“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”¹

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, I want to be an effective witness for you. Please help me to BE one. Help me to so live that people will see Jesus in me; that is, your love and light shining through me, and grant that their seeing you in me, will cause them to want the same for themselves. Help me in some way to BE ‘as Christ’ to every life I touch today and every day for the rest of my life. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Acts 1:8 (NIV).

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“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”¹

On one occasion I had the opportunity to speak to some 300 students in chapel at a theological seminary. Most, if not all of the students, were training for some form of Christian ministry. The first thing I said when I went to the podium was, “The title of my message today is, ‘I Hate Witnessing.’” The silence was deafening and if looks could kill…! After a brief pause I then said, “And I bet most of you do too!” Some snickers came from the students. Then I asked, “Well how many of you love to witness, find it easy, and do it regularly?” A whole three hands were raised! Then there was much laughter!

Whenever I have asked groups of people how many don’t like to witness and are afraid to do it, most hands are raised. Then there seems to be a great sigh of relief from the audience when they realize that they are not alone in their struggle with witnessing for Christ.

One reason I believe so many of us have problems with witnessing is because most of us are taught to witness by teachers who have the gift of personal evangelism, and they teach us to witness the way they do as if we had the same gifting. That can be like training a person who is tone deaf to sing. That can be impossible, frustrating, and guilt-producing! Plus, I don’t know about you, but I was made to feel guilty if I weren’t telling someone about Jesus much of the time.

Getting back to my prayer where I told God I hated witnessing and was quitting: I did add, “However, God, if you want to use me to spread the gospel, I’m available, but you’ll have to do it through me because I’m too scared.”

A few hours later I was sitting in a jumbo jet high over the Pacific reading Hal Lindsey’s book, The Late Great Planet Earth. I had a whole row of seats to myself and at one point in the journey a fellow passenger came and sat beside me, introduced himself, and asked what I was reading. After I told him it was a book about the return of Christ to earth, he asked me if I believed Christ would come again. I said I did, to which he replied, “Will you please tell me all about it?”

Now, I love witnessing like that!

I’m not saying this kind of thing happens all the time. It doesn’t. But I think this particular incident happened because I was being honest with myself and with God, and to verify to me that God had heard my prayer and was already answering it.

The starting point with God always is being honest for, “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”²

(To be continued)

Suggested prayer, “Dear God, I want to be an effective witness for you. I’m also available, but ask you to do it through me because I, too, am afraid. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Psalm 145:18 (NIV).
2. Psalm 145:18 (NIV).

NOTE: Today’s message is adapted from the book, I Hate Witnessing (A Handbook for Effective Christian Communications) by yours truly. See http://tinyurl.com/33kfbk to obtain a copy.

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“And then he [Jesus] told them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere.’”¹

It was a beautiful morning. The sky was a brilliant blue. Bathers were already soaking up the sunshine and challenging the surf. High above, I sat on my private balcony at the motel where I was staying overlooking the beach at Waikiki in Hawaii. I was having my devotions and felt an urge to tell God how I was feeling about my work which was being the director of an organization whose work was that of communicating the gospel.

“It’s about this witnessing thing, God,” I said. “I hate it and I’m quitting.”

No, the lightning didn’t strike and the balcony didn’t collapse. Now I’m not one to hear God’s voice audibly or to see visions etc., etc. But this morning I kind of sensed God saying, “Amen, Dick, I hate the way you witness too!”

The kind of witnessing I hated was sharing the gospel message out of a sense of duty, compulsion, and guilt (false guilt that is)… or by buttonholing an individual and, like a high-pressure salesman, “shoving” my pre-programmed message down their throat. I am embarrassed today just thinking about how I botched up some of my so-called witnessing experiences. Like the minister who said, “I feel guilty when I don’t witness to my neighbors. And I feel guilty when I do because I make such a botch of it. My approach is so unnatural.”

In her book, Out of the Salt Shaker and Into the World, I love what Rebecca Pippert had to say about witnessing out of a sense of guilt. “Whenever the guilt became too great to bear, I overpowered the nearest non-Christian with a nonstop running monolog and then dashed away thinking, Whew! Well, I did it. It’s spring of ’74 and hopefully the guilt won’t overcome me again ’till winter of ’75. (And my non-Christian friends hoped the same!) I witnessed like a Pavlovian dog. The bell would ring, I would get ready, activated, juices running and then BAM! I’d spit it out.”

So, it’s one thing to talk about the gospel to somebody else, but it can be a far cry from effectively communicating Christ’s love and the gospel message. For those who have the gift of personal evangelism, confrontive evangelism can be very effective, but for the 99% of us who don’t have the gift, witnessing for Christ can be a daunting task if we act and witness as if we had the gift!

