Three Ways the Holy Spirit Enables You to Share Your Faith
May 28, 2019
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Do you ever find yourself in a situation where you want to share the hope of Jesus with someone but you feel afraid or unsure of what to say? As Christians, we have a helper available to us at all times, and that helper is called the Holy Spirit. Here are four important ways the Holy Spirit works and give us courage to face our fears:
1. He Prepares
Right now, wherever you are, God is stirring the hearts of those who are looking for answers and searching for hope. The Holy Spirit is preparing them for the truth of God’s Word. The question is, are you letting the Spirit prepare you as well? Are you seeking the Spirit in prayer? Are you diving into God’s Word to see how you can grow? Are you allowing the Spirit to work as a refining fire within you?
If you allow Him, the Spirit will mold you and form you in order to bear His message without fear. Ephesians 2:10 declares,
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
God has not only prepared works in advance for us to do, but He also prepares us for that good work. This is wonderful news—and there’s more! When admonishing Christians to put on the full armor of God, the King James Version of the Bible says the feet of Christians are to be “shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15). You see, the Gospel has already been prepared! This part of the armor covers our feet because we are supposed to go, to walk, to move, to travel with the Good News, taking it to others who need it. It’s ready for the sharing, and the Holy Spirit is readying you!
2. He Positions
Has a friend ever called you out of the blue and encouraged you when you really needed it? Has a stranger ever shown you kindness or given you much-needed advice? Maybe you received something you needed but hadn’t asked for?
The world calls that a “coincidence,” but I believe that when a specific incident has spiritual and/or eternal implications, it’s a divine appointment. It’s the coming together of the right people, at the right time, in the right place, for the right reason. On a larger scale, we gain insight into this topic from Acts 17:26–27. In an impassioned speech to the people of Athens who had been following after false gods, Paul said this:
“From one man [God] made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.”
Throughout history, God appoints our “when” and He positions our “where.” We can find biblical examples of when the Lord does this in more specific ways: David, as the chosen king of Israel; Esther saving her people; Jonah’s mission to Nineveh; the prophets of the Old Testament; Ananias healing Saul and proclaiming Jesus as Lord; Paul and the Philippian jailer; Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch—the list goes on and on. So, we see that the Holy Spirit not only prepares us to be used of God and to share His message, but also places us in a position to do just that!
3. He Empowers
What do you think of when you hear the word dynamite? Perhaps a bundle of red sticks and a ticking clock, like in the old cartoons? The word usually carries images of explosion, force, and strength. Everything about dynamite is connected to power. In the book of Acts, Jesus made an incredible promise right before He was taken up to Heaven. He said,
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (1:8).
The word power in this verse comes from the Greek word dunamis. You’ve probably guessed by now that dunamis is translated into “dynamite” in English. The very last thing Jesus said on earth was that the Holy Spirit was going to infuse believers with “dynamic power.” In other words, we have dynamite in us! That dynamite is just waiting to be released—resulting in you telling someone about Jesus. When you accepted Jesus as your Savior, you were filled with the Holy Spirit. And at that very moment, you were filled with spiritual power. You became walking dynamite!
The Holy Spirit is preparing, positioning, and empowering you for a specific purpose: to be a witness for Christ in the world! He is the dynamic spiritual force that enables you to push past your fear and share your faith—even when you feel you can’t. All believers, not just pastors, have the responsibility to unleash this power from God!
4. He Comforts
This last point has to do with who the Holy Spirit is. I understand that even among Christians there’s a lot of mystery concerning the Holy Spirit, but Jesus didn’t leave us wondering. He explained very clearly the identity of the Holy Spirit in John 14:26.
“But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.” (AMP)
As a believer in Christ, when you witness to others and in everything you do, you have a highly capable and qualified helper with you at all times. Whether someone rejects or disappoints you, and whether you encounter sorrows or hardships, the Holy Spirit will comfort you.
He is also your advocate and intercessor, which means He defends you and speaks on your behalf. He is your strengthener and your standby, which means He is a reliable support always. How many times have you been able to recall a Bible verse at just the right time? That’s the Holy Spirit, too. Jesus said He would help us remember everything He told His followers. What a wonderful friend we have in Him.
To learn more about how the Holy Spirit and prayer equip you to share your faith, visit our Compelled page here.
