Three Important Verses in
Witnessing
"So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me
empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which
I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11).
If you only study one page on this section
on evangelism, this page is it. Why? Because here is where you will learn three of the
most important verses of evangelism: Isaiah 55:11;
Rom. 1:16; and John 12:32.
Isaiah 55:11
Isaiah 55:11 says,
"So shall My word
be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing
what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." God's word
is unique. It was by His word (speech) that God created, "God said, ‘Let there
be light'; and there was light" (Gen.
1:3). "By faith we understand that the
worlds were prepared by the Word of God..." (Heb.
11:3). Jesus is called the Word,
"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God... and
the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." (John 1:1,14).
When Jesus was on the earth, He taught. He taught with
words and His words had a very strong effect on people. They angered some and broke
others. But when Jesus spoke, things happened.
Jesus forgave sins by speaking, "And seeing their
faith, He said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven you'" (Luke 5:20). He raised the
dead by speaking, "Lazarus, come forth" (John
11:43). He calmed the wind and sea
with words, "Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and it became
perfectly calm" (Matt.
8:26). He cast out demons by speech, "And He said to
them, ‘Begone!' And they came out..." (Matt.
8:32). He healed by speech,
"And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be
cleansed.' And immediately his leprosy was cleansed" (Matt.
8:3,13). God's words are
powerful.
The Word (the Bible) is described as having many qualities:
| It is inspired: |
"All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, for training in righteousness" (2
Tim. 3:16). |
| It is truth: |
"The sum of Thy word is truth"
(Psalm 119:151). |
| It makes free: |
"...If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of mine; and you shall
know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John
8:32). |
| It produces faith: |
"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ"
(Rom. 10:17) |
| It judges: |
"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword,
and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and
able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb.
4:12). |
The Word of God is a mighty weapon. That is why you should memorize!
Romans 1:16
Rom. 1:16,
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel,
for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and
also to the Greek." What is the Gospel? 1
Cor. 15:1-4
says it is the sacrificial
death and physical resurrection of Jesus for sins. It is the powerful message of salvation
to sinners. If you know that the Word of God will accomplish what God wants it to and if
you know that the gospel has power to save, then it should ease your mind to know that in
witnessing you are using two very powerful weapons: God's Word and God's Gospel. The Word
of God is the Bible. The Gospel of God is His revelation or redemption.
John 12:32
John 12:32, "And I, if I be lifted up from the
earth, will draw all men to Myself." Here Jesus speaks specifically about His
crucifixion. It is He who draws to Himself all who are to be saved. When you present the
gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-4), the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus for sins, Jesus
draws the sinner to Himself. He does the work, not you.
As a Christian, you are to witness with truth, honesty, and
integrity. As the Lord provides the opportunity, you should respond in a humble and gentle
spirit (2 Tim. 2:24). And in that, you should point people to Jesus. It is He alone who
saves.
If you know that God's Word will accomplish what God
desires, that the gospel is powerful to save, and that it is Jesus who draws all men to
Himself, then you should realize that the responsibility of salvation does not rest on
you, but on God. You are the teacher, the deliverer of good news. "How shall they
believe in Him who they have not heard?" (Rom. 10:14). You help them hear!
These three verses should help you to gain confidence. You
witness; God saves. You plant the seeds; God waters. He uses you. It is His Word that
accomplishes salvation. It is His gospel that is powerful. It is His Son Jesus who draws.
You witness in power when you witness with the Word of God.
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