EVANGELISM IN PENTECOSTALISM

By Bassey Edet

Nigeria.

Introduction

Evangelism is simply, taking the Good News of Christ to the lost Sinner, it means reaching the unreached with the gospel of Christ. This is the heartbeat of God. This was the very reason Jesus came into the world. The central message of the bible is getting Sinners Saved, and setting the captives free from the bondage of Satan and Sin.

This not an optional mission, a negotiable venture but a direct command from our master "Go ye into the world and preach---" (Matt 28:19). It is a task for all believers that attracts external rewards.

Christians whom God saved and whose hearts God has touched with the burden of lost souls most be ready to sacrifices their time, money effort, convenience and prestige.

Understanding the Task of Evangelism.

v Evangelism is the heartbeat of God - Ezekiel 33:11,18:23,3:18, 11Peter 3:9.

v It was the mission of Jesus Christ - Matt 1:18, John 3:16.

v It was the mission of the disciples- Lk. 10:1-11

v It is a command from Jesus Christ - His last statement to his disciples and those yet unborn-Matt. 28:19, Lk9: 1-2, Act1: 8.

v The early church practiced it - Act 2:37.

v It is the work of wise men - Prov.11: 30

v It carries external reward -11 Tim. 4:7

v It is the believers responsibility- Ezekiel 33:1-6, Prov. 24:11-12 it is the purpose of our existence.

v External existence of man’s soul - Mk. 9:43-48, Lk. 16:19-13, Matt. 10:28 lives beyond physical life.

v The battle for soul’s possession - Lk 11:21-33, Eph 6:11-12. Either for God or Satan.

v The shortness of time - Jn 9:4, 5:14-16, 11 Cor. 6:1

Requirement for Effective Soul Winning

(1) Assurance of one’s own Salvation: one can effectively speaks of what he knows, experience and is convicted personally. Jn 3:11, 11Cor 3:12

(2) Personal conviction that men are lost without Christ: All religion does not lead man back to God. There on salvation in any other name-

(a) The unsaved is dead, needing regeneration, reconnected to life- source. Eph 2:1, 4:18,Jn 3:36,1Jn 5:1. Physical death-separation of spirit from body, Spiritual death-separation of a Sinner from God.

(b) The unsaved man is lost, needing salvation: man needs to be delivered from the power of inherent sinful nature. Rm. 7:18-24, Lk.19:10, IICor. 4:3.

(c) The unsaved man is slave-needing redemption: Man was sold to Devil by Adam, but Jesus paid the reason price to buy us back. Jn.8: 34, Rm. 6:20, Lk.4: 18, Mk.10: 45, Gal. 3:13.

(d) The unsaved man is blind spiritually needing illumination: Their understanding is darkened to spiritual realities His spiritual eyes must be enlightened. Eph. 4:18, 11Cor. 4:4-6, Jn8: 12, 9:5, Eph. 5:8, 4:18.

(e) The unsaved man is a rebel, needing reconciliation: He is rebellion, antagonistic and hostile to his creator in his attitudes: Rm. 5:10, 8:7-8, Cor 1: 21.

(f) The unsaved is a criminal, needing Justification: man is a sinner by nature. Sin is the breaking of the law and a crime against God and His mural government. Ps 51:5, Rm. 8:5-9, 3:10-19,23. Gal. 2:16. Man needs to be acquitted and discharged form the prison of sin.

(g) The unsaved Dirty, Smelling, needing Sanctification. The odor of sin stings in the nose of God. Man needs to be cleansed and washed thoroughly from sin. Ps. 51:17, Isa.1: 18.

(h) The unsaved man is a debtor, needing pardon. God loaned man a life for which he will give account. No good works, religious exercises and resolutions, self -righteousness can pay this debts. Jesus paid it by His precious blood. Isa.43: 24, 44:22, Act3: 19. The next requirement for effective Evangelism is

(3) A right relationship with Jesus Christ: one cannot carryout instructions of somebody he dose not love. Since is done out of love you must be daily connected to him in a cordial fellowship and relationship. Jn14: 15, 15:10, Rm.5: 5, Gal2:20, 11Tim4:4-8.

(4) A good knowledge of God’s word: Since the word of God produces conviction of sin and reveals the way of salvation, it must be studies, researched and quoted with skillfulness.11Tim2: 15, 3:14-15, Act 2:37.

(5) Courage and Boldness: There is a natural timidity about each one of us. God knows your personality and disposition. The Holy Spirit in you makes you bold and courageous.

(6) Holy Spirit guidance: This enable you know how to approach a particular person, the right word to use and the best way to do it. He directs you to the ripe soul in the right time. John4: 9, 29.

