KEY SCRIPTURE: John 4:16 KJV” Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.”

Prophetic evangelism

(That is revealing the unknown matters of an individual)

always gets the most hardened sinner spot on, and brings them on their knees to surrender to the king of Kings. The Lord in the course of the discussions with the woman, went prophetic by asking the woman to go and call her husband. The woman said I have no husband. The Lord answered, that you have said the truth, because you have had five husbands, and the man with you at the moment is not your husband. You have indeed said the truth. She remarked, I perceive or can understand that, you are a prophet. I believe the Lord will want every child of God doing evangelism to function this way.

Many sinners would come to terms with the power and presence of God, if children of God would allow the Holy Spirit to work this way in their lives. The Lord said, as the Father has sent me, even so have I sent you. John 17:18. If we have all been given similar missions, then the abilities to fulfill it, should not differ. Why are most Christians not functioning in the supernatural power of the Spirit? It is as a result of a lower fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

Please note that, manifesting the supernatural power of the Spirit, has two dimensions.

1. Through the gift of the Spirit 1 Corinth 12:1-8

2. Through one’s developed Spirit man. 1 Corinth 14:4,14

 The Lord did not just function by the gifts of the Spirit, he functioned by building his Spirit man through fellowship with the Spirit.

This was seen in His deep prayer life. Please take notice of the following verse.1Corinth 14:4 KJV” He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth (builds up) himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.”

The man who prays in tongues or by the Spirit builds himself up. What aspect of himself does he built up? His Spirit man of cause. Every man is a Spirit, possesses a soul, and lives within a body 1 Thess 5:23. You can build up your spirit man, by practicing the things of the Spirit.1 Timothy 4’8 speaks of bodily exercise that has profit limited to the natural human body. Godliness that involves practicing the things of the Spirit, like prayer, fasting, studying God’s word in an intensive way, will definitely build up one’s spirit to catch or know whatever the Spirit wishes to reveal to an individual.

To be more effective in evangelism, we must engage more in the things of the Spirit.  The focus of Christian activities is not mainly about meeting in church, it is about manifesting Christ to a lost world.

We meet up in church as a place of equipping ourselves, for the work of the ministry; which is reaching out to the world. Ephesians 4:12. It is time the church of God reorients itself concerning her mission on the earth.

THOUGHT:  BUILD YOURSELF TO WIN A LOST WORLD

FURTHER STUDIES

Ephesians 4:11 ,12 KJV” And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

Jude 1:20 KJV” But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 4:11 KJV “The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?”

(We are still drawing lessons from Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman)

The Lord talked to her about the gift of God, that is the living water that will satisfy her thirst forever, yet, she was thinking purely about natural conditions. She asked, you don’t have any means of drawing out the water. Please note, the man without Christ is totally natural and is very oblivious to anything spiritual. Let us always learn from the master. He did not try to prove anything from the natural point of view. Your message is the word of God, and you must focus on the saving power of the word.

The Lord said the following John 4:13 KJV, Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again…  He added ,”but whosoever that would drink the water that I  give will never thirst again”. You must always bear in mind that it is the Holy Spirit who can convert an individual, and we must strictly follow His leading to bring the truth home to the individual. This is the reason we must pray diligently for the people we share the gospel with. From the Lord’s answers, we see that, He kept emphasising His superiority and His ability to bless, or save. He said the water He gives shall be in the one who receives it, a well of living water unto eternal life. No one ever spoke like our master Jesus. He said I have the ability to give eternal life.

When the woman kept hearing the wonderful and amazing things that Jesus could give her, she asked Him to give her the living water. Would this Samaritan woman have asked the master to give her the living water, if the Lord had tried to confront her error, and explained to her, about her lack of understanding.? All these things would not have mattered. I want to emphasize that, you must keep talking about the Lord’s ability to save. The word of God is the tool of the Spirit to save the lost. Human reasoning dies not save.

THOUGHT: KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE GOOD NEWS, FOR THAT RELEASES GOD’S POWER TO SAVE”

FURTHER STUDIES

Rom 1:16 KJV “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

John 4:15 KJV “The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 4:10 KJV “Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.”

The Lord answered the woman’s negative remarks with a very positive message. He focused on himself as the gift of God, who is the Saviour of mankind.  He was presenting the truth and not fighting the error.

