About four years ago I branched out from my current missions base and began to go to various parts of the City of Cincinnati. Part of our family’s mission is partnering with churches and organizations to share the life-changing message of Jesus and encourage people to pray.
Since week one of leaving the ‘cozy walls’ of my last organization, I’ve led a weekly meeting with some men in a rehab program in the city. Each of them has had different background as far as hearing the gospel and practicing prayer goes. My intention as I invest time: to share the gospel of Jesus every week in a new light. I’ve seen some embrace the message of Jesus fully through their time in the program. I’ve also seen some stiffen their necks until their graduation day.
One day the frustration of one man with the gospel became evident to me as we talked about Jesus. Laughing at the virgin birth and mostly shutting down arguments, I began to realize that there was not an argument I was going to make in aiding this man to embrace the gospel. I left the meeting realizing that I had to make a change.
After some mediation in the word and prayer, I realized that I must ask God to reveal to others what we are sharing. The things that most Christians (me) take for granted as ‘just normal’ (the virgin birth, resurrection, our adoption as sons and daughters through Christ) are actually big hurdles that we cannot expect explanation to solve. We cannot reason a person into the leap of faith it takes to believe the supernatural events that make up our foundational beliefs, even those who have a ‘churched background.’
The Holy Spirit is the one who reveals the truth of God’s story. We must be faithful and continue to proclaim the Gospel, but after a short conversation with this man and seeing some stiffened-necks of graduates, I now believe that sharing the gospel needs to begin with prayer.
“…Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need…” Hebrews 4 (NKJV)
We have a great need: telling the truth of The Gospel begins by asking The Father to reveal His Son by the power of the Holy Spirit to each and every person we share with. I believe He extends this mercy and grace to us, that though we are weak and cannot change hearts, he intervenes and soften hearts. We must start with prayer.
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