We Value Strategic Evangelism (Part 1 1)

ILL-- mission trip over 20 years ago to Durango Mexico.

Led a family to Christ around the bed of a sick grandfather.

One year later we were doing Vacation Bible School for a brand new church.

At lunch we walked next door to eat and there sat the man we prayed for the year before.

We walked in and realized that this new church was meeting in the home of that family.

Saying "yes" to God's call in your life is the most rewarding life you can live.

But, why do we wait for God to ask us to do things he has already made plain in his word?

Yes, I believe that God calls us to do specific things but there are many tasks he has already told us we need to be doing. You shouldn't be waiting for him to ask you again.

Acts 1:1–11 ESV

1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 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. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Jesus does not leave the newly established church to drift aimlessly.

Jesus gives the newly established church a responsibility. A Strategy.

Our Purpose: We GATHER for God’s glory, to GROW in Christlikeness, and GO in the Holy Spirit proclaiming the gospel.

4 Results of Living on Mission

1. Significance (4, 6-7)

Acts 1:4–7 ESV

4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 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.

Something bigger than themselves. They couldn't do it on their own.

So significant they are told to "Wait"

Wait until you have the Holy Spirit.

They wanted to know about the Kingdom. He said, no I have something more important for you to do first.

In their minds the Kingdom was the most significant thing they could think of.

Jesus calls them to build the church first.

Matthew 16 “I will build my church”

One day we will be part of the Kingdom. Until then we build the church.

2. Power (5, 8a)

Acts 1:5 ESV

5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Acts 1:8 ESV

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.”

Power that gives victory.

I'm not sure why Baptists love to neglect this part of the Trinity.

The Holy Spirit is God in us! The God of the Universe, who spoke the world into existence.

The most powerful force in existence.

ILL- Most powerful physical forces

Black Holes-- They create a gravitational field so powerful that nothing, not even light, can escape its pull. They absorb all the light that hits them and reflect nothing. They have a one-way surface into which objects can fall, but out of which nothing can escape.

Gamma-Ray Bursts-- a giant star 150X larger than our sun. It explodes with more energy than our sun produces over a period of 10 billion years.

October 9, 2022 a burst called BOAT (Brightest of all time) was observed

It happened 2.4 billion light years away and was so strong it affected the atmosphere on earth.

It instantly created a black hole.

We know that the most powerful force in existence is the God who created the Black Holes and the Gamma-Ray Burts. His name is Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:15–20 ESV

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

The most powerful force in existence is living inside the believer for the purpose of empowering our obedience.

John 16:4–7 ESV

4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

Failure to use this power is to think we are better than the early church. They needed it, so do we.

3. Purpose

Acts 1:8 ESV

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.”

Witnesses= tell the story that has happened to you.

We do not have to make it too hard.

Tell my story + John 3:16

The strategy (Strategic Evangelism)

We need a strategy because evangelism does not happen by accident.

Why Jerusalem?

Your inner circle outward.

Bret will be leading out the process of developing our strategy.

Strategic initiative-

To live with purpose means we live to accomplish something.

Evangelism doe snot happen by accideent.

4. Urgency

Acts 1:11 ESV

11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

2000 years later and we still are not there. Not all nations have heard the good news of Jesus.

Matthew 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

"nations"= much debate in Christian circles.

IMB= people groups

IMB had 50 years of work in Malawi Africa- started in 1959.

We took the Gospel to kalulu in 2011.

People isolated in many ways. Forgotten by the government.

We started a church and left them with only the basics of the Gospel.

No gas to return. 1 year later a group was able to return.

300 were meeting in a brush arbor worshiping Jesus.

Over the mountain there are more just like them.

YOU- Next door, office next to yours, person in line at Wal-Mart.

These people need the Gospel before it is too late.

It is not clear how Jesus defined nations in Matthew 24:14 but until the whole world hears, we have work to do.

Matthew 24:14 ESV

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

IMB say there are 7200 unreached people groups in the world which represents 40% of the world’s population.

There is a work for First Baptist McAlester. We have a responsibility.

Africa, South America, Europe, East Asia… Wherever God leads we must be ready to say yes.

CONCLUSION

Saying "no" to the call of Jesus is not an option for the believer.

Are you answering the call?

He doesn't have to speak to you about it again.

He may be more specific with some, but all are called.