TOPIC: ARE YOU A TRUE WITNESS?
MEMORIZE:
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. Acts 5:32
READ: Acts 1:6-8
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
MESSAGE
In Acts 1:8, Jesus said that you will receive power after the Holy Ghost comes upon you, and you will become a witness. A witness produces proof. When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you become someone who can produce proof that Jesus is the Savior, the Healer, and the Deliverer because He will reveal these divine attributes through you.
Your lifestyle must reflect that Jesus is in you because He said that people will be known by their fruits (Matthew 7:16). Being a witness means showing what it means to be a genuine child of God. All parties involved in a court case are expected to invite witnesses who would make statements in their favor. The testimonies of the witnesses are expected to strengthen the argument of the parties that invited them. Your lifestyle as a witness of Christ should strengthen the faith of others, not weaken it. Your life should draw unbelievers to Jesus, not push them away from Him. Your primary task as the Lord's witness is to follow Him sincerely and use everything, He gives you to lead others to Him. Don't be the reason people vow never to follow Jesus because, as a witness, your life has told lies about God's nature and personality.
Whenever your words and conduct speak lies about Jesus, you become a false witness. While false witnesses tell lies about what they have seen, another set of people, whom Paul called false brethren, claim to have seen things they have not. They act as witnesses when they haven't seen anything. Paul spoke about the dangers he faced at the hands of false brethren (2 Corinthians 11:26). Some of them came into the Galatians church and wanted to enslave the true believers there (Galatians 2:4); they came with high-sounding opinions that were contrary to God's will. You must beware of false brethren because they carry a contrary spirit. They twist the message of Christ and turn the grace of God into a license for immorality (Jude 1:4). Such fellows say that once you have received Jesus, you can live anyhow because the grace of God covers you. They also feign godliness for their personal gain. Paul warned that we should withdraw from such people (1 Timothy 6:5).
Beloved, as Christ's witness, you must be careful that your life doesn't speak lies about Jesus, and you must also take care not to fall into the trap of those who profess to be witnesses of Christ but have never met Him.
REFLECTION
Are you a true witness of Christ?
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Kings 1-3
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
HYMN 20: STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS
1 Stand up, stand up for Jesus
ye soldiers of the cross;
lift high his royal banner,
it must not suffer loss.
From vict'ry unto vict'ry
his army he shall lead
till ev'ry foe is vanquished
and Christ is Lord indeed.
2 Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the trumpet call obey;
forth to the mighty conflict
in this his glorious day.
Ye that are men now serve him
against unnumbered foes;
let courage rise with danger
and strength to strength oppose.
3 Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
stand in his strength alone;
the arm of flesh will fail you,
ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armor,
each piece put on with prayer;
where duty calls or danger,
be never wanting there.
4 Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the strife will not be long;
this day the noise of battle,
the next, the victor's song.
To him that overcometh
a crown of life shall be;
he with the King of glory
shall reign eternally.
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