Christian Clothing Company To Follow Him

The Original Evangelist: 🔥
Part 1:

Who is the original evangelist? Is it Abraham, the father of many nations ? Or Moses who led God’s people out of slavery? Or perhaps apostles Paul or Peter who pioneered the early Church? Or the woman at the well who brought the whole town back with her to see Jesus?

While these are all great people of faith who boldly proclaimed the gospel, not one of them has the title of the first evangelist, yet at the same time all of them do. ‘This makes no sense at all’ you might be thinking, but please bear with me while I explain...

Have you ever felt that paralysing fear when you feel prompted to tell someone about Jesus? Or that friend who you really want to pray for but just can’t muster up the courage to tell them about the redemptive power of Jesus Christ? Or the look on people’s faces when you pull out your bible on a crowded train? Well I surely have and sometimes still do experience that fear, becoming acutely aware of my shortcomings when it comes to explaining the gospel to acquaintances or even complete strangers.

The reason so many of us freeze up in these situations or even have a lack of motivation or interest in evangelism is because we’re forgetting who the original evangelist really is. The original evangelist was, is and always will be the Holy Spirit. And what a relief that is! It takes the pressure off - we were never meant to share the gospel on our own strength or demonstrate a really convincing argument for the reliability of the gospel. Do you know why? Because it is the Holy Spirits job to do the convincing, it’s simply our job to get up and go! (Matthew 29:18).

This by no means negates being ready to give an answer to those who ask why we put our hope in Christ (1 Peter 3:15), but this ‘answer’ just comes from our relationship with God, rather than a need to tirelessly string together clever arguments out of fear that someone will challenge us when we step out in faith. This exemplifies the simple truth of Luke 12:11-12: “And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said”. 

When Jesus sent out his disciples in the book of Luke. He told them to go without so much as a travelling bag or even money (Luke 10:4). He was teaching them that it is Him who provides when they step out in faith to share the gospel. In fact, when they had returned Jesus asked them “when I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a travellers bag, or a extra pair of sandals, did you need anything?” - “No”, the disciples replied (Luke 22:35). God did the convincing and the providing, the disciples just went.

Now we might be thinking, well the disciples had Jesus physically with them on the Earth, so it must have been a lot easier to just step out in faith. But so do we - we have the Holy Spirit living in us- And not only that, the disciples were sent out alone in pairs without Jesus. Jesus himself said “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere....” (Acts 1:8).

Immediately after the disciples received baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2 & 3), they began to preach. Peter “saw the opportunity and addresses the crowd” (Acts 3:1). From this simple act of ‘seizing an opportunity’ the church went from just 120 believers in the upper room to 3,000, and then to 5,000 in just a matter of days. They didn’t wait, they had already received the Holy Spirit and knew that the time to act is now.

So in order to share the Good News all we need is to be baptised in the Holy Spirit and then get up and go. In Luke 11:14 Jesus says: “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him." So join me now in simply asking:

“Father, I thank you that when I pray you hear me. My own strength is not enough. You know my shortcomings and you know my heart, just like you knew that of the disciples. But when they were baptised in the Holy Spirit, the original evangelist was able to work through them to proclaim your gospel. Lord, I ask to be baptised in your Holy Spirit too. You word says that you will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. I am asking right now God and in faith I believe that this has been done. Please teach me to be a better witness for you as I step out in faith. I believe and receive this in the name of Jesus. Amen.”

I stand with you in this prayer, knowing that we serve a God who is faithful and not only recognises that we need His help, but has practically met this need by giving us His spirit.

Remember: Sharing of the gospel is the result of the the redemptive power of the Holy Spirit in our lives - it’s not our own will power but Holy Spirit power.

Today I make a resolution myself - to step out in faith to tell people about Him. I may not always get it right. But thankfully I know the One who does - the Holy Spirit. I will share this journey on here with you and I would be so grateful if you would share your own journeys in the comment box below. We can do this together through Him!

God bless you,

Katherine Martin

blog icon image sourced from: thenounproject.com