Everybody has a view as to what an evangelist does, or how he or she ministers.
Of the 5-fold ministry in the bible evangelists have the least recorded about them.
The disciples wanted Jesus to stay in a city and continue what He was doing. But He said:
Lk 4:43 “No, I cannot stay. I need to preach the kingdom of God to other cities too. This is the purpose I was sent to fulfil”. (also in Mk 1:36-38)
An evangelist is one called to cites, to places where this gospel message has not been proclaimed, or heralded.
Ac 8:4-5 gives clear insight to evangelism:
vs 4 “… some went about preaching the word”. The early scattered church members went about preaching the word, or doing the work of an evangelist. They were already trained to do so. It was not a specially planned outreach. They knew instantly the priority. Harvesters.
Paul said to Timothy, whether he was a pastor or young man in apostolic ministry, he warned Timothy “… endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” ‘full proof of your ministry’ – is discovered while witnessing to the lost. Full-proof will keep you fool-proof. In talking to the lost the gifts of the Holy Spirit are ignited in setting the captive and prisoners free, Lk 4:18. In the process of doing the work, is the process of maturity of ministry in you. Some have relegated evangelism to an event over a weekend or to an outreach.
Let me hasten to say that the function of a gift ministry evangelist, is to awaken the hearts of the saints in the church to equip them to do. To mature the church in confidence, courage and boldness to easily evangelise. As has been said before an evangelist is to bring the experience of Divine Love into the church His experience so that the church may express His Love from the church. Experience within leads to expression without – the story of Ac 2.
Ac 8:5 “Philip [the evangelist] went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) to them.” AMP
Note:
Philip: a 5-fold evangelist, targeted a city, proclaimed Christ the Anointed One. A Reaper. Philip was walking in Gifts of the Holy Spirit, with a great anointing that had the power gifting to crack open cities.
This is the anointing to take on cities, arena’s and stadiums. It is different to harvesters anointing of vs 4
Evangelists have a specific anointing of power to proclaim the word with anointing and demonstrate manifestations afterwards. This isnot showmanship, but proof that God confirms His word.
He chose an area, Samaria – Some-area. “When the people heard what he had to say and saw the miracles, the clear signs of God’s action, they hung on his every word. Many who could neither stand nor walk were healed that day. The evil spirits protested loudly as they were sent on their way. And what joy in the city!”
Great emphasis was on the word. Mk 16:20 “And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord was working with them and confirming the word by the signs that followed”. There you have it: the Evangelist has great skill with the word of God declaring truth for the Holy Spirit to act upon with demonstration. “When you say what He has said, He will do what He always does”.
An Evangelist will ‘allow’ the power to move on what He has said – “The truth is that the Son does nothing on His own; all these actions are led by the Father. The Son watches the Father closely and then mimics the work of the Father.” VB Jn 5:19
Please note this: v 14 “When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the Word of God, they sent Peter and John down to them”. When the word was received the Apostolic (Peter) and prophetic (John) came to build into the young church plant. The move of the apostolic was not a big event, but that the word had been accepted. The spear-head ministry of an evangelist.
To Plant churches – here is a blue-print. Evangelists are prime church planters.
Note in Eph 4:11 -if we take the point of a spear and put the 5-fold gift names along it on either side you would have a picture of ministry: on one edge apostle and prophet, on the tip evangelist; on other side , pastor and teacher. Who is first touch. Use your hand as an illustration – apostle thumb … little finger – teacher – gets into your ear. First touch finger – your middle finger. Evangelists plant churches – find one and use them.
When all was done and Ac 14:23 accomplished they all moved on.
v 40 Philip found himself at a town called Azotus ( and from there he traveled north again, proclaiming the good news in town after town until he came to Caesarea.”
Whether ministering to crowds or one-on-one, the message was the same.
Ministry was confirmed by signs and wonders.
Every message ended in water & H/S baptism: Ac 8:12, 36. the seal
of their faith.
Area was Samaria and people were not Jewish and so he probably
was not sure if this truth of H/S baptism was for them. Peter and John came down.
In church planting an evangelist is absolutely key.
See you out there!!
We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first. — Oswald J. Smith
Someone asked, ‘Will the heathen who have never heard the Gospel be saved?’ It is more a question with me whether we — who have the Gospel and fail to give it to those who have not — can be saved. — Charles Spurgeon
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