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THEME: VISION OF THE HARVEST IN THE LATTER TIMES
LESSON: SIX
TOPIC: FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF EARLY DISCIPLES AND APOSTLES IN WITNESSING THE GOSPEL
TEXT: Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 16:18; Matt. 5:13-15; 1 Timothy 2:4-6; John 3:14-21; Habakkuk 2:14;
OBJECTIVES
● To exemplify, through the lives of the Apostles, the believer’s responsibility and necessity to witness the Gospel.
● To showcase the patterns and methods of evangelism through case studies from the lives of the Apostles and early disciples.
INTRODUCTION
● The earth was ravaged and overrun by evil spirits that put men in bondage of oppression and affliction, possessing people, and inflicting them with all manner of sicknesses and diseases, which are all effects of man's fall. (Romans 5:12; Acts 10:38)
● Man lost the true and original meaning of purpose, being led by dumb idols, utterly helpless against the devices and wiles of Satan, the god of this world, who redefined purpose to man. Man lived an accursed life, being separated from the Origin and Sustainer of life, pursuing vanity because of blindness of heart. (1 Corinthians 12:1-3; 2 Corinthians 4:4)
● The adversary’s agenda to drive all mankind into irreversible destruction was pushed back by God’s intervention through the sending of Jesus Christ. Humanity, having lost strength and willing to perish, was shown mercy through God’s provision; Jesus. Through Him, hope, redemption, and reconciliation were made available to mankind. (Romans 5:6; John 3:15-16; Deut 26:5)
● Jesus came just in time to save the perishing world and to redefine purpose and the essence of existence. Hence, every man has a destiny hanging over them to believe, know, and conform to Jesus who only can deliver from decay, corruption, and perishing. These are different levels of the Harvest. (Galatians 4:4; Romans 8:29)
● While on earth, Jesus chose men to be with Him, observe Him closely, walk with Him, and carry on in His footsteps, and eventually send them out to preach. These disciples through the Holy Ghost, embodied His heart to the dying world and became examples in whose footsteps every believer is meant to follow. (Mark 3:14)
EYE WITNESSES OF THE LORD: THE APOSTLES’ BURDEN AND OUTREACH TO THE DYING WORLD
● The Apostles bore witness to the ministry, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ from John’s baptism at Jordan to His ascension into heaven. As firsthand witnesses, they saw the Lord’s compassion and mercy toward sinners and a dying world. (Acts 1:21-22; Acts 10:39-41)
● Through proximity and close fellowship with Him, they understood His heart disposition and stance towards sinners. He neither discriminated against nor condemned anyone but declared that He was sent to call them to repentance. (Mk 2:16-17; Jn 8:10-11; Jn 3:17)
● He was not stationary but went about doing good from village to village and city to city because He wanted to reach people, sharing the Father’s heart for every man. (Acts 10:38; Luke 8:1; Luke 19:10)
● The disciples were sent out to preach, with signs and wonders confirming the message. After His ascension, they continued reaching out to sinners and proclaiming the Gospel to all around them. (Luke 9:1-2; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8)
WITNESSES OF TRUTH: SALVATION TO THE UTTERMOST
● God is the first preacher; preaching is to bring man to the utmost provision of salvation, and He works through the Holy Ghost to rescue men from perishing. Within everyman’s soul is the facility to respond to the gospel. However, the adversary seeks to make men irrecoverable and unable to respond to the gospel. (Gal 3:8; Acts 17:27; Luke 8:12 )
● Every man is in dire need of the gospel irrespective of tribe, tongue, nation, class, or status. It is wrong to assume that some people have outgrown or do not need the gospel. Hence, Our Lord Jesus commanded the disciples to bear the gospel starting from their immediate vicinity, to the neighbouring communities, and eventually unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Romans 3:22-23; Acts 1:8; Luke 24:47) The Apostles began preaching the Gospel in Jerusalem, primarily to the Jews and later to the Gentiles. They proclaimed the message in the temple courts, synagogues, and from house to house. When persecution arose and scattered the believers, they continued preaching wherever they went, sharing the Gospel with everyone they encountered. (Acts 5:42; Acts 8:1-4; Acts 13:46-47; Romans 1:16; )
● The Lord’s desire is for us to be witnesses of the Gospel in our daily lives; within our workplaces and careers, our neighborhoods, our families, to our friends, and even within our local assembly. We are to remain ready to minister to everyone we encounter. (Mark 5:19; Acts 16:31-32; 2 Timothy 4:2)
● The call to bring salvation “to the uttermost” extends beyond geographical reach; it also speaks of the fullness of salvation’s work in a person’s life, where the soul grows into conformity with the Lord until every aspect of one’s being is transformed by Him. (Acts 1:8; Hebrews 7:25)
UNDERSTANDING THE PATTERNS AND MANNERISMS OF EVANGELISM WITH CASE STUDIES
● Mass Evangelism: This is the proclamation of the Gospel to a large number of people at the same time.
