Everyone a Witness

Three guys were discussing what they hoped people would say when they died. One guy said, “I hope they say here lies a good father, loving husband, and a man of great character. The second guy said, “Well I hope they say all that, but also this was a man that exampled community enhancement, integrity in business, and lived a generous life. The third guy said, “I hope they say hold everything, I think he is alive.”

Does it matter what people say about you? How important is that to you? If we are honest, probably more than we like to think. Everyone wants to be liked.

What we show on the outside is often dramatically different from what is happening on the inside. The reason is simple, we are afraid if people see what is on the inside, they may not like us as much, if at all. So we hide, cover up, pretend, and hope we will not be found out. We all do it. I am guilty as charged. What makes it easier though is if one’s lifestyle is consistent with the way they want to be. The problem is often how one wants to be, is difficult to live out. I have good news; there is an app for that. If we will download the Holy Spirit into our spirit, we will be transformed into a “new creation” and power will infuse our being. Power to live without hypocrisy. Power to change behaviour, so what we want to be, we are. This is powerfully exampled in the life of Jesus’ disciples. They all said they would be faithful to him, live for him and even die for him. But when it came to being challenged to do so, they all turtled and ran. However, when the Holy Spirit came upon them, (Acts 2) they became invincible. They were able to live out what they believed to be true. This is consistent with the teachings of Jesus when he said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

Basically, the promise is when the Holy Spirit comes upon us; we will have the ability to be in private, what we are in public. Or to put it another way, we can be in public, what we need to be. Christians are often accused of hypocrisy. The lifestyle does not add up to their profession. The answer is not more rules and regulations for the Christian hypocrite, but more Holy Spirit in their lives. When we allow the Holy Spirit complete and unfettered access to our hearts, we begin to change into what the Holy Spirit is. Jesus said, we will know the true disciples by the fruit in their lives, just like we recognize the tree by its fruit. The fruit is a witness of what is going on inside the tree. When we allow the Holy Spirit to flow through, we too will be a witness of God’s grace, truth, and love. It is a process. So please be patient, God is not finished with me yet.

This Sunday, I will be sharing on “Not everyone is an evangelist, but we are all called to be a witness.” We need to eliminate the guilt that Christians often feel for not being a street corner preacher with a big black Bible. However, we are all called to live in a way that the gospel is clearly working in our lives. I will be showing us clearly how we can do that with the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives.

Jim Reimer, Pastor

 

August 15, 2019