The parable of the sower is found in the eighth chapter of Luke. There we learn that when the sower sowed seed, some fell by the wayside, some on stony ground, some on thorny ground, and some on good ground. In the interpretation of the story, the Lord Jesus said that the seed is the Word of God.
In witnessing to others about Christ, God's Word is the seed we are to sow. This is confirmed by I Peter 1:23: "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever." It is clearly evident then, that since the Spirit of God uses the incorruptible seed of the Word of God in the fertile soil of the heart in order to produce the new birth, no one can be saved without that Word. This also follows: any person who wants to be a successful witness for Christ, must learn to be skillful in the use of the Bible, for in personal witnessing, it is the sower's seed.
1. Seed and Bread
According to Isaiah 55:10,11, this same Word which is seed to the sower becomes bread to the eater. Such is the function of the Word after a person comes to know Christ as Saviour. It becomes food for his soul. The Scripture says, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (I Peter 2:2). To become equipped for effective personal witnessing, therefore, we must come to know the Scriptures.
2. The Bible Shows the Way of Salvation
The Bible, and the Bible only, shows the way of salvation. Note these significant words in II Timothy 3:15: "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." This needs no further explanation. The Holy Scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. They point us to Him.
3. The Only Effective Weapon
We have indicated that the Bible is the only effective weapon for this spiritual conflict. That this is so, is clear as we reflect for a moment on the condition of a person outside of Christ. Consider the words of Acts 26:18. Paul was sent to the Gentiles with the Gospel in order to "open their eyes, and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God." A person outside of Christ is blind, in darkness, and under the power of Satan.
These same facts are presented in II Corinthians 4:3,4 where we read "If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." Here we see that the enemy, Satan, has blinded the minds of them which believe not. He has blinded them concerning a particular message - the gospel. How are we to give light to the blind? How can we bring a person from darkness to light, from the power of Satan unto God? Will any argument suffice that you or I have? Definitely not! In order to wage a spiritual battle, to engage in spiritual warfare, we must use spiritual weapons. But what are they? The answer is found in Ephesians 6:17: "Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
A good illustration of how this weapon should be used in spiritual warfare is found in the fourth chapter of Matthew. There the account of the temptation of the Lord Jesus in the wilderness is given. The record is, "And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:3,4). In meeting this attack, the Lord Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy the eighth chapter. Someone has said, "When dealing with the Devil, don't argue, quote."
This is also true in effective personal witnessing. We must use the Word of God, the spiritual weapon that has been placed at our disposal, and we do that by showing what it says. Suppose someone were to say, "I don't believe the Bible, so don't quote the Bible to me." Would that person's lack of faith make the Bible any less the sword of the Spirit? Do you think for one moment that God who created Heaven and earth, and spoke this Word, cannot use it to penetrate that unbelieving heart?
Read what God declared through Jeremiah: "Is not my word like a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" The Spirit of God will use the Word to penetrate a heart in a miraculous way. It is though the Scriptures that He first brings conviction of sin and shows the need of the Saviour. The same Book shows convicted sinners that Christ is teh Saviour they need. It shows them how to receive Him as Saviour, and answers the difficulties that hinder them from receiving Him. Assurance of salvation also comes by means of it. The Bible, then, is an indispensable weapon in personal witnessing.
How are we to come to know the Bible? Is there one means that is more effective than another to equip us quickly for effective witnessing? There is - memorizing Scripture, hiding portions of Bible on the tables of our hearts. This will fill our hearts with something to say, and we will experience what is said in Jeremiah 20:9: "Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay." He will not only fill our hearts with something to say, but He will permit us to speak with confidence.
Another benefit is that through the Word hidden in the heart we can have victory over sin in our own lives. It pays to memorize Scripture.
1. Read "Beginning With Christ."
2. Memorize I John 5:11,12. Review this verse very day until it becomes part of you.
3. What do you feel are the most important things necessary by way of preparation for effective personal witnessing?
4. List some reasons why the Bible is indispensable not only to effective effective witnessing but to living a victorious Christian life.
