41005 The Power

Power Source #1: The Holy Spirit

Evangelism is about the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit who enables us to share the good news. The Holy Spirit is the One who causes a person to put their faith in Christ. In Acts 1:4, Jesus commanded His disciples to wait for what the Father had promised—to be endowed with power from the Holy Spirit. The Lord will never ask us to do something without giving us the resources to do it. Ephesians 5:18 says, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.”

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:4 (NKJV), “My message and preaching was not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” Whether you use a tract or simply share the gospel from your heart, you are to rely on the Holy Spirit. God uses ordinary people filled with extraordinary power to share the good news. All glory goes to the Lord when a person comes to Christ.

Bill Bright in his booklet “How You Can Be Filled with the Holy Spirit” explains how important it is to be controlled by the Holy Spirit when we share Christ with others.

It is Christ himself, living within you in all of his resurrection power . . . speaking with your lips— who will empower you with the Holy Spirit. It is not your wisdom, your eloquence, your logic, your good personality, or your persuasiveness that brings people to our Savior. First-century Christians, controlled and empowered by the Holy Spirit and filled with his love, turned the world upside down. As the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, they received a divine, supernatural power that changed them from fearful men to radiant witnesses for Christ. They were used by God to change the course of history. And this same omnipotent power, the power of the Holy Spirit, is available to you to enable you to live a . . . fruitful life for Jesus Christ.

Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit “will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8 NKJV). The Holy Spirit shows the non-Christians their need for Christ, and unless they repent of sin and accept Jesus as their Savior and refuge, they will face God’s judgment. Ask the Lord to fill you with the Holy Spirit and show you what steps to take as you share Christ with others, whether they are a neighbor, a relative, a coworker, or a friend.

Power Source #2: Prayer

Someone once said, “When we work, we work, but when we pray, God works.” Without prayer, evangelism is impotent. Author E. M. Bounds said, “Prayer is the mightiest agent to advance God’s work.”

The early church was a model for prayer. They prayed for 10 days and preached for 10 minutes, and 3,000 were saved (Acts 1–2). As Pastor J. D. Greear said, “Nowadays, we pray for 10 minutes, we talk for 10 days, and three people get saved.”

Prayer is an act of humility and aligns our hearts with God’s heart to open blind eyes and deaf ears to the gospel. What should we pray for?

Pray to Have a Heart for the Lost

Ask the Lord to forgive you for being apathetic toward the lost. Talk to the Lord and say, “Lord, please forgive me, and give me a heart for those who don’t know You.” Trust God, and step out in faith as you look for divine appointments. Paul told Philemon, “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ” (Philemon 6 NIV).

Pray for Boldness

The greatest missionary who ever lived, the Apostle Paul, asked for prayer in Ephesians 6:19: “And pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel . . . that . . . I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

John and Peter said, “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to your servants that with all boldness they may speak your word” (Acts 4:29 NKJV).

When I was on staff with Cru, I was given the assignment of reaching the fraternities for Christ at UCLA. Fraternity life is often filled with sexual promiscuity, drunken behavior, and an anything-goes lifestyle. I prayed for boldness, and my team was able to share the gospel to 10 of the 11 fraternities. I claimed 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) where Paul said, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Ralph Drollinger was on our outreach team to reach the fraternities for Christ. He was a 7’2” basketball player at UCLA, and when we walked into the fraternities, all the frat guys were impressed with his height. They would often walk up to Ralph and ask, “How’s the weather up there?” They listened to Ralph and our team as we presented the gospel. Ralph initially turned down a pro basketball contract in order to share Christ with thousands of college and semi-pro players while playing basketball for Athletes in Action. Today, he is a ministry leader with Capitol Ministries, leading Bible studies with members of Congress.

