For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek [Gentile]. (Rom. 1:16)
For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor. 1:18)
God’s Word is your powerful weapon of witnessing. This does not mean you are limited to the use of Scripture. You should present Gospel information from the frame of reference in your soul. But by using Gospel verses you do know, the Holy Spirit does the work by wielding the Word of God to penetrate the soul of the unbeliever. Pertinent Scripture—divine truth—breaks through when nothing else works.
Any Christian who witnesses must believe that the Word of God has the power to reach the unbeliever. After all, we were formerly unbelievers who have seen the power of God’s Word in our own lives.
For the word of God is living and active [powerful] and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Heb. 4:12)
You have God’s guarantee that His Word will never return without results but will succeed and accomplish His will (Isa. 55:11). It is wise, however, in witnessing to avoid argument or controversy about whether the Bible is indeed the Word of God. To the unbeliever’s perception, the Bible cannot be the Word of God. But you must use the Bible regardless of what the unbeliever may think. You must realize the Word of God activates “the power of God for salvation” (Rom. 1:16). Your fearless and confident use of the Scripture will assure effective witnessing for Jesus Christ.
Motivation for Witnessing
One of the reasons we remain on this earth after salvation is to witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. This principle is stated in both the Old and the New Testaments:
He who is wise wins souls. (Prov. 11:30b)
You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses. (Acts 1:8a)
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ. (2 Cor. 5:20a)
Whether you witness by the example and impact of your life on unbelievers in your periphery, or by the opportunity to tell the Gospel “by the words from your lips,” or both, your motivation in witnessing is of utmost importance. Does your attitude match that of Paul’s in the Book of Romans?
I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. Thus, for my part, I am eager [ready] to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel. (Rom. 1:14-16a)
“I am under obligation”! As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are mandated to speak about our Savior. We have a fantastic inheritance: a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, forgiveness of sin, eternal life, plus every spiritual blessing that accrues as a result of salvation. How can others know or receive this inheritance unless we fulfill our obligation and tell them about it (Rom. 10:14-15)?
“I am eager [ready]”! Readiness is our preparation and, consequently, our motivation. We must master the critical doctrinal knowledge for witnessing and present pertinent information to the unbeliever. But most important, we must be filled with the Holy Spirit through the use of 1 John 1:9, the rebound technique.22 If the above conditions are met we can say “I am eager!”
“I am not ashamed”! How could anyone be ashamed of the One who has saved them for all eternity? But countless people are ashamed of mentioning the Lord or of proclaiming the Gospel. Being ashamed is nothing more than fear of being ridiculed or fear of failure engendered by ignorance of doctrine. When we do not make learning doctrine our first priority in life, we get our priorities confused and lose perspective with regard to the importance of witnessing.
Many Christians cannot endure the pressure that accompanies witnessing. Easily intimidated, they say little to anyone about the way of salvation. However, pressures did not stop the Apostle Paul. Thessalonica was a large city in the ancient world, and thousands of its citizens were open to the Gospel. On his second missionary journey Paul traveled along the Egnatian Way—one of the famous highways of antiquity—and crossed Asia Minor (the area of present Turkey). Upon the apostle’s arrival at Philippi he encountered adverse circumstances and personal suffering, but he continued to preach the Gospel. He left Philippi and arrived at Thessalonica, where the Lord gave him a tremendous harvest of souls (Acts 17:1-4; 1 Thess.; cf. 2 Thess.). Paul’s perseverance in personal and mass evangelism offers an excellent biblical pattern for your witnessing (1 Thess. 2).
For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. (1 Thess. 2:1)
“Our coming to you” implies contact. Contact suggests approaching and communicating. You cannot witness without making contact.
Our Lord Himself cited the perfect analogy to making contact in witnessing when He said,
“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matt. 4:19b)
What did He mean? First of all, fishermen must have a desire to fish—be motivated. Second, fishermen must be equipped to fish—be prepared and ready. Third, fishermen must go where the fish are located—catch them where they are.
Travel to the locale for fishing may involve seasickness or a strenuous hike through difficult terrain. Once you arrive you cannot sit on the bank and wait for fish to come to you. You must use all your knowledge and skill in the pursuit. As a “fisher of men,” Paul stressed these very principles: when pursuing those who are positive toward Jesus Christ, correct motivation and preparation overcome hardships, fears, and pressures.
