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Offices
of the Holy Spirit 4
The Evangelist
by Pastor John Hamel
“And he gave some,
apostles; and some, prophets; and some, EVANGELISTS; and some, pastors and
teachers;” (Ephesians 4:11)
We will now briefly
study the office of the Evangelist. The greatest Gift God has given
to the lost people of the world is the New Birth. (John 3:16,17) He
normally gives it to them through the office of the Evangelist. Lay
people can and should tell others about Jesus. However, the Evangelist
is used mightily of God to lead people to Christ en masse.
The Greek word for
Evangelist is “euaggelistes.”
It means, “One who brings the Good News. A bringer of good tidings.”
Evangelists do not
have a message for the Born Again Church. Teachers
have a message for the Born Again Church. Evangelists
proclaim redemption to the lost people of the world. Teachers explain
the benefits of redemption to the saved people within the Church.
Philip is the
consummate New Testament Evangelist. In Acts chapter twenty-one and
verse 8, he is called an Evangelist. You can read that in your own
time later. Right now we’ll look at Philip in Evangelistic
action.
“Then Philip went
down to the city of Samaria, and preached
Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those
things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the
miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them:
and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.” (Acts 8:5-7)
Notice that Philip
“went down” (verse 5) to Samaria. Evangelists
travel a lot. This is because you can only reap souls in one place
for so long. Once the majority of the lost people in an area accept
Christ, the Evangelist must move on to another area.
Notice also that
Philip “preached Christ.” (verse 5) This is what all Evangelists are
to do. They preach simple messages about Christ the Savior, Deliverer, Healer and soon
coming King. They never change their
message. They stick with the virgin birth, sinless life, miracle Ministry,
vicarious death, burial, resurrection, ascension and return of Jesus.
This is the heart and soul of the Evangelist’s Ministry. He or she
will preach Christ non-stop and expect souls to be saved.
Miracles, signs, wonders, deliverances and healings occur
in the Evangelist’s Ministry. (Verses 6, 13) Philip operated in the Gift of Faith, the Working of Miracles and Gifts of Healings. There is no
better way to draw attention to Jesus than through healings and
miracles. This is why healings and miracles are called “The dinner
bell to Salvation.”
One of the world’s most recognized and beloved “Evangelists” is not
an Evangelist at all. He does not have the signs and wonders that go
with the Evangelist’s office. Miracles must accompany this
office. The blessed Brother and Mentor I refer to is an Exhorter and a powerful one at that.
(Romans 12:8) He has led multiple millions to Jesus in the past 60
years, but leading souls to Jesus is not the only qualification of an
Evangelist’s office.
Miracles and
healings must occur to be a New Testament Evangelist after the order of
Philip. Philip started out as a Deacon and was promoted to the
consummate Evangelist through faithfulness. (Psalm 75:6,7)
The New Testament
Evangelist is humble and dependent upon the other Ministry offices.
Above all the other offices, the Evangelist needs to recognize the
difference between boldness and arrogance. Standing also in the
office of the Evangelist, I am qualified to say this. Miracles and
healings following the Evangelist tend to cause people to “worship” them in
place of Jesus.
Evangelists are
wrong to receive the praise of man. All praise belongs to
Jesus. Miracles and healings do not confirm the Evangelist.
Miracles and healings confirm God’s Word properly preached and
believed!
There is nothing
more sickening, if I may, than an Evangelist who is supposed to be operating in
humility and mercy operating in braggadocio.
“It is not good to
eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.”
(Proverbs 25:27)
Here Solomon reminds
us that eating too much honey has a sickening effect on the human body. In
the same thought he reminds us that human pride is equally as sickening to
all who are in it's presence. Obnoxious,
self-gratifying behavior and greed could ultimately cost any Minister their
anointing, call and even their life. (Proverbs 13:3; 16:18) Evangelists
in particular, because of their miraculous Ministries, need to beware.
“For though I
preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon
me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16)
Evangelists must
always remain sensitive when preaching for Pastors or other Ministry
leaders. They must always remember that they are guests wherever they
are and that they must behave with dignity. I once had an Evangelist
hold services for me over a one-week period. I was shocked by his
lack of dignity and respect for my position as the Pastor. For the entire
week my wife and I tolerated bragging, pride and insensitivity to the needs
of others.
When this man and
his family left my home, it looked like a pigpen. Not once did they
make any effort to clean up after themselves. It was a week of signs
and wonders indeed. Signs of a slob which left us wondering if this
man was even going to make it in Ministry. One thing was for sure, we
would not invite him back.
My wife and I have spent
over twenty-five years pastoring churches, experiencing
firsthand what Pastors suffer and endure for the sake of their sheep.
We have nothing but respect and admiration for the Pastor of even the smallest
Church. This should be the heart’s attitude of all Evangelists.
Possibly, the best way for an Evangelist to learn how to work with a Pastor
is to become one for two or three years. That will knock the brag out of
anyone!
If you are called as an Evangelist, it will start
off as a smoldering but will ultimately burn
like a fire in your bones. (Jeremiah 20:9) If that's you, start preparing
a sermon inventory now. You're going to be needing it. This website is designed to help you to do
just that. Go to our tuition-free JHM Online Bible
Training Centre. Click on "Soulwinning & Evangelism" at
the Curriculum Guide listing. There you will find enough
evangelistic preaching material to last you until Jesus comes!
Remember,
Jesus was the consummate Evangelist. He never sold out to pride,
pretense, position, prejudice or politics.
The true,
modern day Evangelist
is sold out only to the most important job in the world - preaching
salvation in Christ with excellence.
Start praying for
the lost to be saved through your ministry now. (Matthew 9:35-37)
Doors will then begin to
open for you. (Colossians 4:3)
Be Blessed … John and
Barbara Hamel
How
to Be Born Again (Receive Christ as Your Savior)
How
to Receive The Holy Spirit & Power
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