Motives of Evangelism- Conclusion

Part 4- Love of obedience to God

The reason why obedience to God is the final aspect of our motives for evangelism is not because it is the last important but rather because it is often times stressed beyond the other three. Obedience to God is key and it is what shows a clear distinction between those who are serving the world with its desires and those who are serving God. However, at worst we seek to serve God simply for obedience sake, at best we are working through and for Him out of love for the sacrifice of our Savior on the cross. Ritualism is not the goal of evangelism, and evangelism ought not be elevated to a doctrine as and end in itself, it is an all encompassing obedience. It is obedience from a heart of worship, form a desire to see Gods name glorified, from a desire to grow, and a desire to see other people lifting up the name of God and Jesus.

The key passage that shows evangelism as a command comes form Matthew 28:18-19 where it states, “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. GO therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…’” There is no question as to the meaning of the command, or to the calling to which we as believers have been called. However, some encouragement along the way as we seek to have a motive of obedience to God in the realm of evangelism is as follows.

First, Christ has been given all authority to command and expect our obedience, in the same way He has given us authority to speak and to live in obedience. This is a powerful concept if viewed in the means that God has or us. We have authority in this given world as sons and heirs of the kingdom of God to instruct and teach people about their savior Jesus Christ. We have authority to speak forth truth that does not change with cultural movements and is not bound by cultural view points. We have the authority and the competence to instruct people away form worthless and dead idols and works into a vibrant and living relationship with their Savior, and that is something worth being obedient to! We are sons not slaves and therefore it is not sinful to use the authority God has given us, or even to speak with the authority that God has given us when we take the gospel out. Two individuals who we see in the scripture using God’s authority rightly are Peter and Paul.

Peter in the instance with Simon the magician realizes the wickedness of his [Simon’s] desire to buy the power of God and says this, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you…” This kind of reaction can only be accomplished by obedience to God and the speaking by the authority and truth that He has given.

Paul is another example of the authority of God when he speaks to Elymas. Paul had been preaching to the proconsul but Elymas was poisoning the ear of the proconsul. Paul’s response is this, “But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, ‘You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” One cannot speak and give an intent glare such as Paul without the authority and power of God behind them. This is not, however, to say that every time we enter into evangelism that we must speak as forcefully as Paul; rather it is to show the authority by which we are able to speak. We are sons of the maker of the universe, we have all authority to speak the truth of our Father and Creator God to all people, and God is pleased when we do!

Second, we are able to do the commands of God. This may not at the outset seem to be an encouragement. But for those who are serving God’s purpose and will it is. 1 John 5:3 states, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” There is a unique aspect to Christian service in which we enjoy and love doing the commands of God. At times it may seem difficult and our flesh may seek to hinder our serving Him but those are the times when we come to God all the more fervently in prayer seeking a right heart and mind towards obedience to Him. Our desire is to accomplish ALL that God has commanded and calls, so that we might walk worthy of the calling to which we have been called. We seek to accomplish His will and work in every aspect of our lives, which is precisely why we cannot make evangelism an end in itself, as if once we are evangelizing our obedience to God is complete. It is not, for obedience to God is seen in doing all that is right and pure and true and continuing steadfastly in His grace and power. Evangelism is just one more opportunity for Christians to walk in obedience to Him, and for that we ought to be thankful! For the Christian to think God’s thoughts, live God’s actions, and pursue holiness and godliness in the grace of God, we MUST incorporate into our lives some types of speaking of the Gospel of God. We must seek to align our motives and desires to God’s and in so doing complete and fulfill ALL that He has called us to. Be encouraged, and continue to pray that God might work in you a heart to be obedient to Him in seeking His glory, in seeking individuals faithfully serving Him, in seeking growth and effectiveness in every area of our lives, and in living obediently for Him. As we do this, we will have more of a heart for people and for the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ.