Featured The Holy Spirit in Evangelism

I don't have much time today, but want to get this started. I'll contribute more tomorrow.

With the current threads on evangelism and the Great Commission (GC), I would like to examine with this thread the various ways the Holy Spirit helps in evangelism, remembering (1) that He is the Paraclete, the Comforter/Helper, and (2) Any exegesis of any of the five statements of the GC is flawed if it does not include the influence and help of the Holy Spirit.

Note:

"All power is given unto me" (Matt. 28:8). This obviously speaks of the Holy Spirit.

"And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen" (Mark 16:20). The Holy Spirit's work is just as important in Mark's GC as is proclaiming the Gospel.

"Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). This speaks of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

"And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost" (John 20:22).

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

 

I love that old hymn, "Brethren We Have Met to Worship"--

1. Brethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord our God;
   Will you pray with all your power, while we try to preach the Word?
   All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down;
   Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.

 

I agree, but the parable of the four types of soil teaches that there may also be false professions that can fool the one doing personal evangelism. Again, the key is the Holy Spirit at work.

Again I agree, and I think this would be a good topic for another thread. There is much error concerning the meaning of "worship." I go by the two Greek words most translated with that, proskunew (I bow down) and latreuw (I worship/serve).

 

You've given several ways the Holy Spirit helps.
1. Guides our words.
2. Gives us boldness (Acts 4:31)
3. Prepares the hearts of the lost.

Amen! All evangelism must be accompanied by prayer.

 

There are other actions of the Holy Spirit in evangelism. Anyone want to take a stab at them?

 

Obviously the Holy Spirit is not in such evangelism.

However, I will say that the Apostle Paul rejoiced even when someone's motives for presenting the Gospel were false: "What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice" (Phil. 1:18). IMO, The question to be asked is not whether evangelism is manipulative, but whether the complete Gospel is actually presented.

 

In light of recent discussions on the BB, I think it is vital to note that it is the Holy Spirit Who convicts of sin (John 16:8-11). He uses many means to do this. One of those avenues is the moral law of the OT. But moral law is written in the hearts of all human beings, so the 10 Commandments per se may not need to be mentioned. He may use a particular sin rather than the law in general. He may not need to mention any sin to the sinner if that person is already racked with guilt, but simply gently point out in the heart of the sinner the remedy for his or her sin.

Mr. U. in Japan was sent to me by his wife because of his adulterous affair with a bar girl. The deal was that if he did not get counseling from the missionary pastor, she would divorce him. The bar girl was making her miserable, calling and gloating. I counseled Mr. U. for a whole year with no salvation. Then late one Sunday evening he knocked on our door to say, "Sensei (Teacher, Pastor), I finally understood what you've been saying to me all year, that Christ died for my sins. A Christian friend came from Sapporo and talked to us for 4 hours, and I finally understood what Christ had done for me."

 

The one that stands out there to me is "Leading." I'm surprised no one has mentioned the leadership of the Spirit in evangelism. It's huge!

 

May the Lord greatly bless your efforts. I went to Japanese language school in '80-'82, and was able to pass out Bibles to many Chinese, some of who took those Bibles back to mainland China, so I know the huge potential you have there.