Remmenber Missionaries

9. Part Two

Pray in accordance with 1 Timothy 2:1-4 for the salvation

of all unsaved persons in governmental office, that the Gospel

may have free course in our nation. Pray that our leaders may 

begin to recognize their own inadequacy to solve the problems

of the world (Psalm 9:20), that they might look beyond themselves

and see their need of the Savior. Your own prayers on behalf of

missionaries allow you to enter into their ministry and help pave

the way before them. Therefore, never underestimate the power

of prayer in witnessing!

Everyone who thus HOPES in Him purifies himself as He is PURE.

1 John 3:3

No Cliches

9. Part One

Do Not Be Confused

in your prayer life! Don't be bound by such epigrams as 

"Talk to God about the unbeliever before you talk to the

unbeliever about God." Since God supplies your contacts,

and since He is omniscient, just fire away with Gospel

information and forget the cliches!

Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we HOPE in You.

Ps. 33:22

Carnality

8. Do Not Brag

about your experiences in witnessing! Testimonies about 

personal witnessing efforts often reflect pride and constitute

occupational hazards in the Christian's life. Avoid "bragamonies"

the Lord  knows what you are doing, and that is all that is necessary!

He will reward you accordingly!

"CARNALITY"

The state in which the old sin nature controls the life of the 

believer; grieving and/or quenching the Holy Spirit.

HOPE is the raw material from which faith build the house

By Rex Rouis

Be Accountable For Your On Life

7. Do Not Judge

other believers for their apparent failure to witness!

Whether or not they witness is between them and the

Lord; you are accountable for your own life, not for

the lives of others! Such judging only brings divine 

discipline upon you. If you judge or malign others, 

you are out of line. Besides, you have no way of really

knowing whether they are witnessing for Christ unless 

they brag about it; then they are out of line.

I pray that the eyes of your heart maybe enlightened in order

that you may know the HOPE to which He has called you.

Eph. 1:18

It Will Not Come Back Void

6. Do Not Measure

Your spiritual life by your witnessing! A person is not

spiritual because he speaks to ten or twenty persons

every day. The effectiveness resides in the Word of

God, which states that ----"it shall not return unto me [God]

void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall 

prosper in the thing whereto I sent it''

(Isa. 55:11)

The HOPE of those who are right with God is Joy

Prov.10:28

No Vows

5. Do not set Quotas

It is not mandatory that you speak to a specific number

of persons every day about Jesus Christ. This is a false

standard for spirituality sponsored by many Bible institutes.

Never permit yourself to be inveigled into taking a vow such  

as, "Before God, I will speak to ten souls every day" If God

insisted on quotas and vows, this would be declared in His

Word! Simply witness whenever the Lord provides the opening.

A better HOPE is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

Heb. 7:19

Be Personal

Do Not Embarrass People

4. Deal with the individual alone whenever possible.

Witnessing to one person in public often produces

embarrassment, loss of prestige, annoyance. If this

is the case, the people you seek to reach for Christ

 may turn you off completely, and you may never have

another opportunity to reach them. Remember that

personal evangelism is exactly that--personal!

 

 

What oxygen is to the lungs, such is HOPE to the meaning of life.

 Emil Brunner

 

 

 

 

Your IQ Is Not An Issue

3. Do You Get In A Rut

Different approaches to the subject of the Gospel are 

necessary to reach different people. Be flexible! What

may be effective with one person may be a total failure

with another. Your own IQ or that of your listener is not

an issue, nor is it vital that you understand Judaism to

witness to a Jew or physics to speak to a scientist about

Christ. Knowledge of Bible doctrine is the answer, for your

flexibility comes with spiritual maturity.

Everything that is done in the world is done by HOPE.

Martin Luther

The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to 

Him and are safe.

Prov. 18:10

False Issues

Do Not Allow

2. Yourself to be sidetracked by false issues!

Stick to the subject! Don't be drawn into a debate

concerning the authenticity of the Word of God,

heathenism, living a good life or social problems. 

Set your HOPE fully on the grace to be given you

when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 1:13

Just Provide Information

Pitfalls In Witnessing

While there are no set rules for effective witnessing.

there are a number of pitfalls or postulates in witnessing;

these should be examined and avoided.