Pray for Open Doors and Divine Opportunities

Paul said in Colossians 4:3 (NKJV), “Meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word.” Open doors are divine opportunities bathed in prayer that produce fruit. In Acts 18:9–10 (ESV), the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”

Crossroads Bible Church has this motto: Passionate Prayer. They have a Sunday morning prayer gathering before the first service, an online prayer ministry during both services, prayer after the services at the foot of the cross, corporate prayer on Tuesday evenings, monthly all-church worship and prayer, prayer in community groups, and prayer in the various ministries of the church.

Pray That Spiritual Eyes and Hearts Will Be Open to the Gospel

Ask the Lord that His Word will not return void (Isaiah 55:11). Pray for a person by name that they will understand the gospel.

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:3–4). Satan’s main goal is to keep people locked in darkness and take as many people to hell as possible.

Pray that the non-believer will recognize their need for Christ much like the Samaritan woman at the well when she said to Jesus, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst” (John 4:15). Paul said, “Grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and . . . come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil” (2 Timothy 2:25–26).

Ask a non-Christian if you can pray for them. That shows compassion. At a restaurant, ask the waitress, “How are things going?” or “How is your day going?” People are often very receptive to being prayed for.

Pastor Kevin Harney in his book Organic Outreach suggests keeping the prayer simple when you pray for them. Use common language. Lift up their needs and joys, pray in Jesus’s name, and stay in touch. If you see them again, your compassion in praying for them may provide an open door for more spiritual conversations.

Pray That Satan Would Be Hindered from Stealing the Seed of the Gospel

Ephesians 6:10–13 says we are engaged in a spiritual battle. The weapons we fight with are not those of the world. Paul said, “For . . . the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses” (2 Corinthians 10:3–4).

Satan is on an all-out mission to hinder non-Christians, including your neighbors, your family, and your friends, from receiving Christ. He wants to do everything possible to convince believers that they are inadequate to share their faith.

Jesus said, “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart” (Matthew 13:19). As believers, we have the power of prayer, the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God to advance God’s kingdom and tear down strongholds.

Paul told King Agrippa that Jesus sent him to the Jewish people and the Gentiles “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins” (Acts 26:18).

Prior to a Billy Graham Crusade in Washington state years ago, my friend Jim Hagensen and I went to a room for counselor training. Everyone was dressed conservatively, but one young man stood out. He was dressed in all white, had a shaved head, and looked like he had either just gotten out of jail, was on drugs, was the milkman, or had been in a hospital for cancer treatment. This man among 3,000 conservatively dressed trainees was suddenly in line right next to me. I tried to share the gospel with him, but he immediately fled as if something had beckoned him to leave. When our training session was over, we went to the foyer where hundreds of people were gathered. The security guards who had been interrogating him told us, “We’re absolutely convinced he is demon-possessed.” I believe this young man was dispatched by the enemy to disrupt the crusade’s training orientation.

Pray for Unsaved Family Members

Randy Newman in his book Bringing the Gospel Home writes, “Develop a system for prayer for your family.   Thank God for his love for each family member.” Realize that it may take a long time for a family member to come to Christ.

Dr. Howard Hendricks, President of Dallas Theological Seminary, prayed 42 years for his father, George Hendricks, to come to Christ. In a miraculous way, a chaplain led him to Christ.

Praying for your family is not a guarantee that everyone in your family will come to Christ. We need to rest in the fact that God is completely trustworthy and that He will wipe away every tear from our eyes in heaven.

Pray for Men and Women to Join the Lord’s Army of Witnesses for Christ

Jesus said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few: therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37–38 ESV).

Pastor David Jeremiah said, “He is praying that your simple work for Him will bring souls into the kingdom and glory to the Father.”

Author and speaker Lee Strobel said, “Prayer isn’t just one more thing we can do. It’s the very best we can do.”

Pray for the lost. Pray that your family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors will be open to the gospel. Pray for divine opportunities and open doors to share the gospel with your unsaved friends and acquaintances. Write down the names of five people you want to see come to Christ:

Write down their needs, concerns, hobbies, and so on. Do they like sports, shopping, or movies? This will help you pray specifically for them and know possible ways to connect with them.

