Excuse me sir – do you know Christ as your Saviour? And they were talking away. I remember coming to an intersection in the city waiting for the pedestrian walk sign to come up and Peter says to this guy waiting at the crossing – Excuse me sir – do you know Christ as your Saviour? He followed him across the street – up the road asking him questions. I just couldn’t do that. It’s not me. But this man shared Christ everywhere – struck up conversations everywhere – and he led so many people to the Lord. He was an evangelist – no doubt. And he was a leader in the church. In Ephesians 4 – Paul is speaking of leaders were given to the church as gifts – in verses 11and 12 he says:

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.

This verse speaks of men with God-given gifts – sent to the church to build it up.

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But if you are not a gifted man given to the church in the capacity of evangelist – does that mean you dot’ evangelise? Based on this verse – I have met some men – some godly men – who maintain that the task of evangelism is only for those with the gift of evangelism. Their argument is that Jesus gave the great commission to the church – not to individuals. And within the church each Christian has gifts. Some serve, some speak. Some teach, some lead, some share the gospel. We need to exercise our gift in the areas we are gifted. So if you have the gift of evangelism – use it. If not – get out of the way – let those with the gift do their thing – and you minister in your area. What I want to suggest tonight is this. While some men are specifically gifted to share the gospel – to lead the church in ways such as teaching and evangelising –the task of evangelism is given to us all. What do I mean? God raises up some men with the gift of teaching to teach the church publicly. They are elders – paid by the church – set aside to the task of teaching. But, this doesn’t mean only they teach. Every Christian has to teach. You have to teach your children. We should be involved in other areas of teaching – Bible Study, Sunday School, etc. Even if you aren’t an upfront teacher – you have to study, learn, apply and teach the truths in some area of your life. Similarly, God gifts some as evangelists. Often they are employed like teachers – either locally – or as missionaries. They are leaders in the church. That is one of their prime giftings. But this does not mean only they are given the Great Commission and the task of evangelism. I don’t have the time to go into it now – but if you look at the sermons I have preached on the Great Commission – Matthew 28 and Acts 1 – I am convinced the text makes it clear that these commands are not just for the Apostles – but for the church as a whole. To limit Jesus’ words to the Apostles – or even to their modern day equivalent – church leaders is a gross misunderstanding. Similarly, John 14-17 – on the last night of His life, Jesus passed on the task of taking the gospel to the world. Again – I laboured through those passages to show that Jesus did not just mean – I give this task to you Apostles – but to the whole church. For example in John 17:17–21 Jesus says:

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Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. … I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, … so that the world may believe that you have sent me. If you are someone who has believed in the Word – become a Christian – then this task of evangelism is for you – to take the gospel to the world so they might believe. Or we could look at 2 Corinthians 5:17–19:

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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Who is entrusted with the ministry and message of reconciliation? Not only the evangelists gifted to the church – but every single man and woman who is in Christ and a new creation. Evangelism is not just for pastors, evangelists, elders – or a few who are gifted. If you are saved – you are given the message of reconciliation – you are to evangelise. So if all Christians are called to evangelise – does that mean that we don’t need to refine our portrait a little more? Not at all. If you look in the mirror and the portrait you see is one that is not so godly, a bit afraid, doesn’t really know the gospel well – what can you do. I want to suggest that the portrait of an evangelist should be a portrait of FAT people.

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Don’t get me wrong – I am not talking about obese people. I mean FAT in the sense of – Faithful, Available and Teachable. If you work on these areas – you will become someone who can and will share the gospel. First – an evangelist should be a faithful man or woman. 2 Timothy 2:2:

The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable – or faithful – men who will also be qualified to teach others.

Faithful men and women pass on the truths of the gospel. You know you have the task of telling the gospel to the world – you don’t bury the truth entrusted to you – you find someone to tell. You are faithful to heed the command of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 Paul says:

I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

2 Timothy 1:13-14:

What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching …. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

2 Timothy 4:1-2:

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I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season.

