Your christian "witness".....the sharing of it

[WISDOM]

Our FATHER's Word clearly states that every one of HIS children is "called" to share his/her "witness".  However, it is a statistical FACT that less than 5% of ALL Christians are witnesses in the sense that we win people to our LORD/SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST through personal evangelism.  Personally, I've seen where most Christians (not all) I've met in my life can tell a "lost person" about the advantages of the Christian life, and all about the local church they attend, BUT there were only a few who felt they could skillfully lead a lost person to CHRIST without "brow-beating" a person's brains out with the Word.

Even nowadays in my Christian walk I've met those who become very uneasy if they even feel the HOLY SPIRIT leading them to witness to someone.  WHY?  I believe it's because we are ALWAYS uncomfortable doing something at which we feel incompetent.  What makes all of this seem so strange is that leading a person to CHRIST is so simple and requires so little training....ONLY a willing, obedient, faithful vessel, YOU!

Sharing the Good News (Gospel) about our LORD/SAVIOUR should be among the most logical, natural, and important things you and I as HIS disciples do.  Learn to let the HOLY SPIRIT lead because it is HE WHO actually "calls"/beckons a lost soul THROUGH you/I.  We are COMMANDED by JESUS to do so (Matthew 28:19-20....Acts 1:8....Mark 8:36-37....John 4:35-36).  I once heard a speaker say that if we mix our "seed sowing" for the lost with DOUBT, the "harvest" is apt to be weeds!  JESUS has called Christians to bring forth "fruit", NOT "weeds".  Our FATHER wants us to be faithful witnesses no matter where we are.  I use to have a Pastor many years ago who use to say, "Don't be like the stream that dries up in summer and freezes up in winter."  I've never heard it put better since!

It is really not a question of whether or not we as Christians are going to be witnesses, but rather a question of what kind of witnesses.  We are ALL HIS witnesses, good or bad...but we ARE witnesses.  Being an EFFECTIVE witness is not an accident but a result of careful preparation (1 Peter 3:15-16).  YOU will be challenged.  Many of the situations our FATHER allows (and has allowed) you to go through daily are intended to build up your faith in letting HIM use you as an effective witness through the experience(s) of your own trials/tribulations/triumphs.  You have to be "doers of the Word" to understand what others go through.  

It's okay to sit in front of your computer terminal and sound CHRIST-like, but HE wants you and I to be CHRIST-like.....there is a difference.  HE is your racing car engine....your power.....your "DUNAMIS", which is the same Greek word we get our english word for "DYNAMITE" from. (Acts 4:31).  

An important fact involved in our becoming effective witnesses is sincerely showing our LOVE for each other (John 13:35).  Don't get brand new with your bros/sis' OUTSIDE of the church building in other environments/company!  If YOU love me on Sunday, then do so on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.....I'm sure you get my meaning.  Along with this, pray for an opportunity to witness, and the boldness to share when GOD opens a door/window of opportunity.  Take advantage of them and pray YOU will know what to say to/how to answer everyone HE presents before you.  Always ask our FATHER for wisdom/knowledge.  You'll be surprised what GOD will bring back to your remembrance (thw Word, past events in your life, etc).  I've found that GOD will cross our lives with others who may have experienced many of the same things you and I have, and it opens a door for sharing the Gospel, or establishing a friendship in order to win the person to CHRIST.  Witnessing is sharing our LORD with another person through those opportunities!

Basically, it is an overflow of our own experience with CHRIST coupled with a DESIRE to pass it on to those who do NOT know HIM as SAVIOUR (Romans 10:9-10).  It is much more than what YOU say....it is what YOU are (Acts 1:8).  However, it definitely includes a visible AND verbal sharing.  Finding someone with whom to share CHRIST is not difficult.  In the normal activities of life our FATHER will see to it that you and I encounter scores of people who need CHRIST.  It is part of HIS plan that we use these daily encounters to lead others to CHRIST.  IF...again I say, IF we look FOR them, GOD will give us opportunities to share.  Don't feel pressured to "put on a show".  HE wants us to live a life that GLORIFIES our Heavenly FATHER (Matthew 5:14-16).  HE wants us to help those who have a need (Luke 10:33-37).  Here's a tough one....HE wants us to LOVE those who PERSECUTE us!! (Matthew 5:43-48)  

Keep in mind that our FATHER says HE uses six classes to win souls through our witness.  HE uses the foolish to confound the wise; the weak to confound the mighty; the base things; the despised things; the NOTHINGS, and the NOBODYS.

NEVER be ashamed to share YOUR witness/personal testimony with others, if GOD makes a way for YOU to do so.  Always remember what YOUR life and attitudes were like BEFORE receiving CHRIST as your SAVIOUR, and how you realized you needed HIM, and how you became a Christian.  Also, don't be ashamed to let others know what knowing JESUS CHRIST as your LORD/SAVIOUR means to your ongoing daily life.  If GOD opens a "window", try to explain the essentials of receiving CHRIST from the Bible/Word.  Your witness for CHRIST is invaluable....ESPECIALLY today with a war taking place.  People are looking for real answers.  YOU as a Christian have them.  GOD doesn't ask you to have a perfect witness....HE knows you won't.  But HE does expect YOU and I to be "FAT" Christians......F = FAITHFUL...A = AVAILABLE...T = TEACHABLE.

Be a true witness in ALL that YOU do TODAY!!

[Guest shilou]

"If you were to put all of the world's pain in on fifty-five gallon drum, it would look silly next to the mountains of gold and silver found in each moment with God. Our problem is that we rarely see past the drum."

Ted Dekker, When Heaven Weeps, page 196

In Yeshua's love

Shilou

[martyr]

If just 100 Christians would lead one person apiece to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ this year then next year their number would equal 200.  If this process were repeated by these 200 Christians, and rerepeated by the converts on a yearly basis, after 10 years there would be over 100,000 Christians from the original "thread".

Imagine what the numbers would be like if every Christian in the world would win just one person to Christ per year.

Now, let's act on that imagination, or better yet, let's act on God's command to spread the Gospel.

[Guest]

We have a mandate from God to witness, so unless God says don't witness, then we should witness. Oh how I wish we would do that.

I have had to repent concerning this just recently. I am afraid people get tired of hearing me tell them about Jesus. But that is just the enemy trying to stop me.

I had just decided not to pass up any opportunity to witness, when my pastor asked me to preach for him while he goes on vacation. HhMMMMMM,  Yep you are right, although I am tempted to be afraid and say no, I am going to do it. I look at it as an opportunity to tell people about Jesus. And I must be about my Father's business :a2:

[WISDOM]

We have a mandate from God to witness, so unless God says don't witness, then we should witness. Oh how I wish we would do that.

I have had to repent concerning this just recently. I am afraid people get tired of hearing me tell them about Jesus. But that is just the enemy trying to stop me.

I had just decided not to pass up any opportunity to witness, when my pastor asked me to preach for him while he goes on vacation. HhMMMMMM,

[kiwi]

Wisdom...

You obviously posted this for me (okay, others, too), but WOW!

[tsth]

And I'm going to venture to say that many who are Christians are feeling incompetent, because they need something to go by.

[Guest]

Suzanne please share what you have.

Up till now the best tool I have found is ####'s best kept secret.

I don't use it all, but it did help me with a basis for getting started.

And you are right, most just don't know where to begin I think. It is scary when you don't know :a2:

God bless,

    Denny :a2:

[WISDOM]

And I'm going to venture to say that many who are Christians are feeling incompetent, because they need something to go by.

[WISDOM]

Wisdom...

You obviously posted this for me (okay, others, too), but WOW!