Lessons From Paul: God Gives The Increase
I find internet research fascinating; with a click of a button, I can access a tsunami of information. Curiously, upon pondering this submission, I wondered about our result-oriented society and the longing for success. Hence, I typed “three easy steps” into the google search engine figuring someone out there, regardless of their endeavor, wants success and a simple path to get there.
There were 417 million results for “three easy steps!” So, yes, people do resonate with this sentiment. I must admit, I like a track to run on and keep it simple. Three easy steps? Sign me up!
The evangelistic endeavor is not a “three easy steps” engagement! Rather, it is a step of faith. Can I get an amen?
Another not so easy reality of evangelism is that the result of our efforts must be left to the Lord. In fact, the best definition of success in witnessing I’ve found comes from Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ:
“Success in witnessing is simply taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, and leaving the results to God.”
Additionally, successful witnessing may not result in salvation or even a positive response to the gospel. Yet when our witness results in someone receiving the Lord, we rejoice, remembering that while one plants, one sows, and one waters, it is “God who gives the increase” (I Corinthians 3:7).
In Acts 16, Paul began his second missionary journey, accompanied by Silas and Timothy. Their travels took them to Philippi, where we find them ministering one Sabbath day:
Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there” (Acts 16:11-13).
What do you suppose Paul’s team was sharing? Well, based upon revelation in other sections in the book of Acts, often during the Sabbath we find Paul teaching things of the kingdom, and more specifically, the good news of Jesus the Messiah (see also Acts 13:13-47).
Open Doors
Go to God on behalf of people before you go to people on behalf of God. Yes, evangelism should begin on our knees. I have a pastor friend who told me he starts every day praying specifically for God to open doors, provide ministry opportunities, and orchestrate divine appointments. This certainly applies in the evangelistic endeavor.
In Colossians 4:2 Paul asked the church in Colosse to pray that “God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ.”
Open Hearts
As the Lord directs the steps of His ambassadors, He also opens the hearts of people who hear the gospel. He does this through the power of the Holy Spirit, yet with whom He does this and exactly how He does this is quite a mystery.
We don’t necessarily understand the true condition of the human heart, but the Lord does,
“But, O Lord of hosts, You who test the righteous, and see the mind and heart…” (Jeremiah 20:12).
And He [Jesus] said to them, ‘You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts’” (Luke 16:16).
“But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man” (John 2:24-25).
So, how a person responds to the gospel is ultimately an issue between them and the Lord, for we plant, we sow, and we water in faith, but it is the Lord who gives the increase when there is an increase. The human heart is likened to the soil in the parable of the soils.
On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
“Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23).
So we need to pray God would soften the hearts of people (make it “good soil”) to hear the gospel and receive the Lord.
God Gives The Increase
God not only opened up the heart of Lydia, but her entire household:
“Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.’ So she persuaded us” (Acts 16:14-15).
It is so simple, yet so profound and powerful! This truth should encourage and inform our evangelistic efforts. Yes, we are to pray for others. We are to lovingly serve them. We are to proclaim the gospel as God opens doors, but we can’t and won’t open the heart – this is God’s work,
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me” (John 6:44-45).
So stop trying to get them to see the light. Rather, pray God works in their heart and delivers them out of darkness and into the light. “Proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
Seek to be faithful, faithful to plant, sow, and water through prayer, service, and proclamation, doing everything in love! Along the way pray that God will do what only He can do, give the increase!
Lord Jesus, we commit our witness and those among whom we give a witness to You, praying God would give the increase. Amen.