WITNESSING
A friend mentions in casual conversation that she enjoyed a terrific meal at a new restaurant and thinks you would like it too. A stranger overhears you and your spouse wondering if a certain movie would be good to rent for a family night and offers that his kids thought it was great. Both the friend and the stranger are witnesses. Although the word tends to conjure images of courtrooms or awkward religious proselytizing, to “witness” means simply to tell about something you have experienced. According to the Bible, every believer shares the privilege and responsibility of witnessing. We are always to be ready to tell the story of how we met and how we experience Jesus. That story, unlike fine restaurants or entertaining shows, is the greatest story ever told!
IS WITNESSING REALLY NECESSARY?
Psalm 107:2 . . . Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has saved you from your enemies.
Mark 16:15 . . . He told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere.”
God commands us to tell others about what he has done.
Mark 1:17 . . . Jesus called out to them, “Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!”
Acts 10:42 . . . He ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is ordained of God to be the judge of all-the living and the dead.
Evangelism is an intrinsic part of being Christ’s followers.
2 Kings 7:9 . . . “This is not right. This is wonderful news, and we aren’t sharing it with anyone! . . . Come on, let’s go back and tell the people.”
It is not right for us to keep the Good News to ourselves. Our witness is the only way some people will ever hear the Good News.
Romans 10:14 . . . How can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?
The only way that people can be saved is by hearing and believing the message of Good News that we have.
Ezekiel 3:18 . . . If I warn the wicked, saying, “You are under the penalty of death,” but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible, demanding your blood for theirs.
If we are silent about Christ, we will be subject to punishment.
Jude 1:23 . . . Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. There are still others to whom you need to show mercy, but be careful that you aren’t contaminated by their sins.
We must rescue others from the flames of judgment.
ISN’T WITNESSING A JOB FOR TRAINED PEOPLE-LIKE PASTORS AND MISSIONARIES?
John 9:1-34 . . . “I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”
Every follower of Christ has the privilege and responsibility of bearing witness to Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 . . . We are Christ’s ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you.
Every believer is an ambassador of Christ to a nonbelieving world.
I’M ALWAYS AFRAID I’LL SEEM PUSHY-OR THAT I WON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
Matthew 18:12-14 . . . It is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.
Our commitment to witnessing begins by understanding that lost people matter to God.
John 7:12-13 . . . No one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public.
Even those who knew Jesus best struggled with a hesitancy to witness.
Acts 9:1-28; 28:20-31 . . . A large number of people came to Paul’s house. He told them about the Kingdom of God and taught them about Jesus from the Scriptures.
A straightforward telling of a personal encounter with Christ is the most powerful testimony.
I’VE WITNESSED TO FRIENDS BEFORE, BUT THEY DON’T SEEM INTERESTED.
1 Peter 2:12 . . . They will see your honorable behavior, and they will believe.
Our actions are, in themselves, a testimony to the world.
Matthew 9:10-12 . . . “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” they asked his disciples.
Believers must build genuine relationships-as Jesus did-in order to have opportunity to minister to the lost.
Luke 8:4-15 . . . A farmer went out to plant some seed.
Sometimes our role is simply to plant the seed and trust God to bring the harvest.
HOW DO I OVERCOME MY FEAR OF WITNESSING?
Exodus 4:12 . . . “Now go, and do as I have told you. I will help you speak well, and I will tell you what to say.”
Luke 21:15 . . . I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply!
Trusting that God will speak through us will help us to overcome our fear of witnessing.
2 Corinthians 4:11, 13 . . . Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be obvious in our dying bodies. . . . But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, and so I speak.”
Even when we face death, faith in God can give us the courage to speak.
Psalm 27:1 . . . The Lord is my light and my salvation-so why should I be afraid? The Lord protects me from danger-so why should I tremble?
Isaiah 44:8 . . . Do not tremble; do not be afraid. Have I not proclaimed from ages past what my purposes are for you? You are my witnesses-is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock-not one!
Acts 18:9-10 . . . One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you.”
Take courage and find strength in God’s power, presence, and protection.
