WITNESSING
"And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." Jude 22-23
John Wesley was called a "brand snatched from the burning." As a child, he was saved from a burning house. Years later on May 24, 1738, God saved Wesley from a greater burning when he trusted Jesus as Savior. This is what Jude told Christians to do. Christians should be in the business of witnessing-pulling souls out of the fire.(1)
When Jesus began His ministry, He called two fishermen, Peter and Andrew, to follow Him. Jesus said (Mt. 4:19), "I will make you fishers of men." If we are following Jesus, we will be fishers of men. To "catch men" Christians must work with the same toil needed to catch fish (Lk. 5:5). In Col. 1:28-29 Paul said, "Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Whereunto I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily." To see the "new birth" in lost people, Christians must labor with the same travail experienced by a woman giving birth. Paul wrote (Gal. 4:19), "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you."
What will you wish you had done 1,000 years from now? Pastor Samuel Rutherford of Scotland inspired these words, "Oh, if one soul from Anwoth meet me at God's right hand, my heaven will be two heavens in Immanuel's land."(2)
I. Why should we witness?
A. Jesus asked us to witness.
Jesus said, "As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you" (Jn. 20:21). Jesus commanded (Mt. 28:19-20), "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Jesus appeared to Paul on the Damascus Road and commissioned him. In Acts 26:19-22 Paul said, "I was not disobedient. . . . I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great. . . ." We are disobedient when we do not witness. We are "ambassadors for Christ" (2 Cor. 5:20). God is calling a lost world to himself THROUGH us. We are his only representatives in this world. Jesus came into the world to witness (Jn. 18:37) and calls us to do the same (Lk. 24:48).
B. The Spirit leads us to witness.
The Holy Spirit told Philip in Acts 8:29 to go and witness to the Ethiopian. What Christian has not felt the same compulsion?
C. Souls are lost.
Jesus said, "For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Lk. 19:10). The lost are DEAD in their sins (Eph. 2:1). Their names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life (Rev. 20:15). There is a lake of fire and brimstone awaiting the lost. The rich man in Lk. 16:27-31 wanted to warn his five brothers not to come to the place of torment. If people in hell want to win souls, so should we.
D. The worth of a soul
1. Souls are worth more than comfort.
Jonah showed concern when a worm destroyed a gourd. Yet, he had no pity on 120,000 lost souls who were in danger of perishing (Jon. 4:6-11).
2. Souls are worth more than possessions.
In Mk. 5:1-20 the keepers of the swine were more concerned about their pigs than about Legion. Often, people put earthly possessions before eternal souls.
3. Souls are worth more than wealth.
Jesus said (Mk. 8:36), "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" One day God will require our souls, and riches will not matter (Lk. 12:16-21).
4. Souls are worth more than personal rights.
Paul made himself a slave to all that he might win souls. He wrote (1 Cor. 9:22), "I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." Paul sought the salvation of souls with the discipline and effort of a runner or boxer in an Olympic match (1 Cor. 9:19-27). He did all that people might be saved (Rom. 11:14; 1 Cor. 10:33). The apostle was not ashamed to witness (Rom. 1:16).
5. One soul is worth more than the ninety-nine sheep, the nine coins, or the one brother that were not lost (Lk. 15).
Jesus loves that one lost person. D. L. Moody said, "I believe that if an angel were to wing his way from earth up to Heaven, and were to say that there was one poor, ragged boy, without father or mother, with no one to care for him and teach him the way of life; and if God were to ask who among them were willing to come down to this earth and live for fifty years and lead that one to Jesus Christ, every angel in heaven would volunteer to go. Even Gabriel, who stands in the presence of the Almighty, would say, 'Let me leave my high and lofty position, and let me have the luxury of leading one soul to Jesus Christ.' There is no greater honor than to be the instrument in God's hands of leading one person out of the kingdom of Satan into the glorious light of Heaven."(3)
E. What will happen if we do not witness?
1. They will not hear.
Paul asked (Rom. 10:14-15), "How, then, shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?" If we fail to witness, the world will fail to hear.
