Opening Eyes: Evangelism
The stuff that requires Holy Spirit power!
Return
Welcome back to THE HOLY GO!
How are you going with the weekly activations? If you want to see fruit, I highly recommend you try engaging with them! And make it even more fun by doing them with a friend or your small group.
Today we continue the “OPENING EYES” series where we look at the OPEN framework which describes how eyes are opened to the gospel through:
Oneness
Prayer
Evangelism
Neighbour Love
Today we move on to Evangelism the way Jesus taught it.
Equip
The Stuff
John Wimber was the founder of the Vineyard movement.
As a new believer, he read the Bible and was inspired by the stories of Jesus and the early Church. So he decided to go to church.
He walked into a local church, sat through the worship, the sermon, and finally morning tea. Then, slightly dissatisfied, he approached the pastor and asked:
“When are we going to do the stuff?”
“The stuff?” the pastor replied. “We’ve done it. That’s church!”
Wimber was disappointed. His picture of church had been shaped by Scripture. He read about Jesus and the disciples healing the sick, casting out demons, and boldly proclaiming the good news. That was “the stuff.”
Sadly, many churches still feel the same today. The gospel Jesus preached has been reduced to words, the supernatural has dried up, and the Great Commission has slowed to a crawl.
Power to Witness
Jesus said:
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses.” (Acts 1:8)
But why do we need power to witness?
The answer becomes clear in Matthew 10.1 Jesus trained His disciples to do two things:
1. Declare the Kingdom
Proclaim the good news.
2. Demonstrate the Kingdom
Heal the sick, cast out demons, pray for people, show God’s power.
Jesus modelled this constantly. He preached the Kingdom and then demonstrated it through healing and miracles.
The Kingdom message is “on earth as it is in heaven.” It’s not just about someday in eternity… it’s about God bringing His rule, healing, freedom, and life right now.
The early church followed the same pattern:
“The Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” (Mark 16:20)
Paul said:
“The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” (1 Corinthians 4:20)
And:
“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” (1 Corinthians 2:4–5)
This is the “stuff” Wimber was looking for, and the stuff many churches have quietly left behind.
However, if we want to open people’s eyes to Jesus, we must pair declaration with demonstration.
Opening Eyes
So what does this look like?
Step 1: Declare the Kingdom
Tell people the good news: Jesus is making all things new! He is bringing peace, healing, freedom, and life in all its fullness. (Read more about this kingdom message here)
Step 2: Demonstrate the Kingdom
Create space for people to experience what you just said is true. Pray for them. Invite God to move. (Read more about a simple model to do this here.)
For example:
Tell someone God loves them → then pray they would experience His love.
Share a story of healing → then pray for healing on the spot.
Speak hope or peace → then pray they would experience it.
It sounds risky, doesn’t it?
But after 20 years of practising this, I’ve found God to be faithful. When we step out in faith and expect Him to confirm His word, He does. And as He does, people’s eyes open to a God who is very real and very near.
Activate
This week’s activation is simple:
Declare and demonstrate the good news of the Kingdom.
Tell someone what God is like. (His peace, love, goodness, or freedom…)
Then pray for them to experience it.
Let’s Go!
As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. Matthew 10:7-8