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Introduction:
Most of us consider Paul to have been one of the greatest
evangelists of all times. Do you ever wish you could evangelize as
Paul did? I think that if we do what we see Paul doing in
scripture, we can be as successful as he was. Specifically
regarding evangelism, take a look at Acts
16. In this chapter we find two examples of Paul’s
evangelism—Lydia, the seller of purple, and the Philippian
Jailer. As we look at these two examples, we learn why Paul was
successful. He had a lifestyle that catered to evangelism. Notice
several aspects of Paul’s evangelistic life in this chapter. Discussion: I.
We must desire to save souls and strengthen others. A.
The very first key to leading an evangelistic life is about
desire. You have to want to so much that it drives you to do
whatever it takes to evangelize others. Paul desired to teach
others, not because of the joy of teaching, but because of the joy
of salvation that came with the teaching. B.
I
Corinthians 9:19-23 and Romans 1:13-15 both demonstrate Paul’s overwhelming desire. In Acts
16, we cannot miss this desire. His first thought when coming
into a town was to find people to teach. His desire while in jail
was to teach others. The desire to help others go to heaven was
overwhelming in Paul. That is the key. You have to see it, not as
just teaching others, but as helping people go to heaven. Do you
desire to help people get to heaven? II.
We must know what to teach. A.
We cannot be evangelists unless we know what to teach. In Acts 16:10, Paul and his companions recognized they were to go into
Macedonia and preach the gospel. In Acts
16:13-14, Paul spoke to the women by the riverside. In Acts 16:32, he spoke the word of the Lord to the jailer and his
household. Paul knew what to teach. B.
Understanding this point leads us to two different
conclusions: 1.
I must know the gospel message. I need to become familiar
with the Bible. I need to know how to give an answer for the hope
that is within me (I Peter 3:15). I must follow the advice that Paul gave Timothy in II
Timothy 3:14-15, continuing in the word that will make me wise
for salvation and help me pass that message on to others. 2.
I must have a plan for presenting the gospel message. In I Corinthians 9:19-23, Paul demonstrated planning. He had considered
the various kinds of people with whom he would come in contact and
he had considered various ways in which he would behave around
them. You need to develop a plan for prospecting, contacting and
teaching others. C.
Second to lack of desire, this is probably the greatest
obstacle people have to evangelism. They fear that they do not
know enough to teach. But allow me to say, if you have the hunger
and desire to teach, you will not allow this to get in your way,
you will learn and plan what to teach. III.
We must have targets in mind. A.
When Paul and his companions arrived in Philippi, one of
the first things they did was to go to the riverside on the
Sabbath (Acts 16:13).
They knew that religiously minded Jews would be meeting there for
prayer. Part of Paul’s plan was targeting this kind of person. B.
We need to give consideration to the kinds of people who
will be most receptive and we need to make plans to go after them.
We need to take stock of the people with whom we come in contact,
developing specific targets for planting and watering the seed.
Can I tell you the number one target—people who visit our
services. We must not view our guests as simply observers. We must
see the great spiritual interest they have to sacrifice their time
to visit with us. We should target them and develop plans to plant
and water the seed with them. IV.
But recognize that everyone is a contact. A.
We must also recognize that Paul did not limit himself to
his targets. He recognized that contacts come from everywhere. Who
would have imagined that the Jailer would pay attention to
anything that Paul said. Yet, he was converted. Could there be
anyone more different from Lydia than this Jailer? Yet, his
response was, in the end, the same as hers. B.
If we are going to have a lifestyle of evangelism, we must
learn that contacts may come even in the oddest, most unexpected
places—be ready! We must never be so focused on our targets that
we neglect the innumerable contacts that surround us every day. If
Paul made contact in a prison, might we make contacts in the
places where we go? We must be ready. V.
Understand that people are not always at the same level of
receptivity. A.
Consider this Philippian Jailer, for some time that evening
he heard Paul and Silas praying and singing. No doubt this made
some impression upon him. But while he listened to their singing,
he was not receptive enough to obey (Acts
16:25). B.
However, when the earthquake occurred, something clicked
with the Jailer. His receptivity level skyrocketed. He immediately
came to Paul and wanted to know what to do to be saved. I do not
know exactly what contributed to this increased level of
receptivity. What I do know is that the first seeds were planted
while Paul and Silas prayed and sang. But he was not receptive
until later. We must keep that in mind, because it leads us to our
next two points. VI.
Do not be discouraged when many are unreceptive. A.
Paul went to the riverside on the Sabbath because he knew
there would be Jews gathered there in prayer. While there, he
spoke to women, plural (Acts
16:13). But only one responded—Lydia (Acts
16:14). Paul could be discouraged by that, but he was not. I
know that because of the way he acted in the prison. B.
At the same time, what we just noticed about the Jailer
should help us refrain from discouragement. Remember that our job
is only to plant and water (I
Corinthian 3:6). God gives the increase. Someone may not be
receptive now—as the Jailer was not at first. But you have no
idea what “earthquakes” will come and where today’s seed
planting will lead. Keep planting. VII.
Live in such a way that when they become receptive, they
know to whom they can turn for help. A.
Why did the Philippian Jailer come to Paul and Silas to
learn how to be saved? Because the way they lived impressed the
Jailer. When Paul and Silas were singing and praying in Acts
16:25, they were not trying to be manipulative. They were not
forcing their prayers and songs because they viewed it as a
“good evangelistic moment.” They were simply living their
lives as Christians should, counting it all joy when they
encountered trials (James
1:2). B.
Paul and Silas were not praying and singing in order to be
seen by men. But they were not afraid to be seen by men while
praying and singing. In Matthew
10:32-33, Jesus said we are to confess Him before men. We need
to live in such a way that we confess Jesus before others. They
should see the godly life in us. They should see us respond to God
in our lives. When good things happen, they should see us give
praise to God. When we are happy, they should see us sing to God
[cf. James 5:13]. God,
His Word and His church should be a natural part of our
conversation. We should recommend God’s church to people. When
people want to know what we enjoy doing, worship should be
mentioned. When people want to know why we are happy, God’s
blessing should be named. When people want to know why we have
certain abilities, God’s grace should be mentioned. When people
want advice, God’s Word should be used. If we live in this way,
not manipulatively, but naturally, when the earthquakes happen to
our friends and neighbors, they will know to whom they can turn.
Paul’s life granted him opportunities to evangelize and we need
to live in that way also. Conclusion: We need to mirror Paul’s lifestyle of evangelism. When we do, we will have his success. But it all begins with desire. Do you desire to help people go to heaven? If you desire that, valuing it above all other works in life, then these other issues will come naturally to you. You will be driven to learn and plan how to teach. You will be driven to target people for teaching and yet stay open to the myriad contacts you may make in everyday places. You will not be discouraged, but encouraged to keep teaching and you will plant the seed and pray that God give the increase in receptive hearts down the line. What is your greatest desire?
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
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