Bible doctrine 13. Personal evangelism.

BIBLE DOCTRINE 13: PERSONAL EVANGELISM

God’s Word teaches:

That Personal Evangelism is a God-given and God-ordained ministry for every believer, Jesus commanded and God requires every believer to be a compassionate and fruitful soulwinner, bringing others to Christ – Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-49; John 17:18; Acts 1:8; 1-4; Psalm 126:5,6; Proverbs 11:30; Daniel 12:3; Ezekiel 3:17-21.

Psalms  126:5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.  126:6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Mark  16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Acts  1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Personal evangelism is a God-given and God-ordained ministry for every believer. 

The Greek word “euangelion” (Gospel) actually means Good News. 

It is good news from a loving God to a lost world that through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, there is salvation (John 3:16,17). 

Personal evangelism is the person-to-person sharing of this good news of salvation with the aim of soul-winning – leading the sinner to repent and turn wholly to God through Jesus Christ, the Saviour (John 1:40-42; Acts 8: 26-37). 

John  1:40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.  1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.  1:42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

Jesus commanded and God requires every believer to be a compassionate and fruitful soul winner (Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1;8). 

Mark  16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Although mass evangelism is good and necessary, it will never take the place of personal evangelism.

 Illustrating the efficacy and superiority of personal evangelism, one godly man said, “If you had one hundred empty bottles before you, and threw a pail of water over them some would get a little in them, but most would fall outside.

 If you wish to fill the bottles, the best way is to take each bottle separately and put a vessel full of water to each bottle’s mouth “. 

Another man of God said, “The world is never going to be brought to Christ whole-sale but one by one. 

Men are not born collectively, they do not die collectively, and they do not accept or reject Christ collectively”.

Personal evangelism is essential and mandatory because (a) Jesus commanded it (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19,20); 

(b) God is happy at its result (Luke 15:10);

 (c) Jesus did it (John 4:21-30; Matthew 4:19); 

Matthew  4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

(d) God the Father started it (Genesis 3:9); 

(e) Jesus prayed for the believers’ sanctification to make personal evangelism effective (John 17:17,18); 

(f) The Holy Spirit is given because of it (Acts 1:8); 

Acts  1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

(g) Jesus Christ willed it (Matthew 4:19);

(h) It is the heart desire of God (Ezekiel 33:11; 2 Peter 3:9);

2 Peter  3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

 (i) Jesus’ earthly ministry illustrates it (Luke 19:10); 

Luke  19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

(j) The early apostolic church practised it (Acts 8:30-37; Mark 16:20; Acts 8:4; (k) It is a mark of true wisdom (Proverbs 11:30); 

Mark  16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

(l) Every genuine believer is equipped for it (John 1:37-45; 4:28,290; 

(m) It is the primary purpose for our salvation (John 15:16; 20:21); (

n) There is great reward for those who carry it out (Daniel 12:3);

Daniel  12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

 (o) The harvest is plenteous but the labourers are few (Matthew 9:36,37; John 4:35-38); (

Matthew  9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.  9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

p) Life is short while eternity is endless (John 9:4; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31); 

John  9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

(q) Souls are precious to God (Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36,37; Psalm 49:6-90; 

Matthew  16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

(r) Hell is the end of all who die in sin (Mark 9:43-48; Psalm 9:17; Revelation 20:10-15);

Psalms  9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

 (s) Powers of darkness and cults are growing (2 Timothy 3:13; 1 Timothy 4:1); 

1 Timothy  4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;0

(t) Neglect hinders prayer and progress (Proverbs 21:13; 24:11,120; 

(u) It can be done without any expense. 

No loud speakers and microphones needed. 

No permission from the government, church, or school is needed for the use of their compound (Acts 8:4) 

Finally, (v) there are tremendous possibilities in personal evangelism when pursued vigorously and scripturally.

 It produces abundant results through the law of spiritual multiplication. 

For instance, if a church of 100 dedicated and witnessing members will share the gospel, with the unsaved, each member with effective follow-up will within a period of four months disciple a new convert till he becomes a soul winner.

