Eternal Approach

Prayer is Critical 

So, where does that leave us?

I would like to propose a couple simple ideas.

One: Without prayer, all else is useless and meaningless.

We need to pray for those specific people we are trying to reach. And to do this well in advance of when we expect to see them. To pray for their salvation. To prayer for an opportunity or a “door of utterance” for the Lord to provide.

We need to pray that people will be prepared to receive the truth; and pray that the Lord will give us the words and timing to say what we should say.

This is the most critical thing we can do. All else, is worthless without this.

And, if we don’t have an opportunity, don’t force it. Trust that the Lord is in charge.

The Lord’s Working

Two: Allow the Lord to do His work.

This is, in my estimation, the thing that is most absent from virtually all work that is done in the Lord’s name.

We simply fail to wait on the Lord. We are in a hurry. We are determined to get results. We have placed a decision for Christ as the priority.

We fail to see that the Lord does not need us in the way that we think He does.

He desires that we allow Him to minister to people through us. This is not so much about the deeds we do, as some think; but by the Holy Spirit speaking to people when we are in their midst.

Because, He indwells us. And by that indwelling, He can deal with people when we are around them. We take Him to those places and people where He can minister.

Consider this verse, “Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” (II Corinthians 3:3)

Usually, this is taught with the idea that of our testimonies are being seen by people. But there is more here than that.

This is about how the Lord Himself teaches and preaches to people when we are in their presence. This is specifically about the work that the Lord does through His Spirit.

Please, understand that I am still all for Bible tracts. And all for literature that we can give to people.

In fact, that brings me to the final idea.

The Word of God

Three: Use the Word of God

It is amazing how we will give people everything but God’s word.

And yet, it is God’s word that actually saves them. We are born again by the word of God. Not by the words of a famous Christian author; as good as those may be.

Our faith should be that God will use His word to work His purpose. Because His word will not return to Him void.

A supernatural exchange takes place when we each hear God’s words. And we would do well to have more confidence in what He does with His words.

As opposed to all our own methods, strategies, and self effort to accomplish evangelistic goals. However good they may be.

Well, that is not the whole matter. But I hope it helps. There is so much more to say about this.

But that is for another day.

Image by Lorraine Cormier from Pixabay