When we go out to tell our stories, wherever that might be, I am sure we can all agree that we should not go in our own strength but in God’s strength.

It is vitally important that we lean completely on him, because if we do it on our own strength we will find ourselves in difficult situations.

We must always remember that the devil is very subtle, and when we are serving God, we actually become a target.  This is why I mentioned in an earlier part in our series that we need good people around us to pray for us. 

The devil will always try to distract us from God’s work. 

I used to run conferences called FrontLine Conference. It was an evangelism conference and was called frontline because that is exactly what evangelism is. It is front line ministry, and the devil does not like it. So, he will always try to distract you in whatever way suits him.

He does this in two main ways. Sometimes he will tell you that you are no good at this type of work. He will make sure you remember every mistake you make, and every time you have failed. 

Alternatively, he will tell you that you are great at this and should be applauded. There has never been anyone better and you begin to feel puffed up, you start to think its all because of you and your own strength.

I have been in both these places. Neither of them good. 

I remember when at Bible college I was physically sick at the thought of having to do door to door work. I hated it, in fact I still don’t really like but, but I listened to the doubts that Satan put into my mind.

On another occasion I was feeling a bit puffed up.

On an Easter Monday I was out with a team and there was one hundred and thirty people on the streets of a particular town telling their stories. It was amazing. I was so blessed that God had led me to start that ministry, and all that evening I was on a high at how good the day and night had gone.

So, the next evening while driving through a rougher part of my town I spotted a young man whom I knew.  He apparently had a few drinks and I stopped and got him into the car and was going to take him home. 

He told me he didn’t want to go home but asked me to take him to Roberts (changed name). The Holy Spirit checked me about doing this, but I ignored that still small voice. 

Now Robert was another man I had spoken to about Christ, and he also had an addictive personality.  By the time I got to Robert’s, which was only a short distance, Sammy (changed name) was asleep in the car. 

I helped him out and walked him to Robert’s door. 

As I knocked the door, the Holy Spirit checked me again.

I knew I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but I was now in too deep to get out easily. 

There were several people in the house, some who I didn’t know, or who didn’t know me.

None of them in very good condition.

There was loud music and raised voices and I knew things were about to get worse. 

A man who didn’t know me produced a knife.

Now I have prayed in my life as a Christian, but I never prayed a prayer like I did that night, and miraculously God allowed me to get out of the house unharmed, but I had been stupid.

I was on a high from the previous day’s work, and I had stupidly forgotten that this work was nothing to do with me, but it was all to do with God.

I had broken a cardinal rule laid down by Jesus himself.  If you’re going out to witness, go in twos.

I can honestly say, a lesson was learned that night, and on so many levels a lesson I never forgot.

We go out ultimately in the power of the Holy Spirit.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere- in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”.

Acts 1:8 (NLT)

We need the Holy Spirit to lead us, guide us, protect us, and minister through us. Without His power we are useless. 

The reason for the infilling of the Holy Spirit is so that.

• We can be witnesses.
• We can be used and be useful to the kingdom of God.

We need his power, or else what we do will have no effect. 

Willis McDowell

This is why we must pray.

I am always challenged by the fact that there are lost souls out in our world.  People around me, people around you have no eternal hope without the Lord Jesus Christ. 

As an evangelist you are blessed to be able to tell your story to someone.

Your story might be the turning point in someone’s life.

You might never know about it, but then again it is not our work is it.  It is the work of the Holy Spirit we just have the privilege of sowing seeds.

We will look at seed sowing next time.

Written by Willis McDowell