The book of Acts records these parting words of Jesus Christ to His disciples; “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.” Luke tells us that Jesus told them, “thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.” The Greek word for witnesses is a word that could be translated martyr. A witness therefore is an individual who is empowered by God to “die” in order to bring glory to Jesus Christ. If this term witness were used in a courtroom setting, it would describe a person who is called to the witness stand, to tell the truth about something or someone.
Beloved, you and I have been called to the witness stand of life in order that we would be a Spirit-filled witness of The Living Lord Jesus in a lost world. For example, Jesus told the man out of whom He cast out a legion of demons, “go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to be a witness for Jesus Christ.” After meeting Jesus Christ and being filled with the Living Water that He gives to those who trust Him as Savior, it is written, “the woman then left her water pot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.” She met Christ, and began to be a witness about Him to others without taking any witnessing classes! Peter writes to the persecuted saints, “but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.” In other words, live for Christ and be ready to witness all that Scripture says about Him, and what He has done in your life.
The greatest witness for The Lord Jesus Christ is a life that has been transformed by the gospel that bears His Name. There is no denying your new life, any more than the skeptics could deny Lazarus’ being raised from the dead. It is said of those who are martyred during the great tribulation that “they overcame him ( the devil) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” In both life and death, they gave testimony to the reality of Jesus Christ. It is worth mentioning that before Jesus ascended up to heaven, the primary task that He gave to His disciples was to bear witness to His great deeds. The first disciples were given a singular command to bear witness to the risen Christ, whom they had seen with their eyes. Not argue with people, simply testify of the truth. Beloved, there is no argument to be won! It is finished. Period!
The Gospel a Transformation Bible says this: In these verses, Jesus did not command His disciples to perform certain rituals, to act according to certain rules, or to refrain from certain activities. He simply promised them that they would testify to His power and truth when the Holy Spirit came upon them. This is not a concept unique to Acts or the New Testament. God has always been concerned that his people reflect on what he has done and tell others about it. God’s people have always been primarily witnesses to his greatness. “I have redeemed you,” God says in Isaiah. “‘You are my witnesses… and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he’” (Isa. 43:1, 10).
Beloved, Love Jesus. Live for Jesus and His glory. Simply tell others the gospel truth simply. That is being His Witness. Trust me beloved, God can defend Himself!
