Articles
What Is Evangelism? / PURITY / The Christian's Riches
What Is Evangelism?
(by David Maxson)
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (Isaiah 61:1).
What is evangelism? Evangelism is an act of compassion. It is the greatest act of mercy one human being can show to another. Evangelism is loving those that are hurting, those that are broken, those that are forgotten, those that are poor.
Evangelism can become an act of pride. It can be a club to beat down those who already know they are worthless. It can become a way of boosting our own ego by making followers of ourselves. And when used in this way we make our "disciples" twice as much sons of hell as ourselves (Matthew 23:15). True evangelism is not about building our ego, our churches, or any other selfish agenda. True evangelism is about Jesus, not about ourselves.
See, when the message of the cross gets inside of you, there is no more room for self. It's all about Him. He is everything to you. He is your life and your reason for living. He is your highest thought. He is your Savior and your King. He is your best friend.
There is no pride in telling others about Jesus. You glory only in the privilege of being able to tell of how He set you free. You don't see the homosexual, the adulterer, the crack addict, the dead-beat dad, the murderer, the drug dealer as being somehow inferior to yourself. They are painful reminders of what you used to be.
They are harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. They are living aimless lives without hope, without purpose, without God. They are weary. They are hungry. And they don't know where to turn. What is evangelism? It's one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.
Father, make Your love, Your grace so real to us this day that the words just flow off our lips to desperate souls all around us. "Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief!"
PURITY
(by Jamey Hinds)
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).
By direction of the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul wrote, “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work” (Titus 1:15–16). This was true in the first century, and it remains true in the twenty-first century.
People who strive for purity—in mind and body—are generally seen as fanatical: we resent the indictment purity brings. Yet, the word of God insists upon our purity in mind and body: “… let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).
Peter wrote, “As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:14–16). The transformation God seeks from us comes from within (Romans 12:1–2).
We live in a time that is like all other times before us—mankind hasn’t changed (e.g., Judges 21:25; Psalm 12:4; Proverbs 14:12). And what God seeks from each one of us is purity in mind and body (1 Corinthians 6:18–20). This is a great task, but it is necessary for us to pursue with diligence to please our Savior. It begins with thinking as God thinks (Isaiah 55:6-9).
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). See also 2 Timothy 3:15–17.
The Christian’s Riches
(Selected)
In Christ we have:
A love that can never be fathomed.
A life that can never die.
A peace that can never be understood.
A rest that can never be disturbed.
A joy that can never be diminished.
A hope that can never be disappointed.
A glory that can never be clouded.
A happiness that can never be interrupted.
A light that can never be extinguished.
A strength that can never be overcome.
A beauty that can never be marred.
A purity that can never be defiled.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ: even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before Him in love” (Ephesians 1:3-4).
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