"The Conviction of Things Not Seen"

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”   (Hebrews 11:1 ESV)

There are many like the Lord's disciple Thomas. Unless it is seen, it will not be accepted as truth. The human mind is resilient, but society has jaded many. Lies told upon lies, betwixt governments and one’s own family, leave many skeptical. How then can one accept what is not seen?

It is something every Christian has faced when trying to explain the gospel. I have heard everything from the recitation of doctrine to “well, you just have to believe.”  Neither is adequately better than the other. It is a mix we present to the unbeliever. It is a combination of doctrine, personal testimony, scripture, archaeology, and science, and even then, there is nothing we can do to “make one believe.”

The only way a believer becomes a believer is through the power of God. Only God can open the mind, heart, eyes, and ears to the gospel. All we can do is speak in the power of the Spirit. What does it mean to speak in the Spirit?

In Galatians, Paul writes, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”(5:16) Paul is speaking of our sanctification and growth in our turning from sin. Walking in the Spirit refers to a life guided by the Holy Spirit, rather than being guided by the desires of the flesh. When we speak in the Spirit, we are given the words that a person needs for God to open the door to the gospel. This can even happen unintentionally. Speaking in the Spirit means allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our words and actions, trusting that He will use them to reach the hearts of those we are evangelizing to.

What made you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? Was it something you did, or some magic trick that a so-called pastor performed? Coming to faith is not just an emotional occurrence. However, the emotional occurrence is followed by a sobering realization of who we are and what we are not. This conviction is not found through the one presenting the gospel, but it is through the Holy Spirit. It is through what is unseen.

We cannot see the Holy Spirit, but He can be felt and heard in the heart and mind. I have been in the presence of a loved one who was ready to pass and go to the Lord, and in that room was an aura and presence that was not felt by me alone. It was unseen, but undeniable.

In John 20:29, Jesus said to Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” If you set out to change someone's heart and guide them to the Lord, you will fail. However, if you make yourself available to the Lord, He will place the person He wants to save before you and give you the necessary words that God may use to open the heart to the gospel.

Have you ever been somewhere and felt the urge to share the gospel with someone? You just felt like they needed to hear it. It may have felt unsettling or an anxious feeling. It may have been the Holy Spirit nudging you to proclaim the gospel. For instance, you might have been in a conversation and suddenly felt compelled to share a specific Bible verse, or you might have felt a strong desire to pray for someone you just met. Let me ask you, did you act on that feeling, or was it a missed opportunity given to you by God?

Many people fail in evangelism because they try to save a soul instead of being the conduit through which the Lord saves a soul. When we try to save a soul, we may come across as pushy, threatening, judgmental, and condemning. We may use our own words and methods, rather than relying on the Lord's love, mercy, and grace to convict the lost. However, when we allow ourselves to be used by the Lord, we speak His words and act in His love, trusting that He knows what is in the hearts of every person and will use us to reach them.

We are all one in the body of Christ, let us walk and speak in the Spirit so that God may use us all to gather His flock. Through teaching with love and patience, they will come to the Lord.

Grace and Peace!