I planned every sermon word when I began preaching more than forty years ago. I’ve learned that the right words and proper grammar don’t necessarily communicate anything of eternal significance.
How do human words achieve heart-penetrating power? How can they stir those who are habitually inattentive? How can they break through barriers erected to maintain the status quo?
Only the Holy Spirit can wing words from the ear to the heart. We speak them, and we trust Him to take it from there. Only He can connect them with people’s needs and personal experiences and overcome their resistance.
He applies our words to hearts in unexpected ways. People have reported that something I said helped them, but I don’t remember saying it! The bow is weak, but the arrow is sharp!
Christians often worry that unbelievers will raise questions about the Bible they can’t answer. So they don’t take a public stand for Christ.
It’s important to read and study the Bible. But not knowing the answer to every conceivable question shouldn’t keep us on the witnessing sidelines. We can always say, “I don’t know the answer to that question. I will try to find out for you.”
My grandson posted the following on Facebook: “A recent study found that people who go fishing catch more fish than those who don’t go fishing.” Pretty obvious, huh?
My comment on his post was that it had serious application to the spiritual realm. Those who fish for people catch more than those who don’t fish for people (Matthew 4:19). Pretty obvious, huh?
The Spirit can speak and Jesus can shine through us when we humbly tell others what Jesus means to us (Matthew 10:19–20). Even though unprepared, we say what God lays on our hearts with a humble spirit (Mark 13:11).
The Holy Spirit empowers us to be Christ’s witnesses (Acts 1:8). He uses our spoken and written words to bring people from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s Son (Colossians 1:13).
On the day of Pentecost Jesus’ followers were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in languages they had never learned about the wonderful things God had done (Acts 2:4, 11). Peter, filled with the same Spirit, boldly talked about Jesus in his native tongue to the Jewish religious leaders (Acts 4:8). Like Peter, our challenge is to share the wonderful things God has done in a language we already know.
After Peter and John appeared before the Jewish Council who told them not to speak or teach in Jesus’ name, the early Christians prayed for great boldness to share their faith. The Holy Spirit filled them, and they boldly preached the word of God (Acts 4:31).
Peter and the apostles explained why they were still teaching in Jesus’ name when the Jewish Council forbade it. They said, “The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him” (Acts 5:30–32 NLT).
God has changed our lives by grace through faith in Jesus. We need the Holy Spirit's boldness to share it. We need the same Spirit-generated wisdom Stephen demonstrated with those who resist the Gospel’s advance (Acts 6:10).
Barnabas was an effective witness. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit, and strong in faith. The result was that many people were brought to the Lord in Antioch (Acts 11:24). The more like him we are, the better.
God can use us to bring people to Christ. We don’t need theological training or impressive wisdom. We must speak up even if we are timid and trembling. We don’t have to give persuasive speeches. We must, however, rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to do through us what we can’t do without Him (1 Corinthians 2:1–5, 1 Peter 1:12). #freediscipleshipresources #freeevangelismresources #freechristianleadershipresources
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God has empowered me to write “His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength.” It’s a free evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship eBook. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead more than 2,400 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 5,110 people. I invite you to check it out. https://www.christiangrowthresources.com/his-power-for-your-weakness
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