Ephesians 5:15-20: Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Be Filled With the Spirit-Part V
This week again I want to focus on the statement, Instead, be filled with the Spirit, and continue to examine the advantages of the Holy Spirit listed below.
1. The Holy Spirit will be with you forever.
2. The Holy Spirit will be in you.
3. The Holy Spirit will teach you all things.
4. The Holy Spirit will remind you of what Jesus said.
5. The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth.
6. The Holy Spirit will tell you what is yet to come.
7. The Holy Spirit will convict the world.
8. The Holy Spirit will give you power and boldness to witness.
9. The Holy Spirit will give you victory over your enemies.
This week I want to discuss the seventh and eighth advantages. The Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, and he will give the church the power and boldness to witness.
Jesus gave to the church the Great Commission. Jesus said in Matthew 28:18-20, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
In Matthew 4:19 Jesus said to two fishermen, Simon and Andrew, as he called them to be his disciples, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Then Jesus said in Acts 1:8, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
The verses above clearly demonstrate that Jesus charged the church with the responsibility to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to every portion of the world. Jesus also provided all the tools necessary for the church to be effective in her evangelistic efforts.
First of all, notice that Jesus told Simon and Andrew to follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. As the disciples obeyed Jesus, he made them fishers of men. Jesus returned to heaven, but he sent the Holy Spirit to guide the church and to teach the church all things.
My point is clear. Each individual and each church must submit to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Every believer who submits to the leadership of the Holy Spirit in this area will learn to become an effective witness. Every church which submits to the leadership of the Holy Spirit in evangelism will become effective in their evangelstic efforts.
Over the years I have noticed many churches so eager to reach the lost. They strive to reach the lost. They will try anything. Some pastors attend various seminars and then copy what has worked for another church in another part of the country. Certainly, God can work through that process. But in reality the leadership of a church should submit to the Holy Spirit, and seek his wisdom and plan for the evangelistic program of that individual church.
In the 1970's many of the larger evangelical churches started bus ministries, which primarily reached children who were unchurched. I am convinced that the Holy Spirit led some churches to begin a bus ministry. I am also convinced that many churches started a bus ministry because it was working for other churches. For the churches that copied someone else, the ministry did not bear fruit like it did in the churches which obeyed the Holy Spirit.
I think the same thing happened with television ministries of larger churches and large ministries. God has called many ministries to preach and teach the gospel through television. But, others started a television ministry because someone else did it. Then, some of them struggle financially, because they took on a venture outside of the will of God. The church or ministry with a television ministry outside of the will of God often becomes an embarrassment to the body of Christ, because the ministry will begin to beg for money. Whenever I hear, "If you don't send a generous gift this week, we will go off the air," then I know I am probably hearing the desperate cry of a minister, who started a television ministry without clear direction from the Holy Spirit. Where God guides, God provides.
Secondly, to be effective in evangelism the church must recognize the role of the Holy Spirit in convicting the sinner of his sin. Look at the words of Jesus in John 16:8-9. "When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment; in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me."
The church must preach the Word. The church must love the world. The church must pray and intercede for unbelievers. But, the church must not argue doctrine or try to pressure people into a premature commitment to Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit must prepare hearts.
Notice that in Acts 2:37 the results of the preaching of Peter on the day of Pentecost. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" They were cut to the heart, meaning that the Holy Spirit had convicted them of their guilt and their sin. Then they were ready to repent and receive Jesus as Lord.
Thirdly, the Holy Spirit gives power and boldness to bear witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have already discussed Acts 1:8 where Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would bring the power to witness. Then in Acts 2 the Holy Spirit comes in power. With the power of the Holy Spirit the small group of 120, who had gathered in the upper room, turned the world upside down. I invite you to read the entire book of Acts to see what the early church accomplished under the power of the Holy Spirit. Many came to Jesus. Many were healed and delivered from demonic power. God performed many miracles.
Yes, the Jews persecuted the early church. But the church was victorious in the midst of the persecution. Next week we will examine the role of the Holy Spirit in helping the church walk in victory.
Wayne L. Williams
wayne@fotwm.org