When Witnessing Goes Wrong

Introduction

In my journey within the Adventist church, I've been blessed with diverse roles, from fostering a love for stories among children to serving as a Deacon and Treasurer. Moving on to other congregations, I assumed the mantle of Elder, ascending to the position of Head Elder and eventually being ordained as a District Lay Pastor.

Throughout these experiences, a prevailing pattern emerged, particularly in smaller Adventist churches. It became evident that we are not merely a congregation in the conventional sense; rather, we are a dynamic movement with a fervent focus on evangelism.

As Ellen White aptly noted, "Every church should be a training school for Christian workers." This profound insight resonates deeply with my observations. It speaks to a vision where members are not only recipients of spiritual nourishment but are actively engaged in practical and impactful ministries. It aligns seamlessly with the sentiment expressed in the Book of James, where faith and works are intricately linked.

The Bible rightfully teaches that some of us are babes still living on milk, and that we are to move on to solid food as we mature as believers,

but I want to add that we can’t be consumers of the word only.

James 2:14-18 challenges us to examine the authenticity of our faith by scrutinizing the fruit it bears.

Ellen White's call for churches to be training grounds for Christian workers echoes this sentiment.

Join me as we delve into these intertwined truths, exploring how our faith not only transforms our lives individually but propels us into a movement that actively engages with the world, embodying the teachings of Christ in tangible acts of love and service.

Together, let’s navigate this journey of faith, works, and service.

This morning, I want to think on the Topic:

“When Witnessing Goes Wrong”

Expressing out faith through witnessing, is the tangible evidence that the Holy Spirit is working though us. (x2)

This morning, I want to share three critical aspect, that if overlooked, can impeded and stifle the growth of any Adventist church.

These three insights are critical to grasp and consider when engaging in witnessing

Three points, that if neglected, could lead to your witnessing efforts being disregarded.

Witnessing will go wrong when we prioritize rules over relationship. (Acts 15:1)

Unlock your phone or open your Bible to Acts 15:1

Acts 15:1 NKJV

And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Men from Judea traveled to a city called Antioch.

In fact Antioch was the capital of Syria and one of the greatest city of the Roman Empire, and home of the largest Gentile Christian church.

Antioch was a city that has grown in wealth and importance.

It was growing to be the leading city in Asia.

The city was the center of textile production.

Supplied gold to the Chinese emperors.

Produced the finest grapes.

Antioch was the first place where believers who followed Jesus were called Christians.

Listen, I was so convinced that you could get anything in Antioch… that I moved there to find a wife… and the Lord blessed, come on and say Amen!!

These men from Judea travelled to this city preaching Acts 15:1

Acts 15:1 NKJV

And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Now that ought to make you feel some type of way.

That ought to make you want scratch your head, because you was taught, like I was taught, “That if you would confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, thou…shalt… be saved. (Romans 10:9)

But for some reason, these certain men taught something different,

and when a delegation was appointed to go to Jerusalem to challenge this theology, the Pharisees said..

Yep! That’s right!

That is until Peter stood up and argued that God, who is the expert in knowing the human heart, has already settled the issue by giving them the same Holy Spirit He gave to the Jews, and that all are saved through grace.

Here’s my first point:

Witnessing will go wrong when we prioritize rules over relationships.

When rules are prioritized over relationships, we are teaching others that the work of salvation done from the outside in.

In other words, we say before you can have certainty of salvation, you must eat a certain way, pray certain times of the day an in certain positions. Before you can have the hope that I have you must first perfect rules.

When you prioritize relationship you co-labor in a work where love is both experienced and expressed. And at the end Christian obedience becomes a by-product of experience.

This church prioritized relationship over rules when I accepted Christ and the Adventist message.

They did it by:

bringing breadsticks from Papa Johns for me to the barracks

Inviting me over dinner

teaching me lessons of life on this farm

being open to help me find the answers to every bible question I had

by not looking at me some funny when all I didn’t bring something for potluck.

by writing me letters when I was in a completely different country

by taking me in without notice until I got on my own feet.

by attending my wedding

by checking on me and my family in its darkest hours.

