As we begin our time in God’s word today, join me in prayer.

<personal prayer>

It’s called “witness intimidation”. It happens when someone who was previously willing to testify on behalf of the defense is intimidated by the alleged perpetrator of the crime to the point where they are no longer willing to testify. In other words, they are more afraid of what the person they were willing to testify against them will to do them IF they testify than letting the truth come out and the alleged perpetrator having to suffer the consequences of their actions.

Today, in our scripture passage, we are going to see that there will come a time in the future, I believe sooner rather than later, when we as Christians will be called to bear witness for Christ to those that think they love God. And our response will be an indication of relationship with Jesus. It’s also our big idea for today. Here’s our big idea:

Big Idea: Your willingness to give testimony about Jesus ultimately shows whether you really follow Jesus.

Now that we know what we are looking for, let’s dive into God’s word and see what it tells us. The first thing we come to is this:

The kind of testimony provided.

The kind of testimony provided.

Verses 26 and 27 tell us their are ultimately two witnesses for Jesus: the Holy Spirit and us. The Holy Spirit was sent to disciples shortly after Jesus ascended to heaven on the day of pentecost. And we are also testify. But notice what kind of testimony it is to be. Jesus defines the Holy Spirit in two ways: as a counselor and as a spirit of truth. I love that word “counselor”, because it’s a word that means to speak on ones behalf. In other words, it’s someone whose got your best intentions in mind…so much as that the person of the Holy Spirit is also the spirit of truth. Anything that the Holy Spirit says is going to be true, whether we like it or not. And because we receive the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation, and are to live lives full of the Holy Spirit, according to Galatians 5, this means that anytime WE speak on behalf of Jesus, we must also speak truth. We are COMPELLED, if we are truly believers in Jesus and followers of His word, to speak it.

Peter, the spokesman for the disciples and the early church, says it this way in Acts 5:32

Acts 5:32 CSB

We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Notice that Peter says that we, that is the disciples and followers of Jesus, are witnesses…and SO IS the Holy Spirit. Meaning, when we witness, when we speak to the folks about Jesus, we can either say one of two things: we can tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth…or we can speak in in such a way that, as Paul describes to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:3, will fulfill the itch that others have to hear what they WANT about Jesus, not what is the TRUTH about Jesus.

So, how do we know what we are supposed to say? Jesus tells us at the end of verse 27 that we’ll know “because we’ve been with him.”

That word “with”, while it might not seem like a big deal to us, is actually a REALLY big deal. It means to be a companion, to have a fellowship. It has the idea of hanging out together, spending life together, truly knowing each other.

Since we are using the idea of a court of law today, let me use this example.

You’ve been called to the witness stand, on behalf of the prosecution, to be a good witness for Jesus. But, the defense, the world, is doing everything in its power to discredit you. They are offering you money, fame, power, anything you’ve ever wanted, if only you’ll smear the good name of the one being prosecuted, Jesus Christ.

As you sit down and start to be asked questions, you have to choices. Do you speak the truth regarding Jesus, even though its unpopular? To you tell the world how Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins and mine, the very sins that the world says really aren’t sins any more? Do you tell testify to how Jesus has changed your life, gotten you clean and sober for over a decade, got your mind clean from the pornography that used to fill you mind, the same porn that the world says is ok to look at? To you testify to how Jesus has given you a reason to life, because he has changed your life, set you free from your chains of sin and death, given you eternal life in him, given you a peace like you’ve never known?

Or, do you give in the world, and just testify that Jesus is just a good man? Do you lie and tell the court that you got clean all on your own , that the sins that Jesus says are a sin really aren’t bad, and that we are all ultimately “good people?”

What determines your response is that word…”with”. Whether or not you are a true companion, had true fellowship with Jesus.

Paul describes our testimony in one of two ways in 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

2 Corinthians 2:14–17 CSB

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place. For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. Who is adequate for these things? For we do not market the word of God for profit like so many. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.

When we tell the truth about Jesus, because we’ve been with him, spent time with him, have the truth of Jesus in our lives, the ones that are saved and that ones that are willing to hear the gospel, we are that sweet fragrance, like spring flowers first thing in the morning. But, to the religious and those that are in the world, our words are death and decay, the smell of rotten flesh, the smell of a rotting fish in a trashcan after its been in the summer heat.

It all boils down to if we’ve been “with” Jesus.

And when we’ve been with Jesus, not only will there be a kind of testimony that we provide, there will be a reasoning about the testimony provided. The reasoning about the testimony provided.

2. The reasoning about the testimony provided.

One of the things I love about the Bible is that it doesn’t hold bad. Every word of God’s word is inspire by God, and included the good, the bad, and the ugly. And in verses 1-3, Jesus now tells us two things about why what’s going to take place is going to take place. First, he tells us he’s given us a heads up.

Jesus uses the word “stumbling”. This word conveys the idea of tripping over something to the point where it causes you to actually change direction drastically.

And then he tells them the cause of their potential stumbling, their change of direction. It would be that, because of their testimony, they would be banned from the synagogues..or even worse, in the name of religion, killed.

And the sad thing about it is this, according to verse 3. They will think they know God…but they really don’t. Because you can’t know God and hate Jesus and the things of Jesus, because Jesus is God.

