The Missing Ingredient in Today's Evangelism

Evangelism is something that most conservative, Bible believing and teaching churches promote. They offer classes on evangelism and regularly encourage it. However, I believe in our pragmatic American way ... we have all-too-often reduced evangelism to a process in which the evangelistic efforts that are made are more in line with modern marketing practices and principles than they are with what the Bible has to say about the proclaiming of the gospel. And at the end of the day ... the one critical "ingredient" in evangelism is nowhere to be found. And just what (or better said "WHO") is this missing ingredient?

In the book of Acts, as Jesus was preparing to leave planet earth some forty days after his resurrection, he told his followers to remain in Jerusalem until that time when the Father would send his Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5). Jesus repeats this promise of the coming Spirit just a few verses later in what proved to be his last words to them. Here he connects the coming of the Spirit with his command to them to be his witnesses (Acts 1:8). The Spirit came in the very next chapter (Acts 2:1-4). When the Spirit fell upon them, the Spirit gave them "utterance." This "utterance" was for the purpose of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. The end result is that many of the listeners were "cut to the heart" and asked for further guidance from the disciples (Acts 2:37). Then we read in Acts 2:41 that about 3000 people received the word of the gospel and were baptized.

Now friends, in today's evangelism ... it is usually not the gospel message that is missing (although, I must admit in some of the efforts at sharing that I have heard from some Christians ... many need to get a better handle on the gospel!). But what who is missing today is the very person we see so prominent in Acts chapters one and two (and for much of the book as well). Of course I am referring to the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit is not "in" our gospel proclaiming efforts ... then we might as well be speaking gobbledygook!

Here is how E.M. Bounds states the need for the Holy Spirit to be at work as we share the gospel:

“The gospel cannot be executed but by the Holy Spirit. He only has the regal authority to do this royal work. Intellect cannot execute it, neither can learning, nor eloquence, nor truth, not even the revealed truth can execute the gospel. The marvelous facts of Christ's life told by hearts unanointed by the Holy Spirit will be dry and sterile, or "like a story told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." Not even the precious blood can execute the gospel. Not any, nor all of these, though spoken with angelic wisdom, angelic eloquence, can execute the gospel with saving power. Only tongues set on fire by the Holy Spirit can witness the saving power of Christ with power to save others.”  (E. M. Bounds. Complete Works of E. M. Bounds on Prayer, The: Experience the Wonders of God through Prayer (p. 280). Kindle Edition.)

Together let's commit to more frequently and more fervently calling upon the Holy Spirit to lead us in our sharing of the gospel! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 

pj