SUPERNATURAL EVANGELISM

1Cor.2:1-2KJV
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

The most effective evangelism is that done with absolute dependence on the Holy Spirit, and not the eloquence of speech. The gospel is beyond self motivation, it's like coming to a Kingdom, to enjoy the power of the King you have got to submit your self to the King, you need to encounter the Kingdom power.

Like bro Paul said to the Corinthian church, for us to see the power of God in manifestation, then we must be ready to put our eloquence aside and

Evangelism Styles

In reaching out to people, we need to discover our different styles, that we may be effective in our outreach. The idea is to discover ourselves and be ourselves in preaching the gospel.

Different Evangelism styles.

1) Direct style:

This was the style used by Peter in Act2:38KJV

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

This is used by people who are blunt and they like to approach a matter the way it is. this same style was used by Jeremiah and Paul. It is a bold approach, persuasive in nature, maximize opportunities and bring result. A person with a choleric type temperament will feel more comfortable with this approach. Those who use this approach need to learn to show love and concern for the lost in sharing the gospel.

2) Intellectual style:

This approach was used by Paul in Acts17:17KJV
 
Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

Those who use this style like to work with people's thoughts, they like to get deeper reasons for people's opinion. It's a patient style and it is good for use by people who are analytical.

The weakness with this style is that it can be cold and in-personal, people who use this style need to consciously create warmth around them in Preaching to the unsaved soul.

3) Testimonial style:

This style is all about sharing your own story, and it was used by the samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well in John4:28-29KJV 

The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

This style is very effective for people who often identify with others, people who are interesting to be with and who love to share their story with others if it will help them. And anybody can evangelize with this style, it is easy and practical.

The weakness with this style is that it can be time consuming, shallow and insensitive to people's reaction in the bid of sharing their story. People who feel good with this style sure need to study in order to have depth and they need to be time conscious and deliberately become sensitive to people's reaction.

4) Interpersonal style:

This style was used by Matthew in bringing his friends to Jesus. Jesus was deliberately making friends with unbelievers that he may reach out to them.
 

This approach is good for those who are 'People person' in nature, those who are naturally caring and sensitive. This looks more like what some one who is sanguine in nature can readily do.

The strength of this style is that expresses warmth and compassion. The weakness on the other hand is that it could be time consuming. Those who employ this style will have to always keep in mind that the goal is not just to make friends but to win a soul. Use anything and use everything you have to win a soul for the Lord.

5) Invitational style:
The Samaria woman at the well used this approach. This approach is easy for people who are always on the look out for others, those who always carry other people along, they never attend an occasion alone, and infact any body can use this style.

The strength of this style is that it is people focus, but the weakness is dependence on others, it can be dependent. But truly, it is very effective, for the most effective form of evangelism is inviting people to church, where they can hear the gospel and be convinced and ultimately repent of their sins.

6) Serving style:

This is servant evangelism. It is sharing the love and message of Jesus Christ through Practical kindness. It is formed and simple way of reaching out to others. Service and kindness is a bridge builder, it breaks mountains and open hearts. It is a simple and effective style of evangelism, because people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Show love to the unsaved around you, show compassion, and go out of your way to help others that are in need, you will be shocked at how they will respond to your Gospel. Remember how the multitude that were fed by Jesus  in Mat 14:16KJV 
But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.

These people kept following because Jesus had shown compassion on them and provided meat for them. show love to others on the road of live, help those you can help and get the gospel message across to the needy, spread the GOODNEWS.
   

Anagkazo Part 2

Luke 14:23KJV And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Last week, we established reasons why people don't readily accept the gospel and reasons why we must preach the gospel. This is the concluding part on why we must preach the gospel.

It is normal for people to make excuses, especially when they don't know what's in store for them. But we as believers must be bold to show the world that the Gospel is the only means, while Jesus is the only way.Never be ashamed to tell men about the Gospel, for the gift of grace await every man that come to God for salvation. For we are saved by grace through faith, it is the gift of God, according to Eph. 2:8

Rom.1:16-17KJV
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
 

Rom 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

4) The great commission:
Mat. 28:18-20KJV
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
 

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
 

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Jesus commanded us to preach the gospel. According to mat.28:18, Jesus said 'all power is given unto me' and he went further to say 'go ye therefore'. Go ye implies a commandment, it is a must, we just have to preach. As Christ representative and ambassador on earth, we must go out of the way to save the lost at all cost. Jesus gave authority to us as believers, and we have what it takes to save the lost, for in Mark 16:17 that signs will follow them that believed as they go out to preach. Our duty is to preach, and it is God's own to confirm his word.

