Acts 26:1-32
Paul is, once again, called on to present his "case." This time it's to King Agrippa, and what Paul does is simply tell his story of how Jesus met him and changed his life forever on the road to Damascus. And when I say "simply tell his story," I truly mean he just conveyed the experience--very personally and passionately--like he recalled it. It was clear and it was effective.
Life is full of experiences and no one knows or understands your experiences better than you. And usually when I talk about my experiences with someone I find that the conversation is warmer and more personal and relaxed because I'm comfortable telling about what I've seen, done or been through. And it doesn't have to be some "big" experience. Believe it or not, experiences like growing up on a farm, singing, struggling with anxiety, golfing, helping my husband battle through cancer, even owning dachshunds, has opened up dialogue where I then could let others know about working for Back to the Bible, my involvement with my church and my faith and love for the Lord.
So what are some of your life experiences that you can use (or you have used) to let others know you are a Christ-follower and then hopefully, the opportunity to share Christ? Tami W.
I have tried to share some things with others. The difficult part comes when others are trying to disagree with what you have been through.
I have a hard time with that.
I feel as though they are trying to say I am wrong, or that it is not true.
I have learned that I really don't know much about something unless I have been there and done that. So in another words, I really don't have much to say. I should be quick to listen and absorb what I have heard and be slow to speak, especially if I really don't have experience in a situation.
I use to be quick myself to doubt and judge when others where telling me about God and how He has and is working in their life. I argued because I didn't know, I had not experienced what they experienced. God and His ways were very foreign to me. I now know and understand where they are coming from. I guess that is where I need to remember..........where I came from.
Could you please help me with any thoughts or ideas.
Tami, I like how you reminded us that Paul 'simply' told his story. I find that very often Christians dont want to share or give a testimony unless it is soemtihing BIG. Paul just simply told of of his experience...
I have found it interseting in sharing 'simple' experiences from my field of work: banking, insurance, counselling, media, all have given me opportunites to share of the goodness of God in my life and the differnec He can make in the lives of others. Even using simple things that some would call 'luck' or 'coincidence', I have been able to use to share how the God of the universerve cares for 'simple' me and that has been a blessing to others.
For "anonymous"... Persons have and will question and be sceptical, BUT I found that over time, they would seek me out for advice and even to pray for them. They may respond negatively outwardly but its hard to ignore an eye-witness account of God working in a life! Continue to be a witness and plant the seed in their lives.
I am not sure I am wise enough to comment but I have experienced similar things - people questioning one's experiences. The Lord promises to give us the words when needed and we do not always know when they are needed or when they will fall on rocky ground. Only God knows if He has prepared a heart to receive the truth. Sometimes all we need to do is listen. I know I have a friend I use as a sounding board - she listens but does not always comment. She knows that often I am trying to work things out and I think that is the same with people one talks to. In fact, when God is working with them they often appear even more combative but, inside, God is working. Try to always be ready with the full armour of God. When I think of you I will also offer up a prayer on your behalf. May God bless and guide you.
Great discussion about what we often face. I too run into people who shut me down, who are cynical, critical, skeptical, and sometimes offended by what I have to share regarding my walk with the Lord. At times like these I have found it helpful to later reflect, ponder how I could better respond the next time in similar situations to share the Gospel. As a result, I'm better equipped as an ambassador for Christ.
I have found it helpful to go to the Word and meditate. This verse certainly applies here:
Colossians 4:5-6
New International Version (NIV)
5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Also, remember that Christ was hated by the world, and because you identify with Him, you will be ostracized by many. It's difficult for me to restrain my frustration sometimes when dealing with argumentative people and I want to beat them over the head with the Bible to smarten them up, but that will only hurt Christ and the Gospel. I need to be a good listener, be full of grace realizing they don't have the light (yet) that leads to understanding.
Asking good questions of the other person and listening to their response can open doors to share the Gospel in further detail. An effective question to leads you into further undertstanding of another's world view and identifying errors in their claims is by asking:
"That's interesting. How did you come to that conclusion?" This puts them on the hot seat to validate their claims and you sit back, listen, identify the lies of the world, flesh, and devil that have taken him captive, then zero in with the Word as the Spirit leads. Always do this with grace and love, not to belittle. Know that ideas have real life and eternal consequences. Therefore you must have a genuine love and concern for the lost and blind, because you can see and they can't (yet). Doing this always means caring enough to spend time with the person. Hard to do in our rush, rush life.
In the end, plant the seed of the Word - you done your part, and the Spirit will do the rest.
I agree with each of the people who have shared, so I'll comment a little differently, answering the request by Tami for a personal experience.
My wife battled depression for 8 long horrible years and the Lord allowed us to go through that time so that we would be ready for when He was ready to heal her, when He was ready to unveil a new direction not just for us but for the world; and it wouldn't just be for people with depression but for every single person on earth because it would deal with the root cause of dis-ease.
Even people living with depression don't or can't accept what God has done for us and through us. It's a drastic paradigm shift that is coming and will soon be here. It's also a radical paradigm shift. Radical can mean crazy off the wall OR a going back to the basics, what worked at the beginning, and in this case, God's perfect design.
Life experience that draws us closer to God and deeper into our walk with Him makes us then more useful to Him, if we are willing to be teachable and to share with others what we have learned along the way.
Since my husband was diagnosed with cancer and God subsequently healed him (thank you Lord), many friends, acquaintances and strangers with cancer have approached us. These people are usually very anxious but also willing to allow us to point them to the Lord as we share our journey.
If we make ourselves available to share God and our experiences with Him, comforting others with the comfort we have received from Him in times of trouble, we often find fertile ground in the hearts of those we share with. If not, then to me that is one more person to pray for, that God will continue to bring His people who are willing to speak His truths into their life.
Russell, you hit it bang-on. In some of my business training I was taught that people like to talk about themselves, particularly about their problems. The best way we can help is by listening and asking questions, to get them to open up even more. The more questions we ask the more they share; and the more they share the more they begin to trust us because we are actively listening to them. Once they know they can trust you, then they will be open to your suggestions of possible alternative solutions.
Always do it with love, yes, just as you pointed out. Show others that you care and that they are important.
This is in answer to Tami's question.
I'm a middle-aged woman with panic disorder. I belong to an on-line
panic disorder support group. The Lord nudged me to begin praying for another woman in the group. She is about my age and we live a couple of hours away from each other. She has "trust" issues and agoraphobia as well as panic. I took walks with my dog every night
and prayed for this woman. After several months she began to e-mail
me privately, then that turned into phone calls. I would encourage her and tell her I was praying for her.
That was five years ago and today we are the best of friends. She hasn't accepted the Lord yet, but she always asks for prayer and I can tell her heart is softening. I've often wondered why the Lord allowed me to experience panic attacks and acute anxiety, but if I hadn't I wouldn't have been able to relate to this woman who is now my precious friend! God does use our most unfortunate circumstances, as a way to comfort others who are going through the same thing, and tell them about the Lord's love for them. In hindsight it is amazing to me how the Lord brought my friend and I together! The Lord knew how much we have in common and how close we would become. In the beginning, I only knew the Lord wanted me to pray for her. God is good! :)