The theme of the Holy Spirit keeps coming up time and again as we look at the history of missions. In the book of Acts, each expansion of the church was accompanied with a fresh move of the Holy Spirit. As we look through the centuries, we see people like St. Patrick who instilled an awareness for the necessity of the Holy Spirit in his followers and whole movements such as the Pietistic Movement which were characterized by an awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit. From the very mission mandate itself through the first-century apostles to the twenty-first-century Pentecostals and charismatics, the move of the Holy Spirit is an unmistakable thread woven right into the fabric of missions.
Vinson Synan, Regent University professor and historian of the Pentecostal movement, estimates that more than one fourth of the world’s Christians are Pentecostal or charismatic. He said that, of the almost two billion people who profess the Christian faith, over half a million of them are charismatic or Pentecostal. It has been estimated that twenty-three percent of Christians in America have experienced the Pentecostal gifts of the Holy Spirit. Among Catholics, it is estimated that about half a million practice speaking in tongues and that almost ten million have had this experience since the charismatic movement began within the Catholic Church in the 1970s. Synan points to South Korea as an example of how the faith has impacted a whole nation. Thirty percent of the population is Christian, making Christianity the largest faith group in the nation, and about sixty percent of all Korean Christians are Pentecostal.
The worldwide impact of the Pentecostal movement is an indication that we are living in the end times since the Bible prophesies that a worldwide inundation of the Holy Spirit’s presence is a sign of the generation that is to close out human history as we know it.
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. (Acts 2:17-18, also Joel 2:28-29)
Since we also know that one of the most significant signs of the end time is that the gospel will be preached to all nations (Matthew 24:14), we can equate these two prophetic signs and see that they will occur together in the end times. Not only is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit prophetically associated with worldwide evangelism, there actually seems to be a cause-and-effect relationship.
Unfortunately, there is still resistance among many denominational mission groups. I remember one couple who were in seminary with me. Even though they had prepared themselves fully for an appointment by their denominational missions board, they were rejected because they practiced speaking in tongues. I also remember hearing of one evangelical mission leader who requested prayer concerning the explosive growth of a “cult” group in his area: the culprit — the Assemblies of God! The Southern Baptist Mission Board has long held a strong stance against charismatics serving under their authority on the field. Their present regulation for missionaries who speak in tongues is almost identical to their statement concerning homosexuality. However, there are winds of change even there with recent requests that the Southern Baptist Convention include a statement on speaking in tongues in their statement of faith. Criticism of the anti-tongues position of the convention’s International Mission Board has been accompanied with predictions of a mass exodus, especially among black congregations, if the convention bans speaking in tongues.
Looking back at the earthly life of Jesus we see that He had four different relationships with the Holy Spirit. According to Matthew 1:20, He was born of the Spirit. In Luke 4:1, we learn that He was filled with the Spirit and led by the Spirit. But in Luke 4:14, we discover that He was empowered by the Holy Spirit. We, too, need to have the Holy Spirit working in our lives in all these dimensions. According to the conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus in John chapter three, we must be born of the Spirit to enter the kingdom of heaven. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is such a necessity that Jesus made the requirement like having an American Express card, telling His disciples not to leave home without it. (Luke 24:49) In Romans chapter eight verse fourteen, Paul insisted that being led by the Spirit is a hallmark characteristic of being a child of God. Jesus felt that being empowered of the Holy Spirit was so important that He made it the topic of His last conversation with His followers. (Acts 1:8)
In John 16:7, Jesus said that it was expedient for us that He should go away because unless He left, the Holy Spirit could not come. The word “expedient” means fitting or proper. In other words, it was a good thing for Jesus to leave, and the reason that it was good for Him to leave was so that the Holy Spirit could come. What is the advantage of having the Holy Spirit? The first thing that Jesus said was that He would work in conviction or cross-examination. (John 16:8) Cross examination is when the attorney asks questions about the same event in a way as to elicit a whole new set of answers and a whole new way of looking at the issue. This is what Jesus did when He wrote in the sand as the woman was being tried for adultery. The power of having our lives cross examined by the Spirit is that we are always ensured that we are seeing all the issues from God’s eternal perspective rather than only through our limited viewpoint. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9) The wonderful promise is that God has given us the Holy Spirit as a constant proofreader to point out our mistakes before they become serious errors.
