Personal Witnessing

by Edwin Neely, Brantford, Ontario | Category: Christian Problems In Today's World | Mar 1982

Few would argue that there is a need for an effective witness for Christ in the life of every believer. In John 15:16 Jesus tells the disciples, "Ye did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit ..." Paul reminds us in the epistle to the Romans that there was a time when we brought forth fruit unto death, but now we are joined to Christ who has been raised from the dead that we might bring forth fruit unto God (7:4). Soul winning is one way of bearing fruit and it is the wise one who wins souls. But it is one thing to know what we should do and quite another thing to do it and do it effectively. What are the problems that crowd in and make the best of intentions a series of regrets, and what can be done about them?

Practical Problems: Fear

Fear caused the early disciples to meet behind locked doors. Fear in many guises-fear of rejection, fear of what others might say, fear of being laughed at, fear of threat, fear of failure-causes us to retreat into the security of silence, and keeps us there even when the door of opportunity is knocked loudly. Fear is an evil emotion when it hinders the will of God. Witness is a simple, truthful telling of what the Lord has done for us. When we tell it and live it plainly no one can gainsay it. David had the answer to fear, the realization of just who was on his side: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1) "I am with you always," said Christ as He commissioned His witnesses. If God is for us, who is against us? "For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline. Be not ashamed therefore of the testimony of our Lord ..." (2 Tim. 1:7, 8). If fear still troubles you, try sharing your concern with a praying friend. "Wait on the Lord," continued David. "Be strong, and let thy heart take courage; yea, wait thou on the Lord." Isaiah adds, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint" (Isa. 40:31).

Comparisons

The unwise comparison of one with another caused Paul to chide the Corinthians (2 Cor. 10:12), and to remind them that to do this is to lack understanding. He had previously told them that the Holy Spirit divides to

each one severally even as He will. My gift, and therefore my responsibility, is not to be measured by the success of my brother or sister, or his progress in the assembly, or by his ability in personal testimony. Yet how often we are hindered because we try to match others of superior capability, and instead of imitating their faith, we are discouraged because of our lack of it. Don't be unhappy when another's ability seems to outweigh your own. Your responsibility is to the Lord, to use the talent given so that at the Master's return there will be the "well done, good and faithful servant" greeting and an entrance into the joy of the Lord. Of earthly comparisons with others Jesus said to Peter, "What is that to thee? Follow thou Me" (John 21:21).

Pessimism

Pessimism is not a scriptural word, but it is often used by Satan as a hindrance to personal witness. "There is no point in witnessing; I would never be very good at it.,, "I just can't think fast enough on my feet." How often have you said it? Humility is a lovely Christian trait, but it was never meant to be a hindrance to the working of the Holy Spirit through us. What I do in my own strength is nothing (John 15:5). I need to remember, "It is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for His good pleasure ... in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life" (Phil. 2:13-16). Pessimism is a state of mind that develops into fatalism. We each have to learn that God's power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9), and, "I can do all things in Him that strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13).

"Busy-ness"

"A man turned aside and brought a man unto me, and said, 'Keep this man...' And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. " (1 Kings 20:39, 40) Does this story have any resemblance to your life? If we become collectors of earthly treasures we may fall under condemnation like Israel: "... thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, by reason of the abundance of all things" (Deut. 28:47), or like some in Philippi who minded earthly things (Phil 3:19). Busy-ness robs us all of opportunity to witness, yes, even busy-ness in assembly activity. I was once told by a salesman that he couldn't take time to serve me because he was rushing to a sales meeting. Perhaps we need the perspective that he lacked. We are all busy, for we live in a very busy world, but even the busiest will have to take time if he hopes to witness. It is all a question of priority and balance, and Martha's lesson about being concerned with many things will have to be learned by the effective witness. One day the disciples, busy with things, all visited the city of Samaria, and the town saw them come and go without ever realizing that the Lord of life and glory sat on their doorstep. One deeply-touched woman followed them into the town and led the many from there to His feet. She had things to do too, but she wasn't too busy.

Impatience

"These ... having heard the word, hold it fast, and bring forth fruit with patience" (Luke 8:15). Impatience is one of the thorns that choke the fruitbearing process. It destroyed King Saul. He just could not wait for Samuel's arrival; just could not wait for God's acceptable time. In his impatience he lost the very kingdom he was striving for (1 Sam. 13). In our witness there is a temptation to try to hurry the working of the Spirit. Like the child who tries to help the hatching chick or release the moth from its cocoon, we either destroy the thing we are trying to save or deform it so that a cripple emerges instead of a strong vital organism. Perhaps in my witness I need to read James 5:7, 8 again: "Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient."

Over aggressiveness

If I have not love, I am nothing. Love suffers long, is kind, does not behave itself unseemly (see 1 Cor. 13). Zeal in personal testimony is good, but there is a careful balance between zeal and over aggressiveness. The latter spoils our witness when we press ourselves upon folk, surfeit them with attention, or turn them away with an overabundance of cloying sweetness. There is a danger of my over burdening people's minds and lives instead of waiting in prayer for the Lord to open the heart. Consider the Spirit-directed readiness of the Ethiopian eunuch's heart before Philip was called to speak to him, the necessity of Lydia's heart being opened before she could give heed to the words of Paul. We will have to wait upon the Lord for guidance to hearts already softened by the Spirit's action, and our words and actions will need to be tempered by love lest our zeal prompt an aggressiveness that might undo the gracious working of the Holy Spirit. The spirit of the hymn is good guidance: "Lead me to some soul today, and teach me Lord, just what to say."

Abiding Fruit

Here are two scriptures to consider. John 15:16: "Ye did not choose Me, but I chose you ... that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide." Mark 4:19: "And the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful." The Lord described four categories in the parable of the sower. How can we keep those to whom we witness from falling into category three, as described by Mark? By leading them to full commitment to discipleship. The new disciple may need to be helped on the subject of eternal security and perhaps with an assurance of his salvation. He will need to be taught how to read his Bible and to pray, and should be instructed about obedience to God. This will take additional time, perhaps many hours of it, and your own life will provide a standard for him to measure himself to, while your personal interest and continuing prayer for him will be of great encouragement as you gradually introduce him to others who are like-minded. A good Bible class or study group will greatly assist you, and appropriate reading material in moderate doses will also help. Fruitbearing is a gradual matter: first the blade, and then the ear, and then the full grain in the ear. It will only abide to bring forth fruit itself as it is tenderly nurtured through earnest prayer and loving care.

Finally, "Ye shall be my witnesses ... unto the uttermost part of the earth." We still have some ground to cover. May God help us to do so.

Edwin Neely, Brantford, Ontario | Mar 1982
Christian Problems In Today's World