Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Eph. 4:11
I have been a Christian for 33 years
I don't have it. I never led anyone to the Lord as far as witnessing or in a ministry where the person prayed and received Jesus as their Lord. I have shared my faith, discussed doctrines but I feel that they were just seeds scattered that maybe lied dormant and bloomed at a later time, but not at the moment.
Evangelical churches stress this as everyone 's responsibility to go out and evangelize, hand out tracts, stand on a box in a crowded public area and preach ... It never worked for me, but I know it doe for people with that gift. Otherwise it could be a frustrating and disappointing venture. I suppose I have used my gifts. I am trying to do something but feel I really won't know what effect it has had until I am in heaven. I would like to receive a "well done, good and faithful servant"; but I feel I have failed with many opportunities to do the Lord's work. I do know that He has used me at times; but it seems far and few between.
The work of the Holy Spirit does not go out void and so I do believe every detail of His plan is accomplished.
Example of my inability to evangelize:
I had it out with a neighbor today. She attacked Trump. I have known for a long time that she hated Trump. But she also hates Jesus. She has made several deragatory comments about my " white God". She has a dark side, negative about men, having no relationships with men for thirty years only with her horse and dogs, a staunch liberal feminist. She complains about neighbors constantly (whom she seems to be subjected to problem people as if being punished.)
Anyways, I asked if she thought Biden did a better job in the last three years than Trump did and she said yes. I told her she was insane. She said, "I am sitting on $1.2 million, what are you sitting on?" I said, "I am sitting on eternal salvation and you got nothing unless you have the Lord ... YOU GOT NOTHING!" And then I said, " on that note, Happy New Year" and walked away in the other direction.
See, I am not a evangelist, I don't have patience with people like that. I know it wasn't the right thing to say, but I just blurted it out.
I have been a Christian for 33 years
I don't have it. I never led anyone to the Lord as far as witnessing or in a ministry where the person prayed and received Jesus as their Lord. I have shared my faith, discussed doctrines but I feel that they were just seeds scattered that maybe lied dormant and bloomed at a later time, but not at the moment.
Evangelical churches stress this as everyone 's responsibility to go out and evangelize, hand out tracts, stand on a box in a crowded public area and preach ... It never worked for me, but I know it doe for people with that gift. Otherwise it could be a frustrating and disappointing venture. I suppose I have used my gifts. I am trying to do something but feel I really won't know what effect it has had until I am in heaven. I would like to receive a "well done, good and faithful servant"; but I feel I have failed with many opportunities to do the Lord's work. I do know that He has used me at times; but it seems far and few between.
The work of the Holy Spirit does not go out void and so I do believe every detail of His plan is accomplished.
Example of my inability to evangelize:
I had it out with a neighbor today. She attacked Trump. I have known for a long time that she hated Trump. But she also hates Jesus. She has made several deragatory comments about my " white God". She has a dark side, negative about men, having no relationships with men for thirty years only with her horse and dogs, a staunch liberal feminist. She complains about neighbors constantly (whom she seems to be subjected to problem people as if being punished.)
Anyways, I asked if she thought Biden did a better job in the last three years than Trump did and she said yes. I told her she was insane. She said, "I am sitting on $1.2 million, what are you sitting on?" I said, "I am sitting on eternal salvation and you got nothing unless you have the Lord ... YOU GOT NOTHING!" And then I said, " on that note, Happy New Year" and walked away in the other direction.
See, I am not a evangelist, I don't have patience with people like that. I know it wasn't the right thing to say, but I just blurted it out.