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THEME: VISION OF THE HARVEST IN THE LATTER TIMES
LESSON: FIVE TOPIC: HOW TO WITNESS THE GOSPEL TO THE DEAD AND THE LOST
TEXT: Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 16:18; Matt. 5:13-15; 1 Timothy 2:4-6; John 3:14-21; Habakkuk 2:14;
OBJECTIVES
● To give scriptural insight into the believer’s responsibility and approach in witnessing and propagating the gospel to the world
● To emphasize the role and functionality of the Holy Spirit, and how believers are to engage Him in witnessing to the dead and the lost
INTRODUCTION
● Every man is continually being preached to, and all men give heed to one message or another. Much of this communication is influenced by Satan and is designed to keep man on the path of death. Man can only be intercepted from this course through the preaching of the gospel (Proverbs 14:12; 1 Corinthians 1:21)
● Many voices within the earth continually speak to man, and satan has emboldened most men to propagate their evil ways and influence others for the sake of acceptance and conformity. Yet the gospel is often despised, and even believers are intimidated in standing for and declaring their convictions (1 Corinthians 14:10; Romans 1:16).
● Though the gospel is accompanied by much angelic activity and divine assistance, believers remain God’s appointed vessels to bear and proclaim the message to the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8; Mathew 28:18-19; Ps 68:11)
● Every platform and medium has been influenced by the adversary to keep man in continual exposure to corruption, yet these same channels can be employed by believers for the propagation of the gospel. Believers are not to wait for a supposedly convenient moment to preach Christ; witnessing ought to be a continual manner of spirit-filled life (2 Timothy 4:2; Acts 5:42; Acts 2:14-17).
● Therefore, every believer must discern and attend to the world around them that is in need of the gospel, for many have been overtaken by Satan’s deception and remain ignorant of the truth and salvation found in Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4; Jude 1:22).
BASIC UNDERSTANDING A BELIEVER SHOULD HAVE ABOUT WITNESSING THE GOSPEL
● God owns all souls, and He alone draws men unto salvation. By the Holy Ghost, He convicts men and regenerates the dead spirit. Therefore, a believer must maintain both compassion and zeal, understanding clearly that his role is to bear the message of the gospel, while conviction and the turning of the heart belong to God (John 6:44, 16:7-8; 1 Corinthians 3:6).
● Witnessing involves standing in faith, patience, and persistence. A believer must be instant in speaking the Word and remain in faith concerning the potency of the gospel to transform lives. While some may believe and respond to the gospel at the first hearing, others may require a process or a series of events orchestrated by the Lord before coming to salvation, especially unsaved loved ones (2 Timothy 4:2; Galatians 6:9).
● The gospel is preached to the spiritually dead that they may believe, and to the lost that they may repent. The unsaved are required to believe and confess Christ in order to receive the salvation found in the Son. Therefore, both the dead and the lost must be witnessed to so they may be delivered from the hand of the adversary (Rom 10:9,17; Acts 3:19)
● Witnessing does not involve arguments, oppression, judgment, discrimination, condemnation, or pressuring others into salvation, but rather the sincere presentation of the gospel in love, truth, and meekness (2 Timothy 2:24–25; Ephesians 4:15; Colossians 4:6).
● Importantly, a believer must remain dynamic by the Spirit and be careful to follow the promptings within his spirit concerning the steps to take and the approach to use in ensuring that the spiritually dead are brought to salvation (Proverbs 25:11; Colossians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 9:22).
● A believer's life is the greatest witness. Christ should be manifested through conduct and daily living, while faithfully praying according to the Scriptures for the salvation of unsaved loved ones and family members (1 Tim 4:12, 2:1-4; Acts 16:31).
