3 Marks of an Evangelist
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Title: 3 Mark of an Evangelist
Scripture: Romans 9:1-3
Occasion: The Lord’s Day
Date: September 10, 2023
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Scripture Transitions Sermon Title|Quotes Emphasis
PRAY
Ephesians 1:2 “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Big Question: What are the marks (characteristics, heart) of an evangelist?
Action:
Examine our hearts for these 3 marks.
Repent, and ask the Holy Spirit to help our hearts in this area.
How can we do the work of an evangelist today in our lives? (2 Timothy 4:5)
Introduction
Introduction
3 years ago Me, my wife, Jeremy, Lorraine, Ralph, Michelle, Emeli, gathered together in the back of a diner and began to pray for Sanford.
Before we began to pray about planting a Church.
Before we began to pray for how God would use us to reach Sanford with the gospel.
Before we began to pray for partners in the gospel to reach our city.
We prayed for one thing: “Lord, break our hearts for the people of Sanford. By Your Holy Spirit give us an unceasing anguish in our hearts for the people in Sanford who are hopeless and are either indifferent to the gospel or rejecting it. Holy Spirit, burden our hearts with great sorrow, for those in our city who are dying without Christ. Once you break our hearts for the people, then and only then, Lord, use us. We do not want to plant a Church or preach the gospel until our hearts align with your heart for the lost souls in our city.”
The Lord was faithful to hear our prayers and break our hearts for those in our city who are far from God and near to God.
J.D. Payne’s (Professor of Christian Ministry at Samford University with a focus on missiology and multiplication of disciples) defines Church planting this way: “Evangelism that results in new churches.”
You see, we were praying for a heart of an evangelist. Because we knew once the Lord gave us, by His Holy Spirit a heart of an evangelist, He would begin to build His Church. And guess what? HE DID!
So what is the heart of an evangelist?
The heart of an evangelist beats to see lost people saved as we will see in our text today.
The heart of an evangelist beats to see:
The unconverted, converted.
The blind see.
The deaf hear.
The orphan find a home.
The slave set free.
The unloved find love.
The unhappy find happiness.
The angry find joy.
The discontent find contentment.
The dissatisfied find satisfaction.
The restless find rest.
The broken find healing and restoration.
The hopeless find hope.
Friends, this is what we will see today in the opening verses of the magnificent section of Romans.
We will get a glimpse off Paul’s heart for the lost. Specifically his fellow country men- His jewish brothers in the flesh.
God has called believers in Christ to do the work of an evangelist.
This isn't a specific role only held for the pastor.
No, no, no! 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
This is the primary function of each and every christian in the local Church.
Our life is to contribute to the great commission in Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,”
This is a job for everyone, and not just the “professional christians.”
So this is very pertinent to us today.
We must evaluate where our heart is for the lost in our life? Our family members. Our co-workers. Our community.
. Are we bearing the Marks of a christian evangelist?
In these 3 verses Paul gives us a glimpse into the marks of an evangelist. Paul lays out for us, Which is the title of my sermon: “3 Marks of an Evangelist.”
So what are the 3 Marks of an Evangelist?
A Commitment to The Truth (v1)
A Heart for the lost (v2)
A Life Controlled By The Love of Christ (v3)
Point 1: Commitment to The Truth (v1)
Point 1: Commitment to The Truth (v1)
Romans 9:1a (ESV)
I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying;
If we can remember last week, so we get a bit of context here. Paul has his Jewish unbelieving countrymen in mind here in this text, which we will go on to see.
As I mentioned last week, His teachings of Romans 1-8 would have raised serious objections, but even more than objections, His fellow countrymen see Paul as an absolute traitor. He is a blasphemer. A liar!
He has brought many serious accusations against them.
But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God
and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law;
and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—
you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?
You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.
For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
Ouch! That’s a serious indictment isn't it? That is no way of gaining friends.
Paul has come across pretty condemning.
So what does he do? What must he do? He makes an oath!
Making it out before God was, it is a very serious thing.
It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
When we make an oath before the Lord, or in His name, it is binding. We are pledging to be accountable to God Himself.
Marriage.
Church membership.
Court of Law
It’s a very serious thing to make an oath.
