Time is running outRevised Edition 2008

Reinhard BonnkeEnglish USA

© E-R Productions LLC 2008ISBN 978-3-935057-60-8

Edition 3, Printing 15,000 copies

All rights reserved.No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted

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All Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version of the Bible,©1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc., Nashville, Tennessee (USA)

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Contents

Preface 5

Introduction:TimeisoftheEssence 7

1 ThereluctantEvangelist 17

2 EvangelismandtheWorld 35

3 LearningfromtheMaster 55

4 FaithandEvangelism 71

5 PreachingaMiracleChrist 89

6 TheAnointingfortheMission 107

7 ABlueprintforEvangelism 115

8 ActionintheBookofActs 131

9 OrdinaryMen–ExtraordinaryMessage 147

10 TheGospelandSin 169

11 EvangelismintheGospels 179

12 EvangelismaccordingtotheApostlePaul 199

13 EvangelismandSpirituality 213

14 PreachingJudgmentinapoliticallycorrectWorld 233

Preface

KnowledgefromandaboutGodismeanttobeused,notstoredawayin text books. A university divinity curriculum covers a variety

of different subjects and a wide spectrum of knowledge. Nonetheless,whetherweareuniversitystudentsornot,everythinghumankindknowsaboutGodisintendedtoequipusforanactivepurpose.Onethingstandsout–thattheLordistheGodofsalvation.Thatknowledgeitselfisacalltoaction.IfGodislikethat,wecannotjustleavethingsthere.

That iswhat liesbehind thecontentsof thisbook–knowledge lead-ing to action. All information, all education becomes a dusty, dyingmemoryunlessitistranslatedintoaction.Livingtruthgiveslifeandhastobelivedoutandlivedfor.

TheLordistheGodofsalvation.Thatishisownrevealedidentity.ThatisGod–thereisnoother:“I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no Savior”(Isaiah43:11).SalvationisnotanaspectofGod.ItisGod,theonlyGodwecancometo;theonlyGodtobesoughtorfoundisthesalvationGod.

NoonecomestoGodexceptthroughChristJesustheSavior.Heistheway,theonlyway.

TheLordistheGodofsalvation–buthedoesnotworkonhisown.Healonecansave,buthedoesnotsavealone.Hehasusinhis“team”.Hesavesustosaveothers.Wearehisauxiliaries.Thatwasalwaystheplan,andthereisnoplanB.Itisourprivilegetobeinvitedtoparticipateinwhatheisandisdoing,tosharehisactionandhisjoy.

6 Time is running out

Ourpersonalitiesaresupposedtoportrayhim,showotherssomethingofwhatheislike.Hemakesushischildrentobelikehim–ourhandsforhishands,ourvoiceforhisvoice.Wearehisdemonstrationmodelsto showhowhis salvationworks.Wearehere toexpresshimandhislove;throughushiswillisputintoaction.Ifhiswillistobedoneonearth,wearetheonestodoit.

Goddidnotlookaroundtofindrepresentativesandselectthosepeoplehethoughtsuitableforhispurpose.Hemadeusalltorepresenthimonearth.Withouthimwecandonothingandwithoutushewilldonoth-ing.Thatisthebigdeal–thebiggestintheuniverse.

ThecontentofthisbookstartedoutasaseriesoflecturesattheDivinitySchoolofRegentUniversity,VirginiaBeach,VA,USA.Wehaveseenpeople turning toChriston a scaleunimaginableuntil it beganhap-pening,anditwasagainstthatinspiringbackgroundthatIacceptedtheinvitationtogivethelectures.

Yetthose lecturescontainedachallengeandencouragementthatmil-lions outside these walls would need. This material has to reach theendsoftheearth.Weeditedthelecturessothattheycouldbecomethechaptersofabook.Weexpectthisbooktofinditswayintothehandsofmillions,aswasthecasewithapreviousbook,“EvangelismbyFire”.Thisbookisafirethatpossiblyburnsbrighterstill.

We are under-shepherds with the task of leading people to the GreatShepherd.Thefirstprerequisiteisashepherd’sheart.However,ashep-herdneedshisstaffandrodandevenaslingandstone likethosethatDavidused;theyarethetoolsofhistrade.ThisbookisaboxoftoolsforeveryChristianwitnessandworker.

Thisbook is closely related to theFullFlameFilmSeries,whichhastakenyearstoplan,totrimintoshapeandtofinalize.TheFullFlame

7

filmsandthebookTime is running outarenowbeingsentoutacrosstheworld.TheywillsurelyenthuseandinspireGod’searthlyarmy,andgiveanewthrusttothegreatestrevivaleverknown,thelast-dayoutpouringofGod’sSpiritthroughthecharismatic-pentecostalmulti-channels.

