Passionate Evangelism

Subject - Reaching the Lost with the Gospel

by Rick Welborne

Isaiah 62:112 (NLT) 

1 Because I love Zion, I will not keep still. Because my heart yearns for Jerusalem, I cannot remain silent. I will not stop praying for her until her righteousness shines like the dawn, and her salvation blazes like a burning torch. 

2 The nations will see your righteousness. World leaders will be blinded by your glory. And you will be given a new name by the LORD’s own mouth. 

3 The LORD will hold you in his hand for all to see— a splendid crown in the hand of God. 

4 Never again will you be called “The Forsaken City” or “The Desolate Land.” Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight” and “The Bride of God,” for the LORD delights in you and will claim you as his bride. 

5 Your children will commit themselves to you, O Jerusalem, just as a young man commits himself to his bride. Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride. 

6 O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray day and night, continually. Take no rest, all you who pray to the LORD. 

7 Give the LORD no rest until he completes his work, until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth. 

8 The LORD has sworn to Jerusalem by his own strength: “I will never again hand you over to your enemies. Never again will foreign warriors come and take away your grain and new wine. 

9 You raised the grain, and you will eat it, praising the LORD. Within the courtyards of the Temple, you yourselves will drink the wine you have pressed.” 

10 Go out through the gates! Prepare the highway for my people to return! Smooth out the road; pull out the boulders; raise a flag for all the nations to see. :

11 The LORD has sent this message to every land: “Tell the people of Israel, ‘Look, your Savior is coming. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.’” 

12 They will be called “The Holy People” and “The People Redeemed by the LORD.” And Jerusalem will be known as “The Desirable Place” and “The City No Longer Forsaken.” 

--Almost five years ago God gave us a new name after we had endured some adversity and trials. In the middle of the trials God gave me some wonderful promises.

--My family and I had been offered a position in Houston, Texas and the offer was tempting because of what we were walking thru…I told the Lord I did not want to stay here if it would hurt the church.

--Three couples show up in a Sunday morning service and then want to take us to lunch…around 4:00pm they offer me the pastorate of their church…I told them I could not answer until I heard from God.

--Don’t ask me why God likes to talk at 3:00am but He woke me up and said this: I have ordained you to pastor LFA (at the time) and if you will stay and endure this trial, you will see growth like never before. I said yes!

--Of course, I thought as soon as I said ‘yes’ God would end the trial and everything would turn around in a matter of weeks…it was about three more years. Was it difficult…yes…but was it worth the wait…yes!

--As that time started coming to an end, God began to do a new thing here at our church…He started breathing life into us and you could feel the difference in the atmosphere…it was powerful!

--For years we had talked about changing our name as a church but never was there agreement. When He started pouring life into us, the change was inevitable. He also gave us the verse for the change, Life Church!

John 10:10 (NKJV) 

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 

Isaiah 62:2 (NLT) 

2 The nations will see your righteousness. World leaders will be blinded by your glory. And you will be given a new name by the LORD’s own mouth. 

--The name, the promise, and the growth started and we have not looked back ever since that day. It was exciting re-introducing our church to the community and oh how Holy Spirit showed up!

1. It is time to live up to the new name God has given us…Life Church!

–Sister Browne shared with us about that great and effective door. She said when we go thru those doors, that on the other side, would be our church sharing the gospel with those needing life. They are still there!

–I reiterate to all of us...it was not just about us changing our name but it is about God changing our hearts, our mission, and our passion.

–Yes, we have been thru a time of testing and trials and some may still be going thru some stuff...there are many adversaries...some assigned to you. We must realize people need the life we have to offer.

–I personally believe that we no longer have time to deal with small insignificant skirmishes (our own petty issues) but it is time for the church to rise up and to storm the gates of hell.

Matthew 16:1819 (NKJV) 

18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 

19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 

–Oh, Pastor Rick, take a chill pill...we are growing...we have great programs...great leaders...we are giving to missions and benevolence...we are blessed! But what of those who are still lost?