Oaths are used to confirm the truthfulness of an someones word, they bind individuals in a contract, or confirm God’s intent to act according to His word.
Oaths imposed a great sense of obligation among ancient Israelites; and breaking an oath was virtually unthinkable (Zeigler, Promises to Keep, 47–48)
Therefore, oaths were not to be made lightly or flippantly.
Even rash oaths were binding and required confession of sin and sacrificial compensation if broken.
But for us in Christ, how much more!
It is very serious matter to make an oath in Christ.
Why? Because for those who are in Christ, we are held accountable to God by how we represent Christ to the world.
So if we go around making false oaths in God’s name ( “I swear to God”) we make him out to be trivial, and make it seem as if God will not hold us accountable for those oaths in His name.
He will. He will.
So to take a false oath as a christian is to make God out to be a liar to the world.
“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’
But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
Jesus, James , and Paul understood that the Jewish people knew about the weight of making an oath before God. Oaths that the Jewish people often broke, and dishonored God among the gentiles.
So, by Paul making this oath in Christ, He is displaying his unwavering commitment to the truth in what he is about to lay out for his countrymen.
The first mark of an evangelist is a commitment to truth.
Mark 1: Commitment to Truth
Paul understands very well that He is making this oath in the presence of Christ.
Not only that He is speaking as one in Christ.
He is speaking as man who has been crucified with Christ, a man that Has been raised with Christ to the newness of life.
Christians, don’t miss this: A man/women in Christ, A man/women that walks in the newness of life, is a man or women that walks in the truth-who practices the truth. Who is devoted to the truth.
It’s important to have heart, but it is supremely important to be committed to the truth. (the truth, anchors our hearts)
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
Psalm 15:2 (ESV)
Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
Show me a christian that truly fears the Lord, and I will show you a christian that is commited to the truth.
People are watching you, christian. What they are watching is whether or not you really fear the Lord.
Whether or not you operate your life under the fear of the Lord. Because if you really are, than you will live a life of walking in truth.
A life of honesty and integrity.
Why? Because you are in Christ.
You do everything in the presence of Christ.
Those in Christ speak truth. Walk in truth. Practice the truth.
Paul is first and foremost anchoring his attempt to win their hearts through honesty and truthfulness.
We must learn this lesson from Paul, beloved.
Our evangelism must be tethered to a commitment to living and speaking the truth in Christ.
Examples:
When you set up a meeting and bail out, tell the truth and let someone know the real reason.
When you have been hurt by someone, don’t talk behind their back, go to them and let them know how it made you feel.
When your co-workers are speaking falsely about your Christ, speak the truth in Christ.
Now, what Paul does next further drives home His seriousness to the truth.
He does this by adding a negative, Romans 9:1 “I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying;” to reinforces the positive assertion of the truth here.
I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—
The question is: How can Paul prove that He is not lying?
How can you prove grief?
We can manufacture tears. (My children) , but how can you prove real grief?
You can’t prove it to people, but that is the exact reason He appeals to the His conscience, and not only His conscience but the Holy Spirit to witness to the legitimacy of His conscience.
Here is the neat thing about our conscience, it’s under no obligation of agreeing with what we say.
Our conscience is given to us by God, an inward monitor if you will, to tell if what we are doing or what we are saying is actually right or wrong.
The conscience functions as a personal sense of one’s conduct, character, or intentions. It can hold the role of a moral monitor, witness, judge, and guide.
In a sense it is independent from us, and that is why Paul bears witness first to His conscience, and then second to the Holy Spirit.
He says, I’m not violating my conscience, I really do love you and have a grave concern for you.
But then He goes a step further and says, and makes the bold claim that the Holy Spirit is guiding, governing, shaping, and leading Him and His conscience.
Deuteronomy 17:2-3, Deuteronomy19:15 two-three witnesses to be convicted of a crime.
So get this: Paul, before open his heart to his kinsmen in the flesh, he testified that He is telling the truth:
In the presence of Christ.
According to his conscience.
And in the presence of the Holy Spirit, who now rules Paul, and enlightens His conscience.
Christian, can I ask you a question: Can you this day, in the presence of Christ, according to your conscience, and in the presence of the Holy Spirit with an enlighten conscience say, that you are living a life of truth that aligns with God’s Word?
