The Manifold Wisdom Of God
Kingdom Witnessing
::
"You shall receive power
when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;
and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem
and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth,”
Acts 1'8.
::
What Jesus said (above) is straightforward enough to read. But it is significant to note that He said they would be witnesses.
He did not say they would be evangelists. Nevertheless, Believers' reaching out to unsaved people is mostly called "evangelising".
"Evangelism" is not what Jesus said Believers' lives would be all about. And teaching about "personal evangelism" makes many Believers feel uncomfortable.
Those who do find "evangelising" easy are often those who have outgoing personalities or they are God-appointed evangelists.
::
"Witnessing" is a rarely used word. When it is, it usually refers to talking about the Lord with an unsaved person.
However, true witnessing is a lifestyle, a demonstration in fact, lived out in the sight of people and in the presence of our enemy.
"You shall be witnesses to Me" Jesus stated. But, what does it mean to be a witness to Jesus?
For those He spoke to, being a witness could amount to simply relating what they had heard Him say and seen Him do over some time.
After the Holy Spirit came they were the first of all Believers to receive Him spiritually as their Saviour - by faith.
Immediately, they were witnesses to Him and His life-changing power in their lives and behaviour. Together and individually they would represent Him before people and the devil:
"... to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might
be made known by the Believers
to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him," Ephesians 3'10-12.
::
The Lord's Followers would be carrying on His ministry and work among People and demonstrating His salvation.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ,
and has given us the ministry of reconciliation," 2 Corinthians 5'17-18.
A newly-created person begins to manifest Christ-like thinking and show different behaviour and to witness of His presence in their lives.
And there are some scriptures about that.
For instance:
"... we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing," 2 Corinthians 2'14-15.
“You are the salt of the earth ..." Matthew 5'13.
And there is no striving involved:
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven," Matthew 5'14-16.
It's all a matter of letting His aroma emanate, letting His light shine. Jesus said: "you shall be witnesses". It's a state of spiritual being.
Because:
"... it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness,
who has shone in our hearts
to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us," 2 Corinthians 4'6-7.
That's truly awesome!
And finally:
"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light," Ephesians 5'8.
New creation life indeed!
::
Jesus commissioned His Followers with these amazing words:
"As the Father has sent Me, I also send you," John 20'21.
Jesus, as the Anointed One, sends His "earthen vessels" into the world in the grace, love and power of the same Holy Spirit as He did.
Like these:
"And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs, Mark 16'20.
::
"Most assuredly, I say to you,
he who believes in Me,
the works that I do he will do also;
and greater works than these he will do,
because I go to My Father,"
John 14'12-14.
Α-Ω
Prayer. Heavenly Father. Thank you for the good news of Jesus and Your Kingdom. Thank you, too, for the power and fruit of the Holy Spirit as we witness in our daily living.
In Jesus's name. Amen.