Setting the Scene
By ‘anointed conversation’ we mean simply a conversation where Holy Spirit is actively involved and guiding. A blessed and anointed conversation will be one where a non-believer comes to a clear decision point and asks to ‘receive’ Jesus as Lord and as Saviour. There’s something here about a person ‘seeing’ their own need, and ‘seeing’ what it is that Jesus has done for them. An anointed conversation might otherwise be one where a non-Believer moves forward in their interest and understanding, even where they may not yet be ready yet to take a definitive step of faith.
We remember from John 1: 12 that “to all who received Him, who believed in Nis name, He gave the right to become children of God.” Wow! Incidentally that’s the only ‘human right’ expressed anywhere in the Bible!
In evangelism generally there are different types of encounter with individuals that can lead to anointed conversation, where Holy Spirit is present and guides the outcome. These are (1) preaching evangelism, (2) service evangelism, and (3) encounter evangelism. We are focusing here only on # 3. Actually it is true to say that 1, 2 and 3 are often part and parcel of the same experience or ‘journey’ of a person coming into living relationship with Jesus, but they can operate independently. Irrespective, it is likely that encounter evangelism (a big name for what might in reality simply be a God given opportunity to “chat Jesus” at a deeper level) will be somewhere close when a person receives Jesus as Lord.
Not a ‘how to’ manual
The Bible, in one sense, is not a ‘how to’ manual about the way to receive Jesus. It’s probably true to say there are differences in the reality of this experience for many people, but at the end there is something about the reality of ‘seeing’ and then ‘accepting’ Jesus. That is, accepting Him on His terms, hence true repentance is a part of this, a turning away from the old as we turn towards the new.
If readers want some Biblical illustrations of how anointed conversations have happened in Scripture, we can offer up these as in some senses ‘typical’:
Nathan and David – 2 Samuel 12: 11 – 25
Parable and allegory vv 1-4
Realization vv 5-6
Confrontation vv 7+
Repentance vv 13
Restoration vv 24-25
Permanent outcome 1 Kings 1: 31
Jacob wrestles – Genesis 32: 22 – 31
Wrestling with God vv 24
Demand for blessing vv 26
Permanent outcome vv 28
Jesus heals a man with Leprosy – Matthew 8: 1 – 4
Need vv 2
Willingness vv 3
Restoration vv 3
Jesus and a Canaanite woman – Matthew 15: 21 – 28
Need vv 22
Wrestling with God vv 25 – 27
Willingness vv 28
Restoration vv 28
Jesus and Nicodemus – John 3: 1 – 21
Need vv 3 + 5
Wrestling with God vv 4 + 9
Willingness vv 15-15
Restoration vv 17-18 (also John 19: 39-40)
Peter and the crowd in Jerusalem – Acts 2: 37-41
Need (recognition of) vv 37
Resolution vv 41
Sinner’s prayer?
It will be noted that in these biblical examples there are some common themes, especially that a person is wrestling with God. Yet in this wrestling process, and perhaps through that process, they come to ‘see’ their own need and ask God to come into them, in some sense. This all becomes much clearer in the New Testament, but the antecedents are undoubtedly there in the Old Testament.
It should be noted that there is no biblical example of a ‘sinner’s prayer’, so favoured by Western evangelists. Rather, biblically we can perceive the idea of process and hinterland leading to spiritual crisis and recognition that Jesus is the (only) answer. This is not to suggest that there is no place for a ‘sinner’s prayer’, and indeed such a clear recognition and articulated request from an individual can be a powerful mechanism, exceeded only (I would suggest) by believer’s baptism, which is an essential step in the process and the main foundation stone upon which the subsequent Christian life will be built.
With that caveat, we should note that an anointed conversation might well be the right time and place for such a prayer, to be asked “in the name of Jesus”. Whilst no specific form of words need be stipulated, I suggest that a prayer will (1) recognize that a person has wrestled with God (and the evidence of that is sin) and rebelled against God’s right to be God over their life. (2) Recognize their need of complete cleansing from past wrongs. (3) Recognize their need to receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour. (4) Ask Jesus to come into their life, through His Holy Spirit. (5) Commit to being His faithful disciple.