Preface

InTroduCTIon

Time is of the Essence

If10,000peoplelivenearyourchurch,accordingtostatisticsfourofthemdieeachweek.Isitsatisfactory,then,ifonlyoneofthe10,000

issavedeverymonth,oreveneveryweek?Ifinditisimpossibletoexag-geratetheurgencyofsharingthegospel!Thegreatestworkonearthistopreachthegoodnews,andthegreatestneedintheworldistheneedforthegospel.

The world is in a critical condition, desperate for the transformingpowerofChrist;meanwhilethedevilschemestohidethisobviousfactfromus.HispoliciesofmurderandgenocidehavingfailedtopreventthebirthofourSavior(seeMatthew2:16-18)andlater,hisresurrection,Satan’sonlyotheralternativewastopreventthepreachingofthegospel.

Atfirst,thedevilusedmainlypersecutionandfalsegospelstothisend,butover thecenturieshehasbuiltupaconsiderablearmory.Afavor-itesubtleweaponhedeploysistoredirectourpriorities.Satandoesn’tmindhowhardweworkforourchurches,aslongasourworkkeepsusfromwreakinghavoconhisevilkingdombyspreadingthegospel.

Beware!Wecanstudydoctrine,engageinfellowship,preachprosperityorcultivateourownsoulsinwaysthatbringusnoclosertofulfillingChrist’scommissiontopreachthegospeltoeverynation.Letusnotbefooled.Wearewallowingindeceptionwhenweallow“good”activitiestocrowdoutthemosturgentworkofall.

10 Time is running out

GasPInG for ThE GosPEl

Everyunredeemedlifecriesoutforthegospel,likeafishontheriver-bankgaspingforwater.Manyintheworldhavegivenuphope.Theyhaveseenthelimitsofscience,technology,medicine,politicsandedu-cation, and they turn to opiates to forget-drugs, drink, and religiousmysticism.Likethemythicalhydra,evilgrowstwoheadsforeveryonethatwecutoff.Thismonsterneeds thedaggerof the crossofChristplungedintoitsheart.

Onlythegospelcancurethewoesoftheglobe.Nottopreachthegospelistantamounttohidingthemedicinefromthepatient!Isaiahobserved,“The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints”(Isaiah1:5NKJV).Sometimes our bodies cure themselves, but very often medicines areneeded.Whenitcomestosalvation,though,thereisnoothercurativeformanthanthesupernaturalpowerofthegospel.Yourtaskandmineistoputthatwonderfulremedyonthetable.Onecanneverforceacureonsomebody,notevenbyresortingtothreats,ifthepatientresolvesnottotakeit.Peoplewhorefusethegospelwillsimplydie,unlessGodinhismercyintervenes.

Why humanITy suffErs

When the media interviews me, one of the questions I am most fre-quentlyaskedis:WhydoesGodallowsomuchsufferingintheworld?Ihaveoftenaskedmyselfthatsamequestion,perhapsnotforthesamereasonsasjadedreporters,butbecauseIgenuinelysufferwhenIseeoth-erssuffering.Why,then,doesGodallowsuffering?YoumayjustaswellasktheU.S.SecretaryofTransportationwhyheallowsaccidentsonthehighways.Nodoubt,hewouldtakeexceptiontotheaccusationimpliedinyourquestion,pointingtothewell-definedrulesoftheroad.“Everytimealawisbroken,”hemightreply,“theoffenderplaceshimselfandothersindanger.Accidentsandsufferingoccurasaresult.”

11

Peoplesufferchieflyforonereason:TheyhavechosentoignoreGod’srulebook,theBible,andeverythinghasgoneterriblywrongasaresult.Our lovingCreatorknowsexactlyhowwehavebeenmadeandwhatwill harm us. Consequently, with a caring, protective heart he says,“You shall not …”. His commandments arenot dictatorial edicts designed to spoil ourfun;rathertheyarethemanufacturer’soperat-inginstructions.Godknowsthatourpsychescannot handle sin and that we are actuallycrushedandtormentedbyourownmisdeeds.Fewwouldargueagainst thewisdomof reading the instructionman-ualbeforeusinganewappliance.People takecarenot tobreaka taperecorderoranewwashingmachine,butstrangely,manydon’tseemtominddestroyingtheirownspiritsandsoulswiththepoisonofsin.

DoyoubegintoseemoreclearlythedesperateneedforthegospelandwhyGod’sheartcrythatwesharethetruthissoinsistent,sourgent?

ThE ProdIGal PlanET

Thesupremewonderof thegospel is itspresent realizationof life-lifeof such unfathomable and enduring quality that it cannot fade for alleternity.Otherreligionsmayclaimtohavetheanswerstothepresentmiseryoftheindividual,butwhatdoesitprofitamantoachievehar-monywithnatureyetlosehissoul?

Jesusoffers eternal life-now. Jesus said,“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” ( John11:25-26).Urgent?Theworldneedshispreciousgiftofeternallifenow.

