Acts 1:8 (NIV)
“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.”
CONSIDER THIS
Today’s story comes to us from Michael Mozley. Mike has spent most of his ministry life sowing for awakening in Ghana (West Africa). He is one of the boldest evangelists I have ever known. Let’s just say he speaks “Jesus” fluently. To be with this guy is to be on an adventure. The story he shares today reveals a more subtle side of his sowing work—still bold, but subtle. It is also a picture of the world we live in today—an Acts of the Apostles world. Read it below in his own words and if you listen, in his own voice.
It was November 2007 and I was staying with my Ghanaian colleague in the town of Croydon just outside of London. I was doing my PhD research at the School of Oriental and African Studies. Every day I would take a bus to the train station, a train to Victoria Station, and then a tube to Russell Square. I made a commitment to the Lord that I would reach out to at least one person either on the bus, train, or tube and share the good news of Jesus. I was amazed at how the Lord honored my commitment and was able to share daily with different people in a culturally appropriate way. As I got on the bus this particular morning the double-decker bus was packed and I went upstairs and found an aisle seat. As I glanced down across the aisle I saw a woman reading a book about “spirit guides.” I figured she would be a good person to talk to about the Spirit. People were coming and going at every stop, and lots of schoolchildren in their quintessential uniforms were chattering away. I looked for an opportunity but because of the busyness of the bus, I never found an opportunity to speak with her.
We finally arrived at the Croydon train station and we all got off the bus and dispersed in a thousand directions. I was kicking myself mentally and spiritually. I rode the train into Victoria, then jumped onto the tube to my final destination of Russell Square. I settled into the archives at SOAS and wrote in my journal how disappointed I was that I missed that opportunity to share with the “spirit guide” woman. I did my research for over five hours and then took my same return route back to Croydon.
My routine was to always stop near the bus station, have a coffee, and do my emails at Café Nero. It was now 7:00 p.m., almost twelve hours since I began my journey that morning. I finished my coffee and my emails and headed to the bus station to make my final leg back to my home. This time the bus stop was empty, except for one woman who was standing in front of me to get on the bus. It was her, the “spirit guide” woman. In a major city like London, of more than fifteen million people, what are the chances that at that very hour and that very spot, God would bring her across my path again? It was a koine (God’s time) moment.
I came onto the bus and sat next to her and introduced myself and then told her my story. I reflected to her how I remembered she had been on the same bus twelve hours earlier and I saw that she was reading a spirit guide book. I told her that I had been praying for her all day and that I was hoping for an opportunity to speak with her. She was from Zambia and I shared that I had ministered there a few years ago. We talked for a few more minutes and then I reached my bus stop. I thanked her for sharing with me and told her what a blessing it had been to meet her and share with her for a few minutes.
Did I share with her the plan of salvation? Did I share the four spiritual laws with her or ask her if she would be in heaven or hell if she were to die suddenly? Nope, nope, and nope. I just became her acquaintance and tried to relate to her where she was. Let’s make friends first before we make “converts.” “Go and make disciples of all nations . . .” (Matt. 28:19a).
THE PRAYER
Abba Father! Thank you for showing us how we still live in an Acts of the Apostles world today. Thank you for Michael, an American who served so beautifully in Ghana and then who was doing his PhD in the mega global city of London, England, and how you drew him to this woman from Zambia in search of a spirit guide and how you gave him a second chance against all odds to reach out to her. We pray for her today, to bring her to the next witness who is playing their part, and all of this to the end of bringing her to faith in Jesus. Thank you for encouraging us to be ready, open, and willing to respond to your promptings, from the smallest towns to the largest cities. Thank you for the way you are at work in every single person on this planet, wooing and willing them to come to Jesus and how there are so many parts to play in that process, from simple kindness to presenting the invitation to follow Jesus. You only need us to play our assigned part. Wake us up to hearing and responding to our part. Praying in Jesus’s name, amen.
THE QUESTION
Do you ever shy away from playing a small part for fear it will lead to you playing a part you are not comfortable playing? Do you find yourself avoiding obedience to reach out to a stranger in Jesus’s name for fear that you might have to speak Jesus’s name to them? How can we help you overcome this fear? What if your part was simply to “see” someone and allow the kindness of Jesus to shine through you to them?
THE HYMN
Today let’s sing our Saturday song, “Sanctuary.” Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true. With thanksgiving I’ll be a living sanctuary for you. Such a profound prayer of consecration. This is our story, dear friends. This is our song.
For the Awakening,
J.D. Walt
Sower-in-Chief
seedbed.com
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P.S. Holy Spirit Stories Welcome
I would love it if you would send a story of faith from your life we might use on a Saturday in the future. We will be glad to attach your name or a pseudonym or anonymity—it’s up to you. It can be a story of coming to faith, a story of transformation, a story of healing, deliverance, suffering and sufficient grace, family reconciliation, prodigal returns, answered prayer, and so forth. A word count of 500–800 words works well. We can’t guarantee publication, but we assure you of our prayerful discernment. You can reply to this email with your story and it will come to me.
One Response
This story confirms two thoughts that I’ve come to believe about evangelism. First of all, these opportunities to share Christ with someone are initiated by the Father Himself. He (Jesus) went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father, has enabled them.” (John 6:65) Secondly, trust must be established between individuals before an unbeliever will truly listen to the Gospel. That’s why being open to making new relationships is vital to kingdom expansion.