PRACTICES & APPROACH TO EFFECTIVE WITNESSING
● Prayer is essential, for nothing should be done without it. Every soul belongs to the Lord and is reached through prayer and the gospel. Therefore, a believer must be continually given to prayer in order to witness effectively (Acts 4: 24-31; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2)
● Genuine burden and passion for the lost are cultivated in the place of prayer. It is also in prayer that believers receive direction concerning what to say and how to witness. Therefore, a believer is not expected to engage in witnessing through zeal alone, but strategically through the leading of the Spirit (Matthew 9:36-38)
● Speaking: Believers must not remain silent about the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ, but should boldly and eagerly proclaim His love, His sacrifice, and His power to save. (Mark 16:15; Acts 4:20)
● Witnessing is not based on human eloquence or wisdom, but on dependence on the Holy Spirit to proclaim the free gift and victory of Jesus Christ. Believers must step out in faith, remain flexible to the Spirit’s leading, and avoid overreliance on past experiences or knowledge. (Mark 13:11; 1 Corinthians 2:1-4; Acts 8:35)
● Right Knowledge & Approach: The primary concern in witnessing is whether a person has believed in their heart and confessed Jesus with their mouth. They should be led through the process of believing and confessing, rather than focusing first on past sins or denominational beliefs (Romans 10:9-10) .
● Witnessing is about revealing man’s need and God’s provision through Jesus Christ, leading people to experience the new birth and then followed by the baptism of the Holy Ghost (John 3:7; Acts 19:2-6 ).
● At times, the circumstances and needs of the unsaved become the avenue through which the Lord reaches them. The moment of harvest may come through a longing in the heart, a question in the mind, or a physical need. Therefore, a believer must remain spiritually sensitive to discern these opportunities (John 4:10-14; Acts 26:24-28) .
● Just as Paul the Apostle spoke about the “unknown God,” and Philip the Evangelist ministered through the Ethiopian eunuch’s question, many were also reached through attendance to their needs. Genuine concern for people’s souls makes witnessing more effective than speaking out of mere obligation. (Acts 8:30-35; Acts 17:23; Mark 10:46-52)
● Gifts of the Spirit: Witnessing may oftentimes be accompanied by gifts of the Spirit, such as the revelational gifts or power gifts. Hence, a believer must be sensitive to pick how the Lord would have him minister. This sensitivity gets stronger in the place of prayer, fellowship, and obedience. (Acts 3:1-10; Acts 13:6-12)
● Interest in People: Heartfelt care and genuine love expressed through our conversations and interactions help open men’s hearts to receive from us. Whether with those we encounter daily or briefly, believers should remain attentive to their countenance and circumstances. As we sincerely care for people, the Holy Spirit grants wisdom and direction concerning how best to minister to them (Mathew 5:16; 1 Corinthians 16:14) .
RELYING ON AND WITNESSING BY THE SPIRIT (Acts 1:8)
● It is the nature and ministry of the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, to bear witness. He continually speaks and is deeply burdened for the salvation of men. Since conviction is wrought through the Holy Ghost, the field of the spiritually dead and the lost cannot be effectively reached apart from Him (John 16:8; Acts 1:8)
● The indwelling and infilling of the Holy Spirit equip the believer to witness effectively to unbelievers. The Holy Spirit is the believer’s helper and enabler in evangelism. Therefore, the believer must not be governed by self-consciousness, but by dependence upon the Holy Spirit, who knows the way to every heart (Acts 1:8; Luke 24:46-49)
● The Holy Spirit provides direction concerning the timing and manner of witnessing. As He grants utterance, wisdom, and spiritual skill, the believer becomes effective in reaching the lost. Paul’s Macedonian call clearly demonstrates the leading role of the Holy Spirit in the work of evangelism (Acts 16:9–10; Matthew 10:20)
● A believer’s personal/character limitations are overcome as he yields himself to the Holy Spirit. Through the infilling of the Spirit, boldness, wisdom, and the proper manner of ministry are supplied, enabling effective witness and ministration (Acts 4:31; 1 Corinthians 2:4; Acts 4:13)
● Witnessing by the Spirit is often accompanied by signs, wonders, and miracles, for the believer is endued with power by the Holy Ghost. Therefore, witnessing requires stepping out in faith and obedience to the Spirit. A believer should not fear praying for or ministering to others as directed by the Lord (Mark 16:15-17; Matthew 10:5-8)