So, the two things that Jesus tells us will take place are this: even though he’s giving us advanced warning on this, some people would rather become apostate, leave the faith, rather than die. That’s the first thing. The second thing is, in my opinion, even worse. In the name of God, according to verse 2, people will kill you for speaking the truth about God…and they’ll think they are doing God a favor when they do it.

Now, before you think this isn’t possible, let me read you something from God’s word. Something that happened to the apostle Paul, when he spoke out about Jesus being the messiah and savior of the world. 2 Corinthians 11:24-25

2 Corinthians 11:24–25 CSB

Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea.

Yes, you heard that correctly. Paul wasn’t just whipped 39 times on one occasion. Oh no. He wouldn’t be quiet about Jesus. On 5 seperate occasions, they beat him 39 timers. Three times with rods, think of a small baseball bat. Once, he had rocks throw at him with the intent on killing him.

I’ve shown you today the reasoning that Jesus gives for why this happens. But what should be our reasoning for the testimony we provide? We should we be wiling to endure the pain, the suffering, the agony that the world and the religious folks will do to us, when we start to proclaim the truth of Christ.

Let me answer that by reading Philippians 1:21-24.

Philippians 1:21–24 CSB

For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ—which is far better—but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.

In other word, here’s what Paul says. If I live, even if I get beaten, battered, and bruised, my body will heal and I’ll keep preaching Jesus. If I die, then my body will heal and I’ll get to be with Jesus! While I desperately would love to be with Jesus and not endure suffering and be better off, the world and others still need to keep hearing about Jesus…so I’ll keep on trucking.

So, Christians, what’s our reasoning for sticking with it, for giving testimony, even when it means death? What’s the reason why Christians over in Africa, in China, in North Korea, in Canada, and yes, even in America undergo beatings when bringing up the name of Jesus?

Because Jesus is worth it. Because the destination of the souls of mankind rest on our bringing the good news that many have never heard to them.

But not only do we see the kind of testimony provided, and the reasoning about the testimony provided, we also see the reminder about the testimony provided.

3. The reminder about the testimony provided.

We all need a reminder of why we do things. I was reminded this past week when one of my children had a birthday of how empty my life would be without this child. We all need a reminder.

So, why does just need to tell these disciples of why this is going to happen? Why did it get put into God’s word?

So that, when the hour is darkest, we remember.

Verse 4 tells us about this hour. It says “so that when their time comes”. When they come for Jesus in the garden, their time has come. When they have Jesus beaten, their time has come. When Jesus is hanging on a cross, paying for the sins of the world, their time has come. Jesus is telling them that when it’s his time to die, their going to to be persecuted for their faith…and they’ll remember he told them these words. And the reason he didn’t tell them at the beginning was it wasn’t the appropriate timing. Had Jesus told them from the beginning, they would have been tempted towards apostacy, something worth than death! If you’ll remember from back in the beginning of this message, the word “with” means fellowship, communion. Jesus uses that same word again here in verse 4, at the end, to tell them that since he was with them then, he didn’t tell them, because he could give them strength to stay with him. But he needs to tell them now, so that when they are persecuted, they’ll take heart, knowing that Jesus told them this would happen and it would ok. So that they would hear the words, upon their entry into heaven, found in Matthew 25:23.

Matthew 25:23 CSB

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’

Let me close with this illustration. I love to take my wife on dates. I don’t get to do it nearly as often as I’d like, but when we get to go on a date, I thoroughly enjoy the grown-up conversation, the good meal, and the general fellowship that comes from being with my wife.

Now, when we go on a date, having 4 children, we have one of two choices. We leave the house, telling them we are heading out for a while and to be good while we are gone. Or, we can tell them where we are going, roughly how long we will be gone for, and about what time we’ll be home, Lord willing. We do this so that, as the time draws closer to our coming back, our children will be reminded of our return and continue to do what we’ve instructed.

Which one do you think we do?

The second.

And Jesus has done the same thing for us.

Jesus told us that he was leaving to prepare a place for us, if we trust in him for salvation and eternal life. But he didn’t stop there. He gave us marching orders. He told us to testify to folks, to the world, starting right here in our home town, about what Jesus did for us. But, here’s the thing. There are some folks out there that claim to love Jesus, claim to have been saved, but look nothing like a saved person. They don’t read their bible to get to know him. They don’t listen to good music, to fill their minds with his music. They don’t fellowship with other believers, so strengthen their own faith. They don’t follow Jesus commission to tell people about him. And they are going to be sorely surprised when they die, because they are going to stand before Jesus, and tell Jesus they call him Lord…and Jesus is going to tell them he never knew him.

But, there’s another person. They are the one that truly loves Jesus, and would lay down their life to follow Jesus. They are the high school graduate that gets to college, or trades school, or whereever they go, and takes the name of Jesus with them, lives for Jesus. They are the person that loves to be around other Christians. They are in their bible. They shine their light for Jesus, no matter the costs. They have a testimony for Jesus…and nothing is going to stand in their way.

The title of this message this morning is this:

“Are you willing to testify?”

Are you? Here’s a better question for you: do you have something to testify about? Do you have a relationship with Jesus, has he changed you? Or, do you live a life of lip service?

<gospel>