Sharing Jesus

Sharing Jesus, Concepts & Understanding For Successful Witnessing-

Sharing Jesus: Often when people start witnessing, they hope that everyone they talk to will receive Jesus and become saved immediately. If this doesn’t happen, people can become discouraged. With a little more information from scripture, we find that some Sow and some Reap.  Another concern is the purity of conversion if they do decide to accept. It can be discouraging if you see someone say “yes” to Jesus, say a prayer, and then nothing seems to happen after that. We find in scripture that seed falls on all types of ground to varying affects of growth and longevity. The final one is when someone says “no”. If you get too many of these in a row, it can be hard to overcome. Again, scripture addresses this also. Sometimes they might say “yes” later, when they are not with you. So, we are going to point out some scriptures that will help us not get discouraged and keep the faith, regardless of the outcome of the witnessing trip. They will help us have faith in God and Jesus and remind us that it is the Holy Spirit that does the work of converting; we are just the messenger, inviter, and seed planter. And in that, you will have 100% success if you just work for the Lord.

Sharing Jesus

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Sharing Jesus: The Few & The Bold

• Matthew 9:37 “Then He said to His disciples, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few.”

• Isaiah 6:8 “I heard the voice of the Lord say, “Whom will I send? Who will go on our behalf?” I answered, “Here I am, send me!”

• Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,  (20)  teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

• Matthew 10:16 “I am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

• Proverbs 28:1 “The wicked flee when no man pursues; but the righteous are bold as a lion.”

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Sharing: Physical, Logical, & Spiritual

Luke 14:23 “Then the master told the servant, ‘Go out into the streets and the lanes and make the people come in, so that my house may be full.”

2 Corinthians 5:20 “Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”

2 Corinthians 5:11 “Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people. We ourselves are perfectly known to God. I hope we are also really known to your consciences.”

1 Peter 3:15-16 “But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.  (16)  Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you.”

Revelation 12:11 “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony. And they did not love their soul until death.”

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The Proper Understanding Breakdown 

Some Plant, Some Water- It’s All Good: 

Sometimes you are the planter and see no immediate return, and sometimes you get to water and see the growth. God needs both types of workers. Sometimes you can be both on the same day, dealing with different people. The main thing is not to concern yourself with which one you are. Just be whatever is needed at that time, and you have the victory. Remember: Faithful Labor Is True Success!

1 Corinthians 3:5-9 “What is Apollos, really? Or what is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, and each of us in the ministry the Lord gave us.  (6)  I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow.  (7)  So neither the one who plants counts for anything, nor the one who waters, but God who causes the growth.  (8)  The one who plants and the one who waters work as one, but each will receive his reward according to his work.  (9)  We are coworkers belonging to God. You are God’s field, God’s building.”

So, the one who plants seed (This would be you, in the power of Jesus) goes out and casts his/her seed. And it falls on four types of ground. Three out of the four grounds do not produce long term lasting growth.  ¾ of the seed was lost. Yet, ¼ of the seed that fell on good ground produces 100 and 60 fold. So three seeds are lost, but no worry, the one good seed produces 60 to 100 more seeds. This should encourage you. Not all will convert, and some that do convert won’t make it through to the budding stage of growth. But the ones that do will quickly multiply for even greater growth. Remember: Jesus had 12, then 11, disciples and He changed the world. Don’t even think about the number of people- get excited about the ones that have a passionate conversion that produce true spiritual growth.

Matthew 13:3-9 “He told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow.  (4)  And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.  (5)  Other seeds fell on rocky ground where they did not have much soil. They sprang up quickly because the soil was not deep.  (6)  But when the sun came up, they were scorched, and because they did not have sufficient root, they withered.  (7)  Other seeds fell among the thorns, and they grew up and choked them.  (8)  But other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.  (9)  The one who has ears had better listen!”

~The Explanation

Matthew 13:18-23  “So listen to the parable of the sower:  (19)  When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches what was sown in his heart; this is the seed sown along the path.  (20)  The seed sown on rocky ground is the person who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.  (21)  But he has no root in himself and does not endure; when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away.  (22)  The seed sown among thorns is the person who hears the word, but worldly cares and the seductiveness of wealth choke the word, so it produces nothing.  (23)  But as for the seed sown on good soil, this is the person who hears the word and understands. He bears fruit, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.”

