Witness

I'd like to briefly talk with you about witnessing...

Precisely what it is and the necessity of every believer to be involved in it. First off, it need not be the daunting task that we tend to make it. Witnessing is simply sharing our wonderful Savior with others. It may take a variety of forms, both overt and covert, depending on how the Spirit of God wants to move in and through us at any particular time, as He sees the need...and that's really the key to understanding what witnessing for Jesus is all about- yielding to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to use us as He wills.

As we walk in the Spirit, He will bring us opportunities to share Christ with others. He may have us simply share a word with someone, or a simple kind deed- planting a seed, as it were. Then, in the future, He'll send other believers that person's way, until finally, in God's time, the person, feeling the mighty convicting power of the Holy Spirit, will see their spiri tual need and surrender his or her life to Christ.

Or the Lord may use YOU to actually lead someone to Christ, after having dealt with that person over a period of time. You never know. The results are up to God, but we must do our part. Again, it's about being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and being open to minister as He leads. Acts 1:8 says...

"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 Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth". We need to realize that we ARE living witnesses of the life of Christ as we walk with Him. My old pastor once said to me, "there are two things we can't do in heaven- sin, and witness...

Which do you think He left us on the earth to do?"... As we prayerfully look to Jesus and ask Him for opportunities to share His love with others, we'll be amazed at how He sends people our way- lost, hurtin g people who need the wonderful, unconditional love that only Jesus can give. May God richly bless you!

pastor Jim Ewing