What Fits In My Box?

Lead Off Question

Who has ever watched someone else do the wrong thing? What does that make you? If you see a crime happen then you are a what....a witness! What does it mean to be a witness?

Illustration

I remember when I was in college and I watched a massive car accident happen. I was out one night with a bunch of friends hanging out, and the night had concluded so I was in my car on the way back to the dorms, it was a quiet night, there were only a few cars on the road. I was driving down the road when immediately in front of me a car spun out. I remember driving and suddenly seeing another car merge ahead of me next to the other vehicle, and then because of their urgency and haste, they merged right into the other car that was directly ahead of me. I remember watching the car spin as headlights were going around and around and then lastly seeing the vehicle flip over a twice times. I remember quickly pulling over, calling 911, and rushing over to the car in front of me that had rolled over, and the car that had made contact. The night went on, police officers showed up, took witness reports and everyone went home.

I had just witnessed the worst accident I have ever seen in person, and I was the person the police wanted to hear from, exactly what happened, who did what, and what transpired because of their actions. I remember telling the officer what I saw. He took my statement, and then my phone number. He said that I may be needed in case there was a dispute about what happened, I was a witness to the incident.

Transition

Today as we sit here, we too are witnesses. Maybe not of a horrific accident, or some dramatic incident, but we are witnesses of God’s love. We are witnesses of his mercy, his grace, and his mission. But, my question, and the direction we are going this morning is this, while we know the way to heaven, are we sharing that with anyone? We claim to have the key to eternity, so what are we doing with it? Are we sharing what we have witnessed God do in our lives and the lives of others around us?

Bottom Line

Our witness proclaims his greatness.

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Context

The Acts of the Apostles is the second volume of a two-part series. The Gospel of Luke was the first part. The writer Luke began telling the story of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He continued his story in Acts, telling how the message of Jesus was preached to the world after the ascension of Christ to heaven. The church began as a predominantly Jewish community in Jerusalem, and Luke tells how it became predominantly Gentile, reaching all the way to Rome. Luke emphasizes two gospel preachers, Peter and Paul, as the major characters in the dissemination of the gospel. Jesus is the main character in the Gospel of Luke, and the Holy Spirit is emphasized as the One continuing Jesus’ ministry on earth in the book of Acts.

Elmer L. Towns and Ben Gutiérrez, The Essence of the New Testament

Bible Verse

Acts 1:7–8 ESV

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

John 3:16–17 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

We are witnesses of God’s love.

Breakdown

So frequently I find myself either over complicating or inexcusably ignoring the commands of God. It is common for me to over complicate what it might mean to witness, like, God I just don’t know how to do that, or for me it could also just be a, yeah God, I see what you have for me over there, but that’s over there, and I’m over here. And then we get really deep into the weeds and say, well God, I know you love me, but what does that mean for me, like, how am I supposed to love others? Do you know the kind of day I have had? Do you know the financial situation I find myself in? And you want me to love and be a blessing to others? Oh God, you must not know me.

Yet, in reality our witness is not desired to be viewed as misery, but rather as joyful that we are blessed with the opportunity to tell others of the love of our God. And then even to go further than just tell them we love them, but then to SHOW them that we love them. We have been so blessed, we get to tell and bless others!

Bottom Line

Our witness proclaims his greatness.

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Bible Verse

Matthew 28:19–20 NIV

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

We are witnesses of God’s teaching.

Breakdown

>The great commission consists of three actions, going and making disciples, baptizing them, and then TEACHING THEM to OBEY what is commanded of us. As believers, we should daily be taught by the Father, plugged into His Scripture, so that we can be equipped by the TEACHING, disciplining, and training. We are called as a church to be chasing after others, (our love for them on display) (showing them the love of the Father) (sharing with them the love of the Father) and then TEACHING them what the Father has taught us.

This is exactly why your time with the Lord on a daily basis is so critical. We are intentionally known by our Father, yet we forget who it was that gave us this life.

Bottom Line

Our witness proclaims his greatness.

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Bible Verse

2 Thessalonians 3:3 NIV

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

2 Timothy 2:13 NIV

if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

We are witnesses of God’s faithfulness.

Breakdown

Anybody else in here ever experienced the faithfulness of God? Freshman year, relationships, finances, jobs.

Bottom Line

Our witness proclaims his greatness.

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Application

So how do we witness?

We must first break.

We must submit ourselves before the Lord to be broken, so that he can make us whole.

Then, we must deny the enemy and footholds.

We must call upon the Holy Spirit to fill us and empower us.

We must wake up daily and focus on His mission.

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