Stay with me … we’ll pick up on this message tomorrow. Just let me say there is hope for the 99% of us who “hate” to witness. And lest you think I am bordering on being a heretic, let me say that while I may hate “witnessing,” I love to communicate the gospel.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be always honest with myself and with you, confess the areas in my life where I feel like I am failing and botching things up, and seek your help to do your work in your way for your glory. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Mark 16:15 (NLT).

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NOTE: Today’s message is adapted from the book, I Hate Witnessing (A Handbook for Effective Christian Communications) by Dick Innes. See http://tinyurl.com/33kfbk to obtain a copy.

“When he [the prodigal son] came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father.”¹

In his One-Minute Uplift email newsletter Rick Ezell writes, “In the highlands of Scotland sheep often wander off into the rocks and get into places that they can’t get out of. The grass on these mountains tastes very sweet, and the sheep like it. They will jump down ten or twelve feet to a ledge with a patch of grass, and then they can’t jump back up again. The shepherd hears them bleating in distress. The shepherd may leave them there for days, until they have eaten all the grass and are so faint that they cannot stand. Only then will the shepherd put a rope around the sheep and pull them up out of the jaws of death.

“Why doesn’t the shepherd attempt a rescue when the sheep first get into the predicament? The sheep are so foolish and so focused on eating that they would dash away from the shepherd, go over the precipice and destroy themselves.

“Such is the case with us. Sometimes we need to experience a little bit of death before we can enjoy the abundance of life. The Lord will rescue us the moment we have given up trying, realizing that we can’t liberate ourselves, and cry to him for help.”²

For many of us, like the prodigal son, it’s only when all else fails and we hit rock bottom, that we turn to God for help but that’s a good thing because only God can rescue us from the jaws of eternal death and damnation.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that when I finally admit that I have a problem—that I am a sinner—and need help, I discover that you have been waiting patiently for me to come to you so you could rescue and save me from the tragic consequences of sin which is eternal death and separation from you. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus name, amen.”

1. Luke 15:17-20 (NIV).
2. Rick Ezell, Defining Moments, © 2001. Cited on PreachingNow Ezine. www.preaching.com/preaching/preachingnow.html

NOTE: For help to know God be sure to read, “How to Be Sure You’re a real Christian Without Having to Be Religious” at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

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“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”¹

Yesterday we pointed out three more benefits of a good church: friendship and a sense of belonging; personal care; and discovering a sense of inner peace and strength.

Regarding the latter, one hard-working electrical contractor explained his feeling this way, “I was tired of the everyday grind. I really felt all along that there was something missing. I went to church as a youth just about every Sunday. I went to boot camp. And then I lost it. I couldn’t put my finger on it, even though I tried and tried again. My children started going to Sunday School, my wife started, and I said, ‘Maybe this is what I’m missing.’ So I tried it, and it was.”²

Finding God and his will for your life. There are many more benefits gained from belonging to a good church, not the least being: learning about God; experiencing meaningful worship; finding inspiration and help for daily living; and having an opportunity to use your abilities to serve others.

Perhaps the most important benefit of all is that in a good church one can find God … and his will and direction for one’s life.

The Gallup poll mentioned earlier also brought out an interesting facet of American life. At the time of this poll 61 percent of all Americans aged 18 and above want to follow God’s will.

With God, life (even with all its hurts and frustrations) becomes more meaningful and purposeful. Furthermore, with God one can find forgiveness for all his sins and wrong-doing, make his or her peace with him, and receive the hope of eternal life.

Belonging to a good church is so beneficial for both individuals and families that it is well worth finding a church where leaders and members not only love God and believe and teach his Word, but also where they are loving, accepting, and non-judgmental; where they present grace with truth; and where they are committed to ministering to each others’ needs. That’s why God designed the church.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you above all that in a good church I can find you. Thank you, too, that a good church gives me a safe place to learn more about you, study your Word, discover your will for my life, share my struggles and failures, grow in maturity, faith, love and every grace, and find an opportunity to serve you by serving others. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus name, amen.”

1. Hebrews 10:25 (NIV).
2. Why People Join the Church, p. 105-106.

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“They [the early disciples of Jesus] devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”¹

Yesterday we pointed out that one of the major benefits of a good church was improved family life.

Friendship. Two more important benefits provided by the church are friendship and a sense of belonging.

In their book, Growth, a New Vision for the Sunday School, Charles Arn, Donald McGavran, and Win Arn emphasize the important part that friendship plays in a live and growing church. Surveys and personal interviews have shown that this is what attracts most people and what keeps them actively involved. In fact, the number one reason people gave for joining a new church home was “the friendliness of the people.”

Personal care. Another benefit of the church is its care for and support of its members.

