Not at all. No, in fact, if those were your thoughts- think once more! You want to know how God feels about you today?
Delighted.
God is delighted in you!
Why? Because of the gospel, my friends. Because when you bowed down and yielded your life to Christ you were given the life of Christ. You were given the righteousness of Christ. You now relate to God through Christ and what He has done. God looks at you and say, "I am delighted with you" because Christ has washed away your sin. All of your sin- it has been paid for.
"For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: the righteous will live by faith." Romans 1:17
This is cool stuff- unbelievable, actually, if you think about what it implies!
So my mum and I were driving home from Maryland on Monday and were listening to a teaching by Rico Tice, from England, who was teaching us about "God's part and our part in evangelism". We listened to it once, were so excited and at the same time overwhelmed that we listened another time, this time me pausing every few seconds to take notes as mamma drove. This is quite long, but read a bit at a time and I promise you will learn so much! I know I did, and still am! For though I've written this all, it's still sinking in!
He begins with the "four G's to mobilize Christians to evangelize"
God's Part and Our Part in Evangelism
My notes to the sermon by Rico Tice
1. Grace
-This is where he spoke about what I wrote above- how God is delighted in you no matter what you've done.
Sometimes you may feel like:
1. I'm not good enough. No, but that's where grace comes in! That's where the cross comes in. You and I could never be good enough, but Jesus Christ has made us good enough. More than good enough.
2. I need to prove myself. No, you needn't! God loves you anyways and he always will, there is nothing to prove.
3. This place is dangerous. Yes, it is, but you are led by the savior of the world, there is no need to be frightened!
2. Gehenna
My sin is so terrible it must be paid for, either by Jesus' blood on the cross, or by me eternally in Hell. I know for certain that my sin has been paid for- but what of those souls around me? Here is a mission statement- a mission statement we could live for. Why not live our lives with this as our missions statement:
People without Christ go to Hell.
In New Testament times, Gehenna was a place where the carcasses of dead animals were piled high. Criminals to be punished were sent there. Fires were constantly burning, always was there fire. So when God wanted to make clear to the people he was teaching what Hell was to be like, he related it to Gehenna.
Where will your friends be in 100 years time? Let us be heartbroken about this. Everyday for a non-Christian is a worse day- each day is one day nearer to Hell. Whereas each day for Christians is a better day- one day closer to heaven. Why not let this be our mission statement?
3. Glory
-The glory of God. Are we living for the glory of God? So many people (too often me as well) see God as a "divine waiter", only there to serve them. A common question is,
"What is God's plan for my life?" Such a self-centered question this is! And yet so many times I want to know about what God has planned for ME. No, the question I ought to be asking is,
"What is god's plan for HIS world? and How do I get involved? You could spend your whole life living for your own little story, but why not join the bigger story? God's story. Are we living for the glory of ourselves? Or are we living for the glory of God?
4. Godliness
You cannot be godly and not be concerned for the lost. God was so concerned that he sent his son to die on the cross. Wow.
So often we separate godliness from evangelism. Let's make Christ an unavoidable issue. Yet always graciously.
People can be so very delightful, yet at the heart of sin because they are denying the cross. Or they say, "I'm a good person, that is enough".
Why did God sent his perfect son to die if being good was enough?
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So these are the "4 G's" Rico Tice listed to mobilize us for evangelism. I pray God would break our hearts for the lost, for the people we see around us who are living eachday a little closer to eternal fire and punishment.
Let's move on.
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So, how do we do it? How do we evangelize?
Let's read 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 and ponder a bit from there.
1. Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do notlose heart.
2. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
4. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
5. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.
6. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."
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Who is involved in the work of Evangelism?
Take a quick look back at vs. 6- The people's eyes have been blinded, but God does something fantastic- he opens their eyes. In the verse something very exciting happens- more than you may see at first glance. Listen to this- a miracle happens! God works a miracle in the hearts of those blinded.
"For God, who said, 'Let light shine our of the darkness', made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ".
hmmm.....where have we heard that phrase before? Yes, in genesis 1! This miracle God performs in the hearts of the lost is the same level of miracle as the creation of the universe.
Think of the most glorious view you've ever seen.......have it in your mind? That is what God can do in the hearts blinded sinners! What a thought.So what we need, therefore, if evangelism is going to take place, is a miracle. We need God to reach into their hearts and turn them around. The moment of conversion is the moment of identification, the moment we realize who we are in Christ and the debth of His love.
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So this is what Christ does. What about us? If God does the miracle, what does that mean as we set about our job?
We must preach Christ.
1. Do not use deception, do not distort the gospel
-Take a look at verse back at vs. 2.
Will we love people enough and believe the Holy spirit enough to teach the full gospel whatever the culture says? We must teach the wrath of God, yes, and we must teach the need of repentence. Speak with grace, but speak the truth! Yes, there is a place called Hell.
Yet you must believe in the power of God's miracles. Always pray!
1. "Lord, make people know that I'm for them, that I care about them as I say this, that I'm not gonna spin, I'm gonna tell them the truth."
2. Lord, please grant repentece as I say it (look at Acts 11:18). Grant people the ability to believe this depite their education, that as I say this, the spirit of truth says to them,
"That is true, that is true, that is true."
2. Pray
"Neglect of private prayer is the locusts which devours the strength of the church."
-C.H. Spurgeon
Why must we pray? Verse 4. Because the god of this age has blinded the eyes of the people!
We need the miracle, it's not up to us. (Col. 4:12)
3. Who's department is the results department?
Gods! It is merely our Job to preach Christ and pray- it's up to God to do the rest.
4. Come with humility!
'Cause the only reason I'm a Christian is because God came down and opened my eyes, because God did the miracle! If he could change me, so can he change them. For the girl sitting next to me is no more sinful than I, only blinded as I once was. It was a miracle I needed in my heart, and 'tis so for them as well.
"A test of hypocrisy: Do you believe God could more easily save you than the worst
sinner you know?" -Mark Dever (This quote is actually from the sermon at CHBC last Sunday that was quite a blessing to hear in person!)
5. What does it mean to be people's servants?
For we do not preach outselves, but jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake." (vs. 5)
What does it it mean to be people's servants? In 1 Cor. 9. Paul says that with God's sovereignty and gospel integrety clear, knowing that I need a miracle and that I'm going to present Christ, he said, "How can I be as sensitive as possible to my hearer?
1 Cor. 9:19-23
Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many
as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I
became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those
under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I
am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the
law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so
that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I
may share in its blessings."
This is where the creativity comes in on our part- how can we best reach them?
God is sovereign over everything, even evangelism, and it is only His miracle that can turn people's hearts to Him. Our Job is simply to love the lost and Preach Christ, believing Him to do the rest.
People are not simply a target! Be eager to listen to them, desperate that the only offense be the offense of the gospel; which is, of course:
Cheer up! You're a lot worse than you thought you were.
