Many long for effectiveness in gospel witness. Besides the obvious of knowing the gospel that is to be declared, we need the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. How should we pray?
First, pray for divine appointments—for the Lord of the harvest to direct you to where He is working. Jesus said, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matt. 9:38). The Holy Spirit is working. He knows who is responding, who is seeking. He can guide you to the ready harvest. It’s not just a matter of working in the fields, but being guided by the Holy Spirit as the Lord of the harvest to someone who just needs a Spirit-filled witness.
Second, pray for the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:13). The grammar reveals the issue is asking or praying for the quality of the Spirit, or we might say “Holy Spirit-ness.” We can ask the Spirit to free us to speak unashamedly of Jesus. Simply put, we can ask for the Spirit to enable us to witness.
Third, pray for the Spirit to convince the hearers. Jesus said, “And when he is come, he will reprove [convince] the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). It’s not our job to convince. That’s the Holy Spirit’s job. Our responsibility is to declare the gospel depending on the Spirit to do the convincing. He can convince in a moment. What a relief to trust in the Spirit to convince as we give the gospel.
Flesh cannot do that what demands the work of the Spirit. Therefore, we must pray for Spirit-led conversations, Spirit-enabling, and Spirit-convincing. May we follow the Lord of the harvest into His harvest.
John Van Gelderen
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