A. IMPORTANCE OF THE BIBLE IN PERSONAL WORK
In witnessing to others about Christ, God's Word is the seed we are to sow. This is confirmed by I Peter 1:23: "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever." It is clearly evident then, that since the Spirit of God uses the incorruptible seed of the Word of God in the fertile soil of the heart in order to produce the new birth, no one can be saved without that Word. This also follows: any person who wants to be a successful witness for Christ, must learn to be skillful in the use of the Bible, for in personal witnessing, it is the sower's seed.
1. Seed and Bread
According to Isaiah 55:10,11, this same Word which is seed to the sower becomes bread to the eater. Such is the function of the Word after a person comes to know Christ as Saviour. It becomes food for his soul. The Scripture says, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (I Peter 2:2). To become equipped for effective personal witnessing, therefore, we must come to know the Scriptures.
2. The Bible Shows the Way of Salvation
The Bible, and the Bible only, shows the way of salvation. Note these significant words in II Timothy 3:15: "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." This needs no further explanation. The Holy Scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. They point us to Him.
3. The Only Effective Weapon
We have indicated that the Bible is the only effective weapon for this spiritual conflict. That this is so, is clear as we reflect for a moment on the condition of a person outside of Christ. Consider the words of Acts 26:18. Paul was sent to the Gentiles with the Gospel in order to "open their eyes, and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God." A person outside of Christ is blind, in darkness, and under the power of Satan.
These same facts are presented in II Corinthians 4:3,4 where we read "If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." Here we see that the enemy, Satan, has blinded the minds of them which believe not. He has blinded them concerning a particular message - the gospel. How are we to give light to the blind? How can we bring a person from darkness to light, from the power of Satan unto God? Will any argument suffice that you or I have? Definitely not! In order to wage a spiritual battle, to engage in spiritual warfare, we must use spiritual weapons. But what are they? The answer is found in Ephesians 6:17: "Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
A good illustration of how this weapon should be used in spiritual warfare is found in the fourth chapter of Matthew. There the account of the temptation of the Lord Jesus in the wilderness is given. The record is, "And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:3,4). In meeting this attack, the Lord Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy the eighth chapter. Someone has said, "When dealing with the Devil, don't argue, quote."
This is also true in effective personal witnessing. We must use the Word of God, the spiritual weapon that has been placed at our disposal, and we do that by showing what it says. Suppose someone were to say, "I don't believe the Bible, so don't quote the Bible to me." Would that person's lack of faith make the Bible any less the sword of the Spirit? Do you think for one moment that God who created Heaven and earth, and spoke this Word, cannot use it to penetrate that unbelieving heart?
Read what God declared through Jeremiah: "Is not my word like a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" The Spirit of God will use the Word to penetrate a heart in a miraculous way. It is though the Scriptures that He first brings conviction of sin and shows the need of the Saviour. The same Book shows convicted sinners that Christ is teh Saviour they need. It shows them how to receive Him as Saviour, and answers the difficulties that hinder them from receiving Him. Assurance of salvation also comes by means of it. The Bible, then, is an indispensable weapon in personal witnessing.
B. MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE FOR EFFECTIVE WITNESSING
How are we to come to know the Bible? Is there one means that is more effective than another to equip us quickly for effective witnessing? There is - memorizing Scripture, hiding portions of Bible on the tables of our hearts. This will fill our hearts with something to say, and we will experience what is said in Jeremiah 20:9: "Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay." He will not only fill our hearts with something to say, but He will permit us to speak with confidence.
Another benefit is that through the Word hidden in the heart we can have victory over sin in our own lives. It pays to memorize Scripture.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Read "Beginning With Christ."
2. Memorize I John 5:11,12. Review this verse very day until it becomes part of you.
3. What do you feel are the most important things necessary by way of preparation for effective personal witnessing?
4. List some reasons why the Bible is indispensable not only to effective effective witnessing but to living a victorious Christian life.
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