PAUL AN EXAMPLE IN WITNESSING.

ROMANS 9:1-5

NKJV 1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen. NKJV

Introduction TOPIC: Witnessing INDEX: 3603-3605
In his practical book, How to Witness Successfully, George Sweeting focuses on the problem of believers who are silent about their faith in Christ. He gives this illustration: "During the reign of Oliver Cromwell, there was a shortage of currency in the British Empire.

Representatives carefully searched the nation in hopes of finding silver to meet the emergency. After one month, the committee returned with its report. 'We have searched the Empire in vain seeking to find silver. To our dismay, we found none anywhere except in the cathedrals where the statues of the saints are made of choice silver.' To this, Oliver Cromwell eloquently answered, 'Let's melt down the saints and put them into circulation.'"

Let Us Look at Paul's Example in Witnessing. Let Us Also Follow the Example.

1. Witnessing with Sincerity.

2. Witnessing with Sacrificial Thoughts.

3. Witnessing with Sensitivity.

1. Paul Witnessed with . . Sincerity. 5:1-2
1 I Tell the Truth in Christ, I Am Not Lying, My Conscience Also Bearing Me Witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 That I Have Great Sorrow and Continual Grief in My Heart.

A. Sincerity as a Matter of . . . Truth. v 1 a
"I Tell the Truth in Christ, I Am Not Lying, . . ."

1. Truth Expressed Positively. -"I tell the truth"

2. Truth Expressed Negatively. - "I am not lying."

B. Sincerity as a Matter of . . . Testimony. v 1 B
". . . My Conscience Also Bearing Me Witness in the Holy Spirit, "

C. Sincerity as a Matter of . . . Tenderness. v 2
"That I Have Great Sorrow and Continual Grief in My Heart."

Illustration: Topic: Witnessing Index: 3603-3605
Cecil Northcott in "A Modern Epiphany Tells of a Discussion in a Camp of Young People Where Representatives of Many Nations Were Living Together. "One Wet Night the Campers Were Discussing Various Ways of Telling People about Christ.

They Turned to the Girl from Africa. 'Maria,' They Asked, 'What Do You Do in Your Country?' 'Oh,' Said Maria, 'We Don't Have Missions or Give Pamphlets Away. We Just Send One or Two Christian Families to Live and Work in a Village, and When People See What Christians Are Like, Then They Want to Be Christians Too.'" in the End the Only All-conquering Argument Is the Argument of a Christian Life.

Application:

Paul Did Exactly That, and His Sincerity Had to Show. We must Be Sincere in Sharing Our Faith in Christ.

2. Paul Witnessed With . . Sacrificial Thoughts. 5:3
3 for I Could Wish That I Myself Were Accursed from Christ for My Brethren, My Countrymen According to the Flesh,

A. A . . Separating Sacrificial Thoughts. v 3 a
3 for I Could Wish That I Myself Were Accursed from Christ . . ."

B. A . . Speculating Sacrificial Thoughts. v 3b
". . . For My Brethren, My Countrymen According to the Flesh,"

Illustration Topic: Witnessing Index: 3603-3605 Title: a Changed Life
A Holdup Man Was Caught and Sent to Prison. While There, He Came Face to Face with the Claims of the Gospel and Was Born Again by the Spirit of God. His Life Completely Changed, He Served the Rest of His Sentence in an Exemplary Manner and Was Released Several Years Later. As He Was Leaving, the Chaplain Handed Him a Letter Written by Another Prisoner. It Said, "I Came to this Place Despising Both Preachers and the Bible. When You Told Me You Were Saved, I Said to Myself, 'There's Another One Taking the Gospel Road Just to Get an Early Parole'; but Roy, I've Been Observing You for a Couple of Years, and Your Testimony Has Rung True.

I Kept Track of You When You Were in the Yard Exercising or Working in the Shop or Eating Your Meals. You Never Made a Slip. Now I'm a Christian, Too, Because I Watched You! The Savior Who Saved You Has Saved Me!" Others Had Tried to Convince Him Through Argumentation of the Claims of the Lord, but Roy Had Exhibited a Changed Life Before Him -- That Made the Difference!

Application:

Paul Witnessed With Sacrificial Thoughts.

We Need to Be Inspired by Him.