WhenGodmadetheworld,hefilleditwithaninexhaustiblesupplyofthepurestofpleasures.Everywonder,tasteanddelightcamefromthe

Every unredeemed

life cries out for the

gospel, like a fish

on the riverbank

gasping for water.

Time is of the Essence

12 Time is running out

lovingheartofGodforhischildren.AndwhenwewalkinGod’sway,thewholeworldisours.Butwhenweresisthim,wehinderhisgloriousplansforourlivesandturnourbacksonhisgoodgifts.

Thehumanracehasachievedbrillianceintheartandscienceofanni-hilation.Masskillingsofchildren inour schoolsandstate-sanctionedabortionclinics;scenesofcarnage,bothrealandimagined,onourTVscreens;thewantondevastationofthenaturalenvironment;theongo-ing testing of weapons of mass destruction-all around us is clear evi-dence of the ravages of sin. We war, we hate, we trample on the fairearthandfoulallthathehasgivenus.

This iswhatcomesof turningaway fromGod.Mostofman’s illsareman-made. Yet there is power in the gospelto reverse these fatal processes. The truthwillsetusfree,callingusbacktodohiswill,which is always for the good of us all. Godloveshisprodigalplanet,andifwereturn,we

shallenjoythegladwelcomeoftheFather.

I havE sEEn IT haPPEn!

God is now mightily sweeping parts of the world with the gospel,makingthewayforsalvation.Ihaveseensinsforgiven,racialharmonyachieved, crime eradicated, marriages restored, families reunited, evilmen turned into saints, addicts freed, the fatally ill cured and manyothermiraculoushealings.

ManytimesfollowingourevangelisticcampaignsinAfrica,localpolicehave reporteda suddenanddramaticdecrease incrime.People’s livesarebeingchanged!I’llneverforgethow,inthenationinBurkinaFaso,manylargeitems-stolenrefrigeratorsandotherhouseholdfurnishings-were brought to the preaching field by repentant people who wanted

The gospel gives to

all who will receive it,

the dignity of sons and

daughters of God.

13

to cleanse their homes of stolen property. The police needed severaltruckstohaulalltheitemsaway!Thisgloriousscenehasbeenrepeatedinmanyothercountries.

Thegospelgivestoallwhowillreceiveitthedignityofsonsanddaugh-ters of God. Men who once were savages are reclaimed and walk asprinces.Hallelujah!Whatareasontopreachthegospel!Couldanythingbe more thrilling, adventurous and worthwhile? What else is worthyourlife’seffort?

Nothinglessthanthesalvationofthisworldisatstake.Certainly,Jesusdidnotthinkitawasteofhistimetohealthesickandfeedthefecklessmultitudes. He invited persecution for healing the man with a with-eredarm,andfromthatmomenton,therewasapriceonhishead(seeMatthew12:10-13).ButthatmanmatteredtoJesus,andhisarmhadtoberestored,nomatterwhatthepersonalcosttotheSonofMan.

rEflECTIons of rEalITy

Whyismusicsoprecioustosomany?Whenwearetouchedbyinspiredmusic,weoften receive a glimpseof theeternal.Musiconly suggestsinfinity,however;themelodyechoesafarawaygreatnessthatitcannotfulfill.ThatinfinityisGodhimself,andwhatmusicmerelysuggestsisgiventouswhenwereceivesalvationthroughJesusChristandbegintoworshiphim.

Godisournaturalhabitat.Inhimweliveandmoveandhaveourbeing(Acts17:28).Untilwehearandobeythegospel,untilwefindhim,weremain caged. Men and women everywhere are beating their headsagainstprisonbarsforgedbytheirownmaterialismandunbelief.Theirverymoneyholdsthemcaptive.Deepcallstodeepandheighttoheightwithin our souls. Our art, our poetry, our works of beauty are butexpressionsofimprisonedcreatureswhodimlyrememberthegloriesof

Time is of the Essence

14 Time is running out

thefreeairandthemountains.Whilegoodinthemselves,theseexpres-sions remain mere reflections of reality. Jesus is the reality behind allthatweseeordo.Hisgospelreleasesusfrombondage,allowingustocomeintoourtrueelement,ourintendedheritage!

Untiltheyfindandacceptthetruth,theinhabitantsofthisworldwillwanderthewastesofthewilderness,scanningthehorizonswheredawnnever breaks, looking for the elusive elixir of happiness. Unbelieversextractwhatdrinktheycanfromthedrygroundofresentment,doubtandhatred.ButtheSpiritandtheBridesay,“Come! Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life” (Revelation22:17).

A way of life is preached in the gospel that leads ever onward to theperfectday.Doweneedanymorereasontopreachthegospel?

