Jesus at the Door: Evangelism Made EasySýnishorn

Giving God Full Control

Do you know that most believers are afraid to tell others about Jesus for one simple reason? They are afraid to get it wrong. They fear looking stupid or failing. When God called me to be an evangelist, I learned quickly that it could not be about me. If I was going to succeed, then I was going to have to let Him be in control.

But then I discovered something: When I was willing to go where He told me to go and do what He told me to do, then the burden for the outcome was His. This took all the pressure off me!

And it was so much easier. I believe that Christians overwork themselves precisely because they find it so hard to let go. I have seen believers approach “ripe apples” and launch into lengthy conversations. Or try to prepare an answer for every possible question the apple might ask. But this bears little fruit. 

The evangelist’s faith is not in verbal prowess, but in the power of God. Jesus Himself said the Holy Spirit would convict the world concerning sin. As God continued to teach me, I saw over and over again that anytime we cross the line from sharer to shaker, we exert twice the effort with half the results.

Evangelism is about getting out of control. If I had only one sentence in which to sum up evangelism, it would be, Give up all control so He can take full control.

The rub is that to render all control you must first completely trust your counterpart. In the quiet of your prayer closet, consider this: Do you really know the Holy Spirit? Because if you really know Him, then you will know that you can really trust Him.

Then, as you have learned to trust Him in your prayer closet, learn to also trust Him as you walk out into the harvest fields of life. Just think about it: You will be hanging out in the places He so often does—with lost people.

When we are afraid, we hold tighter to control. We might not realize we are doing it, but we are resisting partnership with the Spirit. Trust the Holy Spirit and the Gospel to change the atmosphere for you. You do not need anything else. If you have the Holy Spirit and the Gospel, then you have everything.