In-house Evangelism

Rev Gideon Lee

To see our family and children come to know the Lord. It's our responsibility.

Acts 16:31

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household.”

We often quote this scripture and claim it for the salvation of our family. This does not happen automatically. We can claim it but I want to say it does not come automatically.

When you are the first in the family to be saved, it'll pave the way for your family members. But it takes work on our side. We need to pray and work actively.

In the corporate world we hear the term outsource. To give it to another company to do certain project in the overall scheme of things. But the salvation of your family cannot be outsourced. It has to start with us.

Many of us here have come to know the Lord though our family members and that's why we're here. It is one of the most effective. We have a mandate and responsibility to see our family members to come to the Lord.

Acts 16:6-10

Paul’s Vision of the Man of Macedonia

6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

See how it was that the Holy Spirit that led them. How the Holy Spirit orchestrated the whole thing and it is integral to salvation. We cannot do the work of evangelism without the Holy Spirit. He wants to lead you to someone you can share the gospel with. How many of us have lost the edge? When we were first saved we were so excited to share.  That Holy Spirit is the same now and can lead you.

There was once I was in a public bus and the Lord asked me to share with a stranger beside me. It was scary but God can lead you.

Acts 16:11-15

Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi

11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.

13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.

14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

It is not a cliché to say that evangelism starts at home. One of them was Andrew who introduced Simon Peter to Jesus. Then Peter led his mother-in-law to Jesus. Paul speaks of Timothy and he could trace that it was his mother and grandmother that grounded his faith.

I believe that it is still possible today. In church your spouse, your children, your grandfather is here. Evangelism starts by bringing a family member. Think of a relative that don't know the Lord or has backslided.

Ephesians 6:4

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Fathers have a responsibility that our children come to know the Lord. We need to bring them up in the fear of the Lord. We all want our children to be trained when young so that they shall not depart from the Lord. They will remember when they grow up.

The revelation of the gospel.

Acts 16:13

On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.

It was at the riverside and a group of women were gathered there. Paul was directed by the Holy Spirit. It is interesting to see that there was a woman by the name of Lydia. And Paul shared to them the gospel. But Paul was not the one to save Lydia. Paul was just the vessel to bring the gospel. Paul allowed the Holy Spirit to use him.

The revelation of the gospel starts with you being a vessel, a mouthpiece. But sadly some of us keep our mouth shut. Sad that even some of our colleagues don't know we're a Christian. Can we start when we become a vessel and allow the Lord to use us. Obedience is important here.  Lydia's whole household was saved. Paul was a vessel that caused the conviction.

We don't like it when the person we share with says something not nice about Jesus but we need to understand that it's God who does it.

The revelation of the gospel - It is the work of the Holy Spirit.

If we share the gospel without the power of the Holy Spirit, it does not make sense. It takes the Holy Spirit. If you tell a person he is a sinner it will not make sense if he is a pious person. The gospel message will not be believable without the Holy Spirit.

Don't get dejected if they say no to you especially your family members. But I encourage you to be a vessel. If I tell you, you and your household will be saved do you believe it? Let's decide to be a vessel and that we will not do it in our own strength.

Our job is to share. Be a mouthpiece. The revelation came to Lydia and her whole family came to the Lord.

Sometimes we are so excited when we share and the person come to the Lord. My first person I shared to said no. Research says it may take as much as 7 times before a person may decide.

Jesus is coming back soon so we need to get ourselves and others ready. So we have to be obedient and let the Holy Spirit do the work through you.

Acts 16:14

One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

She was probably dyeing cloth by the river. Purple is a colour for royalty so she is probably very rich. It is very difficult to get that colour. It seems it's from a sea snail, to get the colour purple. This passage helps us deduce that Lydia was a rich person, yet here she is with an emptiness in her. The Bible also says she worship God yet is not saved. She's probably good in doing her religious duties and pious yet she was not saved. There was something missing in her life. When the good news came to her she responded and was saved.

The revelation of the gospel can fall on both fertile ground or hard ground.

Lydia was ready. What we need to understand is that everybody needs Jesus. There is a hole that only Jesus can fill.

Sometimes we think a person who has everything does not need Jesus. We need to get it right from the start, everybody needs Jesus. If not we become judge and jury and decide who needs Jesus. Even Lydia needed Jesus. When the gospel was preached to her she opened her heart and she became the way for the rest of her family to come to the Lord.

The revelation of the gospel is the reach of the gospel.

Acts 16:15

When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

The gospel can reach your family members. Not only Lydia and her family but who else? Look at your Bible, who else got saved? The Philipian jailer was not only saved but his whole family. Once one in the family is saved, God will bring his blessings to those around them and even to the city. If we are faithful to the call. Will we be faithful to the call?

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Teach them to your children. Many of us here can be spiritual parents.

We have to make not converts but disciples. We bring a person to the Lord but then we need to disciple them. That we will do the work of discipleship. The work of evangelism cannot be outsourced. We have to reach our family. Discipleship takes time and we have to get our hands dirty to do discipling. Sometimes I feel we do not want to share the gospel because we do not want the work of discipleship.

In 1978, a person sued his parents for malpractice of parenting. USD350,000.00. He said his parents have blotched up his upbringing that he had to have psychiatric help.

I pray that when we stand before God we will not be guilty of the malpractice of parenting. The work of evangelism starts with us. We cannot outsource it to the pastor or to a programme.

The church grows the fastest when members bring their relatives. Because when you bring your auntie you can bring your uncle. It's a wonderful opportunity for us. When we bring our lost relatives to come to the Lord. Evangelism must go on and it must go with discipleship.

Pastor Gideon and the board praying for Sis Cheng who will be relocating to Malacca.