ThE sECond ComInG

“They asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ he said to them, ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority’” (Acts1:6-7).

hewastakenupbeforetheirveryeyes,andacloudhidhimfromtheirsight.Theywerelookingintentlyupintotheskyashewasgoing,whensuddenlytwomendressedinwhitestoodbesidethem.“Men of Gali-lee,”theysaid,“why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven”(Acts1:9-11).

JesusoftentalkedtohisdisciplesabouttheKingdom,sotheynaturallyasked questions about it. They wanted to know when it would comeandwhetherIsraelwouldbereturnedtoitsplaceinthesun.Jesustoldthemsuchmatterswerenottoconcernthem,butsaid,“You will be my

15

witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”(Acts1:8).TheywereaskingJesuswhenhewoulddosomething;heturnedthequestionaroundandtoldthemtheymustdosomething.

Thedisciples’jobwastowitness,nottoworryabouttimesandseasons.TheyknewthepropheciestheyhadreadinDanielandinotherbooks,and the angels reminded them there would come a day when Christwouldreturn.Sothediscipleswentoutandpreachedthegospel,andthereturnofJesusbecamepartofthesubstanceoftheirmessagetotheworld.

There is a difference between preachingthe return of Jesus and working out timesand dates when it will happen. Throughout two millennia, and eventoday,therehavebeenhundredsofpredictions.Instudyingprophecy,peoplehaveconcernedthemselveswithtimesanddates,takingthisorthatverseandbuildingspeculationsaroundit.Theyhavemadequiteaminorscienceoutof interpretingpropheciesandcallediteschatology.Neatblueprintsofthefuturehavebeendrawnup.Bookshavelaidoutthe divine program for the future with everything recorded in eye-catchingchartsandgraphs.In1930,abookwaswrittenaboutChrist’scomingentitledTheWorld’sNextGreatEvent.Infact,theworld’snextgreateventwasWorldWarII.ThiskindofcalculationandanalysishasonlyservedtodulltheChurch’switnesstoJesus’return.

The cry that should go forth is: “Behold, the bridegroom is coming”(Matthew25:6NKJV)and“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” ( John1:29NKJV).Ourconstant responsibilityuntiltheverymomentofhisappearingistogiveourtime,ourmoney,ourefforttothetaskJesussetbeforeus:“You will be my witnesses.”

Whydowestandherelookingintothesky?Letusgetonwithit!Thereisn‘tamomenttolose.Jesusiscomingsoon!

The disciples’ job

was to witness,

not to worry about

times and seasons.

Time is of the Essence

ChaPTEr 1

The reluctant Evangelist

Therewasonceatribethatworshipedthemoon.“Themoonshinesatnight,”theyexplained,“whenitisdarkandweneedlight.But

the silly old sun shines during the day, when there’s plenty of light.”Whatcouldbemorepointless?

Ofcoursethereislightduringthedaybecausethesunshines,andthereislightinthiscountrybecausethegospellightshineshere.Buttherearemanyplacesintheworldwhereitisverydark.IsupposeI’vebeenlikethemoon,tryingtobringlighttothedarkplacesoftheearth.WhenPaul preached in Troas all night and Eutychus fell asleep,“there were many lamps in the upstairs room” where he was talking (Acts 20:8).Therearemanyshininglampsinthiscountrytoday.AndthatincludeseveryChristianwhoreadsthisbook.Youarecalledtoshineaslightsinthemidstofacrookedgeneration,nottohideyourlightunderabushel(seeMatthew5:15;Mark4:21;Luke11:33).

Somepeopleshineintellectuallyandspeakbrilliantly.Iamjustanordi-nary evangelist, although I do believe the evangelist’s job is the mostimportantintheworld.MynaturalenvironmentisaplatforminafieldsomewhereinAfrica,notspeakingatauniversityorsittingatatype-writer.AnybrightnessonmypartinthesepagesthatfollowmustcomefromtheHolySpiritandtheWordofGod.MyhopeisthepromiseinDaniel12:3:“Those who lead many to righteousness, [willshine] like the stars for ever and ever.”

18 Time is running out

God’s mEssaGE for ThE ChurCh

People ask me what God is saying to the church. He is saying whathe has always said: “Preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15NKJV). If Jesushimselfwere to takemyplacehere in these lastdaysbeforethefinaljudgment,hewouldrepeathislastwordstothedisciplesinActs1:8:“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”Untilwehavedonethat,hehasnofurtherinstructionsforus.

It has been suggested that there should be a moratorium on bringingmore converts into the Church until the Church is fit and ready toreceivethem.IftheChurchcouldbemadereadywithin,say,aweekorso,Imightagree.ButhowcanweeverhopetobefitifwestopobeyingChrist?hiscommandtousistobringinconverts.

Though spiritual training and discipleship are vital, concentrating onourownholinessasourprimaryfocuswillnevermakeusfittoreachotherswiththegospel.Certainly,Jesuscallsustobeholy,butoutreachtotheworldispartofsanctification.Sanctificationdoesnottakeplace

in seclusion only; holiness requires that welookoutwardtothespirituallylost.

