The Preparations for Effective Witnessing
John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Intro
Intro
My personal fear.
Story
Normal to experience this.
Thesis: Jesus gave his Disciples preparations for being faithful witnesses.
1. Jesus gave the PROMISE of the Advocate. ( John 15:26; 16:7, 12-15)
1. Jesus gave the PROMISE of the Advocate. ( John 15:26; 16:7, 12-15)
The Holy Spirit testifies about Jesus and brings glory to Jesus (John 15:26, 16:14a)
The Holy Spirit proves the world wrong (John 16:8)
The Holy Spirit guides into all truth (John 16:13-15).
He would speak what was from the Father and the Son
He would tell them what was to come.
2. Jesus gave the INSTRUCTION to testify. (John 15:27)
2. Jesus gave the INSTRUCTION to testify. (John 15:27)
Testify: To be a witness.
Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Witness
Witness. One who tells what he has seen or personally experienced in a court of law (cf.
Illustrate: Friend I testified for
My job: Just to share what I had seen.
I was not the attorney.
The pressure wasn’t on me.
I just had to tell the truth.
So Why did Jesus say his Disciples needed to testify? Because they had been with Jesus.
Application: As a follower of Christ, the pressure is off to make someone believe. You just need to testify about what you know to be true about Jesus.
Your Testimony: “There was a time in my life when _________. But Jesus changed my life. Now I _________.”
The testimony of the Word: 1 Cor. 15:3-4
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
3. Jesus gave the WARNING about opposition. (John 16:1-6)
3. Jesus gave the WARNING about opposition. (John 16:1-6)
2 Types of warnings:
Bad things will happen, therefore don’t do it. Because it isn’t worth it.
Warning: There are health consequences for smoking.
The pleasure isn’t worth the consequences.
Therefore don’t smoke.
Bad things will happen, but don’t let that dissuade you. Because it is worth it.
Warning: You may not like the taste of your veggies.
The short term pain is worth the health benefit.
Therefore, eat your veggies.
Jesus gives us this second type of warning about being a witness for him.
Reason: “So you won’t fall away.” John 16:1
“All this I have told you so that you will not fall away.
Warnings:
They will kick you out.
They will think they are doing good.
Why? Because they don’t actually know God the Father or Jesus.
They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.
Example: (Acts 14:1-20)
Paul and Barnabas preach in Iconium. Attempt is made to stone them.
Flee to Lystra: Preach, But Jews from Iconium come, persuade the crowds to kill him.
Reason expanded: John 16:4
I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you,
When it happens, remember that I told you it would.
Don’t quit!
Why not earlier? Jesus was there to lead, protect, and take the hits.
4. Jesus gave the ASSURANCE of the Holy Spirit’s convicting Power. (John 16:8-11)
4. Jesus gave the ASSURANCE of the Holy Spirit’s convicting Power. (John 16:8-11)
When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment:
“He” is “The Advocate”
The Disciples are the witnesses.
The world is on trial.
What does it mean, “he will prove the world to be in the wrong?”
Word: “Prove”
The Gospel according to John 3. The Work of the Holy Spirit (16:4b–15)
it is used in religious contexts to mean something like ‘to bring someone to an acknowledgment of personal guilt’.
It ends up being a conviction, calling them to repentance.
They are in the wrong.
But there is an opportunity for complete forgiveness.
About Sin
About Sin
about sin, because people do not believe in me;
The greatest sin is to reject Jesus.
Jesus was God in the flesh (John 1:1)
He came to the world John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
To reject Jesus is to reject God.
The Father
The Son
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is convicting people that “Jesus is the Christ.”
About Righteousness
About Righteousness
about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;
Reason: “Because I am going to the Father.”
How does that play in?
Jesus actually explained it earlier in John 16:7
But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
The Holy Spirit comes, because Jesus went to the Father.
In what way, does the world get their idea about righteousness wrong?
Two Possible ways:
First, about Christ’s righteousness.
Second, about their own righteousness.
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
If my righteousness is never enough, how then can I be righteous?
We can receive Christ’s record of righteousness:
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
About Judgement
About Judgement
and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
Who is the prince of this world? Satan
He was the one deceiving people to crucify Jesus.
The world judged Jesus, and crucified him.
But Jesus overcame death.
The scheme was flipped on its head.
What was intended for evil was used for good.
Christ was proven to be the Messiah, the Son of God.
The ancient prophecy was fulfilled Gen. 3:15
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
The Holy Spirit is going to be convicting the world that they had judged wrongly.
Satan falsely accused Jesus and led people astray.
This is being made known by the power of the Holy Spirit.
As faithful witnesses share about Jesus, the Holy Spirit is going to be working in peoples hearts, they will be convicted and turn to faith in Jesus.
Ex. Acts 2:22-24
“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
What was the result?
Thousands of them trusted Christ.
We don’t know for sure, but this could have been the same conversation that Luke recounts Jesus telling his disciples Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
It wasn’t their power from themselves, it was power from the Holy Spirit.
Applications:
Applications:
Remember that the Holy Spirit is still testifying about Jesus!
Witness about Jesus faithfully and boldly.
Expect both positive and negative responses.
Discussion Questions:
Discussion Questions:
Most of us have a measure of fear or nervousness when it comes to witnessing about Jesus. What are some of the common reasons for this?
Look over the four preparations that Jesus gave to his disciples in order for them to be faithful witnesses. Which of these preparations is most encouraging to you? Why?
The third preparation Jesus gave his disciples was a warning. What was this warning, and how can remembering that warning encourage us?
The fourth preparation Jesus gave was the assurance that the Holy Spirit would prove (convict) the world in regards to sin, righteousness and judgement. In light of this, what is the distinction between our role and the Holy Spirit’s role as we seek to lead people to Christ?
What is your application? (Feel free to look over the three suggested application points from the message).