This leads fully to ‘re-birth’ in the sense of John chapter 3. And new life is a reality at this point, assuming the sincerity of the prayer itself.
Anointed
As stated earlier, the anointing on all this comes through Holy Spirit Who is engaged, as it were, behind the scenes. There are typically four types of seeker we might encounter in a country like Britain, as suggested in this simple schematic:
Everyone comes with their ‘hinterland’, all those life experiences and relationships that have molded them and brought them to this particular point. Some are hurting, some are defiant, some are confused, and some have a strong sense of what is needed, but have been ‘putting it off’. These categories are suggested above, but there may in reality be overlap between them – people are never one dimensional. The non-believer is not a ‘cardboard cutout’! Always Holy Spirit is involved in the present encounter and will guide the thoughts and words of the Christian who is involved as the ‘evangelist’.
Useful resource (UK setting)
In terms of how we assist a person to understand the step they are contemplating, we might be able to use a booklet or tract of some sort to help.
Two quite favourably received are “Knowing God Personally” (or ‘KGP’, published by www.agape.org.uk), and “Loved”, published by Counties UK (www.countiesuk.org). In the schematic above we simply suggest that, dependent on a seeker’s background, experiences, readiness, educational attainment, age and so on, KGP might be the better choice as a slightly ‘heavier’ and more legalistic explanation. By contrast “Loved” might be better in the modern situation of people being less comfortable with the basic concept of penal substitution (of Christ), and more given to respond to a more emotive and empathetic explanation, which is provided by the “Loved” fold-out tract.
The other aspect of choosing whether to use a ‘tract’, and if so which one, will be our insight and understanding of who they are, what motivates them at this point, and what basic insight and understanding they may already have. See also chapter 10 in this regard.
Basic conversation
Everyone is different! Every conversation will be different and we do not need to be too exercised about precise words to be used, as Holy Spirit will always assist (John 15: 26, Acts 1: 8); He is an active partner in this encounter! However we can at least say this, in any valuable and encouraging conversation there may be certain things we feel important to ‘get across’ and possibly we need to help a seeker to ‘see’ clearly any misperceptions about Jesus or the Christian faith that they may have accumulated over the years. So this schematic suggests one way we might approach this, and again points towards the possible use of a tract to help consolidate understanding, and where appropriate, response:
Repeat, it is not necessarily to carefully pre-plan a discussion, or conversation, as these are by their very nature unstructured. But there will be a few clear ‘points’ we wish to share, and possibly one or two helpful bible portions that will really underscore and ‘speak-into’ what it is we have explored with a seeker.
Helpful verses
Six important Bible passages about receiving Jesus as Lord are John 1:12, Romans 10:9-10, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8-9, and 1 John 5:12. These verses describe the act of believing in Jesus, confessing Him as Lord, understanding that salvation is a gift of God’s grace through faith, and recognizes that Jesus is the exclusive mediator and the source of eternal life.
John 1: 12
“to all who received Him, who believed in Nis name, He gave the right to become children of God”
This verse highlights that receiving Jesus through belief grants the privilege of becoming a child of God.
“…. if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved“.
This passage describes the dual action of faith: believing in the heart and confessing with the mouth that Jesus is Lord.
John 14:6
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”“.
This verse establishes Jesus as the exclusive path to the Father, underscoring the necessity of acknowledging Him as Lord to approach God.
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved“.
This verse emphasizes that salvation is found only in Jesus and that no other name offers it, reinforcing His unique position as Lord and Savior.
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast“.
This foundational passage explains that salvation comes through God’s grace and our simple faith, not by our own efforts, making Jesus’ lordship available to all through this gift.
1 John 5:12
“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life“.
This verse clearly states that eternal life comes through having the Son, Jesus Christ, meaning He must be accepted as Lord to receive this gift.
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