He did that by beautifully presenting himself as the ultimate solution to the heart cry of man.

 Men would feed on what is given to them, if you give solutions, they would take it, and if it is argument, they would go for it.

Do not spend time arguing with people. Project the super exceeding great power of our Lord Jesus Christ. Talk about his power to set men free from the bondage of sin, sicknesses and even the power of death. If he has a physical deformity, please do not be afraid to assure him, Jesus is present with you and will correct that deformity. I once met a man, on my usual personal evangelism work. This man had a hearing impediment. I assured him that, the Jesus I have come to talk to him, about is present with me, and will correct that problem. I checked to confirm that, he was really suffering from that condition. I then rebuked the demon to leave him. This man who had suffered from this condition for some years now, could hear perfectly from both ears. He immediately accepted my message.

Project Christ as the giver of peace. Eph 2:14 KJV “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;” Tell your enquirer that if he has a troubled heart, the Lord Jesus would instill peace in him. Tell him that Jesus is the lamp of God, who took away our sins. No matter how sinful he has been Jesus will wash away all his sins. Isa 1:18 KJV “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Whatever you have done does not matter, because you were dead in your sins, today receive Jesus and have life.

Tell him that Jesus will set him or her free from addiction or any demonic bondage. Jesus said He came to set the captives free. If your life has been messed up by demons, that keep tormenting you, in your dream life, Jesus can set you free. I met a lady who shared her ordeal with demon spirits in the night, with me. She said, at certain nights a being or Spirit comes to sleep with her. This developed into an incurable urinary tract disease. Her life was very miserable. I shared the good news of our Lord Jesus with her and prayed with her. From that time, the night visitor stopped coming, and the urinary tract disease also stopped.

Back to our Lord Jesus and the Samaritan woman, He projected His superiority over ordinary water, make sure you bring Christ ability to save from all bondages to your enquirer.

If you have a condition that requires the Lord’s saving power, then receive this prayer by faith.

PRAYER

In the mighty name of Jesus, be loosed from any, and every bondage of the devil, RIGHT NOW. Be made completely whole in Jesus’ name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDIES

John 10:10 KJV “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Hebrews 13:8 KJV” Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 4:10 KJV” Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.”

In our discussion of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman, the woman reacted repulsively to the Lord’s first statement. The Lord Jesus did not give up talking to her.

 When an enquirer repels your introductory statement, please don’t give up, ask the Holy Spirit for the appropriate word to follow up on the first one. The Lord Jesus took the conversation from the ordinary material things like water into the supernatural as living water that makes the drinker never to be thirsty again. Anytime you engage anyone in sharing the word please be in charge of the conversion. Do not allow the enquirer to control the discussion, with strange things. Bring everything back to the course you have planned

Now, in case you introduced the gospel to a neighbour asking him, ‘ that, what is next after he died? He may say that, after one dies that is the end of everything. (This answer means he is not saved) You can help him by telling him that, when one dies, it means the Spirit has left his body, for it is the presence of the Spirit in the man that gives him or her life. Jas 2:26 KJV” For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” What will happen to his Spirit that has now left his body?

 It will go to heaven, if he accepted Jesus, or go to hell if he did not.

Read the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-30. Explain to him that, this is a real event, that occurred because the Lord referred to real names. Jesus would not use names of people and the Fathers if the event is not a true story.

 The rich man died as a sinner and so was carried into hell.

Luke 16:22 KJV.  ” And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;” Explain to him that Apostle Paul says if he (as a child of God) dies or leaves this body he will be with the Lord in Heaven Philippians 1:23, 2 Corinth 5:1.

From the above exposition, the only way for him to escape eternal damnation in hell is to receive forgiveness of sins and life from Jesus, by believing in Jesus. Joh 3:16 KJV ” For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Show Him how to accept Jesus into his life. He must do the following

1. Accept he is a sinner who needs a Saviour Rom 3:23

2. Repent of his sins

3. Believe in Jesus Mark 6:12

4. Accept Him by confessing him as Lord. Rom 10:9,10

All these could be summarised in the following verse.

Rom 10:9 KJV” That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Tell him if he will do what Rom 10:9 says, he would be sure of where he would be going after death.

He may say the following prayer after you.

