BIBLE STUDIES

TOPIC: Why Should We Witness?

Have you ever asked yourself, "Why should I witness?" Several reasons should come to mind. First, because Jesus commands you to: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit," (Matt. 28:19). Also, Ezek. 3:11 says, "and go to the exiles, to the sons of your people, and speak to them and tell them, whether they listen or not..."

Second, you must witness because you love the unsaved (if you don't, you should). The most loving thing you can do is present the gospel in hopes of bringing others to salvation. Galatians 5:22 lists love as one of the fruit of the Spirit. It is love's nature to give. Take for example John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." Love gives, and if you have only a small portion of His love, you will want to give to others.

Third, witness because it is a wise thing to do. Prov. 11:30 says, "...he who is wise wins souls." Now, I know I am not a very wise person. But, since God says I'll be wise to win souls, or try to, then great, let me at it. I want to be wise in God's sight.

Fourth, witness to keep people out of hell. Hell is a terrifying place of utter anguish and eternal separation from God. Those who are not saved go there. Witnessing is an attempt to keep them out of hell.

Fifth, witness because it pleases God and brings glory to His name.
And finally, witness so they may find the love and fellowship of God (1 John 1:3), the greatest of all treasures. I can think of no greater gift than salvation. It frees the sinner from sin, it delivers the lost from damnation, and it reveals the true and living God to those who don't know Him.

The angels of heaven rejoice greatly when anyone passes from judgment into salvation (Luke 15:10). Shouldn't we as Christians rejoice too? Shouldn't we weep over the lost? Shouldn't we ask the Lord of the field to send laborers into His harvest (Luke 10:2)? Certainly! The salvation of others is the goal of your efforts. The love of God is your motive. Is there anything greater? So, give.

Three Important Verses in Witnessing

"So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11).

If you only study one page on this section on evangelism, this page is it. Why? Because here is where you will learn three of the most important verses of evangelism: Isaiah 55:11; Rom. 1:16; and John 12:32.

Isaiah 55:11

Isaiah 55:11 says, "So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." God's word is unique. It was by His word (speech) that God created, "God said, ‘Let there be light'; and there was light" (Gen. 1:3). "By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the Word of God..." (Heb. 11:3). Jesus is called the Word, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God... and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." (John 1:1,14).
     

When Jesus was on the earth, He taught. He taught with words and His words had a very strong effect on people. They angered some and broke others. But when Jesus spoke, things happened.
     

Jesus forgave sins by speaking, "And seeing their faith, He said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven you'" (Luke 5:20). He raised the dead by speaking, "Lazarus, come forth" (John 11:43). He calmed the wind and sea with words, "Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and it became perfectly calm" (Matt. 8:26). He cast out demons by speech, "And He said to them, ‘Begone!' And they came out..." (Matt. 8:32). He healed by speech, "And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.' And immediately his leprosy was cleansed" (Matt. 8:3,13). God's words are powerful.
     

The Word (the Bible) is described as having many qualities:
 

      The Word of God is a mighty weapon. That is why you should memorize!

Romans 1:16

Rom. 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." What is the Gospel? 1 Cor. 15:1-4 says it is the sacrificial death and physical resurrection of Jesus for sins. It is the powerful message of salvation to sinners. If you know that the Word of God will accomplish what God wants it to and if you know that the gospel has power to save, then it should ease your mind to know that in witnessing you are using two very powerful weapons: God's Word and God's Gospel. The Word of God is the Bible. The Gospel of God is His revelation or redemption.

John 12:32

John 12:32, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." Here Jesus speaks specifically about His crucifixion. It is He who draws to Himself all who are to be saved. When you present the gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-4), the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus for sins, Jesus draws the sinner to Himself. He does the work, not you.
     

As a Christian, you are to witness with truth, honesty, and integrity. As the Lord provides the opportunity, you should respond in a humble and gentle spirit (2 Tim. 2:24). And in that, you should point people to Jesus. It is He alone who saves.

If you know that God's Word will accomplish what God desires, that the gospel is powerful to save, and that it is Jesus who draws all men to Himself, then you should realize that the responsibility of salvation does not rest on you, but on God. You are the teacher, the deliverer of good news. "How shall they believe in Him who they have not heard?" (Rom. 10:14). You help them hear!
     

