OceanSide church of Christ

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EVANGELISM:  THE FAITH TO GET THE JOB DONE

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.          The Great Commission still trumpets its mission to the disciples of Christ (Matt. 28:19-20).

 

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have command-ed you:  and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

 

1.            Go – teach – baptize… Go – teach – baptize

2.            Every creature needs to hear the message (Mark 16:15)

3.            Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations (Luke 24:47)

 

B.           To carry out the mission, faith is needed by the disciples.  We must possess faith that will get the job done.

1.            What do we mean by “faith”?

a.         Firm confidence, reliance, a deep persuasion

b.         No doubt, no wavering

c.         Trust conjoined with obedience

d.         Hearing the Word of God and

                                                1)         Believing the facts

                                                2)         Trusting the promises

                                                3)         Obeying the commands

                        2.         Faith is something we should already possess.

                                    a.         We are to walk by faith (II Cor. 5:7).

                                    b.         We are to have on the breastplate of faith (Eph. 6:16; I Thess. 5:8).

                                    c.         One of the fruits of the Spirit is faith (Gal. 5:22).

 

C.          Tonight, we want to stir your faith, light your faith, energize your faith.  We want your faith to move you to seek and to save what which is lost.

 

I.        WE MUST HAVE FAITH IN GOD’S PROMISES

 

A.          Definition of promise:  an express assurance on which expectation is to be based

 

B.           God makes many promises to those involved in evangelism.

1.            He will be with us (Heb. 13:5a)

 

…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

a.            This is important when we face opposition.

b.           This is important when our fellowlaborers desert us.

 

2.            Christ is the only means of salvation (Acts 4:12).

 

Neither is there salvation in any other:  for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 

3.            Success will be had by the laborer (Ps. 126:5-6).

 

They that sow in tears will reap in joy.  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again, bringing his sheaves with him.

 

II.      WE MUST HAVE FAITH IN PRAYER

 

A.          Prior to going out into the world, we need to go into our closets and pray for the lost (Rom. 10:1).

 

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.

 

B.           As we pray, we must pray “in faith.”

1,         Matthew 21:22

 

And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

 

2.         James 1:6-8

 

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.  For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven of the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

 

C.          What can we pray for?

1.            An open door

2.            A good and honest heart

3.            A time for study

 

III.     WE MUST HAVE FAITH IN THE BLOOD OF CHRIST

 

A.          The Bible says that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins (Heb. 9:22).

 

B.           Jesus shed His blood so that man can be forgiven.

1.            Matthew 26:28

 

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

 

2.            Ephesians 1:7

 

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

 

C.          We must tell men about Jesus’ blood.  To some this is repugnant.  We must have faith to speak to them anyway (I Cor. 1:18).

 

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

 

D.          Remember also that faith in the blood of Christ and baptism are inseparably linked.

1.            Jesus shed His blood in His death.

2.            In baptism, we come into contact with the death and blood of Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:3).

 

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

 

3.            Thus, when we preach Christ, baptism will definitely follow.

a.            The Samaritans (Acts 8:5, 12)

b.           The Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:35-38)

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   As soul-winners, we must have faith in at least three things:

1.     Faith in God’s promises

2.    Faith in prayer

3.     Faith in the blood of Christ

 

B.   This faith will keep us going when the going gets tough.  It will not give up until we have accomplished the mission that God desires of us.