Once Paul reached his destination, he made certain his contact would not be “in vain.” In vain means hollow, empty, fruitless, or ineffective. He knew fishermen must use the right bait. His bait was the Gospel with the content clearly defined. Confident of his message, he witnessed in the power of the Spirit, never deviating from the real issue. His job done, he stayed out of the Holy Spirit’s way and awaited the results.
Thus, Paul fulfilled another analogy to witnessing: fishermen must be patient. Even as fishermen will be rewarded for their efforts, so “fishers of men” can anticipate the fruits of their labor: the joy of seeing souls saved in time to the everlasting glory of Jesus Christ throughout eternity.
Paul followed this pattern of making contact in detail and stated:
For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. (1 Thess. 1:5)
Not only by word of mouth did Paul and his traveling companion, Silas, proclaim the Gospel, but also by the way they lived. “What kind of men” they were was well known—honorable ambassadors for Christ. Consequently, their message received a favorable hearing.
The old cliché “actions speak louder than words” is all too true when referring to personal evangelism. The unbeliever says, “Show me; then I’ll listen to what you have to say!” (James 2:14-16). If your lifestyle does not match your high calling in Christ, is it any wonder the unbeliever turns away and thinks: “If this is a sample of Christianity, I want no part of it!” To his detriment, the unbeliever judges a potential, eternal relationship with the Lord and the incomparable Christian way of life by the behavior of a poor representative. So as you encounter the unbelieving world, remember that you are the Lord’s emissary, His personal ambassador on earth with an honor code to uphold.
The Gospel Must Be Clearly Presented
But after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. (1 Thess. 2:2)
Even in the face of strong opposition, the Gospel must be presented with bold clarity. During their stay in Philippi, Paul and Silas were severely persecuted because of their stand for Jesus Christ. They had been dragged into the marketplace, the open court, where they were severely flogged and cast into prison (Acts 16:16-24). Although they suffered bitterly, they continued to confidently present the Gospel. Fear of additional punishment did not stop them. From the persistence of Paul and Silas a principle arises: opposition and obstacles to the Gospel are to be expected but should never discourage our resolve to witness.
Tragically, failure to understand the correct function of evangelism has often dispatched to the mission field ill-prepared people who never should have gone. Many missionaries who experience the rigors of the foreign field refuse a second term. The dropout rate is high. Simply deciding to face the hardship of crossing a mountain range or an ocean does not prepare a missionary. When a Christian will not cross the street to speak to a neighbor about Christ, assuredly he will do no better in a foreign land. The best test of the desire of a missionary or anyone else to proclaim the Gospel would be a positive response to these questions:
Do you understand and clearly communicate the Gospel and pertinent biblical doctrines?
Do you witness regularly at home?
Do you master the language of the land you seek to reach for Christ?
Do you manifest maturity and stability in your spiritual life and show concern for lost souls?
If a person is reticent about witnessing in his own neighborhood, he would soon become overwhelmed, discouraged, and wither under the fires of opposition elsewhere.
The Gospel Must Never Be Compromised or Diminished
For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit. (1 Thess. 2:3)
The word “exhortation” means “persuasive conversation” and signifies the bold, confident declaration of the Gospel. Everyone has been actively or passively involved in persuasive conversation. If you are married, no doubt you have been either the recipient or the initiator of friendly persuasion. If you own insurance, an automobile, or a house, when you made your purchase persuasion was probably involved. Life is filled with persuasive interactions.
Next in this verse, Paul cites three cautions to bear in mind when presenting the Gospel. The first is a Gospel exposition “does not come from error.” Witnessing demands that the content of the Gospel be correct. Whether Paul wrote or verbalized the Gospel, he always clearly proclaimed that Christ solved the sin problem and removed the barrier between God and man. He did not add to the Gospel of grace, nor did he sacrifice accuracy by introducing false issues. The Gospel is salvation by faith alone in Christ alone.
A Gospel presentation should not come from “impurity.” Paul certifies the use of 1 John 1:9. He made sure he utilized rebound before he witnessed, as should you. The Holy Spirit provides the believer with doctrinal wisdom and sensitivity for Gospel presentation to the unbeliever. And only when the Holy Spirit empowers you and communicates through you is your witnessing truly service for the Lord.
