Like Never Before

“Every Christian is either a missionary or an impostor.” – Charles Spurgeon

In an upside-down-world like we’re currently experiencing there’s not greater love we can show the people we encounter daily than to demonstrate to them that Jesus Christ is the ultimate answer to their felt need for peace of mind and heart. The question we have to ask ourselves is: “What kind of a witness to Jesus’ grace and truth am I?”

As you mature in your faith, the Holy Spirit will motivate you to be looking for others to tell about Jesus. Keeping your eyes open to the spiritual needs of others will help you focus on what faith in Jesus is ultimately about – standing at the gates of hell and directing traffic – or in the words of the late-great evangelist Reinhard Bonnke: “plundering hell to populate heaven.” At the same time it will bring heaven to earth to the people around you with your winsome love for Jesus and His truth. The Apostle Peter tells us to: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (1 Peter 3:15-16).

Sometimes we’re afraid to say anything about Jesus to others because we think we might say the wrong thing. And for fear of saying the wrong thing, we too often say nothing. But Jesus said “You shall be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:8).

So, what does a witness do and say?

Jesus didn’t call you to be a lawyer. But He does ask you to be a witness. He wants you to be ready so that if someone gives you the opportunity, you can tell them what you know and have experienced. So, if someone wants to know what makes you tick as a follower of Jesus Christ – tell them what you know. Tell them your story. No one can tell your story like you – because no one has experienced your story but you.

Acts 8 records the story of how a man named Philip led a man to faith in Jesus Christ. It contains five things you can do to share your faith in Jesus with someone. Here they are:

First, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:26). If you’re going to love people into a relationship with Jesus, you have to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. He will help you know when the moment is right to speak up and share Jesus with someone. Ask the Holy Spirit to make you sensitive to His promptings.

Second, be available to act on God’s leading (Acts 8:27-29). Too often we fall short in our witness because we’re afraid to speak up when we have the opportunity. Be ready and available when you see an open door. Philip was ready when the Ethiopian eunuch was ready.

Third, take the initiative when the opportunity presents itself (Acts 8:30-31). The man Philip spoke to in this story was spiritually hungry. Philip kept his eyes and ears open for an opportunity to tell this man about God’s goodness, love, and truth – and then he took appropriate advantage of it. Just like Philip, let your faith be a natural part of your conversation.

Fourth, use tact (Acts 8:31). Philip subtly created responsiveness in the person he was talking to by asking a few questions. There are two basic reasons people don’t know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior: They’ve never met a Christian or they have met a “Christian” who made a bad impression on them. Treating people with sensitivity and consideration leads – not pushes – them to Christ.

Finally, always focus on Jesus (Acts 8:32-35). This story ends by saying that Philip “…preached Jesus to him.” When you finally get a hearing, the focus must be Jesus – not your politics, or your church denomination, or even the other person’s behavior. Remember: God always catches His fish first – He cleans them up a little later on. Our job is to share our life in Jesus with people – not to condemn them.

So, in light of the current onslaught of the evil and wicked cancel culture campaign against true Christianity and the Judeo-Christian values upon which it is based…Remember that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is eternal. It will never be overcome by evil. It will always be preached with authority and eternal results. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His eternal Gospel will ALWAYS prevail over evil and wicked opposition to it – no matter how intense. (Revelation 14:6)

Love God. Love people. Hate evil. That’s the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its essence. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Read more about ways Sharing Your Faith in Jesus Christ in my book Every Man Jack available on Amazon(www.amazon.com/Every-Man-Jack-Becoming-Wants/dp/1973680386),Westbow Press (www.westbowpress.com), and wherever books are sold.