Ezekiel 2:6 . . . “Son of man, do not fear them. Don’t be afraid even though their threats are sharp as thorns and barbed like briers, and they sting like scorpions. Do not be dismayed by their dark scowls. For remember, they are rebels!”
Be strong in God and realize that rejection is just part of the territory.
John 12:26 . . . All those who want to be my disciples must come and follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And if they follow me, the Father will honor them.
Acts 4:18-20 . . . They called the apostles back in and told them never again to speak or teach about Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about the wonderful things we have seen and heard.”
Acts 5:40 . . . The council accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go.
Realize that when you witness you are following in Christ’s and the apostles’ footsteps.
Acts 1:8 . . . When the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere-in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
The Holy Spirit will empower us and help us to speak.
1 Corinthians 2:3-4 . . . My message and my preaching were very plain. . . . but the Holy Spirit was powerful among you.
1 Thessalonians 1:5 . . . When we brought you the Good News . . . the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true.
Go ahead and speak, and the Holy Spirit will work in people’s hearts and minds.
1 Thessalonians 2:5 . . . Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the one who examines the motives of our hearts.
Focus on pleasing God rather than on pleasing people.
WHAT SHOULD MY WITNESSING INCLUDE?
Exodus 18:8-11 . . . Moses told his father-in-law about everything the Lord had done to rescue Israel.
John 9:25 . . . “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”
Your witness should include telling others how God has rescued you and healed your sin-blinded heart.
Psalm 28:6 . . . Praise the Lord! For he has heard my cry for mercy.
Proclaim how God has answered your prayers.
Psalm 30:3 . . . You brought me up from the grave, O Lord. You kept me from falling into the pit of death.
Explain how God has saved you from spiritual death.
Acts 4:33 . . . The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great favor was upon them all.
Be sure to tell others the news of Christ’s resurrection.
Acts 10:42 . . . He ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is ordained of God to be the judge of all-the living and the dead.
Warn people about the coming judgment by the living Christ.
1 Peter 3:15 . . . If you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.
Be ready to explain why you have hope.
1 John 1:2 . . . We testify and announce to you that he is the one who is eternal life.
Tell others the good news that eternal life is found in Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:2 . . . I decided to concentrate only on Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.
Tell how Jesus died on the cross to take away our sins.
Luke 24:47 . . . With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: “There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me.”
Explain the message of repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation with God.
Romans 10:9 . . . If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Make clear the need to confess Christ as Lord and believe in his resurrection.
1 Thessalonians 1:5 . . . You know that the way we lived among you was further proof of the truth of our message.
How you live is an important element of your witness for Christ.
WHAT DO I DO WHEN PEOPLE AREN’T INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT CHRIST?
Acts 17:32-34 . . . When they heard Paul speak of the resurrection of a person who had been dead, some laughed, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.” That ended Paul’s discussion with them, but some joined him and became believers.
The majority may seem disinterested or hostile, but we don’t know whether there are a few who will believe-so we should speak for their sakes.
Ezekiel 2:5, 7-8 . . . Whether they listen or not-for remember, they are rebels-at least they will know they have had a prophet among them. . . . You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious! Son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not join them in being a rebel. Open your mouth, and eat what I give you.
2 Timothy 4:1-2 . . . Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not.
Even if attitudes or circumstances are not favorable, speak out anyway and tell about Christ’s work.
Luke 9:5 . . . “If the people of the village won’t receive your message when you enter it, shake off its dust from your feet as you leave. It is a sign that you have abandoned that village to its fate.”
If, after we have told them the message, they refuse to accept it, leave them to their fate and keep going-there are many others to tell.
PROMISES FROM GOD:
Daniel 12:3 . . . Those who turn many to righteousness will shine like stars forever.
Witnessing to others has many rewards.
Mark 1:17 . . . Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for disciples.
God will show us how to tell others about him.
Luke 12:8 . . . If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I, the Son of Man, will openly acknowledge that person in the presence of God’s angels.
Romans 10:15 . . . How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!