Category Archives: evangelism

Oct 20 2011

Is ‘Evangelism’ the Christian’s Greatest Fear?

“Why are you afraid of evangelism?”

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Lets get serious now, why does it  frighten you? 

Is it flesh, or maybe is it demonic?  What do you think? 

What does God desire?

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Bad experiences

  • Door to Door- My first witnessing experience happened in 1984, we went out 2×2.  I was paired up with Jody, a quiet and gentle soul.  I freaked out at our first house, and hid behind a tree, and got sick to my stomach, I left her on the porch standing alone.
  • Pushy televangelists–Hate them. I abhor Christian TV.  It is affront to God in my opinion.
  • “My friend was obnoxious with me.”– Are you ‘joshing’ me?
  • Clumsy Apologetics, (being caught without answers). You need to be light on your feet, nimble, evasive if you have to…

Emotions

  • Fear of Rejection– Major deal!  I hate to have people reject me.
  • Losing a friendship– IDK, maybe?
  • Fear of offending– Offensive, who knows, maybe?  It could very well be that I’m being persecuted for Jesus‘ sake.
  • Feeling inadequate– Never, but if I don’t ever witness, it is never an issue, right?
  • Embarrassment over unanswerable questions– Everyone has questions.  Besides, they are heathens!

Perceptions

  • Fear of what others will think about you.– Too close for comfort to answer.  O.K.  I admit it… I have chicken blood in my veins.
  • Rudely interrupting somebody’s life– Never thought of that.  Is that even remotely possible?
  • Being seen as arrogant– Not a chance, I am super humble (ask my friends.)
  • Your own weakness, hypocrisies, and inadequacies– You got to be kidding. Weaknesses, we don’t need no stinkin’ weaknesses!
  • Personal Doubt– I am throughly trained to avoid this trap.  Doubt is never part of my thinking, never, ever!

 

Guilt

  • Pastor says so.– He/she knows, he/she has heard from God.  Besides, who can disagree with him/her.
  • Jesus says so.– Are you sure?  He loves me too much to do this to me.
  • To mess up somebody’s eternal destiny is your fault– No sweat. Everyone is responsible for their own decisions.

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Thank you Evangelism Coach International for the jumpstart on this subject.  http://www.evangelismcoach.org/

A good start happens right here.  http://www.intothyword.org/pages.asp?pageid=53499

Related articles
Sep 6 2011

Martyrs in America? Maybe

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Being heard is not the same as having influence. Believers must reconsider the issues of being salt and light in a pagan culture.  We have tried a myriad of approaches in our evangelism, and we are not succeeding.  We have been maneuvered to the margins of society, and I fear that is where we will stay.

Several years ago, a believer directed a high budget movie, The Passion of The Christ, which shattered box-office records and sparked interest in religious films when it came out in 2004.  It was compelling and disturbing.  We saw Jesus beaten and whipped, but the splattering of blood did not translate well into spiritual change.  If perhaps anything, it inured people to a higher purpose– salvation.

We must use everything that is available to us as people to broadcast the gospel.  Art, both fine and popular, music and theater, movies and sports.  We need to squeeze out every venue, in every media to share the good news.

But this is not enough.  We are engaged in a heated, spiritual struggle for truth and hope.  Our methodology will consistently fall short of our ideals.  In the time of ancient Rome the only time Christians were in the limelight were as martyrs.  And the lions of the Coliseum made quick work of their witness.  But man, they succeeded in reaching thousands, and the pagan empire was brought to Christ, en mass!

Perhaps martyrdom will be our path to reach America with the Gospel.  The New Testament word for “witness” is martyr.  It very well may be that our blood will be the seed for a new generation of believers.  Church history would support this view.  It should come as no surprise.

I remember witnessing once in UC Berkeley campus.  It is a very challenging place in a stronghold of intellectualism.  The people I encountered were bright and engaging.  But as I got ready to leave, I met a university professor.  He looked at me in his tweed jacket and sweater vest and said something I will never forget.  “Too bad we can’t feed you to the lions”.  It was a stark and frightening, I knew he meant it.

In this enlightened place, there was a coldness and a bitterness that I never encountered in the “drug and sex” neighborhoods of San Francisco.  This incident in Berkeley was a brazen and committed calculation against  the Gospel.

We are in God’s hands.  Obedience is a die-cast, deliberate decision we must make ahead of time.  We can’t just hope to make it work unless we die now.  “Die before you die, and your dying won’t be death”, the old preacher wrote.  This could very well be our cue. Get ready.

Jul 21 2011

You Are Just a Prayer Away

As believers in Him who passionately loves the world, we are on our knees asking that the Father would bring you salvation.  You are lifted up, so that you will have an immediate and definite contact with the Holy Spirit.  We have consecrated you to Him.  You are now marked and set apart, and we await further instructions from our Father. 

There is no happiness, no real satisfaction apart from Him.  Just stop trying, you are getting nowhere.  The pain and guilt are real, aren’t they?  There is in you a deep sadness–a grief.  But the Lord sees it, and absorbs it for you.  He sets you free, not for you to duplicate the sin, but to set you free.  His action on your life is meant to liberate you.

Dear one, you struggle so intensely and have so many issues.  We know this, but when we prayed we gathered you up to Him.  You are now a real target, thanks to us.  All of the issues you face from now on, have been initiated by us who pray.

So enter into the grim arena.  Already we have stepped into its ugly locales.  You can meet us there.  We know that there is no one who can keep us from His spirit.  You will find us standing against gladiator and lion.  You are welcome to join us, we are indeed waiting just for you.

