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Sun. 3/8/2014

Quarter’s Theme:REVIVAL IN THE CHURCH

Unit 2 Theme: Agents Of Revival (Lessons 7-13)

STEWARDSHIP & ACCOUNTABILITY MONTH

3/8/2014 LESSON 10

EVANGELISM AND REVIVAL

Suggested Hymns: G.H.B. 148, 155

Devotional Reading: 2 TIMOTHY 4:1-8

Topic For Adults

REACHING THE UNREACHED

Topic For Youths

MAKING SUCCESS OF THE GOSPEL

Scripture Lessons

ACTS 8:4-13; ROM. 3:23-26; 15:18-19; JN. 3:16; 1 COR. 13:12, MK. 1:17

 

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

DAILY BIBLE READING

Sun. 3/8/2014

Preach The Word

2 Tim. 4:1-5

There is a temptation to wait till the time we consider it convenient before we preach to people. Many opportunities to win unbelievers to Christ have been lost by yielding to this temptation. The end result is that many Christians go through weeks, months and years without preaching to anyone. Many will end up before the throne of grace empty handed without even one converted soul to present to Jesus. You will appear before the judgment throne of Christ to receive reward for what you have done in the flesh. What reward will you get when you have spent the whole life time without preaching to the lost souls around you? Stop procrastinating. Rise up today and begin to preach the word when it is convenient and when it is not.

Point of Emphasis:    Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.

Prayer Point:             Grant unto me the urgency in my spirit to preach the word.

BACKGROUND

In the divine programme of God, every believer is expected to be a soul-winner.
Jesus said “come after me and I will make you become fisher of men” (Mk. 1:17).
The early Christian Church was characterised with evangelism. The book of Acts contains records of the evangelical outreaches of the disciples. In Acts 20:20-21, Paul stated that he did not avoid telling the spiritual leaders from Ephesus that would help them publicly and from house to house. He warned both the Jews and Greeks to change the way they think and act and they should believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. This week’s lesson is specifically designed to teach us on evangelism and revival.

NOTES ON THE TEXT

1. EVANGELISM PUBLICISES REVIVAL AND CHRIST – ACTS 8:4-13

The disciples went everywhere to make Christ known and not to show-off themselves. They went evangelising the world (v. 4). A particular account of Philip the deacon (not the apostle) who was ordained to serve at the table was recorded. He purchased for himself a good degree and boldness to give himself to preaching the word and prayer. He had a wonderful success preaching in Samaria. The doctrine he preached was Christ as the Messiah to them and the crowd came to listen to him and saw the miracle which he performed (vv. 5-6).

The gospel prevailed through him and evil spirits were dislodged. Where the gospel is preached in truth, unclean spirit will have to lose his hold on men because God has called us from uncleanness to holiness (1 Thess. 4:7).

The acceptance of the word by the people of Samaria brought a great joy to the city. Despite the animosity which had been between the Samaritans and the Jews, immediately they believed, they were baptised and were admitted into the communion of Christian Church. The gospel of Christ fills men with joy if it is received as it ought to be received because it is a glad tiding of great joy to all people (Lk. 2:10).

Satan had through Simon Magus held the people captive but when Philip preached Christ to them as the Saviour, they were liberated and brought into obedience to Christ. Simon Magus himself believed and became devoted to Philip.

1. EVANGELISM BREAKS BARRIER: ROM. 3:23-26, JN. 3:16

Sins separated all mankind from God their Creator. Looking at the crime, unhappiness, depression, poverty, insecurity in the world, verse 23 seems to be very accurate. We have fallen short of God’s glory. However, we have received God’s approval freely by an act of His kindness through the price that Jesus Christ paid for our sin. John 3:16 says that God so loved the world and He gave His only begotten Son and everyone who believes in Him will not die but will have eternal life. It is not automatic that everyone will have eternal life, only those who believe and accept Jesus. The onus rests on believers to proclaim this truth so that the barrier of religion can be broken and people will be delivered from their ignorance.

God showed that Christ is the throne of mercy where God’s approval is given through faith in Christ’s blood. In His patience, God waited to deal with sins committed in the past; He waited so that He could display His approval at the present time (Rom. 3:25-26a) – Believers should spread the gospel truth to the people because God is not slack concerning His promises (2 Pet. 3:9).

God’s approval to break barriers has been given to believers, it must be communicated to those outside the fold of Christ. When this is done faithfully then souls are won for Christ and the souls are delivered from the delusion that are coming upon the disobedience.

1. EVANGELISM REVIVES SOULS – 1 COR. 13:12, 15:18-19; MK. 1:17

Evangelism can either be personal or mass. Personal evangelism seems to be easier than mass one because it is more economical. It can be done anywhere, anytime and everybody can be reached. The intention of any evangelism is to win soul for Christ.

The spiritual gifts are designed by God to be a sign for the unbelievers while some are designed to benefit believers. These gifts are given by God in order to honour God. We should be careful to use them to honour God and for the Church’s growth.

Jesus Christ called us to be fishers of men, therefore we must go with His programme, “Go” and teach all nations (Matt. 28:19). We are to bring converts through evangelism into the fellowship of the church with the sole aim of teaching them to become disciples. There should not be class or racial discrimination.

The sole aim of our evangelism message should be three-fold intention based on:

1 – calling sinners to repentance and the sick to healing.

2 – calling Christians unto holiness and fellowship – Matt. 28:20; Acts 2:42

3 – preaching and proclaiming Jesus Christ as the Supreme Lord and God’s gracious gift for remedy of sin – Isa. 9:6; Jn. 20:21

Believers must be powered to illuminate our environment and dispel the power of darkness and not to be overcome by it.

CONCLUSION

Repentance and mass turning to God must be involved so as not to make it a carnival. Situations around us must be viewed and seen the way God sees it. Leadership and core of the people involved must not be insensitive to the need for revival. Evangelism for mobilisation of the people is a tool that is very important for revival. Open confession and forsaking of sins, not a testimony of healing, deliverance or blessings alone must be a hallmark of revival.

QUESTIONS

1. What dominated the preaching of Paul to the Ephesians in Acts 20:20-21?
2. What did the disciples go to do everywhere in their evangelical outreach? (Acts 8:4)
3. Why is it not automatic that everyone will have eternal life?
4. What should believers do about what God did to break barriers?
5. Spiritual gifts are designed by God to be for believers and unbelievers as what?

 French

DIMANCHE 03/08/2014

PRECHE LA PAROLE 

2TIM. 4 :1-5

Il y a une tentation à attendre jusqu’au moment que nous considérons comme étant le moment opportun avant de prêcher aux gens. Plusieurs occasions de gagner des incroyants à Christ ont été perdues en cédant à cette tentation. Le résultat final est que beaucoup de chrétiens traversent des semaines, des mois et des années sans prêcher à personne. Beaucoup finiront par se présenter devant le trône de la grâce les mains vides sans même avec une seule âme convertie à présenter à Jésus. Tu comparaîtras devant le trône du jugement de Christ pour recevoir la récompense de ce que tu auras fait dans la chair. Quelle récompense obtiendrais-tu quand tu aurais passé toute ta vie sans prêcher aux âmes perdues autour de toi ? Arrête de temporiser. Lève-toi aujourd’hui et commence à prêcher la parole en toute occasion soit favorable ou non.

Point essentiel : Prêche la parole ! Sois prêt en toute occasion, favorable ou non.

Axe de prière : Accorde-moi l’urgence dans mon esprit de prêcher la parole.