Great communicators are not always effective at evangelism. Don’t get me wrong, I love good sermons. I have many favorite Bible teachers who do a fine job of teaching and explaining the gospel of Christ. They are well informed and prepared by the word of God and they can deliver a message in a way that makes me sit on the edge of my seat so I don’t miss a thing! They assert with great power and passion the triumph of faith in Christ. However, even in all of this, good communication is not the reason people come to and grow in Christ.
Let’s face it; I could know all I need to know about persuasive argument. I could learn the techniques to deliberate my case with great influence, but it still would not necessarily bring a person to Christ. Conversely, it is important to note what I am not saying. I am not saying stop preaching or stop teaching. I am not saying dismiss learning how to communicate well. Instead, I am transferring our focus to what really brings a soul into union with the Lord. It’s not good teaching methods, while beneficial to the learner. It’s not great communications skills, while advantageous to the hearer. Instead, let’s shift our attention from the preacher and teacher and look to the hearer.
A person of change is one who hungers for a clean heart, a steadfast spirit, a constant presence with the Lord and joy in His salvation. This person is one that has a broken spirit. God will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for sin. (Psalm 51:17). When our focus is entirely on the deliberation of truth and the effective communication of the gospel, without intention, we make the mistake that it is in our control whether a person comes to Christ or not. It is only the Father that draws all men unto Himself through His son, Jesus. So what do we do?
Prayer. Pray for broken hearts. Pray for the nonbeliever to be broken in spirit. Pray they see the fruitlessness of what the world offers. Pray for people to be repentant. Prayer is the most powerful tool a teacher, preacher, or any evangelist has in bringing people to Christ. Prayer is the first step to good teaching and preaching. We must pay close attention to the hearer - not just the teacher.
Think about it, if our hearts are hardened by sin, if we are filled with our own pride, if we are unrepentant and unconcerned about sanctification, are we really going to hear the word preached to us and change? Sadly, in this hardened state we justify our sin, not leave it. We blame others for their wrongs, instead of correcting our own failings. We fail to see our need to be like Christ. We take on a god complex and continue to live for self. Yet, the sermon heard was not about this at all. The state of our heart determines what we hear.
Yes, faith comes by hearing the word of God. But I ask you, what part of us needs to be listening to increase our faith? A transformed person for Christ listens with their heart. It’s the heart that needs transforming. It’s the heart that needs a surgical miracle. It’s the heart that God sees yet no man can see. It’s the inside that God is concerned about - not the outside. The outside is only a reflection of what is in the heart. We pray for behavior change when we should be praying for heart change.
The best way to change the heart of another is to pray for that person’s brokenness. And then pray for their heart to listen to the truth being taught so they can be transformed with tools that last forever - not for just a season.
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