CHRISTIAN WITNESSING

ACTS 10:8

A. "YE ARE MY WITNESSES" Isa. 43:10
  1. A witness is one who affirms the claims of God in His word:
    1. "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses." - Acts 2:32
    2. Effective witnessing - Acts 3:14-16; 5:32; 10:39
  2. The testimony which is based upon personal experience works:
    1. The blind man who received his eyesight - John 9:25
    2. The lame man that could walk - Acts 3:1-10; 1 John 1:1-6
B. OUR LORD IS OUR EXAMPLE IN EFFECTIVE WITNESSING FOR THE TRUTH
  1. Much of His ministry was personal visitation in the homes:
    1. Mark 2:1-11
    2. Mark 10:10. Chapter 14:3
  2. He brought comfort to the heart and health to the body:
    1. Healed the brokenhearted - Luke 4:18; Isa. 61:1
    2. Of Him it is written, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." - Acts 10:38
  3. He never thought of His own comfort or convenience, but rather of bringing blessings to the needy:
    1. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich." - 2 Cor. 8:9
    2. "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head" - Matt. 8:20
    3. He could send a message to John, in prison, "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised . . ." - Matt. 11:1-5
  4. His method of labor:
    1. He was very tactful - EXAMPLES -
      1. His conversation with the woman of Samaria - John 4:1-28
      2. His talk with Nicodemus - John 3:1-36
    2. Think of how gently He treated Zacchaeus - Luke 19:1-9
    3. He approached each case best suited to the needs and understanding of the individual - Luke 24:32
    4. His method of working for souls is indicated further in some of His parables -
      1. The lost coin.
      2. The lost sheep.
      3. The prodigal son - Luke 15:1-32
C. EFFECTIVE METHODS OF CHRISTIAN WITNESSING
  1. "Learn of me" sayeth the Master of the art of witnessing:
    1. Secret prayer was the key to His success in His work - Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16
    2. Reliance upon His heavenly Father is still another factor entering into the success of His ministry - John 5:19, 30
    3. Absolute loyalty to the Word of God is the very foundation of His ministry -
      1. Think of how He met the temptation of Satan! Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-9
      2. He followed the same line of reasoning with the Pharisees and others - John 5:39-46; 7:17; 10:35
    4. It was the Holy Spirit that enabled the Son of man to perform the many miracles! Acts 10:38
  2. Christian witnessing by us depends upon several related factors:
    1. Are we motivated by the Love of Christ? 2 Cor. 5:14-17
    2. Are we possessed of the soul passion that energized Paul? Rom. 9:1-3
    3. Do we sense the value of the souls Christ died for? 1 Cor. 8:11
    4. Are we willing to pay the price connected with Christian witnessing? Acts 7:59, 60
    5. Is our faith in our cause and in the integrity of men strong enough to persist even when the odds are against us?


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