The Difference Between Witnessing and Soulwinning Part 3

“WHERE DO I BEGIN, TO TELL THE STORY OF . . . .”

“Danny, will you help me with these invitations?” “How?”, I replied. “Just pass them out to those you care about and would like to see come to my big, open party.” “Open party?” “Yes, I’m inviting anyone who wants to come all they have to do is receive one of these invitations and they can come. It’s going to be a wonderful big, Big party bash. So please, don’t forget to give them out, ok?” “OK.”

What if I took that charge given to me to invite others to the biggest party ever and I gave it little importance; or set it aside through neglect, slothfulness or disinterest. Those who could have an opportunity to enjoy the event would be cheated out of it because of my negligence. Perhaps I didn’t mean to forget or to simply not do it but those who could have benefited from it lose that opportunity nonetheless. What a shame, the party will go on anyway, with them or without them. Right?

If you are a Christian disciple of Jesus Christ, he has commissioned you to take His invitation to a greater event than just a Big Party Bash. He told us to “Go” and take His Good News invitation to a lost world. Those who would receive His invitation could participate in His Salvation. When the Great Day comes, do we, as his witnesses, want to be found still with the invitations in hand through neglect, fear, slothfulness or disinterest? Will we stand ashamed before Jesus one day when he asks us what we did with His invitations meant for others? Or will we be able to say with joy, I gave out your invitations, Lord, to those I came in contact with as your Spirit led me. We have been entrusted with the invitations to the greatest event in history -- Christ’s salvation and adoption into the greatest family in the universe, God’s family. How many, who can benefit from that opportunity, will you and I reach and give Christ’s invitation (witness) to eternal salvation?

DO YOU CARE?

Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” His last important commandment, or commission, to his disciples was to go into all the world and share the good news with all creation. He was saying in essence, “if you love Me, go and share My good news with all the world.” But how can I, one person, reach the whole world? I can’t! So how does the Great Commission apply to you and me? Jesus’ command sends us somewhere, for he said, “Go”. But if you cannot reach the entire world, what world can you reach? There is only ONE world any man can reach . . . his own PRIVATE world.

I believe anyone who declares his love for the Lord will at least be concerned for the eternal welfare of those in his private world.

YOUR PRIVATE WORLD

You and I, and everyone, have a private world. It consists of our daily and weekly routine. Our home is the hub from where we move out into this private world. For the average believer, it consists of his job, shopping, church, and recreation. In the course of that routine, we rub shoulders with people we can influence for Christ better than anyone else. Why? Because we have a relationship with them (whether deep or casual is inconsequential). Think about these souls who circulate around your private world. Perhaps you’ve never stopped to consider the extent of your private world that you can affect for Christ. When you leave your home into your private world you visit stores, schools, doctor’s offices, banks, post offices, restaurants, beauty shops, cleaners, car washes, gas stations, libraries, markets, recreation events, etc. Are you getting the gist of this?

Your private world is your weekly routine that takes you into contact with people, whom Jesus cares deeply about. In your private world there are people you contact more than anyone else. There are those who mean more to you than anyone else. There are some whom you influence more than anyone else. In some cases you may be the only concerned Christian in touch with them who can influence their eternal destiny. You have a relationship with them.

When Christians read the Great Commission of Jesus, they assume that it doesn’t apply to them because they are unable to travel. But the Great Commission isn’t an order to travel to some other part of the world. Jesus had in mind that we would reach the lost within our private worlds. After all, these are the only people ANYONE can reach. If you WERE to travel, say to India, as a “missionary”, whom would you reach? You’d have to reach those whom you would come into contact with wherever you happened to live in in India – your private world!The next time you are at a mall, post office, or restaurant take a look around and notice all the people there (especially if these are the same places you visit regularly). These intersections are people-paths within your private world where you can be an effective witness for Christ. If you’ll do this every time you are out and about in your private world, you will find innumerable opportunities to share the good news. But you have to be looking for them and constantly keeping in mind that your Lord has given you invitations for others because He loves them and cares for them.

