*Witnessing = The spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ with the goal of converting the listener.
*When witnessing, there are usually 3 different ways that occurs: you actively pursue the unsaved, they seek you, or they see how you live.
I. We are to pursue the unsaved: The Great Commission
A. In Matthew 28:19-20 we were given what is now known as the great commission. “(19)Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." This was given to the disciples after the cruxifiction.
B. This was repeated again to the disciples just before his ascention:
Acts 1:8-9 “(8) but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (9) And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” This was, of course, commanded to them after his death and resurrection also.
1. How many of us are actively going out and spreading the word? How many have you added to the kingdom this week, month, year, decade, ever? Jesus seems to be absolutely correct about us when he made the statement in Matt 9:37 that "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” Then again, only a few in make it into the kingdom; are you going to be obedient and do what we were commissioned to do?
2. Romans 9:3 Paul states that he’d go to hell to make sure others go to heaven. We should have a heart to save the lost like this.
C. There are many ways to go about taking your message to the world. 1. For example: In Acts 2:22, 23, 36-41 Peter preaches fire and brimstone to turn the hearts of the listeners. He was an in-your-face type guy.
2. In Acts 17:2-4 Paul uses logic to “persuade” the listeners into becoming followers of Christ. This was in stark contrast to Peter’s method.
3. Remember that Paul tells us to do whatever is necessary to reach the unsaved. Some, he says, will be reached by fire, some by logic, and some by other methods. 1 Cor 9:19-23.
4. For others, it may take the form of sowing seed only to leave it to be reaped by others much later. We see this all the time in the forms of billboard, christian music, plays, movies, books, pamphlets, tracts, bathroom stalls, etc. They seem to grap onto the Luke 8:5-8 passage and sow as much as they can “Get saved! The end is near.” These people are not taking time to sit down and get you saved, but they are pricking your hearts, and this is a good thing.
II. Sometimes they seek you out.
A. In Acts 13:7 someone came to Paul and Barnabas and “sought to hear the word of God.” What if this happened to you? Would you be prepared to share it with him? Could you lead him to the Lord?
1. 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Be prepared by knowing the word.
a. You are the workmen: work! Don’t just pray for your neighbors or relatives to get salvation, go witness to them! James 2:20 “Faith without works is dead.” You are God’s workmen! Don’t take them to the pastor, do it yourself!
2. 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” When you have that person ask you “Hey, why are you so different from everybody else?” you need to be able to answer. This is an excellent opportunity.
a. This is an opportunity for you to not be ashamed of Jesus Christ(Romans 1:16). Remember that if you ashamed of Him before men, he will be ashamed of you in heaven(Mark 8:38).
III. Sometimes you inadvertently witness by the way you live your life.
A. Paul and Silas in the prison were visual witnesses to the guard.
Acts 16:25-36. He ended up being saved totally on just what he saw. This will work for you also.
B. Matt 5:13-16 “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour,
wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”
1. If you sin in front of unbelievers you are making it nearly impossible to win them over. You are then good for nothing in relation to the great commission.
a. How does salt get its saltiness back? How can you get your good name back once you’ve blown it in front of everyone. It is very hard to do, if at all.
C. You are the light of the world, and everyone looks at the light upon a hill. The world looks at you and makes judgements constantly. Luke 8:16. Do not hide your light under a basket. If we hide our Christianity and act as the world, we lose our witnessing ability. You can’t just lift your basket on Sunday mornings.
D. 1 Thess 5:22 states that we should “abstain from all appearance of evil.” Even looking like we are a part of the world or sinning can ruin our witness. If you are seen doing drugs, you will have a hard time telling people to just say no to drugs.
IV. Why don’t we witness to others? We all know we are supposed to witness to others, but why don’t we? What holds us back when we sit next to that guy on the bus, plane, etc.?
A. Fear. Luke 12:4-12. We cannot afford to be afraid. If we confess him before men, he will confess us before the father Luke 12:8,9. Are you confessing him before men? Are you willing to be rejected and made to look foolish for the sake of obeying the great commission?
1. Fear kept the evil servant in Matt 25:15-30 from “multiplying his talents.” He buried his talents out of fear, and won no new ones for his master. Don’t get thrown where he got thrown, only because of fear.Even what he had was taken from him. He lost his salvation.
a. Fear of rejection. Some will reject your message. Listen to the Lord’s prompting so that you will work on those whose soil is ready. In Matt 13:45-46 it states that “(45) Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly
pearls: (46) Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Some will be like this man, and have looked for salvation their whole life, and when they find it, will do anything for it. Some though will never be saved. Acts 13:41
2. We will be persecuted. But take no fear of those who can destroy your body, reputation, job, career, etc, but instead be afraid of him who commanded you to witness and you refuse. Luke 12:4-7.
3. Bad things will happen to me, people won’t like me. This is biblical and you may be right. But then again, it is a small price to pay. In Acts 17:1-9 they lead some to the Lord, but then bad things happen to Jason.
4. Not enough time. We were not commanded to get a job, raise a family, have a hobby, watch TV; we were instead commanded to spread the good news of the gospel unto the ends of the earth. Matt 28:19 (where we started.)
5. Don’t know how. Too many folks bring the lost to the preacher or think that it is not their job to get them saved, but it is. Here is how.
V. How does one lead someone to the Lord?
A. God loves you and wants you to live your life full of peace, love, and happiness. John 10:10 “I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly.”
B. We have all sinned, though, and turned our back on God by not obeying him. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
C. This disobedience is sin, and that leads to death. Romans 6:23 “The wages of sin is death.”
D. But in spite of our sins against him, God wants to know us personally and loves us enough that He sent his perfect son to bear all of our sins, and die so that we may be saved from our sins. 1 Peter 3:18 “Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”
E. While Christ did all the hard work for us in saving us, there is something we must do. First, we must acknowledge that we believe that Jesus was the Christ, died for our sins, and was resurrected 3 days later. Then, we must confess to God our sinfulness. Then, we must ask God for forgiveness of all our sins. Then, we must ask Christ to take charge of your life.
F. You can then lead them in this prayer: “Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and that I need Your forgiveness. I believe You love me and showed Your love by sending Your son Jesus Christ to die for my sins. I trust in this alone to put me in a right relationship with You. I ask You to take over my life and live within me forever. Thank you.”
a. WHEN? Be in tune with the spirit. If you listen to what the Lord tells you, you will know when to go in and when not to. In Acts 8:26-40 Philip listend to the prompting of the Lord, led someone to the lord, and was blessed. Notice how he didn’t stop after he led the Eunich to the Lord.
b. WHO? In Matt 9:35 Jesus sets a good example for us. Don’t try to save the whole world today, just you neighbors at that moment. Time and tide will bring you neighbors enough to constantly have enough to do.
c. NOW? Now get out there and do it. You were called to be “fishers of men,” (Matt 4:19) and fish very rarely jump in the boat. You have to go catch them. Notice that Jesus didn’t say “Stay there, I’ll send the unsaved to you for help.”
VI. Once you’ve led them to the Lord, then what?
A. Take them to church with you.
B. Check up on them, and let them know you will.
C. Tell them to start reading the Bible; the book of John is a good place to start, not Revelations or Genesis.
D. Give them some books and tapes
E. Cut them some slack. They are new Christians, and will make mistakes, say the wrong thing, etc. You were new once yourself.
F. Start working on getting them filled with the spirit
G. Set a date to get them baptized.
