THE DESIRE FOR EVANGELISM PART 2 OF 10

TEXT- MATTHEW 4:18-22

INTRODUCTION

TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE US TO CONTINUE WITH OUR STUDY ON THE TOPIC OF EVANGELISM.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO PARTICIPATE AND JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TOGETHER TONIGHT.

OUR TEXT TONIGHT IS FOUND IN MATTHEW 4:18-22 AND THE TITLE OF OUR LESSON IS, "THE DESIRE FOR EVANGELISM."

IN THESE VERSES WE FIND JESUS CALLING OUT HIS DISCIPLES WHO WERE FISHING FOR FISH AT THE TIME AND TELLING THEM, "FOLLOW ME, AND I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN."

FIRST HE CALLED PETER AND HIS BROTHER ANDREW WHO WERE CASTING THEIR NET.

ACCORDING TO VERSE 20, HOW DID THEY RESPOND TO THIS CALL?

IT SAYS, "AND THEY IMMEDIATELY LEFT THE NETS, AND FOLLOWED HIM."

THEN HE CALLED JAMES AND HIS BROTHER JOHN WHO WERE MENDING THEIR NETS.

ACCORDING TO VERSE 22, HOW DID THEY RESPOND?

IT SAYS, "AND THEY IMMEDIATELY LEFT THE BOAT AND THEIR FATHER, AND FOLLOWED HIM."

WHAT DOES THE WORD "IMMEDIATELY" MEAN TO YOU?

A. EXCITEMENT
B. EAGERNESS
C. WILLINGNESS
D. DESIRE

IN ORDER TO BE EFFECTIVE IN EVANGELISM WE MUST FIRST HAVE A DESIRE TO WIN LOST PEOPLE TO CHRIST.

ON SEPTEMBER 2ND MY WIFE AND I WILL BE GOING ON VACATION TO WYOMING WHERE I AM PLANNING TO DO SOME MAJOR FISHING.

I'VE GOT THE BUG TO GO FISHING SO BAD THAT I AM EVEN DREAMING ABOUT IT.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A DESIRE TO FISH, YOU PROBABLY WON'T GO FISHING.

A FISHERMAN WILL GET UP AT ANY HOUR IN THE MORNING, GO ANYWHERE, SUFFER EVERY IMAGINABLE DISCOMFORT (INCLUDING COLD, HEAT AND RAIN), SPEND MORE MONEY THAN HE SHOULD ON EQUIPMENT AND TRIPS, READ ALL THAT HE CAN READ ABOUT FISHING, AND EVEN PUT UP WITH THE RIDICULE FROM NON-FISHERMEN, ALL BECAUSE HE DESIRES TO FISH.

A PASTOR OF A CHURCH IN PENNSYLVANIA WAS SHOWING A MAN THROUGH THEIR BUILDING. IT WAS A LITTLE OLD BUT IT HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF WELL AND WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. IT WAS ALSO RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM A MAJOR UNIVERSITY OF 35,000 STUDENTS. THE CHURCH HAD ONCE HAD A MEMBERSHIP OF OVER 400 PEOPLE, BUT AT THE PRESENT IT ONLY HAD 50. AS THE MAN WALKED THROUGH THE BUILDING LOOKING AT ALL THE EMPTY ROOMS HE BEGAN THINK ABOUT THE THINGS THE CHURCH COULD DO TO REACH MORE PEOPLE AND START GROWING AGAIN. HE ASKED THE PASTOR IF THEY HAD EVER THOUGHT ABOUT HAVING A PRESCHOOL SO THEY COULD ESTABLISH CONTACTS WITH MARRIED STUDENTS AND BEGIN A MINISTRY FOR YOUNG COUPLES. THE PASTOR SAID THAT THE IDEA HAD BEEN PRESENTED IN THE PAST BUT HAD BEEN VOTED DOWN BY THE CHURCH. THEN THE MAN SUGGESTED THAT THEY TURN THEIR FELLOWSHIP HALL INTO A LUNCH AND STUDY HALL FOR STUDENTS AND BEGIN A COLLEGE MINISTRY. "NO, THAT TOO WAS PRESENTED IN THE PAST BUT HAD ALSO BEEN VOTED DOWN BY THE CHURCH," SAID THE PASTOR. "WHO DO THESE GUYS THINK THEY ARE?" SAID THE MAN. "DO THEY THINK THIS IS THEIR BUILDING? THIS IS GOD'S BUILDING, THEY DON'T OWN IT. THEY MUST THINK IT IS THEIR JOB TO PRESERVE THIS BUILDING FOR GOD UNTIL THE SECOND COMING! GOD'S NOT GOING TO NEED THIS BUILDING THEN! THEY SHOULD BE USING IT UP TO SAVE PEOPLE BEFORE JESUS RETURNS!"

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS CHURCH IS THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GROW.

NO MATTER WHAT THEY MAY HAVE SAID, THEIR ACTIONS - OR LACK OF THEM - REVEALED THEIR REAL ATTITUDE.

THEY DIDN'T WANT ANY CONTACT WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD.

AS INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIANS AND AS A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH WE OUGHT TO BE EAGER TO GET OUT AND GO FISHING FOR MEN.

EVERY TIME YOU GET A CHANCE TO FISH - GO!

GOD'S DESIRES FOR PEOPLE TO BE SAVED.

1 TIMOTHY 2:3-4, "THIS IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD OUR SAVIOR, [4] WHO DESIRES ALL MEN TO BE SAVED AND TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH."

2 PETER 3:9, "THE LORD IS NOT SLOW ABOUT HIS PROMISE, AS SOME COUNT SLOWNESS, BUT IS PATIENT TOWARD YOU, NOT WISHING FOR ANY T