Consider this: If a person leaves Christ out of all the activities of his daily and weekly routine – the sum of one’s life on earth – what place does Jesus have in this person’s life after all? If a Christian is not interested in reaching his private world for Christ, because he excludes Him from the bulk of his life, can he truly say that he has made Jesus, Lord of his life?

That might sound harsh, but if Christ is excluded from the routine of our lives, what is left for Him? A few hours in church to sing, “Oh how I love Jesus” or recite verses like, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me”? If we haven’t made the Great Commission of sharing the Good News a priority in our lives and in our private world, it is obvious that we care nothing about lost souls. And even worse, we care nothing about obeying our Master who purchased us with his own blood from the eternal consequences of our sin.

Every Christian is saved to serve Jesus.

“He [Jesus] died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for
themselves, but for Him died and rose again on their behalf.” 2 Cor. 5:15

Now consider the believer who does love Jesus and accepts the commission to reach his private world. He no longer goes to the store just to buy things. He doesn’t even just go out to eat at a restaurant. He is aware that he has a commission; that he belongs to Jesus. He is master of every moment of his life.When the truth of your private world burns into your heart, that is the way you will feel about Jesus’ ownership of your life.

Once it strikes you that you have been wasting most of your life by settling down in the world rather than reaching it for Christ, you will be humbled by the realization. You see most Christians have been substituting church going for personal obedience to the Great Commission. Having read this article will be a Damascus Road experience for you. Just as that experience turned Paul, the apostle’s life around, it can have the same experience on you.

“But isn’t the pastor the one who’s supposed to preach?” This is a lie that we have accepted from the devil. We certainly didn’t get it from God’s word. Let’s suppose that you COULD hire a pastor to be at your side 24 hours a day in your private world and do all the witnessing and sharing of Christ to everyone you come into contact with. Who actually would be obeying the Lord? Who would finally get the reward for obedience? When the Lord asks you, on judgment day, for the record of your personal obedience to the Great Commission, your substitute will not appear with you, you will be on your own. Each of us [personally] will give an account of himself to God (Rom. 14:12).

YOUR OWN MISSION FIELD

Your private world is your own mission field. You have been commissioned by Jesus. You need no credentials from man to obey the Great Commission. Your private world becomes a scary place the moment you start thinking about it as your own mission field. As long as you are going about in it minding your own business (not Jesus’), there is nothing to fear. You can go to stores, restaurants, and malls quite comfortably and at ease as long as you do not attempt to serve Christ in your private world. However, the moment you decide that you will take Jesus, your commission, and your mission field seriously, your private world becomes an unfriendly, and at times, a hostile place. With the exception of your home and your church, it is enemy territory – the devil’s domain (2 Cor. 4:4, 1 John 5:19). Those who witness of Christ, or are outspoken for Christ are not welcomed. They are not popular. The world doesn’t like them. But remember, they do not like Jesus either, and He made the world! Can we expect to be treated any better if we identify with Him?

EVERYTHING IS IN PLACE

The Blood’s been shed, the Holy Spirit has been poured out, the invitations have been passed out, and the Lord is enthroned above all and ready to confirm His word with supernatural signs that follow those who declared it.

Now comes the response time. How will you respond?

”Lord, grant me, your servant, that I may speak your word with boldness; too many souls are at stake and the price has already been paid for their entrance into your kingdom. I will not stay with your invitations for the lost in hand. Teach me and lead me Holy Spirit in this exciting journey of sharing my faith with those invited to share the riches of Christ’s grace.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Joy in the journey,

Danny

An Adventure In Power

“What if I speak out for Jesus and nothing happens?”  This is a legitimate concern of many believers today.  That their efforts will somehow fail, fall short and bring forth no results.

There is, however, a little two-letter word that spells the difference between a power-filled life and a routine one.  Jesus put it this way . . . “Go” – and I’ll go with you.  He said, “All authority in heaven and earth is given unto Me, go ye ….”  What is the next word?  Therefore!  Jesus offers to us as believers all the resources of heaven if we will get involved with Him in being a witness to a lost world.This is a first, most important, lesson to learn.  We move first and then we discover that the Lord is with us.  When a believer really learns this, there is nothing in the plan of God that he cannot accomplish.  If he ignores it, he will remain a nominal, routine Christian.

