MS #11 ~ “Outreach!” June 1, 2012 – Posted in: News
THE GREAT MOTTO
“To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you.” 2 Corinthians. 10:16.
The Gospel is a traveler and the preacher of the Gospel must travel likewise. The regions beyond start with the house next door but they do not stop there. Onward is the motto of every true evangelist.
“The Christian who is not cultivating and manifesting an evangelistic spirit is in a truly deplorable condition … the church which is not cultivating and manifesting it is in a dead state. One of the truest marks of spiritual growth and prosperity – whether in an individual conversion or an assembly – is earnest anxiety after the conversion of souls … it is hard to believe that the Word of Christ is dwelling richly in anyone who is not making some effort to impart that word to his fellow-sinners.” CHM
POINT #1: We must not stand idle. Time is short! Eternity is pressing upon us. The Master is worthy. Souls are precious. The soul season will soon close. Let us carry the Precious seed to the regions beyond.
THE GREAT MOTIVATION
“For from you sounded out the Word of the Lord … in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak anything.” 1 Thessalonians. 1.8.
The Thessalonians had a “work of faith, a labor of love, and a patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.” This vibrant spiritual excitement became the energy creating the trumpet blast that thundered forth with the Gospel. The effect was so great that Paul ‘needed not to speak anything.’
POINT #2: Effective outreach requires a good state of soul. First love produces outreach and outreach ignites first love.
THE GREAT COMMISSION
“Go you into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature … and they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the Word with signs following.” Mark 16: 15, 20.
The command was to go out with the Gospel. It was an individual command and it required going out into the world. Nothing happened until they went forth. The Lord was at the right hand of God and from this place of power, He worked with them causing things to happen. The ‘mighty God’ was now at the disposal of the Gospel preacher.
POINT #3: True separation has to do with distance from evil. Isolation is distance from people. The policy of isolationism results in inactivity in the Gospel and a lack of spiritual miracles. Legality suppresses true gospel outreach.
“There are, alas, everywhere – men of narrow mind, who object to everything that does not square with their own notions – men who would fain tie the evangelist down to the exact line of things and mode of acting which according to their thinking would suit the assembly of God’s people when gathered for worship at the table of the Lord. All this is a thorough mistake.” CHM
THE GREAT COMMANDMENT
“Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it ~ thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.” Matt. 22:37 – 39.
Behind the great commission is the great commandment. Love for the Lord Jesus Christ motivates and energizes a soul to activity in the Gospel. The keeping of the first commandment leads to second. Love for Christ activates love for souls. There can be no true outreach without that love and when it dies, activity in the Gospel dies with it. In a day when iniquity abounds, the love of many grows cold. Real love is a factor presently missing in the world.
POINT #4: Instead of forcing people into a decision for Christ … love them into it! It is very hard to resist the kind of love described in the second commandment.
“I still believe that what is needed for successful evangelism is, not so much a great quantity of truth as an intense love for souls.” CHM
THE GREAT CHALLENGE
“… the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the Gospel is preached.” Luke 7:22. “For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty , not many noble, are called.” 1 Corinthians. 1:26. “And everyone that was in distress, and everyone that was in debt, and everyone that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them.” 1 Samuel 22:2.
In general, the gospel message will be rejected by the affluent. The poor carry with them all sorts of social disorders … yet, it is to these the Gospel is preached. David took these ‘rejects’ from society and trained them into a mighty army. The Lord came to the hopeless and healed them. He fed the multitudes, healed the sick and gave hope to many as He taught them the Gospel of the kingdom.
POINT #5: Today’s society is filled with emotional and spiritual cripples. Jesus sought to relieve the suffering first … and taught them the truth next. We have the answer to a world that is filled with trouble.
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
“… and have taught you publicly and from house to house.” Acts 20:20.
One of the great opportunities is in our own sphere of influence. Bibles studies at work, school, or in the neighborhood are an effective means of teaching the truth. Oftentimes, we think of the apostle Paul as a great public orator, which he was not. Most of his converts came to Christ through his own personal testimony. Most of us feel incapable of getting involved. Often, we have forgotten the great heritage of truth that is ours as well as the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Perhaps we need to hear the words of the Lord Jesus to Simon:
“Launch out into the deep, and let your nets down for a drought… And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes; and their net brake.” Luke 5:4, 6.
POINT #6: We need to start praying for the people around us. Reach out to those who are in need. Counsel them according to the Word. Suggest a Bible Study.
THE GREAT FAILURE
“… God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Tim. 2:4.
Although the words, “the truth” has been widely misused, it still is our privilege to bring those who are saved into that blessed sphere. We do have part of the truth that is not widely known in the church at large. When an assembly of believers holds truth in pride or sectarianism, it will turn others away. When truth is held in humility and love for souls, it will draw others to Christ. If we profess to have assembly truth and the Lord as our Center, we should be turned-on Christians and be drawing others to Christ.
POINT #7: Because of the spiritual apathy that is often prevalent, we are reluctant to invite our friends to the meetings. When we are in a proper state, we should want to invite them. In the meantime, let us use every opportunity to share the truth with them.
The Lord gave the Word, many were the company of those who proclaimed it. Psalm 68:11. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 1 Cor. 3:7. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:6.