26 May 2024

WITNESSING FOR CHRIST

(Going Forward in Christ: GFIC 21)

Last Sunday was Pentecost Sunday, as the Church remembers the historic event when the Holy Spirit, the Promise of the Father, descended on the 120 waiting for ten days in the Upper Room. This is also the Day the Church was founded with 3000 souls saved and in succeeding days more and more sous saved. Praise the Lord!

This was also the fulfilment of Christ’s promise to the disciples: “…in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit…You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the world” (Acts 1:5,8). The Holy Spirit bestowed His power and spiritual gifts to the disciples so that they could become witnesses for Christ. This is the primary purpose of why the Holy Spirit is given to the Church – for evangelism and the evangelisation of the world. They were to be witnesses for Christ beginning in Jerusalem and then reaching out to the ends of the world. This is world missions – to fulfil the Great Commission that Christ gave before He ascended into Heaven.

Let us take careful note that when the disciples were filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit, the first thing that resulted was the salvation of precious souls – 3,000 in one day and the days following thousands upon thousands were also saved. The gift of tongues was exercised in a very miraculous way: the Galileans Jews spoke in the languages of people from 16 nations as if they were native born (Acts 2:5-11). Every person understood the Gospel in their own language and thus they were convicted and converted (2:37-42). Pentecost was the manifestation of God’s Glory and Power in evangelism and salvation of souls.

The Holy Spirit’s Empowerment is for witnessing to the claims and power of Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. One cannot claim to be filled with the Holy Spirit and shy away from evangelism. Christ commissioned the disciples to “Go into the world and preach the Gospel to every person” and to heal the sick and cast out demons (Mk 16:15-18). Verse 20 says, “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed His Word by the signs that accompanied it”.

A Spirit-filled Christian is an active witness for Christ whenever an opportunity is given him or her by God. The Holy Spirit will give boldness of faith to share Christ so that sinners may be saved. One should not be afraid to witness for Christ; for “God did not give us the spirit of fear but (the Spirit) of power, love and sound mind” (2 Tim.1:7). Obedience to the Great Commission is demanded by Christ because He is Lord. If our experience of conversion is real and our life is changed by the Holy Spirit, then the joy of salvation will cause us to witness for Him. Our new and changed life will itself be testimony and make people curious to know what has happened to us. That will be an open door to share Christ and the Gospel. 

Click HERE to return to Article Listing