Download MP3
Read: Luke 24:44-48
Have you experienced being a witness? Have you ever listened to a witness in a courtroom?I remember in my primary school days, we used to have cleaning assignments in the classroom. It’s very common to hear charges that one is not participating in cleaning their assigned area. It’s also common for those being accused to have some of his witnessing friends testify that he is cleaning his assigned area.
Now in our faith, it’s almost a norm to hear the phrase “witness for Christ.” What is it really being a witness?
In the Bible, a witness is someone who receives, sees, or experiences something that is astounding or significant and starts to share what they have received, seen, or experienced. Now, the word ‘witness’ describes not just the person or someone but also the action. So, he is someone who has seen, received, or experienced something and then proclaims it to others.
Great Commission: Now I will give points to remember how to be an effective witness; and in our ministry, how to be a witness for Christ.
POWER OF GOSPEL
The first point is we need to focus our testimony on Christ Jesus and the Gospel.“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved if you hold fast to the word I preached to you— unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 ESV
Now, this is the important part because it’s the amazing thing that we received as children of God. The center of our testimony is the Gospel; the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ for us. John 14:6 (ESV) says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” We who have experienced new life in Christ give account of His love, forgiveness, and grace in our lives. Nonetheless, we will not be able to share the Gospel or be a witness for Christ if we do not believe in its power in the first place. We won’t be effective witnesses if we ourselves are not walking with Christ. We will never witness how great and amazing Jesus is if we are not walking with Him.
When was the last time you shared the Gospel? Why is it hard to share it? Is it because you are ashamed of it? What are the reasons why you can’t share the Gospel? Are you truly amazed by it? Do you think you lack the opportunity to share? Is it because of your status? Popularity and fame? Or is it because the product is you?
We need to be living a consistent Christian life.
CHRISTIAN!!
REFORMED!!
PRAYER AND DEVOTION
As we witness for Christ, we should spend much more time in prayer and devotion. We must have firsthand knowledge about Jesus Christ if we are to be effective witnesses for Him. As we dive deeper into Jesus through our prayer and devotion, we will come to see that His heart has always been for the lost. He loves us so much that He died on the cross for our sins.As we pray, we seek to be empowered by the Holy Spirit, so that we would be enabled to let the light that comes from God so shine in such a way that others will recognize His power in us.
Our VALIDITY as His witnesses will be reflected in how we live our lives.
Philippians 2:15 sets this goal for us: “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.”
An effective Christian witness will live his/her life above reproach in the power of the Holy Spirit, whose fruit we exhibit when we remain in Christ. (See John 15:1-8 & Galatians 5:22-23)
God convicts people of their sin and stirs up the desire for salvation, and He will arrange for their paths to cross.
PREPARE
“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” (1 Peter 3:15 ESV)If You Fail to Plan, You Are Planning to Fail
I remember during my stay in Makati Mission House, I had a short exercise with one of my fellow believers there. I have to introduce the Gospel to him as if it’s his first time hearing it. At the end of the exercise, I got frustrated because I was not satisfied with how I delivered the Gospel to him. I then realized that I have to practice more to improve. I decided not to settle for less for Christ.
We need to Consider to prepare and memorize a simple testimony of what Jesus did for us.
We also have to memorize a few key Scriptures that relate to the Gospel and our testimony.
Then, once God gives us an opportunity in any conversations, we will be able to effectively deliver the Gospel and lead them to turn to Christ and repent.
Being prepared means diligently studying the Bible, memorizing Scriptures, and praying for God-given opportunities to share His Word to those whose hearts are prepared by God to hear His message of salvation.
Believe and focus on the power of the Gospel, study God’s Word and pray, live the genuine Christian life, let the Holy Spirit do His work, and look for opportunities to share the Gospel. It is always a privilege to be a part of spreading God’s good news to the world.
As I end:
God wants a group of witnesses who sees and experiences Him to represent and bear witness of His goodness to the World.
I know it’s not easy to be a witness, it’s just a simple word but it carries a lot of responsibilities.
Going back to our main verse:
Jesus is our Chief Witness – the ultimate witness bearing the testimony of God’s Kingdom, declaring who He is and that God's Kingdom is here through Him.
As we fulfill the Great Commission, we have Jesus’ wonderful promise, “And surely I am with you always to the very end of age.” (Matthew 28:20b NIV).
Photo by: Jaime Legaspino
Connect With Us