Our enemy is pretty ingenious at injecting thoughts in our minds. Some of those thoughts are designed to steal, kill, and destroy US. Some of them are designed to steal, kill, and destroy OTHERS. He doesn't want people to come to know Jesus, so he tells lies to those who know the truth.
For instance, he might say things like:
"Don't even try to share the gospel. You won't know what to say."
"You are going to look so foolish if you try."
Here are the biggest ones that I have heard, however:
"NO one wants to hear about Jesus."
"It won't be a real decision, so you better not share Jesus."
OH, what lies! I was again reminded how untrue those two lies are when I ran into a woman that I led to Jesus a few years ago. On that day years ago, I was out looking for people to minister to on the streets. I saw two women sitting on a bench and decided to talk to them.
As I got closer, I saw that they were deep in conversation and decided to pass them by. As I got close to them, though, I heard one of the women say, "My neck hurts SO bad. I'm on my way to get an X-ray on it. I have to catch the next bus."
I stopped in my tracks and thought, I think God just set me up.
I said to her, "I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I couldn't help hearing that you were in pain. May I pray for you?"
"Sure!" She answered. As I prayed, the pain completely left. Just then, her bus came.
I turned to the other lady and asked, "How about you? May I pray for you?"
"Oh, yes, my husband died two weeks ago. I need prayer."
I prayed for her with deep compassion and then said, "I expect you to live for many years, but if you were to die today or years from now, do you know that you will spend eternity with the Lord?"
Her words shocked me. She said, "Oh, no. I am such a sinner woman."
My compassion deepened for her, and I told her, "I have great news for you because Jesus went to the cross and paid for your sin." As I continued to share the good news with her, I saw hope begin to come into her eyes.
Then I asked, "Would you like to give your life to Jesus right now?"
She answered, "Yes, I would. I ASK GOD EVERY NIGHT WHAT TO DO ABOUT MY SIN!"
Wow, wow, wow! She was MORE than ready to hear the gospel. She had been crying out to God for answers.
She did pray with me and because I was not able to follow up on her, I didn't hear how she was doing - until this summer when I saw her sitting on a bench again. As I spoke to her, I found that she was doing well in her walk with God and was attending church.
What a lie that no one wants to hear about Jesus! This woman was desperate to hear about Jesus. It was also a lie that no one is really born-again. She was! "
"The harvest is RIPE!" (Luke 10:2)
Some have said to me, "We will scare people away. We shouldn't be TOO bold!"
NO, be bold!
I am not talking about being condemning or holding signs that say, "Turn or burn." No, I'm talking about boldly offering to pray for people and boldly sharing the good news about Jesus.
Lord, raise us up and fill us with BOLDNESS! In Jesus' name, amen
Sherry Evans
You may read more stories of God's healing love and power in my book, "Everyday Miracles," found on this website and in Amazon.com.