Trusting the Holy Spirit to Move
“So when they had come together, they asked him,
“Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or
seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit
has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses
in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the end of the earth.”
If you’re like me, you may have struggled with the idea of sharing the gospel with unbelievers. I certainly struggled with this for a long time. When I participated in outreaches, I tried my best, but I found it profoundly difficult. Why would someone who does not believe in religion or God care about the gospel message I am sharing with them?
I often imagined that the gospel probably sounds like absolute foolishness to the unbeliever. The surprising part is that the Bible actually supports this: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). The gospel DOES sound foolish to the world.
So what then? How do we proceed forward? The truth is that without the ministry of the Holy Spirit, our efforts would be entirely pointless. All that God is asking of us is to simply step out and share, the rest of the responsibility is on the Holy Spirit to convict hearts and confirm the gospel message.
We in ourselves cannot convict a person of their sin or help them understand spiritual truths, that can only come through the ministry of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8, 1 Corinthians 2:11-14)
The good news is that God really does set us up for success. The same Spirit and power to witness that Jesus promised the disciples is available to us (Acts 1:8, Acts 2:17-21). That includes prophecy, visions, dreams, signs and wonders, and much more!
The responsibility is not on us to perform, but only to speak the truth and then step back and allow the Holy Spirit to move.
step out in faith
God wants to empower you to be a bold witness for His kingdom with the help of the Holy Spirit. All that He is asking from you is to take a step of faith. That step might look small to you, but it is huge for the kingdom of God.
Who are the people in your life that God is highlighting to you? Ask the Holy Spirit for help and courage, then go and take that step.
Jesus, thank you for giving me everything I need to share the gospel. Thank you for the power of the Holy Spirit that rests in me. God, I ask that you fill me with courage to be a bold witness for your kingdom wherever I go!
Dear Reader,
If you found this post helpful, you might appreciate Rooted in the Psalms.
It’s a free prayer guide designed to help you use Scripture to shape your prayers, whatever season you’re in. Inside, you’ll find selected Psalms, simple prompts, and space to respond in your own words.