2. They will perish.
In Genesis 19, God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Could this have been avoided? Yes, God promised Abraham that He would not destroy the cities if He found only ten righteous ones in them. Lot lived in Sodom some twenty years. Yet, because of his backslidden condition, he did not witness. A city perished for the lack of a witness!
3. God will hold Christians accountable.
If we do not witness to souls, their "blood will be on our hands" (Ezek. 3:17-18). Let us be like Paul who was pure from the blood of all men (Acts 20:26-27). The Lord motivated J. Hudson Taylor to witness by Prov. 24:11-12 which read, "If thou forbear to deliver those who are drawn unto death, and those who are ready to be slain; if thou sayest, Behold, we know it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? And he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?"(4) Who would forbear to deliver someone trapped in a burning building? Surely, we will deliver those dying in their sins.
In Heb. 13:17 the Scripture clearly says we will give an account to God for souls (cf. Lev. 5:1). Paul said, "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men (2 Cor. 5:11). Solomon said in Prov. 14:25, "A true witness delivers souls." God condemned His shepherds in Ezek. 34:4 when He said, "Neither have you sought that which was lost."
F. God will reward Christians.
1. In joy
There is no joy on earth like the joy of knowing someone will have a home in heaven because we cared (Ps. 126:5; Acts 8:39). Jesus said (Lk. 15:7), "I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents more than over ninety and nine just persons, who need no repentance."
2. In heaven
Solomon stated (Prov. 11:30), "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise." It is wise to win souls. God will reward the soul-winner in heaven. He said (Dan. 12:3), "And they that be wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever." Our joy, hope, and crown will be to see people we won to Christ walking in heaven with us (1 Th. 2:19).
G. Satan is overcome.
Our testimony defeats the devil (Rev. 12:10). All his forces seek to hinder Christian witnessing (1 Th. 2:18).
II. What do we need to witness?
A. Compassion
If we only had compassion like Jesus, everyone would soon know about Him. Love for people compels us to witness. Jesus saw the people, and He was "moved to compassion" (Mt. 9:36). Jesus hurt in His insides because of His love for the people. The Good Samaritan had compassion and went to the man who hurt (Lk. 10:33). The father of the prodigal had COMPASSION and ran to his wayward son (Lk. 15:20). The lost whom we see (Jn. 4:35) should touch our heart.
Paul would gladly have gone to hell if it would only save his people (Rom. 9:1-3). God stirred his spirit within him (Acts 17:16). Paul had a debt to pay (Rom. 1:14). Jeremiah could not keep from speaking. It burned in his heart (Jer. 20:9). Love moves us to "feed His sheep" (Jn. 21:15-17). Tears will produce converts when nothing else will (Ps. 126:6). Are you afraid to witness? Perfect love for souls will cast out fear (1 Jn. 4:18; 2 Tim. 1:7).
B. Prayer
The Spirit stirs us to pray for the lost. Paul exclaimed (Rom. 10:1), "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved." In Gen. 18:23-19:29, the Bible records the beautiful intercession of Abraham. What saved Lot from the destruction of fire and brimstone? God spared Lot because of the prayers of Abraham. Have you pled with God for the lost?
1. Prayer opens doors.
Paul requested (Col. 4:2-3), "Praying also for us, that God would open unto us a DOOR of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds."
2. Prayer gives us boldness to speak.
Paul wrote (Eph. 6:18-20), "Praying always. . . for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth BOLDLY to make known the mystery of the gospel. . . that in this I may speak BOLDLY, as I ought to speak."
3. Prayer binds Satan.
Satan has strongholds (2 Cor. 10:4) in the lives of people. When we go after lost souls we are entering into his territory. If we would "spoil his goods" we must bind him. Jesus said (Mk. 3:27), "No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house."
4. Prayer can change the weather.
Elijah prayed, and God changed the weather (Jas. 5:17-18). We should pray that the weather would be conducive to evangelism.
5. Prayer empowers the Word of God.
Paul said, "Pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free course" (2 Th. 3:1).
