E.E. Cleveland, Contributor
"YOU NEED God in your life. Why don't you admit it?" The speaker was a Bible instructor, who, as a church member, had felt the call of God to minister in a personal way to needy souls. For years she had walked the streets of New York in ministry to the unsaved. Mary Holyfield had learned her profession through practice. Her words, often cutting, sometimes soothingly appealing, found their mark that day. The tough ex-Marine standing before her was no ordinary prospect. He had pastored a large youth church in the city of New York. He had joined the Marine Corps and done duty in Vietnam. Indeed, he was wounded there. A shell had exploded, killing those nearest him. His life was spared.
Back in New York, Wesley Bruce stood staring in shock at the woman who had challenged him. "You need God in your life. Why don't you admit it?" She struck a chord in his inner self. Tears flowed from this tough Marine's eyes. Head bowed and heart broken, he muttered, "I do." And from that moment his life changed. He married a Christian girl, graduated from college, and now pastors a 600-member church in Tampa, Florida.
Questions
From this real-life experience certain intriguing questions emerge. Mary Holyfield could have settled down comfortably in some church pew, content to pay, pray and play. Would she have ever used her God-given gift of persuasion? Would she have ever known that which comes only with soul-winning activity?
The Bible clearly teaches that the call to discipleship involves soul-saving ministry. "Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men" (Luke 5:10, KJV). The commission is inherent in the invitations. The call to "come" is the call to "go". This call respects neither age nor gender. It is equally binding on laity and clergy. I can think of no more effective hindrance to the spread of the gospel than limiting the preaching of the Word of God to the vested clergy. This not only shows the pro-cess of insemination but deprives the majority of the privilege of participation, making preaching a spectacular sport. It is the devil's plan that preaching become a form of entertainment, the "opium of the people."
This world became an alien environment when Adam and Eve sinned. With the fall of our first parents, sin began its reign of ruin on this planet. The environment became the enemy of the humans that it was created to sustain. Demons dictated values, orchestrated humanity's dance with death. A cross, however, has arrested humans' decent into hell. (Colossians 1:20, 21, KJV).
Human family
It is the coming of Christ in history that emancipates the human family. (Col 1 vs 13, Acts 4:12, KJV). This is the good news of God that the world must hear. And God put His church on earth to tell it.
Each church member has been equipped to carry out this assignment. (Ephesians 4:8 KJV). Some of these gifts are mentioned: (1 Corinthians 12:28, KJV). In Ephesians 4:11 Paul adds evangelists and pastors. Verse 12 of Ephesians 4 clearly states the purpose of these service-oriented gifts. It is all about performing the King's business by the King's grace.
And it is God's will that the good news of the kingdom be preached (Matthew 24:14, KJV). Our usage or neglect of our God-given gifts will determine our destiny.
First Corinthians 12:4 reveals the Holy Spirit to be the source of all spiritual gifts, given without discrimination. (see verse 11, KJV). This being true, one needs only the anointing of the Holy Ghost in his life to receive the gifts. The coming of Christ into one's life brings with it the manifestation and power to bless others. To seek the baptism of the Spirit is the Christian's most urgent need. It is this experience that gives urgency to our mission, namely the population of the kingdom of God on earth.
Four things attract the Holy Spirit into one's life. They are (1)Hunger (Matthew 5:6, KJV). (2) Prayer (Matthew 7:8, KJV). (3) Bible study and (4) witnessing attract the Holy Spirit, and is attested to in the story of Phillip and the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:25-39).When the Holy Spirit enters your life, He Brings with Him gifts tailor-made just for you.
With this endowment, the Christian becomes an instrument of change, refining all that he or she touches. God brings peace to the troubled; hope to the disconsolate; and light to dispel the shadows from sin-darkened hearts. And to Christians so involved comes a little touch of heavenly satisfaction that will never fade away.
E.E. Cleveland is a world-renowned evangelist and the author of several books. He writes from Huntsville, Alabama.