This morning while going over some notes that were used for an evangelism study in Barrouallie last November using Bill Faye’s book “Share Jesus without Fear” I was reminded just how important goals are when it comes to evangelism. And sadly also reminded many of us (myself included) have the wrong goal for our evangelistic outreach.
A few years ago when sharing the Gospel with an unsaved friend someone would have asked me “hey what is your goal?” my answer would have been “win him to the Lord obviously!”
Theres just one problem with that
I can’t win anybody to the Lord
And as a matter of fact…it isn’t my job to win people to the Lord
That’s God’s job through the Holy Spirit as they understand the truths of Scripture
There are many verses that can explain this truth but allow me to just use Romans 10:9-11
Rom. 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Rom. 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom. 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Using this passage as a guide three things must take place for a person to be saved
- They must confess their sins before God (inability to save themselves)
- They must believe that Christ died for their sins and rose from the dead
- The idea of confession here also has calling out to Christ for Salvation
The thing that kept going through my mind this morning was only the Holy Spirit’s conviction can bring someone to a place where they will confess their sins, believe Jesus died for them, and call on Christ for Salvation.
the other thing was that my words or wisdom could never bring them there.
Have you ever tried to talk someone into accepting Christ? It’s an incredibly hard thing to do, and you if you do succeed it’s often not a true Salvation experience. The person will either pray because you want them to, or do it so that you will leave them alone.
Other times trying to win someone to the Lord with your own wisdom will end up a colossal failure (making yourself look foolish) or an argument so instead of explaining Gods truth the only thought is to show that other person he is wrong.
The thing is after you’ve encountered enough people accepting Christ because you want them to or pointless arguments its very easy to become discouraged. It’s then that people do one of two things
- They either try harder to win people to the Lord (remember here I am referring to using their own wisdom or strength to bring a Salvation decision)
- Or just quit trying to witness because that’s a job for the “extroverts” of the world
By doing this though we overlook a very important point….winning them to Christ isn’t our goal anyways. See God knows I don’t have the ability or wisdom to lead a person to repentance and faith in Christ. So He just calls me to share.
Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Matt. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matt. 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Notice our only command is to teach others (share) the Gospel of Christ, along with church membership (baptism of believers). The reason for this is simple….it’s God’s truth that changes a person’s life.
Not my arguments,
Not my confidence or wisdom,
Not my human words
So my calling is to make sure that person understands God’s truth, then step aside. because the moment my words, stories, or confidence saves someone I’m basically telling the Holy Spirit “its okay you can sit this one out.”
As someone whose tried to share the Gospel and failed in spectacular fashion let me assure you its much better to admit saving someone isn’t your job…then get out of the Holy Spirits way so He can do it.
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