Evangelism: The firefighter
In this article is a one of the most important illustrations that changed our ministry forever. It radically transformed how we do Evangelism. And, like Hell’s Best Kept Secret, it lost us friendships too. Here follows a full transcript of one of the most important keys to effective evangelism - Way of The Master: The Firefighter:
“An experienced firefighter was recently charged with grave neglect of duty. Prosecutors maintained that he had abandoned his responsibilities when he failed to release rescue equipment. This resulted in the needless and tragic deaths of a family of five. Eyewitnesses were sickened when they discovered that the reason the firefighter remained locked in the emergency vehicle, was simply because he was testing a new high-tech CD player, which he maintained he had bought as a gift for the fire chief. The fire chief immediately distanced himself from the defendant, and he dishonourably discharged him from the department.
In a prepared statement that chief said quote
“There are no words to describe such a betrayal of those he was sworn to protect. The lead
prosecuting attorney argued, that for more than three minutes after arriving on the scene, the firefighter wore earphones and listened to a CD. While a family of five was screaming to be rescued from the 6th floor of a burning building. Horrified onlookers related that as flames licked her clothing a mother cried out in terror and fell to her death while still clutching an infant in her arms. Other witnesses said that the father was clutching to terrified children as he was engulfed by the massive flames. This terrifying drama took place in full view of the firefighter as he remained seated in the vehicle listening to the CD.”
The defence pleaded no contest, but added that the defendant went to great personal sacrifice to purchase the expensive gift for the chief and hope that the judge would take that into consideration as he passed sentence.
What do you think is a fitting punishment for this serious crime? Two years in prison? 20 years? A life sentence? Capital punishment? You be the judge….
What does the story of the Firefighter mean?
Do you find it easy to love and worship God? When you think of how beautiful God is. How wonderful He is and the love that he's expressed toward us in the cross it's easy to worship God. It's as natural for a Christian to worship the Lord as it is for a flower to open in the light and the warmth of the Sun. It's easy for me to say I love you Lord but it's not as easy to demonstrate that love by obeying his commands his commands to seek and save the Lost the reason Jesus came to this earth. The Bible says in acts 1:8 “but you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and to the uttermost part of the earth.”
The reason we as a church exist here on earth is to be a witness for Jesus Christ and He said go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
If that Commission was just given to the first 11 disciples, then the Gospel would have faded out when the disciples died. But that Gospel was given to the whole church. We're all
commanded as Christians to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature but there's a problem though. Let me tell you what it is, Bill Bright in his book “The coming revival” said that only two percent of Christians in America share their faith regularly
with others only 2%! It seems that a vast majority the body of Christ are either locked in worship
and don't care about the cries of the ungodly or their fate or they don't know
what to say and therefore they don't share their faith. But that's like that firefighter
saying I just didn't know how to rescue those people. If he was a firefighter he should have studied and learned how to climb a ladder and rescue people and that's what we need to do as Christians.
Oswald J Smith said
“Oh my friends we’re loaded down with countless church activities while the real work of the church that of evangelising and winning the lost is almost entirely neglected!”
Here's the point
If you're not sharing your faith. If you're not seeking the lost and obeying the scriptures to save them with fear pulling them out of the fire. If you don't have enough concern for them to do that, then you are that firefighter! Jesus said if you love me keep my Commandments. And if we are merely drawing near to Him with our lip service, but remaining far from Him in our hearts - refusing to do those things He's told us to do. Then He is not our Lord and He will distance Himself from us on the day of judgment, despite our sacrifice of praise. We'll cry out to Him “Lord, Lord!” and He will say to us, “depart from me I never knew you!””
The Way of the Master is a TV programme, part of Living Waters ministry (Ray Comfort).
You can watch the full clip by clicking here