Faithful Christians make sharing the gospel a priority. I know that sharing the gospel is hard. Fear of man, loss of reputation, worry about losing a friendship. family or a job – they cause men and women to clam up. But the faithful child of God obeys the command of Jesus to tell others the gospel. Spurgeon cried:

If I never won souls, I would sigh till I did. I would break my heart over them if I could not break their hearts. Though I can understand the possibility of an earnest sower never reaping, I cannot understand the possibility of an earnest sower being content not to reap. I cannot comprehend any one of you Christian people trying to win souls and not having results, and being satisfied without results.1

It is one of the great reasons we are in this world is to be the instruments that lead the lost to Christ – so that rebels may give glory to their Lord. Yet, Dr. James Kennedy – a great evangelist church leader. Author of Evangelism Explosion – he laments that:

One of the saddest statistics of our day is that 95% of all church members have never led anyone to Christ.

95%! If he is right, 95% of you have never led someone other than your children to Christ. I pray that figure is wrong! I know many of you have shared the gospel. But, I also know most of you have not known the indescribable joy of being the human instrument of salvation. So why is it that only 5% of us have experienced the joy of leading a soul to Christ? I tell you – it is not that the gospel or the Spirit are lacking in power. Romans 1:16:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.

The problem is us. Fear, laziness, worry.

1 C.H. Spurgeon, “Tearful Sowing and Joyful reaping,” in Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit (London: Passmore and Alabaster, 1869; reprint, Pasadena, TX: Pilgrim Publications, 1970) vol. 15, page 237.

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We live in a land that is particularly hard to declare the gospel in. We have so much that we don’t see our need of a Saviour. We have the gods of sport and pleasure – who needs Christ? At times sharing the gospel here feels like sowing seed in the middle of the Pacific Highway. And we lose heart. We fear being thought foolish, losing a relationship, or not knowing what to say. However, while every card is indeed stacked against us – hearts are hardened by sin and suppress the truth in unrighteousness – never forget that Jesus still saves sinners today when we are faithful to share the gospel.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.

Donald Whitney describes evangelism like handing out lightning conductors in a thunder storm. We don’t know who will get hit – but we know someone will. God saves. Every salvation is a miracle. Dead in trespasses and sins. It is not your eloquence or brilliance that leads them to Christ. It is the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. We go forth in His authority and His power. He takes the foolish words of the gospel and through the power of His Spirit, He breaks down the hardened hearts of men and opens their mind to the truth. We don’t have to compete with science, relativism, the media or anything else. We just have to share His word and watch the miracle of salvation unfold. He does it all. Throughout every age comes the promise to the faithful:

I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. Christ saves! And most amazing of all – He uses you to take the gospel to the world. A verse that continues to work its way through my heart is found Revelation chapter 12. This chapter describes the great war between Satan and Christ fought out on the canvas of this world. The war we are fighting this very day. In the midst of this important chapter comes a very crucial verse. Revelation 12:11:

And they [the Christians] overcame him [Satan] because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

The ground of victory is by the blood of the Lamb. The victory is already won by Christ on Calvary. But, the news of the victory still needs to be proclaimed to the captives. We overcome by the word of our testimony – the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel is the only force that can liberate men and women. It is the only power that can war against the Prince of this world for the souls of men and women.

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The late Dr. A. J. Gordon concluded his last pastoral letter to his church with these words:

Forget not that your first and principal business as a disciple of Christ is to give the gospel to those who have it not. He who is not a missionary Christian will be a missing Christian when the great day comes. Therefore, ask yourself daily what the Lord would have you to do in connection with the work of carrying the news of salvation to the perishing millions.

