Are you really an evangelist?
/What does evangelism look like to you?
Actual man running for his life from a Hippo |
Is this what you do? Is that because "the end is near" and "the harvest is ripe" (
)?
Or do you build relationships before telling others why you (not why they should) walk the Christian walk? The harvest
is
ripe (
), the end
is
near and God has made you willing. Even then,
all
are to come to Him
because we get a revelation of Him, His love, not because we have to.
Jesus didn't run after people to spread the gospel
either. In fact (apart from those in synagogues) people came to Jesus - Jesus did not go out and make people listen to Him. He often went to the Mount for time alone with God, away from the crowds that were following Him; not the crowd He ran after and forced to listen.
Real evangelism versus rushed evangelism
Evangelism has a bad name because,
like the rest of the world, we have no patience.
Perhaps we don't trust that God can complete His plan. We want "instant Christianity" and when that doesn't work, we say "at least a seed was planted". Did we first check the soil to determine how to plant that seed? Or did you throw seeds - smiling or ranting, depending - and 'hope for the best'? (Parable of the Sower
)
No one is saying that you never spread the Word "on the spot";
people come to us everyday and we just don't notice.
The Holy Spirit in His wisdom will give your opportunities, and tell you when to speak. He will even give you the words. Ask for opportunities. I've had them even when I didn't want them. University e.g.:
Me: "I can't meet on Sundays; I'm at Church"
Guy: "Really?! Why?! Why do you believe in a God who would wipe out the earth and save just Noah's family?!"
[Side note: Now, I really care for and pray for him, and I'm not sure I gave the right answer, but this is where I was lead at the time...]
Me: "Because I wasn't there when He wiped out the earth, back then, but I'm here now and I see Him in my life daily. I will not tell you to believe because I do, but I will tell you to ask God and you'll get answers. God isn't limited by our imperfect logic. He actually knows and sees all."
There was more, and I'm paraphrasing, but he did chew on it for a while. He still comes at me - he's passionate not badgering - when we meet (4 years later), and God still gives me a Word for him each time. It's amazing.
Being willing vessels
It truly is amazing
when we really let God use us
(not let us use us) to share
His
gospel in Jesus Christ through the intercession of the Holy Spirit. We are called to walk, weep and eat with those we pray for, truly
get to know them, before we speak into their lives.
Even then, we'd only know 30% of their story. Most of us know maybe 40-70% of ourselves; they're likely the same.
Believe me,
God is willing and able to do immeasurably more than we can imagine.
We don't have to rush the great command; not even in these last days. There are many desperate ears waiting and listening for an answer -
find those hearts, that God has made ready to receive, and speak to them.
Let the Holy Spirit lead you so you speak in words they understand. We don't need to be perfect; just ready, willing vessels.
There's a huge "ripe harvest" without hounding those who don't want the Word yet.
Pray for those who don't want the Word yet.
Love them and let them be until Christ calls them; it may not be through you, but another.
Can this be the face of evangelism?
