The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Cor. 2:14)
As a pastor, I have had many dedicated Christians ask me how they can influence a lost family member or friend to become a Christian. Some ask if I have a certain formula, teaching, or method that can be used as an evangelistic tool that will bring their friend or relative to a place where they will accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Once I had a young man tell me of all the scriptures and teaching that he had piled onto a coworker over a period of years and he was distraught because now the coworker simply avoided him. While this young man had been trying to explain spiritual things, his friend had actually become confused and pushed away. How could this be?
The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 2:14 that the natural man does not understand spiritual things and it goes on to say that not only does he not understand them, but to him they are foolishness because they are discerned spiritually. This tells us that someone who is not born again does not have the capability of understanding the deep spiritual things of God. So with this being established as a biblical truth, how then do we bring lost people who do not know Jesus to a place where they desire to become a born-again Christian? Here’s the answer.
As a Christian, your best witnessing tool is your ability to walk in the fruit of the Spirit. Every Christian receives the fruit of the Spirit inside of them when they receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit moves within your spirit to live and brings with Him all of the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
A Christian is empowered to walk in joy, to walk in peace, to be kind, and has no excuse for unkindness. Why? Because the fruit of the Spirit is within every born-again believer. For a Christian to pray to receive joy, or to receive peace, or to receive self-control is a misguided prayer, because a Christian already has these things. It’s not receiving the fruit of the Spirit that is the problem; it is the release from within that is the issue. There is no excuse, it is a choice, and the choice is yours.
What I am saying is this. If you will live your life walking in love, joy, peace, kindness, and self-control, others will be attracted to you and to what you have. They will be drawn to you and desire what you have that has created this lifestyle. Jesus put it this way. He said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). If you will live your life walking in the fruit of the Spirit, the light of the gospel will shine from you and the Father and His Word will be illuminated. As you are led by the Holy Spirit, you will know when the time is right to ask the question, “Would you like to become a Christian?”
To become a Christian requires two things: the grace of God (His power) and faith (your belief). “For by grace you have been saved through faith…” (Ephesians 2:8). God’s grace is ever present for salvation and God has dealt a measure of faith to every person to be saved. Our desire and belief moves our faith to activate His grace, and all of this is a result of your light shining and illuminating the darkness.
Theological debates and the reasoning of man are not what bring the lost to Christ. It is the light shining in the darkness that is the result of a Christian walking in the goodness of God (Rom. 2:4).
Remember this. There will be those who will have eternal life because of the way you live your life, and there could be those who will not be Christians because of the way you live your life. Walk in the Spirit, be led by the Spirit, and the result will be life.
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Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of eight books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.