THE MINISTRY OF AN EVANGELIST

In the New Testament the word “evangelist” can be found in 2 Timothy 4: 5, Eph 4:11 and Acts 21: 8. An evangelist is one who brings good news. The Good News is that we have the victory in battle, through Jesus Christ. An evangelist is essentially one who speaks the good news about Jesus Christ.

The EVANGELIST is one of the five ASCENSION-GIFT Ministries

The Ministry-gifts are given to the Body of Christ the Church to enable God's family to develop to maturity. Without them we would continue in ignorance, immaturity, and disunity. The five fold Ministry-gifts are essential for bringing us to victory. They are in the church to bring about teaching in their primary field.

Ephesians 4:11 And truly He gave some to be apostles, and some to be prophets, and some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, (MKJV)

Q1/ The evangelist brings bad news. (True or False)

Q2/ The Church does not need the five fold Ministry-gifts. (True or False)

Q3/ People need to hear we have victory in Jesus over sin. (True or False)

Q4/ The word, “ evangelist” appears three times in the New Testament. (True or False)

Acts 21:8 And the next day those around him going out, Paul came to Caesarea. And entering the house of Philip the evangelist, he being of the seven, we stayed with him. (MKJV)

Philip the evangelist

Philip is called "the evangelist" in Acts 21:8, making it clear that he had a recognized ministry in this area. But he would also be used in other areas of ministry, such as teaching, pasturing, etc. This is determined by the needs at any given time. But an evangelist works mainly in the area of introducing people to Christ.

Q5/ Philip was called an evangelist. (True or False)

Q6/ Philip could also be used in others areas. (True or False)

Acts 8:6 And the people with one accord gave heed to those things which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the many miracles which he did. 7 For out of those having unclean spirits, many came out, crying with loud voice. And many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. (MKJV)

Q7/ Philip did miracles. (True or False)

Q8/ We should expect to see miracles when evangelizing. (True or False)

Mark 16:15 And He said to them, go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to all the creation.16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned.17 And miraculous signs will follow to those believing these things: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak new tongues; (MKJV)

Jesus is saying in Mark, that His disciples were to go into the entire world and preach good news. If Jesus is telling the truth, which He is, He is commanding all of His disciples to evangelize the world.  Therefore you, I, and every other believer (the church) are called to evangelize, that is to let our light shine. This is not to be confused with the ministry of the evangelist.

Q9/ Only some Christians are to go into the entire world and preach good news.  (True or False)

Q10/ Jesus is telling us what to do. (True or False)

Q11/ Jesus can only tell the truth. (True or False)

Mark 16:17 And miraculous signs will follow to those believing these things: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak new tongues; (MKJV)

In Mark 16:17 the word “those” means believers. That means that God can do miraculous things though believers. It has nothing to do with non-believers. People do not need to come under a full preaching message to receive a healing from God, or even to become believers. God works through believers to prove His glory.

Q12/ Miraculous signs will follow those who believe. (True or False)

Q13/ The word “those” implies the non-believer. (True or False)

Q14/ God can do the miraculous. (True or False)

Acts 8:26 And the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise and go toward the south, on the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is a deserted place. 27 And he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasure and had come to Jerusalem to worship, (MKJV)

It is interesting to note that Philip was moving in a powerful revival. Then the angel of God took him away from the hive of activity to a deserted place, to meet only one man. Philip could have been saying to himself,  “What am I doing here”? The believer who moves in the area of evangelism will move by the leading of the Holy Spirit and will go to places and will easily lead people to Christ.

Q15/ Philip was led by the angel of God. (True or False)

Q16/ We are filled with the Holy Spirit. (True or False)

Acts 8:29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go near and join yourself to this chariot.30 And Philip ran there to him and heard him read the prophet Isaiah, and said, Do you indeed understand what you are reading? (MKJV)

Evangelism is just looking for an opening, and then moving in with the Word of God. Philip asked a simple question, “Do you understand?” If believers will make themselves available to God, then God will use them, but unbelievers don’t understand the things of God. They need someone to explain these things to them.

Q17/ The Ethiopian understood the things of God. (True or False)

Q18/ We don’t need to make ourselves available to God. (True or False)

Act 8:36 And as they passed along the way, they came on some water. And the eunuch said, See, here is water, what hinders me from being baptized? 37 Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, it is lawful. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.(MKJV)

If you are moving according to the Spirit of God you will find people all over the country who want to become believers. All you need to do is introduce them to Jesus and get them to ask God to forgive them of their sins.

Now note that Philip didn’t get the Ethiopian into a church and give him Bible studies for six week before he baptized him. He simply asked the Ethiopian for a confession of faith in Jesus. Jesus said we must baptize them in His name. So what stops you from doing this when you are in remote places? Nothing.

Q19/ You need to study the Word of God before you go through water baptism. (True or False)

Q20/ All can evangelize and have signs and wonders and baptize in the name of Jesus according to their faith. (True or False)

Not everyone is called to the ministry gift of evangelism, but everyone is called to be a witness. Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men.”

2 Tim 4:5; But you watch in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fully carry out your ministry. (MKJV)