Do you have the confidence of Paul, to make a most serious oath (knowing that God will surely hold you accountable) that you are speaking and walking in the truth?
If you are not, repent today. Repent of any lies, any gossip, anything you might be doing, or partaking in, that you know that you will have to give an account for on judgement day.
Matthew 12:36 “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,”
The strongest witness we have in Christ to a watching world is to be people of truth. To be people of biblical integrity.
That is Paul’s first appeal to his lost friends- He has commitment to the truth.
Point 2: A Heart For The lost (v2)
Point 2: A Heart For The lost (v2)
Romans 9:2 (ESV)
that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
Friend, we will never, NEVER , reach Sanford for Christ without a heart that breaks for those who are lost, cut-off from Christ, and heading towards eternal damnation.
Our response must not be to cast the lost off like the rest of the world, or, to alienate ourselves from the lost world, or FIRST point out everything that is wrong with the culture, we must plead with the Holy Spirit to break our hearts to the point of great sorrow and unceasing anguish for those who are cut off from Christ.
That our hearts would break for the lost the way Jesus’ heart breaks for the lost.
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.
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;
Jesus drew near to sinners, not away.
Jesus had compassion for sinners, not condemnation.
Jesus, could have in instant judged the lost righteously, but that is not what He did is it? What He did first was PRAY that more laborers with hearts of compassion would be sent out because the harvest is plentiful!
I often hear, “Pastor evangelism is not my thing, I’m an introvert”, brother and sister in Christ, as humbly as I can say it, I speak the truth in Christ, That is not an acceptable christian answer. Because it reveals a serious issue of the heart, and a grave misunderstanding of God’s Word.
Being an extrovert isn’t essential to evangelism—obedience and love are.
Rebecca Manley Pippert; Dave Earley
We will never reach a soul for christ without first praying for a heart that breaks over the lostness around us.
Paul was absolutely wrecked over the lostness of his jewish kinsmen in the flesh.
And we must understand that Paul was broken over the very people who where persecuting him.
Paul was broken over His enemies.
Paul was the most wanted man of his time by his own people! Paul had great sorrow and unceasing anguish over those who wanted him dead!
Let me just show you how his fellow country men felt about him:
And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.
Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”
For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.
For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,
who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind
by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!
Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.
This takes v2 to a whole other level, doesn't it?
It’s one thing to be broken over lost people in general, but it is whole other thing to have a heart for people who hate you, hurt you, and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on Christ’s account.
This reminds me of the words of Jesus.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Paul utter very similar words, and words we need to mediate on today, and heed:
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
This brothers and sisters in Christ is the heart of evangelism.
The heart of evangelism is overcoming evil with good.
It’s blessing those who persecute you.
It’s rejoicing with those who rejoice.
It’s weeping with those who weep.
It’s living in harmony with one another.
It’s associating with the lowly.
It’s not being wise in your own sight.
It’s living peaceably with all (that doesn't mean you comprise on the truth!)
It’s a commitment to not avenge yourself, but trusting that God will repay.
It’s loving your enemies.
It’s overcoming evil with good.
2. Where is your heart for the lost around you today?
Does the lostness around you keep you up at night?
Does the lostness around you cause you deep sorrow that propels you to share Jesus with others?
Where is your heart for those in your life that are lost but have hurt you?
My dear christian brother, this is one of the main reasons we must forgive as Christ forgave us. You will never win an enemy to Christ without first forgiving them, and secondly, overcoming evil with good.
Are you blessing those who persecute you?
Exhortation: Use Romans 12:14-21 as prayer prompts for the next two weeks. (There are 10 prayer prompts.)
The first mark of an evangelist is a commitment to the truth, the second is a heart for the lost, and the third and final mark is A Life Controlled By The Love of Christ (v3).
Point 3: A Life Controlled By The Love of Christ (v3)
Point 3: A Life Controlled By The Love of Christ (v3)
So how much does Paul love his people? His Heritage? His lost countrymen?
Now Paul really unbares his heart for lost- I love you enough that were it possible I would wish damnation on myself that salvation might come to you.
His kinsmen in the flesh thought He was anti-semitic, they thought Paul hated them, but this couldn't be further from the truth.