--It is time for the soldiers of the cross to rise up and worship the King like never before and witness like Jesus is coming back today...the bridge is out and many are headed for destruction.

–Thank God that we are getting involved in events outside our church...David Houck in the Ocala Forest, Pastor Marty in the Nursing Home, Pastor Mark and Pastor Juan hitting the streets…we need Passionate Evangelism!

2. It is time for Life Church to become the “Hot Spot” in Central Florida!

--By that, I do not mean that we are the most popular or the coolest socially or the latest greatest church fad in the area…what I mean is that we are hot and on fire for the Lord.

Matthew 3:1012 (NKJV) 

10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 

12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." 

–It is time to bear fruit...be productive or get cut off...it is time to truly get baptized in the Holy Spirit and fire...God is saying that House cleaning has begun!

–This is our year corporately, as families, and as individuals...what if every family wins one family, every individual wins one, what if our ministries turn into events where salvation occurs on a regular basis.

–I release our connect groups to become soul saving stations where hearts are healed and lives are changed...compel them to come in!

–Stop with the excuses...I am shy...I am called to something else...I am too old...too young...too busy!

–Either God’s Word is true or it is not...I submit to you that it is true...Acts 1:8...you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you shall be my witnesses!!!

–You have no idea how many are just waiting to hear the good news that Jesus can save them and give them hope and life...our world is so messed up! Look around…is anyone here because of you or your witness?

Mark 16:1520 (NKJV) 

15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 

16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 

17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 

18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." 

19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 

20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. 

–Oh, Pastor Rick...I want to see signs and wonders here in our church...just maybe...just maybe ...the signs and wonders are meant to be more outside the church...

–Did He not say “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” it is time for us to go and as we go that the signs will follow those who believe.

–Signs cannot follow if we are not going anywhere...I believe that as we go out into our community that the Holy Spirit will follow us and do miracles.

–My opinion is this: that if we go out into the community and compel them to come in, Holy Spirit will be with us but He will also show up in the House to set them free!!!

–Pastor Rick, this is something that is just for the younger folks...I came here to retire and to enjoy myself...oh, really?

–Why would God take believers out of Ohio, Maine, Minnesota, Michigan, Kentucky, New York, Tennessee, California and set them in the middle of a retirement community in Central Florida?

–Why would God take “Spirit filled believers” out of other states and drop them here in Central Florida among people who need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ?

–Don’t kid yourself the seniors need Christ just as much as the young people...right here more alcohol is consumed, STDs are rampant, domestic violence is prevalent...they need you...they need Jesus!

Mark 16:20 (NKJV) 

20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. 

–Why would God place young people at Leesburg High, Tavares, Eustis, The Villages Charter, and our colleges unless He wanted you to be salt and life to the other young people there.

–Jonesboro, Arkansas...a young man got filled with the Holy Spirit, began to intercede for his school and eventually saw more than 300 kids come to Christ.

3. It is time for us to live up to our name and start sharing life.

–Pastor Rick, witnessing may cost me something…what will my friends think? They may think…someone cares for my soul. Lady at Bamboo…no one else cares for my soul like you.

Romans 12:1 (NKJV) 

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (NIV - Spiritual Act of Worship)

–It is reasonable for me as your pastor to exhort you to get out of your pews, offer yourselves as living sacrifices to reach the lost. Sacrifice your pride, your reputation, your prestige to reach other people.

Philippians 2:58 (NKJV) 

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 

6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 

7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.   

8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 

–There is power in the Name of Jesus...There is an army rising up!!!

–One family...lead one family to Christ and get them to church...it is time we look beyond ourselves and reach our world.

–It is a time of new beginnings...a new day...a new start...a new season...for us a new name and a new mission.

–God’s mission for us has always been the same: worship, reach the lost thru missions and evangelism, and discipleship!

--We have received His marching orders to take to them life…let’s go!