OVERCOMING OBSTACLES TO EVANGELISM

Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.  (Acts 8:4)

Today’s climate for evangelism is inhospitable.  There is increasing hostility to the Gospel.  Yet, our mission remains unchanged.  It is encouraging to note that the first century church flourished in an unfriendly environment.  They faced obstacles, but were able to overcome them.  Acts chapter eight affords us several examples.

They were able to overcome persecution (v.1-4).  While they might have been paralyzed by fear, they overcame in faith.  This opposition came as a backlash from the church’s militancy in its mission.  Satan’s kingdom was threatened and so he launched a counterattack.  Instead of stopping the advance of the Gospel, the persecution aided it.  They disciples were scattered like seed, and God caused them to bear much fruit.

They were able to overcome complacency (v.4).  Jesus sent them into all the world, but they settled down in their comfort zone in Jerusalem.  That was to be the base of operations, but then the saints were to go to Judea, Samaria, and, ultimately, around the globe.  God used what seemed to be evil to produce something good in allowing persecution to propel them out of their complacency.  God can make you love to do what you ought to do!  There is opportunity in every difficulty.

They were able to overcome prejudice (v.5).  The Gospel went to Samaria—and that was a big barrier broken—the race barrier.  Samaritans despised the Jews and the reverse was true as well.  Racism is not a new phenomenon.  The challenge to make a difference in a people who are so different is an obstacle to overcome.  Philip was a Jew and his audience was Samaritan, but the moment they responded to the Gospel, they became brothers and sisters in Christ.  Heaven will not be segregated—the church ought not be!

They were able to overcome limitations (v.6-8).  The power that enabled them to rise above their human limitations came from heaven.  It did not matter how weak they were, God was mighty to save!  He still is.  God has not changed—we have.  These saints rested in the power of God and miracles happened.  Philip not only preached that Jesus was alive, it was apparent in His supernatural activity!  It takes the power of God to overcome such obstacles, but that power is available still today.

They were able to overcome hypocrisy (v.9-25).  The charge is often leveled at the church that it is full of hypocrites.  That accusation must be overcome.  The reality is that there are hypocrites in the church—there always have been.  The example we note in this chapter is a man named Simon—who had been a sorcerer.  It becomes apparent that an improper motive yielded an insincere commitment.  He saw the power of God at work, and wanted to get in on the action.  His occult powers were nothing compared to this.  He saw the business opportunity of a lifetime if he could get hold of this power.  Peter demanded that he repent or perish!  That is still the church’s message.

The obstacles to evangelism are nothing new.  When the church invades enemy territory, the Devil will fight back.  Christ has founded a church, however, equipped to assault the very gates of hell, and see them fall!  That is our heritage; it is our hope!

CONFRONTATIONAL CHRISTIANITY

 

Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.  And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.  And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”  So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.  Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”  And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.  So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.  (Acts 3:1-8)

Do we practice confrontational Christianity?  If we don’t, then we might wonder if we have the real deal.  Jesus polarizes.  People either loved Him enough to die for Him, or hated Him so much they wanted Him to die.  They bowed to Him as the Son of God, or berated Him as the son of the Devil.  Jesus did not tolerate neutrality.  His entry into the world upset the course of things forever.  His followers would do the same in His name.  Status quo was stripped from the church’s vocabulary.  In the Book of Acts the disciples are referred to as those, “who turned the world upside down” (17:6).  Their preaching started riots.  It was not their intent.  It is just the nature of truth to do so.  It wakens the sleeping dog who snarls and snaps in response.  The Gospel confronts people with the need of salvation because all are sinners threatened with judgment, and the reality that receiving Christ in repentance is the only way to be saved from that sin.

When Jesus healed a lame man at the pool of Bethesda, a tide of opposition mounted against Him, and now as Peter and John heal a man outside the Temple gate in His name, the same crowd will arise in hostility.  Anytime God is at work, Satan will be stirred up.  The church that cowers behind its four walls can be mostly ignored, but the one that invades enemy territory in transforming power will arouse Hell’s ire.

It is hard to explain away the miracle of a changed life.  That is what the crippled man bore witness to in dramatic fashion.  He was a beggar who couldn’t work, content with a few coins tossed his way.  But Peter and John were used to communicate that God had something better.  The miracle drew a crowd.  Astonishment reigned.  What about the nature of our church life—is it amazing or average, miraculous or mundane, dynamic or dull, blessed or boring?  On Sunday morning, do people who have been rocked to sleep in Satan’s arms, snore on, while we nice people put on our nice clothes and go to our nice church in our nice cars to sit in our nice pews and in nice fashion do nothing to awaken a nasty world in need of warning to flee the wrath to come?

