Witnessing

June 22, 2008 (Pastor Daniel)

“I am nobody, who speaks to everybody, about the great Somebody!”

“By ourselves we are zeros, with Jesus we are heroes!”

Witnessing:

Daniel 12:3- “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.”

Witnessing isn’t preaching or teaching, it is telling others what you have experienced. It is like appearing to court as a witness. When you appear to court you only testify about what you have seen, what you have experienced. Similarly, when you witness to unbelievers, you tell them what you just tell what you have seen. After Jesus appeared to the Samaritan woman in John chapter 4, she went and told the others about her experience with Jesus.  This testimony led then to come to Christ.

Witnessing isn’t just speaking, it is also living. The Bible says in the book of Acts, “You shall BE my witnesses….” It doesn’t say you shall witness but rather BE My witnesses. The word witness is used as a noun and not as a verb, meaning we are expected to live a life of witness.

Why do we have to witness?

1)      Because there is such thing as hell.        

The most widely known and quoted verse, John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Yes this scripture tells of God’s great love, but it also speaks of the outcome of those who won’t choose to believe in the Son of God. It says, “so they shall not perish, but…” meaning hell is awaiting those who choose not to believe in Jesus. Therefore, the main reason that we tell others about Jesus is because we don’t want them to go to hell.

2)      Because that’s our purpose!

· Philippians 1:20- “according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.”

· 2 Peter 3:9- “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

3)      Because it’s a commandment:

 Matthew 28:19- “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

“The greatest commission is not an option, it’s not a suggestion, it’s an obligation, so let’s make it our ambition!”

How shall we witness?

1)      With compassion:

Matthew 9:36- “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.”

      When you see people starving, you want to give them something, anything that you are able to give them because you have compassion for them. What will you do for those who are spiritually starving? 

2)      With wisdom:

When Jesus appeared to the Samaritan woman in John 4, He didn’t come and preach to her right away. He first asked her for water then worked his way to telling her the gospel. When you witness to a person, you have to see the heart of that person and see what they need. 

3)      With boldness:

Ask God for boldness, supernatural boldness, which will enable you to approach those who seem so unapproachable.

4)      By the gifts of the Holy Spirit:

When you talk with people, God will give you something to say, for example through word of knowledge.

 Preached by: Pastor Daniel
Written by: Rebka  Tekeste