● Our Lord Jesus preached to the multitude of people who followed Him. (Luke 8:1)
● The Holy Ghost amplified the voice of the disciples in the upper room to gather a multitude of people together for the preaching of the gospel. Peter, empowered by the Holy Ghost preached to the Jews gathered on the Day of Pentecost and about three thousand souls were added to the Church. ( Acts 2:5-6;Acts 2:14)
● Peter also ministered to the household of Cornelius, where many gathered to hear the message of salvation. (Acts 10)
● Philip ministered to the city of Samaria turning many to the Lord with great joy recorded in the city. There were many who believed and got baptized by the laying on of hands of the Apostles who came to confirm the work. (Acts 8:5-8)
● Paul was stirred to preach to a large audience at Athens who were idol worshippers. (Acts 17:16-34)
● In contemporary times, mass evangelism is carried out through open-air crusades, village outreaches, bus evangelism, radio and television broadcasts, and digital or social media outreach.
● Group/Team/Corporate Evangelism: This is collectively done by two or more people who collaborate together to reach people and preach the gospel.
● Jesus sent out the disciples in pairs (two by two). (Luke 10:1; Mark 6:7)
● Paul and Silas ministered to the jailer and his household together after the miraculous deliverance. (Acts 16:25-34)
● Several friends worked together to bring a man to Jesus by lowering him through a roof. Though not formal evangelism, it illustrates collaborative effort leading someone to Christ. (Mark 2:1-12)
● Priscilla and Aquila, working together, helped teach Apollos more accurately about God’s way. This shows how couples and families should be actively involved in preaching the gospel. (Acts 18:24-26)
● Personal Evangelism: This is sharing of the Gospel with individuals through one-on-one interactions to communicate the message of salvation and lead people to faith in Jesus Christ.
● Jesus ministered personally to people like Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, and Zacchaeus. Whether approached with questions or met in daily life, He was always prepared, discerning hearts and ministering by the Spirit. (John 3, 4; Luke 19:1-8)
● Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman opened the door to an entire city, and after delivering the man possessed with devils, He sent him home to testify to his friends. This shows that our obedience in reaching one person can become a doorway to the salvation of many. (John 4; Mark 5:19)
● Apostle Paul personally evangelized to kings and rulers before whom he was brought for trial, reasoning with them and proving that Jesus is the Christ. (Acts 24:10-25; Acts 25:22-27)
● Philip the evangelist shared the Gospel personally with the Ethiopian eunuch and led him to Christ. This was a supernatural orchestration that was possible because of His sensitivity in the Spirit. His instant obedience to the prompting of the Spirit and the guidance of an Angel. (Acts 8:26-31)
● Personal evangelism ought to be taken seriously through one-on-one conversations with unsaved family members, friends, colleagues, and people encountered in daily life. Whether through home visitation, workplace outreach, campus evangelism, or personal witnessing in everyday interactions, we are to faithfully share the Gospel wherever God gives opportunity.
CONCLUSION
Not every soul can be reached the same way. While some believe through the manifestation of God’s miraculous power, others need to be engaged through reasoning; engagement by the wisdom of the Spirit and Inspiration of Scriptures to show that Jesus is the Christ.
● Therefore, believers must be thoroughly grounded in the Word and Spirit, following the example of the Apostles and early disciples, so they can effectively communicate the Gospel and lead unbelieving hearts to faith. (John 4:48; Acts 8:5-8; Acts 17:2-3; Acts 18:4,28; Acts 9:22; 1 Peter 3:15)