Black Sheep

others.) Anything we decide we want to do (ice skating, water skiing, oil painting, playing a guitar...) will take time and practice. The more we do it the better we become at it. If you want to share your faith with others but you're not sure about yourself and don't want to look foolish...then learn and practice! Search the internet: "How to share your faith." Search the scriptures and memorize key Bible verses. Know the scriptures from the Romans Road. Develop your testimony; a 5 minute story. Develop your "elevator speech" your 60 second testimony. Work with a friend and share your stories with one another. Pray daily for your courage and skills to grow. Pray that God would bring you an opportunity to share. "I don't have the gift of evangelism" is a poor excuse for shirking our responsibility to be a witness. Another poor excuse is, "I share Christ through my actions" which is terrific...but sooner or later you're going to have to use real words. 3. If I've never gotten real about sharing my faith... Think of yourself as a "soldier" or a "builder." There is an endless list of "weapons" or "tools" that are available to us, but before we go out there, remember that nothing YOU or I do will ever save ANYBODY. It is our job to speak up, the Holy Spirit's job is to convict and it is Jesus who saves. Are we to walk up to complete strangers and ask, "If you were to die today do you know if you would go to heaven or hell?" Maybe...but I don't think so. Jesus never did that. Jesus always evaluated the situation and proceeded in the Spirit. In fact, Jesus said, "I can only do what I see my Father in Heaven doing." (John 5:19) Willing Available Listening Discerning & Obedient.....or WALDO! If we are serious about getting REAL about sharing our faith with others... about leading people to Jesus, we'll need to find and deploy Waldo! 1. WILLING Some saw the title of this article and said, "Oh heck no! I don't want to do that! I cannot do that! I will not do that! I don't have the gift or the know-how, or blah blah blah." These are the ones who are simply not willing to dare and step out of their comfort zone to talk about Jesus. The only thing they have going for them is honesty. If that's you and you have not been willing (for whatever reason), then just confess the truth to God, "Lord! I am sorry but I have not been willing to do this." Don't say, "I don't know how!" or "It's not my gift!" Begin with an honest confession. Wait on the Lord and ask Him to give you the desire, the nerve to prepare yourself to become a witness. 2. AVAILABLE To make yourself available, you'll need to come before God regularly, maybe even a couple of times a day, and pray as Isaiah did in chapter 6:8, "Here I am Lord, send me!" or "Lord, I am available." You want to mean it but your knees are still knocking. That's ok! You're dealing with your reservations. Confess that you are indeed afraid, but willing to take the first step and be available as He opens the doors. 3. LISTENING Your "quiet times" or "devotions" become a lot more pragmatic once they leave worship, thanksgiving and the usual "gimmies." I can assure you that Daniel listening for God became all the more intense and sincere as he was walking towards the lion's den. In a way, that's what we are all doing when we get real about going on the offense and start sharing Jesus with others. In fact, when we become real about sharing our faith, the Devil is going to get real about testing our faith - so we'd better be listening in our prayers as much or more than we are talking. It is in those quiet times of confession and obedience (brokenness even) and availability when the Spirit will begin speaking to our hearts and we'd better be listening - even taking notes if that's what works for you. You have offered yourself as a living sacrifice to Christ, so what is the Spirit saying now? 4. DISCERNING There's another time that we need to be listening and that's when we are on a ride or sitting across the table from certain people we know (or are getting to know)... or when we have stopped to fill up our tanks and there's this person standing there at the pumps. Discernment is listening to God's Spirit and knowing that He is saying, "Now's the time! Speak up!" When we "discern" that God is saying, "go for it" we need to go for it. No fear! No shame! But move forward slowly as the Spirit leads. 5. OBEDIENT Obedience is self-explanatory. When we know in our hearts what God is telling us to do, there are only two choices" obey or disobey. I confess, I have disobeyed many times in my life - and God's grace is merciful - but what "might have been" had I been faithful? "When you yield yourself in complete and whole-hearted obedience to God, He can do great things through you." Jim George

• Cover