These three verses should help you to gain confidence. You witness; God saves. You plant the seeds; God waters. He uses you. It is His Word that accomplishes salvation. It is His gospel that is powerful. It is His Son Jesus who draws. You witness in power when you witness with the Word of God.

The Do's and Don't's of Witnessing

"Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person" (Col. 4:5-6).

Like most things in life, witnessing has guidelines. Following is a list of 20 Do's and 12 Don't's. They should aid you while witnessing and help prevent serious errors. If, however, you choose to ignore them, witnessing will be difficult and awkward.

Do's

1. Do Pray.
2. Do speak to please God.
3. Do read your Bible.
4. Do start with a positive witness for Christ.
5. Do keep things simple.
6. Do share your salvation experience with them.
7. Do know what you believe.
8. Do have a genuine love.
9. Do be simple and define your terms.
10. Do memorize appropriate Scriptures if possible.
11. Do be ready to learn from the people you witness to.
12. Do be patient and gentle.
13. Do listen attentively.
14. Do answer their questions.
15. Do ask questions.
16. Do let him save face.
17. Do bring him, if possible, to a decision about Jesus.
18. Do encourage him to study the Bible by itself.
19. Do use Scripture in context.
20. Do remember that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).

Don'ts

1. Don't attack directly or make fun of someone.
2. Don't jump from one subject to another.
3. Don't expect too much from him.
4. Don't have a spiritual chip on your shoulder.
5. Don't lose patience.
6. Don't come on too strong.
7. Don't debate peripheral issues or doctrines.
8. Don't get sidetracked defending your denomination.
9. Don't be uptight.
10. Don't assume.
11. Don't argue.
12. Don't speak too fast or unclear.


I hope these do's and don'ts have brought to your attention areas that would improve your witnessing. If some of them have struck you as being particularly applicable then I would suggest you think them over and in prayer ask God to work on your heart and teach you the right way to witness. He will bless you. All you need is to trust Him and go witness.

The Four Spiritual Laws

If you've gone through a discussion with someone and you want to present the gospel message in a simple and systematic way, the well known "Four Spiritual Laws" can be of help. They are simple, to the point, and use Scripture to convict, convince, and convert. They are:

1. God loves you:
   • "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
2. Man is sinful and separated from God.
   • "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23); "For the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23); "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God" (Isaiah 59:2).
3. Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. 
   • "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me" (John 14:6); "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8).
4. We must individually receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. 
   • "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" (John 1:12); "if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved" (Rom. 10:9); "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Eph. 2:8).

The Roman Road

Another list of verses usable in the same way as the Four Spiritual Laws is the "Roman Road." The advantage to these seven verses is that they are all in the book of Romans. Sometimes this is an advantage when you don't want to flip through a lot of pages.

1.      Rom. 3:10, "As it is written, 'There is none righteous, not even one...'"

2.      Rom. 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

3.      Rom. 5:12, "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned."

4.      Rom. 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

5.      Rom. 5:8, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

6.      Rom. 10:9-10, "if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."

7.      Rom. 10:13, "For whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved."

I recommend you put the Roman Road in your Bible. Go to Romans 3:10 underline it and write Romans 3:23 next to it. Then go to Romans 3:28, underline it and write Romans 5:12 next to it, and so on. That way all you need to do is memorize where you start: Romans 3:10.

Christian CPR

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

Witnessing is a spiritual battle where you not only fight against ignorance and prejudice but also against Satan. He will attempt to hinder your efforts, attack you spiritually, and do a thousand other things to stop you. As a result, you can suffer spiritually dry times brought on by his attacks. So what do you do to save your spiritual life? Simple . . .
     

Almost everyone has heard of CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It has saved many lives. I would like to introduce you to Christian CPR It can save your spiritual life. It's simple: Confess, Pray, and Read.

Confess

The first of the three letters represents Confession: our human need. Each person who witnesses should have his own life right with God. That doesn't mean being perfect, but it does mean actively seeking to walk in accord with God's will. It means regularly confessing your sins to God and forsaking them. This is done in prayer.
     

