This is topic Being the Right Kind of Witness in forum Christian Evangelism at Christian Message Boards.


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Posted by practicalbibleteaching (Member # 7755) on :
 
According to Jesus all power in heaven and earth has been given to Him and He has promised to be with us always, even unto the end of the world. Having these promises Jesus commands that we go:

1. Preach the Gospel. Mark 16:15 ...Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. What is the Gospel? 1 Cor 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. How many are to preach the Gospel? 2 Cor 5:17-20 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

2. Teach believers to observe the commandments of God. Eph 4:11-13 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. How many are to teach? Heb 5:12-14 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Every believer has a part to play. There is a great work to be done and Jesus has commissioned us to do it.

I. What must our focus be to be an effective witness?

A. Jesus. Heb 12:1-2
...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Our focus must be Jesus otherwise we will give up very quickly. Jesus is all we need. Paul said in 1 Cor 1:30 that Jesus "is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption". Everything we need to be a witness can be found in Jesus Christ. To focus on Jesus we must be regularly looking into the Word of God.

B. The Word of God. 2 Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. The Bible contains the record God has given of His Son. 1 John 5:9-12 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. We need to be able to use the Word of God to be an effective witness.

C. Not Results. 1 Cor 3:5-7 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. We must have a concern for the lost and wayward. That concern will come through fellowship with Christ. When we are close to Him what most concerns Him will concern us. So we must have concern, but realize at the same time that God is the one responsible for the results. Only the Spirit of God can Draw People to Christ. John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. Jesus said of the Spirit in John 16:8-11 ...he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. It's only the Spirit of God that can show someone the reality of their sin, the righteousness of God, and the judgment to come. We must be walking with God and relying on the Holy Spirit to be an effective witness.

II. Where do we find the strength to be an effective witness?

Joy. Neh 8:10
...for the joy of the Lord is your strength. The joy of what we have in Christ is the strength that enables us to tell others about Him. We have complete forgiveness. Col 2:13-14 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. We have a blessed position before God. Eph 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Sin and/or disobedience can rob us of our joy. If we confess our sin and /or submit ourselves to God, joy can be restored. Ps 51:12-13 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Without joy we will not find the strength to be an effective witness.

III. What is the purpose for being an effective witness.

A. To influence people Christ.
Our purpose can be expressed in one verse. Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. If this is not our purpose we will never be an effective witness.

B. ...it's not to get professions of faith. 2 Tim 3:1-7 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. In the latter part of this passage Paul speaks of those who gain followers without demanding repentance. Luke 13:3 ...except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Many are more interested in gaining followers than seeing people saved. Jesus said in Matt 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. To be an effective witness we must preach and live the truth so people will see they must have a change of mind toward God to be saved.

C. ...it's not to gain Church members. Acts 2:46-47 And they (the Church in Jerusalem), continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. If we are faithful in being a witness for Christ God will add to the Church as He sees fit. Paul said in 1 Tim 6:3-6 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. To be an effective witness our focus must be Christ not gaining Church members.

D. ...it's not to bring glory upon ourselves. 1 Cor 1:26-31 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. To be an effective witness God must be glorified in us. Matt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. If our purpose is to bring glory upon ourselves God will not be in what we're doing.

IV. What must we proclaim to be an effective witness?

A. The sinfulness of man. Rom 3:19
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Sin brings a penalty. Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death. This death is separation from God.

B. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin. Peter wrote of Jesus in 1 Pet 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. Paul said of Christ in Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his (the Father's) glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. John said of Jesus in 1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. We must share these truths and have a life that shows them, after that the rest must be left up to God.
 
Posted by Found in Him (Member # 7596) on :
 
PBT writes...Our focus must be Jesus otherwise we will give up very quickly. Jesus is all we need. [thumbsup2] [thumbsup2] excellent post!
 




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