EVANGELISTS
Thursday – December 29, 2016
Greetings and welcome back to my Bible Study from the Book of Ephesians presented by The Three Minute Word publication. I have been talking about the gifts that Jesus gave unto men at His ascension which are the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers.
Ephesians 4:8-12 (KJV)
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
The Word ‘evangelist’ is mentioned just three time in Scripture, all in the New Testament. The general meaning of the word evangelist is a preacher of the gospel, one who announces good news. We are all evangelists just as Jesus was an evangelist but we do not all have the gift of evangelist or occupy the office of Evangelist. The first use of the word evangelist is found in the following passage.
Acts 21:8-10 (KJV)
8 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.
I want to take a very brief aside here looking at the preceding passage. Notice that Phillip is an evangelist and he has four daughters who prophesy. It is not clear that they are Prophetesses or that they prophesy without having the gift or office of Prophet. It seems that this was a usual expectation of these ladies so they likely are Prophets, perhaps in the maturing stages. The Scripture then goes on to say that a prophet by the name of Aqabus comes by. With four people in the house who prophecy what is with God bringing Aqabus to the house? Perhaps the Apostle Paul did not or would not have respected the Word of God from one or more of these ladies. There is evidence elsewhere in Scripture that Paul may have had a bias against women (God is no respecter of persons). Perhaps these ladies were distracted by the process and work of providing for Paul and his company or perhaps intimidated by his stature. The Apostle Paul’s spiritual son Timothy is also an evangelist and let’s listen to the advice provided by Paul by the inspiration of the Spirit of God.
2 Timothy 4:1-5 (KJV)
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
The Apostle Paul tells the Evangelist Timothy that because he will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ in judgment one day he is to carry out his office, his gifting in purity. Paul tells him to preach the Word, you would think that would be self-evident, but have you listened recently to the sermons at Church? He goes on to say he is too be ready to share the good news when he is scheduled or expects to and when he is not scheduled or expecting. The Word, by extension the Evangelist, will reprove (scold, reprimand, admonish, chide, and chastise), rebuke (lecture, criticize, and forbid), and exhort (urge, push, encourage, spur, and prod) those to whom he speaks. He is to do this with patience and sound doctrine, the opinions he is to express are the opinions of God as expressed in Scripture. Be prepared to find the people (including Church leadership) resistant to sound doctrine and pursuing teachers who satisfy their lusts. They will turn from the Truth, this is rampant today in the Church, where sight and experience trump the Word of God. He ends by telling Timothy to be careful (watchful), put up with whatever is necessary to do the work of the Evangelist, and be careful to prove against the Word of God and the call of the Spirit of God that he does and says. Don’t scratch the ear that itches to hear how their sin is fine or perhaps not a sin at all, and the beliefs of the fathers, the traditions of men but present the pure Word of God. The pure Word of God is the only Words that can change a person when received in faith and acted upon in love.
Tomorrow I will pick-up with the gift of Pastor and Teacher.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
