"Fish Where the Fish Are - How and Why to Witness to Others, No Matter What"

 

I'm an ex………alcoholic, drug addict, criminal, hustler, womanizer, fighter, liar, manipulator, player, drug dealer, thief, abuser, hypocrite, and a worldly, confused individual.

My name is Ben Lively. I'm not who I was before.

I'm a born-again child of the Most-High God!!  Anointed, Chosen, Set Apart and called to represent the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 I teach Christians the Truth of Gods' Word.

I'm a mouthpiece for the Lord Jesus Christ.

I will not compromise, play any games, or waste time with this mission from on High. I know that in and of myself I am Nothing. I need God for every breath I take and every move I make.

I have Christ living in me and I'm burning with the fire of the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, I'm different now and forevermore.

This earth is not my home. I know that and I declare it, boldly.

I'm strong in prayer, praying in Power and in the Spirit.

I will preach, teach, deliver, evangelize, prophesy, baptize and build up groups of believers as God allows. HE IS working through me as I'm surrendered to His service as an instrument of righteousness.

And if you know me or get to know me you realize that I take no credit for this but God gets ALL the GLORY. In Christ, I live and to Heaven, I will rise...

 

 

 

Thank you so much for tuning in and Welcome everyone – Hope you’re well!  I’m your host, Ben Lively, and you’re listening to “Shaken Awake” – Episode #17!  

 

I just want to thank you for tuning in, wherever you are and whatever you’re doing right this very moment.  And listen - If you find any value in today’s episode – please pass the news, pass the podcast name and link to a friend, family member, or colleague that you feel would benefit from this show, and become blessed as you are through the words that the Lord shares through these messages.  

 

And, as always, I promise you another great show – But, more than anything, my HOPE for you today, and always, is that you have an actual encounter with the Lord - He’s is always right there with you, even when you think He’s not.  So, let’s get ready to invite Him in with us, right here, right now and allow Him to speak directly to your heart and minds.   

 

So here goes, here is today’s topic: “WHY and HOW you should witness to others, even if you’re scared, afraid, nervous, or shy”

 

 

The point of today’s episode that God’s placed on my heart to speak with you on today is one of the most important decisions you can make in your lifetime.  Everyone that is truly saved and forgiven has been given a gift that millions and millions have either not been offered, or have missed or have turned down in their lifetime, and you have authority, power, and demand to exercise your ability to speak about that gift to anyone you choose and anyone God puts in front of you to speak with.  The question is:  have you been?  The next question for those that haven’t is:  Why not?  The next questions for that say it’s because they’re too shy, not knowledgeable enough about the Bible and/or God yet, they’re too new in the faith, they're introverted, they're scared of looking like a fool or Jesus Freak, feel it’s not their job, feel that it’s not their calling, feel like someone will do it, but it doesn’t need to be them, that they will mess it up, that they don’t feel comfortable doing so, and for those that don’t know how to initiate the conversation to witness to others’:  Welcome to MY WORLD!  Welcome to the reasons I had justified in MY HEAD for the past 41 years, and if you fall into one or more of the categories I just mentioned, that by the way, I was in ALL of them, then this podcast is going to help you get unstuck and headed in the right direction towards helping to water and/or harvest that have too few laborers to work.  The message today will be a message to show you what the Bible says we are to do, as well as tips, tools, tactics you can use to start leading others to Christ immediately and show you How and Why to begin immediately.

 

There are literally so many studies, all dismal, and almost all going in the opposite directions we’d like to see as the body of Christ, show that the more we advance in just about everything good and bad, the stats are falling in the way of those that are sharing their faith with others.  Therefore, I just picked two studies that immediately stood out to me as some added context and quantifiable proof that this message needs to get out and be shared with other Christians.   Can you imagine if the 11 disciples following Jesus’ death, simply stopped preaching and evangelizing?  Can you imagine if they didn’t risk and lose their lives to build the church the way Jesus taught and challenged them to?  

 

One of the Campus Crusade for Christ ministries are known as the Jesus Film Project, which is a worldwide Christian organization, did a recent study on evangelism of over 1,600 Christians and found that when it came to talking to other people about the gospel, fear was far and away the most significant deterrent. People communicated that they were afraid of losing valuable relationships and wanted to avoid the tensions that accompanied these kinds of discussions.

Others felt entirely ill-equipped. They'd like to share more, but they're scared that they'll end up fielding questions or dealing with objections too uncomfortable to navigate.

Fear is the common thread that weaves together many of the different responses to this survey. Respondents often used words like "fear," "scared," or "afraid," to describe their feelings about other reasons they don't talk about spiritual matters. For example, many responses came in along the lines of "fear of rejection," "I'm afraid I'll come across as pushy," or "I'm scared to start an argument."