1. Do not argue!

You may win the argument but not the soul of the unbeliever.

Your responsibility is to provide information, not to win a 

debate. Present the Gospel, but never dispute its validity.

Leave the rest with the Holy Spirit, whose function it is to

make the Gospel a reality.

The Lord is my portion---Therefore I HOPE in Him!

Lam. 3:24

So True Even Today

Thessalonians

 Soon after they accepted Christ and organized as a church,

they began to experience pressure. Opposition came from

the Roman Empire, the Jews and the heathen fraternities in

their vicinity. They suffered intense persecution from these

groups; however, because the Thessalonians were properly

indoctrinated, they stabilized and received blessing in their 

suffering. While it is true that  the Christian life  is a life of

fantastic privileges and blessings, the Lord warned us that

sooner or later we would face pressures from the world.

(John 16:33)

He who has health, has HOPE. And he who has HOPE has everything.

-Proverb-

Do Not Heap Up Your Sins

The Result

Of effective witnessing is stability in suffering.

For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches

of God which in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: for ye

also have suffered like things of your own countrymen,

even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord

Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us,

and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might

be saved, in this way they always heap up their sins to

the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.

1 Thessalonians 2: 14,16

For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called

to one glorious HOPE for the future.

Eph.4:4

Acceptance

The Response

Of the Thessalonians' to Paul's follow-up was tremendous.

Where as many people are hostile or indifferent to the word

of God because they have been subjected to legalism prior

to the time of Gospel hearing, the Thessalonians readily

accepted the message of grace. This acceptance effectively

worked in them, and they became actively operational.

Their witness and service for the Lord was a reality and

elicited thanksgiving in Paul and Silas.

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because,

when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye

received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the

word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that

believe.

1 Thess. 2:13

I know the plans I have for you,

declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you HOPE and a future.

Jer. 29:11

Walk Worthy

The Third Purpose

Of  follow-up is collective:

Finding for the new believer a Bible-teaching, Christ-centered church.

If that is not possible in your locale, point him in the right direction,

toward Bible doctrine taught in tape or written form. It is God's 

intention for every saved person to "walk worthy" and to become

spiritually self -sustaining-- that is, to be able to handle his problems

before the Lord.

That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto

His kingdom and glory (1 Thess. 2:12).

Galatians 5:16 states "...Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not 

fulfil the lust of the flesh."  

May the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing,

that you may abound in HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Rom.15:13

Don't Fall By The Wayside

A reason for follow-up is personal:

fellowship and encouragement of the new believer.

During the period of adjustment and orientation to

Phase Two (Gods plan for the believer in time), the

immature Christian often needs encouragement. He

has not yet developed sufficient inner resources of

soul with which to recognize the importance of Bible

Doctrine to every facet of life. A floundering believer

is in danger of falling by the wayside.

 

The wings of HOPE carry us soaring high above the driving winds of life.

By Ana Jacob

A Threefold Purpose

Doctrinal

The purpose of follow-up is doctrinal, personal and collective.

Note that follow-up still has a threefold purpose first, doctrinal;

the new believer must be taught Bible doctrine. No believer can 

advance spiritually on his own. Were it true that all a Christian 

need do in order to grow in grace and in to the knowledge of his

Savior is read a chapter or two of Bible daily, the Lord would not

have found it necessary to give certain men the gift of pastor-teacher

(Eph. 4:11)! It is the duty of the pastor-teacher to feed the flock of God,

to edify and equip the saints (Eph. 4:12). God designed the local church

to be the believer's classroom.

By R.B. Thieme, Jr  Book Witnessing

Be strong and take heart all you who HOPE in the Lord.

Ps. 31:24

As A Newborn

Follow--up

must supplement witnessing.

Ye  are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly 

and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you

that believe (1 Thess. 2:10).

When a person accepts Christ as Savior, he immediately

becomes a newborn child of God. You feed them basic

concepts of the "sincere milk of the word (1Pet. 2:2) by

which they may grow! Even the Lord Jesus Christ is said

to have taught His audience "as they were able to hear it"

(Mark 4:33)! Paul is like a father to the Thessalonian

believers; he treated them as he would his own children.

