Challenged

Yesterday I attended a seminar on Evangelism. I found it very useful and practical but also very thought provoking and challenging. Do I consider myself an evangelist...? Er...No. I am just little old me. In all honesty knocking someone's door and telling them all about the gospel scares the life out of me! Next question - Do I love Jesus? Yes! OK, so one final question - Do I want people who don't yet love Jesus, to love Jesus? Yes!!! Most definitely yes! Well in that case then, I am an evangelist - or at least I should be! Romans 10:4 says "how will they hear without a preacher". Somebody (I think it was St Francis of Assisi) said "Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary" that was my first challenge - does my life preach the gospel? 

After lunch I listened to a session on the gifts of the Spirit. The Bible tells us we should "eagerly desire spiritual gifts" (1 Corinthians 14:1). Now I believe in (having personally experienced) the Baptism of the Holy Spirit I also believe all spiritual gifts are for today. I don't agree with denomination - I think denominational separation is a people made thing. If someone is a Born Again, Bible believing, Bible living Christian then it makes no difference to me what type of local church they choose to worship in or what type of worship they prefer. Over the years we have moved around a lot so we have attended a few different church denominations. However I seem to find myself more at home in Evangelical/Charismatic/Pentecostal congregations. As I have already stated, I do not like denomination and try to avoid labelling myself - but if pushed I would describe myself as a Pentecostal Christian - and there was my second challenge....why?  

Am I drawn to Pentecostal services because I like going to a free, lively, charismatic church; where the congregation are enthusiastic followers of Jesus Christ? I do enjoy freedom in worship, and there is nothing wrong with that - Or am I a Pentecostal because as a follower of Jesus Christ, I believe in Pentecost?

I believe in the power of the Resurrection - the Power of the Holy Spirit. I believe the gifts the Bible speaks of are for all believers and  they did not 'dry up' at the end of the first century. I believe gifts of the Spirit are for today. But yesterday I was challenged on the use of spiritual gifts in the local church and especially in my life, I was challenged on the difference between my theological head knowledge and my experiential life knowledge. There should be no difference, the two must be compatible if I am to live a life that preaches the gospel without words. I was personally challenged on the fact that I do not use the gifts God has given me often enough therefore effectively enough. 

I regularly read about the awesome power of the Holy Spirit at work throughout the world today (through signs and wonders). There is a church about an hour from where I live that is experiencing a time of amazing blessing. They are seeing God at work - people healed, people restored, people liberated from bondage. But most importantly they see people make their first decision to become followers of Jesus Christ. We should desire gifts, not for entertainment purposes but to show people who the giver of the gift is! I think it is amazing whenever I read or hear about God outpouring his Grace and Power on people, wherever in the world that might be. But I am hungry for that here, in my time, in my town, in my life!! I am hungry for the power of Pentecost, the manifest Power of the Holy Spirit in my life. 

I was challenged yesterday that my efforts of evangelism lack power because I lack power. I don't want to be considered a Pentecostal because of where I go, or how I worship or even because I belong to that group who talk in that funny language. I want to be a Pentecostal because I live out Pentecost and people I meet are changed because they meet God in me. Just like a well known brand of wood stain... I am challenged to be a Pentecostal Christian, who does exactly what it says on the tin!