That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God

As a nine year old boy, the first verse I ever memorized was John 3:16. I was in church as a result of three ladies coming to our house and inviting our family of eight children, mom and dad to Sunday School. My father said no, but week after week every Saturday they came back until one day finally my father said yes! It was at Sunday School I was taught, loved and as a result at an altar call I gave my life to Jesus Christ. I was caught, brought, taught, discipled and sent.

John 3:16. Say it with me please?
¹⁶   For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Since that time I have memorized many passages of scripture.

Usually, when we think of missions we think of the Great Commission. But missions didn’t begin with the Great Commission. Missions began with God. It first beat in His heart before it was ever breathed as the life sustaining force into His church.

Our God is Missions Minded. If He were not, there would be no Christian mission.

The Gospel He has given us is a Missions Message. If it could not save every sinner, there would be no reason to take it to every nation. The Great Commission is a Missions Mandate. It identifies the local church as the center for world evangelism.

As a retired missionary I have thought a lot about the following verses.

The Great Commission is found in Matthew 28: 18-20...

Matt 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.""

Mark 16:¹⁵And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Act 1:8: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

God’s great purpose is to make Himself known. This is the great emphasis of the Bible. God’s program of missions centers upon Himself. God receives glory when we join Him in making great His name. The making the name of the Lord famous in all the earth is our task, calling.

What is the Chief end of Man?

Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

What is the Chief end of God?

To receive Glory- and when God receives glory He gives more glory.

Anyone healed, saved, delivered, life changed, or been touched by the hand of God?

Each of the things I just mentioned are issues of God’s Glory touching you! Did you give Him glory, did you make His name famous by giving glory to God?

"SO WILL I MAKE MY HOLY NAME KNOWN in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel." (Ezekiel 39:7)

God’s great purpose is to make Himself known. This is the great emphasis of the Bible. God’s program of missions centers upon Himself. God’s great concern is to glorify Himself and to make Himself known to all men, all kingdoms:

HEZEKIAH threatened by Sennacharib—"Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only" (2 Kings 19:19).

From history let us illustrate God’s great objective to make Himself known. Pharaoh once made the great mistake of saying, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice...I know not the LORD" (Exodus 5:2). God made Himself known to this wicked Pharaoh of Egypt:

"And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God" (Exodus 8:10).

"And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth" (Exodus 8:22).

"For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth" (Exodus 9:14).

"And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the Lord’s" (Exodus 9:29).

God made Himself known not only to Pharaoh but to all the Egyptians:

"And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them" (Exodus 7:5).

"And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD" (Exodus 14:4).

"And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen" (Exodus 14:18).

The Exodus was also the time when God made Himself known to His own people in a very special way:

"And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians" (Exodus 6:7).

"And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD" (Exodus 10:2).

"Unto thee it was showed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him" (Deut. 4:35).

The people of Israel: God made Himself known even to His unbelieving, murmuring people in the wilderness: "I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God" (Exodus 16:12).

"And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot. Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I am the LORD your God" (Deut.29:5-6).

God even made Himself known to a non-Israelite, Jethro, the priest of Midian, the father-in-law of Moses: "Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them" (Exodus 18:11).

In the wilderness God dwelt in the midst of His people, thus making Himself known in a special way: "And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God" (Exodus 29:46).

To all the World: Joshua understood that God’s purpose was to make Himself known to His people and to all the world: "And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites" (Josh. 3:10).

"That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever" (Josh. 4:24).

David, in his battle with Goliath, knew what the real issue was all about. David had a glimpse of what God’s overriding purpose and objective was: "This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel" (1 Samuel 17:46).

Solomon, at the time of the dedication of the temple, understood God’s purpose and objective, and that this purpose extended far beyond Israel:

"Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name....That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else" (1 Kings 8:43; 8:60).

"Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name" (2 Chronicles 6:33).

Elijah, in his contest with the prophets of Baal, wanted God to make Himself known: "And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again" (1 Kings 18:36-37).

The Gentile (Syrian) general Naaman came to know of the God of Israel: "And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant" (2 Kings 5:15).

For God So Loved

For God So Loved…Mark 16:15

Usually, when we think of missions we think of the Great Commission. But missions didn’t begin with the Great Commission. Missions began with God. It first beat in His heart before it was ever breathed as the life sustaining force into His church.

