How to Become an Effective Witness of Christ

[Mark 5:18‭-‬20 KJV] “And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.”
(Reference: Mark 5:1-20¹)

The story the text referred to is about the man of Gadara, out of whom the Lord cast out a legion of demons and he regained his sanity. The following are a few lessons we can learn from his encounter;

God is calling every one of us as missionaries to where we live, work, and play. We know that aside from where we worship, many of us go to three other places: home, workplaces and playgrounds. At the place of worship, the pastor is the witness. At the place of worship, I do the witnessing and sharing but you are appointed and commissioned to be the witness at home, workplace, and playgrounds. Remember to influence the people where you live, work and play. Let your light so shine that in your light they shall see light.

It is important to understand that an effective witness must possess three things; experience, courage, and evidence. When you stand before discerning people to give your account, they will be looking for three things: were you there when the thing happen? Have you experienced it yourself? Are you sure of what you are saying? Do you have any proof? That is why God is committed to giving you;

• An encounter
• An anointing
• A sign

[1 John 1:1‭-‬3 KJV] “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

You will become an effective witness when you;

Continue steadfastly in fellowship, in the word, and prayer:

This is how you receive an encounter. The man of Gadara needed a touch or an encounter to set him free. I pray that as you have stepped for, the Lord will give you an encounter. Luke 5:15-17², the came to hear and to be healed; receive the word and the healing! Every witness must have an encounter; a personal experience with the power of God.

Learn to ascribe all the glory to God:

Many people receive miracles but explain them away. Many think it is by their might that they have gotten where they are. Only humble and grateful people can witness and testify. Only a humble and grateful person can tell everyone they meet that they are who they are because of this man or woman of God. Many people feel good to say that I am self-made. Many people don’t witness because they are proud and ungrateful. (See Deuteronomy 8:18³)

Receive the Holy Spirit:

He is the spirit of truth and He will give you the boldness you require to stand before people and tell your own story. Every witness must receive the Holy Spirit and power. The anointing is what will transform you into the witness you need to be.

Learn to pray for all men and Kings and people in authority:

Every witness must learn how to pray for all men, kings and people in authority (See 1 Timothy 2:1-8⁴)

Dress decently, especially the women:

Remember, people will see what you are wearing before they hear what you have to say.

May the Lord give you an encounter that will change your life forever; may He anoint and awaken you to prayer and intercession and thanksgiving.

Stay blessed

Referenced Scriptures

1. Mark 5:1-20 (KJV): And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel. ↩︎
2. Luke 5:15-17 (KJV): But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. ↩︎
3. Deuteronomy 8:18 (KJV): But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. ↩︎
4. 1 Timothy 2:1-8 (KJV): I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. ↩︎