And now I keep the sabbath out of delight,

I tithe out of delight

I teach out of delight

Not because “THUS SAITH THE LORD”, but because He first loved me.

Witnessing will goes wrong when our joy isn’t focused in to the right channel (Luke 10:20)

Now turn with me the book of Luke 10:17-20

Luke 10:17–20 NKJV

Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

In Luke 10:1–20, Jesus appoints seventy followers to go out and spread his message.

He warns them of the challenges they will face, sending them out as "lambs among wolves."

He advises them not to carry provisions and to focus on delivering a message of peace to the houses they enter.

When they returned, the disciples are joyful, having witnessed even demons being subject to them in Jesus' name.

However, Jesus redirects their focus, cautioning against rejoicing solely in their abilities.

Instead, he emphasizes the importance of finding joy in the eternal significance of having their names written in heaven, highlighting the potential pitfalls of misplaced joy in external accomplishments.

Imagine a group involved in charity work to provide aid and support those in need. They’re on a journey to different communities, offering assistance and spreading a message of hope. There’s cameras, and people taking selfies.

when they return, they quickly begin to upload the success of the day to social media… getting likes and shares, people commenting on what a terrific opportunity to help those in need. And they begin to feel inspired to continue.

now there isn’t anything wrong with highlighting they're achievement; however, they we need to find a deeper joy in value and compassion that motivated us.

The text underscores the idea that witnessing can go wrong if the joy is not appropriately centered on spiritual significance rather than external success or power.

Witnessing can go wrong if we’re not on the same sheet of music.

In Gen 11, we find the testimony of the Tower of Babel.

This story is interesting because of two point.

First, as sinful as we are; the human race can achieve almost anything when we’re focused together on a common goal.

So much so, that God Himself had to confuse our language, because “nothing they purpose to do will be withheld from them.”

The second point is that God confused the language in groups, and not individually.

what I mean by that, is that God could have further kept us from communicating by:

muting us

He could have had each man and woman have a different sound

Instead, he caused groups to speak different languages, and scattered us across the earth. Why?

Because God wants us to still communicate with each other.

To be able to work together when he issues us a common purpose.

We find evidence of this in Acts 2:1-4

Acts 2:1–4 (NKJV)

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Let’s keep it real, and not acknowledge the fact that while the disciples were walking with Jesus there was strife among them.

“Lord who should be the greatest and sit on your left and right in eternity?”

Peter cutting off the ear of a Roman soldier, and later denies Christ

WE do it too.

Question each others motive

Running people out of the church because they don’t dress like you, eat like you, look… like you

But finally, all the strife came to an end.

They finally came together in one accord.

They prayed together.

They supported each others ministry.

And as a result, they grew to love one another fully, and by the grace of God was prepared to receive from Him the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and miracles started happening.

I remember a miracle when were preparing to open Maranatha… we had been working weeks preparing the building on Thompsonville Lane.

We had bathrooms working

Counters built for fellowship

Rooms painted for youth classes (Sarks)

Tables and chairs waiting to be put up

Friday afternoon came, and the Sabbath following was going to be our first worship service. We built the stage where the pulpit would go and had the carpet to lay down, except we didn’t have anyone with the tools to stretch and tack the carpet properly.

out of nowhere a young man walks in building saying that he had seen us doing renovation work week, and was wondering if we had work for him. When asked what he could do, he said, lay carpet and that he could start today and have the carpet laid before the sunset.

It was evidence to us all that God wanted his message spread in Oak Grove!

Acts 2 emphasizes the idea that harmony and love among believers are crucial for receiving the Holy Spirit, because the Spirit strives and causes the miraculous in an atmosphere of unity and peace.

“Let us be all of one accord, and, notwithstanding variety of sentiments and interests, as no doubt there was among those disciples, let us agree to love one another; for, where brethren dwell together in unity, there it is that the Lord commands his blessing.”

Closing:

The New King James Version Chapter 2

Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.