Do you witness ?

[Boaz]

Witnessing is not knocking on doors spewing out King James scripture and telling folks they are going to hell . Witnessing is not showing a personal superiority over another . Soon as you tell someone they are going to hell it's game over .

Witnessing is calling GOD's name in conversation during normal everyday living . Many fear simply saying ...May GOD bless us today , I will pray for GOD's help in your situation , It looks like GOD has given us a pretty day ! Too much political correctness among Christians these days . The simple calling of GOD's name in everyday activity's and conversation is not offensive . If your afraid or ashamed to mention your Lord's name you might want to reconsider your conviction in your relationship with him ?

[USMC87]

Amen Charlie.

[Preacher Jim]

Charlie, you have just spoke the greatest post in this chapel.
Amen

[GhostHawk]

Well said brother!

I don't do any judging, not my job.
I don't do much preaching, not without being asked.
I do a fair amount of "God Blessing" for people who are good to me.
I am not afraid to share my life, experiences for anyone who expresses an interest.

But I don't push myself on people. Free will, theirs and mine. That may change someday.
But for now I remember how much I have disliked others doing the same to me in the past.

I do try not to assume, but that is hard.

I do more here, with this extended family than I do anywhere else. Is it enough? Probably not.
Not as much as my Lord would like I am sure. But I don't think he wants me to bolt from the fold and run away either. So I get the impression he is giving me some time and room.

[opos]

Witnessing comes without thought in my day...I am not what many consider born again in the "normal sense" but I found a God in my life many years ago when I had a major change in life style that required a conscious contact with God....Now days when conversations lean that way I have no fear to talk about my reliance on God. I am very careful not to attempt to "force" my God or the understanding of a Higher Power that I live by on others. God came to me when I was ready and when I asked for his help. I try to let folks that if that happened to me there is a good chance they can find the same thing but it won't come until they are ready and until they are sincere about asking and trusting.

[Pine Baron]

Amen. Charlie, Amen.

[Boaz]

I can only tell or possibly show by example how or what I do , we are all different . I do know GOD is suppose to be part of our daily lives . I'm pretty Shure we commit to that when we accept his offer of salvation . So much scripture to put up but ..well heck ! I'm witnessing right now !n I'll skip the verse and deal with everyday life because we all understand that . Maybe later for those that hang on .
My day started by waking up and putting my feet on the floor sitting on the side of the bed . I thank GOD for another day . I stumble into the kitchen (4-4;30 am) pour the water in the BUN coffee maker and sit down thinking it's heck to get old..lol . Click on a few forums and check up on Tump and Castboolits . Think about the day before and try to gather my thoughts on many things for today . I love Bun coffee makers been using them for about 40 of my 64 years , would buy no other . They can make a pot in 5 min's max , 2 cups later I look for need of prayer in several places ...forums or prayer list . I think and pray intermittently till 5;30-6 o'clock . It's quiet , the world is asleep and it's just easier for me since I'm not very smart . It's my private devotional time , you need a time spent with him . Coming up ...dealing with the world .

[GhostHawk]

Like you I love my coffee, but I like to be a bit more involved with mine. I prefer quality over quantity. Mostly I allow myself a single 12 oz insulated mug per day. Beans are a 3 way blend of Hazelnut, Pedro's Pride, and some cheap stuff I found on closeout. I am sitting on some 11 lbs of green unroasted beans from Honduras and such. Saving those for when the SHTF, I figure I can retire a wealthy man on those 11 pounds. To have coffee when no one else has coffee? LOL And coffee that won't be bad either, freshly roasted, full of flavor and aroma. Sigh.

Get up, 35 revolutions of the coffee grinder with the left hand, then 35 with the right.

Dump the coffee into a small round glass pitcher. (Like miniature Koolid pitcher) Go to the Primo water dispenser, fill my mug, dump it into the pitcher, put pitcher into the microwave for 1 min for steeping and to top off the heat level. When it dings pour it into a stainless steel cone type filter sitting on my cup. 12 oz of ambrosia in 3 minutes.

As for getting old, yeah, it sucks. Only problem is the alternative sucks worse from what I can see.

I don't get out much, people do not talk to me a whole lot. I suspect I look a bit strange. Scary perhaps, no idea why.

I do love to witness here, and it makes me feel good. And I can tell it makes my Lord feel good about me. So there you are, win win.

The primo water cost us 100$ for the machine, 3 jugs of water at 14$ each. Then I bought a 14$ whole house filter holder and some decent charcoal filters. Plumbed it, supply it with a garden hose custom fit with ball valves. Flush a gallon into the sump pit, then fill jug. Costs me way less per month than I was spending on bottled water. Aquafina flavor splash wild berry was and is my favorite. But the price keeps creeping up.

