AN EVANGELISTIC CHURCH

“Great things are done by the Holy Spirit when a whole church is aroused to sacred energy: then there are hundreds of testimonies instead of one, and these strengthen each other; then advocates for Christ succeed each other and work into each other's hands, while supplication ascends to heaven with the force of united importunity; thus sinners are encompassed with a cordon of earnest entreaties, and heaven itself is called into the field. It would seem hard in some congregations for a sinner to be saved, for whatever good he may receive from the pulpit its frozen out of him by the arctic atmosphere with which he is surrounded: and on the other hand some churches make it hard for men to remain unconverted, for with holy zeal they persecute the careless into anxiety. It should be our ambition, in the power of the Holy Ghost, to work the entire church into a fine missionary condition, to make it like a Leyden jar charged to the full with divine electricity, so that whatever comes into contact with it shall feel its power. What can one man do alone? What can he not do with an army of enthusiasts around him? Contemplate at the outset the possibility of having a church of soul-winners. Do not succumb to the usual idea that we can only gather a few useful workers, and that the rest of the community must inevitably be a dead weight: it may possibly so happen, but do not set out with that notion or it will be verified. The usual need not be the universal; better things are possible than anything yet attained; set your aim high and spare no effort to reach it.. Labor to gather a church alive for Jesus, every member energetic to the full, and the whole in incessant activity for the salvation of men. To this end there must be the best of preaching to feed the host into strength, continual prayer to bring down the power from on high, and the most heroic example on your own part to fire their zeal: then under the divine blessing a common-sense management of the entire force cannot fail to produce the most desirable issues. Who among you can grasp this idea and embody it in actual fact?” (Lectures to My Students, Charles Spurgeon, pp. 346-347, Kindle Version).

HERALDS OF THE KING

 

The herald was sent to prepare the way for the coming of the king. The road was to be prepared and the reception was to be planned. The herald’s cry summoned the crowds in anticipation of the king’s arrival. That was John’s mission, and models that of the preacher. As  John the Baptist was a herald of the Lord’s first advent, we are honored to prepare people for His second coming. 

There is a MANDATE for the Lord’s herald. John was “sent.”  He was sent and he went. There was the call of God and his obedience to it. Every man of God serves because he is compelled by God’s command to preach the Gospel. It is not his choice, but God’s. 

There is a MISSION for the Lord’s  herald. John was a “witness.”  The witness is summoned to court for a “testimony.” He tells what he has seen and heard. This demands our study of the Scripture, as we gaze upon its truth and hear the voice of God. This goes beyond only the mere intellectual, to the experiential; we are not repeating hearsay, but what we have known and applied.

There is a MESSAGE for the Lord’s herald. John was a “voice.”  He stood up and spoke out. There was authority in his message for he was God’s appointed herald. There was clarity in his message for he gave an explanation rooted in Scripture, quoting from Isaiah 40:3 as “the voice of one crying in the wilderness.”  This should be said of every man who stands in the pulpit.  His words are not the opinions of a man, but the truth of God, spoken with authority and clarity.

John was not the Light, but pointed to the Light. Since some thought he might be that Light, this means that he much reflected Christ’s Light. Do we?

John summoned people to believe in Christ and be saved. He beckoned them to look to the Light and come out of the darkness of unbelief. That is our glad privilege also.

He cried out in the wilderness.  This world is a spiritual wilderness. It is replete with thorns and thistles due to the curse of sin. But, that is where God has sent us to minister. We are to help reclaim a bit of paradise from the jungle of a wicked world.  Let us tend the garden of the local church and the church field.

John beckoned those on a crooked path to straighten up. This was his call to repentance.  That is a demand to turn to Christ and away from sin. Let us persist in preaching repentance.

His focus was on Jesus.  John the Baptist wanted no glory for himself. He never said, “Behold, I am a man of God,” but declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”  Later, he would underscore this, “He must increase, but I must decrease,” (John 3:30). May our prayer ever be that people would not leave the worship service saying, “What a great sermon,” but “What a great Savior!”

OPPORTUNITY FOR GOSPEL MINISTRY

The church at Philadelphia was a church with an open door. Every church needs to be!  By that, it is not meant that the door is open to invite people in, but to send people out. Inviting people to attend an evangelistic, Biblically grounded fellowship is a good thing. Yet, this is not what is meant. Rather, God had given the Philadelphian saints opportunity for Gospel ministry. They were sharing their faith and people were being reached. Now it seems that most churches do not go and tell or even invite people to come and see.

