Evangelism 1: Tips for succeeding

Evangelism is the assignment of every christian, for Jesus said "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). It's important to understand that there is joy among the Angels ONLY when we win souls; there is no joy when we preach, there is only Joy in Heaven when a sinner repents(Luke 15:10). The Evangelist(soul winner or preacher) must employ good methods which will win souls; because, not every method of preaching will win souls.

In the Bible, we find the Apostle Paul almost converting King Agrippa(Acts 26:27) that could happen to a christian if he does not employ good methods of evangelism.
To win souls, one must put these in place:

1. The Message:

The Bible says to preach the Gospel(Gospel means Good news), the preacher(Evangelist) must know what to preach. He must understand the message about Jesus and his finished work on the cross. He must understand the purpose of the message; which is,

"To get a man(the one He is preaching to) to act on Romans 10:9".

 If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from death, you will be saved (GNT)

The message must be geared towards the purpose of the Gospel; without getting the person we are preaching to, to act on Romans 10:9, we've not fulfilled the purpose of the evangelism and have brought no joy to Heaven.

2. Be Convinced About The Message:

Do you believe what you are preaching? Are you totally convinced about the message you bear? You can't expect to convince anyone if you are not convinced about the message. In 1 Thessalonians 1:5, Apostle Paul talks of how He preached with much assurance(conviction). No one will be convinced if we preach without looking convinced.

3. Focus On The Message:

Unskilled Evangelists always ends up arguing with the person they are preaching to because they don't focus on the message. It's good to avoid doctrinal messages, avoid denominational differences and avoid making the message too complex. The Bible recommends "simplicity that is in Christ", it's good to make the message simple and straight-forward or else an argument may ensue. Arguments may put your listener on one side while you end up on the other side of the divide.

4. Let The Holy Spirit Do His Job:

The Holy Spirit is so important in our evangelism; to the extent, that Jesus warned His disciples not to go out until they got baptized in the Holy Spirit.

And while He was with them, He commanded them, "Do not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for what was promised by the Father, which you heard about from me. For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." Acts 1:4-5(LEB)

No matter how eloquent a preacher is, it's the job of the Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin. No human words(without the holy spirit) can make anyone become born again. It's the Holy Spirit who saves. While the preacher talks to the person's ears; the Holy Spirit talks to the person's heart. The preacher needs to appreciate the place of the Holy Spirit in his Evangelism. In summary, going on Evangelism without the Holy spirit, is a waste of time and effort. In Acts 10:44 we find the Holy spirit simplifying Peter's message by falling on Peter's audience while Peter was preaching.

While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening to his message.(GNT)

Praise God! What a way to end an outreach!

God Bless You as you share with others. 

The Validity of The Bible

The Bible

Can it be trusted? Is it really from God?

We'll be looking at one unique attribute of the Bible.

Which is:

Almost every miracle in the Bible was done at least twice.

Telling us, "we can prove them by trying to do same today"

1. Miracle of Food Multiplication

Many are aware that Jesus multiplied food in the Bible but,

Did you know?

Elisha was the first person in the Bible to multiply food

2Kings 4:42-44.

Showing us that Jesus trusted God to multiply bread and fish;

Because, He knew that God did the same for Elisha.

2. Miracle of dividing a water body

Moses was the first man in the Bible to achieve such a feat(Exodus 14)

Joshua did same(Joshua 3:14-17)

Elijah trusted God to do same for him and didn't need to struggle(2Kings 2:8)

Elisha saw Elijah do that and believed for the same(2Kings 2:14).

3. Miracle of Walking on water

Jesus knew about the miracles of dividing water bodies

He dared to trust God for something better.

Yes! To walk on water!!

"As the night was ending, Jesus came walking on the sea" Matthew 14:25(NET)

Peter saw Jesus and remembered that "what God can do for one, He can do for all"

Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water" Matthew 14:28(NET)

Jesus said to him "come." Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came toward Jesus Matthew 14:29(NET)

4. Miracle of raising the dead

Elijah was the first person in the Bible to achieve this feat(1Kings 17:17-24)

Elisha, who was Elijah's servant saw how Elijah did his and trusted God for same

And raised a dead child(2Kings 4:20-37)

Jesus raised 3people from death

The Widow's son(Luke 7:11-16)

Jarius' daughter (Mark 5:35-43)

Lazarus(John 11)

Peter did same because He saw how Jesus did it(Acts 9:36-41)

Paul did the same(Acts 20:7-12)

Praise God!