PRAYER

Dear Lord Jesus, I believe you died for my sins, and you rose again for my justification, I confess you as my Lord and accept you as my Saviour.

FURTHER STUDIES

John 3:3 KJV “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 1:12 KJV” But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 4:9 KJV “Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.”

When the Lord requested for water, the woman said, how come that you a Jew ask me a Samaritan to give you water. Don’t you know we Samaritans and the Jews have nothing in common? The woman raised a barrier to any further comment from the Lord. She was saying in effect, we have nothing doing with you, and so don’t talk to me. Her response was simply negative.

Responses vary as there are a number of humans. As we meet people to share the gospel with them, they would put up varying responses. Responses fall within two extremes. It would either be negative or positive. Most people express a rather receptive attitude towards the word of God. They are ready to hear what the scriptures teach. To do what the bible says is the real challenge. This is where your prayers must bring about, the changes.

Negative responses are always not the same. There are those who would just be very cold towards you. They would not express complete outrage, but would not listen attentively. Their attitude is that, just finish speaking and let me go ahead with what I’m doing. To such people let them respond to questions you pose to them. If you do the talking alone, without any feedback, he or she would just close the mind and would not hear or follow you in any way.

There are also those who would negatively respond by opposing the very foundation of the word of God. They have preconceived notions about the scriptures. Don’t be hysterical about such people, I have realised that most people who oppose the word do not read the whole passage, but would just read a line or two and generalise the whole thing. To answer such people please read the whole chapter and you would see the right answer there. Such outright opposes are in the minority.

Always be ready for any response. In the Jesus story, the woman’s negative response did not stop the master, but rather He used it to go to His next point. Your concern in sharing the gospel is not to win an argument but to help the individual, make a decision for Jesus. The Holy Spirit is always ready to help us. Trust that He would assist you to give the right answers to your enquirers. Amen

THOUGHT:  BE EVER READY TO GIVE OUT THE GOSPEL

FURTHER STUDIES

March 16:15 KJV “”And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

2Timothy 4:2 KJV “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 4:7 KJV” There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.”

In our previous study we learnt that love for the souls of men is what moves us against every opposition, shortcoming of ours to communicate the good news to others.

 One area that can ignite our love for the lost is to be fully convinced about the inevitability of the gospel.

I mean to come to terms with the fact that, the good news is the only means a man can be saved from eternal damnation. Apostle Paul said the gospel is THE power of God unto salvation. Rom 1:16 The present level of the proliferation of knowledge makes it appear as if, there are other ways for the salvation of men. No, No, No there is no other way for men to be saved. Acts 4:12 KJV “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Without the gospel, man is lost, no matter his academic achievements his financial status, or any kind of human Prowess, one may have, he is lost, and bound for eternal damnation.

 The gospel is the only solution.

There is another subtle impression on the minds of most Christians, that limits the love or passion to communicate the gospel to the lost. This is the thinking that the gospel is always being preached and that people have heard it.

 Noise never means impact, and who is taking responsibility for a fruit that falls to the ground by the impact of the wind, it must be picked up by somebody, lest it will rot. Your personal effort is very important and cannot be neglected.

In order to help others, come to a decision in making Jesus Lord of their lives, you have to start a conversation with them. The following are some questions you can ask which would help you follow up with presenting the gospel to them. You may just start discussing about general matters to get the person engaged with you, then you can bring in your questions that will help you explain the gospel to him or her. These questions are only a few of the countless probing questions to lead into sharing the gospel. You can ask

1. Did you go to church last Sunday?

2. What is your view about Jesus.?

3. What do you think would be the best way to die?

4. What do you think happens after you die?

5. How do we know what is right or wrong?

6. Overall, do you think religion makes society better of?

7. Do you think, overall, religion contributes to, or detracts from becoming a good person.?

8. Do you think people are inherently good or bad?

9. Why do we all assume that we deserve good experiences?

 You may need to use only one at a time of sharing the gospel.

Please master these questions with their follow up line of thought about the gospel. You would find it easier communicating the gospel to as many that you meet with less difficulty.

THOUGHT: THE GREATEST JOY YOU CAN GIVE YOURSELF, IS TO FREELY SHARE THE GOSPEL

FURTHER STUDIES

Rom 1:16 KJV” For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

John 4:35 KJV “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 4:7 KJV” There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.”

