Mission Venture Ministries

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:7-9) 

As ambassadors for our Lord Jesus Christ, we have the privilege to proclaim His Gospel to an unbelieving world. This is an awesome responsibility because those who are perishing need to hear the Gospel of Christ (Romans 10:17). Clearly, the most difficult people to evangelize are those who are defiantly opposed to the Gospel because of their religious bondage and deception. 

When you witness to them, their stubborn arrogance exposes their willful ignorance of God’s Word. Their stiff-necked self conceit leads to their unyielding self-deceit. Whenever prideful people are confronted in their self-deceit, they pridefully stand their ground to prove they are right. Therefore, we need to remember that: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). 

One of the most powerful tools Satan uses to “blind the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” is religious pride and arrogance (2 Corinthians 4:4). 

We see a vivid example of this when “Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). Some arrogant Jews rose up and argued with him because they were unable to cope with the wisdom and Spirit with which he was speaking. Stephen responded, “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it” (Acts 7:51-53). Because of their religious arrogance, they were brutally resistant to the truth, and with gnashing teeth, they stoned Stephen to death. 

No matter how defiantly people respond to the Gospel, we know stubborn hearts are no match for the penetrating power of God’s grace. The apostle Paul was a zealous persecutor of Christians before our Sovereign Lord knocked him off his high horse and granted him repentance. One of the thieves on the cross had lived a life of sinful rebellion, but in his last hour, God granted him repentance and faith in the Savior (Luke 23:39-43). These two examples of the saving power of God’s grace should encourage us to never give up hope for our friends and loved ones. Knowing that God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble, let us pray that they will exchange their pride for humility and submit to God’s Word (James 4:6). 

So whenever you get an opportunity to talk to someone about spiritual matters, seek to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ. The sinner needs to know who Jesus is and what He did. Don’t hesitate to defend the gospel out of fear of giving offense instead “opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:25-26). The Christian’s duty is to confront the sinner and warn him of impending judgment. 

The person needs to feel his guilt so that he realizes his need for a Savior. And, don’t fail to point out God’s grace and forgiveness to everyone who will repent. And whether God uses your witness to save 3,000, as He did with Peter’s sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:40-41), or maybe just one person, you will be filled with joy to know that by turning a sinner from the error of his way, you have been used to save his soul from death (James 5:20). 

Just like the sower of seed must wait for the harvest, the Christian must wait patiently for the rewards that will inevitably come from the Giver of all good things (James 1:17). We should not give up, because our Lord is faithful. “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). 

Remember, the power of the gospel does not depend on our ability to use persuasive arguments. The power of the gospel does not depend on our charismatic personalities, it lies with God, and all we have to do is to present it to others. 

So let us pray for those that are deceived and defiant against God’s word that they will come under strong conviction of sin, judgment and righteousness by the power of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8-11). May God be exalted and honored as He answers our prayers for His glory and the salvation of perishing souls! 

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