Additionally, in 1993, Barna partnered with Lutheran Hour Ministries to research reasons why people did and did not engage in intentional outreach.  A lot has changed since that initial study, so 25 years later they asked follow-up questions to see if talk of faith has become labored in a culture that is more digital, secular, and contested than ever. The resulting report, Spiritual Conversations in the Digital Age, is now available for purchase if you’re interested.

 

In this report, just 10 percent of Christians in 1993 who had shared about their faith agreed with the statement “converting people to Christianity is the job of the local church”—as opposed to the job of an individual (i.e., themselves). Twenty-five years later, three in 10 Christians who have had a conversation about faith say evangelism is the local church’s responsibility (29%), a nearly threefold increase. This jump could be the result of many factors, including poor ecclesiology (believing “the local church” is somehow separate from the people who are a part of it) or personal and cultural barriers to sharing faith. Yet the most dramatic divergence overtime is on the statement, “Every Christian has a responsibility to share their faith.” In 1993, nine out of 10 Christians who had shared their faith agreed (89%). Today, 6 out of 10, just two-thirds say so (64%)—a 25-point drop.

 

What seemed to jump out at me most was that the more advanced we get, the more we replace Jesus.  The more comfortable we get the more complacent we get, the more we assume or expect others to do what we are responsible for, as well.  Yet, why don’t we?  Before we get into the Word and what Jesus said and His disciples and Apostles stated, why don’t we compare and contrast what we know now and see if it aligns with the Bible and Jesus’ commandments, or not – where is the disconnect and why?  Most important, HOW can we change the current statistics from not just getting better, but actually turning them into great?  Who gets excited about coming in 6th place out of 10?  Not me!  I would expect – not you either.

 

How many of us recommend things to other people?  Restaurant choices, great foods, good songs, nice places to visit, awesome deals on Amazon, great discounts at the stores, alternate routes to get to different destinations, and I could go on for hours, maybe day? 

 

Question is – WHY?  Why do we recommend things to others?  Why do we talk about what interests us to others?  Why do we ask people questions when we’re not forced to (like at work, etc.)?  Why are we interested in other’s safety?  Why do we try to help people if we feel like they may be in danger?  Why do we call and check up on people we care about or old friends, distant relatives, etc.?  Why do we warn people about things we know to be true, if we feel it may help them?  Why do we buy insurance – car insurance, home insurance, health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance?   Why do we tell people to put their seatbelts on and pay attention to the road?  

 

In other words, why do we do anything that we’re not forced to do?

 

Because oftentimes we feel that we NEED to and other times we feel because we HAVE to, and sometimes, it’s for both reasons – we have to and need to.  It’s protection.  It’s safety.  It’s security.  It’s caring.  It’s sharing.  It’s effective communication.  It’s socialization.  

 

Question is, then, why wouldn’t we tell or talk to others about Jesus and His gospel?  Well, we’ve already uncovered the fact that fear is the number one contributing factor.  Ok, fair enough.  Let’s look at it from the other person's vantage point…..or shall I say the person’s disadvantage point.  Let’s call the other person’s the unsaved, the unsaved “Christian”, the backslidden, the fallen, you know, the ones that need salvation.

 

If someone was about to run the stop sign, you’d scream out to your friend to STOP! To avoid getting t-bones.

 

If some were sick and in desperate need of medical attention, you’d offer to drive them or to call an ambulance.

 

If someone was breaking into your neighbor’s house, you’d call the police and seek help immediately.

 

If something was about to fall on your child, you’d scream watch out, or push them out of the way.

 

If someone was about to go out for a nice afternoon somewhere and you knew the weather forecast would ruin their time, you’d warn them.

 

If someone was about to drive without putting on their seatbelt, you’d remind them.

 

If someone wasn’t watching the road, but on their cell phone, you’d immediately interrupt them and remind them to keep their eyes on the road.

 

If someone was paying for a monthly service they weren’t getting or didn’t need, you’d tell them to stop wasting their time and money and add “Why” to that conversation.

 

If someone was about to cross the road and a car was fast approaching them, you’d reach out and pull them back or out of the car's way.

 

If someone was about to get on a plane that you noticed damage to the plane on, you’d immediately sound the alarm.

 

If you smelled smoke coming from someone’s house, you’d band on their door to get their attention, while call 9-11.

 

I’m guessing the above are true for you listening because I genuinely believe that’s what most of us would do in any situation, whether we knew that person, or not or whether or not we are saved.  It’s called being humane.  

