WITNESSING

1. It is your duty,
as a Christian, to witness:

A. Jesus gave
"the Great Commission" to all His disciples:

Mat.4:19 Follow Me, & I will make you fishers of men

Mk.16:15                Go
ye into all the world, & preach the gospel

Acts
1:8 Ye shall be witnesses...unto uttermost
part of earth

Mat.28:19,20          Go
ye therefore, & teach all nations

Mk.13:10                The
gospel must...be published among all nations

Lk.24:47  Repentance & remission of sins should
be preached in His name among all nations

Jn.15:16  Ordained you, that ye should go &
bring forth fruit (See also Mat.24:14)

B. Jesus sends
you as His labourer & witness:

Isa.6:8     Whom shall I send? Here
am I; send me

Mat.9:37,38            Labourers
are few... Pray the Lord...that He will send forth labourers into His harvest

Lk.9:2      (Jesus) sent
them to preach...the Kingdom of God

Jn.20:21  As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I
you

Rom.10:14,15         How
shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall  they preach, except they be sent?

2Cor.5:20                We
are ambassadors for Christ

2. Why you need to
witness:

A. You talk
about what you believe in:

Psa.107:2                Let
the redeemed (saved) of the Lord say so

Jn.3:11    We speak that we do know,
& testify that we have seen

Acts
4:20               We...speak
the things which we have seen & heard

2Cor.4:13                I
believed, therefore have I spoken (See Psa.116:10a)

B. To save souls
from death:

Pro.14:25                A
true witness delivereth souls

Acts
26:18             To
open their eyes, turn from power of Satan unto God

Jam.5:20 He which converteth sinner...save a soul from
death

C. If you don't,
you & they will suffer:

Ezk.3:17-19             Nor
speakest to warn the wicked...his blood will I require at thine hand
(See also Acts 20:26,27)

Mk.8:38  Of him shall Son of man be ashamed when
He cometh

Lk.12:8,9 He that denieth Me before men shall be denied

1Cor.9:16                Woe
is unto me, if I preach not the gospel

2Cor.4:3  If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them
that are lost

(See
also Jer.8:20; Jon.1:1-17.)

3. Don't be shy or
ashamed to witness:

Psa.119:46              I
will speak of Thy testimonies...& not be ashamed

Isa.40:9   Lift up thy voice with strength; be
not afraid

Isa.62:6b                Ye
that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence

Mat.5:14-16           Ye
are the light of the world...cannot be hid...let (it) shine before men (See
also Mk.4:21; Lk.8:16.)

Mk.8:38  Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me & of
My Words...of him shall the Son of man be ashamed

Acts
18:9b             Be
not afraid, but speak, & hold not thy peace

Rom.1:16                I
am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ

Eph.6:18-20            (Pray)...that
I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak

1Thes.2:2               We
were bold...to speak the gospel of God

2Tim.1:8a               Be
not thou ashamed of the testimony of our Lord

(See
also Jer.1:6-9)

4. Pointers on how
to be a good witness:

Pro.18:13                [Ask
questions] He that answereth a matter before he

Jam.1:19 [Listen] Let every man be swift to hear,
slow to speak

Pro.20:5  [Get them to speak their heart] Draw it
out

Mat.12:34b            Out
of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh

Acts
26:27             [Ask
what they believe] Believest thou the prophets?

Acts
17:23-28        [Find
points of agreement] Your own poets have said

1Cor.9:19-22          I
(became) all things to all men, that I might save

Acts
26:1-20          [Give
your own personal testimony. Example of Paul's]

Mk.4:2    [Illustrate your point with
true stories] (Jesus) taught them many things by parables

Lk.13:1-5                [Use
current events: Pilate; tower of Siloam falling]

Acts
2:40               [Patiently
explain] And with many other words did He

Psa.126:5,6             [Have
a broken heart] Sow in tears...reap in joy

Mat.9:36 He was moved with compassion on
them (lost sheep)

1Cor.13:1                [Speak
in love, or it's just empty words like sound ing brass or a tinkling
cymbal]

1Sam.16:23             [Music
has spiritual power: Example of David playing the harp for King Saul]

Lk.14:23  [Be zealous & determined] Compel
them to come in

1Ki.18:21a              [Bring
them to a decision] How long halt ye between two opinions? (See Josh.24:15;
Heb.3:7,8a; 2Cor.6:2.)

