The Problem With Evangelism

[Saint Steven]

As immature believers, we all receive low-clarity revelation, marked by:
(1) A lack of specificity.
(2) A degree of uncertainty, i.e. less than 100% certainty.
With 100 billion souls at stake, it would be callously unprofessional of God to run evangelism on such low-quality revelation.

You ask, what is the practical how-to? That's the thing - high-quality revelation conveys those specifics.

Or maybe I can answer this way. What the church should be doing is waiting upon God - in prayer and praise - for revival and for clear revelations of His will in all church matters including evangelism.

A prophet knew (with 100% certainty) what to say, where to say it, and when to say it. That's the perfect formula for evangelism.

But more than that. The nature of the prophetic gift is to ALSO convince ("convict") the audience at 100% certainty. This means the prophet is the most effective evangelist possible.

Finally, this paradigm follows the OT military paradigm. When Israel marched into battle at less than 100% certainty - i.e. without a clear sign from heaven - she stood to lose. Waiting upon the Lord for a preconfirmation of success was known as "Inquiring of the Lord". This is PRECISELY the strategy dictating the evangelistic campaigns in Acts. Examples:
(1) The disciples waited in prayer until Pentecost, whence they saw tongues of Fire.
(2) Acts 4:30-31 we see them waiting in prayer - until an earthquake erupted!
(3) Acts 16:25-31 records a similar earthquake.
(4) Peter saw a vision in Acts 10, directing him to preach to the Gentiles.
(5) Acts 16:6-10 shows how Paul's evangelism was directed by visions and revelations from heaven.

So this is a proposal, a theoretical model. You aren't actually doing this. Right?

 

[Saint Steven]

Or maybe I can answer this way. What the church should be doing is waiting upon God - in prayer and praise - for revival and for clear revelations of His will in all church matters including evangelism.

You might find this interesting. Kevin Dedmon Ministries - Firestarters

 

[Saint Steven]

You ask, what is the practical how-to? That's the thing - high-quality revelation conveys those specifics.

I did this Treasure Hunt activity once. It was pretty cool.
The truth is, no one gets it 100 percent right.

Kevin Dedmon's Treasure Hunt Evangelism

 

[topher694]

As immature believers, we all receive low-clarity revelation, marked by:
(1) A lack of specificity.
(2) A degree of uncertainty, i.e. less than 100% certainty.
With 100 billion souls at stake, it would be callously unprofessional of God to run evangelism on such low-quality revelation.

You ask, what is the practical how-to? That's the thing - high-quality revelation conveys those specifics.

Or maybe I can answer this way. What the church should be doing is waiting upon God - in prayer and praise - for revival and for clear revelations of His will in all church matters including evangelism.

A prophet knew (with 100% certainty) what to say, where to say it, and when to say it. That's the perfect formula for evangelism.

But more than that. The nature of the prophetic gift is to ALSO convince ("convict") the audience at 100% certainty. This means the prophet is the most effective evangelist possible.

Finally, this paradigm follows the OT military paradigm. When Israel marched into battle at less than 100% certainty - i.e. without a clear sign from heaven - she stood to lose. Waiting upon the Lord for a preconfirmation of success was known as "Inquiring of the Lord". This is PRECISELY the strategy dictating the evangelistic campaigns in Acts. Examples:
(1) The disciples waited in prayer until Pentecost, whence they saw tongues of Fire.
(2) Acts 4:30-31 we see them waiting in prayer - until an earthquake erupted!
(3) Acts 16:25-31 records a similar earthquake.
(4) Peter saw a vision in Acts 10, directing him to preach to the Gentiles.
(5) Acts 16:6-10 shows how Paul's evangelism was directed by visions and revelations from heaven.

The prophetic can be a powerful tool in evangelism, but no prophet operates with 100% certainty. That would be exceedingly dangerous and lead to pride and destruction. Humility should be one of the core characteristics of a prophet.

 

[JAL]

So this is a proposal, a theoretical model. You aren't actually doing this. Right?

Why would you think that? I posture myself waiting upon the Lord in prayer in praise for revival which, if it ever happens, will hopefully confer upon many of us, maybe even I myself, enough grace/revelation to walk in true prophetic and evangelistic ministry.

This isn't very effective if I'm the only one so postured (see 2Chron 7:14). Therefore I like to share my beliefs with other Christians.

But if you're asking me whether I myself have already experienced revelations at 100% certainty, the answer is No.

What's IS interesting, however, is that two of the most effective revival preachers in church history claimed to rely on the very strategy that I'm proposing here:
(1) Charles Finney
(2) Pastor Yonggi Cho

 

[Saint Steven]

The prophetic can be a powerful tool in evangelism, but no prophet operates with 100% certainty. That would be exceedingly dangerous and lead to pride and destruction. Humility should be one of the core characteristics of a prophet.

