A Faithful Witness

Last three weeks - foundational (spiritual toes stepped on, perhaps…mine, too)

Today - witnessing. Specifically, developing the desire to share Christ - to witness for Him

Me, personally, Prayer is good. Bible study is what I do. And church attendance/involvement? I’m kinda required to do that.

READ Colossians 4:2-6

CONSIDER HOW GOD PUTS YOU IN SITUATIONS - TO WITNESS

Christian, Little League, pitcher hit his bat, but looked like might have been his helmet - teammate dad got angry

People saw Christ in Him. Then, guess what, task fell to me to talk to this dad, to witness to him. Tract, conversation - realization that I needed to witness to him

Acts 1:8 NASB95

but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

We WILL be witnesses,good or otherwise

TODAY - Understanding our role, witnessing for Christ - He is on trial in this world. We say we will stand up for Him, but do we? What does that look like for the Christian?

PROMISE: You can do this, or God is a liar! And we know He’s no liar. - YOU need to be His witness

“Witness” = “Martyr”

God has not asked us to die for our faith, but the word stems from the same root. Many in the past, including the disciples and apostles, gave their lives to testify for Christ

Witness, in our mindset = one who can give a faithful account of something seen, heard, or experienced. One who has not experienced something cannot be a witness, is unreliable, no credibility

Evangelize (evangel =”good news”)

Faithful - outward demonstrations of the trust that drives believers

Witnessing, “sharing the good news of Jesus” - an outward demonstration of faith

Driven by a desire to let others know what you know, that great news of salvation

It’s also a key matter of obedience, as seen in Matt.28:19-20

Ever hear non-believers say things like:

“Religion is personal, I never discuss it”

“Don’t try to force your views on me, (shove them down my throat)”

“That’s just brainwashing, all that Bible stuff”

“I’m just fine with my own religion”

How do you deal with that? Ignore it? Never really get to these conversations? Want to engage, just not sure what to say?

Key Aspects of a Faithful Witness

Understanding the Reason “Why is this MY job?”

We have a clear command - make disciples (Matt. 28:19-20, Acts 1:8)

People are lost without Christ

Looking for ANY other way to manage life, thinking they are “good enough” to be able to stand before Christ - sometimes we need to convince people they actually need saving

Acts 4:12 NASB95

“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

ONE PATH - ONE NAME

People are actually hungry for the Gospel

25-50% are ready to receive the Gospel, if/when properly approached

Romans 10:14 NASB95

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?

We don’t generate the desire, or the “hunger” - the Holy Spirit does

Also, our desire to share comes from that same Holy Spirit - if we yield to being used

Some people get stuck in “religion” or cults - spiritually hungry, deciding to feed on junk food

We possess the greatest gift of all

And we are allowed to share (commanded, actually) - and we have great freedom

I believe the most compelling reason to share the Gospel is because we actually understand it, we have humbly repented and graciously received forgiveness!

We are actually excited about that!

If you ran into someone who was sick, and you knew the cure, 100%, would you share it?

They want to be well

What about the spiritually sick, who are dying…terminal? You have a 100% cure

We are compelled to share Christ (not forced, but ‘compelled’ or ‘controlled’)

2 Corinthians 5:14 NASB95

For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;

“love of Christ” = His love for us

“controls” = compels,we can’t help it, it’s what the believer does, having come to the conclusion that Christ saved us, so we tell others, we share with others

And when we do, we grow even closer to the LORD

Realizing the Blessing

Look at the benefits of receiving Christ:

Become child of God; body becomes His temple; forgiven; peace, joy, love; purpose in life; experience the power of God to live a changed life; assurance of eternal life;

Best of all, YOU as the witness, when you proclaim Jesus as Savior, you are the most blessed, as obedience is pleasing to the LORD! - No better feeling than to have shared Christ

Believers not actively witnessing are missing out on so much blessing, peace

Being open to Grow and Learn

How do we do this?

REM: Bible, Prayer, Church activity - work on the foundation, continually, always growing

Pray

For opportunity

The church is here for this reason

You are where you are for this reason (you know, everything happens for a reason? YES, that reason is so that believers can proclaim CHRIST!)

For boldness

Ephesians 6:19 NASB95

and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

For help - H.S. will guide you (it’s a promise, remember when we discussed prayer related to what He’s promised?)

John 16:13 NASB95

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

For prepared hearts - in those who will encounter you, this bold, prayer-led, Holy Spirit empowered believer!

Study - Prepare

Your beliefs - the truth

Others’ beliefs - false gospels or non-belief

Truth of God’s Word - rely on the Word, not emotion, not gimmicks (though understanding salvation is very emotional)

Depend on Christ

For strength

For the words to say - THE WORD, recall John 16:13

CLOSING - CHALLENGE

Write down the names of two people you know, people who are not believers, who need to hear the Gospel - maybe for the first time, maybe for the hundredth

Witnessing can be easier with people you already have a relationship with

Pray about opportunities, boldness, words to say

Prepare for the conversation

Practice what to say, Bible verses, potential conversation

Proclaim the truth- not just your experience, but the truth

If a bit timid, use a tract, use a bracelet

Then ask, “What would keep you from repenting of being a sinner, asking Jesus to forgive you?

Then pay attention to the answers - you will get several opportunities

Read, study, etc. to provide answers

2 Corinthians 5:11 NASB95

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.

We persuade people to at least consider Jesus, then let God do the convincing

TODAY - let’s agree that we need to be better witnesses for Christ

NEXT WEEK - we’ll talk more of the how, some specifics, looking to the Word for examples

For now - we pray, and expect God to answer, since He commanded us to witness - so He will absolutely put people before us.

What is our desire? Do we REALLY want to have these opportunities? I pray we do. Then…we’ll step out in faith, have the heart of the witness the LORD desires for us.