You would think everyone would be happy with Peter and John. The Devil’s crowd was not—and they won’t be with you unless you practice some tepid, bland pseudo-faith.  God deliver us from that!

THE LEADER’S ACTIVITY

 

An effective leader doesn’t just say what others ought to do, but shows what leaders do.  Jesus shows us in Luke chapter four THE COURSE OF OUR SERVICE.  We do what Jesus did. 

 

As He embarks on His public ministry—three and one half years that changed the world—He was active as God’s spokesman and soldier.  He shared the Gospel and He stood His ground. 

 

Jesus COMMUNICATED THE WORD (Luke 4:18b-21).  We see the words, “preach” and “proclaim” (twice).  He had a Word to declare.

 

·         It would be a message of good news to the poor, “Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor.”  None are so low the Gospel cannot reach them.

·         It would be a message of healing for the grieving, “He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted.”   None are so brokenhearted that the Word cannot mend them.

 ·         It would be a message of liberty to those in bondage, “To proclaim liberty to the captives.”  None are so enslaved that the truth cannot free them. 

·         It would be a message that brought light to the blind, “And recovery of sight to the blind.”  None are so blind that God’s light cannot restore them.

 ·         It would be a message of deliverance to the oppressed, “To set at liberty those who are oppressed,” None are so burdened that God’s promises cannot lift them.

 

What Jesus said was in the context of the Jewish Year of Jubilee.

 

And you shall count seven sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years; and the time of the seven sabbaths of years shall be to you forty-nine years.  Then you shall cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land.   And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family.  That fiftieth year shall be a Jubilee to you; in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows of its own accord, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine.  For it is the Jubilee; it shall be holy to you; you shall eat its produce from the field.

In this Year of Jubilee, each of you shall return to his possession.  And if you sell anything to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor’s hand, you shall not oppress one another.  According to the number of years after the Jubilee you shall buy from your neighbor, and according to the number of years of crops he shall sell to you.  According to the multitude of years you shall increase its price, and according to the fewer number of years you shall diminish its price; for he sells to you according to the number of the years of the crops.  Therefore you shall not oppress one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the Lord your God.  (Leviticus 25:8-17)

Christ said His message was, “To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”  Jesus is our Jubilee—the fulfillment in His New Covenant what was prefigured under the Old Covenant.

What Christ communicated is the same message Christian leaders today need to declare.  Our message can inspire those we lead to rise above their circumstances and become all God means for them to be. 

 

But you will soon discover that plenty of people are opposed to the light.  They don’t want the Gospel for the poor, because in their pride they won’t admit their spiritual bankruptcy.   Rather than embracing the pain of a broken heart and seeking the Healer, they callus their heart to shut out the pain.  Such refuse to admit their slavery, proclaiming their liberation.  They hide from the light because they don’t want to see the dirt on their soul.  These reject the idea of needing help for their burdens asserting their independence.   Their mocking attitude was addressed by Jesus,

 

He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself!  Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.’ ”  Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.  (Luke 4:23-24)

 

People seemed impressed as a first response, but then took a second look.

 

Jesus, in His leadership then not only communicated the Word, He COMBATED THE WICKED (Luke 4:22-30). 

 

·         Some of these wicked opponents were the skeptical, “So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.  And they said, ‘Is this not Joseph’s son?’ ” (Luke 4:22).  There are always those who want to make Jesus only a good man.  We must fight that error.  It is when you say Jesus is the only Way and we must bow to Him that people will reject you.

·         There are also the hateful. 

But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.  And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”  So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.  Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way. (Luke 4:25-30) 

 They wanted to kill Him already!   Jesus illustrated from Scripture two instances where the Jews rejected God’s work and Gentiles instead received the miracle.  This was like throwing a lit match into a gas can!  Truth can be incendiary!

 

But a man is immortal until his lifework is done.  Jesus would die—not by being thrown down a hill, but raised up on one in crucifixion.  He would die according to the will of the Father and not the whims of men.  What a picture of Jesus—not some delicate, effeminate Christ of medieval portraits—but a muscular man pushing the mob aside as He marched threw their gauntlet of fury. 

Like Jesus we need men who will take a stand no matter the cost—men of courage and conviction.  We are following the footsteps of Jesus when this is the activity we conduct.  This is the course of our service.