 

Then why aren’t we doing this for something so much more powerful, so much more meaningful, so much more important?  What’s the answer?  What’s your answer?  Do you have one?   Is it fear for you?  What about them?  What are the ramifications of getting hit by a car?  Injury?  Death?  What are the ramifications of dying before you’re saved?  Eternal torment in hell?  Being judged directly by God for every sin you’ve ever committed?  Tormented day and night without any hope in ever getting out?  An eternity of darkness in the absence of God and anything good, with no way to die, but to permanently be tortured for a million years, then another million, then another million, then another million – only to have recurring memories of hearing about Jesus but never becoming saved.  Never being lovingly being corrected by a friend or family member, or anyone that claimed to be truly saved.  Reliving every moment, you had to repent and truly love God with all your heart and mind and soul and to love your neighbors as yourself.  All you would wish for is one second back on earth to cry out to God and ask His forgiveness and accept salvation.  Had you done that, you’d be in a different eternal home, living in paradise where time doesn’t exist, nor do you ever want it to.  It was one decision that would’ve taken less than 3 minutes to make and accomplish and God would have given your salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection on the 3rd day.  To repent of your sins and be born again.  5 minutes or less on this God-forbidden planet out of your miserable life (spiritually miserable at the very least), and your entire eternity would’ve been pure….Heaven.  Our mind, Jesus said, cannot fathom nor comprehend what awaits us in Heaven!  I’m pretty creative and I can conjure up and get VERY EXCITED on what Heaven COULD be like – but it will be infinitely better than that, times 100 million!!!!  Yet, that person never heard from you.  That person never talked to you or you to them about what God did for you?  That person never was given the eternity-saving honor of hearing from you for 5 minutes about your Jesus and His salvation and grace and everlasting love?  Why?  You were afraid?  

 

If you had to watch in horror as hundreds and hundreds of people you COULD HAVE helped be led to Jesus be tormented for even 5 minutes and watch as they all look at you in sheer horror and hatred and scream out to you – “WHY??????  Why didn’t you tell me about this place??!?!?  Why didn’t you warn me??????  Why didn’t you even say one little thing that would’ve helped prevent me like this??  How come you never even gave me one word that could’ve saved me from this hell?  Did you hate me this much to see me here for eternity – what did I ever do to you?????  Was I not worth it to you???  I never had the chance!!!”

 

Like I always say – if the shoes don’t fit – then let’s move on, but if it does fit – KICK IT OFF!!

 

Now that I’ve gotten your attention….I hope, I want to share what God’s Word says.

 

 

We also know many people “believe in God”, and use that to consciously or subconsciously assure ourselves that the other person is “saved” and we don’t need to tell them about Jesus.

 

Well…

 

Even the demons believed.

James 2:19 says, “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.” James is showing the difference between mental agreement and genuine saving faith. It seems people were claiming that, because they believed in the God of Moses and they could recite Deuteronomy 6:4, which says, “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!” they were right with God. James crushes that false hope by comparing that kind of belief to the knowledge held by Satan and his demons.  Satan’s demons are more aware of God’s reality than most people are, yet the demons are not right with God. The demons “believe” some things that are true about God—they know He’s real, He’s powerful, etc.—but their “theological accuracy” cannot be called faith. There’s no salvation for the demons, even though they agree to the truth that there is one God.
 
 So what is the difference between the demons’ belief and the faith required for eternal salvation? Fortunately, James doesn’t leave us wondering. The rest of chapter 2 goes on to explain that faith without a godly result is useless (James 2:20). The demons’ type of “faith” causes them to fear their ultimate doom. The type of faith that saves us gives us humble confidence in our salvation, and it changes us, producing holy action. We can better understand that faith requires action through an illustration:
 
 Imagine standing on the brink of the Grand Canyon. A narrow suspension footbridge spans the entire canyon. It dips in the middle, sways slightly in the wind, and has a few planks missing. Standing with you on the edge is the architect of that bridge. He is world-renowned for his designs, and he holds the plans in his hand. He asks if you have faith in his bridge. You eagerly reply, “Yes! I have faith in you. I believe that bridge will hold my weight.” But real faith does not remain on the brink of the canyon. That is only hope. Faith is when you step out onto the bridge and begin walking across the chasm.
 
So it is with salvation. The demons know more than we do about the awesome power of God. They watched Jesus Christ come to earth, live as a man, and then be crucified (Matthew 20:28). They trembled in horror as the God-Man rose from the dead and walked out of the tomb (1 Corinthians 15:3–8). They saw Him ascend back into heaven, and they know that Jesus is the Son of God (see Mark 1:24). The demons believe all this to be true, yet their condemnation is sure. James’ point is that mere assent to the historical and theological facts about Jesus will not save a person. Saving faith results in a new creation, which produces good works.
 
