I still remember that amazing night, when God welcomed me into His Kingdom. I started the evening with no idea what was going to happen, and when it was over, I was that "New Creation (2 Cor. 5:17) that Paul discusses in the Bible. It's been quite a journey, not over quite yet, but one of the things that struck me about that evening was the incredible presence of God as my friend Jim explained how I could have eternal life. I was transfixed, overwhelmed, touched by the power and presence of God. I have been privileged to watch as others have had similar experiences as I became the vehicle for God's message. Here's the thing, though. I have never presented the Gospel message without some difficulty in myself. It's hard to do. You'll hear all kinds of responses, but the main thing will be the sheer uncertainty you have. The Devil says to you, "It's not time! He is hard and won't listen! Nobody wants to hear this!" and many other similar things. In fact, the person to whom you're speaking may parrot these things right back at you. However, on HIS end (or hers), the event is much different. In many cases, they will be "cut to the heart;" their entire personal life will (only to them, thank God!) be laid open before them, as they remember all the reasons God has to judge them, and if it was up to justice, they are history. I know that's what happened to me. It was my first exposure to the Holy God and His Son Jesus Christ. As I said, it was an amazing moment, a moment when I saw myself stand naked before God in all my ugliness. It wasn't so much specific things that came up--it was just the totality of my being was exposed before God.
Now the interesting thing was that Jim didn't feel that way at all. He was terrified to share with me. He knew he would do it wrong and that I would reject Jesus and go on to live my life and be lost in eternity. THAT's what the Devil was saying in his heart.
What I'm saying is this: What YOU feel is happening when you present the Gospel message to someone else is probably not what's happening at all.
On the one side, we have Jim, his hands literally shaking as he presented the message to me. On the other, we have me, at first curious, then interested, then transfixed by the reality of the Almighty telling me that I need to do this thing, to receive Jesus Christ.
What another is experiencing is hidden from you. You won't know it. The person listening to you may criticize, may reject, may get angry. Those are not his true emotions. His true emotions are that he KNOWS that what you're saying is true. He KNOWS. You don't need to call attention to it, or offer explanations, or tell him you actually do know. You just need to tell that person the Word of God, and let the consequences meet him. They will.
You also need to trust the passage in John: "He will convict the world" (John 16:8-10, speaking of the Holy Spirit), because that's what will happen, no matter what it seems to you. Rely on the fact that God's grace and power are being revealed to HIM, but not necessarily to you.
God bless you all.