I’ve belonged to churches where members band together to care for the sick, provide volunteer therapy for the handicapped, take meals to the shut-in, provide homes for the poor, give care to the aged, and provide social activities for the youth.

One church I belonged to sponsored a divorce and grief recovery program, and provided support groups for parents of teens and pre-teens, for codependents, for singles, for helping people with sexual, drug and alcohol addictions, for incest and rape victims, for those with eating disorders, and care groups for everybody in the entire church.

Inner peace and strength. It is true that some people go to church for false motives, but most, like me, are people who have blown it at times, who have fallen and made mistakes, are struggling to become the person they feel God wants them to be, and know if they are going to make it, they need a power greater than their own.

They go to church because here, in spite of their failures, they have found not only forgiveness and acceptance, but also a sense of inner peace knowing that their life is right with God, and strength to help them cope with the struggles of life.

To be concluded …

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that a good church provides wonderful friendships, a place where members truly care for one another, and a sense of inner peace and strength that comes from meaningful worship with fellow believers. Please help me not only to be a receiver of these benefits but also a giver to others so that they, too, will experience all of these benefits. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus name, amen.”

1. Acts 2:42 (NIV).

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“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”¹

Leon Norsworthy, a very successful family man and business leader, was promoted to the directorship of a national organization—a promotion which involved a move to another city for him and his family.

Before buying a new home in the general vicinity of his work and moving his family, however, Leon and his wife, Sally, did an interesting thing. They first looked for a good church, and when they found the one they felt would best meet their family needs, they then bought a house close to the church.

They did this because they have experienced the benefits of belonging to a good church and realize its importance for personal, family and spiritual life.

The Norsworthys aren’t alone in their feelings about the church. In fact, 120 million or 61 percent of Americans belong to a church. What other volunteer organization can boast such a following?

True, every church has some weaknesses and some churches suit some people more than others, but for the church to survive for 2,000 years and continue to thrive as it has, there has to be many benefits to attract and hold its vast following. The following are some of the most important ones:

Improved family life. A Gallup poll showed that the number one personal need expressed by 82 percent of the American adult population was having a “good family life.”

Many people besides the Norsworthys believe the church helps make for a good family life. In a special study, Edward A. Rauff, director of the Research and Information Center of the Lutheran Church Council in the U.S.A., found that the dominant reason a high percentage of the respondents gave for establishing a relationship with a church was “to keep the family together and to strengthen family life.”²

That the church helps strengthen family life is supported by a study conducted by sociologist Steven Nock of the University of Virginia. His conclusions showed that couples who attend church regularly are 42 percent more likely to be married for the first time, and those in the church who were committed to its beliefs had a 23 percent better chance of having a “very happy” marriage than those who don’t go to church.

To be Continued…

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you designed the church, not only for your people to worship you together, but also to help meet many needs of the body of Christ—your Church. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus name, amen.”

1. Hebrews 10:25 (NIV).
2. Why People Join the Church, p. 73.

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“‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he [Jesus] said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.”¹

One of the best decisions I ever made in my life was also one of the scariest. I struggled with it for about three years. As a young man I felt a deep sense of God’s call to full-time Christian ministry but knew that to be effective I would need to be adequately trained. For ministry I had no training whatsoever. I hadn’t even been to high school. I was only 13 when my father made me quit school and go to work. As a teenager I attended technical college part time and became well trained as a carpenter and joiner (joiners make windows and doors and those kinds of things). I could build houses, but to get up in front of people and speak—forget it!

But the “Hound of Heaven” kept bugging me.

“You’ve got to be kidding, God,” I argued. “You mean you want me to leave my home, my family, my friends, and my security to go overseas for training! Don’t you know how insecure I am? I’m only a carpenter and you want me to do what—to step out of my security boat and walk on water!”

“Yes, that’s correct,” God said in his not too still small voice. “Did you forget that Peter was only a fisherman? And by the way, my Son, Jesus, was a carpenter.”

“Okay, God,” I finally said, “You win. I know what I have to do.” I said this when I was flat on my back on a hospital bed following an accident I had on a construction site. For some of us we have to be hit over the head, as it were, by a four-by-four in order for God to get us to listen—I mean, really listen!

As quickly as I could I worked to save enough money for my one-way airfare to the U.S. and to get started in my first semester in college (providing I could find part-time work). I also had to be put on probation because I had never been to high school. All through Bible school, college and graduate school I worked part time to finance my education. This included working three jobs in the summer months when I drove a CTA passenger bus in Chicago during the morning and evening rush hours shifts, painted houses in the middle of the day, and worked as a janitor in a large church in the evenings and weekends.

Was it easy? Not really. But with a burning conviction that this is what I was meant to do, I was never without motivation to keep on keeping on. Plus, I was never without needed work, was able to pay all my bills—and passed every course.

