2020-04-03
Good Morning Dear Ones,
As I obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit providing support Scriptures for the book of Colossians and discussing the relationships between mankind and God, as well as mankind and other people, we will look at the second prime directive. The prime directives are: 1) study the word of God and know it well, and 2) share it accurately with all who will listen. The word of God is transmitted primarily by setting and example and speaking about it, presenting it in a class setting or less formally as it comes up in conversation. My experience with this is that if transmittal is done effectively, God will let you know by giving you peace of mind afterward.
It’s easy to say, “what works for me may not work for you,” as far as the method chosen is concerned. However, there are some general points that can be made and to which attention should be given. Living God’s teaching gives a presentation that is often easy to understand by an observer. One really needs to do this in any event. Being self-satisfied is not really living God’s word. Genuine humility is always appropriate. As with anything else, practicing what is preached is always better than assuming God’s teaching artificially. I’m a great believer in relational witnessing, if called upon to share the Gospel. This isn’t always possible, because there are times when the situation calls for quicker action. Relational witnessing means taking time to get to know the seeker first, to find where he is in his faith walk and what is bringing him to the place where he has become a seeker. This way, his questions arise out of normal conversation. Care is always to be taken of being tuned in to a person’s emotional and spiritual state at the time.
Some rules to follow that I’ve used successfully are: 1. Pray first, when you know ahead that you will be witnessing to your faith. 2. Ask open-ended questions that will lead to a discussion of what the seeker is thinking and feeling. 3. Listen carefully without interrupting until the seeker is finished speaking. Doing this can totally redirect the path of the conversation to key issues. 4. Genuinely, take interest in the seeker as a person. 5. Use real illustrations and easy to understand language, so your answers will be interesting to those who hear them. 6. Pay attention to timing on having a witnessing discussion. Pick a time when the seeker is not preoccupied or uncomfortable. Be sensitive to a seeker’s feelings. Obey the need for confidentiality. Always ask permission to find if the seeker wants to hear what you want to say. For example, “Now that we’ve discussed all these principles, may I share how I came to faith and what it means to my life?” This type of question should come after the seeker has discussed himself first. Keep discussion of your own experience brief, never droning on and on. 7. Remember, this discussion is focused on the seeker, not the witness. 8. Never play “one-up” with the seeker. Keep competition of this sort out of the conversation. 9. Use God’s words wherever applicable. 10. When sharing your own story, always use this pattern: BC = before Christ entered my life; TP = turning point; AD = Anno Domini (after Christ entered my life). It really helps to let the seeker know Christ’s power to bring goodness to us. 11. Never be aggressive or force yourself on a potential believer. Remember 1 PET 3: 15-17. Approach a seeker with gentleness and respect. 12. Never forget that the example we set may speak more powerfully than our words. So, be prepared to witness, as the opportunity presents itself, and look for God’s work around and with you.
It’s appropriate for me to repeat COL 4: 5-6, “Be wise in the way you act toward those who are not believers, making good use of every opportunity you have. Your speech should always be pleasant and interesting, and you should know how to give the right answer to everyone” That last sentence means that if the seeker comes from a different belief system or has different customs, be respectful toward them and do your homework, if the customs or belief system is unfamiliar to you. Never use inflammatory language. To a Jewish person, the use of the words “Jesus Christ” wouldn’t be appropriate. Refer to our Deity as “God” or “The Lord” instead. Islam teaches modesty beyond what the western belief systems require for women’s dress. Even if you disagree with its view, be respectful toward it. (Islamic women are required to wear a covering on their heads). Never go into the presence of a different culture with the attitude, “Its my responsibility to ‘convert the neophyte.’” When answering the questions of an LDS seeker, don’t use this opportunity to discuss some of the more political criticisms about this denomination which you’ve recently read. God’s teaching and common sense should always be the order of the day.
PRAYER: O Lord, You have so generously showered us with grace, that the least we can do is to witness with kindness, accuracy, and respect for the seeker. As a responsible witness, we need to have studied the Bible well, learned it well, live by it, and dip liberally into the wisdom You give us. There can be hard work in this but also great joy. The Holy Spirit led me to discuss good ways to witness and right attitudes to have in today’s devotion. I use the last word of the previous sentence, “devotion,” because that is what You give me to share best describe how I about You. By now, all of us understand the gravity and joy bundled into the responsibility to share our faith with others. Believers in the Lord Jesus enjoy sweet and lasting friendships, when they share their faith with other believers. This is a way God grows us in spiritual maturity. The responsibility to share our faith with seekers is divinely- inspired. We pledge to train ourselves to carry out this function with accuracy, good listening, and respect. We pledge You our love and devotion as a way of acknowledging the good You bring to our lives. You are a loving, kind, and generous God. This prayer is offered up in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: God has His own ways of making His presence known, when help is needed, when doing a task for Him, when needing healing or protection, and when delving into His wisdom for direction. Next week, the Holy Spirit commands me to write about the grace He gives us. We are nearing the end of this “Knowing God” series, and my next series will begin in about a month or so. It will be about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are delineated in GA 5: 22-23. It is my hope that I am serving you, my readers, while I serve God. There are two passages which are very special to me. I will repeat them here and hope they become that way for you too. PS 145: 17-19, “The Lord is righteous in all He does, merciful in all His acts. He is near to those who call to Him, who call to Him with sincerity. He supplies the needs of those who honor Him; He hears their cries and saves them.” PS 40: 1-3, “I waited patiently for the Lord’s help, then He listened to me and heard my cry. He pulled me out of a dangerous pit, out of the deadly quicksand. He set me safely on a Rock and made me secure. He taught me to sing a new song, a song of praise to our God. Many who see this and will take warning and put their trust in the Lord.” HE 11: 1 gives a simple definition of faith. “To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.” However, COL 1: 26-27 delves deeper into what happens when a Christian has faith in Jesus Christ. The secret God has revealed now is “His plan to make known this rich and glorious secret, that Christ is in you, which means that you will share all the glory of God. So, we preach in Christ for everyone. With all possible wisdom…in order to bring each one into God’s presence as a mature individual in union with Christ.” COL 2: 2b-3, “This sharing is so that we may drawn together in love and have the full wealth of assurance, which true understanding brings. He is the Key that opens all the hidden treasures of God’s wisdom and knowledge.” Praise and thanks be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2020. All Rights Reserved.
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