Pastors are not to blame—exclusively. This is not meant to make church leadership feel guilty—unless we are!  In these seven letters where Christ shows His vital interest in the affairs of the local church, it is the preacher who is first addressed. He is the angelos—“angel”—the messenger, for so the word means. His eyes will be first to read Christ’s words and his mouth will be the one to proclaim them. The saints at Philadelphia were seizing the opportunity for missions, and doubtless the pastor was leading them to do so.

Three traits enabled them to be successful in soul-winning, and we can experience these.

1.  THEIR FORCEFULNESS, “for you have a little strength.”  The power of the Spirit was the driving force behind their accomplishment.  The church’s witness began at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon them, with nearly 3,000 saved.  When any church is successful in reaching people there is a supernatural forcefulness possessed by pastor and people. 

2.  THEIR FAITHFULNESS, “have kept My word.”  They did not compromise the message to tickle the ears of the world. They were not driven by pragmatic reasoning to seek to reach people by stealth. When people come to genuine faith they are not manipulated by carnal methodology, but by Biblical accuracy. God has promised to bless His Word; do not be ashamed of it (cf.Rom.1:16).

3. THEIR FEARLESSNESS“have not denied My name.”  Those were days of growing hostility to the church.  As John penned this letter, he was imprisoned on an island for preaching the Gospel.  In many places in our world, following Christ is dangerous. This may soon come to America. Will we be fearless in the face of opposition?  The Devil will always oppose a missionary church. In the face of the Dragon, we must be fearless, whatever the cost.

Jesus promises reward if we are forceful, faithful, and fearless.  “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” (Rev.3:11).  No one can shut the door of opportunity, unless the church itself does so—and in that case we are no longer truly a church, but a country club with a steeple on top!

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches,”(‭3:13).‬‬

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!

As the moon reflects the sun’s light, so we are called to reflect the Son’s glory. Jesus is the Light of the World, and He has said, “You are the light of the world.”  He is the source of the light and we are to shine with His light. As the old hymn puts it, “Let the lower lights be burning.”  John the Baptist illustrates this.  Our Lord said of him, “He was a burning and shining lamp.”  Here, Paul tells us how to let our light shine.

THERE MUST BE A CONNECTION WITH THE WORLD, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” (Philippians‬ ‭2:14-15).  

We are to be in the world, but not of the world, as a physician must be among the sick, but not sick himself.  He must be clean from infection to treat those who are ill. Thus, we cannot be isolated from the sinful, but are to be immunized from sinfulness. Light is potent because it is distinct from the darkness, yet its very intent is to encounter darkness.

So, stop whining about the conditions of the world and “Do all things without grumbling.”  Yes, it is very dark—and getting darker—but, that is the opportunity for the light to be most valuable.   

Cease warring with the citizens of the world and “Do all things without…disputing.”  Our enemy is the Devil, not those captured by him. Jesus was known as the friend of sinners, and we are to be.  

Yet, be wary of the contamination of the world, “that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation.”   You must be different to make a difference. While Jesus was connected with sinners, He was clean from sin.

THERE MUST BE A COMMUNICATION OF THE WORD,  “holding fast to the word of life,” (v.16a). While an oil lamp requires the wick to be trimmed and the globe to be clean (v.15), there must be fuel and a flame. Paul deals with that next.

We must digest the Word and thus hold fast to it ourselves. This is ingestion of truth, as the word of life. It is our daily bread to fuel our faith. Partake of the Word.  You cannot give out what you do not have.

We must demonstrate the Word. We not only hold it fast, but hold it forth. This is incarnation of truth. Jesus said our light would shine as we do good works before men for the glory of God.  Practice the Word. You cannot speak out about what you do not live.

We must declare the Word. That word is meant to be proclaimed.   This is illumination with truth. Good news is meant to be shared. Preach the Word.  You cannot help out if you do not speak up.

THERE MUST BE A CONSECRATION TO THE WORK, “so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain, (v.16‬b). 

We have a race to run. Paul did not want to run in vain. He was intent on giving his all and not stumbling short of the finish line.  Many a man has dropped out from discouragement or disqualified himself by defilement.  Don’t be that guy!

We have a rigor to show. The Apostle did not want to labor in vain. Gospel ministry is not just about inspiration, but involves perspiration. Labor and do not be lazy!  You can rest when you get to heaven.

