Evangelism – ‘Connections’ Day 6 "Let us rejoice in the wonderful harvest of our God!"
Evangelism, JESUS Centered, resources for the Christian Church. Audio Bible from the Scriptures to get ideas. Witnessing skills for church builders, including youth and evangelism.
As John the Baptist said (quoting Isaiah 40): “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”
‘Connections’, a 7-day mini-seminar “Daily Evangelism”
Day 6: “Let us rejoice in the wonderful harvest of our God!”
If God is in what you are doing, a harvest will follow. What that harvest will be varies from ministry to ministry. If we have the right attitude and skills, many people can’t help but be moved by what we do and who we are. As we savor God’s love and its impact on our lives, others can’t help but notice. As we touch the lives of others, those lives cannot help but also be touched by the experience of who God is and what Jesus means to us.
Remember, bringing people to Christ is the work of God. The Holy Spirit changes hearts. We can’t do that, no matter how passionate we feel. That doesn’t stop us from really upsetting God (remember the ‘unjust judge’ Luke 18:1-8) just like the persistent widow. I know this passage is about justice, but so is mine. I constantly tell God that my non-Christian friends ‘just’ need to be in his Kingdom.
Let me quote a story from a wonderful book that I have. It’s called “Thirteen Men Who Changed the World” by Reverend HS Vigeveno. It has a wonderful chapter on Andrew, the evangelist apostle. At the end of the chapter, the author cites this story.
Dr. Clarence Macartney, a great preacher of the last generation, illustrates a sermon on Andrew with this vision: “I saw the King sitting on his throne. On both sides of the throne I saw the great angels: Uriel, Raphael, Michael, Gabriel. Before the throne was another angel: the angel of the Book. And next to him was one of the mortals. ‘Who is this you have brought, and what are his claims?’ asked the King. ‘O King, this man was a great inventor, and he illuminated the path of man throughout the world.’ ‘Then,’ said the King, ‘send him up and let him be here with Uriel, the angel of light.’ So he went up.
‘And the angel brought another man before the throne. ‘Who is this and what are his claims? This man was a great philosopher, who thought Your thoughts after you…’ And the King looked at him and said: ‘Send him and let him be here beside Raphael, the angel of Reason.’ So he went up and stood next to Rafael.
The angel brought a third mortal before the throne. Who is this and what are his claims? This was a great patriot. With his sword he delivered his people from the hands of tyrants.’ ‘Send him and let him be at the side of Michael, the angel of the sword.’ So he went upstairs and stood next to Michael.
And a fourth mortal appeared before the throne. ‘Who is this and what are his claims?’ This man bleeds holy songs in praise of God; songs that still resound in the Church of the Living God.’ And the King said: ‘Send him up and let him stand and sing here beside Gabriel, the angel of sacred song.’
Then the angel brought another before the throne. I wondered who he was and why they had brought him. In his person there was no note of greatness. There is no spark of genius in his eyes. The King said: ‘Who is this and what are his claims?’ Then the angel looked into the book, and raising his head said: ‘This man won a soul for Christ.’ And I never heard what the King said on his throne, because all heaven resounded with a great cry, angels and the archangel, cherubim and seraphim, and the whole host of the redeemed, rejoicing over the soul that had been redeemed. ‘
‘He who wins souls is wise’ (Proverbs 11:30). That’s the only way to change the world: friendly Andrews, men and women of one talent.”
May God bless you in all your endeavors.
My shared thoughts so far:
Thank God now for the people you (through God’s grace) have brought to Christ. Thank God also for others with whom you have shared. Pray for all of them at least twice this week.