BECOMING A BOLD EFFECTIVE WITNESS PT 2

The preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom involves an understanding that the Day of Pentecost marked the beginning of the end of an era that was set in motion with His arrival, that continued through His return on the Day of Pentecost and realized in seventy A.D. with the destruction of the temple. Seventy A.D. marked the end of the administration of Judaism, and the governance of the Mosaic economy. 

We are NOW operating under a NEW CREATION administration called Kingdom/Ekklesia order and government.

Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal (everlasting) covenant, our Lord Jesus, equip you in every good thing to do His will, by doing in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21 LSB

What does it mean to be a bold, effective witness?

It starts with being a lover of people, and being willing to pray for the people within our respective spheres of influence. That should not be limited to those presently within our reach, and our prayers should include our cities, counties, states, and nations.  

The first century Ekklesia was born in a less than favorable environment. The truth be known, it was extremely hostile and antithetical to the Kingdom. The thought that it could cost them their life in order to share their story with others, was never far from their minds. 

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls. Proverbs 11:30 LSB

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. John 3:16-18 MSG

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to keep all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 LSB

Fulfilling the Great Commission is an apostolic assignment, but it is not limited to those who were and are being sent to other nations as missionaries. 

We must NOT assume that just because someone was born and raised in the religion of Christianity, that they fully comprehend what being born again or seeing and entering the Kingdom affords. 

My brothers, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20 LSB

Question: What is and is NOT working in the reality?

I think that it would be safe to say that what may have once worked well in preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, is not working that well today. That being said, there is no one technique or strategy that will be effective every time. We must be willing to adjust our approach at anytime, as Holy Spirit  directs. 

The following approaches will NOT work most of the time.  

Reminding people of how desperately wicked and inherently lost they are will not help them find their way home. The people of our worlds need to know how much the Father truly loves them, and they need to fully understand that He has a plan and purpose for their lives. 

They will need help in answering the first two of five big questions of man, as they begin to discover the purpose for which they were born. 

1). Where did I come from? (Origin)

Yahweh created man in His own likeness and image. 

(Likeness = Righteousness without - Image = Righteousness within)

2). Who am I? (Identity)

We are a spirit - (spiritual beings) comprised of spirit = lifeforce - soul = mind, will & emotions &  body = physical, living being

I often wonder how many believers in this generation who have never been instrumental in leading someone to the saving knowledge of the truth.
 
Question: What about your understanding has changed concerning the simple prayer of salvation?

Question: Where is what is known as the sinner’s prayer found in the Scripture?