Right. In my limited experience with prophecy and prophets, I see God giving us what amounts to "puzzle pieces" to deliver. It is up to the one getting the message (puzzle piece) to discern whether it fits or not. A wise prophet gives these messages (puzzle piece) apologetically. They have no idea what they mean. The value is to the one receiving it. (or not) We just need to be obedient when God gives us a message for someone. It doesn't need to make any sense to us. It shouldn't actually.

 

[JAL]

The prophetic can be a powerful tool in evangelism, but no prophet operates with 100% certainty. That would be exceedingly dangerous and lead to pride and destruction. Humility should be one of the core characteristics of a prophet.

On the contrary, to prophesy at less than 100% certainty was an act of presumption potentially meriting being stoned to death.

I'm not saying one has to keep his mouth shut at less than 100% certainty. But he shouldn't claim, "Thus saith the Lord" but rather he should speak with humility, "I think the Lord is speaking to me but I'm not quite sure I've got the message right."

 

[Saint Steven]

Why would you think that? I posture myself waiting upon the Lord in prayer in praise for revival which, if it ever happens, will hopefully confer upon many of us, maybe even I myself, enough grace/revelation to walk in true prophetic and evangelistic ministry.

If it ever happens?
And you ask me, "Why would you think that?" - lol

Saint Steven said: ↑
So this is a proposal, a theoretical model. You aren't actually doing this. Right?

 

[JAL]

I did this Treasure Hunt activity once. It was pretty cool.
The truth is, no one gets it 100 percent right.

Kevin Dedmon's Treasure Hunt Evangelism

Too bad. Prophecy doesn't work. I guess Jesus' teachings were full of errors because no one gets it 100% right.

 

[Saint Steven]

On the contrary, to prophesy at less than 100% certainty was an act of presumption potentially meriting being stoned to death.

I'm not saying one has to keep his mouth shut at less than 100% certainty. But he shouldn't claim, "Thus saith the Lord" but rather he should speak with humility, "I think the Lord is speaking to me but I'm not quite sure I've got the message right."

Now you are back-peddling.

JAL said: ↑
As immature believers, we all receive low-clarity revelation, marked by:
(1) A lack of specificity.
(2) A degree of uncertainty, i.e. less than 100% certainty.
With 100 billion souls at stake, it would be callously unprofessional of God to run evangelism on such low-quality revelation.

 

[JAL]

If it ever happens?
And you ask me, "Why would you think that?" - lol

Saint Steven said: ↑
So this is a proposal, a theoretical model. You aren't actually doing this. Right?

I'm following the model - waiting upon the Lord. I can't MAKE God issue a revival today or tomorrow. Why is this not clear to you?

 

[JAL]

Now you are back-peddling.

JAL said: ↑
As immature believers, we all receive low-clarity revelation, marked by:
(1) A lack of specificity.
(2) A degree of uncertainty, i.e. less than 100% certainty.
With 100 billion souls at stake, it would be callously unprofessional of God to run evangelism on such low-quality revelation.

No sir I didn't back-pedal. I just clarified my views.

 

[Saint Steven]

Too bad. Prophecy doesn't work. I guess Jesus' teachings were full of errors because no one gets it 100% right.

Where did Jesus say we would get it 100 percent right?
And what did you just write?
"I'm not saying one has to keep his mouth shut at less than 100% certainty."

 

[Saint Steven]

I'm following the model - waiting upon the Lord. I can't MAKE God issue a revival today or tomorrow. Why is this not clear to you?

This is a proposal, a theoretical model. Why is this not clear to you?

 

[JAL]

Where did Jesus say we would get it 100 percent right?
And what did you just write?
"I'm not saying one has to keep his mouth shut at less than 100% certainty."

That's consistent with what I've always taught - I even taught that on another thread in which you participated, a few months back.

Consistency is not back pedaling.

 

[Saint Steven]

No sir I didn't back-pedal. I just clarified my views.

Clarified your views by changing the facts? - Wow.

 

[JAL]

Where did Jesus say we would get it 100 percent right?

Really? Are you saying it is IMPOSSIBLE for God to guarantee a clear and reliable delivery of a message?

 

[topher694]

On the contrary, to prophesy at less than 100% certainty was an act of presumption potentially meriting being stoned to death.

I'm not saying one has to keep his mouth shut at less than 100% certainty. But he shouldn't claim, "Thus saith the Lord" but rather he should speak with humility, "I think the Lord is speaking to me but I'm not quite sure I've got the message right."

Nope. Incorrect and narrow interpretation of that scripture. There are all kinds of examples to the contrary in scripture. How many prophets do you know? How many have you asked about their certainty?

 

[JAL]

Clarified your views by changing the facts? - Wow.

Changing the fact that you misunderstood? I can't help that.

I'm at work writing as fast I can. I'm not always clear but I try to clarify when asked.

 

[Saint Steven]

Consistency is not back pedaling.

Right. That's why I say it is back-peddling. (inconsistent)