How Do You Witness?

 How Do You Witness? - Nathele Graham - twotug@embarqmail.com Every Christian has a testimony, and we should share what Christ has done in our life. How do you go about witnessing? That’s a very good question. Each of us has strengths and weaknessesand if we turn all of them over to God, He will show us how to serve Him. Many Christians wear t-shirts with Bible verses on them, or phrases pointing to Jesus. This is a good way to make it known that you are a Christian. It also draws attention to your wordsand actions. Do you wear a Christian t-shirt but pepper your words with foul language or gossip? What kind of witness is that? If you love Jesus, you’ll let His love show through your “conversation” (way of life). Maybe you have a bumper sticker that says “I love Jesus”, but you display road rage if someone cuts youoff or tailgates. That isn’t being a good witness. My daughter works in a retail store and every so often an elderly man comes into the store and strikes up a quiet conversation about Jesus. He ends by handing her a small tract and inviting her to attend churchservice. We would go but it’s many miles from where we live. How ever you’re led to witness, be sure you glorify Jesus. There are many ways to witness for Christ, but you always need to have answers to questions people may ask. “But sanctify the Lord God inyour hearts; and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear; Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuseyour good conversation in Christ.” 1 Peter 3:15-16. The word “conversation” is how King James translated the Greek word “anastrophe” which means the way you behave. Live your life in such a way that people can see Christ living in you. Then,be sure you are able to answer any questions they may have about Jesus. If you don’t have the answer, tell them you will get back to them. Then do some research. When my husband met Jesus, the change in him was very dramatic. He was a living witness to familyand old friends. He studied Scripture and was able to answer questions easily. You can’t have answers unless you study Scripture. Study in context and take all of Scripture into account. It's also possible to be a poor witness for Christ. I bowl on a league and there’s a man who is a Christian. He is one who can easily work Jesus into a conversation. He also has a temperand gets angry with fellow Christians if they unwittingly offend him. He talks the talk but doesn’t walk the walk. Then there are those who don’t witness for Jesus, but push their own agenda. This happened to me this past weekend. My daughter and I make itemsand sell them at craft sales (I keep tracts on my table to hand out). We were set up next to a Christian group who were handing out supposedly Christian information. One of the ladies came over and began talking at me. I say “at” because she had no intentionof listening or finding out what I believed. Her group had, what my husband called a “one verse theology” and that was all she cared about. Her enthusiasm was good to see, but not once did she mention Christ or salvation, repentance, or being born again. Bythe time she went back to her booth, I was not at all happy. Always remember that our faith is based upon Christ and it’s all about what He did for us upon that cross. He shed His blood as the final sacrifice for sin. “For by grace are ye saved through faith;and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9. Works should be a result of our faith, but those works should all glorify Christ. The Apostle Paul was a man who was changed by his encounter with Christ. Paul was a Pharisee and knew the law forwards and backwards. When he met Christ, his whole life was turned around.He fully understood the Gospel and that only faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus can bring salvation. “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 thathe was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. Any “gospel” other than this is not the Gospel at all. If the doctrine you follow is “Faith and (fill in the blank with anything)”, then your faith isn’t in Christ; it’s in man’s ideas andwork. Paul understood that when we witness for Christ, that witness must be about Christ, not false doctrine. The Christians in Corinth were trying hard to be “seeker friendly” and were very worldly. Paul wrote “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came notwith excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-2. This is how witnessing should be done. Share Christ, and Him crucified. Why was He crucified? If you don’t know, you better find out. You may be a great orator or someone who has trouble organizingthoughts, but either way, make your witness about Christ. Witnessing is a very important part of our Christian life. It’s important that we share the Gospel, not our own agenda. When we try to put our own spin on Scripture or water it down to makesin seem not so bad, we have compromised the Gospel. The main subject of our witness must be Christ. Sin separates us from God, but repenting and placing our faith in Christ brings salvation. Some say that nothing in our life needs to change once we acceptChrist. It’s true that we cannot work to earn our salvation, but Jesus told Nicodemus to be born again. “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3. That means we need to change. We can’t hold on to our favorite sin, and still claim to have repented and placed faith in Jesus. We must be born again. Does that mean we are perfect? No, butour faith should bring responsibility and gratitude to Jesus for what He did. We must repent of our sin…change our mind about it and turn from it. If I’m a Christian, can I lie? Can I cuss? Can I be sexually promiscuous? Technically, yes, but why would youwant to mock Jesus and continue to be identified with the world? That is a very poor witness for Christ. He died for our sin, not so we can continue sinning, but that we be free from the eternal result of sin. Remember that sin has wages…eternal death. “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understandingdarkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” Ephesians 4:17-19. When you witness, be sure you point out that sin separates us from God and we must repent and allow Christ to change us. “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, whichis corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24. Paul wrote these words to encourage the readers to let Christ rule their life instead of Satan. Paul does not promote works, just gratitude. “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every mantruth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more; but rather let him labour, working with his hands the things whichis good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Ephesians 4:25-29. Our behavior does matter. We must honor God with our life. None of us are perfect, but we can’t let that stop us from witnessing to others. I get very disappointed in myself when I am not as “good” as I should be. Thank God for His grace and mercy.Our salvation is secure even when we goof. Still, we need to try to live for Him. “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put awayfrom you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:30-32. Can I witness even if I’m not perfect? Yes, we are all a work in progress, and we can use our failures to show God’s love and mercy. If you want to learn to witness effectively, study Scripture. Learn how Jesus interacted with people and study how the Apostles shared the Gospel. You’ll find that they were direct and thatJesus was the focus. God bless you all, Nathele Graham twotug@embarqmail.com Recommended prophecy sites: www.raptureready.com www.prophecyupdate.com www.raptureforums.com All original scripture is “theopneustos” God breathed. If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries just drop me an email and let me know. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Psalm 122:6.