The Biblical Mandate for Evangelizing in light of

THE CHARACTER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT’S WORK

 

 

I.  WHY IS THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVEN ACCORDING TO THE TEACHINGS OF THE N.T.?

 

A.  He is to bring about the new birth through:

1)    Coordinating people and events (Acts 8,10).

2)    Making people receptive to the Gospel (Acts 16:14).

3)    Revealing Christ (John 15:26).

4)    Bringing about conviction (John 16:8; Acts 2:37).

5)    Bringing about faith (1 Cor. 12:3).

6)    Regenerating the person (John 1:12-13; 3:8; 1 John 3:9).

7)    Giving assurance of salvation and sonship (Ram 8:16).

 

B.  He is to equip believers for the work of evangelism through:

 

1)    Incorporating them into Christ’s body. (1 Cor. 12:13). Evangelism needs to be done as a team. A person who goes into the “battle field” alone, usually surrenders.

 

2)    Producing God-pleasing fruit in their lives (Gal 5:22-23). Again, the purpose of the transformed lives is to be an evangelistic witness to the outsiders.

 

3)    Equipping them with gifts (Ram 12:6-8; Eph 4:8-12). Gifts are given in order to edify the church, so that the work can be done by the saints.

 

4)    Helping them to pray (Ram 8:26-27). Most of the prayers in the NT are related to strengthening believers in their walk with Christ (Eph 1:15-23; 3:14-21; Phil 1:9-11; Cal 1:9-14) and to intercede for the work of evangelism (Ram 15:30-32).

 

5)    Giving boldness and words to witness (Matt 10:17-20; Acts 1:8).

 

6)    Giving authority to forgive and retain sins (John 20:21-23). -

 

 

II. WHY IS THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVEN ACCORDING TO THE EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE IN THE N.T.?

What does the Holy Spirit do through people who are filled with him? It is interesting to note, that when it says that people are filled with the Holy spirit, they usually are engaged in evangelistic work!

 

A.  He equips them to speak.

1)    John the Baptist: preaches repentance (Luke 1:13-17, 3:1-18).

2)    Jesus: he brings good news with grace (Luke 4:1,16-19).

3)    Peter: he witnesses in spite of danger (Acts 4:8).

4)    First Christians: speak with boldness in midst of persecution (Acts 4:31; 13:52).

5)    Stephen: witnesses with irresistible wisdom (Acts 6:5,10;7:55-60).

6)    Barnabas: instrument in bringing people to the Lord and discipling them. (Acts 11:22-26).

7)    Paul: he preaches with boldness (Acts 9:17,20).

 

B.  He equips them to do miracles that accompany the preaching

1)    Jesus: heals and delivers with authority (Luke 4:18-19,36).

2)    Peter and John: healing that lead to change (Acts 3:1-10).

3)    Stephen: does wonders and miracles which lead to further witnessing (Acts 6:8).

4)    Paul: miracles lead to preaching and faith (Acts 13:9-12; Ram 15:17-19).

 

II. WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS FOR THE WORKING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH GOD’S PEOPLE?

 

A.  God’s people need to wait on him.

1)    Wait and continually praise. (Luke 24:53).

2)    Wait and continually pray. (Acts 1:12-14; 4:23-31).

3)    Wait and be united (Acts 2:1).

 

B.  God’s people need to allow Him to fill them.

God’s people can grieve and quench the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30). They can also allow him

to fill them.

 

C.  God’s people need to acknowledge his sovreignty.

1)    God works in different ways. (Acts 2:41; 4:4; 5:14; 6:11-12).

2)    The need to acknowledge that there are different soils. (Matt 13).

3)    The need to acknowledge differences in timing and responsibilities. Some sow without reaping, and some reap without sowing (John 4:35-38). The important thing is to acknowledge that it is God who gives growth, that we need to be God’s faithful co-workers, and that we need to be able to work as a team. (1 Cor 3:5-9).

 

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

The church and Christian believers witness and evangelize not so much because they have chosen to, but they are impelled by the loving pressure of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will not let us settle down into a comfortable way of life for Jesus has paid too great a price. So, the Holy Spirit impels us forward to evangelize. To refuse to evangelise is to “grieve the Holy Spirit.”