Paul speaks of the Spirit only four times in the first seven chapters of Romans, but twenty times in chapter eight. He ends chapter seven in defeat, but moves into chapter eight in great victory. The progression of the book in chapters one through five set the theological stage for salvation, chapter six gives the salvation experience, and chapter seven describes the attempt to live one’s post-salvation existence in our own human power. This chapter is full of the first person pronoun, “I.” Some Bible scholars try to suggest that Paul may have had an “eye” problem; this theory cannot be proven, but it is certain from this chapter that he definitely had an “I” problem. In chapter eight, Paul gives his victorious answer to his dilemma through the power of the Holy Spirit. He concludes in chapters nine through sixteen by giving practical applications of these truths to our Christian lives.
As early as verse six of chapter seven, Paul suggested that our ability to live a victorious Christian life was through the power of the Holy Spirit. “But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” However, it wasn’t until the first couple verses of chapter eight that he spelled out how the Holy Spirit would help us live above the controlling power of sin. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” In Galatians 5:16-25, he makes it even plainer, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh…If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” What a promise! It doesn’t matter whether you speak in tongues if you still lie in English or whether you fall out in the Spirit if you still stand in the way of sinners when you get up! The Holy Spirit is here to help us overcome our weaknesses in prayer (Romans 8:26) and to strengthen and empower us (I Corinthians 14:4, Jude 20, Acts 1:8).
Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Spirit of truth. (John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13) He went on to add that the Holy Spirit would impart to us all that He learned from Jesus and that the result would be that He would reveal things that are to come. Jesus is the truth (John 14:6; Revelation 3:7, 14; 19:9, 11; 21:5; 22:6), but it is the Holy Spirit who reveals Him to us. Paul made a special point of praying for the believers at Ephesus that they would have the advantage of the revelatory power of the Holy Spirit because he knew that it was only through the Holy Spirit’s enlightenment that we would ever know what power resides inside us through having Christ alive in us. “[I] cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.” (Ephesians 1:16-19) Writing to the Corinthians, he quoted the prophet Isaiah, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (I Corinthians 2:9) He then immediately added, “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” (verse 10) Even the great prophet Isaiah didn’t have a clue as to all the victories we can experience when we are led by the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and revelation — the truth of Christ.
Probably the next most important advantage of having the Holy Spirit in our lives is that we can manifest the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23) These qualities help us show forth the personality of God to a godless generation. Just as a fruit tree laden with luscious fruit attracts all living things from bacteria to bumblebees to humans, so a spiritually ripe life attracts the attention of even the most skeptical of our society. If we lift up Jesus through our lives, we will certainly attract notice. (John 12:32) In the same way that you are not attracted to an apple tree until it has fruit on it, people are not attracted to us until we start to bear the fruit of the spirit.