Iknowofnofinerway todevelop spiritual-itythantogoallouttowinothersforChrist.Whenwetrytoreachpeoplewiththegospel,

weknowthatwehavetobereal.Evangelismshouldbethethinking,the impetus behind every agenda, if we want a church that is alive.When church boards downplay evangelism, how can they keep thechurchfromstagnationandsterility?IfthepeopleofGoddonotviewtheiroverallpurposeaswinningpeopleforChrist,theybecomejustlis-teners,sermontasters,choircriticsorleadershipjudges.Thechurchis

When we try

to reach people

with the gospel,

we know that we

have to be real.

19The reluctant Evangelist

notarestaurantforspiritualgourmetscultivatingadiscriminatingpal-ateforfoodfromthepulpit;itisacanteenforworkers.Withajobtodo,churchmembershavenotimetocriticize.Ahorsewhichis intentondoingitsjobofpullingaloadneverkicks.

ThE aIm of ThE ChurCh

Theprimaryaimofeverychurchservice-prayermeetings,Biblestudies,youngpeople’smeetings,choirpractices,Communionservices-shouldbeevangelistic.Whyshouldn’teveryservicebeopentooutsiders?Espe-ciallyatCommunion,whentheemblemsofbreadandwinearetaken,weshouldmakesurethechurchisfullofthegodless.Thatcupofredwineis thegreatestpreacher intheworld.It is thegospel inacup-anopportunity to invite lost sinners to accept the sacrifice of the Cross.Somechurchesexcludeoutsidersfromcommunion.Whatalostoppor-tunity!ThepreciousbloodofJesuscleansesusfromallsin.Shallonlythecleancometothefountain?

Ifachurchhastriedandfailedinitsattemptsatevangelism,itistimeforaseriousreevalua-tionofitsefforts.Evangelismdemandsthemostintensivethinking.Thefinancecommittee’sjobissavingsouls,notsavingmoney.Anysurplusfundsshouldgointothetruebusinessofthechurch:savingtheworld.

PrEdEsTInaTIon and EvanGElIsm

Predestination, thecontroversialdoctrinethateverybelieverhasbeenpreselectedbyGodregardlessofourevangelisticefforts,isanacademicsubject for high theological discussion. My approach, however, is nottogetboggeddownintheorybuttodotheworkofanevangelist.Myresponse to the long-standing debate? Cut through the polemics andstepoutinaction.

The church is not

a restaurant for

spiritual gourmets

– it is a canteen

for workers.

20 Time is running out

Whetherpeopleareamongthe“elect”ornot,Iwanttomakecertainthateveryman,womanandchildhasheardthegospel.Iamnotgoingtorisktheeternaldestinyofanysoulsonthebasisofdoctrinaldeduc-tionsortheories.ThereisnothingintheNewTestamentthatsaysweshouldnotpreachthegospelandnothingtosayweshouldnotdoourbesttopersuadefolkintotheKingdom.Sothat’swhatIdo.

Weshallknowthe truthonlywhenweget toheaven. Ifeverybody Ifindtherewaspredestined,that’sfine.ButIcertainlydonotwantany-oneinheaventosaytome,“DidyouknowforsureIwaselected?Whydidn’tyoupreachthegospeltome?Yougambledonyourideasbeingrightandplayeddicewithmysoul.Icouldhavebeeninhellinsteadofhere.”

ThE rEluCTanT EvanGElIsT

IfyoureadthroughtheBiblebeginningatGenesis,youwillfindnoth-ing said about evangelism until you get to the little book of Jonah, abookwhichstandsoutfromtherestoftheBible.Itisalmosttheevange-list’svademecum,apersonalhandbookfordailyuse.

Although most people are acquainted with the story of Jonah, many(including some Christians) don’t believe it actually happened. Theythink there’s something fishy about it. However, Jesus and his con-temporariesregardeditashistory,notasafableorevenaparable.AndwhoeverwrotedownthestoryofJonahknewhowtowrite.Thissmallbookdeservesourcloseattention.

Theprophet Jonah livedabout800yearsbeforeChrist.Heheard thecallofGodtogotoNineveh,thelastcapitalcityoftheAssyrianEmpire.It stoodon the riverTigris,600milesas thecrowfliesdueeast fromwhereJonahlived.InsteadofgoingtoNineveh,however,Jonahboughtpassage on a ship to Tarshish-that is, heading west-in the opposite

21The reluctant Evangelist

direction.Hewasdesperatetogetawayfromhisobligation;Ninevehwasthelastplacehewantedtogo.

