This is a hard thing to say

[childlike2002]

I had a chance to wittness to a person today but instead all I did was listen to his predijuce and then confirm it by not confronting it, but feeding into it. I feel horrible. I dont have a chance anymore to talk to this person untill next fall and I dont know what to do other than pray for forgiveness. I have never really spread GOD'S word before. Any suggestions???

[hunnybuns]

Absolutely. Google Way of the Master and get equipped. Its been invaluable in helping me to share the faith, and defend our faith.

[graceforme]

Dear Childlike

We all have passed up a chance to witness to someone. I missed one quite recently. All we can do is pray that we are given another chance to talk with that person. When this happened, and I saw the person again, I said, "You know, something has been bothering me about our last conversation, and I'd like to talk about it now." The person was amazingly receptive.

Don't be too hard on yourself - we've all been there.

graceforme

[mistertwisty]

yup, missed a bunch of those opertunities. I try to look at them as learning experiences, and I pray to be a bolder witness for Christ. One thing that my pastor passed on to us was something he had heard years before, and it sticks with me still;

"People don't care how much we know, until they know how much we care"

So sometimes we have to listen to thier gripes and predjudices (sp?) before we can tell them that there is a more excellent way up

[FunMudder]

We have all been there, none of us are perfect.

WOTM is a great tool, no doubt, however it does not replace getting in the Word first.

The more you are reading Gods word, the more you will feel it growing inside you, filling your mind and heart. What is filling you will be what comes out of your mouth, you just can't help it. Pray that the Lord will seal His word in you as you study it, so that it flows back out when talking to others.

I highly recommend starting with Proverbs. Its broken into easy chapter chunks that repeat often. First day of the month I read Chapter one, day 2 chapter 2 and so on, there is the perfect number of chapters for days in a month, and it gets read often enough for my sorry memory to achieve recall. It takes only a few minutes for days when I am rushed, and is a great addition for when I'm getting deeper in the other books up

[childlike2002]

A big thank-you to everyone for your suggestions! And may GOD bless you all.

[RWSchilz]

I had a chance to wittness to a person today but instead all I did was listen to his predijuce and then confirm it by not confronting it, but feeding into it. I feel horrible. I dont have a chance anymore to talk to this person untill next fall and I dont know what to do other than pray for forgiveness. I have never really spread GOD'S word before. Any suggestions???

Do not feel so bad you were just not ready; if you truly wish to witness trust in the will of God He will make it happen for you. Being in the Word of God will help you to find the center of God’s Will. Start with these lines of scripture which I call seeds meditate and study them.
Romans 10:9 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
John 3:16 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Luke 8:11-12 11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
John 1:12 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
John 6:29 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
John 7:39 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing[a] in Him would receive; for the Holy[b] Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
John 8:24 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
John 10:26-27 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.[a] 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
John 12:36 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.
John 17:20-21 20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will[a] believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
John 20:30-31 30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
Acts 16:30-31 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Acts 19:4 4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:22 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all[a] who believe. For there is no difference;
Romans 10:9 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
1 Corinthians 1:20-21 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
Galatians 3:22 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
1Timothy 1:15-16 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
Hebrews 10:39 38 Now the[a]just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”[b]39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
1John 3:23 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us[a] commandment.
1John 5:13 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life,[a] and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
True believing Christian’s understand the message in the lines above with a sober clarity. Those words above are “the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
You should be making wherever you are a mission field sowing the seeds of salvation to all those who call themselves Christians by name but are week in the faith. Remember a seed is small so the message should be simple and to the point. There are 24 lines of scripture above proclaiming faith in Jesus Christ each one is a seed pick one find fertile soil plant it and water it with the Holy Spirit. For it is by the Holy Spirit that the message will take hold in the unbeliever not solely by your works! Want nothing for yourselve; no praise, no acknowledgment, for that leads to pride the tool satin will use to deflect the seeds you sow to fall on rocky ground.
“12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

[AllforHim]

Easy done, like the others have said, we've all been there at some point. The way of the master is definately the way to go.Also pray for that person, God will bring someone else.God bless

[Zaphnathpaaneah]

I'm a big fan of Way of the Master. I learned a lot from them and I tried reaching someone by using "THE LAW" first and follow with "GRACE".

It works! They have a lot of free resources on line and many books/tracts and even on on line course. (Of course, the Word is most important).

You just have to do it. Don't worry about how it turns out. Our job is to proclaim the Gospel. The Lord does the rest.

What you may feel was a "failure" today in trying to reach someone could turn out to be a seed that was planted with a great harvest later.

Just get in the habit of always looking for a way to share your faith with those you meet. There will be opportunities everywhere because we are talking to those who are lost every day.

[zhan]

My siggy below has a link to way of the master. It's not the only way, but it's a good way.

Also, there are chick tracks that you can hand out / leave around that help:
http://www.chick.com

[childlike2002]

Thank-you all, and I will check out "the way of the master". Funny, I have always considered myself a "christian" but in the last few years GOD has been pulling me to him. My life has been changing, example: after smoking for 20 years and trying to quit so many times I cant count, I begin praying that GOD would give me grace over it before the rapture. Well today is day 34 without a cig, totally by the grace of GOD! Other temptations I would normally give into- he is giving me strength over. So I praise my LORD JESUS!

