The Inspiration of the Holy Ghost Brings Results

The Christian should recognize that nothing can be accomplished without the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Ghost. Jesus told His disciples that they could do nothing without Him. He was the vine and they were the branch­es (John 15:5). Christ has not changed—He is still the vine and we are the branches, and without Him we can do nothing. Often, Christians will have a zeal to do good works, but they fail to seek or wait on spiritual inspira­tion. They go through the motions of soul winning but lack results of people accepting Christ as their personal Saviour. As Christians, we must not forget the words which Christ spoke to His disciples in John 15:1-5: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

It is Christ who enables the believer to bring forth fruit. Christians cannot produce fruit by their own power. The Scriptures show clearly that positive results were ob­tained when the disciples of Christ went forth as they were inspired and directed by the Holy Ghost. A lot of activity is not necessarily an indication of productivity. As Christians, we have to wait on the guidance and in­spiration of Christ in the person of the Holy Ghost. He has been sent to lead and guide us in all things. It is true that every believer must be a daily witness for Christ; however, the believer needs daily inspiration concerning where and when to share the Word. When we follow the inspiration of the Spirit of God, we will get results, but this does not mean that everyone with whom we share the Word is going to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. When we follow the leading of the Spirit, we have the assurance that we have done what God requires of us.

After Paul revealed his experience of the power of Christ to transform lives, including his own, King Agrip­pa felt the inspiration in Paul, but still rejected the truth. Agrippa’s famous words of rejection were stated in Acts 26:38, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Chris­tian.” Although the believer obeys the leading of the Holy Ghost, it does not mean that everyone is going to accept the message. The believer will, however, have the satisfaction of knowing that he obeyed what the Spirit inspired him to do.

Excepts from Lesson 4 of the book,

EVANGELISM—the Heartbeat of the Church,

by Robert F. Strong, Sr.