Let us not bother ourselves with the how, but we should hold on to his word and know that he will fulfill his part.

5) The harvest is great.
John4:35KJV
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

I remember the encounter Morris Cerullo shared years ago, of how he saw a vision where multitude were walking on a very board road, laughing and enjoying the walk not knowing that at the end of the road was a big pit of inferno, but it was too late to return because of the pressure of the people behind them. Each time people fall into the inferno they make terrible noise, but those on the road can not hear.

Let us not be ashamed to preach the gospel, the unbelievers are not ashamed of their shameful product, neither should we be ashamed of the gospel, there are multitude that need to be saved, the harvest indeed is great, let us go out and save them out of fire. It's time we bring the gospel out of the dark into the light, it's time we stand up to declare the truth. We can't afford to be passive about the gospel, the harvest is great.

Anagkazo Part1

Anagkazo Part 1

Luke 14:23KJV
And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

In this passage, the Lord Jesus was sharing a parable with his disciples about a certain man who had made a great supper and had sent out invitation unto so many people, but a lot of the invitees gave one excuse or the other. Each man seem to have a better place to be than the supper. some could not attend because because they just got married, while some could not because of business.

Like the man sent out invitation for the great supper, God has sent a general invitation unto mankind by giving His most precious and only begotten Son. According to John3:16KJV, God gave His only begotten son to the world, that whoever believe in Him may have everlasting life. The Gospel Message is an open invitation, and just as some men did not honour the invitation to the great supper, some are yet to accept God's invitation.

Rom 8:32JKV He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

God's invitation is Salvation, the Lord does not want any man to perish but that all may be saved. And the Gospel is indeed a whole lot of Feast, for the Greek word translated salvation is 'soteria', and this word 'soteria' includes healing, deliverance, preservation, protection & safety.

And by giving his son, God laid all benefits on the banquet table for us, for in giving His Son, God gave his all, and by accepting Jesus as saviour, we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, we are blessed with all 'Soteria' package, nothing missing. We also enjoy total deliverance from the curse of the law. The curse of the law can be classified into three classes which are: sickness, poverty and death. But thank God for the freedom we receive in salvation.

Just as men rejected the invitation because they were busy, men have failed to accept the Gospel truth because they don't understand. Truth is the simplicity of the message is foolishness to the world. No one has excuse for not receiving Christ, neither do we have excuse not to bring people to the feast.

The word Compel in verse 23 of Luke 14, is from the Greek word 'Anagkazo', it means to employ every means possible in bringing the lost home. The fact you have preached once and no one responded does not mean you should not preach again, you have to go again, like the servant went again, but this time you might need to compel.

Why must We Preach the Gospel?

1) The fact of hell.

Rev.20:15KJV
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

If men understand that heaven is real, so is hell, they will believe the Gospel message. If they know that the Spirit world is real, they sure will live their lives to avoid the unbearable pain and anguish that the departed souls in hell experience. God does not want any man to perish, and that is why God will have you and I compel the lost to come to the feast(salvation), for the table needs to be full.

2) Jesus is the only way.

John 14:6KJV
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus is not one of the ways, He is the 'Only Way' that leads unto God. We need to tell the world that there are no two ways to God, the only way is Jesus, he is also the truth and the life.

The temple in the old testament is structured in a way that a door leads to each compartment, and each door has its name. The door to the outer court is called 'The Way', while the door to the Holy place is called 'The Truth' and the door to the Hollies of Hollies is called the 'The Life'. In john 14:6, Jesus was calling the disciples' attention to this temple description and how He is the Only way to God because it is by Him we can come to the Father, we come into the most Holy place.

