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To: Quix
Anyone who can hear God can ask of Holy Spirit what to say when He begins to highlight a person nearby. And we can step out in faith and offer such a statement or queary or encouragement. And we can offer the next sentence Holy Spirit provides. Or the next paragraph. And when the moment is through, we can trust Holy Spirit to continue to follow up on the 'coincidental contact.'

That is what I call "opening the door."

The difference between this type of witnessing and the kind which I call "evangelizing" or "preaching" is that God opens the door for us to a particular person or circumstance. And as you say, He gives us the words if we will only listen to Him and surrender to His leading.

Evangelists and preachers are gifted by the Spirit to speak to audiences where some have ears to hear and others do not. The hearers have not been "primed" by God. They are sowing the fields widely (Matthew 13 - Parable of the Sower.)

And they are gifted by the Spirit for the task of sowing. By contrast, we may be gifted for the task of clearing fields, tilling, watering, aerating, weeding, etc.

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

[Are] all apostles? [are] all prophets? [are] all teachers? [are] all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? - I Cor 12:27-30

When a person who has not been so gifted of the Spirit attempts to evangelize or preach, his words are contrived, he is not following the Spirit. And the result will be failure if not disaster. I wonder how many people have been discouraged simply because the person was speaking on his power.

But the one who is following the Spirit has God's blessed assurance:

But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. - 2 Timothy 1:10-12

And again,

[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. - Romans 8:1

For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. - Luke 12:12

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, - Acts 4:8

God's Name is I AM.

416 posted on 02/01/2012 10:33:35 AM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: Alamo-Girl

TRUE. TRUE.

AGREED.

THX THX.


417 posted on 02/01/2012 10:46:36 AM PST by Quix (Times are a changin' INSURE you have believed in your heart & confessed Jesus as Lord Come NtheFlesh)
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