The portrait of an evangelist – needs faithful men and women. There is a second characteristic. Evangelists should be available. Do you remember in Luke 9 – Jesus meets three men? Listen to that account. Luke 9:57-62:

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

These three men are MISTER COST TOO HIGH, MISTER OTHER PRIORITIES FIRST and MISTER EASY WAY OUT. Not only did they fail the faithful test – but they weren’t available. Wait till my dad is dead. Wait till mum and dad give permission for me to go. And they missed out on the greatest privilege of this life and the next. We have to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. We have to obey and do His work first. That means being available. Making the work He gave us a priority. Our hearts say this – evangelism sounds great – but right now I have to study, I have to concentrate on my job, my family needs me, you know how it is – I am a man in demand. There is always an excuse. The young have things to do – places to be. Who has time share regularly now? – that can come later. And when they are older and retired – there is still an excuse – I’m too old, my health isn’t up for it, you should be concentrating on a younger man or woman.

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We can find ourselves so busy living – finding time to share the gospel seems an impossibility. We are not available. Faithfulness and availability are linked. The faithful man or woman makes themselves available for God to use – including evangelism. Then you come to the third characteristic you should strive for to help you become someone who regularly shares the gospel. You should be teachable. In 2 Timothy 1:13 Paul says:

What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.

At this church – again and again we have run courses on how to share the gospel. Two Ways To Live, Discipleship Evangelism, Christianity Explained. Every Christian should learn the gospel in a succinct way that you can share. Some are worried – what if they ask me questions – creation, evolution, evil, natural disasters. Well, be teachable – read – have an idea of the questions people ask and the answers Scripture gives. If you can’t answer them – tell them – I don’t know – but our church runs a course where the pastors would love to try and answer your questions. But at the very least – have some idea of what Scripture tells us concerning the plan of God in regards to salvation.

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Everything God does is for His glory. Isaiah 42:8:

I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other. Therefore: God created us to bring Him glory. Isaiah 43:6-7:

Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.

But unfortunately: We have fallen and failed to bring God glory. Romans 3:23:

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. So God had to do something: God sent Jesus to redeem us so that we will bring God glory. 1 Timothy 1:15

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 Corinthians 6:20:

You were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. The plan culminates in eternity: Heaven rejoices that redeemed sinners glorify God. Revelation 5:11-14:

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and

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ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

This is where creation, history, redemption is heading. The redeemed – bought at the cost of the blood of Christ – worshipping God and proclaiming His glory for all eternity. When the plan comes to fruition – when sinners are saved – heaven rejoices. Paul sums all of this up in Ephesians 2:1-7:

We have fallen and failed to bring God glory. God sent Jesus to redeem us so that we will bring God glory. Heaven rejoices that redeemed sinners glorify God.

You need to be teachable. Always learning – growing. You need to know the gospel in some form. There are so many tools available for you to have the gospel at your fingertips. The Roman Road, Evangelism Explosion. Find one. Know it and share it. If you share and they ask questions – find an answer for next time. Take them to someone with an answer. Know the glories of the gospel better. What is the portrait of an evangelist?

I want to say that the portrait is first and foremost supposed to be a self-portrait. It is looking in a mirror.

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The portrait is not just the Whitefields and Billy Grahams. It is Elaine Churchward and Brian Talbot and Wade Venz. We are all to do the work of evangelists. But many of us look in the mirror and go – that is not an evangelist. That is a slack, sinful, undisciplined man who can’t answer their questions and is frightened about losing face. So if you don’t like what you see. If you say – I can’t be an evangelist. I am too ungodly, I am too worried about what people think, I can’t find the time, I can’t answer their questions. Then start reshaping that portrait. Put on some spiritual weight. Get FAT – Faithful, Available, Teachable. Pray. God uses prayer in your life and in the ones you share with. Pray, pray and pray again. Learn the gospel. Look for someone to share with. And take the plunge. You might be surprised that it is easier than you think and brings a joy that is incredible. In 1525, William Tyndale declared that:

EVANGELION (that we call the gospel) is a Greek word; and signifieth good, merry, glad and joyful tidings, that maketh a man’s heart glad, and maketh him sing, dance and leap for joy.2

