p. 6 | SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 1, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 48.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS.

Evangelists.

ANOTHER important gift of the Spirit which God has set in His church is the evangelical. “He gave some to be . . . evangelists.” Eph. 4:11, R.V. The word is from the Greek, transferred, not translated. It comes from evangelion, or evangel, good tidings, the Gospel. An evangelist is one who proclaims the Gospel of God, the messenger sent with good tidings.

In other words, the evangelist is a traveling preacher, a pioneer in the work of preaching. In a sense, this should be true of every believer; he should by word, act, and deed proclaim the glad tidings of the Gospel, the salvation there is in Jesus Christ from sin and bondage. But the term “evangelist” applies to one specially called and fitted of God to preach from place to place the Gospel of God.

So Philip, one of the original seven deacons, became an evangelist. Acts 6:5; 8:5, 26; 21:8. Timothy was exhorted by the apostle to “do the work of an evangelist.” 2 Tim. 4:5. In Isa. 52:7 we read, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings [evangelizomenos], that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!”

This is the work of an evangelist. He is to proclaim not himself, not his particular methods, not the work that he has done, not politics, but the glad tidings of salvation in Jesus Christ. Jesus said to the twelve, who were all evangelists, “Preach the Gospel to every creature.” Paul, referring to Christ, declares, “Whom we preach.” Instructing Timothy, and all Christian evangelists through him, he exhorts, “Preach the Word.” 2 Tim. 4:2. Preaching the Gospel, preaching Christ, preaching the Word, are one and the same thing; and this is the work of an evangelist. If this work be done in the meekness and simplicity of Christ, God will make the message mighty in winning souls.

But let not the evangelist take glory to himself. Let not the people glorify the evangelist. “Let a man so account of us,” writes the apostle to the Gentiles, “as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” 1 Cor. 4:1, 2. And then the apostle proceeds to say that, if this be the case, it matters little what man may say or judge. These things he writes, he declares, “that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?”

All good gifts are from God. Give to God all the glory. Esteem His servants for “their works’ sake,” which God does through them; but for the power look beyond the man to God.

Moses received his glory from communion with Christ. Christ’s presence was to him “grace and truth.” Israel said to Moses, “Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” They looked to Moses alone, and received from him the law which condemned; and they died. The truly converted man must look beyond the evangelist to God, even as did the Thessalonians. Said Paul: “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” 1 Thess. 2:13.

Praise God for evangelists; but honor them only for the Lord’s sake, whose messengers they are.