By his death on Calvary's cross, He paved way for us, no sacrifice is needed beside accepting the sacrifice of His life on the cross, by giving His life, He gave us free access unto God. If only the unsaved can see the light of this message they will repent, but that depends on you and I, and that's why the Lord will have us go out and Compel men to be saved. Employ every possible means.

3)Eternal separation from God

In salvation we receive eternal life, Zoe, this is life transforming substance from God, it is Life imparting gift. But when a man does not receive the free gift of salvation, he can not enjoy Zoe, rather he will have to face the second death, which is eternal separation from God.

Rev.21:8KJV
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Let's preach the Gospel, let us compel the lost to come to the father that men may be saved from eternal damnation. The Father does not want any man to perish but that all may come to repentance.

2Pet.3:9 KJV The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

The Journey of Faith part 2

The journey of Faith Part 2

Heb.11:1-4 KJV
1)Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2)For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3)Through faith we understand the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4)By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it being dead yet speaketh.

Last week we established that faith is persisting when i don't feel like it. It is keeping up even when i feel like giving up.If you keep up in faith and refuse to give up on God's plans and purpose for your life, then you will conquer where you have failed in the past, because you are persistent at it.

Concluding on the journey of faith, it is important we understand that:

4) Faith is declaring it in order to experience it.

In faith, saying precedes performance. Nothing has ever happened without it been declared first, neither will any thing happen that you have not declared.

Heb. 11:3 KJV

Through faith we understand the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

What ever we want to create, is first formed when it is spoken. In the beginning, Bible recorded how God spoke each time He desired to create something. What ever it is you desire to see in tour life, you have to learn to SAY it, and you will see it manifest as you continue to say it

Rom.10:8-9 KJV

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
That If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

There is a strong connection between what we say and what we believe. When we say certain words consistently, it registers in our hearts and shapes our thoughts which consequently shapes our actions. This is why our words are very important because the success or failure of our effort depends greatly on what we say and believe.

You believe to say it, but you also say it to believe it. Words spoken with faith, which is believe carries great power. If you say it, then you believe it. The acid test of faith is boldly declaring it before other people.

Mark 11:23, Jesus taught that what ever a man says believing in his heart, he shall have such declaration. Check your results in life, you will see how much it agrees with your declaration. Your life moves in the direction of your speech and dominant thoughts. To change your results, change your declaration, for whatever you declare with your mouth, you will definitely see it happen. Never make negative declaration, because you are speaking to affect your world.

5) Faith is giving when i don't have it.

Heb. 11:4 KJV

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it being dead yet speaketh.

According to the scripture, Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. In Gen.4:3-5, the two brothers offered the fruit of their labour, but Abel's offering was more excellent before God, not because of the magnitude of the gift, but because of the Heart behind the gift.

The only way to please God is by faith, according to Heb.11:6. What ever is not of faith is sin. Abel offered his sacrifice in faith and God was moved, that God could say Abel was righteous. Faith is not waiting to give when you have so much, it is giving even when you don't have. God is not moved by tears, but He is so moved by whatever is done in faith

The pastor of the largest congregation, Pst. David Yonggi Cho, once shared how their church embarked on a building project and they had nothing , in fact the church was in debt and members could not give anymore, but one day, an old woman came to him and said she want to participate in the project but all she has is the bowl in her hand, and she is giving it to the church.

The Pastor was not just moved, but this old woman's act, also challenged every one in the church to give more towards the project. they gave out of their little, some gave out of none, but God did bless their giving, for in no time, they moved into abundance. How interesting, that giving is also an expression of faith. If you have faith, express it in your giving and see if God will not be moved to bless you.

Faith is giving when you don't have it.

6) Faith is thanking God before i receive it.

Phil.4:6 KJV

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Faith is not just believing in your heart, neither is it just declaring what you believe, but it is also thanking God in advance for what you have not seen.

If you so much believe that you will have what ever you say or ask, then go ahead demonstrating it by thanking God in advance, faith attitude is to celebrate God for what he is yet to do for you.

John 11:41

KJV Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. What Jesus did at Lazarus' tomb look so simple, but it is also profound. Some folks at the tomb would have thought that raising a dead man should take more than thanksgiving, but Jesus understand how faith works. It does not work by just praying, but it also works by thanksgiving. To walk in faith, is to walk with a grateful heart, be thankful even for what you have not received, and you will receive it.