C. The Power of the Holy Spirit
When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we will witness for Christ. Every time God filled someone with the Spirit in the book of Acts, they spoke for God (Acts 2:4-14, 4:31, 6:5-7-56, 9:17-22, 10:44, 13:9-10). In Acts 1:8 Jesus plainly taught that when the Holy Spirit came, the disciples WOULD be witnesses.
D. Faith
We must believe the promises of God. It is possible with God to save anyone. In Mk. 10:26-27 the disciples asked, "Who then can be saved? And Jesus, looking upon them, said, with men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible." Jesus said (Mk. 9:23), "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believes."
E. A clean heart
Sin closes our lips from witnessing. David prayed, "Create in me a clean heart. . . . Then will I teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners will be converted unto Thee" (Ps. 51:10-13). Unconfessed sin saps the strength of the church. God saved multitudes in Acts 5:14 only after He judged the sin of Ananias and Sapphira.
F. Visitation
How can we win a soul to Christ if we do not go to them? James (Jas. 1:27) said that pure religion is "to visit." Someone would come to Christ today if we would only visit them.
G. Willingness
Are you willing to go to a lost person? The prophet Isaiah answered (Is. 6:8), "Here am I, send me."
H. We must live a Christian life.
People will listen to the witness of our lips, when they see the testimony of our lives. In Acts 16:25-32 the Philippian jailor saw the testimony of Paul's life and came to him with the question, "What must I do to be saved?"
I. We must be friends of sinners.
How can we ever expect to win anyone to God, if we are not friends with lost people? We must meet them and become their friends. People called Jesus the "friend of sinners" (Mt. 9:10-13, 11:19; Lk. 5:31-32, 15:1-2, 19:7).
J. We must share the good news.
Speak to people about Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, Him will I confess before my Father which is in heaven" (Mt. 10:32). John called himself a "voice" in the wilderness (Jn. 1:23). The Psalmist wrote, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so" (Ps. 107:2).
K. We must remember that God is the one who saves.
God is the Lord of the harvest (Lk. 10:2). We are not sufficient for such a task (2 Cor. 2:16). Salvation is of the Lord! Paul said (1 Cor. 3:6), "I have planted, Apollos watered, but GOD gave the increase."
III. Who do we witness to?
A. Children
Jesus said in Mt. 18:14 that it was not the will of the Father that a little one should perish. Nearly 90% of all Christians came to Christ in their youth.
B. Youth
If a child goes past youth without accepting Christ, the "evil day" comes when that person will find no pleasure in the Word of God (Ecc. 12:1).
C. Adults
When you reach an adult, you will likely reach an entire household (Acts 16:31).
D. The rich
Zacchaeus became a rich man, but he was lost and in need of Jesus (Lk. 19:1-10).
E. The poor
Jesus came to preach the gospel to the poor (Lk. 4:18), and He tells us to do the same (Lk. 14:21).
F. All occupations
Jesus witnessed to the mighty tax-collectors (Matthew) and the lowly fishermen (Peter, Andrew, James, John).
G. All races
In Acts 8 the Samaritans and an Ethiopian received the gospel. In Acts 9 a Jew (Paul) received the gospel. In Acts 10 God saved Cornelius, a Gentile.
H. Our families
In 2 Tim. 1:5, we learn that Timothy's grandmother and mother passed their faith to Timothy. Never neglect to witness to and lead your family to Jesus Christ. Andrew went to his brother (Jn. 1:41). Cornelius gathered his family to hear the Word (Acts 10:33).
I. Individuals
The great need is for PERSONAL evangelism. Philip left the crowds to witness to just one man (Acts 8:26). Jesus practiced personal evangelism (Jn. 4; Lk. 19). People have no one to bring them to Jesus (Jn. 5:7) and no one to care for their soul (Ps. 142:4) if not you.