Our God is Missions Minded. If He were not, there would be no Christian mission.

The Gospel He has given us is a Missions Message. If it could not save every sinner, there would be no reason to take it to every nation.

And the Great Commission is a Missions Mandate. It identifies the local church as the center for world evangelism.
A strong Missions program rests on these three foundations:

I. A Compassionate God
A. The Description of God’s Love – John 3:16 [quote it with me]
1. It is Extravagant - “God so loved”
a. It is a love so infinite that it is everlasting.
Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
b. It is a love so incomprehensible that it passes knowledge.
Eph. 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
c. It is a love so indiscriminate that it would be given to the least worthy, sinners.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
2. It is Exhaustive - “the world”
a. God is not willing that any should perish. 2 Peter 3:9
b. He would have all men to be saved. 1 Timothy 2:4
3. It is Expressive – “that He gave”

B. The Demonstration of God’s Love
1. He promised a Savior to deal with the problem of sin.
God said to Satan in Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
a. This verse is often called the “protevangelium,” meaning the first pronouncement of the Gospel.
b. This promise was repeated and amplified throughout the Old Testament. It rested upon the unconditional, sovereign “I will” of God.
c. All the acts of God in the Old Testament were performed with the fulfillment of this promise in mind.

2. He provided a Savior to deal with the problem of sin.
a. When the plan of God was complete, God sent forth His Son to be mankind’s redeemer.
Galatians 4:4-5
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, [5] To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
b. According to the eternal purpose of God, Christ “died for our sins … was buried … and rose again the third day.” 1 Cor. 15:3-4
c. To the everlasting praise of God, salvation is now offered on the sole condition of faith in the finished work of Christ upon Calvary.

II. A Compelling Message
In Romans 1:14-16, Paul declares that he is indebted to God to give the world the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Having heard the greatest message in the world, He was compelled to share it with whomever he could. So great was this sense of obligation that Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:16, “Yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel!”
A. It is a distinct message.
1. Every major religion relies upon performance for salvation.
a. Hinduism ...preaches a fourfold path to salvation.
b. Buddhism leads its followers down an eightfold path to salvation.
c. The salvation offered by Islam rests upon Five Pillars.
d. In Catholicism, salvation is gained through fulfilling five sacraments.

2. The Gospel centers upon a Person for salvation.
a. Jesus announced, “I am the Way …no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” John 14:6
b. Peter declared, “There is none other name…whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
c. Paul said, “Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.” Acts 13:38

The Gospel finds its source, content, and meaning in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Apart from Him, there is no salvation. Other messages tell men what they must DO to be saved; the Gospel tells men what has been DONE to save them.

B. It is a dynamic message. Romans 1:16-17
1. The Gospel is a particular message.
a. There are many messages in the Bible, but only one of them qualifies as THE Gospel.
b. The facts of the Gospel are:

• Christ died for our sins
• He was buried
• He rose again on the third day, having completed by himself all that was necessary to redeem mankind.

2. The Gospel is a powerful message.
a. The Gospel is the ONE MESSAGE that has the power to save a man from the penalty of his sins.
b. The power of the Gospel is subject to the following limitations:

• It cannot save until it first has been believed

• It cannot be believed until it is first heard

• It cannot be heard until it is first preached

III. A Commissioned People – Mark 16:15
A. Every member involved
1. Missions is imperative. “Go”
a. Multitudes are born and die whether or not anyone is prepared to reach them
b. If we do not evangelize our generation, this generation will not be evangelized at all.

Missio Dei

Missio Dei is a Latin Christian theological term that can be translated as the "mission of the God," or the "sending of God." "We should come to see that mission is not merely an activity of the church. Rather, mission is the result of God’s initiative, rooted in God’s purposes to restore and heal creation. ‘Mission’ means ‘sending,’ and it is the central biblical theme describing the purpose of God’s action in human history.... We have begun to learn that the biblical message is more radical, more inclusive, more transforming than we have allowed it to be. In particular, we have begun to see that the church of Jesus Christ is not the purpose or goal of the gospel, but rather its instrument and witness.... God’s mission is calling and sending us, the church of Jesus Christ, to be a missionary church in our own societies, in the cultures in which we find ourselves.”

