When Is A Believer Ready to Witness?

Many church members think they are not equipped to witness and want to leave it to "professional" ministers to do so.  Many believe that "some day" after they have learned enough, then they will be ready.  However, the Biblical model is that as soon as one came into a faith relationship as a follower of Jesus, the very next thing that happened was that they shared their faith with their oikos (Greek for household) which included their immediate family, extended family, neighbors, work colleagues, classmates, etc.

Consider the man whose demons are cast out and who becomes a follower of Jesus. Mark 5:18-20 ESV [18] As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. [19] And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” [20] And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.  As soon as he comes to faith, Jesus instructs him to give witness to what has been done for him.

In Mark 10:44-45 we learn about the leper who Jesus healed. [44] and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” [45] But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.  His immediate response is to talk freely and spread the news even when Jesus urges him to be quiet

The jailer at Philippi is in despair and in the next moment hears these words from Paul and Silas Acts 16:31-33 ESV [31] And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household (oikos).” [32] And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. [33] And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.  Coming to faith is not just about the individual.  It is intended for families, villages, towns, cities and nations!

None of these Jesus followers were well schooled disciples in the academic sense.  That came later.  They were, however the front-edge of God's Kingdom advance in which thousands came to faith in Jesus in a very short time.  In fact, the advance of the Gospel in Acts happens as Paul and the other apostles raised up and trained disciples.  How fast did it happen? Paul spends two years in Ephesus in one lecture hall. Acts 19:10 ESV tells us This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.  New believers who heard Paul or who heard from those who heard Paul spread the Gospel in a scant 2 year period.

So - the answer to the question When Is A Believer Ready to Witness? is as soon as they have been brought into a relationship with Jesus.  Learning the faith through the Bible is a life-time process, but witnessing helps new Christians put faith into practice from day one.  The pattern given to the disciples was 1) Follow Me and 2) fish for men and that pattern is no different today.

So - don't wait!  God has given you a story to tell.  Be ready to listen carefully to others and then share the story of how Jesus love for you makes all the difference in your life.  Don't think that you must persuade someone to believe.  John 16:8 ESV tells us that is the job of the Holy Spirit [8] And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.  The words to us from Jesus are the same ones He gave to the healed demon possessed man.

“Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”