Sheep’s and Goats:

The sheep (Those who act like the shepherd) The Goats (Those who don’t act like the shepherd). They are allowed to be together until “the shepherd” decides to separate them. The true and false mingle together until the end. Don’t worry yourself with this; the Shepherd will deal with it in time.

Matthew 25:31-46 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.  (32)  All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  (33)  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.  (34)  Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  (35)  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  (36)  I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’

~The Explanation

Matthew 25:37-46  Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  (38)  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you?  (39)  When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’  (40)  And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’  (41)  “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!  (42)  For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink.  (43)  I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’  (44)  Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?’  (45)  Then he will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’  (46)  And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Wheat and Tares:

The Wheat (Those planted by Jesus) The Tares (Those planted by the devil). Again, the pure and the profane grow up together. The Lord of the harvest will separate the two at the end of time. It is not our job to separate the true and the false conversions. Who really knows what God will do with someone in time? Stay cool and let the Lord of the harvest do His perfect work.

Matthew 13:24-30 “He presented them with another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a person who sowed good seed in his field.  (25)  But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and sowed darnel among the wheat and went away.  (26)  When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the darnel also appeared.  (27)  So the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the darnel come from?’  (28)  He said, ‘An enemy has done this!’ So the slaves replied, ‘Do you want us to go and gather it?’  (29)  But he said, ‘No, since in gathering the darnel you may uproot the wheat along with it.  (30)  Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burned, but then gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

~The Explanation

Matthew 13:36-43 “Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him saying, “Explain to us the parable of the darnel in the field.”  (37)  He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.  (38)  The field is the world and the good seed are the people of the kingdom. The poisonous weeds are the people of the evil one,  (39)  and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.  (40)  As the poisonous weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be at the end of the age.  (41)  The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everything that causes sin as well as all lawbreakers.  (42)  They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  (43)  Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears had better listen!”

We are given an example in this parable on how we are to go about our witnessing. To sum it up, Cast a Wide Net, and don’t throw any fish back. Send out all the invitations to the good, the bad, and the ugly (Lol. Sorry, couldn’t resist the reference.) What I’m saying is: God wants us to just go, tell, and invite. To show no prejudice in whom we invite. We don’t know who will or won’t come or make it. We aren’t even supposed to be concerned with that when we are witnessing. We are just to call all to the party, the Lord of the House with deal with it. See also the Ten Virgins: Matthew 25:1-13. From clothes to oil in the lamps, God will discern the guests ready to go to the party.

Matthew 22:1-14 “Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying:  (2)  “The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.  (3)  He sent his slaves to summon those who had been invited to the banquet, but they would not come.  (4)  Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Look! The feast I have prepared for you is ready. My oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.”’  (5)  But they were indifferent and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.  (6)  The rest seized his slaves, insolently mistreated them, and killed them.  (7)  The king was furious! He sent his soldiers, and they put those murderers to death and set their city on fire.  (8)  Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but the ones who had been invited were not worthy.  (9)  So go into the main streets and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’  (10)  And those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all they found, both bad and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.  (11)  But when the king came in to see the wedding guests, he saw a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.  (12)  And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But he had nothing to say.  (13)  Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!’  (14)  For many are called, but few are chosen.”

2 Corinthians 9:6 “But I will tell you this, if you plant only a little, you will only receive a little. Yet if you plant greatly you will receive greatly.”

Just like investing into ministry, the act of ministry is the same.

You give or do little- little will be your return.

Sow & Don’t Worry- Let God Make The Increase

1 Corinthians 3:7 “So then neither is he that plants anything, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase.”

Let’s Review: In a nut shell, God has it under control. Don’t worry if someone is going to accept or not, if they are true in the faith or false, or if you’re wasting your time, because you never are! It is our job to bring the message. To be God’s mouth piece, a walking billboard for truth. We are just the messengers, the light in a dark place. So, no matter what happens with the people: If you keep who you are, and who you represent in mind, you will always have success. You have overcome the world by the word of your testimony (Revelation 12:11). As long as you don’t stop sharing, you are victorious. You have done your job- Let God do His!

