Jesus told His disciples,
"Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). The
implication is that if we are really following, we'll be fishing -soul-winning.
Jesus' last words were, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the
nations" (Matthew 28:19). The Christians in the New Testament went
everywhere, preaching the Word (Acts 8:4).
How, then, can you and I be
effective witnesses for Him?
1. Ask God to give you an
evangelistic burden for others. Ask Him to help you see the world as He sees
it, and to lay upon your heart a handful of people for whom you can earnestly
pray. Then pray over those names every day. Keep a little prayer list, and pray
for an opportunity of reaching these souls for Christ. An old song says,
"Lord, lay some soul upon my heart and love that soul through me; / And
may I humbly do my part to win that soul to Thee."
2. Live a consistent Christian
life before these people. Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. . .
. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and
glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16). We must live obedient
lives of integrity and authentic faith. We must love when others hate, and
forgive when others harbor grudges. We must remain trusting when others panic,
and be honest when all around us are cooking the books. Not that we're going to
be perfect-only Christ was sinless. But we must have a growing, maturing Christian
life that others recognize and respect.
3. Build bridges to others. When
the Lord shows you those needing Christ, seek to build a relationship with
them. Remember how Jesus went to the home of Zacchaeus where many sinners had
gathered? While we must be careful not to place ourselves in an environment
where we'll be pulled down, we must be equally careful to cultivate friendships
with those needing Christ. Perhaps Christ has placed you in your particular
school or workplace just to reach those whom no one else can reach.
4. Learn the Gospel. Memorize the
following verses and practice saying them in a mirror or to another Christian
until you're comfortable sharing them with someone needing Christ: Romans 3:23;
6:23; 5:8; 10:9, 10, 13; 1 John 5:1, 13.
5. Watch for openings to share a
word for Christ. Peter said: "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and
always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the
hope that is in you"
(1 Peter 3:15).
6. If the right opportunity
doesn't come naturally, create one. Sometimes we wait too long, looking for
just the right time to invite someone to church or to share with them the
message of the Gospel. There often comes a point when we must prayerfully
introduce the subject and do our best to impress someone with their need for
Christ.
7. Leave the results with God.
We're responsible for sharing the Gospel, but only God can convert the soul.
Having done your best, let Him do the rest. And if you ever feel you've botched
the job, think of Edward Kimball. He was determined to win his Sunday school
class to Christ, including a teenager named Dwight Moody who tended to fall
asleep on Sundays. His heart pounding, Kimball entered the store where the
young man worked. "I put my hand on his shoulder, and as I leaned over I
placed my foot upon a shoebox. I asked him to come to Christ." It didn't
seem to go well, and Kimball left thinking he had botched the job. Moody,
however, left the store that day a new person and eventually became the most
prominent evangelist in America during his generation.
This article was excerpted from Turning Points, Dr. David Jeremiah's
devotional magazine. Call Turning Point at 1-800-947-1993 for your
complimentary copy of Turning Points.
2 comments:
I’m impressed, I must say. Actually rarely do I encounter a weblog that’s each educative and entertaining, and let me let you know, you might have hit the nail on the head. Your concept is excellent; the issue is something that not enough persons are speaking intelligently about. I am very completely satisfied that I stumbled throughout this in my search for something referring to this. casino games
The following time I learn a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to learn, however I actually thought youd have something fascinating to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you might fix if you happen to werent too busy in search of attention. online casino slots
Post a Comment