Proclamation is part of the battle

 

Years ago, hubby and I were involved in an evangelism outreach program in John MacArthur’s church. We were taught how to clearly present the gospel and given opportunity to do so by visiting first-time visitors to the church, or by going to a mall and approaching people.

Later, my first time to try this on my own was a total flop, at least from a clear presentation perspective. However, the woman on the receiving end accepted Jesus as her Savior and Lord. When I asked her what changed her heart, she quoted an illustration I used and said God showed her that her efforts to be a good person were okay, but not enough to get her to heaven. She comes to mind as today’s devotional focuses on the parable of the sower and the seed:

Then Jesus spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up, they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Matthew 13:3–8)

Jesus explained this parable to His disciples. He told them the seed is the truth of God’s Word but Satan can snatch it away from those who hear it but don’t understand what it means. Also, he can bring affliction and persecution against those with an emotional commitment only, causing them to lose heart and turn away, or distract people with worries or worldly issues. Yet some will be receptive and like good soil nurtures seeds, they will hear, understand, and produce spiritual fruit.

While presenting the gospel clearly is important (see Colossians 4:3-4), I’m convinced that the work of the Holy Spirit can use even a muddle presentation — if He has been preparing the soil of a human heart. The important thing is not clarity in the presentation, but the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul said:

I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:3–5)

For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. (1 Corinthians 4:20)

For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance . . . . (1 Thessalonians 1:5)

This is not an excuse to abandoned knowing how to explain the good news to others, but it is clear that our words do not do the job unless the power of the Holy Spirit is at work. For this reason, any preparation must include prayer. God can bind the enemy and stop him from snatching the news away or befuddling those who hear it or using other tactics to render the message useless. The Spirit can also soften hard hearts, enable hearers to ignore emotions and distractions, and produce growth from even the tiniest seeds sown.

From the way Ephesians 6:10-20 is written, prayer is the battle. I’m not fighting people with clever arguments to convince them to believe. I’m not trying to persuade God who is “not willing that any should perish” but the battle is against “principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12) This is a spiritual battle that requires spiritual weapons, not so much carefully prepared oratory. A well-done sermon might do it. So might a simple message or a word or two from a child. God is not limited. He can use even a donkey to speak truth! (Numbers 22:28-33)

If the Spirit is working, the results will show it. If not, this parable reveals how the enemy is at work. People may hear the gospel and forget it, or be more interested in worldly pursuits and not willing to forsake sin. No matter how clear the message, the human heart clearly cannot hear it apart from the work of the Holy Spirit.

PRAY: Lord, You are teaching me to listen to You, say what You put in my mind to say to people, and trust You with the results. I also pray for the Spirit to be at work so those I talk to are less interested in sin and worldly pursuits and hearing Your whispers about their need for You. May I be faithful to do my part.

PONDER: In 1 Thessalonians 3:1–8 Paul “kept telling” these believers beforehand that affliction would come. They should not be easily drawn away from faith if they knew this would happen. Consider the importance of telling others what to expect — that the enemy will try to stop them from trusting and obeying Jesus.