Parashat Behar 2022

Lev 25:1-26:2, Luke 4:16-21 Preparing for Pentecost (Shavuot): Evangelism

In Luke 4:8, Yeshua read from the scroll of Isaiah (Is 61:1) and stated, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” Many have written about ways to reach the lost and hurting. The truth is that evangelism takes place in many forms both in and out of the congregation, but in this article we will look at personal evangelism, specifically one-on-one soul winning.

There is no one way to do personal evangelism. It can be as easy as sharing your testimony. Think about when God called us. How did God work? We had a need, he called us to him to meet it, then we found truth in the scriptures. The late T.F. Tenny aptly stated that "the truth was a person before he became a doctrine." If we are going to be a witness we need to minister to the person. This is why our testimony is so valuable. In evangelism we are not only using our testimony, we are helping others find theirs.

The evangelism process in a nutshell. Evangelism is a process of propagating the Gospel. We are inviting people to love God and walk as we do. We must lead a life of prayer and dependency on God. We must above all lead a life that is free and clear of unbiblical conduct and unholy things. We must love and value the people we reach out to as a part of God’s heart and heritage.

The propagation of the Gospel is a relationship-oriented endeavor. We cannot be spiritual vending machines that simply dispense spiritual knowledge. We are not spiritual consultants that tell people what to fix and then vanish with no real involvement or concern for their lives. We are also not hit and run evangelists where our efforts and time are focused on a single interaction and if we do not get a response we move on. People are not numbers and we are not salesmen. We are the hands and feet of Yeshua. If we love people with the love of God we are going to be at risk. We will get dirty and at some point, our hearts will be broken. But loving others, evangelizing, and discipleship does not have to be a loose unorganized, haphazard undertaking. Some organization is good to keep our spiritual efforts fruitful.

Make a list of friends and family that you know. Remember that God is the evangelist. We will commit to pray for these people over the next 30 days. God may guide you on who to approach first. This may happen in several ways. He may show you a person in prayer. He may convict you on the spot to speak to someone in your circle. He may also allow you to enter into a conversation where a person opens up and are receptive to the Gospel.

Prayer is needed before approaching anyone. Pray that God opens their eyes to see the truth, take the callousness out of their heart, and the stops/plugs out of their ears. Pray for a "God moment" that he would help you to speak and know what to say. Many people are receptive to the Gospel while in stages of transition. Some are in crisis. Some feel the confirming pressure of God’s presence everywhere they go and do not know what to do with it. These people need someone to help them. Prayer and spiritual warfare also help to lift the powers of darkness as you pursue the purpose of God for each person on your list. Some people may be in a personal trial or crisis. This may be an outgrowth of the spiritual battle that is raging against them. Pray for a prepared heart. Pray that every seed planted is protected.

Be sensitive to God’s timing. Approach the person on the level of personal needs or personal interests. Let them know that you are there for them and give them hope. Offer prayer for their needs and tangible help where appropriate. Stress the fact that God loves them and is constantly wanting to reach out to his children. Ask a question, “what are you needing from God right now?” Making a relationship and promoting trust will set the stage for conversion and help people see that our faith works in real life. Never minimize anyone’s prior experience with God if they are from another messianic organization or Christian movement.

Invite them over for coffee, a meal, or just to sit down (Ps 1 works both ways: walk with them, stand with them, then sit with them). Teach them how to connect with God in light of their current issues, doubts, or fears. Get on a personal discipleship level with them. Stop the bleeding and give some hope. Be sensitive to how far each person wants to disclose. Some people are extroverts and some are introverts. Some people want to share things about themselves and others are more closed off. I recently heard someone speak about the acronym S.A.L.T. Start a conversation, ask a question, listen, and then tell the story. Stories are good because people can come in contact with the practical or relational portion of the Gospel without feeling “preached to”. The introvert may be more open to a pre-recorded bible study with literature to follow because they are private by nature and prefer to keep a distance between themselves and others. An extrovert will want more direct interaction. Whatever method works, progress with those who are asking questions and showing interest.

For the next two or three sessions focus on them. Do they have a history in church? Have they been wounded from bad church contacts? Do they have faith issues that prevent them from believing the word? Do they believe God can and does love them personally, or do they harbor resentment toward God? Make a relationship over the next two or three weeks. Be sensitive to their personal situation. They may need tangible help that you or the congregation may be able to assist them with. You may not be able to replace an air conditioner, but you could buy a box fan, bring them some groceries, or help them in a way they could not help themselves. They are looking for an indication that you are what you say you are and that you care. Invite them to meet others in the congregation. Plant a foundation that emphasizes God’s love for us and the reliability of his word as an effective way of life. Most important of all be a good friend that has a consistent witness.

In sessions four or five stress the importance of eternal salvation and the hope that God gives all of his children. Tell your testimony to them and look for similarities that may help them see God working in them as he did with you. Spend the next two or three sessions discussing our approach to God and the importance of true repentance. Ask if they are ready to pray. Do not rush anyone through repentance. Many times repentance is not a one-time meeting with God. It may take place over days or weeks. This is the most important foundational step. Baptism and receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost are both dependent on true repentance and a clean, honest heart. Do not rush people into baptism (mikvah). Answer their questions. Help them understand the role baptism plays in the life of a believer. Do not assume they will immediately receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. People are different. Some receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost sooner, some later. All of them receive it when they are ready. Instill confidence in God’s promise. Promote a focus on worship and praise, not speaking in tongues. God will take care of filling us when we worship.

Much of discipleship takes place in the structure of the preaching and congregation as the group walks out the purpose of God, applies scripture to life, and helps each other through trials. Discipleship can be done corporately or individually, but the continual walking out of godly living is an imperative. We must produce godly fruit, imitate God, and interact with the world in a way that makes God loveable.

Finally, help new believer make their own list of who they know and partner with them to pray over it for thirty days. Guide them on inviting people and help them reach and teach others. Everyone has a have a role in evangelizing and disciplining. We have a commission and privilege as sons of the King, to reach the lost world with the light and hope of Yeshua.

Rav Calev Lehrer Apostolic Messianic International-Gulf Coast