06PM June 4 1 Corinthians 2 1_5

June 4, 2006—Evening Worship

The “Go Fish!” Series – Part 1

Effective Witnessing

Aggressive Actions Leading to an Effective Witness

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Intro:  A Mercedes Benz spokesman was asked why the company does not enforce its patent on the energy­absorbing car body—a design that has been copied by other car companies b/c of its success in reducing injuries in accidents. He replied, "B/c some things in life are too important not to share." The same is true for the gospel of Christ.

          Vance Havner, the great preacher of yester-year, once said, “We do not have a secret to be hidden but a story to be heralded.” & “The gospel is not something we come to church to hear; it’s something we go from church to tell.”

D. T. Nikes said, “Evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where he found bread.” & as one elevator operator at a hospital in Nashville, TN once said, “I’m just, a nobody, telling everybody, about somebody, who can save anybody.

God’s evangelistic strategy in a nutshell is that He desires to build into you & me the beauty of His own character & then put us on display. R. A. Torrey said, “I waited & watched 15 long years to get my chance to speak w/one man. Never a day passed in all those 15 years that I did not speak to God about that man. At last my chance came, & it was my privilege to lead him to Christ.”

According to Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, “Success in witnessing is simply taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, then leaving the results to God. Last week during the testimony time I told you about Mitch Malone’s dramatic transformation after God saved him. He was changed so drastically that his estranged wife could clearly see the difference. & Mitch had the opportunity to share a testimony of how Jesus had changed him & he had the privilege of seeing his wife gloriously saved!

During this series of messages which I’m calling “Go Fish!,” we will consider what it means to be NT missionaries; being unashamed of the gospel; developing a heart for others; & we will conclude this series on July 9th in the Morning Service w/a commissioning of short-term missionaries entitled, “Missions Mandates.”

But tonight, we begin to consider the question of effective witnessing & from the example of the Apostle Paul we want to see the aggressive actions that lead to an effective witness.

Let’s read our text together from…

1 Corinthians 2 1 & I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come w/excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ & Him crucified. 3 I was w/you in weakness, in fear, & in much trembling. 4 & my speech & my preaching were not w/persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit & of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

- According to the text, to be effective witnesses, we should…

1. Take the initiative to share. (v. 1) 1 & I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come w/excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.

- We need to examine v. 1 very closely. Paul does NOT say that he did not declare to the Corinthians the testimony of God!

- Paul does not indicate that he never shared the word w/the Corinthians.

- But what Paul does say is that when the shared the word of God & the testimony of Jesus Christ w/them—that he did not do it in his own strength.

- IOW Paul had been under divine command to go & to share the truths of the gospel.

- He had been sent to the nations; to the Gentiles, to preach the glorious gospel.

- Paul wanted to make it abundantly clear that he did not come in his own power or in his own wisdom.

- But—Paul wanted to make it just as abundantly clear that he did come!

- He came in obedience to the word of God; he came in submission to the ways of God; he came in sacrificial surrender to the will of God as God led him.

- IOW Paul was in love w/Jesus & whatever Jesus wanted him to do—Paul was more than willing!

- Ladies & gentlemen, if you are in love w/Jesus tonight; it should be your hearts’ desire to do whatever Jesus wants you to do!

- You should obey the word of God as you understand it & Jesus has said that we are to go & make disciples!

- That means that as we are in the process of going we are to have an impact; we are to use our influence; we are to express the love that Christ has shed abroad in our hearts.

- We are to take the initiative to share the word of God w/those to whom God would lead us.

- That’s exactly what Paul did to & for the Corinthians; he was sent there by God; he felt led there by the Spirit; & once he was there, Paul opened his mouth & lovingly & graciously, but firmly—shared the gospel of Jesus Christ.

- Was his speech perfect? Absolutely not!

- Was his wisdom inescapable? Absolutely not!

- You see, it wasn’t about Paul & his abilities—NO! It was about God working through Paul to accomplish His will!

          [We are beginning to share some about the C.A.R.E. ministry & how each one of you can be involved in ministry doing what you feel God has called & equipped you to do! We all don’t have to go out & make “cold visits.” But at some point in our relationships w/others; at some point in our world of influence; we are going to have to take the initiative to share the life changing truth of the gospel!]

