Introduction
Do you feel unqualified to share about Jesus because your life isn’t perfect, or you think you need to clean up some areas first?
Good news—your testimony is powerful, regardless of whether or not your life is fantastic at the moment. Every believer’s life serves a purpose for His Kingdom, no matter what. Now, God loves us too much to want us to remain stuck in a bad place permanently. However, poor circumstances don’t mean a poor testimony.
Look at the Apostle Paul’s life. He was far from perfect. But through Christ, this former assassin turned his life around so radically that God used him to write almost half of the New Testament and helped the early church roar to life with his testimony!
My imprisonment has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. All the soldiers here, and everyone else, too, found out that I’m in jail because of this Messiah. That piqued their curiosity, and now they’ve learned all about him. Philippians 1:12 (MSG)
Paul didn’t wait until he was unchained or in perfect harmony with everyone before he spoke about the hope he had in Jesus. Paul just couldn’t stop talking about Him!
You see, it’s the people who pretend they’re perfect while sharing Jesus who never reach anyone. People are turned off by their hypocrisy. What moves unbelievers’ hearts is when they see that Jesus loves and accepts us as believers despite our imperfections, because that’s what gives them hope!
As a believer, you don’t need to have a flawless history, live a perfect life or be a Bible expert. There are people in your circle who will listen if you speak up respectfully and simply share Jesus with them.
What’s Your Motivation for Sharing Jesus?
How often do you think about sharing Christ with others?
Growing up, I remember watching my dad pray on Saturday nights and Sunday mornings when he was getting ready to preach. Sometimes I could hear him crying as he prayed. He would say, “God, give me souls in this service today.” He preached for over forty years, normally to no more than one or two hundred people, yet person after person gave their life to Christ and miracle after miracle took place.
My dad’s passion for others was a living example of Acts 1:8 where it talks about the power of Holy Spirit coming on believers to be witnesses for Christ. As you get into God’s Word and grow your relationship with Him, something changes internally. You begin to share your faith! You don’t do it to win arguments or get a gold star on your “heavenly chart,” but out of sincere love and concern for other souls.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out of love and concern], but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful [because they serve his hidden agenda]. Proverbs 27:6 (AMP)
There’s a burden for the lost that begins to grow when you give your life to Jesus and get into His Word. If that burden has faded, it’s time to stir up your passion, because thousands are in the valley of decision! Eternity is real. And we all will spend it somewhere. Sharing Jesus with friends, family and those in our circle of influence opens the door for them to choose to accept Him and secure eternity with Father God.
Today, choose to a let deep love and concern for others be more powerful than pride or fear. Look for opportunities to share about the awesome hope you have in Jesus!
What’s Holding You Back?
I recently read about the catacombs in Rome where many of the early Christians were buried. One of the inscriptions reads, “Here lies my wife and little girl. For the glory of Jesus, they gave their lives in the Colosseum.”
The early church faced intense persecution by several Roman emperors who committed horrific acts of violence against them. They would skin believers alive, burn them at the stake or kill them for sport. Despite the atrocities the early Christians faced, they refused to be silent about their faith. In the midst of this persecution, the number of believers didn’t shrink—it exploded!
Today, many of us struggle to drum up the courage to even talk about our faith. Why? Here are five main reasons why people don’t share the Good News about Jesus.
1. Pride: “I don’t want to look bad or be painted as the ‘religious one.’”
2. Fear: “What if people find out I’m a believer, and it hurts me socially or costs me an advancement at work?”
3. Ignorance: “I didn’t know it was important. I thought Jesus would just reach them somehow.”
4. Rebellion: “I don’t care what you say. I’m not going to do it.”
5. Laziness: “I just don’t want the work or the bother. I’m happy to just be blessed and live my life.”
This is My command: be strong and courageous. Never be afraid or discouraged because I am your God... Joshua 1:9 (VOICE)
We need to wake up and realize how precious unsaved people are to Jesus. Let Holy Spirit empower you to push past whatever is hindering you from sharing the Good News. He will help you do it in a way that suits your personality best. Don’t let anything hold you back!
