Most Christians I know have a deep desire that the people around and beyond them come to trust and follow Jesus just like them. We often wonder, “Is there anything I can do to help them come to know Jesus”? Unfortunately, it’s easy to think that if we just “try harder”, my friends will follow Jesus. However, God says that because faith is a supernatural step, it’s not something that we can, nor should, “manufacture” within anyone. Rather, a supernatural step of faith requires the supernatural work of God’s Holy Spirit.

This truth is most evident at the beginning of the Christian movement. We don’t see any evidence that the early Christians used, or were encouraged towards, coercive power or manipulative tactics to force “conversion”. Rather, right throughout the story of the early church’s birth and development in the book of Acts we see that it was the willingness of people who were ‘full of the Holy Spirit’ to be used by God that caused it’s explosive growth.

In fact, if we go through the early history of the church, it’s amazing just how the growth in the church is related to God’s people actively participating in his mission while ‘full of the Spirit’. From the promise in Acts 1:4-8 to the first Christian sermons in Acts 2:4,47 and 4:8 to the believers prayer for boldness in 4:29-31 to the first leadership structure to allow for more missionary growth in 6:1-7 to the sermon of Stephen, the first martyr, in 7:55, to the conversion of Saul to Paul in 9:17-18, Holy Spirit interpreting Peter’s vision in 10:19, the conversion of Gentiles in 10:44-47, the growth of the church in Antioch in 11:24, missionaries sent out from Antioch in 13:2-4, the salvation of a community leader in 13:9-12 and the guidance of a missionary journey in 16:6-10. It’s clear that we don’t just “need” the Holy Spirit to ‘get the job done’, but that without the Holy Spirit it’s impossible because it is ultimately his job.

If you desire to see people around you come to put their faith in Jesus – and I know pretty much everyone reading this does desire that – then you need to be confident that God really does want to work through you. Much of the step out of our comfort zone comes down to a lack of boldness, confidence, faith that God really is going to work in and through us. You can see that the first Christians were self-aware that the rejection and criticism they received was wearing them down. Just like them, be willing to pause and ask God to remind you of his power and renew your spirit with the power of his spirit. Ask him to give you a boldness that sees beyond the blank stares or blunt rejection of your courageous expression of God’s love.

So don’t give up on your friends, family members, colleagues and neighbours coming to faith. Rather than simply ‘trying harder’ or ‘doing better’, commit to sharing, “overflowing” whatever the Holy Spirit’s has put in your life - unable to keep it to yourself.

Action: Ask God for boldness then take a bold step. It may be finding a chance to share your story on social media, offer someone prayer or reach out with compassion to a neighbour.

Acts 4:23
When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

Acts 4:29-31
And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Digging Deeper: Luke 24:46-49; Acts 1:4-8; John 7:37-39