APOSTLE EDWARD SSEWANYANA: WIN THE LOST: PART 2

We have seen that Jesus expects every believer to preach the gospel and win the lost, however not everyone will be able to do this at the same level. “And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey” (Mat 25:15). From this parable of a master who entrusted his three servants with talents, it is evident that the master did not give the same number of talents to each of them. Likewise the measure of the evangelistic gift will not be the same among all the believers. The four measures of the evangelistic gift are:

i) The evangelistic grace

ii) The simple gift of evangelism

iii) The evangelistic ministry

iv) The office of an evangelist

i) The evangelistic grace:

Every believer has been assigned the job of winning souls for Jesus so a grace is given to all believers who are filled with the Holy spirit to be His witnesses, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Act 1:8). The Holy Spirit baptism is a must for every believer and not a option. when a bleiefer has been baptised in the Holy spirit, they are empowerd to witness for Jesus. This is what Apostle Paul calls the work of an evangelist, "But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry” (2Ti 4:5)

ii) The simple gift of evangeslism:

This is a step higher than the evangelistic grace and can be seen in believers who are a part of the regular witnessing team of theeir churches ir who are part of mission groups. This is what the Bible refers to as an exhorter, "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us... Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness” (Rom 12:6, 8). The word exhorter in Greek can also be translated as one who calls near. This is someone who may not necessarily operate in the power gifts of the spirit but still has a high turnout of souls won whenever he or she preaches the gospel.

iii) The evangelistic ministry:

This is yet a higher level of the evangelistic gift and it becomes a lifestyle of the bearer to engage in crusades and travel in preaching the gospel. However this person may not be leading a team of evangelists or exhorters. Apostle Paul had the evangelistic ministry since he said, "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1Co 9:16). Apostle Paul told Timothy to, "make full proof of thy ministry” (2Ti 4:5). The ministry of evangelism is a specific directive for a believer from the Lord to engage in evangelism either as a secondary pursuit to their career or take it on fully as part of their life and in addition to their other office. For example Apostle Paul and Stephen were not operating in the office of an evangelist but had an evangelistic ministry.

iv) The evangelistic office

This is the highest level of the evangelistic gift and manifests in the bearer having an entire organization and associates operating under him in that specific office, for example Oral Roberts who has the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association. Here the person's entire life is centered upon winning souls and traveling nationwide or from country to country. “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers” (Eph 4:11). An evangelist is a gift given to the body of Christ and he is specially anointed to win souls and will have signs and wonders following his or her ministry. Philip was an evangelist, "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 was one of the seven; and abode with him” (Act 21:8).

Once someone gets a grasp of the different levels of the evangelistic anointing or gift they will not strive to be like someone else. Just because you can not hold crusades on the same level as TL Osborn or Morris Cerullo does not make you any less than them. It is simply that the Lord entrusted them with five talents of the evangelistic anointing and gave you two or one. Be faithful at the level you are on then the Lord will see fit to promote you to the next level of the evangelistic gift.