“Go” is the button that activates the power of the Holy Spirit in witnessing.  Nothing happens until we push the “Go” button and the power “under the hood” is released.  We have to start.  Until we open our mouths for Christ, the power of God just waits and waits and waits – indwelling, potential power, waiting to be released.


Do You Believe That?A story is told of a witness and soulwinner who was meeting with a Christian friend for lunch.  He was not aware though that his friend had invited an unbelieving coworker to come along.  He had thought that exposing him to his witnessing friend might be just what his unsaved friend needed.  But the unsaved man right off the bat informed the witnessing soulwinner that he had been worked on by the best and that it would be a waste of time to try to lead him to Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit, however, prompted this Christian witness to try a bit of an experiment with this hard-hearted man.  As they sat eating their lunch, he proceeded, “you have made it clear to me that you are not interested in any attempt to introduce you to Jesus Christ.”  “That’s right, declared the unsaved man.”“Would you permit me to make a little experiment, just for my own sake?  It really is not for you at all, and I’ll not seek to persuade you about anything.  It is entirely for my own benefit, but I need your help.  All I want to say is a few sentences to you … would that be ok?”

“I guess so,” the man replied a bit suspicious, but curious.

“First, I want to tell you that this world in which we live is no accident.  That it is all planned and maintained by God.  Even our meeting today is right on schedule.  This is because God loves you.  He wants you to know Him as a personal friend.  And there is no limit to what He would do to make it possible for you to know Him and be with Him forever.”Now I’m telling you that He loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for you - a clear demonstration that He is head over heels in love with you.   Right now he is waiting to forgive every sin you have ever committed against Him in your life.  Even now, He will come into your heart and reveal Himself to you, if you would just give Him a chance.”The Christian witness was watching the man to see how the Holy Spirit would perform His ministry.  He pressed the point.

“Do You Believe That?”  He hesitated for a moment and shook his head slowly and said, “No!”  But he was lying.  In the corner of his eye a tear had formed, and one had rolled out onto his cheek.  He knew in his heart that the witness was true, yet he had decided that he didn’t want anything to do with Jesus Christ.In spite of the man’s rejection of Christ, the Holy Spirit had done His work; he had faithfully borne witness to a believer’s words.What a great example of the Holy Spirit doing His work of bearing witness to our words.  Once you begin to realize and learn by experience that your words are always followed by the Holy Spirit power, you can overcome the second worry out of witnessing …

“Will something happen when I witness for Christ?”


A Wonderland
When we begin to speak out for Jesus (to unsaved people, friends, neighbors) we enter a Wonderland where all things are changed by the power of God.  We will see hard-hearted, rugged people weep before our words of testimony.  We will encounter amazing witnessing situations.  Doors will open everywhere.

Those who will not open their mouths for Christ publicly, however, cannot move in the power of God.  They are consigned to living a predictable, routine Christian life.  Jesus reserves the power of the Holy Spirit to those who “Go….”If you are going to witness for Christ, there will be power - the mighty convicting power of the Spirit over someone’s life.  If you are faithful to open you mouth, people are going to be convicted by the Holy Spirit, that’s all there is to it.

When we have learned that witnessing does not mean soul-winning, we remove the first worry out of witnessing – “I just can’t win souls!”When we learn that the Spirit’s power follows our words, we remove the second worry out of witnessing – “What if I speak out for Jesus, and nothing happens?”

When we learn exactly what to do and say as a witness, we remove the third worry out of witnessing – “I don’t know where to start.”


Joy in the journey,

Danny


Next:  Witnessing:  I don’t know where to start.

The Difference Between Witnessing and Soulwinning (from my article in Reaching and Teaching e-Newsletter). If you’d like to subscribe yourself to the Reaching & Teaching e-Newsletter, just send a blank email with “subscribe R&T” in the subject line to: daniro45@hotmail.com You can unsubscribe at any time.

