THE WORK OF THE EVANGELIST

THE WORK OF THE EVANGELIST

I see that the evangelist’s great work is to proclaim the gospel. See 2 Corinthians 2: 16. The angel evangelised, “I ^[p. 43] bring you good tidings of great joy” (Luke 2: 10). Paul was an evangelist to the Philippian jailor. The great power of the evangelist is the light. The light found out the silver piece (Luke 15). I think that the general idea is that the evangelist converts. God converts, and it is God’s work; He has spoken. I think a soul can be turned to God without knowing any particular verse which was blessed to him, and many are in a state of fear until they hear the gospel. I see that it is of the greatest importance the terms in which the gospel is presented; the first effect is momentous! It is the One who has done the work that is to be presented, ‘he evangelised to him Jesus’. It is a special gift, and not necessarily given at conversion. A gift is the impression of the Lord revealed in some special way to the soul, as at the burning bush to Moses. I need not write more to you; you will at once see that I am trying to disabuse minds of the prevailing idea of an evangelist. I am afraid many so-called converts are the fruit of an address to their feelings, so that they are induced, as they say, to ‘accept Christ’. I hope you will agree with me, and that the result will be that you will send me a good paper on the evangelist. I do not think Timothy was an evangelist. He was to do the work of one.