Power Source #3: God’s Word

There are two things in this world that are eternal: people and God’s Word.

Scripture Memory

My older brother was a new Christian at the age of 16. He would wake me up at 5:00 in the morning and ask me to quiz him on some of the 500 Bible verses he had recently memorized. Seven years later when I became a Christian, my brother was overseas traveling, and I had no one to disciple me. I thought to myself, what do I do now that I am a Christian? I decided to engage in scripture memory like my brother had. This was the most important spiritual discipline for my spiritual growth, and it gave me confidence in sharing my faith.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus explains the parable of the sower. He said, “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11).

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing as far as the division of the soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

When evangelist Bill Fay shares his faith, he often asks people to read some key Bible verses out loud. Then he asks, “What does this say to you?” He says there is something dynamic going on when people read God’s Word.

It is because of the work of the gospel through the Holy Spirit and God’s Word that a person can come to Christ. Martin Luther said the Bible is like a lion. If people criticize it, you don’t defend it; you let it out of its cage. The Holy Spirit will use God’s Word to show people their need for Christ (1 Peter 1:23).

Reason from God’s Word

Acts 17 says that on three sabbaths Paul “reasoned with them from the Scriptures” (Acts 17:25). He emphasized who Jesus is (the Messiah and God) and what Jesus did for them (suffer and rise from the dead).

Scripture Answers People’s Emptiness

People are often searching for meaning in their lives. Augustine said, “Thou hast made us for Thyself, O God, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in Thee.”

Ask someone, “Have you ever read the Bible for yourself?” Some will say yes; most will say no. You can follow up with a question such as this: “Do you know what the Bible’s main theme is?” Most will say no, and then you can share the gospel with them and how it addresses their deepest needs—pardon from sin, purpose for living, peace in life, sense of belonging, personal relationship with God, and eternal life. I like the five Ps that only Christ can provide for a person: Purpose (for living), Peace (with God), Pardon (from sin), Power (to live the Christian life), and a Place in heaven.

In Acts 8, an Ethiopian eunuch was reading a passage from Isaiah 53. Philip, the evangelist, asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” (Acts 8:30). Philip explained the gospel to him from God’s Word, and the eunuch came to faith in Christ.

God’s Word Gives Us Confidence

Memorizing a handful of Bible verses as it relates to the gospel is important. However, if you have difficulty memorizing scripture, you can use a gospel tract. You can also download a Bible app that you can refer to as you share your faith.

Here are some effective ways to memorize scripture:

1. Read the verse aloud several times.
2. Use notes or flashcards to write down key verses.
3. Review those verses daily.
4. Listen audibly as you read them out loud.
5. Pray for the Lord to help you memorize scripture.
6. Go to www.biblememory.com, and download the app.

Paul Nowak, Founder and CEO of IrisReading.com, says “Memorization serves as a workout for the brain. The brain is like a muscle that requires exercise for optimal functioning.” Pastor Dudley Rutherford, author of Compelled, states, “When you repeat important verses, they will be stored in your long-term memory just like the lyrics of your favorite songs.”

Jesus has given us all the resources to share the gospel, including the power of the Holy Spirit, the power of prayer, the power of the Word of God, and the power of His presence. We should focus not on what we can’t do but what we can do through Christ. He has given us everything we need to be an effective witness for Christ.

Memorize Key Scriptures

Pick five or more of these 11 verses to memorize so you can share your faith and repeat them on a regular basis.

• Romans 3:23 (ESV): “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
• Romans 5:8 (ESV): “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
• Romans 6:23 (ESV): “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
• John 3:3 (ESV): Jesus said: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
• John 14:6 (ESV): “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
• Romans 10:9–10 (ESV): “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
• John 3:16 (ESV): “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
• Revelation 3:20 (ESV): “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with Me.”
• John 1:12 (ESV): “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
• Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV): “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
• I John 5:11–12 (ESV): “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”