Lessons from Spurgeon on Evangelism part III

I would make a terrible salesman.I think one reason I would make a terrible salesman is because it would be very difficult for me to ask someone to buy something.  I would have a hard time trying to convince anybody that they really needed whatever it is I was selling because I honestly don't believe that people really do need most of the different kinds of things they purchase.I can just imagine the conversation."Do you want to buy this?""I'm not sure I need it.""You are probably right.  Well, never mind then."It is hard to get anyone interested in something you are not all that interested in yourself.When it comes to witnessing, we're obviously not 'selling' the gospel.   I'm totally against the salesman approach.  But I do think a similar principle applies.  If we are going to be effective witnesses we should really believe what we're saying.Obviously, ultimately the only way we can be effective witnesses is if the Holy Spirit is at work.  But I'm just saying, from a human perspective, it seems like the men God uses most often are men who actually believe what they are talking about.Take Spurgeon.You read "All of Grace" and authenticity just drips off every word.   He doesn't talk as a man might if he were just describing something he's read in a book.  When Spurgeon talks, he talks about stuff that he's lived.If we are going to be effective witnesses, I think one of the things we need to do first is pursue a deeper faith in the gospel ourselves.  Like the apostle Paul tells Timothy, we must pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.