IV. When do we witness?
The answer is DAILY (Acts 16:5, 17:17). Luke recorded (Acts 2:47), "And the Lord added to the church DAILY such as should be saved." He wrote (Acts 5:42), "And DAILY in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." If today is the day of salvation, then today is the day to witness. Like the Psalmist, we should, "Daily perform our vows" (Ps. 61:8). Will H. Houghton wrote this poem in honor of D. L. Moody who said, "I made a promise to God that I would speak to at least one man every day about his soul's salvation."
"Lead me to some soul today,
O Teach me, Lord, just what to say;
Friends of mine are lost in sin,
And cannot find their way.
Few there are who seem to care,
And few there are who pray:
Melt my heart and fill my life;
Give me one soul today."(5)
We are to witness "in season" and "out of season" (2 Tim. 4:2).
V. Where do we witness?
A. In homes
In Acts 20:20 Paul said that he went "house to house" with the gospel. People are relaxed and receptive when we go and sit down with them in the privacy of their own homes.
B. In the streets, lanes, highways, and hedges
We need to visit systematically every home on every street. People will not hear the gospel unless we personally take it to their front door (Lk. 14:21-23).
C. In public places
Go where the people are. We pass multitudes of people in parks, stores, sidewalks and streets. Jesus witnessed to a woman at a public well and gave her everlasting life (Jn. 4:1-45).
D. At work
Paul worked alongside Priscilla and Aquila as a tent maker (Acts 18:3). While at work, he gave them the gospel.
E. In our churches
In 1 Cor. 14:23-25 Paul spoke of unbelievers coming to a worship service. Our worship services and Sunday Schools should draw in unbelievers. Believers should win others to Christ inside the churches.
F. In mass meetings
At Pentecost in the book of Acts a massive crowd heard the gospel. Evangelists throughout history proved the effectiveness of this method (Finney, Moody, Graham).
G. In all the world
Jesus announced (Acts 1:8), "But ye shall receive power, the Holy Spirit coming upon you; and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in all Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Oswald J. Smith said, "Should anyone hear the gospel twice, before everyone has heard it once?"(6) Two-thirds of the world still need to hear about Jesus.
H. Wherever we are
In Phil. 1:12-13 Paul told that even while in prison, he shared the gospel with people. No place is inappropriate to talk about Jesus.
VI. Laws of the harvest
As certain laws take place so the farmer may bring forth a fruitful crop, certain principles are true in the spiritual work of bringing souls to Christ.
A. Every witness we give has the potential of producing a convert.
Some of the seeds of the gospel will fall on good ground (Mt. 13:8).
B. The more we witness, the more converts we will have.
Paul explained (2 Cor. 9:6), "He who sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully."
C. One word of witness may produce more than one convert.
One corn seed produces many kernels of corn. Likewise, a lost person who is converted has a great sphere of lost friends and family who also may be converted (Mt. 13:8).
D. There will always be opposition.
Our enemy, Satan, is busy in the field of the world working against us (Mt. 13:39).
E. You see converts only AFTER the witness is given.
A seed of corn does not produce fruit for several months. Sometimes our word of witness will not bring a convert for a long time. Many of the results of our labors will not be seen until we reach heaven.
F. When we work with tears for souls, we will see results.
The Psalmist promised (Ps. 126:5-6), "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."
G. Christians must reach the harvest of souls now, or it will be too late.
Jesus said (Jn. 4:35), "Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, for they are white already to harvest." Jeremiah lamented (Jer. 8:20), "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved."
H. There WILL be a harvest of souls.
Paul promised (Gal. 6:9), "And let us not be weary in well-doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."
ENDNOTES
1. Kenneth S. Latourette, A History of Christianity, vol. II, rev. ed. (New York, New York: Harper and Row, Publishers, 1975), 1023-25.
2. Warren W. Wiersbe, Walking With the Giants (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1976), 18.
3. J. Oswald Sanders, The Divine Art of Soul-Winning (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, n.d.), 8.
4. Howard Taylor, J. Hudson Taylor (China Inland Mission Overseas Missionary Fellowship, 1965; reprint ed., Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1978), 166-68.
5. Will H. Houghton (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Bible Institute, 1936 [Copyright by Wendell P. Loveless]).
6. Oswald J. Smith.