Being a Follower of Jesus Means Continuing His Mission
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
“Be my witnesses.” Before Jesus ascended to Heaven, he gave his disciples this simple yet significant command. They had their minds fixed on asking Jesus when he would free Israel and restore the kingdom to power, but Jesus redirected them. The disciples asked the wrong question and looked for power in the wrong direction. Instead, being Christ’s witness is the focus for every follower of Jesus (click here for more on this). The word “witness” can feel intimidating, so I’d like to answer the following three questions, which will help each of us grow in this directive Jesus gave us.
Being a witness of Jesus:
1. WHY SHOULD WE BE WITNESSES?
Jesus was on a mission. He came to bring good news. Jesus made way for the forgiveness of our sins so we can be reconciled to God. He heals the brokenhearted, opens blind eyes to see spiritually, and frees the oppressed. The invitation to know Jesus, follow him, and obey what he taught is for all people. Jesus calls each one of his followers to continue his mission. Every follower of Jesus has the invitation to receive the power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill this calling. People all around the world see, hear, and encounter the love of Jesus when his followers are witnesses wherever they go. Jesus’s mission is our mission.
2. WHAT DOES A WITNESS ACTUALLY DO?
When a person signs a Will, a witness must be present to verify the signature for it to be a legally binding document. Witnesses are God’s design to verify the truth. Jesus affirmed this principle when he said, “But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses'” (Matthew 18:16). A witness sees, hears, or knows by personal experience. Witnesses of Jesus are those who share what they have seen, heard, or experienced of his love, power, and transformation. Our job is not to convince people to know Jesus but simply to share how Jesus has changed our lives.
3. HOW CAN WE GROW AS WITNESSES?
The Holy Spirit gives us the ability. He is with us. God’s power is available for all who desire it. Through the Holy Spirit, God provides us with wisdom and opportunities to share with others what we have seen, heard, and personally experienced of Jesus (click here for more on this). Here are a few practical steps that I’m looking to implement in my own life. I invite you to take these steps with me.
First, pray and ask God for the power of the Holy Spirit to help you. Then, identify a person you know that is not a follower of Jesus. Begin praying for opportunities and open doors to be a witness. Be prepared to share your specific testimony in a few sentences. Remember that you are not alone. Let’s grow together!
Kelly and I love to hear from you, so please send us a direct message at pastormatt@worshipcenter.org. Share how God is working in your life or how we can pray for you. God is for you, and we are too!
P.S. Click here to listen to a message about the purpose of the church and its people.