We have a reward to gain. Paul points to the day of Christ, and his desire to hear Christ’s, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”  He lived with faithfulness on earth that he might attain fruitfulness in eternity—a crown on his head for the race he had run, and a crop from the labor for the souls he had won. There is going to be some surprises on Judgment Day, when a lot of celebrity preachers see their works go up in smoke, while some who have labored in obscurity are summoned to the dais and the Judge crowns them with glory (1 Pet.5:4)!

What a challenge to my heart today and I trust to you as well!  Let your light shine!

MAKING A DIFFERENCE BY BEING DIFFERENT: The Church Confronting the Culture or Compromising with It

“Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”  (1 Corinthians 1:1-3)

When Jesus described what His Kingdom people were to be, He used the metaphors of salt and light—both of which have a disproportionate impact on their environment due to their distinctive qualities.  A little salt can season a lot, and a small light can illumine a room.  There is no question we live in a society that is rotting and needs the preservative nature of salt, and that we are in a time of spiritual darkness which desperately calls for the light of the Gospel.  That is our assignment as a church.  It is the duty of church leadership to direct the church to fulfill that holy calling.

Paul understood this.  That is why we find him writing the church at Corinth.  Three times in the first three verses, he mentions our call—that we are sanctified, set apart—for a sacred responsibility. The church will never be the church until she is confronted with her calling, and that is the calling of the preacher.  I do not do what I do because of a vocational choice I made, but because of the will of God thrust upon me.  I am not an apostle, but when I speak their words I am communicating with apostolic authority.

The church at Corinth was facing a daunting task.  They were to grow and bear fruit in a hostile environment.  It would be far easier to cave to the pressure to compromise with the pagans around them, than to convert them to faith.  It might even seem reasonable to “adapt” the message to better suit the culture with a view of reaching the culture.  Yet, the reality is that the church is always most effective when it is being different and thus making a difference.

The good news is that the seeming impossibility of the assignment is made possible by the supernatural resources God gives: grace and peace.  They are always in that sequence.  You can’t have peace with God until you experience the grace of God.  Grace means that God gives us all the tools to do what He wants in this world.  There is a peace in knowing I don’t have to accomplish anything on my own.  The God who called me will equip me!

MAXIMUM MINISTRY

“As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”  (John 17:18)

Christ’s prayer recorded in John 17 was for all His people (v.20).  His commission is for every disciple of all the ages.  Yet, I think as there was a direct application to those eleven disciples (plus one counterfeit), there is a practical dimension for God’s preacher today.  Imagine, man of God—the Lord of glory standing with eyes upraised to heaven, mere hours from the agony of the cross and He prays for you!

His heart was to glorify the Father and fulfill His mission.  “I have glorified You on the earth.  I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”  (John 17:4)  Can we think of a greater goal—that in all our life and work we aim at the glory of God and faithfully finishing our assignment?

Eternal life can only be found in the Son of God (v.3).  Those the Father gives the Son in His sovereign grace will come to Him (v.2), but manifesting that salvation to sinners in view of their becoming saints is our duty (v.6).  Of the many good things I might do in ministry, I must not forget the worth of a soul.  Heaven is real and hell is also—and the proclamation of the life-changing Gospel is imperative and urgent.

God has entrusted us with the sacred message.  “ ‎For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.”  (v.8)  This is the treasure of truth contained in clay pots, and meant to be preserved in its purity—undiluted truth—and proclaimed in its power—unleashed truth.

Not all will be happy to hear the truth (v.14).  They will loathe the mirror of God’s Word in the manner in which the evil queen in the Snow White fairy tale hated to hear what the mirror on the wall honestly spoke.  There is a sanctifying power in the Word (v.17), and many would rather roll in the mud like an old hog—comfortable according to their nature.  To those who respond, however, the truth is transformative (v.19-20).  Should persecution arise, Christ will preserve us until our task is done (v.11-12), for we belong to Him and are loved by Him as the Father loves the Son (v.23-26).  When our mission is accomplished we are summoned to dwell in the eternal glory, face to face with Christ!

While the world hates us and the message is polarizing, let us seek to foster love and preserve unity among the people of God.  It was the earnest petition of Jesus and merits our deliberate effort (v.21-23).  A pugnacious preacher in spirit, always splitting theological hairs, and looking for a reason to cause strife is guilty of a severe sin.  To attack the Bride of Christ is an assault on Christ Himself who is one with her.  When the world sees our schisms, and hears venom more than grace from the pulpit, no wonder they scoff at our sermons!  There may come a time when truth, even spoken in love, angers church members who reject it—and reject us—let us love nonetheless.  If we part company may there be no bitterness on our part, only grief as a spurned lover.  This is maximum ministry—the mandate given by our Master, and His prayer for His men.