5. Use the Word
in your witnessing:

A. The Word is
powerful & convinces people:

2Chr.17:9                They
had the book of the law of the Lord with them... & went about...&
taught the people

Lk.8:5,11 Sower sowed seed...the seed is the Word
of God

Jn.4:41,42               Many
more believed because of His Own Word...Now we believe, not because of (the
woman's) saying

Jn.5:39    Search the Scriptures...they
testify of Me (Jesus)

Jn.20:31  These written that ye might believe Jesus
is Christ

Acts
17:2,3            Paul...reasoned
with them out of the Scriptures

Acts
18:28             He
mightily convinced...showing by the Scriptures

Tit.1:9     The Word, sound
doctrine...convince the gainsayers

B. Scripture
memorisation is important to witnessing:

Psa.119:42              Wherewith
to answer him...for I trust in Thy Word

Pro.22:17-21           Answer
words of truth to them that send unto thee

Mal.2:6   The law of truth was in his
mouth...he did turn many away from iniquity

Mat.12:34b,35a     A good man out of the
good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things

Acts
13:32-35        [Quote
the Word:] As it is written in the second Psalm

2Tim.4:2 Preach the Word...exhort with all...doctrine

1Pet.3:15                Be
ready always to give an answer to every man

6. Keeping your
witness simple:

Jn.12:32  And I, (Jesus) if I be
lifted up...will draw all men unto Me

1Cor.1:17                Preach
the gospel: not with wisdom of words

1Cor.2:1,2               I
came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom 1Cor.2:4 My preaching not with
enticing words of man's wisdom

1Cor.14:9                Except
ye utter words easy to be understood...how shall it be known what is spoken?

2Cor.1:12                In
simplicity & sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom

2Cor.3:12                We
use great plainness of speech

7. What you should
preach (witness about):

A. Preach the
gospel; preach Jesus:

Isa.58:1   Show My people their transgression
&...sins

Mat.28:19,20          Teach...all
things whatsoever I have commanded you

Mk.16:15                Preach
the gospel [good news of salvation in Jesus]

Lk.9:2      (Jesus) sent them
to preach the Kingdom of God

Jn.3:16    [That they can have eternal
life by believing in Jesus]

Acts
4:2b               They
taught...the resurrection from the dead

Acts
5:42               They
ceased not to teach & preach Jesus Christ

Acts
13:32-35        [Jesus
fulfilled Old Testament Messianic prophecies]

Acts
13:38             Through
(Jesus) is preached forgiveness of sins

Acts
20:21             Testifying...repentance
toward God, faith toward Jesus

Rom.5:8  God commendeth His love toward us...while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us

1Cor.1:23                We
preach Christ crucified

1Cor.15:3                I
delivered unto you, that Christ died for our sins

1Cor.15:4                And
that He was buried & rose again (from the dead)

2Cor.4:5  We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus
the Lord

2Cor.5:20                We
pray you...Be ye reconciled to God

1Tim.1:15               That
Jesus came into the world to save sinners

1Jn.4:14  We testify...the Father sent the Son to
be the saviour (See also Acts 10:42; 24:25a; Eph.3:8.)

B. What not to talk
about:

1Cor.3:2  Not with meat (strong doctrines)...ye
were not able to bear it

1Thes.2:3-6            Our
exhortation was not of deceit, nor in guile. Neither at any time used we
flattering words

2Tim.2:23               Foolish
& unlearned questions avoid

Tit.3:9     Avoid foolish
questions...& contentions & strivings

Heb.5:14 Strong meat (doctrine) belongeth to (the
mature)

8. Who to witness
to:

A. Jesus commanded
us to witness to the whole world:

Mk.16:15                Preach
the gospel to every creature (person)

Mat.28:19               Go
ye therefore, & teach all nations

Lk.8:39    Return to thine own
house...show how great things

Mk.5:19  Go home to thy friends, & tell them

Mat.11:5b              The
poor have the gospel preached to them

Isa.61:1   Preach good tidings unto the meek

Acts
26:22a           Witnessing
both to small & great

Rom.15:20,21         I
strived to preach...to they that have not heard

Acts
22:21             Unto
the Gentiles [people of faraway nations]

Acts
28:28             Salvation
sent unto Gentiles [receptive heathen]

Acts
17:18-21        [To
curious philosophers & intellectuals]

Ezk.2:7    [Give everyone a chance, even
the rebellious]

Ezk.3:17,18             Warn
the wicked to turn from his wicked way

B. Who not
to witness to:

Mat.9:13b              I
am not come to call the righteous, but sinners

Pro.23:9  Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he
will despise

Acts
13:45,46        [Don't
continue witnessing to unreceptive rejectors] Mat.7:6 Give not that which is
holy unto dogs [unreceptive people], neither cast your pearls before swine

Acts
18:6               When
they opposed & blasphemed...he said, I will go

Mat.10:14               Whosoever
shall...not hear your words...depart

Tit.3:10,11              Heretic
after the first & second admonition reject

Pro.14:7  Go from the presence of a foolish man

9. A winning
personal example:

A. Your personal example
is part of your witness:

Mat.5:16 Let your light so shine...men may see
your works

Phi.2:15,16a           Be
blameless & harmless...shine as lights in the world; holding forth the Word
of life

