The Assembly of God. Miscellaneous Writings of C. H. Mackintosh, vol. IIIMackintosh, Charles Henry
Religion
The Assembly of God. Miscellaneous Writings of C. H. Mackintosh, vol. III
Mackintosh, Charles Henry
Theology
It would, I believe, be a profitable question for many of us to put to
ourselves, how far are we discharging our holy responsibilities to "the
regions beyond." I believe the Christian who is not cultivating and
manifesting an evangelistic spirit, is in a truly deplorable condition.
I believe, too, that the assembly which is not cultivating and
manifesting an evangelistic spirit is in a dead state. One of the truest
marks of spiritual growth and prosperity, whether in an individual or in
an assembly, is earnest anxiety after the conversion of souls. This
anxiety will swell the bosom with most generous emotions; yea, it will
break forth in copious streams of benevolent exertion, ever flowing
toward "the regions beyond." It is hard to believe that "the word of
Christ" is "dwelling richly" in any one who is not making some effort to
impart that word to his fellow-sinners. It matters not what may be the
amount of the effort; it may be to drop a few words in the ear of a
friend, to give a tract, to pen a note, to breathe a prayer. But one
thing is certain, namely, that a healthy, vigorous Christian will be an
evangelistic Christian--a teller of good news--one whose sympathies,
desires, and energies, are ever going forth toward "the regions beyond."
"I must preach the gospel to other cities also, for therefore am I
sent." Such was the language of the true Evangelist.
It is very doubtful whether many of the servants of Christ have not
erred in allowing themselves, through one influence or another, to
become too much localized--too much tied in one place. They have dropped
into routine work--into a round of stated preaching in the same place,
and, in many cases, have paralyzed themselves and paralyzed their
hearers also. I speak not, now, of the labors of the pastor, the elder,
or the teacher, which must, of course, be carried on in the midst of
those who are the proper subjects of such labors. I refer more
particularly to the evangelist. Such an one should never suffer himself
to be localized. The world is his sphere--"the regions beyond," his
motto--to gather out God's elect, his object--the current of the Spirit,
his line of direction. If the reader should be one whom God has called
and fitted to be an evangelist, let him remember these four things--the
sphere, the motto, the object, and the line of direction, which all must
adopt if they would prove fruitful laborers in the gospel field.
Finally, whether the reader be an evangelist or not, I would earnestly
intreat him to examine how far he is seeking to further the gospel of
Christ. We must not stand idle. Time is short! Eternity is rapidly
posting on! The Master is most worthy! Souls are most precious! The
season for work will soon close! Let us, then, in the name of the Lord,
be up and doing. And when we have done what we can, in the regions
around, let us carry the precious seed into "THE REGIONS BEYOND."
CHAPTER III.
THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST.
(Acts xvi. 8-31.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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