How the Holy Spirit Directs Evangelism

Rev. Christopher Walker

www.EvangelismCoach.org

Hindrances to Effectiveness

Uncertain

• Our message• Truth in a relative age• The value of our message

Lack of Experience

They do it Better

Our Theological Challenges

• Emphasis on the sovereignty of God • Doctrines of predestination• “God will save whoever God wants to

save, and because God is sovereign God will so without needing any help from me.”

John Calvin

• God commanded the gospel to be everywhere proclaimed and … at this day its course is not as yet complete

• There is no people and no rank in the world that is excluded from salvation; because God wishes that the gospel should be proclaimed to all without exception

Fear

Greatest Fears

• Emotions– Fear of Rejection – Losing a friendship – Fear of offending – Feeling inadequate – Embarrassment– Gag Reflex

Greatest Fears

• Bad experiences:– Door to Door – Drive-by Evangelists – Pushy televangelists– “My friend was obnoxious with

me”– Clumsy Apologetics– Complicated Scripts

Greatest Fears

• Perceptions– Fear of what others will think about you. – Rude– Arrogance– Your own weakness, hypocrisies, and inadequacies– Personal Doubt

Greatest Fears

• Guilt – Pastor says so. Jesus says so.– To mess up somebody’s eternity destiny is

your fault

Evangelism has an Image Problem

Turn or Burn Street Preachers

Talk to Strangers

“I’m Not Billy Graham”

Door to Door Sales

How to change the image?

Holy Spirit Works Both Sides

Think about your journey

• How many conversations did you have?• How many different people?• How many sermons did you listen to?• How much Bible reading did you do? • What events did God use?

Evangelism is a Process

• Plant• Nourish• Harvest• A series of events

Evangelism is an event

• Conversations• Revelations• Reflections• Sermons

Holy Spirit Works Both Sides

• In your journey to faith, the Holy Spirit – Worked on your life– Worked around your life.– Awakened your faith to respond– Sealed you in faith

Begins with God

• Sovereign over the process• Sovereign over the event• God takes the initiative

– To create spiritual thirst.– To draw a person unto Himself– To give new life when we are dead in

our sin.

Created Thirsty

• God has given us awareness of Himself in– Creation (Romans 1:20-22)– His moral law (Romans 2:14-15)

Created Thirsty

• A spiritual longing inbuilt in us– Reflection of the image of God.– The God shaped vacuum – Pascal.– “Thou hast made us for Thyself, and our

hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee.” – St. Augustine

• Quest of The Teacher – Ecclesiastes

The Teacher’s Thirst

• The teacher (Ch 2) tried:– Wild living (v 1-2)– Wine (v.3)– Work (v.4)– Wealth (v 7-8)– Women (v.8)– Wisdom (v. 12)

• Resolution– “Now here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear

God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man.” (12.13)

Reactions to Thirst

• Some suppress this longing– “There is no one who seeks for God” –

Psalm 14.2, quoted in Romans 3.11).– Psalm 14.3 – “all have turned aside.”

• Some rebelled– The preaching of the cross is foolish (1

Cor 1.18)– Suppress the truth (Romans 1:18-23)

Reactions To Spiritual Thirst

• Merchant looking for the fine pearl.– He knew that it existed and went looking

for it.

• The Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8)– “How can I unless someone explain it to

me?”

• The Athenians (Acts 17)– “May we hear more of this teaching?”

Created Thirsty

• Other Terms to describe the longing– to be more, to do more, – to make a contribution, – to find true destiny, – to find a place in this world– to make a difference, – to know God, – to be a good person, – to have real hope of life after death

Common Thirsts

• Forgiveness• Removal of Guilt• Belonging• Healing

– Physical– Emotional

• Guidance• Internal Peace

Jesus is the water of life

• John 4:14– Whoever drinks of the water that I

shall give will never thirst.

• John 6:35b– . . . he who believes in me will

never be thirsty.

• John 7:37– If anyone is thirsty, Let him come

to me and drink.

How the Holy Spirit Directs Evangelism

• Draws us to Jesus (John 6:44)• Convicts one of sin, righteousness and

judgment. (John 16.8)• Helps one respond to God’s grace (John

1:12, 3:5-8).

God Takes the Initiative

• We were dead in our trespasses (Eph 2)• We were enemies of God (Col 2).• God took the initiative:

– To make us thirsty.– To make us spiritually alive (Eph 2)– To respond and accept God’s grace (Eph 2)

Holy Spirit Works Both Sides

• Bringing people into your life– People who explain the

gospel– People who called you to

follow Jesus– People empowered by the

Spirit

How the Holy Spirit directs evangelism

• …calls, sends and anoints people as witnesses to Jesus – “While they were worshipping the Lord

and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13:1-4)

• Initiative in choosing workers – the Holy Spirit’s.– We discern, seek guidance, confirm it, obey.

How the Holy Spirit Directs Evangelism

• Guides prayer – for the harvest,

Matt. 9:36-38 – for missions,

Romans 8:26-27

• Gives a people-specific love and passion

How the Holy Spirit directs evangelism

• Provides the power tools for Kingdom advancement– The whole assembly became silent as they

listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them (Acts 15:12)

– The role of Spiritual gifts

How the Holy Spirit directs evangelism

• Guides and directs in spiritual warfare

• “as the HS advances the Kingdom of God he will inevitably have to engage demonic powers and strongholds that intend to keep people in bondage and blindness.”

• Casting out demons for many – prepares the way for the Gospel!

How the Holy Spirit Guides Evangelism

• Gives direction– About where to Preach the Gospel

• Paul in Macedonia.– Kairos moments to speak of Christ.

• Paul and Lydia on the beach at Philippi.– What to share– How to share

Holy Spirit Works Both Sides

• Kairos Moment – the intersection of two stories– Paul and Ananias.– Peter and Cornelius– Phillip and the Eunuch.

Kairos Moment

• Greek words for time:– Kronos– Kairos

• Skill: recognize a Kairos Moment

Our participation

• Listen– Guidance of the Holy

Spirit – Spiritual Thirst of the

person

• Discern God’s work• Cooperate with it.