The Message of Evangelism
by Evangelist Monte Leavell

It is believed that the Apostle Paul, as he wrote to the Corinthian believers, was battered by the philosophical approach his adversary had towards his teachings. A good example is seen in Acts 17:16-21. I am so glad to be a part of an organization that does not spend time going around "telling" (in this sense) or have some new things told to us; but we have a message. It is the same old message that Jesus preached and is our mandate to preach.

Jesus Christ came and was rejected of men. He died and was buried, but with triumph, arose on the third day. He ascended to the Father and is now seated at his right hand making intercession for us. Thanks be to his name, one day he is coming to receive us to be with himself.

I believe this is a little extra because of his dying for us, we can have our sins forgiven and be able to live a good life here on earth would have been good enough. He is coming to take us out of this world of sin; it’s not my home.

1. THE MESSAGE IS GOD’S. 1 Cor. 1:1, 2 & 13
1. As a result of this, it must be believed with a sense of Priority.

We know we are living in a:
1. Dead world
2. Dangerous world
3. Damned world
• But according to Isaiah 55:6 there is still a ray of hope. He can still be found.
• For how long this will be so we are not exactly certain, but according to the signs; it won’t be long.
2. It is a message to unregenerate men.
• The one Paul calls natural in 1Cor. 2:14 and I believe Paul was being very kind here because the word literally means, "man with animal soul".
• The illustration is given that he is like a Doberman Pincher. A very elegant looking dog, but very dangerous because it has a very tiny brain for its size and is prone to forget, sometimes even its own master.
• This man is governed by a nature which overpowers his spirit which is without the Spirit of God (Jude 19).
• It was for this man Christ climbed up Golgotha’s hill.
3. In 1 Cor. 2:14 But, the subjective present-action of this truth now becomes the topic. "But", introduces the contrast between the natural and the spiritual.
• The "natural man", is naturally incapable of some things. Like the human ears inability to hear high frequency radio waves; deaf folks are unable to be judges in musical completions; blind folks cannot enjoy beautiful sceneries: so the unregenerate man is incompetent to judge spiritual things.
2. IT IS A GOOD MESSAGE. 1 Cor. 2:6
1. Some might infer at this point that Paul had no use for "Wisdom", and that he held Christian truth to be outside of the realm of the intellect.
• The message itself is wisdom. According to verse 7; "But the wisdom...". In this passage; "wisdom" has the position of emphasis in the Greek text.
• In verse 6, we see it is the only wisdom that produces perfection (maturity) and you can usually tell when that is evidenced. (Phil. 3:15)
2. But there is a serious problem.
• Because it is a good wisdom, the only one that begins with the fear of God; the "evil one" takes strong objection to it.
• "The natural man receiveth not..." He literally does not accept this wisdom.
• Paul explains the ‘flip-side’ (1 Thess. 1:6)
• The sad thing about rejecting this wisdom, is the fact that it will not always be available. (Isaiah 55:6)
• That is why as C.O.M.E. evangelists we must persist; in spite of the odds.
• Remember that we are in a spiritual warfare "...neither can we know them..." (1 Cor. 2:10-11) But why?
3. This is the reason why as ministering servants, wherever we go to present this wisdom, we should be enveloped by the Spirit of God. "Not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of God."
3. IT IS A GRATIFYING MESSAGE. Isaiah 55:7
1. When this message is received, God will have mercy.

So as the common questions of Missionary Evangelism are asked;
1. What are the benefits?
2. Why so much sacrifice?
3. Why leave family and friends?
4. Why live on the road in a trailer?
5. Why rear kids on the road with out the security of permanence?
2. The answer - The world is filled with wicked and unrighteous people.
• What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?
• What does it profit an evangelist if he travels the whole world and, in neglect or apathy, allows the world to be damned?
• This message of evangelism is for the peasantry as well as the presidency.
• It should bring revival from the vestry to the Vatican.
• Let’s not get into the business of adjusting for the 1st world and then the 3rd world.
• The purpose of the message is to see lost sinners come to Jesus Christ.
• It reminds of the man who, in splendor, was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a beggar named Lazarus...
  It wasn’t the POVERTY that ushered Lazarus into PARADISE; but it was the PRIDE that kept the rich man out.
3. To the wicked - those living in known sin. The unrighteous - those who live in neglect of the Lord’s plain truth.
• Here is the reason; Every penitent sinner will find a pardoning Saviour.
• He will abundantly pardon (fully pardon).
• He will wave the penalty (Rom. 6:23) Aren’t you glad his pardon is in abundance?
• To those to whom we preach as well as to those of us who preach.
• Always remember only the guilty need a pardon.
• What a gratifying message, it is good and it is God’s.