THE FOUR “C’S” OF EVANGELISM



1. Commission:

            The very last conversation Jesus had with His followers was to assure them that He had been given ALL authority in heaven and on earth! Then, He said:

            Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV) "GO THEREFORE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, 20 "TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU; AND LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE." AMEN.

            .................so, the Church KNOWS the “what” of their commission. It’s “Go” and “Make Disciples”.


2. Compassion:

            The spirit of a human being is so valuable that Jesus, Himself, came, died, and rose again so that WE would forever reap the benefit of that act! And even today, Satan continues to vie for the attention of each and every living person to usurp that precious promise of the Living God. The devil’s ‘goal’ is to hold the un-saved captive; and to FOOL the saved into “stinkin’-thinkin” so they may turn FROM their eternal promise of everlasting life - and TO eternal damnation!

            Listen: There is no trouble too great; no humiliation too deep; no suffering too severe; no love too strong; no labor too hard; no expense too large, but that it is worth it IF it’s spent in the effort of winning one to Jesus Christ! The ‘reward’ for YOU and for the one you witnessed to far out-weighs your effort on this earth!!

            Besides - the “price” has already been paid by and through Jesus Christ! We know that! God actually loves EACH of us so much He showed extraordinary love by His willingness to die so that we wouldn’t have to!!! And we also know that COMPASSION was the heart-beat of Jesus’ ministry. Matthew 9:36 (NKJV) BUT WHEN HE SAW THE MULTITUDES, HE WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION FOR THEM, BECAUSE THEY WERE WEARY AND SCATTERED, LIKE SHEEP HAVING NO SHEPHERD.


3. Concern:

            One of the first questions raised in recorded history was: “AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER?” (Genesis 4:9). In other words, “Do I have a moral obligation toward others?” Well, Ezekiel 22:30 (NKJV)says: "SO I SOUGHT FOR A MAN AMONG THEM WHO WOULD MAKE A WALL, AND STAND IN THE GAP BEFORE ME ON BEHALF OF THE LAND, THAT I SHOULD NOT DESTROY IT; BUT I FOUND NO ONE....... Obviously, God considers it a valid proposal! Matthew 9:38 (NKJV) "THEREFORE PRAY THE LORD OF THE HARVEST TO SEND OUT LABORERS INTO HIS HARVEST."


4. Contact:

            Personal contact is essential to the “How” of winning others to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. John 1:41 (NKJV) HE (Andrew) FIRST FOUND HIS OWN BROTHER SIMON, AND SAID TO HIM, "WE HAVE FOUND THE MESSIAH" (WHICH IS TRANSLATED, THE CHRIST).

And Luke 19:10 (NKJV) says: "FOR THE SON OF MAN HAS COME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST."

            The “Movement” of Christianity in this world is Scripturally based on PERSONAL CONTACT!!! Anyone who really KNOWS Jesus will want others to know Him, too! And the secret is in the words of Andrew: “WE HAVE FOUND...” Why? Because the search for satisfaction in a man’s SOUL - you know - that place that’s void, empty and gnaws at you - is completed when he finds Jesus as Lord of his life! Everything else PALES by comparison.

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NOW!

            Peoples lives today are complicated by sin! They need more than a neat slogan or a formula. They need personal help. With that in mind, I submit to you that there are guide-lines - that WE as people having kinship with the Lord Jesus Christ - must keep in mind:


1. I MUST LIVE IT. I cannot say to others: “Do as I say - not as I do!” My strongest testimony is my daily life. 1 Corinthians 4:5 (NKJV) says: THEREFORE JUDGE NOTHING BEFORE THE TIME, UNTIL THE LORD COMES, WHO WILL BOTH BRING TO LIGHT THE HIDDEN THINGS OF DARKNESS AND REVEAL THE COUNSELS OF THE HEARTS. THEN EACH ONE'S PRAISE WILL COME FROM GOD. You see - you can ‘brag’ on your bad-self all day long; but, don’t think for a NEW YORK-second that the Lord God will allow PRIDE to continue to hide in your life!!! If satisfaction for your “achievements” becomes unreasonable and inordinate self-esteem DRIVES you, your ‘testimony’ becomes null and void!

Unless you “walk-the-Walk” AND “talk-the-Talk”, You’re nothing but a hypocrite!


2. I MUST LOVE PEOPLE: I can’t pretend! The other person knows my motive immediately. Revelation 22:17 says, “.....THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY, ‘COME’.” When my ‘concern’ for others lines up with the Holy Spirit, the CREDIBILITY of my actions is seen by the ones I’m talking to.


3. I MUST COMMUNICATE. Refuse to ‘debate’! It’ll get you into “heat” you don’t need to get in to. It’s not their ‘heads’ you’re trying to persuade, it is their HEARTS! This is done spirit-to-spirit. Not in a philosophical squabble!!


