Evangelists Arise!
By Tom Shanklin
Evangelists arise! The hour demands it. It’s time for those who have received the sacred call to sound the herald message of salvation, to shout it from the roof tops.
Evangelists arise! Toss aside every excuse and begin to face the call of God on your life. Preach the Good News. Call sinners to repentance. Call the backslider back home. Sound the alarm. Let the people know. Jesus is coming soon. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
There are many ministries in Christ’s church, and all of them should evangelize. The pastor should do the work of the evangelist. The missionary should ring the Gospel bell. Every believer should stir themselves up to be witnesses of the grace of God. But, there are those who are called specifically for the work of evangelism. If you’re one, you know what I mean. Your heart beats insatiably for the lost. You’re dissatisfied with maintenance ministry. You long to leave the 99 and reach that one lost sheep.
Don’t be stuck in some ministry that doesn’t fit your spiritual DNA. Take steps to move into your destiny. Begin to preach the message of salvation. . . even if it’s to three people … even to one lost soul. Preach in nursing homes. Preach in jails. Preach in churches. Most churches in America and around the world now need to be evangelized. The divine flame has gone out and needs to be re-ignited with Gospel fire. Preach in prisons. Preach indoors. Preach outdoors. Preach to the young. Preach to the old. Preach to the dirty. Preach to the clean. Preach to the rich. Preach to the poor. Preach to all nations and tongues and tribes. Proclaim the Good News message. Jesus (indeed) saves! Calvary’s blessings are available now!
Evangelists arise! Prepare yourself. Study to show yourself approved. Engraft the word of His salvation into your heart as artillery against the power of sin, against a deceptive worldly philosophy that is robbing people of their faith in God. Ask the Lord to give you power to penetrate the hearts of man, to prick their conscience. Seek him for power to both convict and heal. Then practice. Activate your gift. Don’t cry over the doors that are closed. Run through the doors that are open. Get busy. Get moving. Evangelize!
I tell you, it won’t be easy. Many don’t understand. They think an evangelist is someone in a white suit on TV. They are ignorant of the biblical office of the evangelist. They don’t understand you are someone with a mission you cannot ignore, a terrible burden, with an incurable divine unction to crusade for him … to spread the message and call men and women, boys and girls to give their lives to Jesus. Yes, it may be a hard road in the natural sense, but it’s the best path, because it’s the directional imperative of your calling, and your place of fruitfulness in service to the Lord. As you take His yoke upon you, your burden will become light. Jesus will take over in your life and give you rest in the midst of your labors.
This is your region of harvest, where the fields are white. This is the sweet part of the bat for you, your power zone. Now is the time! Today is the hour of glory for your ministry. This is the day of the evangelist, because a world gone astray desperately needs that gift now. The church must see the true gift of the evangelist in action, and taste the passion of your heart and respond to the heartbeat of God that is in you. Now is the time that God has called you to step out and fulfill your destiny. Don’t be distracted. Keep your focus. Keep your eyes on the white fields.
Jesus weeps for a lost and dying world. He longs for His body to arise and reach the lost. The evangelist’s anointing is the key to the harvest, not only through his or her preaching, but also through the release of that anointing into the body of Christ at large. The evangelist’s anointing must be released into Christ’s body, the church. Intercessors, pray for that gift now. It is the hour of the evangelist! You will see the harvest come as the evangelists arise.
Yes, thank God for every gift. Each one is essential. But today I’m talking to you, evangelist. Arise! Arise! Arise! Like the men on the ship with Jonah, the world is crying, dying and sighing, and saying, “Awake you sleeper!”
Oh, hear the word of the Lord. You are desperately needed now, even if no one else sees it! Your role is crucial. Your hour has come! Don’t listen to the voices around you that say, “Sit in your comfortable church. Stay with your nice carpeting and fancy pulpit.” No. no, no, you are part of the redemptive plan, You are a catalyst. You are a harvesting machine and a leader among the fishers of men. You are commissioned by Almighty God. Hear the word of the Lord, “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel.” Rise up now and go, in Jesus name. Amen.
This post originally appeared on the Tom Shanklin Ministries website in October 2011.
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