Circumstances should not and do not dictate our willingness to be vessels through which God works. Because God brings everyone to Himself in accordance with His perfect will, not every encounter that an on mission Christian has will end in the nonbeliever accepting Christ.

However, as instruments, we should always be in tune to Gods leading. Imagine a wise, older gentleman playing his harmonica while gazing toward the light. The act of evangelism is a process, and the One who initiates that process knows exactly what instrument should be played at which time. As Christians, our job is to be ready to be utilized in the symphony of evangelism.

This is evident in Pauls teachings as he addressed the early church on being ready as witnesses to God:

God is the One Who is at work in the lives of every lost person (John 1:9).

God is not willing that any perish and is actively at work in the lives of the people around us (2 Peter 3:9). This Truth governed the life of Jesus (John 5:17, 19, 20).

God Himself will assist us as we bear witness to Him (not for Him), for no one will ever come to Jesus (be drawn to Him) unless the Father draws him and teaches him (John 6:44, 45, 65).

The one who comes to Jesus, by the activity of the Father, will not be turned away. Hear carefully what Jesus said: All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out (John 6:37).

ILLUSTRATION BY SUZY SCHULTZ

Paul knew these Truths and could say with confidence, Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).

The key to bearing witness to God is not the hearer or the circumstances or the culture. The key is God Himself and our relationship to Him. Knowing that God is always at work around me, I am always looking to see where is His Presence so I can respond immediately.

Once I was counseling a married couple, and the man was not a Christian. As I began to share the importance of Jesus, especially in a marriage, I noticed there were tears in his eyes. I asked if he sensed a drawing in his life to Jesus, a desire to place his trust in Him. He said he did, but that he didnt understand it all. I then pointed him to scriptures and assured him that no one would be drawn to Jesus unless the Father was both drawing and teaching him. I assured him from scripture that if he would turn his life toward Jesus in repentance and faith, Jesus would receive him, save him and make him His child.

He immediately prayed with me, received Jesus Christ, was saved, and the subsequent marriage was a glorious experience for him, their families and their church!

In witnessing, we do remain exceedingly sensitivesensitive to what God is doing in their livesso we may respond immediately. In the case of this counseling, I was used by God to bring the work of the Holy Spirit to fruition, because I was sensitive to His work in this mans life.

He made us to know Him, hear Him, understand Him and respond to Him. He has asked that each of us knows Him so thoroughly that we have something about Him to which we constantly and spontaneously can be bearing witness. When we do, with each of those He places around us, God will be at work, helping them to understand, drawing them to His Son, convicting them of their sin by the Holy Spirit and working in and through each of us who knows Him to bring them to faith in Christ.

The author of Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby is president of Henry Blackaby Ministries. Visit www.henryblackaby.com for more information. Bible references are from The New King James Version.