(7) A sound prayer life: a praying Christian, is a winning Christian. It helps you arrest the demons and evil influences manipulating their lives. Prayer is the fuel that keeps your desire, enthusiasm and zeal burning for more souls.

Hindrances to Effective Evangelism.

(1) Fear and intimidation of Men: Many Christians are silenced from carrying out this task for fear of reproach and ridicule of Men. The way they treated Jesus with despised, rejected and antagonistic, has not charged. You must fight inferiority complex and face every opposition courageously, Prov.29: 25, Jn.15: 18-21, Matt.5: 11-12,Acts

(2) Prayerlessness: To neglect prayer is to lose Sensitiveness to the leading of the spirit. Good prayer time prepares you for effective service. Jesus sometimes prayed throughout the night.Isa.11: 2-3,Lk.18: 1,6:12. Matt. 9:37-38, Josh.6: 17-18.

(3) Keeping Secret Sin (s): Every secret sin or harmful habit defiles your conscience, beclouds your spiritual faculties, weakens your spiritual sensitiveness and leading, and robs you of the sweet fellowship and communion with the Holy Spirit.

(4) Ignorance of God’s Word: you need to have a good knowledge of what God says about sin, sinner’s heaven, hell and salvation etc. you need to support your testimony with God’s word. Isa.50: 4-5, 11Tim.2: 15, Isa.1: 8.

(5) Lack of Compassion for Sinners: Some Christians are selfish and careless over the condition of men’s souls outside Christ. Many spend time over their business and private lift. Genuine compassion makes you go extra miles for a single soul. Mk.6: 34, Matt.14: 14,Lk.17: 13.

(6) Spiritual Insensitiveness: Many will men’s or misuse the opportunity’s to invites Christ, when they are not sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

General Principles and Approaches for Effective Evangelism.

The task of soul winning is to study the best method(s) to reach the intellect, arrest stir the emotions and bring the will to surrender to Christ. Many have attempted to do a good thing using the wrong method. No good method is best for everyone.

(1) Tactfully introduce a conversation.

(2) Skillfully use God’s word to probe deep and expose situations

(3) Explain God’s love for him and make plain his condition.

(4) Introduce Christ and urge him to accept Him.

(5) Get him to confess Christ and pray with him.

(6) Invites him to a weekly fellowship before Sunday service.

(7) Promise a re-visit, which you must keep.

Part- Two.

(1) Do not be untidy or Overdressed in appearance

(2) Do not monopolies the conversation

(3) Don’t deal with the opposite sex alone except where necessary.

(4) Avoid unnecessary Biblical arguments

(5) Do not be discouraged by apparent failure, and rejection.

(6) Be patient and never lose your temper.

(7) Use your language you are familiar with and is understood by the other person.

(8) Do not use too many scriptures or misquote them

(9) Use your personal experiences with Christ to illustrate facts.

(10) Do not be afraid to say, "I don’t know" to biblical questions you cannot answer.

(11) Do not be unduly familiar, but do not withhold a smile where necessary.

(12) Do not choose a person who is too much your senior.

(13) Be careful of backslidden Christians

May the Holy Spirit guide you in this rewarding venture, God bless you.

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Chinese product scares prompt US fears

By Laura Smith-Spark BBC News, Washington

More products are being imported to the US from China than ever before - but a series of scares has left some wondering whether they are safe.

From pet food to toothpaste, tyres to jewellery and seafood to toys, questions have been raised over the reliability of Chinese-made goods.

While there have been no human casualties to date in the US, the risks presented by unsafe goods are clear.

The deaths of some 51 people in Panama have been blamed on cough syrup tainted with Chinese-made diethylene glycol, commonly used in antifreeze. The same chemical has been found in toothpastes from China sold in the US and Canada.

Earlier this year, more than 100 brands of cat and dog food were pulled from the shelves in the US after pets died from eating food contaminated with the chemical melamine, traced back to wheat gluten from China.

With Chinese imports totalling $288bn last year - nearly triple the figure of five years ago - is enough being done to protect consumers?

'Time needed'

The execution for corruption on Tuesday of the former head of China's State Food and Drug Administration, Zheng Xiaoyu, suggests Beijing is keen to show it is taking the problem seriously.

CHINESE PRODUCT SCARES Pet food - tainted with chemical melamine Toothpaste - tainted with chemical diethylene glycol and bacteria Farmed fish - traces of banned drugs and pesticides found Tyres - fault may cause blow-outs Toys - contain lead or pose choking hazard Children's jewellery - contains lead Ceramic heaters - pose fire safety risk

But part of the problem is that the speed of China's expansion into the global export market has not been matched by the growth of a countrywide regulatory infrastructure.