As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged 

every one of you, as a father doth his children (1 Thess. 2:11).

We have this HOPE as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

Heb. 6:19

Cast your cares on God; that anchor holds.

By Frank Moore Colby

Announcing The Gospel

Two Men

Paul  and Silas  had labored at Paul's trade of tent making to 

supply their daily needs rather then become a financial

burden to the Thessalonians. Although they had worked to

the point of exhaustion, they kept  on announcing the Gospel

of Jesus Christ. Consequently, their witness of life and lip

bore dividends for God.

For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for labouring

night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of

you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

1 Thess. 2:9 

The Lord is good to those whose HOPE is in Him, to the one who seeks Him.

Lam.3:25

Strong Love

Affectionate

So being affectionately desirous of you, we were

willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel

of God only, but also our own souls, because ye

were dear unto us  ( Thess. 2:8)

"Being affectionately desirous " is one word in the Greek (Himeiromai)

used especially of parents who had lost a child and now grieved or longed

for him. The word denotes the strongest kind of love that can be experienced

for an absent loved one and indicates an habitual attitude of mind.

Be joyful in HOPE patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Rom. 12:12

Be Gentle

Genuine

Concern motivates consideration in witnessing.

 When we have been burdensome, as the apostle

of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as

a nurse cherisheth her children ( Thess. 2:6b, 7).

As a model witness, Paul compares his method of

operation among the Thessalonians to that of a

nursing mother. "In witnessing for Christ we were

as tender with you as a nursing mother is with a baby.

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and

constant peace... because he HOPES confidently 

in You. (Isa. 26:3)

Salvation Is A Gift Of God

The Gospel Is Not For Sale

For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know,

nor a cloke of covetousness; God  is witness: Nor of men

 sought  we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others.

1 Thess. 2:5, 6a.

The Gospel will stand on its own; it needs no selling gimmicks!

Paul never witnessed to satisfy approbation lust, nor did he use

 the Gospel to raise money. This is what is meant by the phrase

"nor a cloke of covetousness". From this statement emerges an

important principle: never knowingly accept money from un-

believers for the Lord's work!

HOPE begins in the dark, the stubborn HOPE that if you
just show up and try do the right things, the dawn will come.
You wait and watch and work: you don't give up.
Anne Lamott

Dividends

To Be Put In Trust

This came to mean to deposit or to invest capital with

the intent of making a profit. Capital invested is synonymous

with free enterprise, that wonderful system which made America

the most advanced and prosperous nation on earth! 

The Gospel, too, is capital. God has deposited the Gospel in 

each believer in order that it might bear interest and pay 

dividends (2 Cor. 4:7). Therefore, the importance of our

personal responsibility in declaring the Gospel cannot be

overemphasized!

R.B. Thieme, Jr

Book on (Witnessing)

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us,

so that through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures we

 might have HOPE.

Rom.15:4

A Futile Attempt

The Gospel is Capital In Witnessing

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.

1 Thess. 2:4

The Greek word for "allowed" is the verb Dokimazo,

which means "to test" someone or something for the

purpose of approval.

Legalism: Man's futile attempt to gain salvation, 

spirituality or the approbation of God through

human good.

The word HOPE I thank for faith and indeed HOPE is nothing else

but the constancy of faith.

John Calvin

Don't Be A Huckster

Nor in Guile

this presents the principle that the Gospel must never

be watered down. The Greek word for "guile (Doloa)

means "huckster." Under no circumstances must the 

Gospel be diluted with social reform, economic 

panaceas, brotherhood, do-goodism, legalism or philosophy!

Blessed are those whose HOPE is in the Lord and Their God.

Ps.146:5

Not Human Good

"Nor of  Uncleanness"

Certifies Paul's use of 1 John 1:9. He made sure that he

had kept current on rebound before he witnessed for his

 Lord, so should you. Only in the power of the Holy Spirit

can you score  profound impact on the life of the unbeliever;

only when He communicates through you can you be sure that

your witnessing is truly service for the Lord instead of merely

human good.

We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces 

perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, HOPE.

Rom. 5:3-4