“Not . . . by way of deceit” means the Gospel must never be diminished or watered down. The Greek word for “deceit” (δόλος, dolos) means “huckster.” This term originally described a tavern keeper in the ancient world who diluted the alcoholic beverages he served with water. When his customers first arrived, they were served full-strength wine. After a few round of drinks, when the guests were a little inebriated, the tavern keeper began to water down the drinks. Although he increasingly thinned down the wine, the price remained constant. This, then, is the word Paul chose to define what should never happen in the presentation of the Gospel—huckstering.
The Gospel should not be watered down or changed to benefit any human agenda of the witness. Under no circumstance should the Gospel be diluted or polluted with additions to faith, such as commitments, feeling sorry for your sins, joining a church, walking an aisle, social activism, brotherhood, do-goodism, philosophy, or legalism.23 Only faith alone in Christ alone is salvation.
The Assets for Witnessing
But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men but God, who examines our hearts. (1 Thess. 2:4)
The Greek word for “approved” is the verb δοκιμάζω (dokimazo) which means “to test” someone or something for the purpose of approval. God approved Paul through hardship and testing. Paul realized God had allowed every trial, adversity, frustration, and heartache in his life so the importance of the Gospel might be paramount to him. With God’s sanction, Paul and Silas had been entrusted with the Gospel.
The Greek verb, “to be entrusted” (πιστεύω, pisteuo), denotes a deposit. In the ancient world there were no banks. Instead, depositories were located in the heathen temples, chosen because the gods supposedly guarded against thieves. Certainly, no mortal would dare incur the anger of the gods and the money would be safe. The customer deposited his wealth with a temple priest and obtained a receipt. The money could be withdrawn at any time upon payment of a service charge for safekeeping.
Pisteuo was also used in the sense of making an investment for profit. If a person had money to invest, he could deposit it with a successful merchant. A contract was drawn up, and if the business venture prospered the investor received interest on his deposit. Eventually, “to be entrusted with” came to mean to deposit or to invest capital with the intent of making a profit.
The Gospel is also capital. God has deposited the Gospel with each believer so it might bear interest and pay dividends—profit for the unbelieving world (2 Cor. 4:4-7). Since we are “entrusted with” this valuable resource, our personal responsibility in declaring the Gospel cannot be overemphasized. God made a deposit with you and with me and He expects a return on His investment.
We neither earned nor deserved this deposit; we received it in grace. Thus, the deposit of the Gospel bestows on us a unique honor and responsibility. Now we have the privilege of passing on the message to others—disseminating the good news and watching grace in action. What are the dividends God expects? People who receive Christ and become members of the royal family of God as a result of your witness to them!
Witnessing is not a matter of “pleasing men.” It is a matter of glorifying God. If you live your life trying to please people, you will be frustrated and miserable. This is especially true in the spiritual realm. If any part of your Christian life is lived to gain attention or approval from others, then your allegiance is misdirected. You may be lauded as the hardest worker in your congregation, but you cannot please God by having the approbation of men. Your motivation is false.
The central issue in the Christian life is not what you do but why you do it. If you witness simply to please others, only an old army term can adequately describe the mess—SNAFU: Situation Normal; All Fouled Up. This is not the way God intends for us to function in His plan. In order to glorify God your witnessing must be as unto the Lord, accomplished in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Gospel Is Not for Sale
For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness—nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others. (1 Thess. 2:5-6a)
High pressure salesmen may resort to flattery or trickery in order to sell a product, but this must never be done in witnessing. If you declare Christ by employing subterfuge, you are doing a right thing in the wrong way. The Gospel will stand on its own; you never need gimmicks to communicate the good news.
Paul never witnessed to raise money. This is what is meant by the phrase “nor with a pretext for greed.” From this statement emerges an important principle: never knowingly accept money from unbelievers for the Lord’s work. The only issue to an unbeliever is the work of Christ on his behalf. To use the Gospel to raise money only introduces the false issue of buying salvation. Salvation is a gift from God.
The Motivation of Genuine Concern
Even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. (1 Thess. 2:6b-7)
As a model witness, Paul compares his method of operation among the Thessalonians to that of a nurturing mother. Everyone knows what constitutes a mother’s loving care for her newborn child: she gives warmth, nourishment, and comfort. So the Thessalonians would respond to Paul and Silas “as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.”
