The First Step to Witnessing
By: Dr. Mike Jones
The first step is actually to find out where they are in terms of their interest in accepting Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. It’s very important to access the person’s interest, understanding and readiness so that you will be able to determine how to proceed. Ask them the standard question, “So have you ever realized your need to make a commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ?”
After you have engaged them in meaningful conversation, you need to follow-up in these three areas:
OBSERVE – How interested was the person in answering your initial question in the previous paragraph? If their initial reaction was of defensiveness, don’t push the subject any further.
Only God knows their heart in terms of whether or not you broke through. Your willingness to back off may be just what the doctor ordered to lower their defenses. And by being sensitive enough to know when to back off (witnessing), the person will feel as though you’re enthusiastic about your faith and not some fanatic who is trying to push their beliefs down someone else’s throat.
UNDERSTANDING – If the person you’re witnessing to does show interest in knowing more about Jesus, and your relationship with Him, then it’s important for you to find out how much they actually know about Jesus and His Lordship as expressed throughout the gospels.
Their comprehension of the gospel is important because some people have been in church since they were in their youth and are finally ready to make a solid commitment to receiving Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. Ask them a few questions to determine if they truly understand God’s plan of salvation. It is extremely important that the person knows and understands what you are asking them to commit to.
READINESS – Finally, make sure the person is sincerely ready to make the commitment. Show them a level of excitement concerning the life-time decision they are making. [Note: If the person is hesitant about making the decision to follow Christ – don’t you get discourage because the Apostle Paul stated in I Corinthian 3:6, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. “Your call in that person’s life may be ONLY to plant the seed of God’s word and the next chapter of that individual’s life, someone is to come along and water the seed sown… but God will ultimately get the victory for bringing another soul into His kingdom.] You will meet enough people in your life time that will be ready to make an immediate decision for Christ through your effective witnessing. So don’t get discourage.
Also, it’s important to know that Satan isn’t going to play dead while you invade his territory. At this juncture of your successful witnessing, Satan will be working in the background to strike fear in the both of you. He starts by bringing foolish thoughts to your mind concerning how successful you are witnessing. For example, he will try to make you think, “Am I getting through to this person?” “What if I pray for him/her and nothing happens?” Remember, Apostle Paul informed his spiritual son Timothy (2 Timothy 1:7) that, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
This is an important verse to the believer, because it denotes one’s authority given to the believer by our Lord, Jesus, the Christ. We are to occupy until He returns—which means to rule in His stead until He returns from heaven to receive His body (the church) into His glory.
What does the verse mean when it says, “a spirit of fear?” The Greek word, which can also be translated “timidity” denotes a cowardly, shameful fear caused by a weak, selfish character. When we see the word “power” in the verse, it’s confirming to us that God has already given believers all the spiritual resources they need for every trial and threat. The word “love” centers on pleasing God and seeking others’ welfare before one’s own. Last but not least, the words “sound mind” refers to a discipled and self – controlled mind that knows how to prioritize activities and events; by focusing on God’s sovereignty who allows believers to control their lives with Godly wisdom and confidence in every situation.
(Adapted from Evangelism: A Passion For The Lost; all Scripture references are taken from the KJV unless otherwise noted.)