Sharing Christ in All Places

(Acts 13:1-3; 14:1-7,21-23)

The Need

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid
on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isa. 53:6; see also Rom. 3:9-19)

Over 6 billion people are alive today. Even if 20% are Christians, that still leaves 5 billion that are lost.

Less than 7% of the world’s population profess to be “born-again” Christians.

There are still more than 3 billion people who are yet to hear the gospel for the very first time. More
than 8,800 ethnic groups of the world’s 18,000 people groups of the world do not have access to a
gospel speaking preacher of the gospel.

Dr. D. James Kennedy, founder of Evangelism Explosion, stated that one of the saddest statistics of our
day is that 95% of all church members have said that they never, to their knowledge, led anyone to
Christ. It has been said, “We are content to be keepers of the aquarium, rather than to be fishers of men.”

Lost

'abad {aw-bad'}Heb. perishing, given up for dead

apollumi {ap-ol'-loo-mee} Gk. rendered useless, perishing

God is a tender, patient, loving father (Hos. 11:1 & 3-4) who diligently keeps reaching out to the
lost (Luke 15: 4 & 8; 19:10; Matt. 18:11; Mark 2:17;Ezek. 34:11-12, 16; Job 33:27-28; Isa.
49:15)

We are His treasured possession (Ex. 19:5-5, 1 Pe. 2:9-10)

When we fall, He reaches down to pick us up and hold us (Hos. 11:3-4, Deut. 1:31)

baqash {baw-kash'} Heb. reach out for, seek to hold or touch (see also Rom.
10:21)

He seeks all who are lost (Ezek. 18:23; 33:11;1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pe. 3:9; Isa. 30:17-18)

He finds joy in bringing home the lost (Luke 15:5)

He invites us to rejoice with Him because He has recovered His lost (Luke 15:6 & 9; 23-24, 32)

Some countries have little or no Christian witness.

Christians are being persecuted, killed or driven out of some areas.

Our efforts can help bring others to Christ, and thus to eternal life.

Prophets
 Forthtelling: Speak for God

Sometimes God will confirm His instructions to us through others (Jer. 32:6-8)

Foretelling: Tell the future

Gift of revelation

Teachers

Explain and apply God’s revealed truths

Fasting

A Christian’s voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes.

Every Jew was commanded to fast on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:29-31) and if they neglected it the
punishment was death!

There were four more Jewish fasts instituted in Babylon (Zech. 8:19) and they had 28 voluntary fasts.

Jesus fasted for forty days.

Samuel fasted with Israel for a day (1 Sam. 7:6)

David fasted for seven days for his unborn child (1 Sam. 12:15-20)

Congress proclaimed three national fasts.

Abraham Lincoln called for a national fast on three different occasions.

Prayer in the Bible is often times accompanied by fasting to show our sincerity and our earnest desire
for God to answer our prayer (Ezra 8:23; Neh. 1:4; Dan. 9:3)

Purpose: Focus

Fasting makes us more receptive to the one who guides us

Laying on of hands

Sign of Support

Evangelize

Go an make disciples (Matt. 28:19, Mark 16:15)

The Greek word translated "gospel" is the word euangelion, which is were we get our words evangelist
and evangelism. This word was used to describe "good news" or "glad tidings" when something really
exciting took place The word is used 76 times in the New Testament, and it goes back to the very first
sermon of Jesus himself at Matt. 4:23, where it is written that “ … he went throughout the whole of
Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news of the kingdom …”. This is the same
word the angel of the Lord used to calm the fears of the shepherds at his announcement of Jesus’ birth in
Bethlehem. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of
great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who
is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11).

The Power of the Gospel

There are six Greek words in the New Testament that are translated “power”. The word found in
Romans 1:16 is dunamis; from which we get our word, “dynamite”.

Power to do what?

Power to change (contrast: Jeremiah 13:23)

Power to save (Rom. 1:16)

He that believes will be saved (Mark 16:16, Rom. 10:9-10)

What is the “dynamite” message of the gospel? (Isa. 53:5-6)

In the Gospel we see righteousness from God centered in His Son, who died on
the Cross as the sacrifice for our sins. We must see that Christ is righteousness
and that He imparts His righteousness to us if we believe in and accept His
sacrifice.

homologeo (Gk): thou shall confess (confess, profess, acknowledge, appreciate, agree with)

Confess Him before men and He will confess you before God and the angels (Matt. 10:32, Luke
12:8)

Your words can save or condemn you (Matt. 12:37)

We need to depend upon God’s guidance, protection & provision in doing so (Mark 6:8-9, Matt.
6:31-34, Luke 22:35, Phil. 4:19).

pisteuo (Gk): believe (commit to, trust in)

'whosoever believes will not perish but have everlasting life' (John 3:16, See also John 1:12,
5:24, Acts 8:37, Rom. 10:10)

… heart faith, … is true confidence, and involves an earnest committal of one's self and
interests, to the demands of the truth believed (Charles G. Finney, Evangelist)

sozo (Gk): thou shall be saved (made whole, healed)

euangelion (Gk): great good news

euangelizo (Gk): proclaiming the great good news

The time to reach out to others for Jesus is now! (John 4:35-36)

We have only to give the invitation “Come and see”, based upon our own personal witness.
(John 4:29)
 Note that it is God that does the gathering (Jer. 23:3 & 8; 29:14; 30:18; 31:10; 32:37; 33:7;
Deut. 30:3-6; Ps. 106:47; Isa. 11:11-16; Ezek. 11:17; 34:12-14; 36:24; 37:21-25; 39:29-35; Hos.
1:11; Amos 9:14-15; Zeph. 3:20)

Jesus himself will be the one to change the hearts (John 4:42)

How to share the “Good News”

Be prepared (2 Tim. 4:2)

Be cautious & innocent (Matt. 10:5-16)

Paul's approach:

a) Deep concern for the person themselves (Rom. 10:1)

Concentrate on loving ministry and “soul-winning” will naturally follow

b) Humble reliance on God instead of on self (Rom. 10:1)

c) Deep understanding of position of people (Rom. 10:2)

Be all things to all men (1 Cor. 9:22, Loyola & the Jesuits)

Tell the whole truth

The message of the gospel should not be “sugar-coated”.

Tribulation is a part of the Christian life.

Faith is not about ignoring/denying circumstances, it is about believing God anyway, in spite of
circumstances! (Rom. 8:24)

Encouragement

Should follow evangelism

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and
as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." - Colossians 3:16

"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling
of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you
see the Day approaching." - Hebrews 10:24-25

1. Teach the Word: “taught ones”

2. Mentorship: Wisdom, from knowledge & experience

3. Companionship in ministry/service

4. Love/encouragement/upbuilding
The Greek word for "encourage" may be translated as comfort, console, inquire, beg, plead, counsel,
urge or challenge. It involves the replacing or replenishment of courage that has somehow been lost.

Romans 12:8 indicates that some people have a special gift or Holy Sprint-given ability to encourage.

God directed Moses to encourage Joshua (Deut. 1:37-38)

When Paul & Barnabas prepared to go on their 2nd missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to take John
Mark but Paul refused (Acts 15:36-39). What was the result of Barnabas' encouragement of John Mark?

1. He went on to write the Gospel of Mark.

2. Even Paul later recognized his usefulness (2 Tim. 4:11).

Who needs encouragement?

All those who have experienced some form of failure (i.e. everyone!).

Behind most successful people there is a person or people who encouraged them

Can you think of such a person in your life?

Are you an encourager or a discourager? (Do you build others up or tear others down?)

You may never know what a word of encouragement from you may mean to another person (God does!
So follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit to encourage others!)

Encouraging others costs you nothing but it can prove invaluable to others.

An important part of process of encouraging others is seeing them not for who they are or for what they
have done but for what they are capable of doing by the grace of God.