Being an effective witness 1 Corinthians 3:6

Introduction

Our job as soul winners is to sow the gospel seed, faithfully and regularly. Some people will trust Christ the very first time you share the gospel with them, even if it is the first time they meet you.

Sometimes though when you share the gospel with someone, they won’t trust Christ the first time.

In John 4:38 Jesus tells his disciples this, John 4:38 “38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.”

Sometimes it takes multiple times of planting the gospel, watering through prayer, and going back again and again nurturing a relationship with the goal of a spiritual harvest.

One of the best ways to be an effective witness is to have a prayer list of prospects.

Have a prayer list of prospects

What is it?

A prospect list is a list that captures unsaved people that the Lord has brought into your life that need the Gospel.

It is a simple list of names and contact information for those you are trying to reach with the gospel.

Who is on it?

Any one you believe to be a positive contact for the gospel.

It could be someone you met on visitation, passing out door hangers or even visited our church.

You should keep them on your prospect list until they have been baptised and been through discipleship.

How to use it?

Pray daily

We can visit, call, or even write a letter, but only God can work on a persons heart.

We can use our prospect list as a prayer list

Contact weekly

Call them, send them a note, or even stop by for a visit, but ultimately be sensitive to the Holy Spirit in your efforts.

Update regularly

Keep up with your prospects, don’t forget about them.

Another way we stay an effective witness is we develop an everywhere Mentality.

Developing an Everywhere Mentality

Acts 8:4 “4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”

See people as souls

We must see every person as a soul that will spend eternity somewhere and therefore take every opportunity to share the Gospel

I think about Jesus in Matthew 9:36 “36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”

Often we find ourselves being moved with frustration at people and the inconvenience they may bring or the uncertainty we have in sharing the gospel. We need to be compassionate toward every person because they have a soul

Look for opportunities

1 Thessalonians 2:4 “4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.”

God has entrusted us with the Gospel and we should look for opportunities to share the Gospel.

Do we look for opportunities to share the Gospel every day?

Steward relationships

First, pray for that person. Begin praying regularly for the salvation of your unsaved family members and others with whom you have regular contact. God uses prayer to soften people’s hearts. And praying for them will also make you more observant of opportunities that do arise to share the gospel.

Second, be careful to maintain a good testimony for the Lord. If your coworkers see you being dishonest in your work or your neighbors hear you always losing your temper, they’re not going to be open to what you have to share with them. On the other hand, if your extended family sees you loving them when they mock your faith, or your friends see you standing for Christ when it is unpopular, over time, they will see in your life what you are trying to also share with your words.

Philippians 2:14–15 “14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”

Obey every prompting of the Holy Spirit

Acts 8:26–29 “26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.”

Acts 8:30–35 “30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”

When we are living in surrender to the Holy Spirit in all areas of our lives, we will be more sensitive and obedient to His promptings to witness as well. And we’ll have the opportunity to share the gospel and bear fruit in times and places we never expected.

Ephesians 5:18 “18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”

Staying Motivated

Paul Chappel said this “Going with the gospel isn’t meant to be a one-week mission; it’s not even a one-year mission. It is our great commission for life. Regardless of how motivated we feel on a given day, there is a world in need of a Saviour. And we have been entrusted with the message of salvation.”

The Love of Christ

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 “14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

Reality of Eternity

Luke 16:19–25 “19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.”

Compassion for the Lost

Matthew 9:36–38 “36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”

Having the compassion of Christ motivates us to be a faithful witness, not just once a week but for our whole life.

The judgement seat of Christ

Romans 14:10–12 “10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

The Judgment Seat of Christ is not a time of accounting for our sins, for that was settled long ago at Calvary. Works do not save us; only faith in Jesus’ shed blood for the atonement of our sins gives us eternal life.

Conclusion

I pray this study has motivated all of us to take the great commission personally