The
Witnessing Spirit
Bill Bright said, “Successful witnessing is simply sharing
Christ in the power of the Holy Sprit and leaving the results to God.”
Jesus promised all His disciples the presence of the Holy
Spirit to be effective witnesses. “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit
has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses . . .” (Acts 1:8). And “when
the day of Pentecost has come” they were all witnesses. Before the day was over
“there was added that day about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41). That is what
happens when a preacher is preaching from the overflow.
There is a sweet fragrance about the name of Jesus and
those who emit the distinctive qualities that name signifies. He “manifests
through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a
fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved . . .” (2 Cor.
2:14-15).
That is what should happen in the daily lives of the
followers of Jesus Christ. The impact of the lives of persecuted believers who
fled Jerusalem and went to Antioch was “the hand of the Lord was with them, and
a large number who believed turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21). We do not know who
the first evangelist was who preached in Antioch, the greatest city in the world
next to Rome and Alexander.
However, we do know when the church at Jerusalem heard
about what God was doing in Antioch they sent Barnabas who “began to encourage
them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; for he was a good man
and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers (lit.
multitudes) were brought to the Lord” (vv. 23-24).
Everywhere the believers went they talked about Jesus
Christ. They carried about them the sweet fragrance of Christ—love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, etc.
The name of Jesus Christ was continually being glorified,
and the result was “the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” (v.
26).
Our job is not finished until we have gone to every tribe
and village preaching the good news in Christ. God the Holy Spirit has equipped
us to be those witnesses just as He did the early church in Acts. Their life,
their passion was Christ and so likewise must be ours.
C. T. Studd said with passion, “If Jesus Christ be God and
died for me, then no sacrifice that I can make for Him is too great.”
Have you found the “Pearl of Great Price”? Then give it
away to the poor, hungry, thirsty who long to know our Lord and Savior.
The missionary heart is part of the fruit of the Spirit of
God.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of missions. He is the one
who calls and sends forth men and women who will be faithful witnesses of the
saving gospel of Jesus Christ. He finds people with a missionary heart and says,
“Separate me Barnabas and Saul.” Separate me Will and Ann. They fasted and
prayed and asked the Spirit to give them guidance and so He did. The will of God
is always His very best.
Do you tremble before God because of the millions who have
never heard the name of Jesus? Is there the clarion call of God to preach the
gospel and make it plain to those who have never understood that Jesus paid it
all on Calvary? Is Jesus the master passion of your life? Are you ablaze with
Him? Do you have the fire of God in your soul?
Guard the holy fire. “You shall be My witnesses.” You are
His chosen vessel and He has a chosen place for you to labor. The Spirit of
missions will make it very clear where He wants you to serve and what He wants
you to do in the kingdom of God.
God had only one Son and He sent Him as His missionary to a
lost world (John 20:21). He says to you and me, “So send I you.”
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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