Aug 17, 2021
Have you ever heard of the witness protection program? Well, this morning I want to talk to you about the witness PROJECTION program. Rather than hiding and concealing a witness from the world, that’s where God projects a witness into the world based on what they’ve seen, heard, and experienced in Jesus Christ—God takes them and projects them into the world. (Acts 1:8)
Last week we talked about the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Jesus’ followers. Without that power there is no mission and there is no witness.
1) A Witness Emphasizes What They’ve Seen, Heard, and Experienced
In the Bible, Jesus followers are supposed to bear witness to what they have seen, heard, and experienced. (Acts 4:18-20) (Acts 22:14-15)
One of the most basic things that a Jesus follower should be able to do is to share what he or she has seen, heard, and experienced in Jesus Christ. That’s what we call a “testimony.”
2) A Witness Verbalizes the Gospel Through the Power of the Holy Spirit
It’s true that we can have a witness through our lifestyle choices but don’t kid yourself into thinking that your witness is complete without a verbalization of the Gospel. Jesus followers must speak to others about Jesus . . . otherwise, how in the world will people repent, believe, and follow him? (Romans 10:13-14)
Why do we struggle to talk to others about Jesus Christ and persuade them to also follow Jesus? I’ll tell you why. MOST Jesus followers are not filled with the Holy Spirit. Oh, they’ve received the Spirit and they were baptized with the Spirit at conversion. But they are not presently filled with the Holy Spirit—remember the glass of chocolate milk illustration from last week’s teaching.
The bottom line is that when the Spirit of God fills your heart, the Word of God comes out of your mouth with confidence and boldness. It’s one of the chief pieces of evidence that someone is filled with the Spirit.
3) A Witness Recognizes that Everybody Needs Jesus
We all recognize that God that God wants everyone to be saved. (1 Timothy 2:3-4) But do we really believe that each and every man, woman, boy, and girl we personally meet and interact with needs Jesus?
Michael Catt – “It simplifies everything when you realize that every person you meet is either saved or lost.”
4) A Witness Maximizes Every Opportunity
Every time you speak with someone and every time you interact with someone, you have an opportunity in some way to have what we call a “Gospel conversation.” I challenge you to view everyone you meet as an eternal being who will spend eternity in one of two destinations.
In closing, If God miraculously said an immediate “YES” to every prayer you prayed this past week, how many new people would be in the Kingdom? And when was the last time you talked to someone about their relationship with Jesus Christ?