Miracles didn't happen more than once in the Bible, by chance.

It's for our learning:

For whatever things were written before, were written for our learning,

That we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures

Might have hope Romans 15:4(NKJV).

Because it happened then, it can still happen today again.

If ONLY you can dare to believe

All you need is to believe!

"What do you mean, 'if I can'? Jesus asked. Anything is possible if a person believes"

Mark 9:23(NLT).

God Bless You.

Three Definitions of Sin

Many Christians don't recognise that the Bible has three eras in it. The read and try to practice everything they read believing it's all for them. Paul admonished Timothy:

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth." 2Timothy 2:15HCSB. 

Showing us, a Christian can WRONGLY teach the Word(as many are doing today). The three eras have different definitions of sins as follows;

1. Before the Law:

"Sin was defined as knowing to do good but refusing to do it."

Therefore, to the one who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. (James 4:17 LEB)

There was no law given; men had to be a law to themselves. In that period people did what was right in their eyes. People lived based on their morality.

2. Under the Law: 

You shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatever is right in his own eyes (Deuteronomy 12:8 WEB).

Moses told the Israelites; the days of living based on morality was over; that it was time to live by the Law. Under the Law Sin was defined as 

"The breaking of the law"

Captured in "Everyone who commits sin also breaks the law; sin is the breaking of law." (1John 3:4 HCSB).

3. Under Grace:

"Don't assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." Matthew 5:17

Isaiah 55:11 explains what it means for God's Word to be fulfilled:

The same thing is true of the words I speak. They will not return to me empty. They make the things happen that I want to happen, and they succeed in doing what I send them to do. (NCV).

Notice that God's Word always returns to God after it is fulfilled.

Glory to God!

When Jesus died the Power behind the law returned to God;

"Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and gave up the spirit. The veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom." Luke 15:37-38 (WEB).

The law was fulfilled and the power behind the law returned to God.

"Christ ended the law so that everyone who believes in him may be right with God." Romans 10:4(NCV). 

Christ has made us(who believe in Him) righteous. Therefore, we are called to live by faith(Galatians 3:11). 

The new definition of sin for us is:

"Anything not done by faith"

"But the one who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not do so from faith, and everything that is not from faith is sin." (Romans 14:23 LEB).

In Galatians 5:6 we are informed our faith must work by love.

Therefore; "Anything not done by faith which works by love is a sin".

 Don't do something because the law says to do so. Do it because it's a manifestation of faith which works by love.

1Timothy 1:9 "knowing this, that the law is not given for a righteous person but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners,"

You are the just; live by faith!

God Bless You

How To Study The Bible

Reading the Bible and Studying the Bible are two different things. They are both important. A believer must spend ample time reading and also studying.

The more a believer reads his Bible; the easier his study will become.

Each day, a believer must read/listen to the Bible being read(in audio format).

Bible Study Methods:

1. Book by book study:

This is staying on a specific Book of the Bible and trying to find out how the writer intended his readers it to understand it. Also, to find out how those to whom it was written for; understood it.

This is also done to find out the context of the writings so we don't quote out of context.

Example:

Many Pastors/Church leaders ignorantly abuse Romans 2:1

They always quote that verse out of context; when a follower shows up late or is found wanting in his duties.

"Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man...."

but, that's not what that verse is talking about.

Here's the full verse:

"Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things." (Romans 2:1).

Each Bible Writer had a peculiar way of thinking and way of communication. By studying a Believer will discover the differences in the communication of each Writer.

2. Topical Study:

The Bible is a collection of Canonical writings; but, it is not written in Topical arrangements. A believer will have to study about individual topics, since the Bible isn't arranged that way.

A believer must recognize the 3eras differentiated in the Bible

-before the law

-Under the law

-Under grace

Each topic must be studied with this understanding(Check the topic "Three definitions of sin").

Each era has a different teaching for most topics. It's unfortunate; many Christian leaders mix it all up.

Example:

Before the law, people had to offer sacrifices for their sins(Job 1:5).

Under the law, the High Priest had to offer sacrifices for people's sins(Hebrews 5:1).

Under Grace, "Jesus has washed us from our sins" hence, we no longer have the nature of sin(Revelation 1:5).

3. Character Study:

A believer may love the life of a Bible character; because of the consistency which they displayed in aspects of their lives.