4. I MUST CONCENTRATE ON CHRIST. We can get so much “I” into our testimony that spiritual pride will offend the person we’re trying to reach. John 3:30 says: HE MUST INCREASE, BUT I MUST DECREASE. Christ is the Attraction, here, not me!!


5. I MUST USE TACT. With a spirit of discernment, be sensitive to the other man’s feelings. Be a good listener. Ask wise questions. Remember in Genesis 4:9 (NKJV) THE LORD SAID TO CAIN, "WHERE IS ABEL YOUR BROTHER?" HE SAID, "I DO NOT KNOW. AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER?" Of course, God already knew the answer to His question! He’s GOD!! But He was using Divine Wisdom as an “entry” into Cain’s mind, getting his attention.

Now, James 1:5 (NKJV) tells us: IF ANY OF YOU LACKS WISDOM, LET HIM ASK OF GOD, WHO GIVES TO ALL LIBERALLY AND WITHOUT REPROACH, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO HIM. And if you think you’re so “cool” you don’t need anymore Wisdom – before you ask for Wisdom, ask for forgiveness — because PRIDE has a way of sneaking in on you and taking up residence BEFORE you’re even aware of it!! THEN, consider tagging this Scripture in your Bible as a ‘reminder’ to stay-on-track!


6. I MUST BRING A PERSON TO A DECISION. You see - this opportunity may never come again. OPPORTUNITY IS GOD-GIVEN!! Don’t gamble with it! Don’t let people say of you at Judgment Day: : “HE NEVER ASKED ME TO BE A CHRISTIAN!”


7. I MUST TEACH THEM TO LISTEN TO GOD’S VOICE. It is my business to “introduce” people to the Savior. So often we only introduce ourselves. This is done by teaching the person 2 or 3 primary verses of Scriptures. “TIE” the seeker to God’s Word. Let him know before you leave him that God has spoken to him. For example: John 5:24 (NKJV) "MOST ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, HE WHO HEARS MY WORD AND BELIEVES IN HIM WHO SENT ME HAS EVERLASTING LIFE, AND SHALL NOT COME INTO JUDGMENT, BUT HAS PASSED FROM DEATH INTO LIFE.


8. I MUST MAKE IT CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KNOWING GOD AND KNOWING ABOUT GOD! ‘Birth’ is not something that is second-hand. It’s a personal experience. If I don’t associate the seeker with the Word of God, that person will miss his way. The devil will rob him before dark!

God has expressed His willingness to come into covenant with us by His Word. James 4:8 tells us: “DRAW NEAR TO GOD AND HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU...”

The moment I accept Jesus into my heart, the entire contract, or covenant, is in force toward me. But remember: the AUTHORITY is in the Word of God. You cannot ‘grow’ outside the “Word”!

 

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NOW:

 The following are steps for conversion:

1. REPENT (Luke 13:3)

2. RECEIVE HIM (John 1:12)

3. BE ‘BORN AGAIN’. (John 1:13; 11:25)

4. REJOICE PUBLICLY (Romans 10:9-10) - the plan of Salvation in 2 verses!!

5. REQUEST WATER BAPTISM (the outward sign of inward transformation) {Mark16:16}

6. READ THE WORD (1 John 5:13) The Bible is NEVER private or exclusive property of any one religion. God gave it to the world. It isn’t man’s product! AND IT’S WHAT GOD, HIMSELF, TELLS US TO DO THAT COUNTS!!!

7. PRAY. 1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV) NOW THIS IS THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE IN HIM, THAT IF WE ASK ANYTHING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, HE HEARS US. 15 AND IF WE KNOW THAT HE HEARS US, WHATEVER WE ASK, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE PETITIONS THAT WE HAVE ASKED OF HIM.

8. RESIST THE DEVIL. Temptation is not sin. YIELDING to temptation IS! (Heb. 4:15-16)

9. WELCOME THE FAMILY RELATIONSHIP THAT “IS” YOUR CHURCH! Associate yourself immediately with God’s people (Heb. 10:25). You will draw strength with people who are ‘like’ you!

10. EMBRACE YOUR NEW IMAGE. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) THEREFORE, IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION; OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW.

You see - a New Testament Christian is not a ‘patched-up’ job! He’s a NEW creation! He has a new will; there are new affections; there is a new purpose because there is a new nature. This is ‘how’ you walk in victory! That’s the reason you’re able to “SEE” Jesus in the faces of His people.

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All of this makes us “The Real Deal”! Know why??

BECAUSE WE’RE COVERED WITH THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB OF GOD!


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As you leave here today, be advised:

YOU ARE NOW EQUIPPED FOR SUCCESS!

Take the steps you’ve been given today and apply them to the people God puts in your path. And on the day we stand face-to-Face with our Savior, He will say, WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!”