If there is something I love to do, it is to be with people who are seeking the truth unceasingly. So it is common in my circle of friends to talk about church, bible and theological issues at all times. This week, conversing with a friend, I realized how often we overlooked the important point: We try to impute the gospel to the people around us at all times.
This is the reason why endless debates about religion and doctrine begin. About the existence of God and his intentions towards man.
I believe there is no one on earth who can claim to know all the dreams and ways of God. Let alone one who knows how He conducts His righteousness over creation. That way, I think it’s impossible to deploy something into someone’s heart by using our strength. In fact, I think that sometimes God gives us a lesson in this matter to know that we should not act on our own understanding.
Even Paul (who is regarded by scientists today as having knowledge equivalent to four PhDs) emphasized that his understanding had no effect without the Spirit of God.
1Co 2:4 “And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and power, (5) that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God “
Give Control to God
On several occasions I hesitated to think that through what I know about religion and the Bible I could convince someone of their sin. This is not only wrong as it comes to be heresy and a tremendous disrespect to the Word of God. That says that conviction comes only through the Holy Spirit. I see many frustrated people inside the church for trying to convert people without seeing results. This is because sometimes we are talking more to the wind than praying that the Lord will reach the lost. I have learned that the priesthood, in secret, without anyone seeing, has far more effect than hours of preaching. Nowadays I have tried to give more control into the hands of God. After all, He knows much better how to do this than I do.
1Jo 5:16 “If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin other than death, he should pray, and God will give life to him whose sin is not to death …”
Do not be inconvenient
Understanding that God acts in his perfect way, and it is not for us to question him. We can start to avoid spending time getting into debates that will not get us anywhere that is good. In fact, when we try to force something on someone, we produce more bad fruit than good. Meekness, patience and understanding are necessary for the work of the Kingdom to be established.
Tt 3:2 “Let no one speak badly, nor be contentious, but kind, showing all meekness to all men. (3) For we also were fools at one time, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. “
(9) … avoid foolish questions, genealogies and contentions, and debates about the law; because they are useless and vain. (10) To the man who is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject. (11) Knowing that he who is such is perverted and sins, being condemned in himself.
Do not be discouraged if you are seeing that someone close to you is not receiving the message of salvation the way you would like it to be. Maybe God is telling you to change your methods. Let him pray more, and trust more in His power, and not in His hands.
1Tim 2:1 “I exhort you that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and deeds of grace be done first of all for all men … (3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, (4) who wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. “
Do not stop teaching
Lastly, I do not want the brothers to think they should stop talking about the message. On the contrary, preaching is biblical and proclaiming the truth as well. But the way should always focus on bringing the love of the Father to the orphans. Quietly and generously. We must always take care not to base our teaching on the vanity of showing that we may know the Lord more than others.
2Tim 2:23 “And it is not fit for the servant of the Lord to fight, but to be gentle toward all men, able to teach, patient; (25) Gently instructing those who oppose, to see whether God will give them repentance to know the truth “
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ reign fully in their hearts, bringing meekness and understanding so that they may be more lost and the Kingdom established! Amen!
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[…] Do not force the gospel – Bíblia JFA Offline […]
This is the love of Christ we are needing today, the knowledge we must look for.You are blessed for that deep teaching,with the power of the holy spirit and our prayer together ,God will convert more soul for Christ, and we need the revival of that generation which ready to pay the price
Lindo ensinamento e palavra, sou muito grata por esta mensagem.
Que Deus possa te abencoar por lhe teres prestado obediencia em partilhar essa riqueza de ensinamento.
Que a uncao e a graca de ensinar se multiplique.
Thank you dearly beloved
May the fruits of the Holy Spirit keep increasing in your life and ministry in Jesus name Amen
Great insight into our struggle in witnessing to others! Without the power of the Holy Spirit we will struggle to have any impact. We need to ask the Father to intervene, to touch those we are talking to and give us wisdom in how we approach them.
Thank you!
Well spoken Patience, meekness and understanding I hear that God’s Grace and mercy leads to the finished product We just have to be obedient, speak when He says speak and respond appropriately
This is perfectly true, forcing the gospel into someone does not mean that the individual has accepted the gospel. He might just pretend to please you for or so reason but deep down or when he turns his or her towards you , then it’s a different story.
Thank you for this message, i do struggle with how best to reach my adult children with message but now i feel i must just place them into Gods hands and “pray continually”.
The peace of the Lord be with you always. Thanks for this wonderful thoughts. This is what I have practice in my Christian walk not to go into debate with people of other delief. God wants us to be humble. Loving. Caring. Forgiving. And we must not force people to receive the gospel. The spirit of God will do the drawing. The Bible say. No man can come to the father onless the spirit draws him.
I am bless by this we have to alow the Holy Spirit to have His way in the process bless u
The reality that every children of God should know,in the same way in our family life also parent’s towards their children’s, husband towards their wife’s, wife’s towards husband.
It depends on where you live.
Living in France I see people not even knowing who Jesus is.
I’m not saying that you should FORCE the gospel, of course not but people may use your words to say – I don’t evangelize at work because God didn’t tell me to. But He did (at least my Bible say so).
There is no good in forcing people to anything but how many people outside your family knows that you are a christian?
Thank you for taking the time. Your article reminded me of some things that started to slip in my earnest desire to see souls saved. The Apostles all said that they must put us in rememberance of the things we once learned.
That’s real good it helped me. Because sometimes I forget the Holy Spirit is in charge.
Thank you for that information! Before I would try to force the gospel on people, stressing and thinking I was doing good. Thank you for helping me see the truth. Oh you really got to do is pray for them and let God handle it! And if someone comes to you, I wants to know about the Lord. Guide them through the Lord! Thank you brother in Christ.
Thank you for the confirmation God is so awesome
Amen
Amen!
Good. God bless you brother.
Thankyou for sharing this, building relationships with people is so important. Rushing in too early can have bad effects and run the risk of loosing that person.l have had to learn this, in my experience l have been so enthusiastic to tell people the good news that my words have felt like they had flown away.A few occasions l have gone straight in, when lead by the Holy Spirit with a good result. It’s all about listening to the Holy spirit. and allowing him to do the work.
Profound teaching indeed! Thank you so much for this enlightening message. WooooooooooooooW! I’m recharged. Thank you once more again
May the wisdom of God Almighty be increased abundantly upon your spirit.
Remain continually blessed beloved of the Lord.
Awesome! Thanks for this.
Powerful teachings thanks so much. I now have a strategy to minister the world to my colleagues and family. Love of God and the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and fellowship of Holy Spirit. Amen.
Thanks for sharing this message.
This is something I needed to read. My brother has been battling alcohol since his teenage years. But he has been attempting church for 7 years. A recent family problem brought it on again. All I can do is pray for him to find strength. Instead of lecturing him about God.
Great read. Honest and challenging. God bless you and your good work.