“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make him twice the son of hell as you are.” (Matthew 23:15)
Jesus plainly reveals here that not all conversion is good. A person who thinks he is doing God’s will, but does not really know Him, can do more harm than good. Saul was zealous to do God’s work but was totally off track until he met Jesus. As a changed man, Paul became a great evangelist.
God’s ultimate will is for a lost person to find Him… and Jesus is the way to the Father. After Christ set a demon-possessed man free from his tormentors, the man wanted to join the disciples. But Jesus gave him another assignment:
“‘Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.’ So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.” (Mark 5:19-20)
After Jesus revealed Himself to the Samaritan woman at the well, she went home as a witness. The townspeople asked Jesus to stay with them… “and He stayed two days. And because of His words many more became believers. They said to the woman, ‘We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man is really the Savior of the world.’” (John 3:40-42)
I need the Holy Spirit to help me be an effective witness! He is the One who convicts the world of sin, but He calls us to spread the Word. The Holy Spirit will surely first give us the proper motivation. We have experienced the love of God, so we now share that love. “We love because He first loved us.” An evangelist without love is “like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” Holy Spirit, baptize us with the Father’s love.
The Holy Spirit will also show us how to share our Lord. Jesus shared His Father in different ways. Each situation was unique and He allowed the Spirit to lead Him. The Holy Spirit wants every person to know Jesus, and He knows what is needed in each case. Even though we may be hesitant or unclear, we must remember God is with us. Holy Spirit, lead us to live and share the Gospel. Please give us wisdom and discernment for each situation.
Finally, the Holy Spirit will give us courage. Paul requested this: “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel.” (Ephesians 6:19) Paul knew from experience that Jesus is often rejected, but he also knew he needed to continue to share the hope of the world. Holy Spirit, as God’s children, make us fearless ambassadors for Christ.
“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:15-16