Whether you are taking an exam, giving a speech, hosting a party, playing in a sporting event, teaching a lesson, or witnessing for the Lord, preparation is a major key to success. Preparation often makes the difference between failure and success.

Last week we talked about the messenger and how as a witness for Christ, we must have honourable conduct physically, socially, and spiritually. Preparation is a step beyond conduct. It is actively doing things that will aid the effectiveness of our witness for Christ. Being prepared and ready will also calm your nerves and make you bolder.

(1 Peter 3:15) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: While this verse refers more to defending or faith than to witnessing, the challenge to prepare applies to both.

Transition

This evening I want us to consider three things we must do to prepare ourselves as witnesses for Christ.

We Must Seek God’s Power

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts” Give the Lord first place in your heart. Let Him show Himself strong in your life.

  1. Remember that the power to witness comes from God.
    (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.

    1. Your words are powerless.
    2. Salvation is of the Lord.
      (John 1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
    3. Gimmicks and tricks are powerless and often harmful. You cannot trick a person into conviction and repentance. Only God can bring a soul to that place.
    4. The Holy Spirit must convict the lost.
      (John 16:7) Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (8) And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
  2. Recognise your need for the Lord’s help
    1. Depend on the Lord and the Holy Spirit for wisdom and courage.
    2. Specifically ask the Lord to give you the right words to say and the boldness needed to speak for Him.
      (Ephesians 6:19) And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
    3. Ask the Lord to open witnessing doors for you.
      (Colossians 4:3) Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

We Must Equip Our Minds

“be ready always to give an answer”. People do not always ask questions when we witness, but when they do, we need to be ready to give them an answer. Prepare yourself, but do not let this trouble you. If you are asked a hard question that you cannot answer, simply say, “I do not know the answer to that right now, but I will research it and get back to you with the answer.”

  1. Know well the Gospel message
    1. Review the sermon from two weeks ago.
      1. God loves us, but He is also holy
      2. Every one of us is a sinner
      3. To be just, God must punish sinners
      4. We cannot fix our sin problem
      5. Christ died and rose again to pay for our sins
      6. We must repent and be converted
      7. We must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and call on Him for salvation
    2. Have a small Bible you can carry that is marked. If you use a Bible app, have the key verses marked.
  2. Memorise key Gospel verses
    1. Memorising scripture should not be a dreadful task. Memorised scripture is a needed tool. It is living and powerful. It is a hammer to break stony hearts. It is a fire that will melt stuborn hearts.
    2. Do not make the excuse that you cannot memorise. That is not true. It is true that children can memorise quicker than most adults, but everyone can memorise. The reason we do not memorise scripture is because we do not make it a priority.
    3. Start by memorising one key verse for every point in the gospel message.
    4. Let me give you some tips.
      1. Choose a verse.
      2. Ask God to help you memorise the verse.
      3. Be 100% sure you understand the verse you want to memorise.
      4. Write it down on a card. It may be helpful to put the reference on the back.
      5. Carry the card with you at the start and review it often.
      6. Say it out loud repeatedly. Begin phrase by phrase if it is a long verse.
      7. Always say the reference before and after the verse.
      8. Seek to memorise it word perfect.
      9. Use the verse as you pray
      10. Ponder the verse as you walk or prepare to sleep
      11. Review the verse daily for about a month. Then review it weekly.
      12. Have someone quiz you on the verse
      13. Another option is to use “SwordScript” Scripture memory software, or another software.

We Must Plan Our Strategy

“to every man that asketh” Though few people will ask you to tell them the Gospel, the Lord has asked us to spread the Gospel and as we do, we must be ready to give an answer to every person.

  1. Carry tracts with you and look for opportunities to witness.
    1. You can witness without using a tract, but a tract gives the person Gospel to read after you are gone.
    2. Be always watching for opportunities.
  2. Follow a map and go door-to-door handing out tracts.
    1. It helps to keep a brief record of each call.
    2. Mark your map so you know where you have been.
    3. Set a time to begin and an approximate time to end.
    4. Make it a priority.

Conclusion

The Apostle Paul wrote the following challenge to young preacher Timothy. (2 Timothy 4:2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. He was to be instant in season and out of season. In other words, he was to be ready to preach when it was planned and when it was unplanned, when it was convenient and inconvenient, when he felt like it and when he did not feel like it. The same is true with witnessing.

If you have not been regularly witnessing for the Lord, this preparation will help you. 1) Seek Gods’ power. 2) Equip your mind. 3) Plan your strategy.

If you do not have the basic salvation verses memorised word perfectly, begin the task this evening. Do not put it off. Make it a priority. Witnessing without using God’s word is like going fishing without a fishing line.

Song: Rescue the Perishing – 432
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Witnessing: The Preparation
7 June 2015 PM – 1 Peter 3:15 – Witnessing2015 – Scott Childs