Excellence in Witnessing for Christ (Part 3)

In the first two parts of this series, we’ve looked at five key principles to guide us through excellence in witnessing for Christ. They are: accept the responsibility or the ministry, accentuate the credibility of the messenger, affirm the depravity of all men, acknowledge the universality of the gospel mandate, and anticipate the difficulty in your mission. How are you doing thus far? To help you finish well, we’ll conclude our series with four remaining standards: appreciate the opportunity to be among the multitude, attend to the urgency of the moment,
articulate the simplicity of the message, and announce the severity of missed opportunity.

As we witness for our Lord, we must learn to appreciate the opportunity to be among the multitude. How is that done? It’s a matter of recognizing our call to be lights in the world, yet to remain separate from its influence. In John 17:15, Jesus’ prayer provides the framework: “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil {one}.” Paul urged the Philippian church likewise: …prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among
whom you appear as lights in the world… (Philippians 2:15). Christ—the Light of the world—came and dwelt among us, yet He remained unstained; so His redeemed children are to be.

Once we appreciate the opportunity to be among the multitude, what then? Attend to the urgency of the moment. Souls are at stake. Paul demonstrates such urgency in 2 Corinthians 6:2: Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION”. When did you last pointedly use the scriptures to get someone’s undivided attention with respect to their eternal destiny? Do you buy up every moment; take advantage of every door of opportunity? Or are you among those who believe that missions is a department in the church, rather than the calling of all who are alive in Christ?

Assuming you are among the latter group above, do you then articulate the simplicity of the message? At its essence, the gospel message has three simple, yet crucial components: the source, the substance and the significance. The source is scripture, illumined by the power of God, and spoken with confidence. For the word of God is living and active 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 (Hebrews 4:12). Scripture is the needed source in the gospel presentation. The substance of the message is this: that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem (Luke 24:46-47). Man must repent—turn from sin to God—before forgiveness of sins is realized. Consider these words from Charles Spurgeon’s (Soul Winner): “No sinner looks to the Saviour with a dry eye or a hard heart. Aim, therefore, at heart breaking, at bringing home condemnation to the conscience, and weaning the mind from sin, and be not content till the whole mind is deeply and vitally changed in reference to sin.” The substance is repentance. The significance, then, speaks of the power in the name of Jesus: “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Our salvation is in Christ alone.

Finally, to demonstrate excellence in witnessing for Christ we need to announce the severity of missed opportunity. Do you conclude your message with a warning? Luke 10:16 says this: “The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.” We need to make it clear to those to whom we
witness, that their rejection of the gospel brings with it greater condemnation, a
more strict judgment (Hebrews 10:26-30). We need to announce the severity of missed opportunity.

In three issues, we’ve highlighted nine key principles to guide you in excellence in witnessing for Christ; I pray that you will apply these standards to every gospel presentation. If you missed Part 1 or 2, or desire a more in-depth study,
check out the Encouragement to Excellence tape series in the church library.
And may the Holy Spirit illumine your mind, guiding you as you walk in the will
of God, a light in this darkened world.

~Pastor-Teacher, Lance Sparks