And now, by the grace of God, here I am today—40+ years later—with the wonderful privilege of being able to reach around the world every day of the year with the saving gospel message of Jesus Christ. My life has never been more blessed or fulfilling.

How I thank God that he kept urging me to answer his call and say yes to him. After accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, stepping out of my comfort zone and going back to college to train for what I am doing today was the greatest (and about the scariest) decision of my life.

If you sense that God is calling you to step out of your comfort zone to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and/or to an area of service for him—be it in a voluntary or full-time capacity—I urge and encourage you to say yes to God today. It is a decision you will never regret and be thankful for all eternity.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you call each one of us to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and therein receive your forgiveness for all our sins and your gift of eternal life—and to serve you according to the gifts and talents you have given to each one of us. Please help me to hear your call to me and give me the courage to step out of my comfort zone and say yes to you today. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus name, amen.”

1. Matthew 14:28-29 (NIV).

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P.S. It’s important to know that I had been involved in

Christian ministry for several years as a volunteer before I answered the call to train for full-time Christian ministry.

“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”¹

A few months ago many will remember the terrible fires in Southern California that burned some “500,000 acres and destroyed nearly 1,500 homes. Seven people died in the blazes.” We live in Southern California where one of the forest fires could be seen from our street—about 5 miles away. While our home was covered in dirt and ashes from the Santa Ana winds and the fires, we were tremendously grateful to God that we were safe and our home spared.

I’ve also experienced bush fires (as they call them in Australia) and have seen the terrible devastation they cause. I have joined with neighbors to fight fires on the hill where we then lived. It’s scary stuff.

I don’t know if the people who lost their lives in the California fires failed to heed the warnings to evacuate their home. However, of this we can be certain, thousands more would have lost their lives had they not evacuated ahead of the fires. We are extremely grateful for all the firemen and police officers who warned people to evacuate their home.

Temptation—which we all face from time to time—can also be like a raging fire and far too many people fail to heed God’s warning to flee from it. Consequently, they end up getting burned badly and many make shipwreck of their lives.

Even more important is to heed God’s warning concerning Hell fire at the end of this life. As God’s Word warns, “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire [hell] is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life [God’s book of life], he was thrown into the lake of fire.”²

I don’t know where and what hell is but we know that it will be eternal suffering in a life that is totally separated from the love and presence of God, the author of all love and life.

God’s Word also warns, “How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?” That is, if we ignore God’s gift of forgiveness and eternal life.³

Whatever you do, make preparation to meet God while you have time and accept his gift of salvation and the forgiveness of all your sins. It is a free gift from God who loves you with an everlasting love and does not want you to miss out on Heaven and be lost in Hell.

Be sure to do this today. For help read, “How to Be Sure You’re a real Christian Without Having to Be Religious” at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you have provided a way of escape from the fires of Hell by sending your Son, Jesus Christ, to die in my place to pay the penalty for all my sins so you can justly forgive me and offer me your gift of salvation and eternal life to be with you in Heaven forever. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 2 Timothy 2:22 (NIV).
2. Revelation 20:14-15 (NIV).
3. Hebrews 2:3 (NIV).

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“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”¹

As the late Karen Carpenter used to mournfully sing, “Loneliness, it’s such a sad affair.” How true this is for so many in today’s digital world.

Special holiday times such as Easter, Christmas, birthdays and even weekends are joyous occasions for many. For others these are some of the loneliness times of the year… especially for those who are alone, for those who have lost their spouse or a child, and for single adults … all of whom remember happier times and suffer a deep kind of loneliness at these times.

Many Daily Encounter readers have been there. Some are there right now. I’ve been there, too. I know the pain. This is why all of us need to be sensitive to the needs of all in our circle of relationships, remembering that many a smiling face hides an aching heart. We need to reach out to those who are lonely and hurting—invite him, her, or them over for a meal. Call them on the phone or send them an email to let them know you are thinking about them. Ask if there is anything you can do for them. Visit an elderly friend or neighbor. Provide gifts for the children of a family that is in deep need. Provide some food for the hungry.

I had a dear friend whom I met in kindergarten. We went all through grade school and technical college together. We’d been in national service together, too, and even though we’d lived thousands of miles apart, we never lost contact with each other. A while ago my friend fell on hard times, became discouraged, withdrew into himself and took his life. A tragic waste! Sadly, he never let me know of his struggle. How sad it is when, in our hour of need, as adults, we forget to hold hands and reach out for the help and support we need—so we can, as Jesus taught, “bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ”—and practice pure and true religion!

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for all your endless blessings given to me. Help me always to be responsible, loving, kind, a burden-bearer, and above all to be Christ-like in all that I say and do. And when I need help, give me the courage to reach out and admit that I have a problem and ask for help. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. James 1:27 (NIV).

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