WITNESSING

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to WGBD’s mini course on witnessing. Our Real Audio Internet teacher is Dr. A. W. Tozer.

he best preparation for a powerful and effective witness is prayer. Also it is more important that you allow the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and direct you in your witnessing. This study has been designed to be used with the Holy Bible (all scripture references are King James Version). Please feel free to make copies and use the study in a group or individual setting.

WITNESSING

Witnessing has the prospect of great fruit. "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" (Ps. 126:5,6)

THE POWER OF HIS NAME

The Bible says, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run to it and are safe. (Pr. 18:10) The name of the Lord is powerful and exerts a profound effect on people. Many times the simplest mention of His name releases a power that makes sinners sit and take notice and brings encouragement and comfort to the Christians. This makes witnessing so exciting. God is so great that if the humble Christian merely brings up the name of God in conversation, God begins to do wonderful things. And not only does He do great things for the people who hear the testimonies of the children of God, but He works wonders for the people who are doing the witnessing.

OVERCOMING GRACE

In Revelation 12:11, we are taught that the Christians overcame the devil "by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony." This Scripture tells us that the person who is saved and who testifies receives overcoming grace from the Lord. Here is one of the spiritual secrets to an overcoming live as a victorious Christian.When a Christian reads the Bible consistently, has a steady prayer life, and humbly begins to witness (the first three basics of Christian living), he or she receives the joy of the Lord. And the Bible also says that, "the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Ne. 8:10). This joy gives one the strength to resist the devil and to not yield to temptation or discouragement. It also enables us to keep on praising the Lord no matter what happens and release even more of God's power into our lives.

 WITNESSING AND ACKNOWLEDGING

Because so much spiritual power is involved, either the devil will work hard to put fear into your heart so that you can’t bring yourself to testify, or he will try to get you to talk too much and ruin your witness. So be careful how you begin the life of witnessing so that you won’t quit or become ineffective.One aspect that is helpful is to make a distinction between witnessing and acknowledging.

Both are good and right.Proverbs 3:6 says, "In all your ways acknowledge him." This means to bring up his name in some way during any encounter you may have with someone else. For example, when someone greets you and asks how you are doing, you could respond, "I’m doing fine; the Lord helping me." Or when you are at the cashier’s stand, you could say, "May the Lord give you a good day today." Or, finally, when you are in line at a cafeteria, you could mention to the person next to you how privileged we are to live in America where we have plenty to eat and mention how thankful you are the Lord has blessed our country. There are many other ways to acknowledge him because he said to do so in "all your ways.

"To witness, on the other hand, is to tell what the Lord Jesus has done for you. Sometimes simply acknowledging him will open a door for you to go a step farther and witness to your salvation. To witness is to express your joy and gratitude that the Lord saved you and changed you from darkness to light. It is your experience. No one can take it away from you, and he or she has no right to challenge you because it is your personal experience. You see, you do not judge people or tell them they are going to hell. You simply tell what happened to you. Someone asks you how you are doing, and you look them right in the eye and say, "Oh, I’m doing great ever since the Lord saved me and changed me from darkness to light!" Many times, people don't know what to do with what they hear, and sometimes they will give a nervous laugh or make some comment, but, deep down, you have touched them and they feel it.

 

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