Spirit Led Evangelism
(week 13, 2007)
Olubi Johnson
Luke 15:1(NKJV): Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.
Here, we see the sinners and the tax collectors drawing near to Jesus to hear God’s Word.
The question is who or what was drawing them to Him?
The Holy Spirit:
John 6:44-45(NKJV): No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.
In fact, all men at one point or the other in their lives are drawn, enlightened and taught by God through the manifestation of His wisdom and power as revealed in the natural creation:
Romans.1:18-21(NKJV): For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
John 1:9(NKJV): That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
However, man’s response to this divine ‘wooing’ determines whether the man increases or decreases in the knowledge of God, either ultimately getting born-again and going to heaven or going to hell.
However, it is not the will of God that anybody should perish in hell:
2 Peter 3:9(NKJV): The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
It is for this reason God wants us involved in spirit-led evangelism.
In spirit led evangelism we pray in tongues and travail for men to be born-again and then the Holy Spirit supernaturally leads us, through our walking in the spirit to them to witness to them by our conduct and words to get them born-again.
Good examples of this are:
- When Jesus was led to speak to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well (John 4.5-42).
- When Peter was led by the Spirit to the house of Cornelius (Acts. 10.1-48).
Notice in these examples, the people were drawn by the Spirit without Jesus or Peter knowing at first and then the Holy Spirit now led Jesus and Peter to those He had drawn and prepared.
Evangelism without the prayer of intercession in the Spirit (Romans. 8.26) and the leading of the Holy Spirit will lead to frustration or at best people making mental assent to Christianity without a birth in the Spirit.
John 3:4-7(NKJV): Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.‘
It is only travail or labour in the Spirit that leads to true re-birth of the human spirit.
Isaiah 66:8(NKJV): Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children.
For the church to be effective in her ministry of evangelism we must allow the Holy Spirit to lead us through effective intercession in the Spirit and walking in the spirit like in the example of Jesus and Peter above.
