What a beautiful topic
But what a dismal response
To be honest, I was nearly going to answer this as "when it comes up in conversation- usually" thinking about the few opportunities I take to witness to people outside of those Christians I regularly see.
Then I realised I was witnessing every week, to my wife and to the people whom I interact with each week at my church Bible study. But for some reason my first thoughts did not include that group.
By joining this forum I want to expand my circle of influence. I want to reach out to (dare I say it) "the lost sheep of the house of Israel". Not in the sense that I think I am right, God forbid, but in the sense that there is a common starting point. One which we can share our faith, compare notes, Biblically, and gain perspective on the truth in the word.
I believe witnessing, telling your first-hand story to people who know you, is an important and has a very strong positive influence on them, and that doing this focuses the work of the Holy Spirit, and makes him more visible to those who's eyes can see. This was certainly the case for me..
Even though I grew up in a Christian home with a Grandfather as a Pastor, I had no desire for anything religious after about the age of 10. I lived for myself a worldly life until I came to the realisation that none of it was bringing me happiness. A failed relationship nearly took my life, I smoked, I drank excessively, I did other dugs on occasion, I slept around, I spent all my money on myself, I neglected to defend Jesus Name, and many other disgraceful things. Very slowly the Holy Spirit was working on me. I quit smoking, didn't like it any way. I Gave up drinking entirely (eventually), It made me make BAD decisions. And so on with my other vices. I decided to read the Bible through (which I completed) and that I should at least study what I was supposed to believe (what my childhood denomination taught). Slowly over a period of about 5 years the Holy Spirit worked on me to the point where I might appear to be a Christian. But there was one thing missing.
What is the difference between something you believe to be true and something you know to be true?
I "believed" everything I was told as a child, and as an adult I returned to those "beliefs". But this was until the Holy Spirit opened my eyes; Then I saw and heard the recorded confession of necromancy by a public figure, influenced by the Devil, pronouncing to everyone that it is ok to have a relationship with someone who has been dead for hundreds of years. This was in the context (and as a result of) another public figure claiming Jesus as his strength and winning another person back to his own walk with Jesus. Now I do not just "believe" what I have been taught, I "know" it to be a fact. I now "know" that the devil is currently working so hard to try and convince people of his doctrine, and that God and Jesus and The Holy Spirit are real beings currently with us and working to get us home. I can not deny the existence of the trinity of God and the reality of Satan, any more than I can my own existence. This is my confession.
"So what are you going to do about it?, What are my alternatives?"
This was the consuming thought the Holy Spirit put on me. I can no longer live a life without Jesus. Gods word is clear. I have no desire to choose the worldly alternative, (after all, we all know where that ends). God is good. I quickly took the steps to get baptised. Yes, even as a 13 year old, after a "week of prayer" seminar at school, during an alter call, when all my friends were going up front, I resisted, I knew I was not ready. Now 36, I am a baby. But I thank God for my upbringing as despite all I went through I did not forget the lessons taught. (Ignored yes, but not forgotten). I now crave the word of God and just pray that he will use me for his work. Oh, I "know" he will, you see I should have had died multiple times when I was younger as a result of my sporting activities. Even at one of these earliest "close calls" I was given the nearly audible impression that God had saved my life for a reason. For what I am not sure, but pray for me.
I hope writing this will spark a flood of people telling their stories. Stories that will inspire us all to be a little more brave than we are and witness publicly, without fear, because we "know" the Holy Spirit will bring his words to our remembrance.
Returning to the Poll for a minute, it is unfortunate that I see only 3 of us have answered daily or weekly, it has been 3 months since the poll was posted. So, as a community we are not witnessing as much as we think, only once a month!
So what are you going to do about it?
As a note I want to include a few supporting verses. Although this is my first post here and it is basically my personal testimony, I endeavour to be biblically based with all my postings.
Isa_8:19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
Lev_19:31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.
1Ch_10:13 So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;
God Bless!