Having thus a fond affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. (1 Thess. 2:8)
“Fond affection” (ἱμείρομαι, himeiromai) is a word used in the Greek especially for parents who lost a child and now grieve for their loss. The word denotes the strongest kind of love that can be experienced for an absent loved one and indicates a continuing state of mind. By relating the concept of “font affection” to witnessing, we understand there should always be a certain ache in our souls for the unbeliever. This affectionate longing depicts a genuine desire for unbelievers to come to know Christ as Savior. Because Paul experienced this ache for the people of Thessalonica, he was eager to share the Gospel with them.
For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. (1 Thess. 2:9)
“For you recall” is an order (μνημονεύω, mnemoneuo; present tense, imperative mood). The epistle is addressed to those who had responded to the Gospel and were now “brethren”—members of the royal family of God. They were to consider in retrospect the great sacrifice Paul and Silas had made. The two men had labored at Paul’s trade of tent making to supply their daily needs rather than become financial burden to the Thessalonians. Although they had worked to the point of exhaustion, they kept on announcing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Consequently, their witness of life and words bore dividends for God.
You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers. (1 Thess. 2:10)
Follow-Up Must Supplement Witnessing
When a person accepts Christ as Savior, he immediately becomes a newborn child of God. Just as you would not cast a baby out on the street and expect him to look after himself, the same principle applies to the newly born-again Christian. Witnessing must be supplemented by follow-up. Basic doctrine is necessary for any newborn spiritual baby. If there is no follow-up with Bible doctrine, the new believer may become a casualty in the Christian life.
For example, a person may receive Christ in a church where all new Christians are asked to come forward and be recognized. Some well-meaning saint congratulates him saying, “Now, brother, if your life is to truly count for God, you must stop your sinning!” This is as ridiculous as telling a baby in his cradle, “Now, son, stop wetting your diaper!”
Babies need food—not advice! They need love and comfort, not nit-picking and nagging. You don’t feed an infant steak; you start him on a liquid formula and eventually on foods that are easily digested. The same applies to baby believers: you don’t misinform them or feed them advanced doctrines and principles designed for the mature believer. You feed them the basic spiritual concepts of the “pure milk of the word” (1 Pet. 2:2), which they can digest and “grow in respect to salvation.” Even the Lord Jesus Christ is said to have taught His audience “as they were able to hear it” (Mark 4:33). Paul was like a father to the Thessalonian believers; he treated them as he would his own children. He reminds them of this:
Just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children. (1 Thess. 2:11)
Notice the perfection of Paul’s threefold follow-up: (1) “exhorting,” (2) “encouraging,” (3) “imploring.” When Paul addressed his converts he spoke persuasively from a doctrinal frame of reference and also provided comfort, encouragement, and cheer. To implore means “to teach”; Paul taught the new Christians doctrine in a simple, straightforward manner. They received spiritual nourishment, as well as aid and solace.
The Reason For Follow-Up
The importance of follow-up is threefold: doctrinal, personal, and collective. First, the new believer must learn Bible doctrine. No believer can advance to spiritual maturity on his own. Were it true that all a Christian needed to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Savior was to read a chapter or two of the Bible daily, the Lord would not have given certain men the gift of pastor-teacher (Eph. 4:11). The pastor-teacher studies and teaches the flock of God, edifying and equipping the saints (Eph. 4:12). God designed the local church to be the believer’s classroom.
The second reason for follow-up is personal: encourage the new believer. During the period of adjustment and orientation to God’s plan for the believer in time, the immature Christian often needs encouragement to learn Bible doctrine consistently. He has not yet developed sufficient inner resources of soul with which to recognize the importance of doctrine in every facet of life. Until the believer realizes his first priority and learns doctrine on a regular basis, he will flounder and is in danger of falling by the wayside. Be prepared to offer encouragement during this initial spiritual growth period.
The third reason for follow-up is collective: assisting the new believer in finding a Christ-centered church where the Bible is taught. If that is not possible in your locale, point the new believer in the right direction toward Bible doctrine taught in taped or written form. God’s intention for every saved person is to become spiritually self-sustaining—able to handle his own problems before the Lord.
So that you may walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. (1 Thess. 2:12)
A worthy walk depicts the function of the individual member of the royal family of God—his modus vivendi in the power of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:16b states “walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”
The Thessalonians’ response to Paul’s follow-up was tremendous. Before, many had become hostile or indifferent to the Word of God because they had been victims of legalism. Now, they readily accepted the message of grace. Paul and Silas were thankful they could witness and serve the Lord and see such response to the message.