Romans 10 17 So then faith comes by hearing, & hearing by the word of God.

- If we never open our mouths to share the word of God, how shall they hear?

- How can the world know Jesus if we never tell them who He is & what He has done?

- If you want to share the gospel but feel ill-equipped, tell me & let me help you build your confidence through the word of God!

- Paul also tells us to be effective witnesses, we should…

2. Focus on the Cross of Christ. (v. 2) 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ & Him crucified.

- Why is it so important to focus on the Cross of Christ? B/c, according to a nationwide survey by the Barna Research Group in 1999, 47% of born-again Christians do not think that it’s their personal responsibility to share their religious beliefs w/those who do not know Christ.

- That same report revealed that 86% of American adults could not accurately define the meaning of the “Great Commission.”

- 70% had no clue as to what “John 3:16” means.

- & only 31% knew the meaning of the expression, “the gospel.”

- Even though America was founded as a Christian nation; even though so many of our founding fathers were Christians; even though there are literally almost churches on every corner here in the south; America has become a nation that is spiritually illiterate!

- W/all the other so-called “spiritual influences” in our world today, people simply are not exposed to the truth of God’s word & that’s why they don’t know Him!

- The gospel of Jesus Christ should be a beacon to point unbelievers to the Cross!

[At the cross, at the cross, where I 1st saw the light & the burden of my heart rolled away! It was there by faith, I received my sight & now I am happy all the day!]

- Had it not been for the Cross; had it not been for the Sacrifice; had it not been for the completed work of Jesus Christ on that Cross; there could be no salvation!

- Asking why the Christian message must focus on the Cross is like asking why time is based on the rising & setting of the sun! B/c w/o it—nothing else would make sense!

- The Cross carries the message of divine wrath & punishment for sin.

- The Cross carries the message of the deep, unconditional love of God.

- It carries the message of unbounded grace & mercy & forgiveness!

- & ladies & gentlemen, the world needs to hear those truths & be exposed to the word of God so that they may be saved!

- It’s the Cross on which Jesus died that carries the meaning of those words to the hearts of men & instills in them a deep longing & desire to know God & to be reconciled to Him!

- The Cross is the symbol of the free grace & love of God through Jesus Christ, but the Cross is not just a religious symbol!

- The Cross is an absolute necessity—but it’s not something to be worn around the neck as a fashion accessory!!

- Paul says that’s the only message he would preach; the only subject he would discuss; the only desire in his heart; so that people could see Jesus & His completed work of redemption through the life & lips of this mere mortal man!

- Paul had been highly educated & was known for writing deep theological truths in his letters to the churches.

- But when he came to preach the gospel to unbelievers—he knew nothing but Jesus Christ & Him crucified! & that’s the only message we need to preach; the only witness we need to make; Jesus Christ crucified for sinners! He died for you!

- To be effective witnesses we should take the initiative to share & focus on the Cross of Christ & we should…

3. Rely on the Holy Spirit’s power. (vv. 3-4) 3 I was w/you in weakness, in fear, & in much trembling. 4 & my speech & my preaching were not w/persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit & of power….

- Did you hear that confession by the great apostle Paul?

- Did you hear, in his own words, how terrified he was to go to new places & speak w/new people?

- Did you hear how shaky his voice was; how un-commanding his choices of words?

- & yet somehow, God spoke through him & used those “flaws” to draw people to be saved!

- Now if that happened to Paul, don’t you think that God can use you & strengthen you & fill you w/whatever needs to be said at just the right time to say it?

- Paul’s whole point here is that we are not to rely on our own strength; we don’t go in our own power; we don’t impress w/our own words!

- We are to rely solely on the Holy Spirit’s power! We rest only in what He does!

- He has the power to draw men to God; He has the wisdom to fill our mouths w/words.

- He has the ability to do the miraculous even today as it brings glory to God alone!

- I’m not suggesting that we should not try; I’m not implying that we should not study or be prepared!

- But I am telling you that in & of ourselves we don’t have what it takes to eternally save anyone!

