Today we are continuing on the topic of evangelism. In this series, the main point is that Christians are soul winners. To recap, evangelism is an act of God, is carried out by all Christians, is preparing for Jesus’ return, is a harvesting, is the act of the few but faithful (the Christian), is an act of prayer, and is an act of complete obedience.
Furthermore, soul-winning is an act of total dependence on God. If we depend on ourselves, then we depend on our knowledge, our experience, and eventually our authority. This type of evangelism can only end in disaster because it cannot win the spiritual battle over one’s soul. Jesus says, “I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves”. This almost sounds like a joke. It’s absurd and suicidal to send lambs out against wolves. That’s not a fight, that’s a feeding. The wolves represent the world that is full of danger and enemies (John 16:2-3). Jesus is saying the lambs must trust and depend on Him.
Wolves are carnivores and they eat lambs. Why does Jesus use this unfair and lopsided comparison? First Corinthians 1:27 says God uses the foolish to shame the wise and the weak to shame the strong. This is the declaration of God’s power and confidence. Jesus says “I send you”. It doesn’t matter who we are, we’re just lambs, but what matters is who sends us. Jesus sends us. Jesus is the I AM, the eternal self-existent God who rules over all things (John 8:58, Isaiah 45:5) and He is the one who sends to win souls. When Jesus sends us it means He is with us. His sending is not farewell and good luck, but assuring us that He is behind us and with us. Whenever you speak, Jesus speaks. If they reject you, then they reject Jesus (Luke 10:16).
To further clarify the need for trust and dependence on Him, Jesus tells them to not carry any money belt, bag or shoes. Simplicity and minimalism is a universal principle in evangelism. Evangelism is not strong or effective because of money or things. What we need is Jesus. We must be faithful to Jesus. Our evangelism fails because we forget that we are just mouthpieces for Christ. Many have misapplied 1 Peter 3:15 by preparing in an earthly way and relying on that preparation. The way we must prepare for evangelism is to sanctify Jesus as Lord in our hearts. By clarifying Jesus as Lord in our hearts we will depend on Him. This Lordship of Jesus rooted in our hearts results in powerful hope that is more effective than any program or strategy.
Evangelism requires urgency. “Greet no one on the way.” This restriction seems unfriendly or rude. However, Jesus is warning against being distracted by trivial things. The verb tense commands us urgently to not delay the act of evangelism. Like a fire truck on the way to the fire with its light flashing and siren blaring, we should go quickly to those who need the gospel because their situation is urgent. The life of an unbeliever is uncertain, unpredictable, and short (James 4:12-14). We never know when someone will die and face judgment. We must go quickly unless we regret our delays (John 3:18, Hebrews 9:27).
The reality of hell also puts urgency in our evangelism. Hell is more horrible than we can imagine. Jesus clearly described the horrors of hell. There will be no end to weeping and gnashing of teeth. People in hell will beg for one drop of water but be denied any relief for all eternity. Multitudes upon multitudes of people will end up there without the gospel. They must be warned and pleaded with to repent and believe in Jesus Christ so they might be saved.
Jesus sends us to evangelize and true disciples follow Jesus before all things (Luke 9:59-60). There should be no delay. Respond to the call. Love is the first sign of true conversion. We used to love the world but now we love Jesus. So we respond to His calling by loving the lost as He loved us.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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