The Negatives

No Deceit

"Not of deceit", "nor of uncleanness", "nor in guile".

Three negatives--When Paul wrote or verbalized the

 Gospel, he always made it clear that Christ solved

the sin problem, that there is no longer a Barrier

 between God  and man. He did not add to the Gospel

of grace, nor did he dilute it by throwing in false issues!

The believer must be in fellowship with God to be a 

witness-So use the (rebound technique): through confession

of your sin (1 John 1:9). By means of the recovery of the

filling of the Spirit (Eph. 5:14,18)

 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His Word I put

my HOPE.

Ps. 130:5

Be Persuasive

The Gospel

Must never be compromised or watered down.

For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor

in guile (1 Thess. 2:3).

The word "exhortation" means "persuasive conversation"

and describes the declaration of the Gospel. Life is filled

with persuasive conversation, and if this is normal in life,

why not in the realm of the Gospel?

You will be secure, because there is HOPE you will look about

you and take your rest in safety.

Job 11:18

Much Opposition

The Gospel 

Must be clearly presented, but even after that we had suffered before

and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold

in our God with much contention [in the face of much opposition]

1 Thess. 2:2

They had been dragged into the market place (open court), where

they were beaten with Roman rods and cast into prison (Act. 16:16-24).

There  is a principle for us in this : your witness today will determine

your effectiveness in witnessing for Christ on an even greater scale

tomorrow or the next day. 

God will never forget the needy; the HOPE of the afflicted will never perish.

Ps. 9:18

Was It For Our Sake

Pattern

Paul followed this pattern in detail and stated:

For our gospel came not unto you in word only,

but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in

much assurance; as ye know what manner of men

we were among you for your sake.

1 Thess. 1:5

When doubts filled my mine, Your comfort gave me renewed

HOPE

Ps. 94:19

A Perfect Analogy

Our Lord

Himself cited the perfect analogy to witnessing when

He said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men"

(Matt. 4:19). What did  He mean by that? Note, first of all,

that Fisherman must have a desire to fish -motivation-.

Second, They must be equipped to fish -preparation- and

readiness. Third, fisherman must go where the fish are.

Paul stressed these very principles; properly motivated

and prepared, he overcame hardships and pressures to

reach those who were positive toward the Gospel.

HOPE does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His,

love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

Rom. 5:5

Knowledge Applied

Effective Contact

Is necessary for witnessing, 

For yourselves,  brethren, know our entrance in unto

you, it was not in vain (1 Thess. 2:1)

The word "know" OIDA in the Greek indicates knowledge

which has been transferred from the perceptive lobe--

comprehension-- to the right lobe of the soul's mentality

the area from which knowledge is applied. "Our entrance"

represents contact.

By R.B. Thieme, Jr.

Book "Witnessing" 

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.

Jer.17:7

Can You Endure

Pressures

Many Christians cannot endure the pressures that result

from witnessing. They become intimidated and say no

more about the way of salvation. Pressures never stopped

 the Apostle Paul. He left Philippi and made his way to

Thessalonica, where the Lord gave him a tremendous harvest

of souls (Acts17: 1-4; 1, 2 Thess.). Paul's activities in personal

and mass evangelism gave us an excellent biblical pattern for

witnessing (1 Thess. 2).

Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace

in which we stand, and we rejoice in HOPE of the glory of God.

Rom.5:2

No Shame Just Share

I Am Not Ashamed

It is the height of stupidity to be ashamed of Someone who

has saved you for all eternity; but it happens all the time--

people are ashamed of mentioning the Lord or of proclaiming

the Gospel! Often, being ashamed is nothing more than fear of

failure due to ignorance of doctrine or to disorientation in the

Christian life. When we get our priorities mixed up, we lose our

perspective regarding the Gospel and its importance to us

 and to others!

HOPE in the Lord! With the Lord there is steadfast love and with

Him is plentiful redemption.

