Lesson Eight – The Role of the Holy Spirit in Evangelism
How little chance the Holy Ghost has nowadays. The churches and missionary societies have so bound Him in red tape that they practically ask Him to sit in a corner while they do the work themselves. (C.T. Studd from Fool and Fanatic)
John the Baptist came to realize, “I must decrease, Jesus must increase.” Jesus said, “Without Me you can do nothing.” Paul said, “I labor more abundantly than all the apostles, yet not I but the grace of God.” These expressions of personal limitations all give way to the unlimited nature of the Spirit within us. All that Jesus could do while on earth, disciples can do by the Holy Spirit’s abiding presence.
But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you no longer behold Me. And concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. (John 16:7-11)
Jesus is going to the cross and will be replaced by the Holy Spirit who will live within the believers The Holy Spirit will bring conviction to the world. To convict is to speak out the charge (offense) and the inward acknowledgment of the truth of that charge. A disciple, under the influence of the Spirit, can purposefully speak truth that convicts a non-believer of sin, righteousness or judgment. Or unknowingly, the Holy Spirit can flow through a believer, bringing the desired effect within the other person. Speakers can speak boldly of these three topics but only the Holy Spirit can bring conviction. It is easy to find people with no comprehension of these three realities and by using carnal methods of preaching or witnessing they will remain untouched. The Holy Spirit has ways of getting past mind sets, intellectual strategies or even spiritual belief systems. When that same person comes to realize their personal sinfulness, their lack of any right standing and their impending judgment they become more open minded to continued conversation. The goal is not conviction but the corresponding action of repentance.
When Jesus was gathering the Twelve He used the Spirit in revealing ways. As Nathanael approached Jesus for the first time Jesus said, “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile” (John 1:47). Using the nine gifts of the Spirit as reference point, Jesus here used discerning of spirits and saw Nathanael’s spiritual nature. Then, in the next verse, “I saw you under the fig tree.” This could be seen as a word of knowledge. With the Samaritan woman Jesus used a word of knowledge and asked about her husband, leading to His revelation she had several of them. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are powerful and ready to go into action at a moments notice. “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” (Luke 11:13).
The believer firmly under the Lordship of Jesus can be confident of the Holy Spirit’s leading in their lives. Whether by voice or by impression the Spirit does lead in the right direction. In Acts 13:2-4, in response to a time of prayer and fasting, the Holy Spirit gave direction to Barnabas and Paul to go to Seleucia and Cyprus. In Acts 16:6-9 they were forbidden to go to Asia or to Bithynia yet were instructed through a dream to go to Macedonia. Any attempt to figure out the reasoning for each step is of little value. The Holy Spirit saw each option and chose the best each time.
When a missionary goes into a new culture he/she tries to learn of any cultural differences that would minimize their effectiveness. Prayer and sensitivity can prevent devastating events from taking place. This could include how men and women interact, eating courtesies, or honoring a person of authority. A disciple is called to serve; anything that can be done to keep the focus on building the Kingdom is desirable. The Holy Spirit is keenly aware of all such matters.
The Holy Spirit can also take the disciple’s personality and use it to draw people to Christ. I have seen my love for nature be interpreted as a love for their country, therefore a love of them. Pictures of my children have led to wonderful talks about family and then to our great Father.
The Spirit loves people; to be led by the Spirit is to be led by love. All people respond to love. Love never fails. As a believer lives a life in the Spirit, love will manifest in word and deed. The Holy Spirit will attack any prejudice or cultural preferences until it is eradicated. There is no place for believers being respecter of persons, economically, racially or culturally.
When the Spirit was poured out on the Day of Pentecost everything changed. It was no longer just the Apostles with the power and the ability. The Spirit fell on the full range of humanity. Now, anyone could operate in miracles, or speak of Jesus’ resurrection. Like the prophecy from Joel, the Holy Spirit was poured out on all flesh.
There will always be a need for leadership and divine order but the Holy Spirit was given to all. In our churches everyone should be encouraged to be similarly filled with the Spirit and therefore used by the Spirit. The Spirit includes all, and all are needed to accomplish the task of the Great Commission.
This conversation about the Spirit has been mostly one dimensional – talking to others about Jesus. But the Holy Spirit is also the Creator. He wants to so possess believers that they become creative. Art, music, dance, drama are all legitimate ways of communicating the gospel. Believers should be the prime movers in these fields. Writing, both fiction and non-fiction is also an avenue to consider. There is technology waiting to be discovered that will be used to propagate the gospel. Why not Spirit dominated disciples? Who is teaching the next generation, who is making policy for our nation, who controls the finances? Where do you and the Holy Spirit fit in?
