The Shepherd's Staff, World MAP's

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ACTS excerpt, continued from page 11
• Do I pray for more boldness, in order to best
preach Christ?
• Have I fasted and prayed this month?
• Do I know what the Bible says about praying
and trusting God for finances, so that the
provision will be there to provide for my family
AND my ministry?
• Do I have a mentor to help me? Have I asked
God for someone to train me?
• Is there a man or woman I should ask to invest
time and work into my life and ministry?
• Have I prayed and asked God to show me
other men or women I must train and help in
evangelism? If so, what am I doing about it?
• Am I disciplined in my walk with God or am I
lazy?
• Do I spend good, nurturing time with my
spouse and children?
• Do I put things off or do I work hard, keep my
commitments and honor my word?
• Is my thought life pure? Does my thought life
belong totally to God?
• Do I read the Bible and other Christian books
to help me grow?
• Do I work with pastors to help fill their churches
or plant new ones?
• Have I read and studied – and do I follow – the
qualifications in Scripture for those who are
called to leadership in Christ’s Church?
(1Tim 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9)
Use this list to give yourself – and fellow evangelists
– reminders and encouragement.
A Cost To Be An Effective Evangelist
It is not easy to be in ministry, but the rewards
of obedience to Christ’s call far outweigh the hardships.
Seeing people come to Christ is one of the
greatest rewards we can have
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on earth. The Bible teaches that he who wins
[brings] souls is wise (Prov 11:30).
There are eternal rewards awaiting all who are
obedient and faithful to Christ. For those who influence
others for righteousness, Daniel 12:3 states:
“Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness
of the firmament, and those who turn many
to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.”
The fruit of the Gospel and telling others about
Christ is eternal fruit that will remain! God will both
comfort and reward those who serve Him with faith
and devotion.
Jesus understands better than any other the
trials and opposition that we face in this life as His
disciples. But we have His great example and can
endure, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher
of our faith, who for the joy that was set before
Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and
has sat down at the right hand of the throne of
God” (Heb 12:2).
Christ’s joy included knowing that His death
would bring us back into relationship with God, His
Father – our heavenly Father! We believers are
also Christ’s joy, His beloved Bride for whom He
anxiously waits (Eph 5:25-27; Rev 19:7-9).
Bringing other people to salvation through Jesus
should be our joy, also.
Fulfilling God’s call upon your life may cost you
a great deal. There is a cost to every believer to
give up riches, selfishness and fleshly desire and
become like Jesus.
As you give up your life to live Christ’s life of
sacrifice, you will do more of what Your Father is
doing. You will see more of God’s power and
presence with you. As you remain disciplined and
faithful, you will become more skilled at winning
souls, and in becoming a “fisher of men”
(Matt 4:19). You will grow in wisdom, and be rich in
the things of God. Serving God with our lives is
well worth any cost to us! (1Cor 9:19-22)
Personal Life Of The Evangelist
An evangelist – like all believers – must
strive to live pure and upright before God.
He or she must have right relationships
with their family and community.
Fruits of the flesh, such as wrath or
being judgmental, will reflect badly
in your preaching. Treating your
wife or children poorly displeases
God, and affects the reliability of
your witness to others. Cheating
someone gives Christ, whom you
represent, a bad name. Saying you
will do a thing and then not doing it
is dishonest and ungodly. Your sinful
behavior must be dealt with in
order that you represent Christ for