 It’s not enough to believe in God or even to believe that the God of the Bible is the One True God. That belief, void of a change of heart, makes one’s theology comparable to that of the demons. Unfortunately, many people may not realize that what they call “faith” is nothing more than the same mental acceptance that the demons possess. Perhaps they prayed a prayer, got baptized, or went to church, but the direction of their lives never changed. They were never born again (see John 3:3).
 
 The truth is that we are not saved by belief in a creed; we are saved by trust in a Person. And that trust in Jesus will result in a love for God, a love for people, and a striving for holiness in all we do (1 Peter 1:8, 15, 22–23).

 

 

You’ve also heard that faith without works is dead, right?  But WHY is faith without works dead?
 
 James says, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26). Faith without works is a dead faith because the lack of works reveals an unchanged life or a spiritually dead heart. There are many verses that say that true saving faith will result in a transformed life, that faith is demonstrated by the works we do. How we live reveals what we believe and whether the faith we profess to have is a living faith.
 
 James 2:14–26 is sometimes taken out of context in an attempt to create a works-based system of righteousness, but that is contrary to many other passages of Scripture. James is not saying that our works make us righteous before God but that real saving faith is demonstrated by good works. Works are not the cause of salvation; works are the evidence of salvation. Faith in Christ always results in good works. The person who claims to be a Christian but lives in willful disobedience to Christ has a false or dead faith and is not saved. Paul basically says the same thing in 1 Corinthians 6:9–10. James contrasts two different types of faith—true faith that saves and false faith that is dead.
 
 Many profess to be Christians, but their lives and priorities indicate otherwise. Jesus put it this way: “By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers” (Matthew 7:16–23).
 
 Notice that the message of Jesus is the same as the message of James. Obedience to God is the mark of true saving faith. James uses the examples of Abraham and Rahab to illustrate the obedience that accompanies salvation. Simply saying we believe in Jesus does not save us, nor does religious service. What saves us is the Holy Spirit’s regeneration of our hearts, and that regeneration will invariably be seen in a life of faith featuring ongoing obedience to God.

Misunderstanding the relationship of faith and works comes from not understanding what the Bible teaches about salvation. There are really two errors in regards to works and faith. The first error is “easy believism” -t he teaching that, as long as a person prayed a prayer or said, “I believe in Jesus,” at some point in his life, then he is saved, no matter what. So, a person who, as a child, raised his hand in a church service is considered saved, even though he has never shown any desire to walk with God since and is, in fact, living in blatant sin. This teaching, sometimes called “decisional regeneration,” is dangerous and deceptive. The idea that a profession of faith saves a person, even if he lives like the devil afterwards, assumes a new category of believer called the “carnal Christian” or just as bad, the “cultural Christian”  This allows various ungodly lifestyles to be excused: a man may be an unrepentant adulterer, liar, or bank robber, but he’s saved; he’s just “carnal.” Yet, as we can see in James 2, an empty profession of faith—one that does not result in a life of obedience to Christ—is in reality a dead faith that cannot save.

The other error in regards to works and faith is to attempt to make works part of what justifies us before God. The mixture of works and faith to earn salvation is totally contrary to what Scripture teaches. Romans 4:5 says, “To him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.” James 2:26 says, “Faith without works is dead.” There is no conflict between these two passages. We are justified by grace through faith, and the natural result of faith in the heart is works that all can see. The works that follow salvation do not make us righteous before God; they simply flow from the regenerated heart as naturally as water flows from a spring.
 
Salvation is a sovereign act of God whereby an unregenerate sinner has the “washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” poured out on him (Titus 3:5), thereby causing him to be born again (John 3:3). When this happens, God gives the forgiven sinner a new heart and puts a new spirit within him (Ezekiel 36:26). God removes his sin-hardened heart of stone and fills him with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit then causes the saved person to walk in obedience to God’s Word (Ezekiel 36:26–27).
 
Faith without works is dead because it reveals a heart that has not been transformed by God. When we have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, our lives will demonstrate that new life. Our works will be characterized by obedience to God. Unseen faith will become seen by the production of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives (Galatians 5:22). Christians belong to Christ, the Good Shepherd. As His sheep, we hear His voice and follow Him (John 10:26–30).
 
Faith without works is dead because faith results in a new creation, not a repetition of the same old patterns of sinful behavior. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
 
Faith without works is dead because it comes from a heart that has not been regenerated by God. Empty professions of faith have no power to change lives. Those who pay lip service to faith but who do not possess the Spirit will hear Christ Himself say to them, “I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers” (Matthew 7:23).

