Called to Witness

Sermon by Al Neumann, 12/11/04

Acts 1:8: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Witnessing is not showing, or telling what we can do for God. It is showing and telling what God has done for us. Every believer is called to witness which is simply telling what one knows and has experienced for themselves.

1 John 5:6-12: "This is the one who came by water and blood – Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."

Enter the fear factor. I do not measure up to witnessing. God is no dummy. He expected this response. He left us examples and a living spirit to guide us. A witness does not have to define doctrines, nor denounce the sins of the world, or attack sinners for wrong doing.

John 1:6-8: "There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light." This is the purpose of a Christian witness.

The miracle of the incarnation or Christ's human appearance called for witnesses to confirm its reality. John's witness and ours confirm the witness of the Holy Spirit to draw people to believe in Christ. A witness makes the testimony a fact, established by evidence. We are called to be free to be a moving powerful witness. We have experienced the results of law and experiencing the freedom we have in Christ.

Legend of the Candy Maker

A candy maker from Indiana decided to make a candy that included symbols of the life and death of Jesus Christ.

The candy maker began with:

Stick of pure white candy. White to symbolize the vigil birth.
Solid to symbolize the solid rock the foundation of believer and church.
Shape of a "J" represents the name of Jesus and staff of the good shepherd to lift up sheep gone astray.
Three small stripes, represent, scourging Jesus suffered by His stripes, we were healed. Also picture the nails on the cross.
The large red stripe, for the shed blood of Jesus Christ, giving eternal life, if we believe and receive the one and only Savior.
Flavor of peppermint added as a gift of royal spice.

Next time you see a candy cane think of the true reason it was made for the wonderous birth of Christ and His unconditional love for each of us. I am moved by the inspiration of the candy cane. Sometimes I underestimate God's Holy Spirit but the Holy Spirit makes Jesus real in our lives. With prayer we talk to God. With Bible study God talks to us. When we witness we talk for God. When we take on the roll of witnessing it is an enormous responsibility.

The disciples were called to be witnesses and not stargazers. We should tell others about Him regardless of the consequences. Telling what one knows has experienced a Martyr who is one who bears witness by his death. This one you can stake your life on. Christs' witnesses lay down their lives in the cause of Christ.

The disciples ordinary men gave up their lives. They were beaten, stoned, crucified and tortured. To their dying breath everyone of them testified or witnessed the historical fact of Jesus' resurrection. They said; "We saw Him, He spoke with us. He ate with us." Not one of them came forward and claimed it was a hoax. That is the kind of dedication and commitment Jesus Christ promises.

1 John 5:5: "Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."

This is the big game scripture. The winner's scripture, the winner's testimony, no obscure message, straight forward. BELIEF = HOLY SPIRIT = SIN DESTROYED

John 20:21: "Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."

The disciples carried on Christ's work. They did not start a new one. God commissioned Christ. Christ commissions us to witness so others can believe. The authentic witness is one who like John draws people to believe. Regardless of the consequences were are called to witness.

Sermon summary prepared by local Glendora church member Charlie Schreiner.