Go Boldly!
People can sense a tangible boldness in believers who are confident in God’s Word and His presence in their lives.
I remember sitting in a restaurant by myself one day when a massive body builder walked over to my table and said, “I’m stronger than you.” I cautiously agreed with him, and as people around us listened on, he took another intimidating step closer and repeated his statement.
Then, to my surprise, he crumpled down into the seat across from me and said, “But you have more power than me. Why is that?” As we talked, I explained to him that this power he sensed in me came from God and that because I serve Him, Jesus is in my heart. I explained that God fuels a power inside of believers that people can’t generate on their own and that he could have it too. We continued talking, and he accepted Christ later that afternoon!
When the presence of God is upon you, you carry a confidence, or power, that others can sense. At the same time, you are kind, compassionate and loving. The presence of God within you provides a tangible power and boldness that is unstoppable.
The council members were astonished as they witnessed the bold courage of Peter and John, especially when they discovered that they were just ordinary men who had never had religious training. Then they began to understand the effect Jesus had on them simply by spending time with Him. Acts 4:13 (TPT)
In this verse, the Jewish High Council members were blown away by Peter and John’s bold testimony. We carry that identical power within us to speak with boldness and confidence about the very same Saviour who is just as relevant in our world today!
A Supernatural Boost of Confidence!
I grew up with an upstanding, loyal friend named Allan who struggled immensely with one issue in particular: speaking to people. He was afraid to talk, and when he did, he would stutter and turn red, especially around girls. He seemed to feel better off staying silent.
But I’ll never forget the day he walked to the front of my dad’s church and, filled with Holy Spirit, began praying aloud without hesitation. A radical change came over him. He suddenly could talk and laugh freely, and after that he began to teach people about God’s Word and share his faith openly. He was totally changed from that day forward.
Now, I’m not saying everyone who encounters Holy Spirit will experience such a sweeping change. However, know that when Holy Spirit comes into your life, His power isn’t weak, small or half-hearted—it’s bold and confident!
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 (NLT)
That’s why the verse above doesn’t say, “And you will be my secret service followers.” The power the disciples received from Holy Spirit empowered them to boldly testify like never before. The power and inspiration the apostle Paul received from Holy Spirit caused him to share the Gospel courageously and relentlessly across the then-known world!
Interestingly, the original Greek term used for “power” in this verse is “dunamis,” which means power, strength or ability. Those are all accurate ways to describe what Holy Spirit brings to your life when you receive Him!
Conclusion
Tactfulness goes a long way in sharing the Gospel.
There are millions of hurting, lost souls out there. Many of them would willingly choose God but are turned off because of the way people share about Him. It’s not only important that we share the Gospel, but it’s equally critical how we share it. It should not be done in a condemning, judgemental way, or with a legalistic approach— but tactfully with love.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines tact as sensing “what to do or say in order to maintain good relations with others or avoid offense.” When communicating with others, we can’t control how people will respond. And the truth is, some may choose to be offended no matter how careful we are. However, our goal is to not intentionally give someone a reason to be offended by our faith.
I was recently reading through an old Christian book that talked about soul-winning. It was remarkable, because the opening chapter talked about tact… which sounded a lot like Spirit Contemporary!
To be Spirit Contemporary means we stop living in legalistic religion and refuse to judge others’ actions or lifestyle. Instead we simply share the beautiful Word of God with genuine love and passion.
Always be ready to explain your faith with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15-16 (TPT)
That’s why sharing Jesus in a Spirit Contemporary way is so powerful. It means we are spiritually alive—not compromising the Good News of Jesus—yet relevant to the world in how we act out our faith.
There are people around you watching you live your life as a believer, and they will be so much more receptive if you share the hope you have in Jesus in a respectful way.
When you're open to God's guidance, He not only makes it easier to connect with others, but you bring miraculous power into your own life as well. Cultivating genuine care and kindness in your heart for others helps you see the world in such a beautiful way, leaving the door open for the incredible opportunities God has for you!
