Last night at Coram Deo we inspected the role of God in evangelism. Why? We want to have a God-centered philosophy of life, death, fun, school, ministry, work, etc. - So, we begin with God! Specifically we talked about orchestrating our affections and actions around God's: Purpose, Passion, Plan and Power.
The Purpose of God
Luke 17 - High Priestly Prayer:
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to
heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
We see God's purpose in accomplishing eternal life is to glorify Himself. Christ received from God the power to forgive sin, and in forgiving sin - God is glorified. Ephesians chapter 1 talks specifically about God's purpose from before time began: "to the praise of the glory of His grace." God has done all things to glorify Himself, especially/specifically in redeeming sinners. When we bring the message of the cross to the world.
So, we must join in with Jesus Christ in his global Purpose: To Glorify God.
The Passion of God
Matthew 9:35-38Jesus reacts to the multitudes of lost people with compassion! He sees them as harassed and helpless – he wholeheartedly proclaims: “the harvest is plentiful, look at all these people! They need to know, they need to know my purpose and my love for them otherwise things will end very poorly, therefore pray and pray and pray – pray that more than just us here take up the call and go into the harvest as laborers –ministers of the gospel!”
35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
So, we must join in with God and his Passion: Love/Compassion for the lost.
The Plan of God
Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
As we do evangelism we have the authority of the God of the universe behind us! Jesus said that ALL AUTHORITY in heaven and on earth has been given to me. An example of this that makes sense to me. Imagine the principle at your school comes to you and says “ya know I’m in charge of the whole school, what I say goes – so I want you to go and tell every person in the school about this huge party were throwing later – get them all ready to go for the party, fired up about all of it, etc. – ya know what in fact I’ll just come with you, everywhere you go – how does that sound?
Pretty easy to consider sharing the gospel when we consider the implications of what Christ is saying compared to the principle. The Principle’s authority over the school should be enough – but infact he sends himself or his right hand man along with just to ensure you’re effectiveness. The same is true of us! God has sent us, on his FULL AUTHORITY to go tell a message – that’s the plan, tell a message and teach those you tell that message to everything that I’ve commanded you to – go teach, tell, preach, model – do whatever it takes… ya know what I’m coming with too!
We so often consider ourselves alone in evangelism with the whole world to win. Well we do have the whole world to win, but we’re definitely not alone –even if its just you. Hopefully we can rally around one another, but ultimately God has promised to be with us for the rest of eternity. But how?
The Power of God
Acts 1:6-9The Spirit supplies the Power: to increase boldness, love and courage in our hearts - as well as receptiveness and transformation in the hearts of those to whom we witness.
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
When God is supreme in our evangelism... we have the glory of God above us, the love of God within us, the authority of the Almighty God behind us, the plan of God before us, the Presence of God with us, and the Power of God working in and through us! It begins and ends with God.
To God be the glory,
Grant