 

 

 

So, in leading up to today’s conclusion, we see that there are not just those that you and I KNOW are unsaved, like self-proclaimed atheists or believers in false religions like Buddhism, New Age, Scientology, Muslim, Catholic, Hinduism, and hundreds of others.  It’s also those that THINK they are saved but truly aren’t; some of you listening may fall into this same category today!  That’s the entire reason God led me to this podcast.  It wasn’t for the atheist or those with false religion – although I can only hope they would hear these messages and become saved…..it was for the lukewarm, the “unsaved Christian”, the backslidden – it was everyone that was like me for the first 41 years of my lifetime!!!!  Because if someone like me had it all wrong for 4 decades, and had the experiences of church, Christian school, etc. – how many other millions had it wrong as I did?  That was just one conviction I was given to create this podcast. It caused. the burning to desire to save people the way I was SO appreciative (super understatement of the century right there, by the way) that God saved me and used someone to help truly lead me to Him.  Again, I go over this in detail on my first podcast episode – check it out if you have not heard yet.  Just as Pen Jillette of Penn and Teller said in his video that I aired on episode 1 – How much do you have to hate someone not to proselytize to them?

 

So where do we go and what do we do from here?  What’s God’s standing on this?  Fish where the fish are – we’re swimming in the sea of the unsaved everyday – not matter who we speak with or where we are!  Do you not have a story you can share about how Jesus changed your life?  How about starting there?  Speaking from experience is always the best place to start and often times, it’s the ONLY place to start AND finish.  People want to hear from those that are like them, not counterfeits!   We have enough of them on tv and online these days!  Sharing what God’s done in your life I’ve found is the best way to show someone proof that God works in mysterious and wonderful ways to help save the lost and to call them unto Him.  The story of the Gospel can naturally follow, but stories “sell” as they say.  Except, we’re not selling anything.  The beautiful and awesome thing about this is – you get God and Heaven (which is being in God’s presence) forever – FOR FREE!!!!!  Give everyone you know a chance to get to know Him – through you.  

 

Please don’t let fear stand between you and those you’re called to reach out to.  These fears disappear when we realize that a person's salvation isn't dependent upon our performance.  You don’t have the power or authority to save anyone.  That’s Jesus’ job – your job is to tell others about Him and He’ll do the rest.  God is at work in everyone's life, drawing them to Him.  Our small conversations are just part of that process.  You might initiate that final dialogue that God uses to encourage them to trust in Jesus. Still, more often than not, your conversation will be one the Holy Spirit uses to soften their heart.  Paul addresses this when he tells the Corinthian church, "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow" (1 Corinthians 3:6–7).

 

 

So, my final question to you is then this:  Matthew 10:33 states, “but whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”  Well, what do you think happens to them Jesus denies before His Father, God?  Yes, you’re right.  Not telling someone a car is about to hit them when you clearly see it – isn’t that denying them the chance to hear the truth and make a decision?  

My final statement is this:   Don’t deny God by your conscious decision NOT to reach out to others and share Jesus with them.  He’s given you the gift of salvation and eternal life with Him – all He asks is that you share this message with others.  Fish where the fish are – they’re all around you!

 

 

So, before we end today’s show, I just want to thank you all again for tuning in and I HOPE you were touched by God through today’s message and scripture.  I’d like to ask you a favor only IF you received any value out of today’s show – would you tell at least one person you know – call them, text them, email them, talk to them – tell them to give this show a listen.  It may just help them in their walk with Christ.  

 

Also, I really need your support - If you could give me a quick star rating on your phone app - it takes literally 3 seconds.  I’d love that help and support for you guys, which will allow the Lord and the Holy Spirit to reach even more lives through this broadcast.

 

If you’d like to get ahold of me, you can write me a note on www.shaken-awake.com/contact you can also email me directly at ben@shaken-awake.com or even call or text me directly for any reason at (407)-493-3208 (repeat).  I want feedback, questions, ideas, requests, criticisms, corrections, - if it’s important to YOU, it’s important to ME.  

 

Also, If you’d like to be a guest of this show, please reach out to me, as well.  If you have a life and/or eternity-changing story you’d like to share, please let me know and I’ll schedule you in.  We don’t hear enough of the TRUTH these days or the POSITIVE ways of God and Jesus Christ these days, and this podcast is going to help change that up – I'd love your help with this where you can.

Next week's episode is another powerful and DO-NOT-MISS episode – thanks for joining!  

Until next week, take great care of yourself and each other, and God Bless You all.  

 

Outro music.