The Difference Between Witnessing and Souwinning Pt. 2

Have you ever handed someone a Christian tract, or invited them to one of your church services, or perhaps said to someone, “I won’t be able to go to that reunion because it’s on the day that I have responsibilities with my church.” Those are all examples of being a witness – that is, you have identified yourself with the Lord in someway and they know it.In my previous article I mentioned that the difference between a witness and a soulwinner has to do with different actions and skills learned.Come with me into a modern day courtroom. There you will see the difference between soulwinning and witnessing, the difference between these two specialties and very distinct skills.

In a courtroom setting, witnesses are called in to testify. The witness is asked to take the witness stand. When the witness is seated, he is asked to make statements and declarations of what he knows. He is asked to speak (testify) about what he has seen and heard --- what he knows. The witness tells, he does not probe or challenge. He only gives forth what is asked of him and that’s all. Once he has completed this task, he is done. That is the extent of his role.Now let’s take a look at the prosecutor. He doesn’t take the stand. He’s a lawyer; skilled in the art of extracting information from others and using their words to prove his point. He’s a sharp handler of people. He knows how to take facts and present them to win his cases. That’s what he’s trained to do, and do well. All of his moves are aimed at getting a conviction. He works to get a decision out of a judge or jury.

THE SOULWINNER – A PROSECUTING ATTORNEY

The soulwinner’s moves are calculated to extract information from a prospect. He uses that information, in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, to bring conviction. He then skillfully maneuvers his prospect to the point where he must face Christ.Far from telling a person what he knows, his efforts are all geared to getting a prospect to DO SOMETHING about Jesus. He’s not content to just tell people something. He wants them to ACT --- to do something about Jesus Christ standing at the door of their hearts.

UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE

When you see the difference between a prosecuting attorney and a witness, you are in a better position to understand the difference between a soulwinner and a witness. They are two distinct specialties. As long as a believer simply tells another ABOUT Jesus, he is a witness. But the moment he tries to get that person to DO SOMETHING with Christ, he shifts over to the role of soulwinner.The soulwinner’s single task consists of bringing a lost person face to face with the Lord Jesus Christ and pressing him to receive the Lord as his Savior. For the soulwinner there is no in-between. You either get a man to make his decision or you don’t. If there is no decision, there is no soul-winning.The witness’s task on the other hand, is a work which can be done in many different ways. As a matter of fact, the moment a person does anything to share the word of Christ with another, he is completely successful as a witness. Witnessing can be anything from leaving a tract with someone or somewhere to telling another what Jesus means to you.Therefore, soulwinning and witnessing are NOT the same. While anyone can witness for Jesus, not everyone can win souls – at least not right away. AN EXTREMELY LIBERATING TRUTH

I don’t know how often I have heard Christians say, “I’m ashamed to say it, but I just can’t seem to witness for the Lord. I just don’t know how to win souls. Fear always seems to get the best of me.” These kinds of expressions are the reason you must understand the difference between being a soulwinner and being a witness for the Lord. Most believers think that they cannot be witnesses for the Lord without winning souls. The fear of soulwinning blinds the minds of many well-meaning Christians.Can I say to you that you will never be an effective soulwinner until you are an effective witness first. So, for now, forget about winning souls. Yes, you read that right! You must begin by concentrating on being a witness of Jesus Christ, first.Don’t be counted among the multitude of Christians who remain silent because they have wrongly believed that unless they can win a soul to Christ, they are unqualified to speak for Christ. Satan uses this confusion to keep believers from becoming witnesses of Jesus Christ.Don’t blame Christians for being fearful about winning souls. Soulwinning is a terrifying business, until you are equipped with the skill, AND you have the strength to use it.So for now, forget soulwinning. Does that mean that I am saying, don’t win souls. No, what I am saying is be a witness first, and then win souls. You must learn to first work with the Holy Spirit as a witness. Then once you have developed strength as a witness, then you can tackle the task of soulwinning with confidence and enthusiasm. Unless you are one of those few in the Lord’s army who have a rigorous personality strength which allows them to start right off as a soulwinner, you should forget about it – for a while.

