19 March, 2023
LIVING WITNESSES FOR CHRIST
(Christian Living 16)
The Bible tells us that before we believed in Christ, “You were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world, and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air (Satan), the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient” to God and His laws. But now in Christ Whom we believe and acknowledge as Savior and Lord, we are made alive spiritually: “Because of His great love for us, God, Who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ …it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the Heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:1-6).
We were dead in sin but God raised us up (in spiritual resurrection); so are now alive in Christ. We now have the life of Christ residing in us - the power of eternal life. Hence, we are now His Living Witnesses to proclaim to nations and people Who Christ is and how He has forgiven us and given us new life. Faith in Christ results in receiving this new life: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone and the new is here” (2 Cor.5:17). Our changed life is a powerful testimony in itself, and it provides opportunities to share the Gospel and tell of what Christ has done for us.
The Lord Jesus says we are to be His witnesses because of the power of the Holy Spirit living in us (Acts 1:8). He also commands us to “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15) and “make disciples of all nations” (Matt.28:19). In obedience to His command the early disciples went everywhere preaching the Gospel and the Lord accompanied their witness “with signs following” (Mark 16:20). These “signs” were the manifestation of the power of the Holy Spirit in healing the sick, casting out evil spirits and performing miracles.
We are Living Witnesses for Christ because the Spirit of Life is in us and at work through us when we in faith obey His command to preach the Gospel. The Holy Spirit Who empowered the early disciples to preach and heal the sick and cast out demons is also in us and empowering us to do the same. When Christ sent out the Twelve apostles and the Seventy-two disciples, He gave them power and authority to heal the sick, cast out demons and perform miracles in His Name (Luke 9 & 10). That same power and authority is also given to us in the Great Commission. Our faith and obedience will produce the same results.
After Lazarus was raised from the dead, he held a banquet in honor of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was to testify to people Who Christ is and what He has done. As a result, may Jews believed in Jesus (John 12:11). Since we have been spiritually raised from the dead, like Lazarus, we should also be honoring Jesus in our life and pointing people to Him, so that they may also believe and be made alive in Christ. Let us be bold in our witness and share the Gospel when God gives us opportunities to do so. May He use us to win many souls for Him.
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