Evangelism from the Heart

EVANGELISM FROM THE HEART, # 1

Source: WE CANNOT BUT TELL: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO HEART TO HEART EVANGELISM, by Ross Tooley, YWAM, 1990.  (These are condensed notes for teaching purposes.)

I.  PREPARING OUR HEARTS.     WHY PERSONAL EVANGELISM?

1.         Evangelism is the will of God.  Mark 16:15.

Ex.  A doctor in a train accident without his instruments watching people bleed, saying "If only I had my instruments, I could save these people."  God must say the same thing at times, as He looks on a hurting, lost world, and He needs His instruments, His Church, to minister to them.

2.         We must go where the people are.

We need both professional evangelists & personal everyday evangelism.

3.         We must show interest and concern for people. 

Ex.  John 4.  Jesus and the Samaritan woman.

4.         We must satisfy people's questions. 

2 Cor. 10:5, "We demolish arguments", this is spiritual warfare & ministering & correcting errors. 

5.         Not everyone can attend meetings; so personal evang. is needed.

6.         Not everyone can watch or hear Christian TV or radio broadcasts. 

Most unsaved never watch Christian TV; 1985 USA survey found only 6.2 % of Americans watched Christian TV.  Most developing countries have limited TV.

7.         Not everyone can read Christian literature. 

Many people don't read much, and many people are illiterate.

8.         If we are to reach the world, everyone must be involved.

World population was growing by 54,794 every day in 1970; more now.  If each Christian were to win & train 1 other each year, in 5 years the world would be won to Christ =  200 million, 400 m, 800 m, etc. According to estimates, more than 7 billion people live on our planet. Each day, some 200,000 new babies add to this figure, which works out to roughly 140 additional people per minute. Over an entire year, about 80 million humans are born—a number comparable to the combined populations of California, Texas and New York. Not every region of the world is witnessing this staggering rate of growth, however. In developed areas like Western Europe and Japan, the population has essentially stabilized, while in less developed countries fertility tends to be much higher. Even with this variation, experts predict that more than 9 billion people will jostle for space on Earth by 2050.

9.         Personal evangelism is a vital necessity to a well-balanced Christian life.

Evangelism will cause us personally to mature and grow in the Lord.

10.       There needs to be a restoration of emphasis on personal evangelism.

In contrast to other areas like Bible study, church and personal renewal, inner healing, etc., personal evangelism has been largely neglected among many Christians, and it needs to be restored.

HOW TO CONVEY OUR MESSAGE:

1.  We should witness for Christ with enthusiasm.

A Christian witness should be joyful & enthused, yet honest.  If we are sourpusses, nobody will want what we have; they have enough trouble.

2.         We must use simple terms when we witness.

Use biblical non-intellectual simple terms, and also use relevant non-religious simply understandable terms.  Don't use "born again, saved", etc.

3.         We must be friendly.

We must show and represent God's love and friendliness, not anger.  Preach Good News, not bad news.  Don't be condemning, legalistic and negative.  "Whatever you do, always leave the unsaved in such a way that they will readily welcome another Christian into their life"

4.         We should be good listeners.

Don't be impatient, waiting only to speak, but compassionately listen.

5.         We should witness with boldness.

Don't be ashamed and fearful, but bold and confident in the Lord.   Be filled with the Holy Spirit, Acts 1:8; Eph. 5:18.

THE NECESSITY OF PRAYER:

Prayer is crucially important in evangelism.  There is a direct relationship between prayer and effective evangelism.  Moses & Jesus prayed often, sometimes praying and fasting 40 days & nights.  Prayer is a necessary  prerequisite to revival; ex. the Welsh revival in 1904 with Evan Roberts.  Brokenness over sin and deep repentance is crucial to revival and evangelism.

GIVING A TESTIMONY:

Our personal testimony can be a powerful, effective evangelism tool.

1.         Let's witness to Christ.  We should witness to and glorify Christ, not our past, the devil, etc.

2.         Let's be relevant.  We should avoid irrelevant details or getting off the main subject.

3.         Let's be specific.  Tell specifically how and what Jesus has changed in you and your life.

4.         Let's make our testimonies up-to-date.  We must maintain a daily close relationship and relate

what Jesus is doing in our lives today.