- There are some Charlatans who pep people up w/emotional pleas; there are those who deceive people w/so-called “healing services;” & there are some who simply pronounce people saved when they have not committed themselves to Jesus Christ in repentance & faith.

- Those kinds of people give true Christianity a bad name & a bad taste in the mouths of non-believers!

- You cannot work up enough excitement to save people! Only God through Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit can do that!

- But that in no way relieves us of our God given responsibility to share the gospel!

- Everyone you meet is a candidate for the gospel! But w/o the Holy Spirit working in any people to whom you witness, there can be no true conversion.

- It’s the work of God & not man! We must not manipulate people to make decisions!

- We can only do what God has commanded us to do…

Matthew 28  19 Go therefore & make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father & of the Son & of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; & lo, I am w/you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

- You be faithful to go & be faithful to rely on the Holy Spirit’s power & God will do great things through your effective witness!

- “How can that be?” you may ask. It’s simply b/c if you know you can’t save anyone then as an effective witness you…

4. Trust God for the results. (v. 5) 5 …that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

- It was the wisdom of men that gave us the theory that the earth was the center of the universe.

- Man’s wisdom gave us the idea that the world was flat & that if you sailed far enough you would fall off. (I’ve often wondered what was thought to hold the water in the seas.)

- It was Man’s wisdom that told us many years ago that it was impossible for anyone to go faster than 35 mph b/c if they did the wind would blow their heads off.

- It was Man’s wisdom that made doctors use a process called “blood-letting” as a cure for almost everything.

- Man’s wisdom has changed over the years concerning science, philosophy & politics.

- It was Man’s wisdom that gave us the religions of the world but it was God’s wisdom that gave us the knowledge of a personal relationship w/Jesus Christ!

- The lesson here is never to put your faith in the wisdom of men but only in the power of God!

- In comparison w/the wisdom of God, man’s wisdom is foolishness; it’s ignorance; it’s moronic stupidity!

- God’s power, God’s wisdom, God’s ability far outshines our own.

- God will do what He said He will do.

- God can do what He said He would do.

- God’s promises are just as solid today as the day they were made.

- You absolutely can trust God for the results in any situation!

- If you have any doubt whether or not God can do anything; remember this from…

Jeremiah 33 2 "Thus says the Lord who made it, the Lord who formed it to establish it (the Lord is His name): 3 Call to Me, & I will answer you, & show you great & mighty things, which you do not know.

Jeremiah 29 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace & not of evil, to give you a future & a hope.

          [What a mighty God we serve! Angels bow before Him, heaven & earth adore Him. What a mighty God we serve!]

Jeremiah 10 6 Inasmuch as there is none like You, O Lord (You are great, & Your name is great in might), 7 Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For this is Your rightful due. For among all the wise men of the nations, & in all their kingdoms,

There is none like You.

- I’m glad that those vv. are true! I’m glad that God made all things by His spoken word.

- I’m glad we can call to Him & that He will answer us & tell us great & mighty things.

- I’m glad there is no other one anywhere like God! He is the unique, separate, holy, Sovereign King of kings & Lord of lords.

- There’s never been anyone like Him nor will there ever be! He alone is worthy of praise & He alone can be trusted explicitly to bring about His desired results in all things – including the results of our attempts to witness for Him.

Conclusion:  News like that is too good to keep to ourselves. The gospel is too important to keep quiet, let's take the initiative to share it for the good of others & the glory of God. Let’s focus on the cross as we witness & allow God to work through us to bring others to Himself!

Invitation:  Is there someone you know who needs to grasp the truth of the gospel? Is there someone over whom you’ve been praying? Is there someone to whom you feel led to go & share this glorious good news?

          If you know someone—it could be that God is prompting you to pray, to go & to share that they may come to faith in Christ. Would you commit to do that tonight? Would you commit to pray & to go & to share as God may lead you?

          Or maybe God has spoken to your heart tonight about your own personal relationship w/Him. Maybe you sense His call to salvation or perhaps to church membership or maybe to a closer, personal, daily walk w/Him. Or maybe you even sense God’s call to full time service as a missionary or a minister of the gospel.

          How ever it is that God has spoken to you tonight, would you come?

Hymn 278 Make Me a Captive Lord