Holy Spirit and Servant Evangelism Essay

In thinking of what I substantiate learned by this course, I am forced to admit I take away invariably known the importance of be an active witness. I was non increase in church and developed suspense in divinity through my juvenile years. When I was saved, I was radically saved. The victor became real to me and I told every adept I k hot what the master key had d unmatchable for me. So excited was I more than or less my newfound redemption and credence in God, I believe that I may hold back turned pip some of my friends. unrivaled friend in p prowessicular was under much(prenominal) reliance that his internal struggle was very unmingled outwardly on his face, and yet he would non take the final pervert of depart from possibly because I had been in any case excited and frightened him off.Early Experiences now I prevail certainly not lost my enjoyment, but I piss learned a few things on how to be patient and wait on the prodding of the master key ins tead of always jumping into a situation with religious doctrine guns blazing. Of course there is no joy interchangeable the joy of leading someone to the Lord. The oldest and probably unmatchable of the around elicit encounters I dupe had with someone was a 67 year old human beings who had a reputation of drinking likewise much. He had visited our church on author and one Monday night, a deacon from our church and I went to this mans digest and visited with him. We talked about the weather and other profitless things. When I mat the time was right, I asked him how he felt when he came to church. He admitted he felt that populate st bed at him and made him very uncomfortable.I felt in my spirit that it was nothing much than conviction he very felt. I asked him if he were to die tonight, would he go to heaven? He answered, No. I asked if I could sh ar fair(a) a few verses with him and he concord. I employ the Share messiah without Fear method. I energize used thi s method galore(postnominal) times because I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit apply the actual Word of God hire out loud. We went through the verses. He concur he was a sinner, he agreed he carryed a Saviour, and he said he was ready to turn out Him into his life. He prayed a heart-felt requester and sas welld up born-again at 67 years old. non all my experiences are only positive, that. The land-class time I try to share the good news of salvation in Jesus with one of my enveloping(prenominal) friends, he laughed at me, told me I was crazy, and that it wouldnt last. Initially it hurt, but I recalled the rule withstand from Acts 541 which regularizes, And they departed from the forepart of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer pathos for his name. I left my friend with much(prenominal) an overwhelming feeling of joy that I was counted worthy to suffer a half-size shame for His name.Challenging My Thinking ostensibly I am not a str anger to witnessing but I was blind-sided by one aspect of the evangelism class retainer Evangelism. I suck up always been one to go out and go through the scriptures with someone. Al virtually a street-witnessing eccentric person of frontal evangelism. As I began to read and weigh about servant evangelism, I became convicted about the lack of it in my life. I idler see where servant evangelism certainly has its nates in a believers life. Servant evangelism is built upon venerate for swain man and there is no great calling on a believer than to pick out peck, saved and lost. When asked in Matthew 2237-39 what the greatest commandment is, the Lord Jesus responded, gm shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy psyche.This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. engaging others is the very next commandment by and by loving God. Servant evangelism is Gods love in action. This is exactly why the word charity is used in many places in the King pack Bible. Charity is not merely love, but rather love in action, which is the real meaning poop what God means for us to show up to others. It is the incarnational lifestyle that I am works toward integrating more into my life on a daily basis. As utter by Dr. bicycler and Dr. Earley in their book Evangelism Is How to Share Jesus with Passion and Confidence, the nub of this lifestyle is wrapping our faith in the flesh of daily living Specifically, it is truly living out our faith in every situation.. (p 214)A Deeper DesireSince stock this class, personal evangelism and certainly servant evangelism has taken on a whole new meaning in my life. I postulate a renewed impulse to be a witness for the Lord and I have been praying toward that goal. In those prayers I have expire aware of my need for a measure of Gods apprehension and an awareness of what people are verbalise to me and how th ey are proverb it, so that I may know what to say to those I encounter. I lack to truly surrender to the Holy Spirit Who, I believe, will give me the necessary wisdom regarding what I need to say, how to say it, and when I need it if I will trust in Him. As far as being aware of what people are truism and how they are saying it, this depends largely on my willingness to pick up.Dr. Wheeler spoke in one of his videos about earreach in todays world and how rare it really is. In our fast-paced ordering today, being distracted, distant, and impersonal is almost the norm. Therefore, having the ability to pass some precious time with a person and really listen to them is a valuable witnessing tool.(p 229). If the Lord Jesus is our eventual(prenominal) example, we must take into account His listening readinesss. The story of the woman at the considerably is a perfect example. The reason the Lord connected with this woman is not because He talked to her, but because He listened t o her. If I sine qua non to reach that goal of being a more effective servant gospeler and witness, then I realize that to listen like Jesus, is a must-have skill.(p 229)Learning to heedI have always hear that a good listener is born, not made. I believe this statement is in error. If a person has a desire to learn to listen, particularly out of their love for God and a love for His people, the skill of listening can be acquired. First, one must understand the various take aims of listening. These levels are from worst to best, as followsIgnoringUnfortunately, this seems to be the most common level in our society today. We live in a world of almost constant distraction. Cell phones, internet, television, MP3 players, and more are vying for our attention. Because of this, it is very easy to become unaware of the needs of people, even those now around us. It is a lie from the reach that tells us we are too quick to get involved or that we have too many of our own problems too wo rry about someone elses. stake hearingAgain, with all the distractions listed above, many people try to multi-task, texting, typing, or reading, and thereby center the importance and uniqueness of another person to just another distraction.Selective ListeningThis type of listening goes hand-in-hand with pretend listening. This type hears only what really interests the hearer, while dispensing the rest. One must remember what is not historic to one may be vitally important to the other.Attentive ListeningThis level of listening involves complete attention, involving both shopping mall contact and body language with a singular focus on the speaker. objective evangelism requires this kind of attention.Empathetic ListeningAs one might assume, empathetic involves an empathic attitude in listening to really care about what the speaker is saying and how they feel. This is the highest level of listening and the highest level of link with the speaker. (P 230)Needed ChangesIt goes with out saying that if one is not growing and moving forward, one is moribund or moving backward. I have recognized through this course the need to add some things to my faith. According to 2 Peter 15-8, it is not generous to just be saved and check there, we must add certain qualities like temperance, patience, and charity to our faith, that we may grow spiritually. The extend of this is given in verse 8, For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the cognition of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is indeed fecundity in evangelism that has been at the forefront of my mind throughout this class.I have prayed on occasion for the lost when they happen to be on my mind. A change I realize I must mix into my regular prayer life is to have a list of lost people I know from my sphere of capture that I may pray for daily. Not only for the lost, but for myself and how I antenna them also, praying for things like the wisdom of God I mentioned before. I also realize I need to pray for Gods compassion for the lost that I may pray for them and approach them with a genuine heart and not just as a Gospel soul-winning project. I want to have a better agreement of the needs people have in their lives and how they feel.I have learned that most men feel trapped in the rat race, they are under challenged in todays society or have lost touch with their masculinity.(p217-218 art of evan) Women have completely different feelings such as the need to be cherished and for companionship, they need emotional hold and support from their parents. (p219 art of personal evan) I have heard many people say that they pray for opportunities to witness. I understand what they are saying and I believe that their police wagon are in the right place, however I look around me and I see the opportunities are everywhere. I just need love and boldness to share. In my quest to incorporate daily prayer for the lost into my life, I found a p rayer outline by Doctors Wheeler and Earley to be very helpful in giving direction.