When Evangelism Comes Knocking Part 2
- Tao Howard (Guest Writer)
- Aug 5, 2015
- 5 min read
If you missed part 1, no worries, read it here before continuing.
"Alright you don’t have to start in with the scripture verses now”
And with that I (prayerfully) invited them to a little backyard tete a tete under the lime tree. They said their piece, and I asked the Holy Spirit to help me say mine. It’s true that in the moment I couldn’t remember a lot about their doctrine and I wasn’t convinced that if I needed to I could adequately defend my ground, but the Lord was faithful to fill my mouth with wisdom and my heart with compassion. As I shared testimony (they seem to like testimonies) of His present nearness in my life I could tell that the Holy Spirit was doing what I am unable to - He was working between us, heart to heart. One of the girls all but admitted it herself, thanking me for sharing my experience with her, and I could see in her eyes that something was awakening on the inside. In that moment I remembered Paul’s own testimony of sharing the gospel:
"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building." 1 Cor 3:6-9 (NKJV)
I learned a few important lessons that day:
Whether directly (as with my Mormon peeps) or indirectly (by the lifestyles of people who don’t live for Christ), I am being evangelised daily, so I better evangelise, and boldly. Why should I be ashamed when they aren’t?
Remembering people are just people helps relieve some of the intimidation.
Approach makes a huge difference in winning anyone to Christ. I took a welcoming stance in the situation above and it created an open door for dialogue and perhaps even friendship. As a good colleague always says, we should be less focused on winning an argument, and more focused on winning souls.
"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect". 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
There will also come a time, especially since I told them come again, where I am going to have to speak truth that offends what they believe, but I can speak the truth in love and they won’t forget how I made them feel at first.
I don’t have to be a 'professional' to share the love of Christ or demonstrate His power. Nothing trumps experiential knowledge and testimony of that everyday tangible experience with a God who is closer than a brother and who fulfils His word to you. And what could be more convicting than a timely prophetic word or convincing than a prayer said in faith that brings healing or deliverance to a person's life or turns their situation around?
"When the Council saw the boldness of Peter and John and could see that they were obviously uneducated non-professionals, they were amazed and realized what being with Jesus had done for them! And the Council could hardly discredit the healing when the man they had healed was standing right there beside them! So they sent them out of the Council chamber and conferred among themselves. “What shall we do with these men?” they asked each other. “We can’t deny that they have done a tremendous miracle, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it. 17 But perhaps we can stop them from spreading their propaganda. We’ll tell them that if they do it again we’ll really throw the book at them.” So they called them back in, and told them never again to speak about Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “You decide whether God wants us to obey you instead of him! We cannot stop telling about the wonderful things we saw Jesus do and heard him say.” Acts 4:13-20 (NKJV)
It doesn’t hurt to be prepared - know what you believe and be able to defend the truth you hold to. Believe the next week I was deeply inspired to memorise more scripture, and it actually started to strengthen my own walk with the Lord.
Knowledge of what others believe is also useful. I started brushing up on Joseph Smith and n’em, and duuuude . . . -_- . Anyway, there’s a lot to know, but you need to start somewhere. Don’t limit yourself before you even start.
Prayer is a big confidence booster and can break down walls arguments can’t.
Evangelism is a call to discipleship. It will require continual action of one sort or the other.
Holy Spirit always follows up and continues the work after us. In fact, He sends us to the specific people He has His eyes of mercy on and to whom He’s about to encounter. So even if we think we do the messiest job sharing Him we can be confident that He will go in afterward and make all things new.
"After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves." Luke 10:1-3 (NKJV)
So is the thought of you and evangelism in the same sentence making you feel a bit sheepish? Well, maybe that's not as much of a problem as we make it. Don't be afraid when evangelism comes knocking. Answer the call and I will try my best to do the same.
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About The Blogger
Tao Howard is a little crazy by nature and by circumstance. The wife of one husband and the mother of three boys under six, she is 99% Bajan and 1% Trini and is a second generation purple lover. But most of all, she loves Jesus and worshipping Him through various expressions. Tao is passionate about graphic design, writing and helping young people navigate, sustain and preserve their lives and relationships. She considers her own life a reflection of Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path”.
Further Readings
Luke 10
Acts 4
1 Corinthians 3
1 Peter 3
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