11-26-24-DAILY READING-ENG.

EXPERIENCING THE SPIRIT

                              — 1 CORINTHIANS 4:20

The great challenge of God is to turn His people from being self-centered to being God-centered. Our natural bent is to start with self and base our decisions on what we can accomplish. Instead, we need to start with God and simply respond to Him in obedience. Our response is based not upon our talents, but upon His assignment for our lives.

                                 WITNESS TO A MIRACLE

I enjoy sharing the gospel with those who've never heard it. I don't have a canned approach to witnessing. My strategy is to discover what God is doing in a person's life, reword from a biblical perspective what I've heard them say, and then help them take the next step in their response to God. I look to see what God is doing in their lives and join Him. As I do this, normally my mind is sharp and quick to recall a Scripture, and I share it in a relational and natural way. But that wasn't the case one night when I went to see a couple who had visited our church. I'd just finished a very demanding day, and I was physically tired and mentally spent; I just wasn't sharp. I usually take someone with me when I'm witnessing, so I had a seminary student along for the experience.

When we came to the house, nobody answered the door when I rang the doorbell. Then I realized I was at the wrong house. When we finally made it to the right house and were invited inside, the couple was timid and uneasy. As we sat around their kitchen table, I realized I'd forgotten my Bible. Everything seemed awkward and cold. I asked about their religious background and what had drawn them to visit our church. As I listened to their story of drifting from one church to another without ever being involved in any of them, I realized how spiritually confused the wife was. She had been involved with Catholics, Lutherans, Pentecostals, Baptists, and others, with long periods of “nothing” in between. “I have a lot of questions,” she said. “I'm sure you have a lot of questions,” I replied, “especially with such a varied religious past.

But before I answer them, can I ask you just one question? In all the churches you've visited, did anyone ever tell you how to become a Christian?” “No,” she said. “Nobody has ever told me that.” “Do you mind if I tell you?” “Please,” she replied eagerly. “I've always wanted to understand that.” So I launched into a presentation of the gospel. But remember, I wasn't at my best. I borrowed an old King James Bible the couple had and stumbled along to share with them. I have to be honest; this was probably the worst gospel presentation in the history of the world. In fact, it was so bad, I started to question it! While I was turning the conversation from small talk to spiritual talk, the seminary student who was with me knew where I was going. As I presented the gospel, he had discreetly bowed his head and was praying for me.

When he lifted his head, he was absolutely amazed. Tears were rolling down the woman's cheeks. She wasn't crying because of my terrible presentation; something was obviously touching her deep within. She moved past weeping to sobbing, and from sobbing to heaving. Her husband was stunned, not knowing what was happening to his wife. He ran for tissues and tried to comfort her. As the scene unfolded before my eyes, I sensed the Holy Spirit say to me, I'm trying to save this poor woman, so don't mess this up. Just help her to repent and ask Jesus into her life. Then stop talking! That's what I did. She prayed to receive Christ, and the husband recommitted his life to the Lord. Both of them committed to come forward in church the following Sunday. As we walked out of the house, no more than thirty minutes after we'd arrived, we sat in the car stunned.

I thought, God was determined to save that woman in spite of our incompetence! Now, based upon that true story (and believe me, I wish I could say it was just a fabricated case study to make a point), would you say I have the gift of evangelism? After all, we were in and out in only thirty minutes (fifteen of which was small talk and cookies). The woman was left in a heap of tears as she prayed to receive Christ, and the man reawakened to his relationship with God and cried out for forgiveness and restoration. Another two people were added to our church membership. So I must have the gift of evangelism, right? Or isn't it more accurate to say I have the gift of the Holy Spirit who fulfilled the Father's purpose through my life?

What happened that night? The Father purposed to do a work in this couple's lives. Christ sent me as a part of His body to share the gospel. And the Holy Spirit worked through me to bring them into a relationship with God. I was available for the Holy Spirit to work through my life, and He did. What turned this couple's lives upside down was not my skilled approach to witnessing, but the power of the Holy Spirit. So what's most important: my skill as a witness or the presence of the Holy Spirit? Obviously it's the Holy Spirit's power that makes the difference. And that's true for everything we do in the kingdom of God.