Evangelism – Share the experience!
By apostle Aje Pelser
2003-12-23

Reading: 1 John 1:1-3

John writes about his experiential knowledge of Jesus Christ while he was on earth.
However, we are encouraged to walk in that sphere of experiential knowledge too!
Moreover, John sets an example that we can follow, we should share that experience with others.

Purpose of sharing your experience of God with others:
“that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”
In his booklet entitled “Divine Fellowship” apostle Andre Pelser emphasises that fellowship means more than having a meal or a cup of coffee together.
“Fellowship is simply fellows in a ship! That says there is desire, direction, diligence and destination involved.”

“Koinonia” from which we derive our word fellowship means “involvement with the same objective in mind.”

It is imperative that we share our experience of our life in Christ with others.
But we need to become more effective:
6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
Philem 1:6 (KJV)
Apostle Paul writes to Philemon and rejoices to hear about his faith towards God and love for others.

Apostle John itemizes three facets of experiencing the Word of Life.

1. “that which we have heard…”
What has God said to you that keeps on ringing in your ears? Write that down. Treasure it, you have heard Him speak. The Holy Spirit brings His words to our remembrance.

We have all heard the Word being preached and faith rose up in our hearts. That faith caused us to hear and believe and call on His name for salvation.
In order to share this experience, recall how it happened for you and meditate on the mechanics of the ‘hearing of faith’.

2. “seen with our eyes…”
What supernatural spectacles have you gazed upon? Miracles? Healings? Prophecies fulfilled? Supernatural provision?

What has God shown you that was imprinted on your mind’s eye?

What have you seen with discernment that it is God?
Share that with the lost and show them Christ.

God is invisible, so we must see Him with the eyes of faith. Acts 2 gives the promise that He will show us visions by His Spirit. Jesus operated in the visionary realm. He also said that if we have seen Him, we have seen the Father also.
Have we seen Jesus operate in our midst by His Spirit?
Have we seen the Word made flesh and dwell amongst us?

Some would argue that John is different, seeing as he walked and talked with Jesus while he was on earth.

So what do we do when we pray? Do we not walk and talk with Jesus through His Spirit? Do we not read, preach, sing the Words of life which He spoke? 1 John 3:24.

In fact, apostle Peter encourages us to take heed of the prophetic Words of scripture as a surer Word than the audible voice we so often seek. It is good to desire to hear God’s voice in the natural realm. But do you listen to His voice in scripture? Do you make it a habit to execute the will of the Father contained in scriptures? If not, why should He speak more?

What have you seen God do in your church?
What have you seen in your life that suggests divine influence?
The answers to these questions constitute your experiential knowledge of Jesus Christ. That is what you share with people in evangelism.
Don’t just quote them a scripture; show them a scripture and testify how it worked in your life – that is the testimony of Christ at work within you – your only hope of glory in evangelism.

So we move from “how many scriptures do you know?” to “How many scriptures have you seen in your life?”

3. “handled with our hands…”
Which scriptures have you handled with a view to investigation?

Which aspects of God have you experimented with – healing? Deliverance? Salvation? Peace from worry and anxiety?

This brings us to the practical use of scripture.
Have you used the Sword of the Spirit to cut loose the oppressed?
To slay sickness?
Lay hands on the sick in Jesus Name?
To destroy the works of the enemy in your family?

Have you handled the anointing oil of the Holy Spirit and consecrated people to God’s service?

Have you taken the love shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Spirit and given it to others?

Have you held up the lantern of the Word in the darkness of indecision and taken the right path that leads to life?

Have you embraced God’s promises for your life?

If you answer yes to any of the above, then you too have handled the Word of life, yes, you have been in contact with the Son of God, the Word, the Light of the world.

Appeal:
Ask God to let you hear His voice through scripture.
Ask Him to show you things to come by his Spirit and see Jesus manifest in your life.
Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you how to make contact with God and how to handle and use the Word of God effectively for your life.

And furthermore – ask Him to help you to share this fantastic experience with others so that they may have fellowship with you in Christ.