HOW TO WITNESS EFFECTIVELY
MATT. 28:19-20 MATT.4:18-22
Soul winners are not born.
They are not some special group.
They do not have a special talent.
God has not just chosen a few to be great soul winners.
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
But the truth of the matter is Soul Winners are made. How you say?
1) They are Trained 2) They are Taught 3) They are Motivated by the power of the Word of God. Thru the Holy Spirit of God.
Peter said in: Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
When you witness trust the Holy Spirit to do three things.
A.HE WILL ILLUMINATE The mind of the unbeliever. All souls with out God are in spiritual darkness.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
B.HE WILL STIR The heart of the unbeliever. As Peter preached Christ the listeners were pricked in their hearts.
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
C.HE WILL MOVE The will of the unbeliever. Like the prodigal son when he came to himself & said in Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee” Sinners to realize too they have sinned against God. That they need Jesus to saved them.
Folks we have all the up to date modern techniques of Soul Winning. But it is not enough.
We may know all the verses by heart. But it is not enough.
We may have a great personality & be a wonderful speaker. But it is not enough.
Hey your breath may be sweet & have the whitest teeth in the entire world. But it is not enough.
We need to realize if we as Christians do not evangelize in the power of the Holy Spirit. Your soul winning efforts will fail.
I DON’T CARE HOW MANY TECHNIGUES WE HAVE OR KNOW. WE WILL FAIL
I DON’T CARE HOW MANY VERSES WE KNOW (ALL THOUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT USES THE WORD OF GOD TO CONVICT) WITH OUT THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WE WILL FAIL.
I DON’T CARE IF YOU ARE THE GREATEST PERSON IN ALL THE WORLD WE WILL FAIL
WITH NO POWER MEANS NO SOULS.
WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
1.THE IMPOTTANCE OF WITNESSING:
Romans 10:14-17 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
In verse 14 I see 3 questions that need to be considered with verse 13.
A.“How then shall they call on Him (Jesus) in whom they have not believed?”
ANSWER: The lost can not call on the Lord until they believe:
Christ died for their sins:
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
He was buried & went to Hell for them: Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. He has the keys to HELL & DEATH. So how could He get the keys without going to Hell? Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
He rose again after the 3rd day just like He said he would.
Matthew 28:7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
Acts 17:3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
Very important that this get settled first:
B.“How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?”
ANSWER: The lost cannot believe in Him until they have heard the good news of Jesus Christ.
EXAMPLES:
1.The Eunuch in Acts 8 had to hear to believe. Acts 8:29-35 “ Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” He was reading, then asked if he understood what he was reading. The Eunuch replied How can I unless some one tells me.
2.Cornelius had to hear to believe: Acts 10: 1-48 gives the account
3.Paul Had to hear to believe: Acts 9: 1-18 give this account
4.The Philippan jailer had to hear to believe: Acts 16: 25-40 gives the account of this.
5.You had to hear in order to believe.
3.“How shall they hear without a preacher (witness)?”
ANSWER: The lost cannot hear the Good News of Salvation with out a saved witness to tell them. I have never heard of a lost man showing somebody how to get to Heaven. Have you?
3000 were saved at Pentecost because 120 witnessed
The Eunuch was saved because Phillip witnessed
The woman at the well was saved because Jesus witnessed to her.
Paul was saved because Stephen witnessed & God/Man, & Ananias
You were saved because some one told you.
Note: THINK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GO TELL SOMEONE.
A.THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A WITNESS:
Colossians 2:6-7 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
A QUALIFIED WITNESS IS ONE WHO IS
ESTABLISHED IN THE FAITH:
One that is saved himself, or herself & should know it. Some will say someone that is rooted, & grounded in God’s word. I believe it is someone who is saved & that is willing to go. Yes it helps to know your Bible. For it makes things easier when telling someone about Jesus.
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
We know we are saved.
We have the:
1.Witness of the Holy Spirit:
Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
2.Witness of God’s word:
1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
B.THE APPROACH:
Twodifferent types of approaches:
1)The direct approach:
a. By a Friend: Phillip used this with Nathaniel
John 1:45-46 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
b.By a relative: Andrew used this with his brother Simon Peter:
John 1:40-42 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
c.By the concerned (the one who comes to you) Like the case with Jesus & Nicodemus: John 3:1-3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
d.By the seeker: As with Paul & Salias with the Philippian Jailer
1.The indirect approach: This is used in witnessing to
a.A stranger: Jesus used this approach when dealing with the lady at the well in John 4: 7-26
He went up to her and asked for a drink of water, and then proceced to witness to her. Result she was born again. I always look for an opening to speak to some one.
The religious: The evangelist (Phillip) used this with the Ethiopian Enoch in Acts 8: 26-39
He was looking for an answer and Phillip offered help.
Understand what thou readiest? I have used this in a Christian book store when folks are looking at the Bibles.
2 things here: 1.I would find out if they were saved or not. 2.I would show them the King James Bible.
4.HOW TO SHARE GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION:
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
7 Simple steps to take in sharing God’s word.
1.Personal Experience (not your life story) then take them to the word
2.It is the fact that God loves you
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
You could say “ John, would you admit that God loves you.”
3.Share now it is a fact that you are a sinner. Hey I’m a sinner.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Say something like this “ John, isn’t it wonderful, God loves you even though you are a sinner. God hates our sins but He loves us so much.”
4.Share now it is a fact that you are dead in sin:
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
“John, isn’t it great even though you are a lost sinner dead in sin, God loves you.” I was a lost sinner also; hey I’m still a sinner. I mess up everyday.
5.Share now the fact Jesus died for you:
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
“ John that word commendeth means He showed you. Isn’t wonderful that God’s loves you so much. That He gave His only begotten Son to die on Calvary bearing your sins (my sins)
I READ THE VERSE LIKE THIS:
But God showed his love towards Tom, in that, while Tom was still a sinner Christ died for Tom.” Then I tell them if you were the only person on the face of the earth. Jesus would have still died for you.
6.Now share it is a fact you can be saved by faith in the Lord Jesus
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
7.Now lead to except Jesus as his Savior.
Romans 10:9-11 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Ask Him to say a small prayer
(3 things in this prayer 1 ask God to forgive you of your sins, ask Him to be your Savior, & take you to Heaven)
Get him or her to trust Jesus as their savior (help them in the prayer if need be) (make sure they understand it is not the prayer but the fact they are trusting Jesus & only Jesus.)
Then ask them again if they were to die right now where would you spend eternity? Then ask them what are they trusting in take them to heaven. If they say anything other than Jesus , You will need to explain again the fact that Jesus is the only way to Heaven.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
If they give you the right answer share an assurance verses with them
