PARTNER WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

02/17/2023

"But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way." (1 Corinthians 12:31)

Imagine that you met someone, and you felt the urge to minister the gospel but all you had were Bible verses. Even though you went ahead and preached, this person shrugged you off or proceeded to argue with you about the validity of your message, would you feel that at least you tried? 

I am asking this question because this has been the experience of so many. What was missed in that opportunity was the collaboration of the Holy Spirit during that encounter. First of all, there are exact scriptures to preach during an evangelistic encounter. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." The word, "thoroughly equipped" also means to be "thoroughly updated." In essence, if you trust the scriptures that LORD gives you during such an encounter, your message will be so concurrent to the situation that it will feel like God is speaking to your hearer directly.  

The reason for this is found in Hebrews 4:12 which says, "... the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." The word [logos] of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of your hearer's heart. So don't stick to a one-track message you preach went you go out to evangelize, study your Bible and the let Holy Spirit keep thorough updated with what He wants to say to that person to whom you minister. 

Another way to collaborate is through spiritual gifts and today's theme scripture says to covet the best ones. 1 Corinthians 14:22  lets us know that signs are for unbelievers. So covet the gifts of tongues and interpretation. Covet the word of knowledge and the other power gifts. Understand that these gifts will not hasten the work but embolden you to do it rapidly. 

Today, I leave with a picture of the Greatest Soul-winner and the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, "Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.” (John 4:16-18). The rest was history, the Bible says the woman believed, went and told everyone about the man who told her her life story. Watch how Jesus crossed cultural, racial and gender boundaries with the word of knowledge. If you are exactly like Him, then so can you. Collaborate with the Holy Spirit, covet the best gifts and watch your evangelism explode to another level.

God bless you!

Faith-Filled Confession

I collaborate with the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel. And because signs are for unbelievers, I produce proofs to enable them to believe. Because of the love of God in my heart, I earnestly desire and demand the operations of the Spirit every time I minister to someone, trusting that He will help me win that some with every required resource at my disposal. Hallelujah!

ONE YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Leviticus 24-25; Mark 1:23-45