Example:

King David never lost a battle all his life. The only battle they ALMOST lost; was the one he didn't attend(2Samuel 11). That's fascinating! A believer may appreciate that and decide to find out what King David did that made him that way.

Daniel the prophet, was said to be a man with an excellent spirit; which made him preferred above his contemporaries(Daniel 6:3).

In character study, you're trying to find out what made the Bible character such a success in specific aspects of his/her life.

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).

God Bless you.

The Three Eras

This is one aspect that has raised so many questions; it is imperative that we handle this, as a topic of its own. Without understanding this; the Bible will seem like a Book full of contradictions; being that each Era has a peculiar definition of words.

1. Before the Law:

The Bible clearly defines this period:

"Yet death held sway from Adam to Moses [the Lawgiver], even over those who did not themselves transgress [a positive command] as Adam did. Adam was a type (prefigure) of the One Who was to come [in reverse, the former destructive, the Latter saving]." (Romans 5:14 AMP).

It lasted from Adam till Moses(when the Law came). In this Era; there was no law given, everything was done as it seemed right in people eyes.

"You shall not at all do as we are doing here today-every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes-" (Deuteronomy 12:8 NKJV).

Showing us that righteousness was based on morality. Bible captures the definition of sin in this era as:

"Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." (James 4:17 NKJV).

2. Under the Law:

God gave the Laws to the Israelites; they were supposed to observe/obey all the Laws without faulting in anyone.

"'Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel." (Exodus 19:5-6 NKJV).

They needed to obey all the Laws before they could become a Special Treasure, Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation; failure to obey all the laws and they won't be!

Of course, they couldn't obey and failed to become what God had planned out for them.

1John 3:4 captures what sin was defined as Under the law.

"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." (KJV).

Therefore for a man to be said to be righteous under the law, he needed to observe all the law.

"For whosoever keeps the Law [as a] whole but stumbles {and} offends in one [single instance] has become guilty of [breaking] all of it." (James 2:10 AMP).

Also, man related with God by the Name "Yahweh"

I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as Elshaddai--'God Almighty'--but I did not reveal my name, Yahweh, to them. Exodus 6:3(NLT)

3. Under Grace:

Jesus Christ declared His mission for the Law;

"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." (Matthew 5:17).

"The Law and the Prophets" is referring to the Canonical writings which were available when He came(what we know today as the Old Testament). He clearly states "I have come to fulfill them"

What does it mean to fulfill them?

Isaiah 55:11 shows us

"So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They'll do the work I sent them to do, they'll complete the assignment I gave them. " (TM).

That verse shows us how God's Word operates; after being sent:

i. It must accomplish its assignment

ii. After completing its assignment(being fulfilled) it must return to God.

That's exactly what Jesus did to the Law and the Prophets(what we call the Old Testament).

Question: How did Jesus Fulfill the Law and the Prophets?

When Jesus was crucified on the Cross; something significant happened.

"And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold,the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split," (Matthew 27: 50-51 NKJV).

The veil of the temple being torn shows us; that which was in the Holy of holies, which made the Law powerful and active left, and 'of course' returned to God. The dreaded place which only one man(the High Priest) could access just once a year; became an ordinary place, with no power.

Hallelujah!

Truly, the Law was fulfilled:

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." (Romans 10:4 NKJV).

Under Grace, we don't live by the Law, the Law was an outside force, trying to make men to work/act in a certain way. Under grace, we have been changed from the inside and are supposed to reflect the change on the outside.

The obedience of Christ is credited to us;

"For just as through the disobedience of the one man many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of one man many will be made righteous." (Romans 5:19 NET).

Because Christ obeyed God; we have been declared "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that we may proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvellous light" (1Peter 2:9 NKJV).

All we need to do is; believe and confess, to enjoy the benefits of being under grace.

"And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak," (2 Corinthians 4:13 NKJV).

Everything we do should be based on faith in what Christ has done for us; not trying to satisfy the dictates of the Law and Prophets(the Old Testament); by doing so, we would be trying to establish our righteous.

This should be our desire:

"and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith." (Philippians 3:9 NIV).

We no longer see relate with God as "Elshaddai" like before the Law,

Neither do we relate with Him as "Yahweh" like under the Law.

He is our Father.

"I have written to you who are God's children because you know the Father...." 1John 2:14 NLT

Truly, we are children of God and have God as our Father.

Send your questions to my email address: emmapyano@yahoo.com .

God Bless You!