AMEN! When a sinner understands the gospel – he sings for joy – and when the saints see a sinner saved – they join in the celebration. One of the great signs that we understand the gospel is that we rejoice that we are saved, we long to tell others about the way of salvation – and we rejoice when someone turns from the world to Jesus. The gospel saves souls. This is the culmination of the plan of God. It results in a redeemed host who will glorify God for all eternity. And heaven and earth rejoice. Just listen to this quote by C.S. Lewis:

It is a serious thing … to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or another of these destinations.3

2 Quoted in Ian H. Murray, Evangelicalism Divided, (Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2000) p. 1. 3 C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1960) p. 65.

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I can’t tell you how often I have reflected on the truth of this quote. Your neighbour that you talk to over the fence. He looks pretty ordinary. Balding, bit of a paunch, very friendly – nothing extraordinary. And that ordinariness is your biggest impediment to sharing with Him. Because the reality is that what you see standing over the fence is a mirage. A temporary aberration. A fully-fledged deception. Right now he looks fine. He looks just like us. But the truth is that your neighbour is an embryonic being, a work in progress. And one day that work will be done. It might even finish this very day. And when he enters his final destiny – you won’t be leaning on the fence chatting to him – no way! He might continue in his rejection of God. Deny His Creator. And at death he will reach his destiny – he will become a being so loathsome, so vile, so wretched that the human imagination can scarcely comprehend his eternal state. Revelation 14:11 says of them: The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night. He will be a creature without hope – unable to be redeemed. The sin of his heart will glow in unbridled fury. His sin which nailed Christ to the cross, his refusal to give God the glory – these acts mean that he will suffer endless torment – day and night without end. He will cry out in thirst and pain and there will be no relief – there can be no relief. If somehow that creature should appear among us – we would wretch on the spot – sickened to the core by the vile state of this reprobate being. BUT, your neighbour might embrace Christ, the Saviour who gave His life on Calvary for the world. Then at death his destiny will be far different. He will be remade more glorious than the angels. He will be clothed in righteousness and seated with Christ as co-heir of eternity. His splendour would exceed words. And this should bring us great joy. Listen to this amazing verse in 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20. Paul says this:

For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming?

When we get to glory – what will be our hope or joy or boasting. Here is what he says:

Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy. Paul says – I shared the gospel – the Spirit of God did His work – and you turned from idols to serve the living God. You will worship God for all eternity. This is my glory and joy. This is my meat and drink. This is what brings joy to my soul.

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Are we doing anything to share the gospel – and cause heaven to rejoice – and give us something to rejoice in for all eternity? You have one great task. This is why we are here. To see sinners saved. To see the lost repent. To see the stray sheep found. You go and share the gospel with your neighbour. He might laugh. He might wonder at your folly. So be it. He is no worse off. But, God may see fit to have mercy on his soul. God might take these words of divine power and crack his sinful heart open and force him to his knees in repentance. And the angels in heaven might watch a man move from the path of destruction to the path of salvation. And heaven would ring with the cheers of Cherubim and Seraphim. Because the salvation of one soul is worth far more than everything in this universe. This whole universe will perish. One day Christ will roll it up like a scroll and create a new heavens and a new earth. The only thing from this world that will enter into this new world are redeemed men and women. One redeemed soul cost the life of the King of glory – that is how highly God valued our salvation. Jesus loved us while we were yet sinners. Leading one soul to glory is worth more than anything else you can do in this life. Let me say that again. Leading one soul to glory is worth more than anything else you can do in this life. It is why God has you here. It is the greatest way you can bring glory and joy to the One who saved you. It is the greatest source of joy we will ever know. Do you know what happens when you understand this? When it sinks into your soul – and you just have to share the gospel with someone – anyone. You realise why you are here – and you rejoice. Matthew 28:19-20:

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.