The Power of Evangelism

In his book Joy Unspeakable, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones states, "Go through Acts and in every instance when we are told either that the Spirit came upon these men or that they were filled with the Spirit, you will find that it was in order to bear a witness and a testimony." He observed in the book of Acts, the anointing of the Holy Spirit to use men in evangelism.

The power of evangelism is through the Holy Spirit. He bears witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He uses us to share the gospel in power. Jesus said, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8). That's New Testament evangelism.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). The gospel comes not in word only, but through the power of the Holy Spirit. "For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance" (1 Thessalonians 1:5). Anointed evangelism is in the Word and the Spirit.

Let us pray that God will use us to share the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us also give the glory to God for those who are saved, recognizing our total dependence upon the Holy Spirit. God wants to use us in evangelism through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Be Saved and Sure

Jesus died for our sins on the cross. He is risen from the dead for our justification. We become children of God by faith in the Lord Jesus (Galatians 3:26). Jesus intercedes for believers, that the Father will "keep them from the evil one" (John 17:15). This is the present day ministry of Jesus, as every believer's High Priest (Hebrews 7:20-25). Jesus shall return to glorify all who believe in Him (1 John 3:2). Be saved and sure as a believer, if Jesus is your surety!

Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant (Hebrews 7:22). A surety is a guarantee. In Bible days, the word surety was used to describe someone who guaranteed another person's debt would be paid. All of us have a sin debt to God. The good news is Jesus paid it all. Be saved and sure by faith in Christ alone.

There is no way that we can repay our sin debt against God. We have broken God's law. Our conscience testifies as much. The good news is that Jesus paid it all. Believers look to the cross of Jesus, where He died in our place. Our sin debt to God's justice was paid, not in part but the whole. As believers, we are free from a debt that we could never repay, when Jesus is our surety. 

In Jesus Christ our Lord be saved and  sure, according to God's promises. In the new covenant, God makes four promises to every believer, guaranteed through Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:7-13). These promises are: (1) God will put His laws in our mind; (2) God will be our God and we are His people; (3) We will all know the Lord; (4) God will forgive our sins and remember them no more.

The Lord Opens Hearts

Because of our sinful nature, the Lord opens hearts to respond to the gospel of Christ. The Spirit of grace enables us to respond freely to the gospel. In conversion, we respond to the Holy Spirit through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul (Acts 16:14). These words speak of Lydia, a woman who worshiped God but had not yet heard the gospel to believe in Christ. God opened her heart to hear and respond to the gospel. The word "heart" describes our mind, will, and emotions. It is a term for our innermost person.

God's Spirit of grace goes before conversion opening hearts to hear the gospel and choose to receive Christ (John 1:12-13). It may be identified with the convicting work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11). It is the gospel call for you to trust the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:13). The Spirit of God opens your heart to convince you concerning the truth of the gospel.

Your heart is opened to hear and understand the gospel. He enables you to respond freely to the call of Christ. God works concurrently with your choice. Jesus stands at the door of your life and knocks. You may open the door by believing the gospel to receive Christ (Revelation 3:20; John 1:12).

Christ Is Our Election

Christ is our election unto salvation from eternal judgment. Christ is our deliverance from condemnation. Election is God the Father's choice to save sinners in Christ (Ephesians 1:4-6). Reprobation is the opposite of election. It is the reprobate's choice to reject God's salvation in Christ (John 3:18).

Christ is our election by God's grace. He saves us from the condemnation of our sin. God's grace is his goodness, leading us to repentance (Romans 2:4). The reprobate chooses to obstinately reject the goodness of God's grace in Christ. 

Christ is our election confirmed through faith (2 Peter 1:1,10); reprobation is confirmed through continual rejection of Christ. Election gives mercy to sinners through Christ crucified (Romans 5:8). Christ risen from the dead brings justification to sinners by faith alone (Romans 4:5; 10:9). The reprobate is hardened in his own sin that rejects Christ forever. 

Christ is our election by God's active will to save us as believers. Reprobation is God's passive will to let others continue in their sin and unbelief. Election is the will of God in Christ (1 Peter 1:1-2). Reprobation is the will of man in sin (John 5:40).

Christ is our election in salvation to the praise of God's glory. God saves us by faith in Christ to the praise of His glorious grace (Ephesians 1:6). God passively allows those who are reprobate to reject Christ unto their own just condemnation (John 3:19).

How God Will Provide

God is Jehovah-jireh, meaning the Lord will provide (Genesis 22:14). God will provide for all who believe in his name. That means you can trust in who God is. It's not just who you want him to be. God's name is revealed to you and all believers. You can trust in his name, as the Lord provides for your need.

God will provide as our heavenly Father. He knows your needs before you ask. Prayer is not designed for us to inform God. He knows all things. Our prayers receive from God our Father. Jesus said to pray,"Our Father in heaven"(Matthew 6:9). He taught us to make requests based upon our needs."Give us this day our daily bread"(Matthew 6:11). God will provide as your Father in heaven.

God will provide according to our needs. All of us have needs. Fear says, No one is going to provide for your needs. You are a needy person with no one who can help. Faith says, "My God shall supply all of my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus"(Philippians 4:19).

Our greatest need is not physical nor financial. Our greatest need is spiritual. We need God. We need faith that God will provide. God's covenant name among others is Jehovah-jireh. It means God will provide. His name reveals His character. It's who He is and what He does.

Walk In the Light

"If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin"(1 John 1:7). Through the gospel, as believers see the truth of Christ by the Holy Spirit. We are able to walk daily in the light of Christ.

"For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4: 6). That is the light of the Holy Spirit. Our hearts are enlightened to see the glory of God in Christ.

Light comes to our hearts through the gospel of Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:5). The change is sudden and abrupt. It's like turning on a light in a dark room. That's the way the Spirit of light changes those who have lived in darkness. New birth scatters our darkness into light. 

The Holy Spirit brings us out of darkness into the light without any resistance. It comes by new birth, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not our achievement. Rather, illumination of the Spirit comes from without, changing our hearts within. Jesus is the light, as the Holy Spirit opens "the eyes of your understanding"(Ephesians 1:18).

When We Trust God

The first lesson a baby learns in life is to trust. The bond between a mother and the infant is trust. The baby learns to trust the mother to be there. The cry is heard and mother's loving arms lift the infant for nurture and care. So all who are born again know how to trust God.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding"(Proverbs 3:5). None of us can understand all about the greatness of God. Our understanding is limited. Like an infant who does not understand the mother, yet trust is developed. There is so much that we don't understand about God. Trusting God means we don't lean on our own understanding.

Trusting God is based upon His word of promise. He is faithful to all of His promises."God who has promised cannot lie"(Titus 1:2). Our bond with God is based upon His word of truth found in your Bible. When we trust God, we are trusting His word.

Trusting God is trusting His word of promise in the Bible. Read the promises of God. Pray the promises of God. Trust God to always keep His word of promise in your life. Trust God when you understand and when you don't. Are you trusting God with all your heart?