Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchPastor/TeacherPastor/TeacherJim RickardJim Rickard

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

Thursday,Thursday,March 29, 2012March 29, 2012

DoxologyDoxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.—Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.—Amen.Amen.

John 17John 17

The Great High Priestly The Great High Priestly Prayer of our Lord!Prayer of our Lord!

John 17:6-19John 17:6-19

John 17:1John 17:188We have been Commissioned We have been Commissioned

by Jesus Christ for by Jesus Christ for Evangelism.Evangelism.

John 17:18John 17:18, , ““As You As You ((God the FatherGod the Father)) sent Me sent Me ((God the SonGod the Son)) into into

the world, I the world, I ((JesusJesus)) also sent also sent them them ((the disciplesthe disciples)) into the into the

world.world.””

The Commissioning of The Commissioning of the Believer by Jesus Christ.the Believer by Jesus Christ.

Every believer is in full-time Every believer is in full-time Christian service. Christian service.

3. Three categories of 3. Three categories of evangelism: evangelism:

The spiritual gift of The spiritual gift of evangelism. evangelism.

The Pastor-Teacher.The Pastor-Teacher.Royal Ambassadors. Royal Ambassadors.

Therefore, the spiritual gift is Therefore, the spiritual gift is not an issue in witnessing; it not an issue in witnessing; it is the responsibility of every is the responsibility of every

believer.believer.

Acts 1:8, Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power “But you shall receive power

when the Holy Spirit has come when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You shall be My upon you. You shall be My

witnesses both in Jerusalem, in all witnesses both in Jerusalem, in all Judea, and in Samaria, and even Judea, and in Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”to the remotest part of the earth.”

The baptism of the Spirit is The baptism of the Spirit is the establishment of your the establishment of your

commission in Christ. commission in Christ.

Eph 6:15, Eph 6:15, “And having shod your feet “And having shod your feet ((put on your combat bootsput on your combat boots) )

with the preparation of with the preparation of (readiness to communicate(readiness to communicate) )

the gospel of peace.” the gospel of peace.”

2 Cor 5:18,2 Cor 5:18,“Now all things are from God “Now all things are from God who has reconciled Himself who has reconciled Himself to us through Christ, and has to us through Christ, and has given to us the ministry of given to us the ministry of

reconciliation.”reconciliation.”

2 Cor 5:20,2 Cor 5:20,“Therefore, we are ambassadors “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. making His appeal through us. We beg you, (We beg you, (invite youinvite you), on ), on behalf of Christ to become behalf of Christ to become

reconciled to God.”reconciled to God.”

2 Tim 4:5,2 Tim 4:5,“Do the work of an “Do the work of an

evangelist. Fulfill your evangelist. Fulfill your ministry.”ministry.”

This applies to every believer, This applies to every believer, not just the Pastor-Teacher.not just the Pastor-Teacher.

4. The Church Age believer 4. The Church Age believer has two areas of responsibility has two areas of responsibility

in witnessing for Christ.in witnessing for Christ.2 Cor 5:14‑212 Cor 5:14‑21

a. The witness of the life.a. The witness of the life.

2 Cor 3:3, 6:32 Cor 3:3, 6:3

2 Cor 3:3, 2 Cor 3:3, “Being manifested that you are a “Being manifested that you are a letter from Christ, having been letter from Christ, having been

served by us, written not with ink, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living but with the Spirit of the living

God, not on tables of stone, but on God, not on tables of stone, but on the tablets of the human heart.”the tablets of the human heart.”

b. The witness of the lips.b. The witness of the lips.

2 Cor 5:202 Cor 5:20

This is communicating the This is communicating the gospel to an unbeliever on a gospel to an unbeliever on a

personal basis; personal personal basis; personal evangelism rather than mass evangelism rather than mass

evangelism. evangelism.

It is informal, conversational, It is informal, conversational, whereby one individual whereby one individual

communicates the gospel to communicates the gospel to another individual.another individual.

5. Pitfalls in witnessing.5. Pitfalls in witnessing.

a. Avoid argumentation. You a. Avoid argumentation. You are to give information, not are to give information, not

argue over its validity.argue over its validity.

b. Do not be sidetracked by b. Do not be sidetracked by false issues such as: is the false issues such as: is the Bible the Word of God, or Bible the Word of God, or what about the people who what about the people who

have never heard?have never heard?

c. Deal with the individual c. Deal with the individual alone whenever possible. alone whenever possible.

Witnessing in front of others Witnessing in front of others creates false issues by creates false issues by

producing embarrassment, producing embarrassment, loss of prestige, or heckling.loss of prestige, or heckling.

d. Avoid getting in a rut by d. Avoid getting in a rut by always using the same always using the same

approach. Flexibility comes approach. Flexibility comes with maturity.with maturity.

e. Avoid the false concept of e. Avoid the false concept of having to witness to a certain having to witness to a certain number of people each day, or number of people each day, or

having a large audience. having a large audience.

Also, a high I.Q. is not Also, a high I.Q. is not necessary to witness to those necessary to witness to those

with a high I.Q. and vice with a high I.Q. and vice versa.versa.

f. Motivation must come from f. Motivation must come from Bible doctrine in the soul, not Bible doctrine in the soul, not

spiritual bullying, human spiritual bullying, human pressure, or approbation lust.pressure, or approbation lust.

g. Avoid bragging about your g. Avoid bragging about your experiences in witnessing.experiences in witnessing.

h. Do not judge other h. Do not judge other believers if you feel they are believers if you feel they are failing to witness. Apply the failing to witness. Apply the

privacy of the priesthood.privacy of the priesthood.

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchThursday, March 29, 2012Thursday, March 29, 2012

Tape # 12-035Tape # 12-035

We are Commissioned by Jesus for Evangelism We are Commissioned by Jesus for Evangelism Great High Priestly Prayer, Part 84 Great High Priestly Prayer, Part 84

John 17:18; 16:8-11; Rom 4:4-5; 2 Cor 3:3; 5:14-21John 17:18; 16:8-11; Rom 4:4-5; 2 Cor 3:3; 5:14-21

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2012James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2012