Witnessing The Witness
INTRO: Have you ever wondered about witnessing? What are we to witness about? What is our witness? What can we expect? How should we plan to witness? Or why witness at all? I want to try and answer these questions today.
Afraid? That might explain most of our feelings about witnessing. But should we be? The Lord will help us. Let’s get started.
Do you remember in the scripture the story about Peter just before the Lord’s crucifixion?
Peter had made his brag that he would never desert the Lord, to prison or even death!
Peter had a case of the weak knee shakes
He began denying the Lord
He denied Him three times that night before the rooster crowed – just as the Lord had foretold
Luke 22:54-62 KJV 54Then
took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s
house. And Peter followed afar off.
55And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and
were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
56But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly
looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
57And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
58And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also
of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.
59And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed,
saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.
60And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately,
while he yet spake, the cock crew.
61And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the
word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt
deny me thrice.
62And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
Or Paul’s example. He stood before Agrippa and told of his conversion on the way to Damascus where he was arranging the death of Christians.
Acts 26:27-28 KJV 27King
Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
28Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a
Christian.
What is our witness to others? (What should they see in us?)
Galatians
5:19-26 KJV 19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;
Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness [lewdness],
20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance [contentions], emulations
[jealousies], wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the
which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they
which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith,
23Meekness, temperance [self-control]: against such there is no law.
24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lusts.
25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another,
envying one another.
Jesus Christ (lives within us)
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience & understanding
Gentleness
Goodness
Caring
Concern
Generosity
Faithfulness
What can we expect to happen when we witness about Jesus?
Rejection or acceptance
Confusion
Anger
Secret admiration
Open hostility
Change in others’ lives
Tears
Fear
Some success
Some failure
Some delayed action
Some delayed reaction
How should we plan to witness?
Plan to witness – ever notice how many things do not get done because we do not plan?
I know there is a scripture that some may think differs with this. I will read it in a little bit.
Pray to witness – ask God for opportunities
Plan for resistance – don’t get discouraged
Plan for assistance – He will help us
Mark
13:11 KJV 11But when they shall lead you, and deliver you
up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate:
but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye
that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
Why witness?
Matthew
28:18-20 KJV 18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power
is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded
you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
We are His ambassadors
2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV 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.
Ephesians
6:20 KJV For which I am an ambassador
in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
It should be natural for you to share Jesus
Samaritan woman at the well met Jesus and shared Him with others
John 4:29-30 KJV 29Come,
see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
30Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
They need to hear from someone
Romans 10:13-17 KJV 13For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14How 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?
15And 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!
16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord,
who hath believed our report?
17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of
God.
Average of 7.6 times of being witnessed to before salvation decision made
75-90% meet Christ through a friend or acquaintance
Next week I will share with you some easy steps you can use to help you witness and reach people for Jesus.
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 101208am