sharing the gift (part 3)

Once you solidify the details of your personal testimony, it is vital that you be able to identify and cultivate evangelistic prospects.

In my opinion, the insight to determine how and when a person is ready to hear the gospel is something that we must always be sensitive to because people relate and receive material differently. Some prospects immediately respond to Jesus and some require time to digest His invitation.

Although we must always maintain a sense of urgency in leading the lost to the cross, we must not become so overbearing that it appears judgemental and ultimately sabotages our intended mission. Because of this, we must be active in prayer, asking God to lead us and speak through our lives while He prepares the delicate hearts of those whom we will share His good news.

Sharing the gift of the gospel can take place with a complete stranger or with a long-time friend. Either way, I believe it is important to be able to approach a person in a way that you are able to easily relate and converse together. As a result, I have shared the gospel in two minutes with a person in line at the grocery store, and I have patiently participated in ongoing discussions about Jesus for years with co-workers over coffee breaks. The key is to be yourself and keep your eyes and ears open for a way to incorporate the gospel into your conversation. Understand that Satan will do everything he can to prevent this from happening. He will attempt to make us feel awkward and insufficient. Let's face it, talking about eternal life and anything "religious" is usually taboo as a general topic of discussion. But God is in control of our words. Irrespective of the circumstances or our feelings of inadequacy, we must always accept the Holy Spirit's call, avoid the attacks of the enemy, and trust God's timing to give us the correct words when opportunities arise and we sense His nudge to share the message.

If you find yourself unsure of what to say or do, the best advise I can give is to consider how you can express LOVE to the person you are prospecting. How can you encourage and uplift them? What words or actions can you offer to show that you genuinely care about them? Whether it be a compliment, a question of concern, an act of selflessness... whatever... LOVE is universal, desired by every person, and hard to ignore. LOVE opens doors.

In concluding today's blog, I'd like to familiarize you with the scriptures we will be using in this continued discussion about sharing the gospel message. Perhaps more than any other book of the Bible, Romans provides a thorough review of what salvation is, why it is necessary, and how one can obtain it. As a result, the verses in Romans are very popular for witnessing to the lost. Over the years, Christians have even coined the phrase "The Romans Road" for these scriptures that simply summarize God's plan of salvation.

Below are scriptures from Romans for your review. In future blogs, we will break down each passage, discuss their meaning and how they can be used in application when prospecting and witnessing. For now, please take time to familiarize yourself with each verse:

Romans 1:16, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile."

Romans 2:4, "God's kindness leads you toward reprentence."

Romans 3:23, "All have sinned and fall short to the glory of God."

Romans 5:8, "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 6:23, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 10:9-10, 13, "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. For, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'"

Romans 8:16-17, 38-39, "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 12:1-2, "I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Ladies, God is working in us as we learn how to share salvation in Jesus Christ to others. Let's remember to actively pray for boldness to spread this loving message of redemption to the people in our lives.

I look forward to our next discussion on this topic. Love you all!

~Victoria

© 2013 The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson