Based upon the Great Commission, the primary business of every Christian should be the winning of souls. It is God’s plan that every Christian should be concerned to make the Savior known to as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. God alone saves souls, but He has ordained that this work shall primarily be done through (not by) human instruments. This places a great responsibility on those of us who know Christ, paying attention to our obedience and faithfulness.
Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
No witnessing will ever be successful that does not proceed from a Christ-like life, and no testimony is so powerful as that of a changed life. The greatest proof to the world of the risen Christ is a Christian, one in whom He lives and through whom His life is flowing (John 7:38-39). Every Christian can witness for the Lord in this way – look up Luke 8:35; 39, and then notice the following three illustrations of the power of a transformed life: Joseph – Genesis 39:2-3; Lazarus – John 12:10-11; the man at the Beautiful Gate – Acts 4:14. In an unostentatious way we must all seek to witness for the Lord, whose we are and whom we serve (Acts 27:23), by what we are, what we do and what we do not do!
Yes, every Christian – Psalm 107:2! If the Lord has saved us we can tell others what He has done for us, and our excuses for not speaking are not only unreasonable but unworthy. In the early church the Christians told all whom they met about their wonderful Lord (Acts 4:20). We should all tell the good news about Jesus in the way that Philip did in Acts 8:35 – and see Acts 5:42. To some may be given the additional privilege of more public witnessing, of preaching to the crowd (Acts 8:5), taking a Sunday School class, conducting services in hospitals, prisons, in the open air…There is great need for more preachers who can witness in this way, and the Lord promises to supply their need – Jeremiah 1:4-9.
Where it is possible, Christians should join a church or assembly of the Lord’s people. This is not only for their own spiritual welfare (Hebrews 10:24-25), and for the help of other Christians (Galatians 6:2); it is also a definite form of open witness to the Lord Himself (Acts 3:1).
There are great promises to all who will serve God in this way – see 2 Kings 10:10 (first part); Psalm 126:6; Ecclesiastes 11:1; 11:6; Isaiah 55:10-11; Galatians 6:9. D.L. Moody always distributed tracts when he was on a train journey. Hudson Taylor was converted through reading a tract!
Many Christians have found great scope and blessing in this ministry by prayerfully writing and posting to those who are ill, in trouble, leaving the district, starting a new job, at college…and encouraging them to seek the Lord (Isaiah 55:6).
A humble Australian, Frank Jenner, dedicated his life and witness to the Lord’s service by asking people on the streets of Sydney: “If you died tonight, where would you go – heaven or hell?” Very shortly before his death he discovered that scores of people around the world had subsequently found Christ as a result of that one encounter.
Our homes should bear testimony that we are the Lord’s: a greeting sign at the door; Bible on display. Publicly, giving thanks at a restaurant testifies that we belong to Him. Kindness to a neighbor in trouble opens the door to a witness…we can continue the list! While methods vary, there is no excuse for not witnessing!
