How to handle failure in witnessing?

[Live4HimAndLoveOthers]

"I don’t think God wants us to be admired by men for how brilliantly we speak, write, think, or work. I don’t think He’s even keeping count of how many people we lead to the Lord. I believe “Well done, my good and faithful servant” is reserved for those who understand what God has given them (the blessings of this life, the priceless message of eternal life, and the time to share it), and then use all they have (talents, abilities, relationships, and money) to put God first in everything, make family members more important than hobbies and worldly pleasures, and have enough compassion for the lost to share the message of the gospel with every unsaved person they can. The reward of the Christian life is not this world’s applause for being brilliant, but Heaven’s commendation for being faithful in the circumstances God has put you in."


(Kirk Cameron)
from:
http://www.wayofthemaster.com/articles/kirk2003-08-15.html

 

[Live4HimAndLoveOthers]

"...we must not let anything derail us from reaching the lost. Surely there is nothing that could ever happen to us in this life that could compare to the unspeakable horror of finding ourselves in "…the lake that burns with fire and sulfur." Even the most legitimate earthly pains cannot be compared to the experience of being cast into "outer darkness, where there is weeping, and gnashing of teeth."

(Kirk Cameron)
from:
http://www.wayofthemaster.com/articles/kirk2003-09-15.html

 

[Live4HimAndLoveOthers]

"I was reading 1 Peter 4:14 which says, "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: On their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified."
Just think about that for a moment. If we ever get rejected in the name of Jesus, we will be blessed and the glory of God will rest upon us. If you could have the glory of God shine in your life and be reflected onto others, would you want that?"

"Luke 6:22-23 says, "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in Heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets."
Do you realize that when you get rejected in the name of Jesus, God has rewards waiting for you in Heaven that will make any earthly reward seem like chump change? That is truly amazing.

After I spoke at a Christian high school in Mobile, Alabama, a group of students decided to go witnessing at the malls and at the beach. They were rarely shot down by someone, but if they were, they would make the sound cha-ching (like a cash register). They would ring up their rewards in Heaven, and then give each other a "high five" and move on to the next person. They decided to take the Word of God literally and not let anything get them down, but just be bold for the Lord."

(Mark Cahill, "One Thing You Can't Do In Heaven," pp. 32-33)

 

[Live4HimAndLoveOthers]

"Oh my friends, we are loaded down with countless church activities, while the real work of the church, that of evangelizing the world and winning the lost, is almost entirely neglected!"
(Oswald J. Smith)

 

[Live4HimAndLoveOthers]

"If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned or unprayed for."
(Charles Haddon Spurgeon)

 

[WalkWithHim]

Peace to you brothers and sisters in Christ,

I am having a hard time with myself, as I feel I am failing at witnessing. I do my best to explain the beauty of the cross, and how the bible is reliable, and everything, but still, no one seems to grab onto the message. I know that all I am saying is biblical, and isn't rude, but its kind and so on. So why am I failing? How do I handle that feeling of failing God in witnessing to other?

You must lay hands to witness. That is the only way to feel the power and beauty of The Lord!

 

[Live4HimAndLoveOthers]

"If there existed only one man or woman who did not love the Savior, and if that person lived among the wilds of Siberia, and if it were necessary that all the millions of believers on the face of the earth should journey there, and every one of them plead with him to come to Jesus before he could be converted, it would be well worth all the zeal, labor, and expense. If we had to preach to thousands year after year, and never rescued but one soul, that one soul would be full reward for all our labor, for a soul is of countless price."
(Charles Haddon Spurgeon)

 

[TexasSky]

What you are feeling is pretty common for a lot of people who take witnessing seriously, but the important thing to remember is that your assignment was to tell them the Good News of Christ. God will do the rest, and God may take your whole lifetime to do it.

How you live your life is even more important than what you say though.

A few examples from my own life to explain what I mean.

When I was young, I dated a young man whose family was athiest and openly hostile to God. I was very close to Christ in those days though, and spent a LOT of time at church, or reading my bible, and I tended to give God credit without knowing I was doing so. I was one of those "Jesus freaks" who said things like, "Didn't God give us a beautiful day today?" And when things went wrong, I prayed and asked others to pray. Sometimes I asked the ones I knew were not Christians because I wasn't thinking about their spiritual state at the time.
I was, however, terrified of flat out witnessing to this friend. Afraid I'd screw it up somehow. Turn him off to God. So I prayed, and never told him the Roman Road.

Then one day he showed up at my house and said, "Tell me about your God."

I was stunned, and said, "Sure, but may I ask why?"

He said, "There is a guy at work who is always going on and on about how this person is going to hell for doing that, and this person is going to hell for doing that. I've been watching you and your friends though. You aren't sad and angry and hateful. You don't sound happy to tell someone they are going to hell. I figured, I would rather know YOUR God, than his."

So we talked about Christ that night. About six months later he came to Christ.

When my mother passed away, I was working with a woman who was not a member of the Christian faith, and was a missionary for her faith. After mother's death, she came to me and said, "I don't really know how to say this, but I've been watching you and your family, and how you handled this loss, and I realized, you have something I don't have. A peace I don't know. Tell me about your Jesus."

So, give them the basics.
Give them lots of prayer support.
Give them Christian love.

And let God lead them to His throne.

 

[hogndog]

Has anyone taken the time to find the person that started this thread, maybe there in trouble, or maybe they decided to go out and preach the gospel... I'd prefer its the latter

 

[BlessedLYT]

You never know how your words is affected someone. It is not about the short term but about the long term. Your words could be taking root in someone hearts so you have to be strong. I have this same fear still do but I just pray and ask god for peace and what ever comes out is meant to comeout.

there is not perfect word or phrases to save someone you are human my love and ogd iworking through you. I have been to big churches aka mega churches and even though the message is strong I get lost in the hupla but when I go to a smaller church I feel right at hime. I hope you are catching the gist of this.