Witnessing is one of the most neglected commands in all of Scripture. While Bible reading and prayer are also disregarded by the average Christian, I dare to say that witnessing has to be the least practiced of the Christian disciplines.
Do you know anyone who cannot sit still? They always have to be doing something. Even when sitting, their motor is running [leg shaking]! The Apostle Paul was like that…he always had to be preaching or witnessing, or sharing your faith, or visiting. He could have settled down comfortably in the large church at Antioch, but he didn’t…not as long as there were more people who needed to be reached, he had “itchy feet.”
“It is easy to determine when something is aflame. It ignites other material. Any fire that does not spread will eventually go out. A church without evangelism is a contradiction in terms, just as a fire that does not burn is a contradiction” H. Richard Niebuhr
We need to be on fire for evangelism. We need to desire to share Jesus with others. At the very least we could just invite them to attend a service at our Church and let the pastor talk to them about Jesus. How hard is it to extend an invitation?
(Matthew 4:19) “And he saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Jesus is the one who makes you the evangelist. It is his power in you so no matter what, you can't fail. You don't need special training, or be a master of scripture to do it, you just need the knowledge of what God has done in your own life and a will to share that with those who need to know Jesus the way you do.
Jesus called very ordinary people to be his disciples. Peter and John were fishermen. Matthew was a tax collector. At least one was active in the politics of the day. Yet, Jesus took their humble occupation and transformed it into something special. Jesus used some very basic principles and then encouraged these men to be doers. We can use these same basic principles today.
How can we follow after Jesus so that we can be fisher’s of men?
LETTING PEOPLE SEE OUR LIFE: Jesus lived an open public life and was available to anyone who wanted to come see Him. (Mark 12:37) His life was open both to his friends and enemies. “And the common people heard him gladly.” Sixteen times Matthew refers to the multitudes following him. Jesus preached that we should have an open life for all to see. (Matthew 5:14-16) “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it givevth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
(Matthew 10:32) “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.”
How do we let people see our lives?
1. Get into the public.
- Join a community group.
- Talk to your neighbors.
- Volunteer at the schools or in the community somewhere.
- Visit the nursing homes. Or an elderly neighbor (expand)
- Visit the hospitals. Or just someone who is sick.
- Visit the prisons.
- Write on a card Jesus Loves you and give it to someone who is going through a difficult time.
- Buy a bag of groceries for someone in need and put in the bag a card that says Jesus will provide all your needs.
- Make dinner enough for two families and take some over to a family and a card that says Jesus loves you and He is the bread of life.
- Invite a family over for dinner and read some scripture before you pray and give thanks for the meal.
- Hold a fund raiser for the church and invite people who don't attend church at all to come.
Someone once said, “I would rather see a sermon than hear one any day.” In order for this to happen, someone MUST SEE YOU!
Another way to evangelize is to simply talk about your church to others. Invite them to a church function.
- Special Sunday services. Try to have one every month.
- Man's and woman's breakfasts.
- Invite friends and family to come see you perform in drama group (youth)
- Tell friends and family they could have their child's dedication to the lord at your church explain what a dedication is.
- Invite friends and family to your baptism celebration.
- Form a group for fellowship like a christian baseball team, or a christian horse riding group, or a christian family game night. Then invite every one you know to come.
- Start a book club for christian authors and invite every one you know to take part in the group.
All these things can allow people to see you live out Christ likeness in your life without the pressure of them having to make a decision about their own belief's right away. Christianity is contagious, you know, so all people have to do is spend time with you and they will catch the Jesus fever. The bible says “ you will know them by their love for one another.” So many people are looking to be loved. What better place to find it then the house of God. God is Love! When people see us in fellowship with one another they will want what we have. So throw a party just to invite the church and some friends and let the lord draw them in. Most of all Just be yourself cause God chose you just the way you are and wants you to share your faith with others.
Most of all when you are going to preach the gospel at any service invite your friends and family come to hear you preach. Jesus extended invitations to everyone to come hear Him teach and preach.
“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
(John 7:37) “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”
Last but not least Pray. Pray for God to fill the church with souls.
Jesus prayed.
He told us to pray for more laborers. “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.”
He told us to pray for our enemies. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which spitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew5:44).
He prayed for those who would believe on His word. (John 17:20)“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;”
How can we do this?
1) Ask God to open doors for you and us to teach the gospel.
2) Pray that each of us will have the courage to tell others about the gospel.
3) Pray for the individuals that each of us meet in the community.
Jesus was able to take a bunch regular men and even social cast outs and change them into apostles. Do you doubt he can do the same with you today? If you do, then you have already lost the battle. Resolve in your mind now that you are going to do more then you have been doing to fulfill the great commission Christ gave us. (Matthew 28:16-20) Let's read it together. In Jesus Name Amen.
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