Some Things I Learned in the First 25 Years in Evangelism
First of all, I have learned to STAY AWAY FROM THE HEATHEN. We will never completely get away from the heathen until we get to heaven, but we should try to stay away from the heathen. I try to be kind and nice to lost people, but I’m not going to run with them. We even have to be careful with family. If grandpa wants to give my son a necklace or rock music, we must separate from that. If grandma wants to buy my kids clothing that undercuts the standards I’m setting for my family, I’ve got to stand. I’m not going to STAY WITH THAT. We can’t stay with folks who are going to cuss or talk dirty. I am not going to expose my wife to it or my kids to it. I don’t care where the source of it is. Evil communications corrupt good manners!
Number two, I have learned that DOING RIGHT PAYS OFF. God honors those who honor him. I’ve learned it will pay to do right. It may not be overnight. But it will pay! Compromise will also have its payday. Young people, if you are not married, you just keep doing right. Stay pure! It will pay off. Believe God in this area; you will not be one bit disappointed.
Number three, I have learned to LET GOD USE MY TONGUE AND NOT THE DEVIL (Isaiah 50:4 – “The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned…”) If parents curse or talk back, or yell all the time, then the children will learn to do it too. Don’t let the devil use your tongue. We need a revival in America for people not to curse and talk dirty and worldly. Unfortunately the strongest influence on our speech in most cases is old wicked TV. You listen to filth and you’ll be thinking it and talking it after a while. When I got saved, God helped me with my temper and my tongue. I have learned to let God use my tongue and not the devil. Husbands, you can hurt your wife more with words than with hitting her. Wounds can heal, but words are not forgotten. Women remember!
Number four, I have learned that GOD IS RELIABLE AND TRUE. Trust and respect are necessary for following a leader. I am glad that no matter what happens, I can always trust and respect God. Therefore, I can always follow. He is reliable and true! What a Savior! Sadly, I’ve watched church leaders and preachers operate in such a way that they destroyed these two vital ingredients of any relationship, (Trust and Respect).
Number five, I have learned NOT TO WALK WITH THOSE WHO CAUSE DIVISION. Romans 16:17 says, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them.” If someone causes division, avoid them. Many a good person gets hurt because of division. I am talking about 25 years of evangelism; I have seen it. Always, if someone is causing division, there are some young Christians and innocent parties involved who get hurt and discouraged. Mark and avoid those who cause division!
Number six, I have learned DOING GOD’S WILL BRINGS PEACE. God’s will is where you are going to find peace. God wants you to get involved. He will help channel you in the right direction. It may be joining a church, teaching a class, working on the busses. Doing God’s will brings peace. Tonight I will lay my head on my pillow and sleep in peace because I am doing the will of God. You ought to have the will of God in who you ought to marry, in the church you are attending. The will of God is not complicated and it is not confusing, and God wants you to know His will. When I went to Tennessee Temple to see if it was the school for me to attend, I stepped on the campus and heard the preaching, and knew it was the will of God.
Number seven, in these 25 years of evangelism, I have learned TO BE CONTENT. I am not against having a nice place to live or a nice motorcycle or truck. It doesn’t bother me for God to bless people. I’m content with what I’ve got. Lady, be content with the house you’ve got. Teenager, be content with what you’ve got, and maybe in time you’ll have more. I am a stickler on being debt free. Learn how to be content. You ought to be content with your mate. It takes work. But we must learn to be content. Learn how to be content in church. Sometimes everything goes smoothly, but sometimes there are some rough roads. Learn to be content.
Finally, I have learned that JESUS IS ALL TRUTH and LIVES IN MY HEART. Outside of Jesus Christ, there’s no truth. People try to put truth on the shelf and create a Godless society. People can say there is no God all they want to, but I am going to tell you that there is someone living in my heart, who gave me peace, who made a change in my life, who’s given me a will to get up every day of my life and enjoy life. That is something the liquor out there didn’t do, the rock crowd didn’t do, and dancing didn’t do. There is somebody living in my heart because HE IS ABSOLUTE TRUTH. I have learned that JESUS CHRIST IS ABSOLUTE TRUTH.
Evangelist Jimmie Clark – Lexington, NC
EvJmClark@juno.com