I love going to church and hearing teachings that are clearly Holy Spirit anointed!  Characteristics of such sermons declare both the character of God and convey truth spoken from the Word of God.  The Good News is that the Bible tells us of God’s love for fallen, broken humanity; and it also relates encouragement, hope, correction and conviction.  However, condemnation born of legalism is not a characteristic of the Holy Spirit or truth.

The fact is, not every word uttered from a pulpit (and I’m not speaking only of cultic or offshoot type churches) is Holy Spirit breathed. …which makes it necessary for all believers to be well acquainted with the scriptures and in an intimate relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit.

Our pastor’s message recently made my heart sit up and take notice because what he said directly confronted an inaccurate teaching I’d received in the past; and though I may not consciously believe it, the presentation of truth came up against a stronghold (lie) of the enemy in my subconscious and became a work of spiritual demolition.

This was not just misguided teaching from my religious past in a dubious denomination; it has also echoed from the lips of impassioned evangelicals.

It is the notion that if we don’t share the gospel with anyone or everyone, some people may miss the opportunity to be saved.

Perhaps you’ve heard this teaching and rejected it as false; or maybe, like me, you’ve heard it and moved on past it because the guilt and condemnation just didn’t sit well in our spirits—I write about it now because I realized that it was still lurking in my subconscious.

I picture Atlas with the weight of the world on his shoulders.  It is a weight much to heavy for a human to carry, but Jesus did bear the weight, the sin of the world, because He was more that human, He was also God.  He carried the sins of humanity because of Love and He is not willing that any should perish.

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

“Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” (Ezekiel 33:11)

This is the character of God: “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7)

The question is, if we don’t tell someone about Jesus, could they be separated from God, lost from all eternity?

No!!!

God’s plan, the hope for redemption through the Jewish nation seemed to teeter on the decision of one young, reluctant queen—although she chose to risk her life and honor God (and we know that now), there was a moment where she could have chosen otherwise and hoped for the best.  Did that mean God’s purposes for the nation of Israel and the heritage of the Messiah were in jeopardy?  Not at all!  “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place…. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)

There is a defining line between legalistic compulsion in “witnessing”, and the Holy Spirit indwelling, testifying to the goodness and grace of God through our lives.

Jesus’ imperative for our lives is this: “You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

The Holy Spirit, through the apostle Paul, also reminds us that we each are uniquely gifted for serving God and serving others: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

This changes our focus from what we think we need to do for God, to all He has done for us, and what the Holy Spirit accomplishes in and through our lives—that is the basis for our redemption, our confession, and the hope abiding within us!

“How beautiful upon the mountains

are the feet of him who brings good news,

who publishes peace, who brings good

news of happiness, who publishes salvation,

who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’”

Isaiah 52:7