Apr 28 2011

David Wilkerson’s Last Message

WHEN ALL MEANS FAIL

by David Wilkerson | April 27, 2011

To believe when all means fail is exceedingly pleasing to God and is most acceptable. Jesus said to Thomas, “You have believed because you have seen, but blessed are those that do believe and have not seen” (John 20:29).

Blessed are those who believe when there is no evidence of an answer to prayer—who trust beyond hope when all means have failed.

Someone has come to the place of hopelessness—the end of hope—the end of all means. A loved one is facing death and doctors give no hope. Death seems inevitable. Hope is gone. The miracle prayed for is not happening.

That is when Satan’s hordes come to attack your mind with fear, anger, overwhelming questions: “Where is your God now? You prayed until you had no tears left. You fasted. You stood on promises. You trusted.”

Blasphemous thoughts will be injected into your mind: “Prayer failed. Faith failed. Don’t quit on God—just do not trust him anymore. It doesn’t pay!”

Even questioning God’s existence will be injected into your mind. These have been the devices of Satan for centuries. Some of the godliest men and women who ever lived were under such demonic attacks.

To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights—and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, “I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.”

Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail—his love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world.
 

About David Wilkerson

Rev. David Wilkerson

David Wilkerson is the Founding Pastor of Times Square Church in New York City. He was called to New York in 1958 to minister to gang members and drug addicts, as told in the best-selling book, The Cross and the Switchblade.

In 1987, David Wilkerson returned to “the crossroads of the world” to establish Times Square Church. Since then, he has faithfully led this congregation, delivering powerful biblical messages that encourage righteous living and complete reliance on God.

David Wilkerson has a strong burden to encourage and strengthen pastors throughout the world. Since 1999, he has been traveling around the globe holding conferences for Christian ministers.

Websites to ponder:

http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Wilkerson

http://davidwilkersontoday.blogspot.com/

http://www.thevoicemagazine.com/christian-living-christianity/faith-prayer/david-wilkerson-prophesies-judgment-of-god-riots-and-fires.html

http://www.bereanpublishers.com/Deception_in_the_Church/wilkerson_blasts_faith_pre.htm

Nov 27 2010

Low Sodium Christians

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

Colossians 4:6

 

“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?”

Luke 14:34

 

Distinctiveness for God is first seen in our communication.  The way we talk is the primary way we share; it’s in the tone we use, the inflection of our voices, the vocabulary we utilize, and the way we articulate.  All of this is communicated in just a few moments of time.

We should be aware that when we say something it is instantly examined for its veracity and authenticity by the listener.  The above list is lacking one vital thing– grace, pieces of it, sprinkles all over our words and thoughts.  Added to our conversations like salt on french fries.  This takes a ministry of grace and makes it part of our witness.

Not everyone is articulate, or gifted to speak.  But we are all salty!  Each of us has a savory presence of grace.  Every believer has it.  I’ve gotten to know two deaf brothers at my church.  They are sometimes neglected and avoided.  (But I think that is just fear.)  They use a ‘sign language‘ with gestures and hand motions.  They are actually quite articulate.  One of the young men has an opening door to Russia to do evangelism.

I guess I’m a bit taken aback by this.  A man who cannot hear or speak being used by the Holy Spirit in this way.  He jokes about being the ‘first evangelist to the deaf community in Russia’.  He is an inspiration to me.  My issue is with mental illness.  But handicapped people do quite well, they are particularly ‘salty’ and you’ll notice the difference.

Learning to communicate with grace is a lot like learning any foreign language.  My wife and I went to learn Spanish at an institute.  We learned so much I felt I was leaking out my ears.  Learning to speak “Grace” will be a challenge as well.  But we have the promised Holy Spirit.  He is the Helper.  He will show how to speak with grace to every person and situation.

Oct 15 2010

Catching Hearts Like Fish

 

Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 

–Matthew 4:19

The invitation to these fishermen was a ‘call’ to Himself.  This is critical for us to note.  Jesus is not directing them to a broad set of religious ethics.  He is calling them to follow Him.  He is the exclusive Savior of everyone.  We follow a man, not an idea.  There is also the intertwining of two distinct issues: That of evangelism, and that of discipleship.  The church for centuries has split these two, allowing them to be seen separately, and it hasn’t been healthy.

Jesus needs people.  He was looking through the throngs of those on the lake shore.  He probably watch several people before making His decision to extend His call.  He needs followers, like a steam engine needs coal.  I’m sure there was other possibilities.  What a joy though, to be asked to follow Him, by Him.  How empty life would be to decline on His offer and go back to the fishing nets.  I guess you can know too much.

There is a sense of the comedic here in His call.  Jesus is suggesting that He will be teaching these veteran fisherman how to fish.  It’s apparent that these wizened men of the sea, had been fishing since they were mere boys.  Jesus essentially orders that Peter and Andrew stop what they were doing and follow, now.  Jesus would teach them “human fishing”– catching men!

By following, their old way would be forfeited.  They could not do both, (but they did try and once even followed Peter back to the old life).  But a separation happens as hearts and minds become set apart on the invitation, and jump out of the boat on to the beach.

Jesus would teach these men.  They would learn the most critical and vital truths ever communicated on this planet.  Their classroom would follow them, and their instructor was eminently qualified and supremely gifted.  These new followers will ‘rock’ their world.  They would truly become, ‘Fishers of Men’.