Note the way Jonah’s flight is described.Jonah1:3sayshewentdowntoJoppa.Thenhewentdownintotheship,andthendowninto the ship’shold (v.5).Thenwhena stormcame, the sailors threwJonahdownintothesea,agreatfishswallowedhimandhewentdownintothebellyof thebigfish.Hemusthavefeltdown,all right-downin themouth.He thenprayed, saying to theLord,“You cast me into the deep. I went down to the moorings of the mountains” ( Jonah2:3,6NKJV). When the fish vomited Jonah and God spoke, the text says,“Jonah arose” (3:3 NKJV). Going to preach when God sends us iselevating-wearise!

Let’shavealittlesympathyforJonah,forNinevehhadafearsomerepu-tation. One or two of their kings were decidedly brutal, some of theworsttoeverwalktheearth.Theytookpleasureinatrocitiesandcru-eltiessomonstrousthat theyshockusevennow.If Iweretodescribethemyoulikelywouldn’tsleeptonight,andifyoudid,itwouldbemorethanenough togiveyounightmares. Jonahcertainlydidn’t relish thethoughtofaconfrontationwithmenlikethat.Howcouldaforeignerhope to preach against them and come out alive? Of course, he dideventuallygoandNinevehactuallyrepentedofitswickedways.Jonah’spreachingseemstohavebeeneffective.

Yet Jonah was perturbed by the end results. He wanted to see thejudgmentofGodfallonNineveh,andwhocouldblamehim?hehadwarnedthecitythatGodwasabouttodestroyit.TheirwickednesshadreachedtheearsofGodandjudgmentwaswhattheydeserved.Butthecity repented andGodwithheldhis judgment, at least for aperiodoftime.Lessthan200yearslaterNinevehwastotallydestroyed.

Jonah somehow

knew that God could

be as gracious with

Gentiles as with Israel,

even with the worst

sinners on earth.

22 Time is running out

Jonah’s Profound InsIGhT

NowhereistherealpointofJonah’sstory,anditspeakstoeveryevan-gelistwhoeverwentouttodoGod‘swork.Jonahhadpreachedjudg-mentandnojudgmentcame.Thatwasjustwhathehadfearedwouldhappen.Infact,Jonahhadneverwantedtopreachagainstthecity,fortheveryreasonthatifhispreachingweresuccessful,Godwouldchangehis mind about judgment! Afterwards, he railed against God, saying,“O, Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and com-passionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity”( John4:2).

JonahhadprofoundinsightintothecharacterofGod.Inall39booksoftheOldTestament,thisstatementbytheprophetstandsoutassome-thingexceptional.JonahknewGodhadaheartofunparalleledgood-ness.More than that,heknewthat themerciesof theLordextendedbeyondthebordersofIsrael intoenemyterritory,embracingeventheGentiles.FewinIsraelwouldhavebelievedthatcouldbetrue.Inthatageofspiritualdarkness,onlytheHolySpiritcouldhaveshownthistotheprophet.HesomehowknewGodcouldbeasgraciouswithGen-tilesaswith Israel,evenwith theworst sinnersonearth.That iswhyhewent-andwhyhedidn’twanttogo.Partofhimwantedthiswickednationtogetwhatitreallydeserved,butatthesametimeheknewGodwasnotlikethat.Jonahwantedvengeance,butGodwas-andstill is-aGodofforgiveness.

Jonah knew the compassion of God but had no compassion himself.AnymanwhostandsuptospeakofChristknowsverywellwhatJonahknew. It is common knowledge among the saved that God is loving,gracious, merciful and compassionate. But do we personally feel thatwayaboutthelost?Jonahdidn’t.Hepreachedonlyoutofdutyorobedi-ence.Therecouldnotbeamoreseriousshortcomingforanevangelist

23The reluctant Evangelist

oranybodywhopreachestheWordofGod.EvangelismisnotamatterofsimplymouthingwordsofGod’spityingloveorspellingouttheol-ogy.Anevangelist’sheartshouldbeatintunewiththeheartbeatofGod,expressinghisheart’slongingsandcompassion.

Theneedinevangelismistwofold:thetruthandpeoplewhoreflectit.Somepeoplesaythat“preachingtheright thing” isenough.It isnot.TheHolySpirithasapartinthis,placingthemissingingredientinourownhearts:“God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us”(Romans5:5).TheloveofGodinChristismorethanapieceofsystematictheology,anditismeanttocomealivein thosewhodeclare it.Wecanpreachwith tonguesoffirewhenwehavehisfireinourbellies.Howdoyougetthosefiresburning?GettoknowtheWordofGodforyourself.ItisGod’sWordtoyou.

Jonah was a rare preacher and prophet in that he didn’t want to suc-ceed.HehopednobodyinNinevehwouldtakenoticeofthemessagehe preached. Yet even the king on his throne became alarmed abouthissinsanddecidedtodosomethingaboutit.IfwetaketheWordofGoduponourlips,weshouldknowwhatwearedoing.Thisismajorfirepowerthatnooneshould“play”with.