Sin is not something to be taken lightly. It is so bad, so evil, so wicked, that it cost Jesus His life. The greatness of the sacrifice of Christ only reflects the greatness of the depth of sin. It took something as incredible as God on the cross to undo sin. Sin can hinder your effectiveness so you need to make sure you confess any sin to God. He will forgive you and your fellowship with Him is restored. In that proper relationship, He will guide you and empower you to speak boldly for Him.
     

The Bible says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Confession is good for the soul they say -- and it is true. It is good to bow before the Lord in humility and seek His forgiveness: "Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord and He will exalt you" (James 4:10). Be ready to confess and forsake your sins. That is what God asks.

Pray

The second letter represents Prayer: your special privilege. Through prayer you are in fellowship with the Holy Creator of the universe. You can actually speak to Him. You can worship, love, and spend time with Him. Because of what Jesus has done for you on the cross, God hears your prayers.
     

When you desire to pray, is it your flesh that seeks Him? No. Since your natural self does not seek God and since you are still in sinful flesh, when the inclination to pray comes over you, it is God calling you to spend time with Him. He wants you to fellowship with Him. 1 Cor. 1:9 says, "God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." He wants you to be in His presence and be dependent upon Him. The one who is in the presence of the Lord cannot but have his heart filled by Him. He cannot but speak of Him: "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks" (Matt. 12:34). When Moses was in the presence of God, his face shone (2 Cor. 3:7). When you are in the presence of God, your heart will shine.
     

Prayer is the practice of the presence of God. To be effective, you need to be in fellowship with God. To be in fellowship, you need to be praying, constantly.

Read

The third letter represents Reading: your daily bread. It is in reading the Bible that God speaks to you. The Bible is, of course, the Word of God. It is, "inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
     

The Word of God is one of the ways He has made Himself known to you. It is light for your soul, food for your thoughts, and the guide by which you should shape your life.
     

By reading the Bible and memorizing Scripture, you are a much greater threat to Satan. When Jesus was tempted by Satan what did He use to rebuke Him? A miracle? A powerful sweep of His hand? No. He quoted Scripture (Matt. 4).
     

Follow Jesus' example. Learn Scripture. Use it. Let it dwell in your heart and mind. Rebuke the enemy with it. Learn from it. It will nourish you.

Prayer and Fellowship

Fellowship with God is a privilege and a great blessing. There is nothing better or greater to have. The purpose of Christian CPR is to help remind you of the requirements for fellowship with God. Fellowship with the Lord should be the number one priority in your life. If it isn't, make it so.
     

When Solomon was asked by God what he wanted, Solomon desired wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-9). When David was asked what he wanted, he said, "That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life" (Psalm 27:4). In the New Testament whenever Solomon is mentioned, it is not in a favorable light. Jesus said, "Not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed as beautifully as one of these lilies" (Matt. 6:28-29). Yet, David, a murderer and adulterer, was called by God a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22). Why? I believe it is because David sought fellowship with God. David wanted only to be in the presence of the Lord. David, the sinner, loved God.
     

Jesus was at the home of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42). Martha was busy with her preparations and Mary was at Jesus' feet. Martha mentioned that Mary was doing nothing and had left all the work to her. Jesus' reply is enlightening. He said, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

You see, the Lord desires that you spend time with Him. It is more important than all your other responsibilities, even witnessing. If you are in fellowship with the Lord, then your walk will be stronger, your love bolder, and your sin weaker. You will shine as a light to the world (Matt. 5:14) and the world will know that you are His disciple (Matt. 5:16).

When you sense the desire to pray, answer it. It is God calling you to spend time in His wonderful presence and be filled by Him. And there in His presence is where you will gain the greatest benefit and become the most powerful witness.

As you can see, CPR is an easily remembered tool that should help you understand the importance of confession, prayer, and reading. In daily prayer time seek God. In daily reading time seek God. Be like David who wanted to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Be like Mary who wanted to sit at Jesus' feet and be with Him. Be like Jesus who so often went to prayer for fellowship with God. Obey the Father who has commanded you to fellowship with Jesus. In Him are the blessings to keep your heart alive because, "grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17). It is in true fellowship with Jesus that witnessing is at its best. Witnessing is not just words -- it is a way of life.