The confusion is now gone. This is an extremely liberating truth – that the witness is not the prosecutor. That one can be a witness without being a soulwinner. Once again, I am not saying that Christians should not win souls … “he that wins souls is wise”, the scripture says. What I am saying is that most Christians should start off as witnesses rather than soulwinners.Now that you understand the difference between witnessing and soulwinning the first worry of witnessing – “I just can’t win souls” – is gone.

Joy in the journey,

Danny

The Difference Between Witnessing and Soulwinning (from my article in Reaching and Teaching e-Newsletter). If you’d like to subscribe yourself to the Reaching & Teaching e-Newsletter, just send a blank email with “subscribe R&T” in the subject line to: daniro45@hotmail.com You can unsubscribe at any time.

The Difference Between Witnessing and Soulwinning Pt.1

There is a vast difference between witnessing and soulwinning. I find, however, that most believers in Jesus do not know this. The difference basically lies in the actions and skills of the believer.

In Acts 1:8, Jesus promised power to His followers -- the power of the Holy Spirit. He said,

"... you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnessess ...."

There can be no effective witnessing or soulwinning without the power and ministry of the Holy Spirit. All must be done in utter dependence upon Him. To work with the Holy Spirit is a skill that can be and ought to be learned by every believer who desires to be an effective witness and fruitful soulwinner.

What Kind of Witness are You?

Every believer in Jesus is a witness. The only distinction is the kind of witness that you are - a good witness or a bad witness. Have you ever heard someone say,

"I don't believe we have to go around talking about God or Jesus. We should just let our light shine. People will know where we stand when they see our light."

This usually means that this person feels it unnecessary to speak a single word about Christ to anyone. It erroneously assumes that people will be so impressed with our manner of living that they will eventually want to know Jesus as well. Satan has perverted the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:16, and has deceived many of God's people into silence.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven."


"LIGHT" IS GOOD!

Yes, light is good and it makes possible our coming and going with ease. People who lose their sight truly understand how precious and what a blessing light really is. There is an uncomfortable and unsafe feeling when we attempt to walk in the dark. Without light, life can be dangerous. However, when the light is turned on we feel safe and secure because we are able to see with clarity.

God's word is called light in Holy Scripture. The Psalmist declares this in Psalm 119:130:

"The entrance of your words give light."

and

"Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105)

Without the Word of God, men cannot see. They cannot know or determine their direction spiritually. Without the revelation of God's Word a person does not know where they have come from, where they are going, or even who they are. They are in the dark.


GOD'S WORD IS HIS LIGHT!

Now, what did Jesus say about YOUR light? He said, "Let your light shine...." Now, just as God's word shines (because it is light) on his works, YOUR light must also shine on your works. Your light is your WORDS.

When God does something awesome in and through your life, men can see it, but they end up giving you the credit instead of God! Why? Because men will never credit God for anything in your life, unless you direct their attention to Him and say so. Your light merely illuminates your works to reveal that they are wrought in God. And without your light (words), men will never see His hand in your life. They will only assume that you're such a "good" person because of your good works, but who gets the "glory" and the praise? You do! But Jesus said that your light would cause men to "glorify your Father who is in heaven." Without words to illuminate the gracious works of God in your life, God gets no glory in the eyes of "men".

People will become attracted to the grace of the Lord in your life when you speak as a witness. A man once remarked, "I can't by being good tell of Jesus' atoning death and resurrection nor of my faith in Him, because the emphasis would be too much on me and too little on him."


THE POWER OF THE NAME

There is great power in the Name of Jesus! But that power is manifested only when spoken. If you will let your light shine -- speak out and identify yourself with Jesus Christ, as His witness, you will experience an adventure in power.

Joy in the journey,

Danny


The Difference Between Witnessing and Soulwinning (from my article in Reaching and Teaching e-Newsletter). If you’d like to subscribe yourself to the Reaching & Teaching e-Newsletter, just send a blank email with “subscribe R&T” in the subject line to: daniro45@hotmail.com You can unsubscribe at any time.