7) Faith is trusting God in disappointment.

Job 13:15 KJV

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

Imbibe Job's attitude, trust God even when you feel you have being disappointed. In every situation, trust Him, for it is situations that change, God does not change. If you maintain unwavering believe in him, you will definitely rejoice over the blessings of faith.

The Journey of Faith Part 1

The Journey of Faith Part 1

Heb 11:1-3KJV
(1)Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
(2)For by it the elders obtained a good report.
(3)Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

1. Faith is Believing when I don't see it.
   
   Seeing is not believing, rather believing is seeing. Faith substantiate hope, it brings Hope into reality. The blessing of faith is in the ability to believe that what we cannot see with our eyes will come into reality.

2Cor.5:7 KJV For we walk by faith, not by sight

As believers, we are expected to live our lives based on faith in God's word, not on the reality of circumstances. Faith is not denying facts of situation, rather it is unwavering believe in God's word despite the facts of situation.

Gen.15:5KJV And He brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

Abram at this age was already old and Sarah had reached her menopause, but in the face of this situation, he believed God. Even though he could not see, even though it was beyond him, he believed any way.

2. Faith is obeying even when I don't understand.

As humans, naturally we are not likely to go into a business that we don't have it's logistics, neither can we launch into the unknown. But faith is obeying evan when you don't understand, when it does not make sense and it does not look like it.

Gen.12:1 KJV Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

For man, this is hard to understand, it is embarking on a journey to the unknown land. It's obvious Abram din't know where he was going, for God had said a land that He will show him. How interesting to step out when we don't know where we are going or how it is going to be like over there, yet we leave our comfort zone for the unknown. This is Faith.

3. Faith is Persisting when I don't feel like it.

Truth is feelings are flaky and you can't afford to take decisions or build your life on feelings. It is not what you feel that matters, but what God says about you.

It is true that after God has spoken, situation may not change immediately and you may even feel things won't be different, but really, what count is what God has said and Faith in His word. You have to be Persistent even whan it does not look like it.

It's been said that, you determine a person's greatness by what it takes to discourage them. When a man fail to learn lessons, then he has lost the opportunity to grow and mature into another level.

You need to understand that God permit somethings in your life that you may learn and grow, remember what scripture said about Jesus in Heb 5:6, how that He learned obedience by the things he suffered.

After his death on the cross, He grew into His office of the High Priest of our confession. True growth and maturity comes in difficult places of life. You have to keep persisting even against all odds, for this is Faith.

SHALLOW WATERS

SHALLOW WATERS

(Zech. 4:6)

by Pastor Victor Adeyemi

Reinhard Bonkke, a renowned evangelist saw a vision years ago. He was steering a big ship in shallow waters. Of course it was a struggle. He could not gain sufficient speed to navigate smoothly, but rather ran the risk of being grounded in muddy waters. As he pondered and prayed about the spiritual insight he had received, God explained to him; the ship was his ministry, he was the captain and the waters, a symbol of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. As the progress of the ship was dependent on the water level, so was his ministry dependent on the anointing the Spirit supplies to advance in God’s plans.

I sense that we are in the same boat as a ministry and as individuals. We need a fresh anointing. Bonkke responded by raising an army of thousands of intercessors, committing one hour to prayer daily. The rest is history, as Bonkke’s crusades grew larger, reaching more nations of the world, winning more souls and recording more notable miracles. I believe it is time for us to possess our possessions, take all that belongs to us and enter into our rest. God takes over when we allow Him through prayer and His power is made available by the simple act of bending our knees (Jas. 5: 16 (Amp.)).

The level and flow of God’s anointing in our lives is a direct product of how much time we spend in prayer. Consequently, we need to increase our prayer time to increase the level of anointing we operate in.

Your success this year will be supernatural, as you watch God take over and surpass your plans, projections and pace. However you have a part to play:

1. Choose a specific hour for prayer daily

2. Choose a specific place

3. Support your prayers with a weekly fast

4. Pray a lot in tongues

5. Write down ideas inspired to you during prayer

6. Act on what you receive

7. Write down your testimonies.