Another really important aspect is that He gives us assurance in our prayers and decisions. (Romans 8:26-28) The Holy Spirit enhances our ability to recall the promises and instructions of the Lord — powerful tools that help us deal with our daily struggles and decisions. (John 16:26) He is also called the “Comforter,” a title signifying that He will give us the tranquility necessary to live peaceably and make calm decisions. (John 16:7-11) Additionally, He gives us boldness in our witnessing and lives in general. (Acts 4:31) On the top of the list, as far as I’m concerned, is His guidance — especially in life’s important decisions, but in our daily lives as well. (John 16:13) Of course we must not overlook the fact that His main objective is to glorify Jesus. (John 16:14) It is the Holy Spirit who sees that the love of God is implanted into our hearts (Romans 5:5) and that the kingdom of God is birthed inside us (Romans 14:17). The Holy Spirit declares the fact that we have been adopted by God. (Romans 8:16)
One marked difference in the life of a Spirit-filled believer is that he is given the ability to operate in the gifts of Spirit. (I Corinthians 12:8-10) Through the manifestation of these supernatural abilities, we are able to demonstrate to the unbelieving world around us that God is still very much alive. These gifts occur in three categories. First are the gifts of revelation. The word of wisdom is knowing how to act wisely now because of how it will affect the future. The word of knowledge is knowing something that is impossible for you to discover at the moment. Discerning of spirits is knowing what motivates people — their human spirits, demonic spirits, or the Holy Spirit. Next are the gifts of power. The gift of faith is a supernatural level of believing God to work on your behalf. The gifts of healing is supernatural authority over various diseases. The working of miracles is the supernatural ability of God working through you. In the last category are the gifts of inspiration. The gift of prophecy is a divine ability to speak words of edification, exhortation, and comfort. Speaking in tongues occurs in three different operations. The personal use of tongues is to offer prayer or praise to God, not for use in a church service. (I Corinthians 14:2, 14-16, 28) It needs no interpretation since God understands it. Speaking in tongues can also be a sign to unbelievers. (I Corinthians 14:22) This was the operation functioning on the Day of Pentecost when people of sixteen different languages heard the apostles speaking in their languages without having learned them. (Acts 2:8) Obviously, this usage of tongues needs no interpretation since the hearers understand automatically. The third manifestation of this gift is in giving a message for the church. (I Corinthians 14:13, 27) Unless there is a supernatural interpretation of the message, this gift is being used outside proper scriptural order. The interpretation of tongues is the supernatural ability to translate the message given in tongues.
But by now, you must be wondering if I’ve forgotten that I’m addressing the issue of missions. No, I haven’t forgotten — and I think that just one simple statement will help bring all that we just covered back into focus in the context of missions: missions is not just about the mandate; it’s also about the man. The power of the Holy Spirit in our lives makes us into the people we need to be in order for us to be the missionaries God wants us to be.
Have you ever noticed that the twelve men who followed Jesus were almost always called “disciples” in the gospels, but became “apostles” in the book of Acts? This name change signified the radical change that occurred in their lives when they were empowered by the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. Jesus repeatedly promised His disciples that they were to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, John 1:33) Even though the disciples saw healings, miracles, the raising of the dead, the multiplying of the fish and loaves, the transformation of water into wine, and the walking on the water, they never experienced the promised baptism in the Holy Spirit. They must have doubted the promise when they saw their Master taken in arrest and eventually executed without giving them the Holy Spirit. I’m certain that they were thrilled when Jesus renewed this promise after His resurrection. (Acts 1:5) The promise was finally validated in the Upper Room when the Holy Spirit descended upon them and empowered them all. (Acts 2:4) But this wasn’t the end of the story, for the Holy Spirit kept showing up and empowering more and more believers. (Acts 4:31, 8:17, 9:17, 10:44, 19:6) Of course, this continued outpouring of the Spirit was of no surprise since Peter had promised it in his very first sermon on the Day of Pentecost, “I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh…For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:17-39) Are you called of God? If so, you can also be anointed and become an apostle as well as a disciple. Since the words “apostle” and “missionary” both mean “a sent one,” it is obvious that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a real necessity in the life of a sent out missionary. We have a job to do, but we can’t do it without the Holy Spirit. As great as education and organization may be, they won’t do the job any more than the best power tools will work without an extension cord!
If you are ready to receive this life from the Holy Spirit but are a bit unsure about all the Pentecostal and charismatic stuff like speaking in tongues, let me share a few truths with you. It is the biblical pattern that those who were filled with the Holy Spirit also experienced speaking in tongues. In the Upper Room they all supernaturally spoke in languages they had not learned. The persecuted believers in the prayer huddle began to preach the gospel boldly — perhaps they had supernatural languages, but for sure they used their native language with a new anointing. The gentile converts in Cornelius’ courtyard all spoke with unknown tongues as did the disciples in Ephesus. In Samaria, something supernatural happened to the people when they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Although the Scriptures do not tell us exactly what it was, we know that it was something different from healings, deliverances from demonic power, and manifestations of divine joy. All these things had already happened in the ministry of Philip who first brought the gospel to the city. Although Simon the Magician had witnessed all these miraculous moves of God and had been impressed by them enough to become a Christian, he was not overwhelmed to the point that he was willing to offer money to receive the ability to make them happen. Something else — something dramatic — occurred when the people were filled with the Spirit — something so out of the ordinary that he felt that he must have the power to recreate it in his magic show! Most Bible scholars, even the very liberal ones, concede that this supernatural manifestation must have been the speaking in unknown tongues. In the case of Saul of Tarsus, we have no record that he spoke in tongues on the day Ananias laid hands on him; however, we know from his own testimony that he consistently manifested this supernatural enduement in his own personal life.
