Many Christians tend to engage in evangelism without the partnership of the Holy Spirit. They tend to use human reasoning to convince unbelievers to accept the Gospel and be saved. The outcome of this method is frequent frustration and discouragement.
Jesus showed the disciples a more effective way. He promised to send to them the Holy Spirit, the 3rd Person of the Holy Trinity when He went to heaven (Jn 16:7). The Holy Spirit’s powerful role was convicting unbelievers of sin and guilt. The spirit also has the wonderful role of imparting righteousness of God when sinners turned from sin to accept Jesus as Saviour.
Evangelism is a spiritual warfare. As fully man, Jesus had to rely on the Spirit to empower Him to overcome Satan’s lordship over mankind. Mankind could not free themselves from Satanic grip. But God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with Him “(Acts 10:38). Paul was a great evangelist and missionary because he was anointed with the Holy Spirit. Jesus sent Ananias to lay hands on Paul after he was encountered by Jesus at Damascus. Paul was filled with the Spirit and with power. He brought many into the kingdom through the partnership of the Spirit. Paul declared to the Corinthian church “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with the demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom but on God’s power” (1 Cor 2:4-5).
The Spirit’s role is not to glorify himself in evangelism. His primary role is to honour Jesus (Jn 16:14). Partnership with the Holy Spirit will assuredly bear much fruit of repentance. This is what is desired of all believers. In Lk 11:13, Jesus said “If you being evil now how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask”. God is generous in what He promises.
Close partnership with the Spirit will undoubtedly bring much glory to our Lord Jesus. Is there any good reason not to ask the Spirit to be partners in sharing the Gospel?
Is there any reason we keep accepting our uneasiness and frustration of not sharing the Gospel of salvation with our relatives, friends and colleagues? Ask for the Spirit to change us for good.
I used to be spiritless and fruitless in honouring Christ. I changed because the Spirit changed me. I now have faith and trust in the convicting and life changing work of the Spirit. It’s a wonderful and joyful experience to see relatives, friends, golfers, even strangers wilfully accept Jesus as Saviour and Lord. Witnessing is no longer a burden. It’s an opportunity to see the Holy Spirit at work with me. Step out in faith and God will step in with power.
Amen
Pastor Kim Bew Lim