BEyond IsraEl: a World vIsIon for ThE losT

Among theOldTestamentprophets, Jonahwas theonlyone to leaveIsraelandactuallypreachthewordoftheLordopenlyinthestreetsofa foreignland.TherewasakinshipofspiritbetweenJonahandJesus.JonahwastheonlyprophetwithwhomJesuspersonallyassociatedhim-self.HespokeofhimasthesigntoIsrael(seeMatthew12:39).Jonahhad a God-given burden for a Gentile city. The next to carry such aburdenwasJesusChristhimself.HisheartwasbigenoughtoholdthewholeofIsraelandthewholeGentileworld.

24 Time is running out

No other prophet of Israel ever carried the word of the Lord to theoutsideworldexceptwhenthey themselveswerecarriedawayascap-tives of war. In Babylon, some maintained their witness to the Lord,theGodofIsrael.WereadoftheseinthebooksofDanielandEsther.But thenorthern tribeswereabsorbed intoAssyrianEmpireand lost.InPsalm137,wearetold,“Our captors asked us for songs … they said, ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’”Buttheirreplywas“How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?”(seePsalm137:3-4).Whatapity.ThosesongscouldhaveintroducedthelivingGodtotheoutsideworld.

TheconcernofGodforhiscreaturesextendstoallequally,eventothemost renegadeandwicked.However, Jonahdidn’t feel thatwayat alland was out of sympathy with his commission. He tried to get awayfromGod.ButGodwasdeterminedheshouldgoandsentthestormatseaasJonahtriedtoflee.ItwasGod’sstormofprotestatJonah’satti-tude,devoidofanypity.

GodmadeJonaha remarkableexception.Hecoercedhimintodoingwhat Israelwas supposed todobutneverdid.Godraisedup Israel tomake the name of the Lord known throughout the whole earth (seePsalm 67,96; Ezekiel 36:23). Even the original Church was entirelyJewishformaybe20years.PerhapsJonahwas,despitehisshortcomings,oneofthegreatestofalltheprophets.

EvanGElIsm Is God’s InITIaTIvE

The initiative to save Nineveh came from God, not from Jonah. ForGoddoesnotdesire thedeathof anyman,but that all should repent(see2Peter3:9).The initiative forevangelismcomes fromGod, andGodbothcalls andequipsus for thiswork. Itwashewhogave sometobeevangelists(seeEphesians4:11).Atfirst,Jonahactedonhisowninitiativeandwentintheoppositedirection,westtoTarshishinsteadof

25The reluctant Evangelist

goingeast,andGodrespondedbysendingaferociousstorm.Godhaspromisedtoblessandsupporthisowndivineplans.Thereisnoblessinguponourownplans.

So where was Jonah going? Where is Tarshish? Various experts havestudied this, trying to find out. The word ‘tarshish’ is linked closelywith the smelting of ore, silver, gold and tin. The ships of Tarshishweretreasureships,famousfortheexpensivecargotheycarried.Theybecamesymbolsofwealth,powerandpride.ForJonah,Ninevehrepre-sentedonlysacrifice.Itwasastarkchoice:NinevehwithitsmenaceorTarshishwithitsmoney?

AreyouandI“forhire”wherethebiggestsalaryisoffered?Iscashtobethedecidingfactorinourcareers?Mammonandministrydon’tmixtoowell.Heprofitsmostwhoservesbest.

God Is ThErE, no maTTEr WhErE you run

AboardtheshiptoTarshish,thecrewdidnotknowJonahwasaprophet,nordidtheyknowhisGod.Thesailorswereheathens,buttheyrebukedtheprophetofGodforsleepingonthejob.“How can you sleep?”theysaid tohim in themidstof the storm.“Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish”( Jonah1:6).

The people of this world expect a prophet to speak up, whether theyagreewithwhathesaysornot.Maybetheydon’twanttoadoptChris-tianmoralsorthewayoftheLordforthemselves,yettheystillbelievemoralityisagoodthingforotherpeopletopractice.Ifwedon’tpreachwhat theyknowwebelieve, they feelcheated, letdown.TheChurchmustneverfailtosoundaclearnoteonwhatisrightandwrong.

Whenbackedintoacorner,Jonahadmittedwhohewas.Thisstartledandeven terrified thecrew.Thesemenwerepotential converts; they

26 Time is running out

already recognized the power and authority of God. Despite Jonah’spoortestimony,theycametobelieveinJonah’sGod:“At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him” ( Jonah1:16).

herewasamanwhoknewthemarveloustruthaboutGod,andyettheyhadtoaskhimwhohisGodwas.WithJonahaboard their ship,whohisGodwasshouldhavebeenclear.DopeopleknowwhoyourGodis?

ItisastrikingthingthatGod’sidentityislinkedtomen.Hewasfirstknownthroughthe lifeofAbrahamandwascalledtheGodofAbra-ham.Theworld’sideasaboutGodcamefirstfromseeingwhatsortofmanAbrahamwas.HislifeportrayedhisGodandservedasarecom-mendationforhim.