The conclusion we can draw from this survey of the historical record is that in half of the incidents recorded in Acts (Pentecost, Cornelius’ household, Ephesus), there is a definite record that the believers immediately spoke in tongues when they received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. In two of the remaining three incidents (Samaria and Paul), it is likely that they also spoke with tongues as a result of receiving the Holy Spirit into their lives. The one remaining account (the persecuted believers) leaves no reason to doubt that they might also have received this supernatural gift. As a result, we should anticipate that believers who truly receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit should also manifest this divine gift of speaking in unknown tongues. So why shouldn’t all the believers in Acts chapter twenty-nine (those of us who continue the story after the close of the New Testament) also receive this blessing?
Paul instructs us twice that we must have a desire for the spiritual gifts. (I Corinthians 12:31, 14:1) He instructed us to actually covet the best gifts, meaning the best ones for our particular callings in life. However, it doesn’t matter how much we desire the Spirit-filled life, we simply will not have it without taking the next obvious step — ask for it. Jesus taught us to ask with the same sincerity and simple faith that we would ask our earthly father for a piece of bread and expect that he would give us bread and not a stone. (Luke 11:13) Paul piggybacks on this idea by teaching us that faith is a key factor in receiving this blessing. (Galatians 3:2) There is a biblical pattern of having church leaders lay their hands on those who are seeking to be filled with the Spirit as a form of impartation of the spiritual gifts. (Acts 8:17, 18, 19; 9:17; 13:3; 19:6; I Timothy 4:14; II Timothy 1:6) I have observed that occasionally even some who have desired, asked in faith, and had hands laid on them have failed to receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit. I believe that this is because they failed at the very last step — activation. According to II Timothy 1:6, we need to stir up the gift that came inside of us when we were prayed over by the church leaders. I believe that stirring up that gift can come at the initial infilling of the Spirit by allowing the Holy Spirit to give you a new language. Many people insist upon continuing to speak in their native language and expect the Holy Spirit to override their words. Others refuse to say anything and just wait for the Holy Spirit to make them begin to speak in tongues. On the Day of Pentecost, the apostles set the pattern when they did the speaking as the Holy Spirit gave the utterance.
A recent study done by the University of Pennsylvania found that frontal lobe activity which is associated with language and willful control of the body decreases during speaking in tongues. In other words, there really is a force other than the speaker who is motivating the speaking. Another interesting discovery in this study was the difference between the experience of glossolalia (speaking in tongues) and Buddhist and Catholic meditation; these other activities actually increased the frontal lobe brain activity, indicating the participants’ active involvement.
In order to understand what the Bible says about this supernatural phenomenon, let’s start in Hebrews — a book which doesn’t mention speaking tongues: “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.” (Hebrews 5:12) The Greek wording used in this verse literally means to learn ones ABCs. We can learn our ABCs concerning speaking in tongues by seeing that the gift is Available for us, that it has many Benefits, and that there are Conditions for its use.
