How To Be An Effective Witness For Christ

How To Be An Effective Witness For Christ
By Tommy Franks

1. First, what is a witness? A “witness” is someone who gives testimony either by word or deed as to what he or she has seen or perceived by one's senses.Someone who sees an event and reports what has happened.In a court of law, it is a person who testifies under oath what he has seen.Sometimes, it is a person who is a very close observer.

2. Second, why is a Christian supposed to be a “witness”? The Bibles says that we are to be witnesses. Today, God seeks the lost through the witness of His people.Sharing our faith is a direct command from Jesus Christ. He said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). Being a fisher of men means bringing men and women to Christ. Jesus also says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last” (John 15:16).“You are to be a key witness to everyone you meet of what you've seen and heard” (Acts 22:15).“And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). This includes where you live today.“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations” (Mt.24:14).Jesus said, “Go…make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Mt.28:19-20). Another version says, “Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded Me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age” (Mt.28:18-20, The Message).As a witness, we bring glory to God. Jesus says in John 15:8, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”As a witness, we have experienced the love of Jesus Christ. That is why we will also want to introduce Him to others.Everyone benefits when we witness. We do. The sinner does. The Kingdom of God benefits. Also, witnessing stimulates our spiritual growth. Witnessing leads us to pray and to study God’s Word and encourages us to depend on Christ even more. As a witness in the power of the Holy Spirit, we sow love, joy, and peace. As we sow love, God will bless us with love. As we sow joy, we will experience joy. As we sow peace, we will reap peace.

3. As a Christian, the following are the characteristics and attributes of God in which we have seen with our own eyes and in which we can attest, witness, give evidence, and testify:God LOVES us, and offers a wonderful PLAN for our life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (Jn.3:16, NIV).God's love is not self-centered. He is constantly reaching out to us, regardless of our past thoughts or actions. By giving His own Son as a sacrifice, God sets the pattern of real love…the basis for all love relationships. When we love someone totally, we are even willing to give our life for that person. God paid dearly. He allowed Jesus to die a brutal death for us…the highest price He could pay.Jesus accepted upon Himself the punishment that we deserved. He paid the price for our sins, and then offered us the abundant life that He had bought for us through His actions.“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (Jn.10:10).

4. All men/women have a destiny. God’s perfect will is for all men to go to Heaven; however, the Gospel must be taught or witnessed to them…and they must accept God’s plan for themselves. Normally, this is accomplished through witnesses (saved sinners like you and me) who have experienced this eternal gift…Basically man is:· SINFUL and SEPARATED from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life until someone is a witness to him. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom.3:23). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom.6:23).No one can be neutral about Jesus Christ. Man is free to choose which master he will serve…God or sin (satan). If man chooses God, he chooses eternal life. If not, he chooses eternal separation from God…Hell.Eternal life is a free gift of God because He loves us so much. All we have to do is accept it. Our salvation is not the result of any righteousness on our part. Instead, it is God's mercy and grace.

5. God has provided a ransom for man….Jesus Christ is God's ONLY provision for man's sin. Through Him we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives. Let’s look at God’s provision for a moment:“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom.5:8). "Christ died for our sins...He was buried...He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures...He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred..." (I Corinthians 15:3-6).Jesus answered, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jn.14:6). Jesus says that He is the only way to God the Father. God has provided the Way (Jesus Christ) for man to receive eternal life!

6. As Christians, our job is to witness to others. What they do with the message is up to them and the Holy Spirit. Our desire is for others to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord; however, we cannot force anyone to accept Christ against their will. The following is what we would like for others to experience when we witness to them:Receive Christ. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (Jn.1:12). Jesus said, "Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear Me call and open the door, I'll come right in and sit down to supper with you” (Revelation 3:20, The Message).Turn to God from their sins (repentance). Experience the “new birth”.Trust Christ with their lives forever!

