Any Christian can be a witness for Christ. Whether you have been saved one hour, one year, or fifty years, you can tell others of what Christ has done for you.

One thing that will always hinder a Christian’s witness is sin. Notice what the Holy Spirit had Peter write to the believers scattered throughout northern Turkey. (1 Peter 2:12) Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Our conversation is our way of life or conduct. It must be honest or honourable among the Gentiles or unbelievers. Like it or not, people are watching our conduct. What they see will either be a help or hindrance when we try to tell them about Christ.

Transition

If we are to be effective witnesses for the Lord, we must have honourable conduct in three areas of our lives.

We Must Have Honourable Conduct Physically

  1. Look nice
    1. Be clean, neat, and comb your hair
    2. Men, unless you are growing a beard, you look neater shaven.
    3. Work at keeping your weight under control by eating right.
    4. Dress like a godly Christian. Never be immodest or sensual. Remember, you are always representing our holy God.
  2. Smell pleasant
    1. Bad breath turns people away.
    2. Body order offends.
    3. Even excessive perfume can be offensive.
      ☆ These suggestions may not all apply if you are a construction worker who is witnessing to a workmate on lunch break. However, if your physical condition offends, it will hinder your witness for Christ.

We Must Have Honourable Conduct Socially

  1. We must be friendly
    (Proverbs 18:24) A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

    1. Smile, show the joy of the Lord on your face
    2. Talk to people at the shops
    3. Visit with neighbours
    4. Greet people on the footpath.
  2. Treat the person as you want to be treated
    (Matthew 7:12) Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

    1. Be polite and kind.
    2. Be tactful and never rude.
    3. If you have set an appointment with the person, be on time.

We Must Have Honourable Conduct Spiritually

  1. Be right with God
    ² On the farm we had an electric fence around the paddock to keep in the cattle. Sometimes it would lose its power and we would have to locate the cause. At times, it was a large branch, but often it was a tiny wire, a stick, or a weed that grounded the fence and stopped the power.

    1. Unconfessed sin (big or small) will stop God’s power. Keep no unconfessed sin in your heart.
      (Psalm 139:23) Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: (24) And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
      (Proverbs 28:13) He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
    2. Be obedient to God in every known way.
      (James 4:17) Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
      (James 1:22) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
  2. Be surrendered to God
    1. Yield to His will. Ask God to use you. Seek to represent Christ as His ambassador.
      (Romans 6:13) Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
    2. Desire to please the Lord instead of self. Selfishness is the enemy of surrender.
    3. Have a godly attitude. Witnessing is not a dreadful duty. It is a privilege to speak for Christ.
      (Romans 1:16) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
  3. Be fellowshipping with God
    1. Daily spend quality time studying the Bible
      (Hebrews 4:12) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
      (2 Timothy 2:15) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
      (Jeremiah 23:29) Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
    2. Daily enjoy quality time in prayer with the Lord. Pray for your spiritual needs. Pray for the lost.
      (Luke 18:1) And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
      ² To desire revival…and at the same time to neglect (personal) prayer and devotion is to wish one way and walk another. ~A.W. Tozer
  4. Be empowered by God
    1. God the Holy Spirit gives Christians power to witness.
      (Acts 1:8) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
    2. The Holy Spirit will fill us with His power when we allow Him to by keeping sin out of our lives. He only fills clean vessels.
  5. Be a light for God
    (Matthew 5:16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

    1. We must choose to shine for the Lord. Depend on the Holy Spirit and speak out for the Lord even when you are afraid.
      (Psalm 56:3) What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
    2. Make sure that your life agrees with what you say or people will not listen to you. No one likes or trusts a hypocrite.
      1. Be honest when a checkout person makes a mistake.
      2. Be trustworthy
      3. Be godly
  6. Be burdened for the lost
    I have placed this last but it certainly is not least. Having a genuine burden for the lost is very important. It will keep you motivated when people are negative to the Gospel.

    1. See the unsaved around you as LOST!
    2. Remember that they are going to a hell that is real!
    3. Care about their souls (1Th 2:8).

Conclusion

If you seek to have honourable conduct physically, socially, and spiritually, you can be an effective witness for the Lord. You must make the effort. God wants to do His part, but we must not hinder Him.

Song: Give Me a Passion for Souls – 306
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Witness: The Messenger
31 May 2015 PM – 1Peter 2:12 –Witness2015 – Scott Childs