[Pioneer Woman]

The Way of the Master is definitely a good place to check out.

I think we all have missed opportunities to tell someone of Jesus and salvation. I know I have. When that has happened, I just asked God to forgive me, and ask for another chance. If I knew I won't see that person again, then I just prayed God would send someone else.

You'll get more opportunties to talk to others, just wait and see!

[Dorie]

I feel led to tell you that when we are talking to an unbeliever, or someone who's in a cult, there can be a spirit of confusion there. So, I hope you will forgive yourself.
Also, the devil is the accuser of the brethren & will try to put guilt on you. But, God knows the intent of our hearts. There could also have been an argumentative spirit there & that person would have just tried to argue with you. Just remember, All things work together for good to them that love God!

[CountryBumpkin]

Thank-you all, and I will check out "the way of the master". Funny, I have always considered myself a "christian" but in the last few years GOD has been pulling me to him. My life has been changing, example: after smoking for 20 years and trying to quit so many times I cant count, I begin praying that GOD would give me grace over it before the rapture. Well today is day 34 without a cig, totally by the grace of GOD! Other temptations I would normally give into- he is giving me strength over. So I praise my LORD JESUS!

childlike2002, that is wonderful. Many of us feel like God is drawing us, changing us as He conforms us - more so now than ever. Yes, let us praise Him!!

[blitzkreig]

I had a chance to wittness to a person today but instead all I did was listen to his predijuce and then confirm it by not confronting it, but feeding into it. I feel horrible. I dont have a chance anymore to talk to this person untill next fall and I dont know what to do other than pray for forgiveness. I have never really spread GOD'S word before. Any suggestions???

To "witness" does not mean what about 99.99% of Christians today think it means. A witness is one who "attests". By your life and behaviours. It is an affirmation. The "testimony" is evidence by your being you.

It is the Holy Spirit who convicts a unsaved person's conscience ... and will use the simple Christian witness of you as the means ...

When it comes right down to it Scripture calls preaching to the unsaved listener "foolishness" to their ears ... which really has no power in and of itself ... but that God the Holy Spirit uses that "foolishness" if it pleases God.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
(1Co 1:18-21)

The point being that you needn't get down on yourself as you didn't sound like Billy Graham or something. If God is going to convict that person then and there ... you could be making armpit music and God will make it effective.

Now all this said ... yes it does make a person more comfortable when they are forearmed with information such as "The Way of the Master" material.

.

[Teacup]

Wow Blitz, it is so good to see your posts again! I agree, we water and plant, but its God who gives the increase. We witness with our lives by walking in the Spirit.

Dlee

[blitzkreig]

I agree, we water and plant, but its God who gives the increase. We witness with our lives by walking in the Spirit.

Dlee

Amen.

We by living in the light can't help but shed light into the dark.

We need to keep in mind that the very very most powerful thing you can do is to pray for a friend.

Fact of the matter is that is what "we" are called to do in Scripture. Pray for them.

I believe that you can talk yourself hoarse ... or leave it to God. Leave it within His will ... with your prayer of intersession.

There are folk who are those who are called to be in various parts of a ministry. So it is a mistake to think we are all called to do the same things.

FWIW ... there is nothing stronger than prayer. I am glad that I am called to this instead of some other calling.

.

[FunMudder]

How are you doing?

Congradulations on the nicotine free days!

[Widowsmyte]

Child-like:

Another thought on the matter.

If you are in a "drive-by" situation you might actually make things worse.

With the wonderful suggestions already given here -- you WILL be better prepared [and] I would like to use this thread to point out the "other thought on the matter"...

If you will notice - you were undoubtedly touched & comforted NOT necessarily by the Scriptural Evidences sited (all very important --- don't misunderstand or minimize) BUT BY THEIR TESTIMONIES!!! You WILL surprise your listener (even if they don't let on right away) that you are so frank about your inabilities or failures but how Christ & the leadership of the Holy Spirit brought through them anyways!

Just as your fellow Brothers & Sisters told you how they came up short many times even recently they "educated" you to the True Way rather than "lecture" you or "bring you up short [as to] where you are needing to do this Christian Thing (how an unbeliever will hear you regardless of you well intentioned well documented words).

People can only hear so much in small doses. As much as your are thrilled with your personal decision and you want it badly for them too -- it will take a bit of time for them to reach the same life altering decision. Your personal testimony will have the benefit of personalization AND will be a surprise way to let them know WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE TOO!

Keep your caring heart craving for others' spiritual well-being... you will be a "good & faithful servant"!

In-Christ... widowsmyte

[childlike2002]

Thank-you all! They were all great replies and suggestions! Iam still smoke free, I cannot begin to tell you how great that is! I still fall in other area's but I pray that GOD will give me grace over those sins as well. I am learning and I want to share, especially the blessings and lessons that I have learned, most importantly the love and forgiveness that my LORD JESUS has given to me. I travel alot on my job so I have started leaving tracts- mostly in restrooms at gas stations. My favortie is The Second Coming tract. Anyway thank-you all for suggestions.