I was reading Revelation yesterday and
again, I felt the Holy Spirit's nudg about witnessing. When discusing
witnessing in Bible Study the other day, Judy mentioned that we
should write down our stories. She's right, sharing what God had done
for us doesn't have to be any big dramatic event. Your
own story, or testimony, is the best witness you can share. It is not
just teaching Bible truths. It is "being" a product of
those truths. In other words, don't just say it, be and do it.
You are a witness. Think about it,
when a person has experienced the forgiveness of his sins, he is then
able give testimony to the salvation that is mentioned in Ephesians
4:11. They said, "For we cannot help speaking about what we have
seen and heard" (Acts 4:20). You are able to witness about
Jesus, because you have met Him personally.
Witnessing is telling others about the
love, forgiveness, deliverance, fruitful life that you have found in
Jesus. Jesus' last instructions to His disciples before He ascended
were about witnessing. He told them to make disciples in all the
world, and to baptize and teach them. He promised them that when they
received the Holy Spirit, they would be powerful witnesses of Him.
Don't be afraid to write a short story
of something God has done for you. The Lord will confirm your
witness, just as He did the witness of His apostles. Remember, Jesus
said, “And be sure of this; I am with you always, even to the end
of the age.” If you feel timid or unsure of your ability to witness
remember that the authority to
witness is from Jesus (Matthew 28:19, 20). The power and boldness to
witness is given by the Holy Spirit (Mark 16:17-20; Acts 1:8).
If you don't feel as though you have a particular story of something
God has done in your life, share the simple truth that "God
loves you. Jesus saves all who come to Him in repentance of sin and
who have faith in Him. He gives life (John 10:10), equips for living
through the Holy Spirit, and He is coming again."
The commetary in the NIV Study Bible on
Revelation 11:10-13 reminds us what we are called by God to do. “We
seldom face the possibility of death when we share our faith. Why
should Satan threaten our lives when fear of embarrassment or
rejection is enough to keep us silent? If Jesus has truly changed our
lives, we will find a way to let others know. Not to witness
represents more than just fear; it also reveals selfishness. Have
those near you heard what Jesus has done for you?”
Pray
that God will help you in witnessing. You may have to pray to be
released from fear or feelings of not knowing enough or not being
good enough to share Jesus with others. Pray that you want to be bold
and free to share your faith with whomever may be open to hear it
during your daily life.
SCRIPTURE ON WITNESSING
Acts 1:8
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.”
Romans 10:13-15
For “everyone who calls on the name
of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom
they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom
they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone
preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is
written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good
news!”
2 Corinthians 5:20
Therefore, we are ambassadors for
Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of
Christ, be reconciled to God.
Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have
commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the
age.”