In Luke 11:11-13, we find the very words of Jesus Himself, telling us that the gift of the Holy Spirit (including speaking with tongues) is a present that the Heavenly Father will willing give to His children. In Mark 16:17, Jesus added that this gift was readily available to all who would believe. Notice that the promise wasn’t to pastors, elders, saints, or people in any specific time period; it was to all who would believe. In fact, Peter clarified the promise in Acts 2:39 by saying that it was for the people present, their children, and to all that are afar off — even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
According to James 3:8, the tongue is the most uncontrollable member of our entire personality; however, when the Holy Spirit begins to give us an utterance, the tongue is then under control — God’s supernatural control. Speaking in tongues is for our personal edification (I Corinthians 14:4), a benefit not only for the individual believer but also for those around him. How can I expect to help anyone else when I’m in the dumps myself? Isaiah 28:11-12 prophesied that tongues would be a refreshing for the believer, and Romans 8:26-28 teaches us that praying in tongues will empower our prayer life to the point that we will know that everything in our lives will work together for good. Jude says that the use of this gift is a way to build ourselves up on our most holy faith. (verse 20) Speaking in tongues is also a benefit for unbelievers because it can be a sign to lead them to salvation. (I Corinthians 14:22) The gift of tongues is a reversal of the confusion of the languages that occurred at Babel. In Genesis 11:9, God made it impossible for men to understand one another; but in Acts 2:4, He gave the apostles a supernatural ability to speak in at least sixteen languages which they had never learned. The result was three thousand conversions in one day. When I was a student at North Carolina State University, I was able to lead a young man of Italian decent to Christ after he heard a fellow student speak in Italian under the Holy Spirit’s anointing. Another benefit is that God can speak a message to the church through one person followed by an interpretation from another. (I Corinthians 14:5)
As wonderful as the gift of speaking in tongues may be, there are certain conditions set forth for proper use of this gift. One rule we should remember is that we must not simply put our prayer life on “autopilot” just because we are able to speak in tongues. Paul said in I Corinthians 14:15 that we should pray in the understanding as well as in the Spirit. In terms of the public use of tongues in a service, we must remember that we don’t have to give a message in every service. In I Corinthians 14:19, Paul stressed the importance of speaking understandable messages in a known tongue rather than supernatural messages in tongues in a church service. I Corinthians 14:26 asks a question, “How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation?” and then gives the answer, “Let all things be done unto edifying.” Many people feel that they must speak out any time they sense the presence of the Holy Spirit; however, I Corinthians 14:32 clearly teaches that the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. In other words, we can decide if we are going to speak out or remain silent. The scripture also teaches that there should not be any message given unless there is an interpreter present. (I Corinthians 14:28) The interpreter also functions under a supernatural gift just as the one who speaks in tongues. I personally experienced this when a lady spoke in Hindi without knowing the language and — even though I was unable to understand the language — the Holy Spirit gave me an exact translation of her message.
With the proper understanding of and the proper use of the power and qualities of the Holy Spirit, we can go forth as missionaries, sent out not only by our supporters but also by the personal touch of God Himself! Many Christians speak of trying to witness or minister as getting out of their “comfort zone.” However, it is important to remember what Jesus said in John 14:26 — the Holy Spirit is our Comforter — and what David said in Psalm 139:7 — that there is nowhere we can go to get away from the Holy Spirit. If the Comforter goes with us everywhere we go, then it is impossible to be outside our “comfort zone”! This may seem like a novel way of thinking about things, but the truth is that Jesus expressed the same truth when He gave us the Great Commission. One common characteristic in each of these four different encounters is that a divine presence is promised as we respond to His mandate. Matthew 28:20 states, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Mark 16:20 records, “And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.” Luke 24:49 says, “Behold I send the promise of my Father upon you.” Acts 1:8 confirms that it is after they were to receive the Holy Ghost that they would have the power to be witnesses. The entire Trinity has promised to be involved with the believer who responds to the call upon his life. Jesus committed Himself to be with us; the Father has extended a promise of filling us with His Spirit; and the Holy Spirit has obligated Himself to empowering our witness. The Trinity’s presence in the ministry of a called witness results in signs and wonders that confirm the words of that witness.
