We are all familiar with the gift of the evangelist, but what of the majority of us who never preach or travel or write? Are we to leave soul-winning to the man in the pulpit, or the print shop? Definitely not. We are royal priests and because of this we can, in some way, minister to the lost. It is simply negligence on our part if we don't. God has given us the position, the privilege, and the power. What, then, do the Scriptures reveal for our encouragement and exhortation in these things?
“Andrew.... first findeth his own brother Simon.... And he brought him to Jesus." John 1:40-4240One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. (John 1:40‑42). "Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord." Hag. 1:88Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord. (Haggai 1:8). Now in plain talk, this means bring someone to the gospel meeting or to a Bible study. Maybe we can't explain the gospel very well, but here is an exhortation from God simply to bring someone to hear the Word of God ministered: a friend, a neighbor, a relative, a slum-dweller, a wealthy man, a ditch digger, a business executive. They all need Jesus and you know where and when the gospel will be preached. Invite them; pick them up; take them home, and pray all the while that God will work in their hearts. Remember, God takes great pleasure in any effort to bring souls to hear the gospel —this is how He builds His house and He desires to use us if we will only take this admonition from Him. "How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?" Rom. 10:1414How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14).
“Praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ." Col. 4:33Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: (Colossians 4:3). "Brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified." 2 Thess. 3:11Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: (2 Thessalonians 3:1). Would you like to go along with evangelists to the four corners of the earth to preach the gospel? Then pray for them. There is no better company for the evangelist than our fervent prayers at home. The mouth, hands and feet are moved by unseen muscles, and the power behind the evangelist is fervent prayers by secret co-workers. Think of the gospel works you know of and desire to help, then pray and God will reward you greatly in that day, before all heaven.
“The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it." Psa. 68:1111The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. (Psalm 68:11). Most Christians have little or no idea about the complexities of publishing in print the Scriptures and attendant ministry. Suffice it to say that the final product of a tract, a pamphlet, a book, or a calendar is often the dedicated work of many saints. We can help those who print the gospel by supplying them news stories or events that have a clear gospel application. We can help them by proofreading, or communicating corrections or helpful changes for the next printing. We can put isolated souls on a mailing list to receive gospel ministry, and supply catalogs to those who might be interested in obtaining tracts or books. We can send tracts to those who are actively engaged in tract work. A few thoughtful minutes by each of us would likely reveal some need in publishing or distributing the Word in which we could help. "Lift up your eyes and look.”
“At that time there was a great persecution against the church at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad... except the apostles.... Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word." Acts 8:1-41And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 4Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. (Acts 8:1‑4). We find, in the early Church's history, a great multitude of believers dispersed from Jerusalem after the death of Stephen, and they went everywhere publishing the good news of Jesus Christ. It should be especially noted that those saints driven from Jerusalem did not include the Apostles. So the prominent, gifted men in the Church at that time remained in Jerusalem, and therefore were not the ones doing this faithful and powerful preaching. It was the ordinary, everyday brethren. Just when the Church could have become too dependent on the Apostles, the Lord stepped in and, through religious persecution, brought out the royal priesthood of all the saints. The refiner's fire of trial brings out the gold in those who are truly Christ's. Instead of fainting, these brethren seized this opportunity to spread the gospel to regions that had never heard it before and there was great blessing, as Acts 11:2121And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. (Acts 11:21) shows. Now, some of us may have a similar opportunity today. Various trials and circumstances may cause us to move to an unexpected or far-away place, perhaps even a distance from fellowship with our brethren. Are we to faint and give up, or are we to seize this chance to spread the gospel, depending on the Lord Jesus to keep us and guide us? Let's be positive, even in those trying times in our lives which may move us about. Redeem the opportunity and watch God bless His Word as you give it out. Too often many of us get quite comfortable in the local gathering and become so contented with the routine and fellowship, we forget that there are others who have not heard the gospel and are thirsty for eternal life. Thank God for trials which disperse us to bring the glorious light of the gospel into those regions of darkness beyond. We must always recall, however, that those brethren who were dispersed were still in happy fellowship with those in Jerusalem. This dispersion was not because of division in the Church or contention among saints, but was from God for the good of the Church.
In Mark 5 and Luke 8, we have the story of a poor soul in the country of the Gadarenes, who was delivered from a legion of demons by the Lord Jesus. After the demons were cast out, we find the happy man sitting at Jesus' feet, clothed and in his right mind (a picture of our holy priesthood). Then we find the Lord sending the man home to "show" (Luke) and "tell" (Mark) his friends what great things God had done for him (a picture of our royal priesthood). He eagerly obeyed, and when Jesus returned, "The people gladly received Him." His witness had power and results. There was nothing spectacular about this man— he wasn't an apostle or prophet—but he was dependent and obedient. That is the secret power of all ministry. After he had dependently been at Jesus' feet hearing His word, he obediently went home to his friends to share what the Lord had done for him. Can't we do the same? Don't we have family or friends who need the liberating gospel of Christ? Can't we in some small, but faithful way show them the virtues of Christ? Many souls have been saved, not through revival meetings, gospel meetings, or street preaching, but through the simple, private testimony of a friend happily delivered from the bondage of sin, Satan, and the world. Even the Lord's ministry was much more personal than it was public, for the Scriptures say, "He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street" (Isa. 42:22He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. (Isaiah 42:2)), but He went about doing good in the highways and hedges. What a gracious commission from Christ we all have as royal priests to go home to our families and friends and show them Jesus. So many are critical or otherwise indifferent to public preaching, but they can never erase the personal, heart-to-heart, daily ministry of a friend or relative who has been saved and is faithfully living for Christ. T. Clement