The Chinese authorities say they are making efforts to improve supervision of safety standards, but that it will take time for them to catch up with the West.

American officials whose job it is to ensure the safety of imported products acknowledge there are problems - but say they are doing all they can to identify suspect goods.

For example, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently imposed a nationwide hold on the import of five types of farmed fish and seafood from China.

Some shipments were found to have traces of antibiotics and disinfectants that are banned in US fish production. Other inspections uncovered fish products described as "filthy" or tainted with salmonella and pesticides.

The US imports about a fifth of its seafood from China.

'Out of nowhere'

Another danger comes when contaminants which would not normally be tested for end up in the food chain - such as melamine, a chemical used in plastic products which caused kidney failure in pets.

David Acheson, the FDA's assistant commissioner for food safety, said: "The bottom line message is to focus the testing on areas where we have identified problems. We cannot even begin to test on everything.

"There are certain things we can predict are going to be a problem because we've seen it before, other countries have had the problem... but sometimes things come out of nowhere, completely unexpected. The melamine was an example of that."

Meanwhile the FDA has to juggle the need to avoid inaccurate advice or over-reaction with the desire to warn people of a potential risk as quickly as possible.

"I would always like us to react faster. We react as quickly as we can on the information we have," Mr Acheson said.

The FDA does not have the resources to send lots of inspectors into China, Mr Acheson added, so is working with the Chinese authorities to address the issues.

'Very scary'

Of course, China is not the only country to experience food safety problems.

US-grown spinach last year caused an E.coli outbreak that left one woman dead and some 200 others unwell. The FDA has previously halted imports of Mexican cantaloupes because of salmonella.

The difference, however, seems to be the frequency with which Chinese products are being pulled up.

Dietician Ruth Frechman, a California-based member of the American Dieticians' Association, says the recent run of scares has heightened people's anxieties.

While no clients have yet asked her for advice on avoiding Chinese products, she says, one has started making her own dog food following the pet food alert.

The chief problem is that food labels do not identify where all the ingredients have come from - and even restaurants and wholesalers may not know, Ms Frechman said.

"It's very scary for consumers and really as a consumer you have no idea that the product is even coming from China... so there's really not a lot the consumer can do," she said.

Toxic lead

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which monitors the safety of imported non-food goods, says it has seen increased concern among consumers.

Its officials are seeking to co-operate with their Chinese counterparts, with CPSC inspectors travelling to factories in Beijing, Shanghai and big manufacturing regions.

"The first step for us is to educate all of those people who we are working with on US safety standards. Many of those standards have saved lives," CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson said.

"Our goal is to see as much progress as we can - and what that might mean here for us in the US is fewer recalls of Chinese-made products."

Overall, at least 60% of recalls issued by the agency since last October have involved goods from China.

In the first week of July alone, they included hammock stands, children's toys and metal jewellery, all of which were potentially dangerous.

One of the biggest recalls, in June, involved some 1.5m Thomas and Friends toy trains containing lead paint, which can be toxic to young children if swallowed.

Mr Wolfson urges consumers, particularly worried parents, to subscribe to the CPSC's free e-mail alerts for the latest advice.

Success story

A lesson may lie in the approach taken by the fireworks industry, which has focused on education and stringent product testing within China.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, standards for Chinese-made fireworks were so low that as many as 75% failed US safety tests.

To tackle the problem, US importers were encouraged to pay for a testing operation set up in China - the American Fireworks Standards Laboratory (AFSL) - to monitor production straight from the assembly line.

At least three-quarters of US fireworks importers are signed up to the scheme and the lab has about 50 technicians in China.

Since 1994, injury rates among US consumers have dropped by more than two-thirds and sales of fireworks have increased greatly. About 99% of the fireworks used in the US come from China.

John Rogers, executive director of the AFSL, said: "It's had a very positive impact for the American public, for the government that regulates fireworks and obviously for the companies."

He admits that initially Chinese factories "weren't happy" about the AFSL's checks but, as Chinese-language guidelines were produced to help them meet US requirements, attitudes changed.

"What the manufacturers understand is that safer, better quality fireworks translates into bigger sales, so now they like what we do," he said.

"I think that every industry that imports products from China could very well benefit from this kind of a programme."

Of course, the majority of goods imported from China are perfectly safe - but until standards improve across the board, US consumers must rely on officials to sift out potential hazards before they cause harm.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6275758.stm