FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE
“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
WITNESS Up Close
Witnessing is the process by which individual believers share Jesus with those in their sphere of influence. It is how God brings us in on the conversation that He has started and is already having with those around us. Thus, through witnessing, we have the tremendous privilege of encouraging others as they come to know Jesus for themselves.
Not everyone will speak at an evangelistic seminar, but we are each called to personally preach the gospel by the way we live, and how we interact with others. When nurtured and empowered church members become disciples, the desire to witness springs up naturally. As the Holy Spirit brings renewal, He implants a passion for souls that compels us to personally share Christ with everyone we meet. Not only do we long to see others come to the Savior but we are promised power to personally share the gospel. Jesus told the disciples, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Witnessing and evangelism work closely together. Those whom we witness to often end up attending evangelistic seminars as we invite them. Others who attend evangelistic seminars often hear things that cause them to open up to a deeper conversation about God and His love for them.
Witnessing in the New Testament
If we are committed and willing to witness, the Holy Spirit will help us to identify where and how God is already working. Philip’s experience with the Ethiopian is a great example. After preaching in the city of Samaria, “an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza’” (Acts 8:26). God had a divine appointment for Philip in the desert. As Philip approachedf the chariot of an Ethiopian, he heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. He then asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” (Acts 8:30). The man replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” (Acts 8:31). And with his permission, Philip gave the Ethiopian a Bible study which increased his understanding and led to his baptism.
Our Role in Witnessing
Witnessing facilitates conversation, deepens conviction, and brings conversion. In order for witnessing to be effective, we must first understand our role as it relates to God’s role in the process. Understanding God’s place in this process makes witnessing a joy and takes the pressure off us. It’s not our responsibility as disciples to make something happen. When we engage as co-workers with God in the process, the meaning of Paul’s words, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6) becomes clear.
As we cooperate with God in the witnessing process, He will lead individuals through the following three phases:
- Conversation—This starts with getting to know a person and asking the right questions. We encourage their conversation with God by listening to them and asking questions as led by the Holy Spirit. When they begin asking us questions in return, they are granting us an opening to help them have a greater understanding of the gospel. A bonus for us is that during this process God increases our understanding also as we labor with Him for the salvation of souls.
- Conviction—When the truth begins to convict a person’s heart, they often feel uneasy or agitated. King Nebuchadnezzar’s conviction was deepened as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow to the golden image with the rest of Babylon. The king heated the furnace seven times hotter and threw them in to burn. Instead of being offended, the three young man took an uncompromising stand for truth. Because of their faith, Jesus was able to show up in the furnace with them. This served to further convict the Babylonian king as he saw the fourth man in the fire that appeared to be the “Son of God” (Daniel 3:25).
- Conversion—Daniel and his friends made an indelible impression on Nebuchadnezzar by their unwavering cooperation with God. As conviction grew, the king was forced to make a choice for or against God. He eventually surrendered his heart to God and became a worshiper of the Lord of heaven and earth.
Today, God is calling every church member to join Him in the work of saving souls for the Kingdom. Church members who have become committed disciples can’t help but talk about how wonderful Jesus is. Renewed churches know that these people need guidance to share their faith well. So they intentionally equip them to witness through meaningful friendships.
The RENEW Witnessing training will help you:
- Investigate the intersection between personal Bible study and witnessing for our faith.
- Gain a Biblical understanding of what “being sent” means in today’s world.
- Learn how to boldly and tactfully speak truth in challenging circumstances.
- Discover how Jesus created conversations that led to conversions.
“We must pray earnestly and perseveringly for the endowment of the Holy Spirit, taking to the Lord our burden for souls ready to perish. All to whom the truth comes must in turn give to others the messages of warning and invitation, with earnest prayer that the Holy Spirit will accompany the word spoken.”