Meeting the woman of Samaria was the reason for all that the Lord Jesus had to go through. His main agenda was to communicate the good news to her and then through her testimony, win the rest of the city. She was very strategic to the Lord. Remember that she came to the well at twelve noon, a time that most people did not go to fetch water. When they met, it was the Lord who begun the conversation. The Lord had gone there, because of her, and so had to do everything possible to win her. He asked her give me some water to drink. The water was not the main concern of the master, it was a means to communicate the real message to her. His aim was to get her soul saved or come to believe in the Lord Jesus.

Approaching a complete stranger is a real challenge to a number of children of God. The challenge is basically, what would this person say in response to what I may tell him? There are many ways of approaching an enquirer to share the good news.  There is the direct approach, in which the Christian may introduce himself and ask for the consent of the enquirer to give him a moment to discuss the word with him or her. This normally happens when you have approached an individual in his or her house. There is also the indirect approach. The indirect approach is normally applied when, you find a neighbour with you in a bus, waiting in a queue or at a shop and so on. One of the ways of the indirect approach is what the Lord used. It is a way of engaging the attention of the one you seek to share the gospel with by asking for a help, like Jesus did. The Lord said, give me some water to drink. You may also offer a help of some kind and then go on to share the gospel with them. Always have a mind to communicate the gospel with as many people that you meet. Take time to pray for the Spirit to prepare anyone you are led to speak to.

The greatest hurdle to overcome is the fear of how you would be received. Always get your mind prepared with the following thought. You are bound to face two different responses.  You may either be accepted or rejected. Be ready for any of the two. The truth is, a higher number of people would be ready to give you a hearing. Starting a conversation is an art that one grows to acquire and master over a time of practice. The most important part is your deep love for the man or woman to come to know Jesus. Love is a fertile ground for the Holy Spirit to fully function on. So long as the Holy Spirit takes charge you would find it more easier approaching and ultimately getting the right message to the one.

 LOVE for the lost is the key.

THOUGHT:  LOVE FOR SOULS IS THE MYSTERY FOR SUCCESS IN WINNING THE LOST FOR CHRIST

FURTHER STUDIES

Rom 5:5 KJV “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

2 Corinth 5:14 KJV” For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:”

KEY SCRIPTURE Joh 4:6 KJV Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

We learnt that the Lord was leaving Judea for Galilee.

He had to obey the leading of the Holy Spirit in going through Samaria. He was very tired at that time. He needed a place to rest for a short while, so He would continue with His journey. The SUN was also at its peak, since it was the six hour, that is, twelve noon in our days. The high sun made matters worse. It complicated His tiredness. The Lord could not easily carry on with His journey. All that was happening, made him feel very tired, these events were not happening in isolation, the Holy Spirit was orchestrating all the events for His own glorious purpose.

The Lord could have rushed to complain. He never did anything like that. Many Christians would have been asking God, why have you allowed everything to be against me? Some Christians would quickly complain about the least adverse circumstances they face. The scripture said, all things work together for our good. To them that love the Lord. Romans 8:28. Our hearts must continually be filled with thanksgiving. The scripture says the will of God for us in every situation is to give thanks. 1 Thess 5:18. Nothing happens without God’s knowledge. It is not everything He approves, yet He is in the known of all things. When we thank Him, it means we have taken a stand with Him. Thanksgiving creates an atmosphere for Him to create a favorable outcome for us. When we get bitter and refuse to express our gratitude for Him, because things are adverse, we take a stand with the enemy and he creates a very worse end for us.

How do we thank God even when things are not favourable?

Thank the Lord for His perfect love and wisdom. Thank Him for His might that is above all. Thank Him for the fact that everything is working out for your good. Thank Him for the fact that evil cannot befall you, because His word says so. Sing and express your joy in Him. As you keep doing this, your faith will be at it full expressive peak. Something wonderful will surely happen to you. Satan and His devils would be fully placed out of coverage area.

THOUGHT: YOUR THANKSGIVIBG SENDS YOU AWAY FROM EVERY REACH OF THE DEVIL.

FURTHER STUDIES

1Thess 5:18 KJV “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Rom 8:28 KJV “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 4:4 BBE “And it was necessary for him to go through Samaria.”

