This is part 2 of a 2-part series by Randy Newman, taken from his blog –Connection Points.  In part 1, Randy explained how he has observed despair creep into our motivation for evangelism.

Here’s what we need to remember. While the challenges to evangelism may be more formidable than in recent years, God’s power to break through has not diminished. People may be more resistant than ever. (I believe they are). But God’s “two-edged sword” is just as sharp as ever. The prevailing culture may encourage more condemnation of Christians than in recent times. (I believe that’s the case in America, at least). But the Gospel’s “power to save” hasn’t lost any potency.

If we ever thought evangelism was easy, we failed to grasp the seriousness of the situation. If we ever relied on the power of our reasoning skills or strength of our apologetic arguments, we had succumbed to an arrogance that trusted in ourselves rather than God.

Somewhere along the way, we forgot that people are “dead in their trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1). We thought they were just confused or misinformed or ignorant. We slipped into thinking people needed answers instead of a savior.

But evangelism isn’t just difficult. It’s impossible. And that’s actually liberating.

When we remember that evangelism involves talking to spiritually dead people, we ask God to do what only he can do – raise the dead. When we recall that the devil has blinded people, we ask God to lift the veil. When we see that people need more than just answers, we do our best to give them good answers but, at the same time, we ask God to soften hearts.

We should not ignore the obstacles we face. Nor should we doubt the God who cuts through those obstacles.

Part 2 of a 2-part series by Randy Newman.

Randy will be a featured speaker at How Will They Hear? Christianity Explored Conference 2019 in Nashville May 4.