5.         Let's be truthful.  The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth (John 16:13).  Be truthful.

6.         People love hearing honest stories about us.  People love humble human interest stories; they can then more easily identify with us.

Write out your testimony and practice giving it.  

EVANGELISM FROM THE HEART, # 2

HOW TO OPEN THE CONVERSATION:

We can use either the direct approach (Paul at Mars Hill in Athens, Acts 17), or an indirect approach (Jesus with Samaritan woman, John 4).

Believe in your commission from God, the rightness of sharing Jesus.  Be friendly, positive and complimentary; identify with your listener.

Introduce yourself and your organization and state your purpose.  Use wisdom; in some cultures avoid mentioning the church & Jesus at first.  Find out where they are, then build up from there (use the Engel's scale).

If they don't want to listen, respect their wishes and free will.  Leave good tracts if possible, and always be friendly.  Remember, it is always better to leave the path open for the next Christian to witness than for us to leave them with a bad taste in their mouths.

II.  PRESENTING THE MESSAGE

A PATTERN TO FOLLOW:

With Jews, Paul started with the OT scriptures & teachings familiar to Jews regarding Jehovah God, the law, Israel, the Messiah, and then progressed to new concepts regarding Jesus as the promised Messiah.

With Gentiles, Paul had a different approach.  Acts 14, at Lystra, Paul began with what they were familiar with, God as the Creator, and preached about the character and goodness of God to explain Him rightly  (He gave rain, good crops, food, etc).  Paul build on concepts they already held; he found common ground with them and built on that, teaching the truth of God's Word.  This is esp. good with animists.  Paul used a similar method at Mars Hill in Athens, Acts 17.  Paul first established the existence and goodness of the Creator God.  He then brought his hearers into accountability to God by announcing all people now had to repent.  He then introduced Christ as the only way to salvation.

There is a logical and correct time to introduce new concepts, even the concept that Jesus is the Son of God.  First the correct concept of God and His character needs to be established, then the sinfulness of man and his inability to save himself, then Jesus as the Son of God and Savior, etc.  This is esp. true with Moslems, who don't have a true picture of God's character and love.

PROVING GOD'S EXISTENCE:

How do you witness to atheists, "free thinkers", & Buddhists who don't believe in the concept of God?

1.         The proof of creation.

We can point to the magnificent creation, the universe and stars, our marvelous bodies, etc. to proof the existence of a Creator God, Rom. 1:20.  Ex: A watch or TV set cannot create or manufacture itself.

2.         The conscience.

Our sense of right and wrong, fairness, justice, and moral law all argue for the existence of God.  Romans 2:15; 1 Tim. 4:2; Heb. 9:14.

3.         Personal testimony.

Our personal testimony of God's forgiveness, salvation, peace, changed life, His miracle working power and healing, His protection, provision, etc can be a powerful argument and witness to God's and Jesus' reality, love and salvation.  It makes Jesus alive today, the Gospel according to you!

THE CHARACTER OF GOD:

While many believe in a God, often their concept of God is very erroneous.  Often they see Him as a harsh and unyielding despot, not a loving forgiving Father.  Even Christians often see God wrongly, seeing Him as legalistic, etc.  Jesus reveals the love and character of God; His acceptance and unconditional love for Zacchaeus, Luke 19; Jesus & Peter.

MAN AND HIS SIN:

1.  Sin is a choice.

God created man as a free moral agent with free choice able to obey  or disobey Him.  We must show that all people are accountable to God for their actions. 

2.         Sin is being independent of God.

Independence of God and man's self reliance and self-dependence is the essence of sin, Gen. 3. 

Man wants to "be God", "be his own boss".

3.         Sin is an attitude--not just an action.

Sin is not just outward adultery and murder, but also inward lust, hate, selfishness, pride, etc.  There are sins of both commission and omission.

4.         Our sin affects others.

Our sins don't just affect ourselves, but they also affect others.  Much of the suffering of the innocent is due to others' sins.

5.         The knowledge that sin is wrong is universal.

We will all be held accountable and guilty before God in judgment for our sins (Rom. 3:19).  We must have a soft heart, yet show the extreme seriousness of sin.

A QUESTION TO BE ASKED:

Many times we spoil our testifying because we offer the remedy without first giving any understanding of man's terrible malady.  We need to bring our listeners to the point where they truly realize that they are sinners and in need of God's forgiveness and salvation. 