The Lord Jesus was leaving Judea in the South for Galilee in the North. Samaria laud in between these two towns. The Jews did not normally make the journey by going through Samaria, to Galilee. They used to go around the periphery of Samaria without passing through Samaria. They had nothing doing with the Samaritans John 4:9. This time, God had a work for Him in Samaria, and so He needed to make His journey through Samaria.

Every child of God must be very sensitive to the Holy Spirit. God rules in the affairs of men. He does not have a stereotype approach to everything. On this very occasion the Lord had to send the good news to the Samaritans. The Lord Jesus needed to know what the Holy Spirit wanted Him to do, and then act accordingly. The mistake of most children of God is that   they fail to seek God’s specific instructions on various issues. Receiving a clear leading of the Sprit comes from a discipline of consistently fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit. Following your natural inclination, may easily lead you astray.

On the day God asked Prophet Samuel to go anoint David, he nearly decided to anoint Eliab, the senior brother of David, who was physically well built like King Saul.1 Samuel 16:6,7. The Lord said to Samuel do not look on the outward appearance, for God looks at the heart and not the physical appearance. The prophet nearly erred because Saul, the man God had reject was physically well built. He assumed that was the main qualification for a king.

Many children of God continually make mistakes because they just follow their natural inclinations. Many have considered just physical conditions to choose their partners for marriage, only to regret in the long run. Dear child of God, learn to enquire of the will of God in every situation. The Holy Spirit is our comforter (that is counselor, teacher, stand by, advocate, helper, strengthener and many more) John 14:16. Ask Him each day for His candid opinion on every step. Do not assume that, this is the way we have been going about this thing, and it must always be that way. When you ask for His counsel concerning certain issues, His answer may come as a word in your mind, a very strong impression on your heart to take a particular action, a dream that relates to the question or any way He chooses to speak to you. He can even speak to you audibly. Just be always ready to seek His counsel.

THOUGHT:  MAKE THE HOLY SPIRIT YOUR REAL LEADER, AND AVOID MANY MISTAKES

FURTHER STUDIES

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition John 14:16 “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—”

Prov. 3:5 KJV “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 4:1 KJV “When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,”

When the Lord started ministering, many came to him, and were baptised by His disciples. This raised lots of impressions among the Pharisees. In the days of Jesus, various teachers called rabbis had disciples who followed them. It was a great honour to have lots of disciples. The moment people started flocking the ministry of Jesus, the Pharisees started saying among themselves, “this Jesus is baptising many”. This act of the Pharisees and the reaction of Jesus has two major things to teach us. These are

1. How people develop wrong impression because of lack of verification.

2. Right reaction to a wrong impression.

1. Many people wrongly judge others and hastily make conclusions without verifying the truth. Certain good relationships have been destroyed because of wrong impressions. It even gets worse when people wrongly imagine falsehood about others without properly verifying the truth. The bible says Satan is the accuser of the brethren. Rev 12″10. Devils continually interpret false information about others, especially, those who are very close to you. These Pharisees could have gone beyond what was said about Jesus and visited Him, to know the truth for themselves.

Wrong impressions may come but always maintain a policy never to accept a view or impression, until you have verified the truth about it.

2. The Lord Jesus   responded wisely to the wrong feelings he knew or heard about what the Pharisees were having about Him. (One’s feelings can be expressed through his words) He just went on with His Holy Spirit led program. The bible said He left Judea and came again to Galilee. The growing animosity of the Pharisees could have created an early assault on His life, although He had come to spread the good news to a larger region. Dear brother or sister, do not allow your life to be dictated by what people may be saying, but always follow what the word says about the situation. You cannot determine what or how people may say, or act towards you, but you can always determine your reaction towards them. God’s word is the best and proven way to react towards people who may act wrongly towards you. A further word of advice is that, do not be easily shocked by the actions of others, to the point of breaking you down. Decide that, no matter the actions of others, whether good or bad, you WOULD RESPOND FROM A SCRIPTURAL POINT OF VIEW.

THOUGHT:  LOVE IS THE SAFEST ACT TOWARDS OTHERS AND YOURSELF AS WELL

FURTHER STUDIES

Rom 13:10 KJV “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Rev 12:10 KJV And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.