PRIMARY WEAPONS
1. THE WEAPON OF THE WORD – SWORD OF THE SPIRIT (Ephesians 6:17, 2 Tim 2:15) Knowledge of this weapon will make the soul winner to understand the way to deal with the devil. If there is anything the devil cannot stand, it is authority in the Bible. The word of God is a Christian’s sword. Thus if the devil wants to attack anyone, he first takes the word of God from the person. Three times, Jesus reminded the devil of the word of God in Matthew 4:1-11
2. THE WEAPON OF PRAYER (Mark 11:24, Eph. 6:18) This is the believer’s weapon for intelligentsia. It is our spiritual bugging device that uncovers the enemy’s plot, and at the same time, a grenade that easily causes explosion at the enemy’ safe haven and centre of command. It also serves as a communication device, which facilitates interaction between the commander in chief of the host of heaven Jesus Christ and us. Soul winning can never and will never be effective without adequate, skillful and knowledgeable use of the prayer weapon.
3. THE WEAPON OF WISDOM – Prov. 11:30: Evangelism is wisdom centred divine activity. Wisdom is the bedrock of evangelism strategy. The un-believers are very crafty, having tapped un-knowingly into satanic wisdom. However, god’s wisdom is superior, if flow in it. World’s wisdom will obviously bow to it. The Bible says, “He that winneth souls is wise”.
4. THE WEAPON OF TIMING – Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11: A genuine soul winner must understand the sense of timing. He must understand both spiritual and physical timing because both are very crucial to an effective soul winning exercise. A high knowledge of spiritual timing helps a soul winner to locate the right harvest and what to do while physical timing helps to plan properly and reach out more effectively.
SECONDARY WEAPONS
WEAPON OF GOOD COMMUNICATION – Provb. 15:23, 30; 12:25.
Our mouth must be seasoned with good words for the people. We must know how to speak the word in due season to people. There must be an intelligent Holy Ghost inspired communication of the gospel message with the unbelievers. If it is well done more souls will be saved. The weapon of testimonies (Revelations 12:11) Sharing the good deeds of the Lord and His manifestation in our life can evoke acceptance to the loving and caring nature of God to the unsaved. The weapon of Hearing is a pre-requisite in order to know where to go. The weapon of humour and seriousness (Psalm 2:4) Even God laughs. We must not be too rigid, conservative and highly scholastic in the presentation of the gospel message. A dull and highly un-exciting presentation can make it boring, colourless and rather repulsive. Chip in jokes here and there to liven up the message. Do not be too formal. Be serious but do not be too serious.
LIFESTYLE EVANGELISM
Introduction: Mixed multitude followed the Israelites out of Egypt because they saw the power of God in the lives of the Israelites (Ex. 12:38). Rehab, the Harlot was converted through the news she heard about how God demonstrated His power in the lives of the Israelites (Joshua 2: 1-22; 6:17) Peter and John witnessed about Christ when they acted boldly before the Sanhedrin Acts4: 13
BENEFITS OF LIFESTYLE EVANGELISM
(2 Corinthians 3:2-3, Acts 4:13-22, 32-37)
1) It brings discipline to a Christian. He strives to live holy because he is conscious of the fact that his lifestyle is a message to the unsaved.
2) Through his lifestyle, a Christian is able to reach out to people who he cannot reach out to verbally e.g. a hardened boss, an atheist, family members etc.
3) Lifestyle evangelism is more convincing because as the saying goes action speaks louder than voice.
4) It provides people with practical demonstration of the life of Christ. They see the word of God being lived out. This present hope and proof for those who sincerely desire a change in their ways of life.
5) It authenticates the inspiration of the Bible. The greatest proof that the Bible is the word of God is the testimony of a changed life. Many have come to know Christ because they have seen someone whose life have been dramatically changed.
HINDRANCES TO LIFESTYLE EVANGELISM
(1) Living in sin – this present the wrong message to the unsaved (Rom. 6:1-14)
(2) Compromise of one’s faith (1 Corinth. 15:34)
(3) Hiding identity as a Christian (Matt..10:32-39)
(4) Ignorance of the word (Hosea 4:6)
(5) Prayeressness (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
(6) Impatience (1 Timothy 6:11)
(7) Love of money or power or position. (1 Timothy 6:6-10)
(8) Fear and opposition ((2 Timothy 1:7)
(9) Wrong association (1 Corinth. 15:33)
(10) Lack of wisdom to deal with unbelievers etc (Proverb 4:1-5)