Living the evangelistic life

LIVING THE EVANGELISTIC LIFE

Salt seasons, light reveals. Here we give guidance on how to live as salt and light wherever you go. And as you do you’ll find that there will be some who, exposed to your faith, start to thirst for what you have as your light reveals Jesus Christ.

Conversations

Quote scripture

Use scripture. In Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12 it says, ‘For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart’. The word, through the Holy Spirit, will bring conviction to the very heart of a persons life.

Be relevant

Answer the question you are asked, do not wander from it and avoid adding your own tack. If you are unsure how to respond pray a silent prayer to the Lord to ask for His guidance.

Be practical

Explain how your faith in Christ has practically affected your life by giving examples of how your life has been transformed.

Use everyday language

Do not use church jargon, such as atonement or redemption, most people won’t understand what you are saying. And where you have to use phrases that are unfamiliar such as ‘salvation is found in the shed blood of the lamb’, explain what you mean.

Don’t seek to win an argument

You are not trying to score points, you are seeking to explain the need for and the way of salvation. The only likely winner if you end up in a heated debate will be the devil. Once you have lost control you have lost the argument. But the Bible says we are to be self controlled.

Use your testimony

Sharing how you came to know Jesus, what He has done and is doing in your life is very powerful, especially when they see that you are an ordinary person just like them. It isn't about what they must give up, but what they can’t do without.

Helpful hints

Know

Know your Bible. You don’t have to be a theologian to win people to Christ. New believers have been known to lead people to the Lord.

Know your fellow man - this will come with age and experience of life.

Know your own testimony.

Know how to answer basic questions you might be asked such as:

ź	Have you seen God?

ź	Who created God?

ź	Why did Christ have to die on the cross?

Do’s and don’ts

Do ask permission before asking personal questions.

Don’t wave a lectern style Bible under their noses, it isn’t all that helpful and can turn people off from what you are saying.

Do be yourself. In other words be natural, be what God has made you.

Some pitfalls to avoid

When talking about evangelism we often hear these type of statements from Christians:

ź	I am not gifted in this area; I have no experience in witnessing; I cannot speak to people about the Lord.

ź	There is no need for me to say anything. They only have to look at my life to see Christ. After all actions speak louder than words.

ź	People know where they stand. There is no need for me to remind them.

ź	If God wants me to witness to people He will bring them to me.

Some of these statements are partly true. But more often than not they are an excuse for doing nothing. Adopting these positions can represent a form of harmful bondage.

In John chapter 10 verse 16 Jesus talks about other sheep He must bring into His fold. Christ is going after the lost sheep and He wants you to use your voice that the world might hear His voice. He wants you to use your life that they may see His life. He is the soul winner. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts man of his sin. People are not won by you for Him, they are won through you by Him. You see God can speak to people directly through the Bible without involving you [see Romans chapter 1 verses 19 to 21], but He has chosen to work through you. For as Jesus said in John chapter 20 verse 21, ‘As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’

Motives for witnessing

Obedience to Christ

In Acts chapter 1 verse 8 and chapter 5 verses 29 to 32 God makes very clear that you are to obey His command to be His witness and failure to witness is disobedience. For it is God’s will that His children should seek to make known the gospel unto all peoples throughout the world.

Gratitude to Christ

The love that took Jesus to the cross calls for a responding love from you. Gratitude is an essential part of love, and it is natural for you to want to please those you love [see 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verses 14 to 15].

Can’t keep silent

In both the Old and New Testament times God’s servants could not keep silent even though the world tried to shut them up. What they heard from God they just had to share. Peter, when he was brought before the Sanhedrin could not keep quiet [see Acts chapter 4 verses 5 to 20]. And in 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 13 Paul said that he believed and therefore spoke.

Responsibility to Christ

As believers you should always be aware that you will have to give an account of your life at the judgemental seat of Christ [see 2 Corinthians 5 verses 10 to 11 and verse 18]. What have you done to spread the gospel?

Responsibility to the lost

Our Lord’s solemn teaching about hell as the ultimate destination of those who fail to turn to God, should spur you on to witness [see Proverbs chapter 24 verses 10 to 12]. Men are lost and Christ is the only Saviour. Acts chapter 4 verse 12 states quite clearly that there is salvation in no one else. In John chapter 14 verse 6 Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ You should awake to the fact that you must make the gospel known, because some people have no knowledge of Him [see 1 Corinthians 15 verse 34].

A sense of urgency

In both the religious and political world events are fast moving toward the end of the age! In many parts of the world opportunities for evangelism are being curtailed. Romans chapter 13 verses 11 to 14, Ephesians chapter 5 verses 14 to 18, and John chapter 9 verse 4 should act as an alarm call to wake you from your slumber and get you out into the field which is ready for harvest, because the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

A sense of yearning love

You should not witness out of a sense of duty, true believers have a genuine concern for the spiritual needs of others. If this seems to be lacking in your life, you should ask God to touch your heart in this area [see Luke chapter 11 verse 13].

A desire to share what God has given us

There is a wonderful joy in knowing the Lord. Your desire should be to let others know the reason for the joy you have. Indeed how can you keep this good news to yourselves?

In summary

Not every Christian is called to be a preacher, but every Christian is called to be a personal witness. Your life and speech must point to Christ. In the Holy Spirit you will find the power to be the witness you are called to be [see John 15 verse 26].

Witnessing to Christ brings glory to God and gladness to your heart. It is one of the main ways God uses to bring sinners to Himself. And as you look around this world you can see how necessary that witness really is.

To evangelise is to present Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit so that men shall come to put their trust in God through Jesus Christ, to accept Him as their Saviour, and to serve Him as their Lord and King in the fellowship of His church. It is God alone who converts and the Holy Spirit who convicts of sin and God uses the Christ filled life and His word to accomplish His will.

The Bible says that you are a living epistle (letter) known and read by all men [see 2 Corinthians 3 verses 1 to 3]. What sort of letter are you? The Bible also says that it is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ which is the power of God unto salvation to those who believe.

By living the evangelistic life you will make a tremendous impact on all those around you. Some will be drawn to your message, others will be repulsed but none can deny the power that dwells within you to the glory of God and the salvation of men.

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