The Primo's is cheap to run power wise, we have hot and cold on demand all the time. And the filter takes almost all city chlorine taste out. It may have some in there but you don't taste it.

So great for a quick cup of coffee or tea for me, cold water for my wife.

[Boaz]

I made a mental note today to keep track of the times I mentioned ..GOD ..during the day .

Stopped at the grocery store on the way to work ..bout 6;45 am . Mentioned his name in greeting or conversation 3 times . Not many folks there except employees that early in the morning .

At work about 6 times (slow day , not many in) . A big bonus ..to me is running into another believer ! lol , They can be reserved at times testing the water , seeing if your trying to convert them to your church ! But if you just keep talking and ask questions like ...does your church have any big projects or events happening ? , Has attendance been slow in cold weather ? How many have accepted the Lord lately ! Do ya'll have a good youth program ? ...Just normal conversational question a believer would show interest or be willing to share they loosen up and go to talking .

One exception .. a sad but good exception . An old Church of The Nazarene preacher that has come in for at least 25 years . He had a stroke about 10 years ago , doesn't think too well , a gentler man I have never seen but his memory is not good .
I asked him if he still taught ..he said if they let me . I asked if anything special was going on in church and he had to think ...then he said ..it is time for Lent , do you understand what Lent is ? I said ..I do sir ! And he asked me an amazing question.....He had to consider it a moment and he said ...Do you know who Jesus Christ is ? I said ..YES SIR ! He is my Lord and savior . The old man smiled .

[Boaz]

GOD wants Philip to witness .
Jesus had been crucified , Christians were killed or imprisoned by Herod . Jesus's disciples left Judea , scattering to spread the Gospel . John , Peter and Philip went to Samaria to preach . They were having great success converting , healing the sick and casting out many demons and spreading the words of Jesus .

Philip was witnessing and preaching when the angel came to him . He dropped everything to do as GOD asked . When reading this scripture you will notice he even ran to do as wanted . He was to witness to an important man .

Acts 8;26-40


26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”
30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this:
“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away,
And who will declare His generation?
For His life is taken from the earth.”[b (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+8&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-27210b)]

34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”
And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”[c (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+8&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-27214c)]
38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

[Boaz]

I hope you read all of Acts 8 , very interesting story . Much more than what I put up . The Eunuch was never mentioned again in the bible but GOD had a purpose for him . Philip was made to disappear by the Holy Spirit after baptizing the eunuch ..you can see where he reappeared . Read of a man in the first part of Acts 8 that tried to 'buy' the power of GOD given to the disciples . Interesting book of our bible , interesting story of witnessing .

[Boaz]

Heck ! I'm cooking supper ...waiting on the pork steak to get done . I'll make it easy ! Acts 8 right here for your reading pleasure !

Interesting and important fact ...Who was Saul ? Who did he become ? If ya don't know it's well worth looking into . The man killing and doing the imprisoning wrote at least half the New Testament . Amazing story !


Acts 8

At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
Christ Is Preached in Samaria

4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went down to the[a] city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.
The Sorcerer’s Profession of Faith

9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.
The Sorcerer’s Sin

14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”

24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”

25 So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
Christ Is Preached to an Ethiopian

26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”

30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this:

“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
33
In His humiliation His justice was taken away,
And who will declare His generation?
For His life is taken from the earth.”[b]

34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”

37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”

And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”[c]

38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

[1989toddm]

Charlie, I just about didn't open this thread because of the title. Imagine my relief when I read your post and realized that we agree on the subject. People pushing, pushing, pushing, to "witness" really get on my nerves. Thank you for sharing your heart and opinion. I am guilty of the same fear as the rest of us, but by the grace of God I am slowly overcoming it.


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[Boaz]

Charlie, I just about didn't open this thread because of the title. Imagine my relief when I read your post and realized that we agree on the subject. People pushing, pushing, pushing, to "witness" really get on my nerves. Thank you for sharing your heart and opinion. I am guilty of the same fear as the rest of us, but by the grace of God I am slowly overcoming it.





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Todd the last thing on my mind is to 'drive' people to Christ . Only to encourage or help to find their own way to GOD . I'm an Independent Baptist , I would challenge ANYONE to show where I have steered someone or tried to convert them to my church . Good luck with that ...I never have and will never do it . I have a high school education , I type with one finger . I am a sinner and no better than anyone still breathing . I am nobody and that fact gives me great satisfaction and realization how much I need him .
Thank you Todd !
Charlie

[buckwheatpaul]

The first few times you witness is somewhat intimidating .... but as you witness and bring God to others it is much more important than being worried. Charlie I believe that you hit a home run with this post and it is one of the very best.....Paul

[Boaz]

You are 100% right Paul . It simply becomes part of your life . You and I have witnessed to each other plenty . It ain't hard and after a while it is natural and just the way it is .
Thank you brother