1Tim.4:12b             Be
thou an example of the believers

2Cor.3:2  Ye are our epistle
(letter)...known and read of all men

Tit.2:7,8  In all things showing a pattern of good
works

1Pet.3:1,2               [Unbelieving
mates to be won by believer's sample] (See also 1Tim.5:14b)

Jn.13:35  By this shall all men know that ye
are My disciples, if ye have love one to another

B. Sample of
happiness is appealing:

Psa.51:12,13           Restore
unto me the joy of Thy salvation. Then sinners  shall be converted unto Thee

C. Lovingly win
others, not by arguing:

1Thes.1:7,8            We
were gentle...affectionately desirous of you

2Tim.2:23,24          The
servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle

(See
also 1Cor.13:1,2,8)

D. Personal example
must back up your witness:

Jn.13:15  I (Jesus) have given an example, ye
should do as I

Rom.2:21-24           Thou
which teachest another, teachest thou not thy self? Thou that sayest man should
not...dost thou?

(See
also 1Cor.11:1; 1Tim.6:1; Tit.2:4,5.)

10. When to
witness:

A. We are to constantly
witness:

Eccl.11:6 In the morning sow thy seed, & in the
evening

Jn.4:35    Look on the fields; they are
white already to harvest

Acts
5:42               Daily
in the temple, & in every house, they ceased not

2Tim.4:2 In season, out of season [even
when "not convenient"]

1Pet.3:15                Be
ready always to give an answer to every man

(See
also Acts 20:31)

B. Pray for God to
"open up" witnessing opportunities:

Col.4:3    Praying...that God would open
unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ

C. Wait until it's
God's time to witness to certain people:

Mat.10:5-7             Go
not into the way of the Gentiles...but go rather... [But later said,] Go into all
the world"--Mk.16:15

Acts
16:6,7            (Paul)
forbidden...to preach...in Asia [but did with great success a
couple years later--Acts 19:1,10]

11. Where to
witness:

In
your own house (Acts 28:30,31); In every house (Acts 5:42); From house to house
(Acts 20:20); In schools & lecture halls (Acts 19:9,10); In church
(Heb.2:12); In marketplaces (Acts 17:17 ); In different racial neighbourhoods
(Jn.4:1-42); In the streets, lanes, highways, hedges (Lk.14:21b,23 ); All over
the city (Lk.8:39b); In cars [chariots] (Acts 8:29-35); On boats (Acts
27:22-25); In prison (Phi.1:12,13); In court (Mat.10:18-20); In the wilderness
(Mat.3:1,2); Everywhere (Acts 8:4).

12. The
"fruit" Christians should bear is other Christians, new saved souls:

Lk.8:5-15                ["The
Parable of the Sower"] (See also Mat.13:3-8, 18-23; Mk.4:2-8,14-20.)

Lk.8:11    The seed is the Word of God
[which we sow in hearts]

Mk.4:14  The sower (witnesser) soweth the Word

Pro.11:30                He
that winneth souls is wise

Jn.12:24  But if it die (to self), it bringeth
forth much fruit

Jn.15:5    He that abideth in
Me...bringeth forth much fruit

Jn.15:8    Herein is (God) glorified,
that ye bear much fruit

Rom.7:4  Married to (Jesus)...bring forth fruit
unto God

13. The Holy Spirit
& witnessing:

A. The Holy Spirit
anoints you to witness about Jesus:

Isa.61:1   Spirit of the Lord upon
me...anointed me to preach

Acts
1:8 Ye shall receive power, after that the
Holy Ghost is come upon you: & ye shall be witnesses

Acts
4:29-31          They
were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake the Word of God with boldness

1Thes.1:5               Our
gospel came...in power, & in the Holy Ghost

(See
also Col.1:27-29)

B. Only God &
His Holy Spirit can really win people:

Jn.6:44    No man can come to Me, except
the Father...draw him

Zech.4:6b               Not
by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit

Mat.10:20               It
is not ye, but the Spirit...which speaketh in you

Jn.15:5    Without Me ye can do nothing

1Cor.3:6,7               I
have planted...but God gave the increase

14. Witnessing, the
greatest work on earth:

A. Witnessing is a
job worth giving all for:

Mat.4:19-22           Follow
Me, & I will make you fishers of men...they left their nets (See
also Lk.5:9-11)

Mk.8:35  Lose his life for My sake & the gospel's

Mk.10:29                [Leave
house, family, wife, lands for gospel's sake]

Lk.9:59,60               Let
the dead bury the dead: but go thou & preach

B. Heavenly reward
for witnessing:

Pro.11:30                He
that winneth souls is wise

Dan.12:3 They that be wise shall shine...and they that
turn many to righteousness as the stars (See Mat.13:43)

Lk.12:8    Him shall the Son of man
confess before the angels

1Cor.3:8b               Every
man receive...reward according to his labours

1Cor.9:16,17a         If
I (preach the gospel) willingly, I have a reward

15. Reactions to
the gospel:

A. The receptive
believe the Word:

Jon.3:1-9                [Jonah
preached in Ninevah, & entire city repented]

Jn.4:39-42               [Samaritans
at Sychar received Jesus & believed]

Acts
8:5,6,8,14      [Philip
preached in Samaria]...people with one accord gave heed...Samaria received the
Word of God

Acts
16:14             Lydia...whose
heart the Lord opened...she (listened)

Acts
16:32-34        They
spake unto him the Word...he rejoiced, believing

B. The unreceptive
reject the Word:

Lk.8:5,12 Devil taketh away Word, lest they believe

1Cor.1:18                Preaching...is
to them that perish foolishness

2Cor.4:4  The god of this world blinded minds of
(unbelieving)

(See
also Jer.36:all)

C. Unpopularity
& persecution because of witnessing:

Lk.6:22    Men shall cast out your name
as evil, for (Jesus') sake

Jn.7:7      The
world...hateth (Me), because I testify it (is) evil

Acts
16:20,21        These
men do exceedingly trouble our city, & teach customs which are not lawful

D. Our witness a
testimony against the unrepentant:

Mat.10:18               Brought
before kings...for a testimony against them

Mk.6:11  Shake off dust...for a testimony against
them

Jn.12:48  The Word that I have spoken...shall judge
him

16. Witnessing
boldly despite opposition:

A. Neither threats,
persecution nor martyrdom should stop us:

Lk.21:12-15            They
shall persecute you...I will give you wisdom

Act
4:29,31,33       Behold
their threatenings...spake Word with boldness Act 14:1-3a Long time abode they
speaking boldly in the Lord

Act
20:24               None
of these things move me, neither count life dear

1Thes.2:2               Even
after we suffered...we were bold to speak

Rev.6:9   Them that were slain for Word of
God & testimony

Rev.12:11               They
overcame him by the Word...loved not their lives Rev.20:4 Them that were
beheaded for the witness of Jesus

B. Witness even if
man's laws forbid it:

Amos
7:12-15        [Evil
priest said:] Prophesy not at Bethel...The Lord said unto me
(Amos), Go, prophesy

Mat.10:16               Be
ye wise as serpents, harmless as doves

Lk.10:3    I send you forth as lambs
among wolves: be wise

Acts
4:17-20          We
cannot but speak the things we have seen & heard

Acts
5:27-29          We
ought to obey God rather than men

Acts
5:40-42          Commanded
they should not speak. They ceased not

17. More verses
about witnessing & testifying:

A. From the Old
Testament:

Deut.32:3
(I will publish the name of the Lord); 1Chr.16:8             (Make
known His deeds among the people); Psa.9:11 (Declare among the people His
doings); Psa.18:49 (I give thanks unto Thee among the heathen); Psa.26:7
(Publish...tell of all Thy wondrous works); Psa.66:16 (I will declare what He
hath done for my soul); Psa.71:15 (My mouth shall show forth...Thy salvation
all the day); Psa.89:1 (With my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to
all); Psa.96:3 (Declare His...wonders among all people); Psa.96:10 (Say among
the heathen that the Lord reigneth); Psa.119:13 (With my lips have I declared
judgments of Thy mouth); Psa.119:27 (So shall I talk of Thy wondrous works);
Psa.145:4-7 (I will speak of glorious honour of Thy majesty); Psa.145:11,12
(Make known to the sons of men His mighty acts); Isa.43:10a (Ye are My witnesses,
saith the Lord); Isa.52:7 (How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him
that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace).

B. From the New
Testament:

Mk.16:20
(They went forth, & preached everywhere); Lk.8:1       (Preaching & showing glad
tidings of the Kingdom); Jn.4:39 (Many believed on Him for the saying of the
woman); Jn.21:17 (Lovest thou Me? Feed My sheep); Acts 5:20 (Go, speak to the
people...all the words of this life); Acts 5:32 (And we are His witnesses of
these things); Acts 10:42 (He commanded us to preach unto the people, & to
testify); Acts 13:49 (Word of the Lord published throughout all the region);
Acts 18:25 (Being fervent in spirit, he spake & taught diligently); Acts
22:15 (Thou shalt be His witness unto all men); Rom.10:15b (How beautiful are
the feet of them that preach the gospel); 2Tim.2:2 (The things which thou hast
heard...commit to faithful men, who shall...teach others); 2Tim.4:2 (Preach the
Word; be instant in season, out of season).