I trained off on and in martial arts for over 10 years. I began in judo during elementary school and in college. I later trained in Kempo karate for about 3 years. I enjoyed every discipline and convinced myself that I was being adequately prepared to defend myself if I was faced with the unfortunate circumstances of defending myself. Thankfully, such a scenario never emerged. Yet, I was always left with the gnawing doubt because I was never truly tested. Would my preparation prepare me adequately, does it work in real life?
When I became a Christian, I was inspired by the Bible’s amazing stories of miraculous conversions. There were hundreds and, sometimes, thousands of people who confessed and repented of their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. I earnestly read and studied the techniques that the great Apostles Paul and Peter used to preach the Gospel. I naively thought the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ would be obvious to everyone I spoke and that all would love Jesus as much as I did. God painfully revealed my ignorance. My friends raised questions that I didn’t know how to answer. I didn’t have the experience or the knowledge to understand and explain complex theological ideas, or to address their queries. I had not even read the entire Bible! What was missing? Why wasn’t this working in real life?
And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment…
John 16:8 (ESV)
God showed me that it was only by the power of His Holy Spirit that brings anyone to the point to confess and repent of their sins and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. I was still relying upon my head knowledge and skills instead of asking the Holy Spirit to lead me and guide me to those who were genuinely seeking God. Do the approaches, the preaching, and the techniques that the great saints of the Bible utilized, still work today? Would these techniques work in real life?
Yes.
They work only when we completely rely upon the Holy Spirit to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ through us. It is God, the Holy Spirit, that convicts the world of sin, and only He can bring anyone to the point to confess and repent of their sins and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
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