Evangelism, its what we do!
Having faced the trial of the flesh and satanic inquisition, which was a ploy for Jesus to take short cut toward His purpose, Jesus returns to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. One could only imagine the buzz in the air as the news of Jesus spread throughout the district. His teaching was unique to the thirsty ears and hearts of the people of Galilee. They drank His words like one having fresh, clean, cold water for the very first time. The only thing that could logically follow such satisfaction is praise.
The moment wasn’t about the praise of a spiritually malnutritioned people. It was much more than that. The moment was a setup for the declaration of Jesus’ public ministry.
He came to Nazareth and entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. It was His custom. Standing up to read, He providentially proclaimed a prophetic purpose that was designed for Him.
Luke 4:18-19
"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." (NKJV)
Closing the book and all eyes fixed on the Christ, He clarifies to the hearer then what must continually be made clear to the church now. We are to have the same evangelistic character as the Christ.
Our purpose is to look at Jesus as He defines and demonstrates evangelism so that we live everyday in fulfillment of our calling.
This passage gives us the definition of evangelism. Evangelism is the developing of relationships that are strengthened through rapport which enables the revelation of God’s will into the life of a seeker. This is how Christ is seen, taught, exposed and exhibited. As a result of this, Christians participate in the scheme of redemption and salvation is promoted in the communities we serve. This is what the Christ was anointed to do. This is also what the church has been empowered, commissioned and entrusted to do.
How do we apply such a definition? First, make connections with people. That’s what relationships are, connections; and, we have more than we think we do! Second, develop some harmony in those relationships. This is what rapport is all about, harmony, confidence. Third, create moments for Christ to be seen, taught, exposed and exhibited. This is how you reveal God’s will to the seeker. The results are two-fold. Number one we participate in the scheme of redemption by actively stepping into the process or sharing Jesus. Number two, the production of Christians occurs and that is God’s part. When an honest seeker meets up with the Gospel of Christ it ends with obedience. The designed and desired end of the Gospel of Christ is the saving of souls, the making of Christians, making one favorable to the Father.
This passage also gives us the clear duty of evangelism. In our efforts of seeing the reproduction of our faith we cannot miss the need of genuinely helping and healing the communities around us. We have a balanced example in the Christ and there must be balance in the church.
It is Christ-like to help before you herald! It is Christ-like to pick a man up out of the muck of life before you preach to him! Wouldn’t the message you bring about Christ be more significant to those you feed than to those you simply bid to be warmed and filled? Let’s not just talk about it, let’s be about it!
This passage shows the desire of evangelism. There are sacrifices that can be made and should be made to evangelize our world, country, city, and neighborhoods. Would you be willing to regularly open up your home and allow the neighborhood, friends and the faithful in to reveal the word of God to the lost? Would you be willing to open your kitchen and cook a meal for the hungry and develop some rapport? Would you be willing to go on to the college campuses and investigate a way for your church to minister to the college age students? Would you be willing to clean up the community of the trash and litter that curses the earth? Would you sacrifice your time to learn what to teach, how to teach it and then teach it to the prospects that are willing to be taught?
Will you ask yourself this question, what am I doing? Your answer speaks volumes to the Lord that is willing to open His home, prepare a place for you, come down for you, suffer for you, die for you and intercede for you.
So what? What should we do?
Evangelize! Share the Christ! Share Jesus! Develop relationships, build rapport, reveal the will of god and see the results of living in your purpose. Do it!