WhenJacobfirstfledfromhomeandfromthemurderousthreatsofEsau,hereferredtotheLordastheGodofhisfathers,AbrahamandIsaac.ThatishowheidentifiedGod,byhowtheirGodhadshapedtheirlives.Thisbroughta sense of awe upon Jacob. He resolved that

onedaytheirGodwouldbehisGod(seeGenesis28:21).Hedidn’tfeelthatcouldbearealityuntilhisownlifereflectedhisGod.IfthenameofJacobwastobeassociatedwithhisfathers’God,hewantedtomaintainthereputationofthatGod.

Evangelism means that somebody will say “I believe in my mother’sGod”,“inJack’sGod”or“inJean’sGod.”Peopletalkaboutpresentingthegospelinanutshell,butitcanactuallyonlybepresentedinaperson.Thegospelismorethanaformulaforgettingtoheavenwhenyoudie.Thegospelofferslife,notjustalifebelt.TheessenceofevangelismistoshowwhatGodislike.

The gospel is more

than a formula for

getting to heaven

when you die.

The gospel offers life,

not just a lifebelt.

27The reluctant Evangelist

Jesus told his disciples that the Spirit of God is the Spirit of witness(see John 15:26). Today, we often talk about power evangelism-signsand wonders to confirm the gospel. But Jesus said that even wickedpeople would work miracles though he never knew them (see Mat-thew7:22-23).Paul also talkedabout thedemonstrationof theSpirit(see1Corinthians2:4).However,onecannothelpbutbeimpressedbythewaytheapostlemanifestedtherealityofthegospelinhisdailylife.HetoldtheCorinthiansthattheirliveswereepistlesknownandreadbyeverybody(2Corinthians3:2).Lookingatus,willpeoplebeabletosay,“So,thatiswhatyourGodislike”?

ThE TruE sPIrIT of EvanGElIsm

EvangelismmeanstorecommendJesus.TheevangelisticmethodtaughtbyJesuswasthatweshouldrecommendhimbyourlivesaswellasbyourwords.Weshouldbe“Jesuspeople,”ormoreprecisely,“Jesus-of-the-Gospelspeople.”

We are the light of the world; there are no other options (see Mat-thew5:14). Jonahfled from thepresenceof theLord,buthe carried alightinhissoulthatsomehowshonethrough.HeconcealedhistestimonyfromthecaptainandcrewoftheshipthatheboardedatJoppa.ButJonahknewGod,andthatcameacrossevenwhenhetriedtorunawayfromGod.Thecrewofastorm-tossedshipsenseditandcaughtthevision.

JonahknewinhisveryboneswhatGodwaslike:hewasgracious.Howcouldhe, Jonah,preach judgment toNinevehwhenheknewperfectlywellthatGodwassokindandmerciful?hewouldforgivetheirwicked-nessatthedropofahat,orratheratthefirstsignofrepentance.SohefledfromthepresenceoftheLord(seeJonah1:3).TobewhereGodwasmeantcarrying the scentofgrace inhisclothes.Theatmospherewas infectedbycompassion,andJonahdidnotwanttofeelcompassionate.HehadnoinclinationforsmilingkindlytowardmonsterslikethelordsofNineveh.

28 Time is running out

Evangelismmeansdeliverancefromjudgment.ButJonahstronglyfeltthatNinevehdeserve’sfeelingsareoftenechoedinthebookofPsalms(see,forexample,Psalm18:37-42).

WhenJesuswastravelingthroughSamariawithhisdisciples,hewantedtostayonenightinavillage.ButthelocalinhabitantswerehostiletotheJewsandwouldnotaccommodatetheparty.ThediscipleshadbeenenjoyingtheexperienceofusingGod’spowertohealbytheauthorityvestedinthembyJesus.TheyknewElijahhadbroughtfiredownfromheaven upon soldiers sent to arrest him (see 2 Kings 1:8-14), so theyproposed doing the same to wipe out this village. After all, God haddoneittoSodomandGomorrah.ButJesussaidtothem,“You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men‘s lives but to save them”(Luke9:55-56NKJV).

JohntheBaptisthada similarproblem.Hepreached thefireof judg-ment.HecameinthespiritandpowerofElijah.Hesaid:“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Luke 3:7,9,17). Thatis so much like the preaching of the fiery Elijah that it sounds ironicwhenLukeadds,“With many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them”(3:18)!Goodnews?hellfire?!

JohnlatersawJesusatworkandsawnoflamingjudgmentsfall.HesenttoaskJesus ifhehad identifiedthewrongmanasMessiah. Jesus sentbackthemessengerstodescribethemerciesofGodamongtheafflictedanddyingandtodeliveramessage:“Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me” (Luke7:23).