Missions is not only about a mandate and a man; it is also about manifestation. The consistent biblical pattern of evangelism is that men of God under a mandate from Him are to manifest His supernatural power to their unbelieving generation. Miraculous acts at the hands of Daniel resulted in empire-wide decrees from the ruling monarchs themselves that the entire population must reverence the God of Daniel. (verses 4:1-37, 6:25-27) When Jesus sent His disciples out, He commanded them to accompany their proclamation of the kingdom with demonstration of its presence. “Go preach saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:7-8) He added that even the citizens of Sodom would have repented had they been presented with a message confirmed with manifestations. (Matthew 10:15, 11:23-24, Mark 6:11, Luke 10:12) When He gave them the Great Commission, He ordered them to remain in Jerusalem until they were endued with the power of the Holy Spirit so that they would be able to confirm their message with signs and wonders. (Luke 24:49, Mark 16:17) The book of Acts records abundant examples of miraculous acts resulting in mass conversions: supernatural tongues on the day of Pentecost, the healing of the lame man at the temple gate, miraculous healings and deliverances in Samaria, the raising of Dorcus from the dead, an angelic visit to Cornelius, and Paul’s miraculous protection from a venomous snake bite and the healing of Publius’ father on the island of Malta. In fact, the Apostle Paul declares that having signs and wonders in conjunction with his preaching was his modus oporendum and that this combination of miracle and message had allowed him to fully saturate his targeted region. “Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ…But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you.” (Romans 15:19-23) In his letter to the Corinthian church, he emphasized that he had come to them with the power of God as well as with God’s powerful message. “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” (I Corinthians 2:4) Perhaps his ministry in this particular city was distinctly marked with miraculous signs and wonders because it followed immediately upon the heels of a rather unfruitful ministry in Athens where Paul seemed to rely on his human intellect and philosophical arguments rather than the miracle ministry which characterized his evangelism in other venues.
However, we should not place all the credit for the effectiveness of ministry on signs and wonders alone. In I Thessalonians 1:5, Paul makes one simple statement that reveals five distinct elements in his approach to ministry — five different ways to manifest the Lord.
For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
The first key he mentioned was the Word. Here he is speaking of the gospel message which has been confirmed and proven through the scriptures and then presented within a biblical context. In this regard, we must remember that Jesus described two very important elements in His parable about sowing seed — the seed and the soil into which it was sown. When He explained the parable, Jesus told us what the seed was and spelled out the significance of each of the four soils. Paul had a true desire to see people saved and he made a deliberate attempt to relate the gospel to them in a way that they would find relative and palatable. “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” (I Corinthians 9:22) Like the Greeks with the Trojan horse and David at the watercourses of Jerusalem, the apostle looked for a way to get inside his target audience’s defenses before he released his assault. In many cases, his subjects didn’t even know what had hit them until they were fully in the grasp of the gospel.
Paul’s second key was power. All we need is a quick review of the book of Acts to see that his ministry was indeed accompanied with miraculous events. (Acts 13:11, 16:16-18, 19:11, 20:9-10, 28:3-6) Next, Paul mentions the Holy Ghost. In that the operation of the gifts seems to have been his topic in the previous category, we must interpret this reference to suggest a fuller meaning of the operation of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life — all those wonderful qualities and manifestations we have discussed earlier in this section.
Paul follows with the quality of assurance. Even without an examination of some of the key biblical injunctions concerning assurance (Isaiah 32:17, Acts 17:31, Colossians 2:2, Hebrews 6:11, and 10:22), we can recognize from the natural world that we never want to believe what someone is saying if we don’t feel that he really believes it himself. I know that I’d never buy a car from a salesman if I saw him driving another make. Paul was persuaded of the validity of his message (Romans 8:38, 14:14, II Timothy 1:12) and admonished his disciples to be fully persuaded concerning their faith. (Romans 14:5)
Character is the fifth key which Paul used to open the city of Thessalonica to the gospel. In our Thessalonian passage, he called it his “manner of man.” To get a definition of this term, we can turn to his farewell to the Ephesian church where again he used this same expression and gave a rather lengthy explanation. The purity of his motives and the unselfishness of his service permeate the speech and testify to the quality of life he lived before the people. Who he was backed up what he said. As the old expression goes, he walked the walk as well as talked the talk. Another couplet reminds us that people don’t care what you know unless they know that you care. Our personal character is likely the most powerful force in communicating to the world we wish to win for Christ. After all, many more people will read our lives than will ever read our tracts.
And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ…Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God…Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears…I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. (Acts 20:18-34)
I guess this last statement brings us back to the three essentials in mission: mandate, man, and manifestation. With these three elements in proper order, we can win our world!!!