7. Suggested Prayer: “Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I now open my heart and confess that You are my Lord and Savior. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. I believe in my heart that You Father, raised Jesus from the dead. Take control of my life. May Your will be done in my life. Thank You in Jesus’ Name. Amen!”

8. We must be sensitive to the individual's interest and the leading of the Holy Spirit. We must not be pushy, over-ambitious, or too aggressive.

9. The only way to change the world is to change individuals. Their hearts must be changed. Changed hearts bring about changed people. Changed people will produce changed communities. Changed communities will produce changed cities. Changed cities will bring about changed states, and then changed nations. Changed nations help produce a changed world. Jesus Christ is the only Person who can change people’s hearts! We can help change the world by introducing people to Jesus Christ. How? By our witness!The greatest misconception among Christians is the idea that men and women do not want to know God. They do! The Holy Spirit has created a hunger for God in the hearts of people everywhere.I believe that people (nonbelievers) throughout the earth are ready to receive Christ when properly approached by a true witness (Christian) who is sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

10. Tragically, most Christians have never introduced a single person to the Lord Jesus. Why?Let’s take a look at some of the reasons:Please don’t shoot me for saying this, but sometimes, some Christians are living defeated, spiritually impotent, fruitless, worldly (carnal) lives.Some are not walking in the full authority, richness, and power of the Holy Spirit.Many unfruitful believers feel like their kind of Christianity is not worth exporting.Some Christians do not witness because of a lack of training. They have never been taught how to effectively communicate their faith in Christ. They have never learned how to begin a conversation about Christ…how to explain the gospel in a simple and clear manner. The Gospel is NOT complicated, but many feel frustrated and do not experience the joy of seeing someone come to Christ because of inadequate or no training.

11. What happens when we fail to witness for Christ? We deny the Holy Spirit His right toempower us…His right to use us to introduce others to Jesus Christ. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

12. How To Be An Effective Witness For Christ:Know that you are a Christian. Know who you are!Know that the Holy Spirit has empowered you. He is with you 24 hours a day!Know how or learn how to relate to people in a loving, natural, and personal way.Avoid being mechanical. Everyone responds to love. Walk and talk in love. The Holy Spirit will assist you. People will know that you are genuine…and that you have taken the time to talk to them…because you truly love them with God’s love.13. Know this: Not everyone will respond positively. Some may even be antagonistic. Know this: Not all fruit in an orchard is ripe at the same time. Some individuals will be ripe for harvest and others will NOT. However, God may want you to sow the seed. Someone else may water the seed. Yet, another may reap the harvest.
Please Note: The following is taken from the All Saints’ Church, Lakeland, FL…web page link "How to become a Christian":

1. BELIEVE: Romans 10:9 says, "Because if you confess (admit) with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Believe in your heart that Jesus is the risen Son of the living God and state that belief.

2. REPENT: To repent means to be sorry that you have sinned (rebelled in thought, word, and/or deed) against God. All sin is against God (Psalm 51:3-12). To be a Christian, with the sorrow must come the decision to leave the sin. Acts 3:19 says, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." Repenting literally means to turn your life around. It means turning from a life of sin (rebellion against God) to a life with God, a life that honors a Godly lifestyle that will bring you health and joy.

3. CONFESS: You agree with God that you are a sinner and tell God that you have sinned and that these sins have resulted in a broken relationship with him. I John 1:5-10 says in part, "If we confess our sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

4. RECEIVE: You open your heart and mind and welcome Jesus Christ, not only as your friend, but also as the Lord and Savior of your life. The words in John 1:12-13 show the connection between believing and receiving - "But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God."

PRAYER: “Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”

Becoming a Christian is a life changing event that takes us off the wide (rebellious) road of destruction and places us on the narrow (focused) road to a better eternal life. The decision to become a Christian must be taken sincerely with the desire to have a living relationship with God and to please God…

We need to know that we are sinners. We need to turn from our sins. We must believe in Jesus Christ and that He died on the cross and rose from the tomb for our salvation. We need to allow Him to come into our hearts and control our lives through the Holy Spirit.