Paul says, Romans 9:3
For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
This language sounds a lot like Moses in Exodus 32:32
But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.”
If you can remember, while Moses was on Mt. Sinai with the Lord, the people built for themselves a golden calf and worshipped it as God. Moses moved by compassion and controlled by the love of God (after breaking the tablets!), he asked that he might be removed from God’s favor (moved from the book of life) so that His kinsmen might receive mercy.
Paul understood that He could never be separated from the love of Christ, He just spent a whole passage telling us that. But Paul here is so controlled by the love of Christ, that He makes bold statement “If it were so, that I can be cut off from christ so that you can be received by him” I would do it!
I’m absolutely convinced that only someone controlled by the love of Christ can speak this way and really mean It.
Speak so sacrificially, and mean it.
So audaciously, and mean it.
Paul was in fact controlled by the love of Christ.
One of my favorite passages in all of Scripture is 2 Corinthians 5:11-14. It is here where Paul shows us what makes him tick and every other evangelist that has every lived, you ready?
2 Corinthians 5:11–15 (ESV)
Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.
We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.
For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;
and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
There is it is! All 3 marks in one passage!
A life controlled by the love of Christ will cause us to do some incredibly valiant and noble things (according to the world) for Christ.
Things like:
loving your enemies.
Blessing those who persecute you.
Forgiving those who wronged you.
Moving across the world to share the gospel with people who hate you and reject you and the message.
Leave your secular career behind to plant a church in underserved areas not knowing how God will provide for you.
The list can go on and on.
Here is what we need to know: When the love of Christ is controlling your life, beloved, you are willing to give your life in order that others may find life in Christ.
So how can I be controlled by the love of Christ?
Paul’s answer to that is simple: Look into the mirror of the gospel every day to remind yourself of all that Christ has done for you!
A life controlled by the love of Christ is a life that lives in light of the Gospel.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
2 Corinthians 5:14–15 (ESV)
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;
and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
In Christ, we now live for God and others. We no longer live for ourselves.
Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Romans 12:1 (ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Paul knew about sacrifice. That was His His life in Christ. Let me show you.
Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I.
Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.
Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.
Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;
on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers;
in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
So what can we gather from all this?
A life truly controlled by the love of Christ in the face of the gospel is a life of extravagant sacrifice.
A life that daily considers how one might lay down their life for others, as Christ has done for us.
Now Paul understood very well, that He could not be accursed or cut off from Christ.
He understood that as much as he loved his kinsmen in the flesh, his life could not atone for theirs.
Paul understood the severity of his lost friends- They are accursed from Christ because of their rejection. Because of their self-righteousness.
1 Corinthians 16:22–23 (ESV)
If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed.
So He really leaves His readers with the question:
Is there anyone who can atone for our sins?
Is there anyone who can be cut off so that we who don’t know Christ might be brought into salvation?
The answer to that question is “Yes”
There is one who can save the lost.
There is only one who can save sinners from God’s eternal wrath and damnation.
There is only one who has become a curse for us.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—
Christ became our curse and Christ became our sin and Christ became our righteousness.
Romans 10:2–4 (ESV)
For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Conclusion
Conclusion
So today for my unbelieving friends in the room, we are left with a choice:
Will we reject Christ today and be cut-off from Him forever?
Will you keep trying to establish your own righteousness and in the end find yourself accursed from Christ under His just wrath in hell?
Or will you trust in the one who has become our curse, who became our sin, and became our righteousness?
Beloved in Christ, let me speak to you for a second: If you are in Christ, remember, you no longer live for yourself, but now you live for Christ who for your sake died and was raised.
Your main purpose in life is to share the gospel with a lost and dying world (proclaim the excellencies, implore on behalf of God).
You were saved to share.
You were saved to share all that Christ has done for you in the gospel, in order that others may join in with you in the song of your salvation.
How can you do the work of an evangelist today in your life? (2 Timothy 4:5)
Who in your life can you share the gospel with today?
Who in your life do you need to pray for today, that God might use you to lead to Christ?
Examine you heart today for these 3 marks.
Repent, and ask the Holy Spirit to help your hearts in these areas.
Let us together, Church, share the good news of Christ, so that we might see in our day the glory of our God spread through out Sanford and beyond.
Pray this prayer with me: “Send me”.
PRAY