Ps. 130:7

Be Filled With The Spirit

I Am Ready

Your readiness is your preparation: your mastery of the

minimal knowledge standards in witnessing; your ability

to  communicate  pertinent information; and, most important,

your being filled with the Spirit through the use of 1John 1:9 

when necessary. If the above conditions are met, you can say, 

"I AM READY"!

HOPE deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a 

Tree of Life.

Prov. 13:12

Debt

I Am A Debtor

As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, we owe a debt

to the entire human race--- the Gospel. We have some

thing fantastic: eternal life, forgiveness of sin, a personal

relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, plus every

spiritual blessing that accrues as a result of salvation. How can

others have these things unless you tell them (Rom. 10:14,15),

unless you discharge your debt?

So that, having been justified by His grace we might become heirs

having the HOPE of eternal life. 

Titus 3:7

Life-Style Or Verbal

Your Witnessing

Whether your witnessing is accomplished by the impact

of your life-style on unbelievers in your periphery or by

the opportunity to verbalize the Gospel, your motivation

for witnessing is of utmost importance. Does it match that

of Paul in the Book of Romans?

I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both

to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am

ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

Rom. 1:14, 15, 16a.

And now 3 remain: faith, HOPE, love .

1 Cor. 13:13

Our HOPE lies in believing in God's love for our lives.

Ambassadors

The Believer Is the Agent Of Witnessing

One of the reasons we remain on this earth after salvation

is to witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. This principle is stated

in both the Old and New Testaments: Proverbs 11:30:"He that

winneth souls is wise." Acts1:8; "Ye shall receive power...

ye shall be witnesses..." 2 Corinthians 5:20.

"We are ambassadors for Christ"

The Lord is always before me--- Therefore my heart is glad and

my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in HOPE. 

Acts 2:26

Believe

Anyone

Who witnesses must believe that the Word of God

is powerful enough to reach the unbeliever.

For the word of God is quick (alive), and powerful,

and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even

to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the 

joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts

and intents of the heart.

Heb.4:12

You have God's guarantee that His Word will never return

void, but rather that it will prosper and accomplish God"s will.

Isa. 55:11

No one who HOPES in the Lord will ever be put to shame.

Ps. 25:3

Not Ashamed

2.  Bible Doctrine is The Weapon O Witnessing

For I am not ashamed of the gospel: because it is the

power of God with reference to salvation to everyone

who believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.

(expanded trans,, Rom. 1:16)

For the word of the Cross is to them who are perishing

foolishness; but to us who are saved, it is the power of

God. (Expanded trans.,1 Cor. I:18)

The Gospel is a powerful weapon of witnessing.

Know that wisdom is such to your soul; If you find it, there will be

A future, and your HOPE will not be cut off.

Prov. 24:14

Soulish Man

Why

Is it necessary that God the Holy Spirit have a part

of witnessing for Christ? The answer is found in

1 Corinthians 2:14

But the soulish man (unbeliever) does not accept

the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness

to him. And he is not able to obtain knowledge of the

gospel because they are discerned from the source of

the human spirit (expanded trans).

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be

born again to a living HOPE through the resurrection

of Jesus Christ.

1Peter 1:3

The Executive

Principle 1

The Holy Spirit is the Sovereign Executive of witnessing

And he (Holy Spirit), when he comes, will convince the

world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment.

 Concerning sin, because they do not believe in me

(expanded tran., John 16:8,9).

Jesus prophesied the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of

Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).

In dealing with the unbeliever, the Holy Spirit emphasizes

one sin only--- the unpardonable sin ----

rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ!

But as for me, I will always have HOPE, I will praise God more and more.

Ps. 71:14

Who Has the Major Role

Principles

Effective witnessing demands a thorough understanding

of a number of principles. Because too many  Christians

fail to learn these principles or the doctrines which under-gird

them, they think that greatness in the believer's life is measured

by the number of people to whom he witnesses in a day or a week.

Nothing could be farther from the truth! Witnessing is not a soap

salesmanship; witnessing is the fulfillment of a divine command

in which the believer plays a minor  role and the Holy Spirit has 

the major role. 

