Every-Man Evangelism
By Pastor Cornelius R. Stam
“Do the work of an evangelist.”
Paul’s Spirit-inspired injunction in II Tim. 4:5 applies indirectly to every believer in Christ. Are not our pastors simply leaders in the work of the Lord? Shall the congregation sit idly by as the pastor alone does “the work of an evangelist?” God forbid! The pastor is rather to be an example to his flock to go and do likewise.
How well this writer recalls the days of the so-called Darby-Scofield movement when multitudes all over the country thronged to hear Bible teachers like Gaebelein, Gray, Gregg, Ottman, Chafer and Newell. These able men of God expounded the Word as the “blessed hope” of the Lord’s return was being recovered. But these Bible teachers were evangelists too, in the truest sense of the word, and their evangelism was contagious.
In those days almost all premillenarians, including the young people, carried New Testaments in their pockets wherever they went. Why? They hoped and prayed for opportunities to testify to others about God’s plan of salvation through Christ and they wanted to show them the way from Scripture. In those days if a Christian failed to have a New Testament with him he was apt to be reproved with the words: “What! a soldier without a sword?” By contrast few believers carry New Testaments about with them today, and they certainly don’t carry Bibles!
Some are telling us today that this brand of fundamentalism is out of date and ineffective in these fast-changing times. We reply that all of us ought to get back to this brand of fundamentalism, this earnest effort to personally win souls to Christ by showing them God’s plan of salvation from the Scriptures.
God help his people in general and each spiritual leader in particular, to “do the work of an evangelist.”
Today's Devotional Sponsor:
By Pastor Cornelius R. Stam
As true Americans celebrate their liberty, true Christians should rejoice in the even greater liberty which they have in Christ.
Our Lord said: “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” and “If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:32,36). Likewise St. Paul declares that believers in Christ have been made “free from sin” and have become “servants to God,” who deals with us in grace (Rom. 6:22).
It is strange that so many sincere religious people actually wish to be in bondage to the Mosaic Law, which can only judge and condemn them for their sins. Peter called the law: “a yoke… which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear” (Acts 15:10). Paul called it “the handwriting of decrees, that was against us, which was contrary to us” (Col. 2:14). He called it “the ministration of death” and “the ministration of condemnation” (II Cor. 3:7,9).
He challenged those who “desired” to be under the law:
“Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?” (Gal. 4:21).
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written. Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them” (Gal. 3:10).
Thank God, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us” (Gal. 3:13). Man always responds better to grace than to law. The law was “added because of transgressions” (Gal. 3:19). “By the law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:20). But Christ died for our sins and now true believers serve God from gratitude and love. Hence Rom. 6:14 says: “Sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under the law but under grace.” Since Christ has redeemed us from the law (Gal. 4:5) God says to every true believer:
“Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Gal. 5:1).
Poor Man Husband Casserole
This easy and cheap casserole recipe is super tasty and will keep your wallet happy.
Ingredients
• 1 pound ground beef
• garlic to taste
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 cans (8-ounces) tomato sauce
• 8 ounces egg noodles
• 8 ounces sour cream
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 1 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
1- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2- Cook and drain ground beef.
3- Mix beef with garlic, salt, sugar and tomato sauce. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
4- Cook and drain egg noodles.
5- Mix sour cream and cream cheese together in a small bowl.
6- Layer, in order twice – noodles, sour cream mixture, meat. Sprinkle Cheddar cheese on top.
7- Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
DAILY SMILE & A WORD...
2nd Father: Does he smoke?
1st Father: No, he doesn't.
2nd Father: Does he drink whiskey?
1st Father: No, he doesn't.
2nd father: Does he ever come home late?
1st Father: No, he doesn't.
2nd Father: I guess you really do have the perfect son. How old is he?
1st Father: He will be six months old next Wednesday.
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“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” - John 3:16-17
This does not mean that God approved the conduct of men, but that he had benevolent feelings toward them, or was “earnestly desirous” of their happiness. God hates wickedness, but he still desires the Happiness of those who are sinful. “He hates the sin, but loves the sinner.” A parent may love his child and desire his welfare, and yet be strongly opposed to the conduct of that child. When we approve the conduct of another, this is the love of complacency; when we desire simply their happiness, this is the love of benevolence.
I'm glad you could join me for today's content, and I look forward to bringing you more next time!
Until then, bye-bye!
Joe Cosity
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