Jesus had popularity; he had something going for him. His reputation preceded him, and people knew about him from all the talk of the town; they could not help but have an opinion about him. Either to think he was a prophet or a king or the Messiah or whatever they had their opinions. We are also to make our stand known and stand up for the truth and fully show our Chirsitan colors. So people have opinions about us that bring about opportunities to witness because it opens the door or they have something to say and you have some sing to start the conversation with an icebreaker. Ye might build the bridge to reach where they are. So Jesus wants us to expand our circle of friends or orbit of influence. And make us to have more friends, not less friends. Some of our friends might not even be saved; that's the whole point of it so that we can reach them.
Now I've heard it said that we don't tell somebody the gospel until we have the door opened in other words we might say we heal the sick, clothe the naked, feed the starving, and then God may open the door for us to witness Or else we might move mountains and walk on water and they may say well he is somebody we should listen to so we need a repetition too of some kind and that means our character will speak volumes. If we watch our character, a reputation will take care of itself.
Now, when we witness, we look for commonalites to relate to a person.. Nowadays also like in our friends, that's why we all need friends. There's a bridge to cross, a sound barrier to break! There are some shared interests. We learn to see where they are at and are reach them there, just like a fisherman has different bait for different fishes. We realize what they need; we know them before we speak to them. And where to speak to them we do at his name not in our name but in Jesus' name. We'll try to preach ourselves, but preach Christ crucified. Sometimes we want to privatize it, but we must proclaim it as God opens the door and gives us opportunity.
There are many lost opportunities that we can have if we only realize some of them; we would be great missionaries. Peter said he would obey the Lord at his word. That's what we are to do that we are evangelist because God said we are because Jesus said go ye; therefore we are sent by God and have the authority of Jesus himself to witness as ambassadors for Christ. We do not try to convict a person of their sin; this is the job of the Holy Spirit. he will, and he is the one who saves souls and rescues lives and changes the hearts; it's not our job. We just preach the gospel the simple gospel of Christ, and leave the work of growth to God. We water some plants with God causes the increase! God will open the door of faith to those who he is called here's a part to change hearts and to grant faith and the enable the person to believe and to hear the gospel.
So, as Christians, we're all called to be catchers of men, not just the preacher. The preacher's job is to preach the word faithfully to equip the saints (US) so that you and I can go out and make disciples. Making disciples is a difficult thing; it takes one-on-one sometimes. A preacher may have a church of a thousand people; however, he cannot disciple a thousand people one-on-one. This requires the whole body working together as gifted by the Holy Spirit. Everybody should take at least one person to disciple!
When we preach the gospel, we are so as love in action because we're obedient to Christ. Faith means obedience and faithfulness! They go together and are linked. There's no such thing as having a faithful person with disobedient. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, "Only he who believes is obedient: only he who is obedient believers. See how they are correlated in scripture and by the word of God? Godly men will do good works of sowing the seed. When we practice, we do good work. We're showing love in action.
And that is faith! We must be willing to give it a shot and try our Luck and go out on a limb, so to speak, and God will do a miracle. He will do far more than we can by ourselves because God is with us. He promised to bless our effort. The more obedient we are, the more we will see fruit, and the more God will bless us. He wants us to be born-again witnesses, not to be ashamed or embarrassed. Once the door is opened and the person seems ready, make a beeline for the gospel!
Sometimes, we think I'm too much of a sinner to preach the gospel, but God saved you for a purpose so that you could reach somebody. You may be the only gospel they hear or see! We can become all things to all people and let God speak through us, and we must use the word of God to claim the authority as our weapon of choice, the word of God. It is with that which opens the heart, kindles faith, and convicts a person of the truth and of sin. Soli Deo Gloria!