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,on those who
HOPE in His steadfast love.
Ps. 33:18

We Need Principles

Principles of Witnessing

There are 12 and I will be high lighting them, to get the best 

of the 12 you can  get the book "Witnessing" free from -----

R.B. Thieme, Jr, Bible Ministries

5139 West Alabama, 

Houston, Texas 77056

For You, O Lord, are my HOPE my trust, O Lord from my youth.

Ps. 71:5

Don't Miss The Boat

Description

A brief description of why certain Jews who had the

Old Testament Scriptures and knew the Mosaic Law

missed the boat. They chose their own good deeds 

rather than the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. That

takes us back to Revelation 20.

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. 

This second death, And whosoever was not found

written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Rev. 20:14,15

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father,

who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal comfort and a

wonderful HOPE, comfort you and strengthen you in every good

thing you do and say.

2 Thess 2:16,17

Accept Or Reject

Human Race

Every member of the human race ultimately makes a 

choice, either to accept the work of Jesus Christ on 

his behalf, or to reject it. Christ died for the sins of 

the world, so SIN IS NOT THE ISSUE! The issue

is "What will you do with Christ?"

Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as

it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at

that stumbling stone; as it is written, Behold, I lay in 

Sion a stumbling stone and rock of offense: and who

soever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.

(Rom. 9:32,33)

We should ask God to increase our HOPE awaken it when it is dormant,

comfirm it when it is wavering, strengthen it when it is weak, and raise it 

up when it is overthrown.

John Calvin

Faith

Works

A perfect example of attempted salvation by works

is found in Romans 9. This is the great indictment

against the Old Testament Jews who failed to recognize

the true purpose of the Law.

What we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed

not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness,

even the righteousness which is of  FAITH.

(Rom. 9:30) 

A misty morning does not signify a cloudy day.

Proverb

My HOPE comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

Ps. 121:2

Good News

Gospel

The word ("Gospel")  means  (''good news.") 

While it is true that we are all sinners, this is not part

of the Gospel. The indictment that "all have sinned and 

come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 6:23). The good

news begins with the fact that Christ died for our sins.

He took our place so that we might be saved. The good

news is that "Whosoever believeth in  Him should not

perish, but have everlasting life" (John3:16).

We need to give the world this good news of salvation!

The Lord's delight is in those who honor Him, Those who put their

HOPE in His unfailing LOVE.

Ps. 147:11

The Issue

The Way

Is to make the issue clear to the unbeliever and you have 

declared, once and for all, that the Lord Jesus  Christ did

ALL the work (Eph. 2:8, 9; Tit. 3:5). There is nothing man 

can do for salvation but BELIEVE in Him (John 1:12;

Act 16:31). This is where the Gospel comes in!

Surely there is a future, and your HOPE will not be cut off.

Prov.23:18

The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, 

someone to love, and something to HOPE for.

Allan K. Chalmers

BY FAITH

Evangelistic Meeting

Many a person has come away from an evangelistic meeting 

with the impression that in order to be saved, he has to 

(1) give up his bad habits.

(2) stand up in front of everyone present and so make a

fool of himself.

(3) weep great tears of repentance at the mourner's bench

or at the alter down front.

(4) have an ecstatic experience.

Salvation is always by FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST!

NOTHING MORE---NOTHING LESS!

The future belongs to those who give the next generation

reason for HOPE.

Plerre Tellhard de Chardin

We Have A Solution

Solutions

To the works of Christ:

Expiation: Pas. 22:1-6; Eph. 2:15,16; Col.2:14

Regeneration: John 3:1-18

Imputation: Rom. 3:22; 1 Con 1:30; 2 Cor. 5:21, Phil. 3:9

Justification: Rom. 4:1-5, 25; 5:1,9, 8:30; Gal.2:16; 3:11; Tit. 3:7 

Propitiation Rom.3:22-26; 1 John 2:2

Positional Truth 1 Cor. 15:22b; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph.1:3-6

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.

Nothing can be done without HOPE and confidence.

Helen Keller