In a kind way, we must face our friends with their accountability by asking the question: "How can someone approach a holy and good God and live in harmony with Him when they have sinned deliberately against Him?"  At this point, pause in the conversation.  Let the Spirit of God speak, and let them think.  

                                                                                      

EVANGELISM FROM THE HEART, # 3

JESUS CHRIST AND THE ATONEMENT:

After your listener fully realizes they are a sinner in need of salvation, point him or her to Jesus as the only One who can save them (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

The shedding of blood and sacrifice was legally necessary to atone for man's sins.  God chose crucifixion to break man's heart over his sin and show the seriousness of his sin. 

Through the cross, God is just in that He rightfully discourages sin, but at the same time He extends the opportunity for mercy and forgiveness.

REPENTANCE:

Jesus' death on the cross doesn't automatically save and forgive everyone, whether they believe or not.

A true story: A man in the USA was condemned to death for a violent crime.  His friend was able to obtain a pardon from the governor.  For some strange reason, the condemned man refused the pardon.  A special court was called to decide the case.  The decision was "The pardon was valid only if the condemned man would receive it.  Because he has rejected it, the pardon cannot take effect."  The man was executed.  Nobody was sadder than the friend who had tried so hard to save him.

Analogy: Although Jesus died for all people's sins, they cannot receive God's forgiveness and pardon unless they personally receive this forgiveness through repentance and faith in Jesus.  If they refuse, God is heartbroken, and they will not be saved.

We often have a tendency to rush in and pray the sinner's prayer with someone before he or she is ready.  Just as danger can be caused to a baby through a premature delivery, so too can damage occur in the life of an individual who is led in a sinner's prayer before the proper time.

REPENTANCE IS MORE THAN CONFESSION.  It is being truly sorry for and forsaking sin.

1.         We are required to turn from sin.  Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5; I Cor. 6:9-10.

2.         We are required to turn from the world.  1 John 2:15; James 4:4.

3.         We are required to turn from ourselves.  2 Cor. 5:15; Luke 14:26.

4.         We are required to turn from the devil.  Luke 4:1-13; James 4:7.

5.         We are required to turn from idols.  1 Thess. 1:9-10; Rev. 21:8.

6.         We are required to turn from our careers if necessary. Mark 1:17.  Ex: Moses, Paul.

7.         We are required to make restitution where necessary.  Luke 19:8.  Ex: Zacchaeus.

OTHER THINGS WE MUST DO:

1.         Believe that Jesus is the only way.  John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:5.

2.         Make Jesus Lord.  Matt. 7:21; Luke 6:46; James 2:14-24.

3.         Witness for Christ.  Matt. 10:32-33; Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18.

Only when a person is truly ready, pray the sinner's prayer with him.  If a person is not ready, ask to pray for him that God will reveal His love to him, etc.  Do not "pick green fruit."

COUNTING THE COST:

Note Jesus' terms of discipleship, Luke 14:25-35.  People need to consider the price of discipleship, and take sufficient time before making a decision (author's view).

To carry our cross means death to our personal pride and ambition.

We must be honest and not preach a rosy "pie in the sky" gospel, but share the truth that hardships and persecution will accompany our following Jesus at times, and that sometimes we may suffer persecution because we are Christians.

                                                         III.  PRESERVING THE RESULTS

FOLLOW-UP:

There are two basic kinds of follow-up:  (1)  to those interested in Jesus;  (2)  to new converts.

New convert follow-up is crucially important to new convert growth.  It can be thrilling work.

John Wesley had much more lasting fruit than George Whitefield because Wesley really cared for and organized his converts.  Good follow up assures "fruit that remains".  1 Thess. 2:19;  2 Tim. 2:2.  Paul is a good example:

1.         Paul revisited and followed up his converts when he could.  Ex: His missionary journeys.

2.         Paul labored in prayer for his converts.  Gal. 4:19; Eph. 1:15.

3.         Paul wrote letters to teach and encourage his converts.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR NEW CONVERTS:  1 Peter 2:2

1.         The necessity of prayer.

2.         The importance of Bible reading and study.

3.         The importance of living a holy life.

4.         The necessity of fellowshipping with other Christians.

5.         The importance of witnessing to others.