See: John 10 for more information about the Good Shepherd. “He has it covered”.

Psalms 126:5-6 “Those who shed tears as they plant will shout for joy when they reap the harvest.  (6)  The one who weeps as he walks along, carrying his bag of seed, will certainly come in with a shout of joy, carrying his sheaves of grain.”

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Common Excuses With Biblical Back Up

Key Concept:

1 John 2:27 “Now as for you, the anointing that you received from him resides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, it is true and is not a lie. Just as it has taught you, you reside in him.”

—“But, I’m already a Christian”—

Matthew 15:13-14 Jesus answered, “Every plant that my Father in heaven did not plant will be pulled up by the roots. Stay away from those Pharisees! They are like blind people leading other blind people, and all of them will fall into a ditch.”

Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who calls me their Lord will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only the ones who obey my Father in heaven will get in.”

James 2:19 “You surely believe there is only one God. That’s fine. Even demons believe this, and it makes them shake with fear.”

James 5:19-20 “Brothers, if anyone among you wonders from the truth, and if anyone turns him back, know that he who turns back the sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death, and will hide a multitude of sins.

—“I Don’t Believe”—

1 Peter 3:15 “but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason of the hope in you, with meekness and fear;”

Acts 26:18 “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

John 15:23 “The person who hates me (Jesus) also hates my Father.”

-Common Response: “That’s okay; you’re the one I’m looking for. Jesus Loves You and I’ll pray for you.”

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—Flat Out “NO”—

Some people will just refuse. That’s okay. Always remember that you have done your part. You have invited them. You will still get credit in the kingdom of Heaven for your work. Your response to them will be the seed you leave with them. Your Christ-like response is likely what will break up the stony ground of their heart, allowing for someone else to plant the Gospel seed later. Ask them their name and if they need prayer for anything. Be kind, full of grace, and show God’s Love! Ultimately, be prepared to drop the hammer too, if the Holy Spirit leads you to do so. Either way, let the Holy Spirit do the convicting.

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Final Thought

2 Corinthians 5:11 “For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what he deserves for what he has done in his body, whether good or worthless.

Matthew 25:21 “His lord said to him, well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things; I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”

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Witnessing Tips: The Do’s & Don’ts

1. Don’t argue.

2. Don’t talk over a person’s head.

3. Don’t talk down to a person.

4. Don’t get sidetracked on opinions.

5. Don’t put him on the defensive…especially by condemning his religious orientation.

6. Don’t be rude.

7. Don’t embarrass them.

8. Don’t preach denomination- prove all things from the Bible.

9. Don’t let that person do all the talking.

10. Don’t let your silent partner interrupt while you are leading them to Christ.

11. Don’t be pushy.

12. Don’t look upon anyone as a hard case.

13. Don’t tell them to think about it- your purpose is to lead them to Christ NOW!

14. Don’t let anyone or anything distract you or sidetrack you, once you’ve started

leading someone to Christ!

15. Don’t wear out your welcome. Always leave things pleasant, so you can come back.

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5.) We are not all reapers; some are destined to plant the seed of faith, but both are important. It’s better to perform your function in God’s Kingdom than picking your own in the devil’s camp.

6.) Try to point out that our God has actively sought after man, and that all other gods always tell man to seek and earn their way to them.

7.) Fill the emotion need first.

8.) Always speak in the physical sense first, then spiritual. You can’t expect someone to understand God’s plans without a reference point in their own lives.

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~Closing Verse: You Can Go –or- You Can Send!

Romans 10:13-17 “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  But how can they call on him in who they have not believed? And how can they believe in him when they have never heard about him? And how are they to hear without someone telling them? And how are they who should go and preach, unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news! “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of God.”

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We are called to be a witness to the world: EVERYONE- man, woman, and child. Yet, our end goal is to seek and find the lost, those being called by God. So, for the world that is perishing, we are an example of God and Jesus. For the ‘called’ upon the earth, we are guides showing the way back home to be with God. So called or not called, chosen or not chosen- it matters not. We have a job to do, a function to perform, in the work of the gospel. No one is an exemption- we are all called and all must perform their part in God’s plan of salvation.

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Sharing Jesus

Sharing Jesus

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