 If each convert were in turn to win one person to Christ, for example, spending four months helping him to grow in faith, and then each of them in turn were to win another soul, there would be in one year four hundred Christians. 

If they spend four months with the new converts and if each of the four hundred believers wins another, they would be eight hundred. 

Continuing in that schedule, the membership of the church would be over three million in five years. 

Precisely, if there were only one Christian in the world and he worked a year, and won a friend to Christ, and if these two continued each year to win another, and if every man they led into the kingdom of God continued to win another, then, in thirty years every person in the world would be won for Christ.  

To be involved in personal evangelism, personal experience of conversion is indispensable 

(2 Timothy 2:6,7,19-21; 2 Corinthians 5:17). 

Also, the soul winner must live a holy life (2 Timothy 2:4; Isaiah 52:11). 

Secondly, the true soul winner must have a strong, unshakable conviction (John 9:4; 1 Corinthians 9:16; Acts 26:22-24; 21:8-14). 

He must, therefore, see himself as an ambassador of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:19,20) and must thus devote his time, talents, strength, and money to the furtherance of the Gospel. 

2 Corinthians  5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

The world will never see Christ again until He comes back in judgment, except as it sees Him in us. 

There should therefore be a strong conviction about God, the Bible, Salvation, Christ’s death, resurrection, and His second coming. 

Thirdly, the soul winner must accept that the responsibility of preaching the gospel is not optional but a debt (Romans 1:14; Proverbs 24:11, 12; Ezekiel 33:6; 1 Corinthian 9:16). 

Furthermore, there is the need for a deep, burning Christ-like compassion (Matthew 9:36; Romans 9:1-3; 10:1). 

This should be the basis for the sacrifices we make, effectual fervent prayers offered, tears shed and hardship endured for the souls of men to be won to the Lord (Jeremiah 9:11).

Specifically, there must be quite a lot of secret praying because there is no substitute for expectant, secret waiting upon God for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, for wisdom, for strength and power, courage, hope, faith and for a glowing burning and appropriate message from God (2 Timothy 1:7). 

This prayer must be importunate to open the hearts of men to God (Psalm 2:8). 

The soul winner must be skilful in the use of the Word, which is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17; 2 Timothy 2:15). 

He must also have a definite message, and recognize first that the Gospel is a fact that must be told

21 cheerfully; and it is an entrusted fact, therefore, it should be told faithfully. 

The soul winner must preach the gospel with earnestness, love, simplicity, tact, and wisdom (1 Corinthians 9:20-23; 2 Timothy 2:24-26). 

He must not give in to discouragement.

Opportunities for personal evangelism abound daily on the streets, hospitals, motor parks, bus stops, inside the bus or taxi, prisons, homes of neighbours, schools, markets etc

. The soul winner does not wait for a perfect opportunity as every situation is an opportunity (Ecclesiastics 11:4,6; 2 Timothy 4:2). 

An effective way of conducting personal evangelism is through friendship. 

Friendship evangelism is the art of leading a soul to Christ by cultivating his friendship.

 Deed of kindness, love, service, and friendliness can be the bait that will get a sinner interested in the gospel message. 

The soul winner must do things that will demonstrate that he cares for the person’s earthly welfare as well as his eternal soul. 

Friendship evangelism reflects genuine and true Christ love in action. 

Jesus Christ our Lord did not count it ungodly to dine with sinners (Luke 15:12). 

Tracts, cassettes, good books, magazines, and even letter writing could be employed for personal evangelism. 

When do we start personal evangelism? 

Now (John 4:35). 

John  4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

This is because we cannot be guiltless before God if we neglect it (Ezekiel 3:18,19).

Ezekiel  3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.  3:19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

 Millions of souls are rushing towards a lost eternity. 

Believers must, therefore, throw aside all flimsy excuses as there is no trouble too great, no humiliation too deep, no suffering too severe, no labour too hard, no expenses too much in saving souls. 

We must arise therefore, pray and do the work.

Let us pray.