And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God’s message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. (1 Thess. 2:13)
Witnessing Generates Persecution
For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men, hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost. (1 Thess. 2:14-16)
Soon after the Thessalonians accepted Christ and organized as a church, they began to experience pressure. Opposition came from the Roman Empire, legalistic Jews, and the local heathen fraternities. They suffered intense persecution from these antagonistic groups. However, because the Thessalonians were doctrinally oriented, they stabilized their attitude while suffering and received blessing from God.24
While it is true the Christian life is one of extraordinary privilege and blessing, the Lord warned us that sooner or later we would face pressures from the world (John 16:33). Yet He also promised us victory and ultimate triumph. There is no pressure or difficulty greater than the plan of God. Bible doctrine learned and applied as the standard for Christian living results in stability for every circumstance of life.
While there are no set rules for effective witnessing, there are a number of pitfalls or postulates for witnessing. These should be noted and avoided.
Do not argue. You may present a logical argument but lose the unbeliever’s attention. Your responsibility is to provide information, not win a debate. Present the Gospel, but do not argue its validity. Leave convincing to the Holy Spirit, who makes the Gospel real.
Do not be sidetracked by false issues. Stick to the subject! Don’t be diverted into a long debate concerning the authenticity of the Word of God, heathenism, living a good life, or social problems. When faced with such a diversion use your best judgment. You may be forced to give an explanation about a peripheral issue to continue your Gospel presentation. If so, make the answer short, then gracefully return to the Gospel message.
Do not get into a rut. Different approaches to the subject of the Gospel are necessary to reach different people. Be flexible! What may be effective with one person may be a total failure with another. Your own IQ or that of your listener is not an issue, nor is it vital for you to understand Judaism to witness to a Jew, or physics to speak to a scientist about Christ. Remember, when in fellowship the Holy Spirit will guide your presentation; knowledge of Bible doctrine is the paramount factor. Your ability to recognize the correct approach will increase as you gain spiritual maturity and experience in witnessing.
Do not embarrass people. Deal with the individual alone whenever possible. Witnessing in public may produce embarrassment, annoyance, and sometimes hostility. If this is the case, the people you seek to reach for Christ may ignore you and you may never have another opportunity to reach them. Remember, personal evangelism is exactly that—personal!
Do not set quotas. The quota concept requires a commitment to witness to a certain number of people daily. Quotas may originate from the insistence of a well-meaning but immature believer or a church program that equates witnessing with spirituality. Both cases reflect a false standard of spirituality.25 Evangelizing is not indicative of spirituality; it is a result of Bible doctrine motivating your soul. If God insisted on quotas, He would mandate such measures in His Word. Simply witness whenever the Lord provides the opportunity.
Do not measure your spiritual life by your witnessing. A person is not spiritual because he speaks to a certain number of people every day. Spirituality is the absolute status of being in fellowship with God by the believer who is filled with the Holy Spirit. Even an ignorant or a carnal believer who uses the Scripture can lead an unbeliever to Christ, although there will be no reward in heaven for Christian service while in carnality.26 Effectiveness resides in the convincing ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
“So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”
(Isa. 55:11)
Do not judge others for apparent failure to witness. Whether or not a believer witnesses is between him and the Lord. Each of us is accountable for our own life, not for the lives of others. If you judge or malign others, you are out of line. Judging only brings divine discipline upon you. Besides, you have no way of actually knowing whether someone witnesses for Christ unless they brag; then they are out of line.
Do not brag about your witnessing. Testimonies about personal witnessing efforts often reflect pride and constitute a hazard to the Christian life. Avoid bragging! The Lord knows what you are doing, and that is all that is necessary. He will reward you accordingly.
Do not forget to use prayer in witnessing. Prayer does have a bona fide function in witnessing. Paul expressed his concern for the unsaved Jews of his era in writing and in prayer: “My heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation” (Rom. 10:1b).
Since the sovereignty of God and the free will of man coexist by decree of God, and He does not coerce man’s volition, how do you pray intelligently for the salvation of an unbeliever?
Pray that God will bring about circumstances that would be most advantageous for the Gospel to be presented to the unbeliever. Pray that unbelievers whom you have been unable to reach may be contacted by mature believers who will present the true issue of salvation clearly and graciously. Pray in accordance with 1 Timothy 2:1-4 that the Gospel will be presented to the leaders in governmental office, and that the Gospel will continue to be spread freely in our nation. Pray that our leaders may begin to recognize their own inadequacies (Ps. 9:20) and that they might look beyond themselves to see their need of the Savior. Your prayers on behalf of evangelists and missionaries allow you to enter into their ministry and help smooth their way. While you cannot coerce the volition of a person making a decision for Christ, never underestimate the power of prayer in witnessing.