One of the saddest statistics of our day is that 95% of all church members have never led anyone to Christ. Dr. D. James Kennedy

3. Witnessing with Sensitivity. 5:4-5
{4} Who Are Israelites, to Whom Belongs the Adoption as Sons and the Glory and the covenants and the Giving of the Law and the <Temple> Service and the Promises, {5} Whose Are the Fathers, and from Whom Is the Christ According to the Flesh, Who Is over All, God Blessed Forever. Amen.

A. Paul's Sensitivity . . . Knowing Adoption. v 4 a
"Who Are Israelites, to Whom Belongs the Adoption as Sons . . . "

B. Paul's Sensitivity . . Knowing the Glory & Covenants. v 4 b
". . . and the Glory and the Covenants . . ."

C. Paul's Sensitivity . . Knowing the Law and Promises. v 4c
" . . . and the Giving of the Law . . . "

D. Paul's Sensitivity . . Knowing the Temple Services. v 4d
". . . and the <Temple> Service . . . "

E. Paul's Sensitivity . . . Knowing the Fathers. v 5 a
". . . Whose Are the Fathers, . . . "

F. Paul's Sensitivity . . . Knowing the Christ. v 5 b
" . . . and from Whom Is the Christ According to the Flesh, Who Is over All, God Blessed Forever. Amen. "

Illustration
Christa and I have been to Israel Twice. On both trips I asked several Jewish people if they were looking for the Messiah. Everyone said, "Yes! Paul wanted the Jews of his day to realize all the benefits God gave them climaxed in the Messiah. In the coming of Jesus.

Illustration: Topic: Witnessing Index: 3603-3605 Date: 9/1989.23 Michael Chang
A few years ago A Christian Tennis enthusiast wrote, I Know I'm Prejudiced but Anyone That John McEnroe Hates, I Like! One of Those Persons Is Michael Chang Who Just Recently Won the French Open Tennis Tournament, Becoming the First American in 34 Years to Do So. His Mother, Betty, Says Michael Plays Tennis "To Spread the Word," and He Surely Did That Last Week, Crediting His Every Victory to "The Lord Jesus Christ." after Miraculously Outlasting Lendl, He Said, "I Prayed, and My Cramps Went Away. Maybe There Are More Important Things to Pray For, but Everything That Happens in My Life Is Because of Him. I Get My Strength from Him. He's in Control. He Keeps Me Going."

Following the Final, Stefan Edberg of Sweden, (Whom Chang Beat in the Final) Dismissed Any Higher Authority Holding Sway over the Result. But Chang Again Acknowledge the Lord, Whose Name the Crowd Greeted with Not a Few Hefty Boos and Whistles. "I Know Every Time I Bring Jesus Up, Everybody Nods and Gets Sick of It," He Said. "But It's the Truth. He Gets All the Credit." -- Sports Illustrated, June 19, 1989

Illustration
I have been thinking about establishing personal goals in the area of talking to people and sharing the gospel. I received The Baptist Press News Release 5 times a week, and as I am thinking about establishing some goals I got this News Release.

It is from the Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism at Our Souther Baptist Seminary In Louisville Kentucky.

He suggested because we Love God, So Believe the Gospel, We Do Whatever it Takes to Be Obedient to the Great Commission. Perhaps the Goals I Am Recommending Here Will Prove Helpful to Others.

First, Set a Goal for Praying for Non-believers.
Second, Set a Goal for Developing Relationships with Non-believers.
Third, Set a Goal for Simply Speaking about God's Goodness.
Fourth, Set a Goal for Sharing the Gospel.
Fifth, Set a Goal for Mentoring New Believers.

Illustration
In my pastorate in California A Young Naval Officer surrendered to preach. He got out of the navy and went to Ft. Worth to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. His family joined a church in Hurst Texas, and Jim with his pastor to make a visit to a man who was not a Christian. The pastor presented the gospel and the man refused. Jim ask the pastor, "do you mind if I share and the pastor said no." He asked the man and he said no. He started talking to the man by saying I have been praying for you every day since I met you. I have been praying that you would accept Christ as your Lord. He then followed up on the pastor's presentation. The man got down on his knees and ask Christ into his life. Prayer was the difference.

Conclusion:

Paul an Example in Witnessing.

1. Witnessing with Sincerity.
2. Witnessing with Sacrifice Thoughts.
3. Witnessing with Sensitivity.

But however we do it we must do it!