Holy Spirit Inspired Evangelism

But ye shall receive power, 

after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: 

and ye shall be witnesses unto me . . .

Acts 1:8

Evangelism was not just one of many activities of the early Church, it was the main priority.  Many activities were taking place, but evangelism overshadowed them all as people were added to the church daily.  

And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.  And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.  And all that believed were together, and had all things common;  And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.  Acts 2:40-47

Sadly, today, evangelism and missions comes far down on the list of priorities of many individuals and churches.

In New Testament times, evangelism was a natural, spontaneous sharing of the good news. It was engaged in continuously by all believers. The practice was to go where people were and disciple them. Today, we invite people to church and hope they will come. In modern times the church invites, while the first church invaded.

Everyone did the work of evangelism

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.     Acts 1:8

Each believer took the Great Commission as a personal command to evangelize. They did it everywhere, not just in the church building

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

They did it every day - 

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.    Acts 5:42

- not just periodically during an evangelistic campaign. Every church reproduced, every member reproduced, and every home was a center of evangelism.

When necessary, believers even worked to support themselves in order to spread the Gospel. Apostle Paul did this. It may seem foolish that a man of Apostle Paul's ability, education, and spiritual gifts should do manual labor to support himself. He had the right to claim full support from the churches.  

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.  For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.   1 Timothy 5:17-18

But, at the same time he was prepared, if necessary, to support himself in order to spread the Gospel. He did this on several occasions.

And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:   1 Corinthians 4:12  

For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.  1 Thessalonians 2:9

Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:  2 Thessalonians 3:8

In many places today the custom is that pastors and evangelists are fully paid for their efforts. This has blocked the spread of the Gospel and the planting of new churches. Believers also tend to leave the task of evangelism to the full-time ministers because they are "getting paid for it." There are also many churches without pastors because they are not able to support a full-time pastor and the possibility of working has not been considered.

However, if we are to impact the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we have to return to evangelism as the first priority. We must do it everywhere, every day.

In every evangelistic advance recorded in Acts, the Holy Spirit is the motivator and energizer. In the modern church, managerial skills and committee meetings often replace dependence on the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the director of evangelism. 

Jesus told his disciples that before they begin their great assignment of evangelizing the good news of Jesus Christ, they must first be endued with power from on high.  

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.  Acts 1:4-5

It was not until the disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit that they began to do the work of God; fueled by the power of the Holy Spirit:

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  Acts 2:1-4

Shortly after this, Apostle Peter, who had previously denied Jesus 3 times was able now to stand boldly before a great group of people and fueled with the holy spirit, evengelize:

 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:  Acts 2:14

There are many passages in Acts that illustrate the Holy Spirit at work:

√    Acts 1:8:         The Holy Spirit is to empower the witness of believers.

√    Acts 2:            The gift of the Holy Spirit was given and promised to all believers.

√    Acts 4:            Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, testified regarding the miracle experienced by the lame man in Acts 3.

√    Acts 4:31:       They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God with boldness.

√    Acts 5:52:       Peter declared that we are witnesses along with the Holy Spirit.

√    Acts 7:51:       Stephen charged Jewish leaders that did not accept the Gospel with resisting the Holy Spirit.

√    Acts 9:17:       Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit after his conversion.

√    Acts 10:          The Holy Spirit fell upon the house of Cornelius, bringing them to conversion.

√    Acts 11:12:     Peter explained that he went to Caesarea because of the Holy Spirit instructions to him.

√    Acts 13:2:       The Holy Spirit called Paul and Barnabas into evangelistic work.

√    Acts 16:6:       The Holy Spirit forbid Paul to minister in Asia.

The Holy Spirit directs evangelism through the Word of God, by supernatural guidance, by calling and enabling workers, and by correcting our plans to bring them into harmony with God's purpose.

When Jesus first began His ministry, He announced a six point plan:

         ¨      anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor;

         ¨      He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted,

         ¨      to preach deliverance to the captives, and

         ¨      recovering of sight to the blind,

         ¨      to set at liberty them that are bruised,

         ¨      to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.   Luke 4:18-19

Jesus followed this plan throughout His earthly ministry, and the first church continued with this pattern.

Jesus later gave a plan for the extension of the Gospel to the nations of the world

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.   (Acts 1:8)

The disciples were to first evangelize Jerusalem, then go on to Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world. This is still the Lord's plan for evangelism. We are to start right where we are and continue in ever-expanding circles until we are touching the nations of the world.

Our "Jerusalem" is the community in which we live. There are thousands of Christians who give to and pray for missions, but have never walked across the street to tell a neighbor about Jesus. Some churches have tremendous missions programs overseas, but are doing nothing to evangelize their own city, except for those who happen to come into their church building.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we must do as He commissioned in order to reach a dying world.  

Biblical Studies

10/10/19

04/14/21