For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward. (1 Cor. 9:16-17a)
Witnessing is your responsibility, one of the reasons God left you here on earth. If you witness “voluntarily” with the proper motivation, there is reward. If you fail to witness there is loss of reward.
The rewards of witnessing are both temporal and eternal in nature. Our temporal rewards are twofold: the joy of Christian fellowship and the blessing of inner happiness. Eternal reward centers around the word “voluntarily.” Bible doctrine in the believer’s soul is the motivation to witness. This doctrine—the mind of Christ resident in our souls—along with the filling of the Holy Spirit is the means for maturing us. As part of our Christian service, witnessing is a result of spiritual growth, not the cause. Witnessing done in the power of the Holy Spirit and from the correct motivation guarantees reward for you in heaven.
The Joy of Christian Fellowship
But we, brethren, having been bereft of you for a short while—in person, not in spirit—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. (1 Thess. 2:17)
When I first accepted Christ as my Savior, I wondered whether there were any other Christians in the school I attended. I began to witness and had the privilege of seeing several students believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. As a result, wonderful fellowship developed between these converts and myself. Since then, I have had other opportunities to lead people to the Lord, always with the same enjoyable results. Christian fellowship has provided marvelous, warm friendships through the years. These associations are particularly rewarding when they are based on love expressed by your personal witnessing for Christ; furthermore, they leave behind a wonderful fragrance of memories.
Paul, too, experienced the joy of Christian fellowship. Although he had to leave Thessalonica, he was most eager to return there. Why? Because of the pleasant time spent with those people who responded to the Gospel. Even when Satan hindered Paul’s journey to visit his Christian friends at Thessalonica, he could not deprive the Apostle of his fond memories, nor of the rewards he would receive at the judgment seat of Christ.
The Blessing of Inner Happiness
For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy. (1 Thess. 2:19-20)
What a tremendous responsibility rests on each of us who have trusted in Christ—we represent our Lord in the devil’s world (1 Pet. 5:8) and we can expect opposition. Satan is as intent on obscuring the Gospel as God is on revealing it (2 Cor. 4:3-4). Satan knows the Gospel breaks through the darkness of unbelief (2 Cor. 4:5-7). Therefore, it is more than our rightful obligation; it is our privilege to tell others of the Savior. Motivated by His love (2 Cor. 5:14), we are to make known the One who loved us and gave Himself for us (Gal. 2:20).
The task appears so straightforward and glorious. What could be more exciting and satisfying than to spread the Gospel to the unsaved? But to challenge Satan’s dominion armed only with emotion and zeal may end in quick defeat. Facing unbelievers who react to the message with hostility, ridicule, or persecution requires more than human dedication. We must possess a soul established in Bible doctrine. Victory depends on your positive volition and devotion to Bible doctrine, your correct motivation from the filling of the Holy Spirit, and execution of the plan of God.27
In the anticipation of his “crown of exultation,” Paul expressed the blessing of inner happiness. Though he might never see the Thessalonians again on this earth, he was perfectly content in spite of the separation. Paul knew he would meet them all in the presence of the Lord, so he referred to them as his “glory and joy.” What was true of Paul is true of every believer: the privilege of witnessing for our Lord is a source of blessing, inner happiness, and contentment.
FULFILL YOUR ROLE AS A WITNESS
The fruit of the righteous [spiritually mature believer] is a
tree of life,
And he who is wise wins souls. (Prov. 11:30)
The foremost impression an individual unbeliever in your periphery has of Christianity is you. All the rational and apologetical arguments unbelievers have heard in defense of Christianity will never have as much impact as the witness of your life and lips. You are a bridge, a point of contact in the unbeliever’s search to escape futility, despair, and find meaning and purpose in life.
Without faith in Jesus Christ and an eternal future, life is ultimately incomprehensible. Although many may reject Christ and possibly even you because of your witness, the tremendous pleasure and satisfaction of seeing others actually believe in Christ will more than compensate for any rejection. When a loved one, friend, or even a stranger receives Jesus Christ as Savior as a result of your presentation of the Gospel, you will experience the inexpressible rewards of serving our Lord through witnessing.
