Clear Witness - A Witness needs a Clear Presentation
“Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.”
In addition to prayer Paul reminds us, in his request, that the message needs to be clear. The message that is conveyed too often in our society sounds a little like this: "Here is Jesus standing outside your hearts door and wants so much to come in. Won't you pity Him and please, please let Him in? Then you will have all kinds of good things happen to you, and you'll live happily ever after."
Yes, God loves you and does have a wonderful plan for your life. It is also true that, if you don't humble yourself before the God of the universe and repent of your pride and sin and plead for mercy and for forgiveness and by trusting only in the death of Jesus to save you, there is a horrible plan for your life. Ignoring God's gift separates you from God forever in Hell.
Salvation is saved from God's wrath against your sin. We are like drowning people who without salvation go into a lost eternity.
Notice Paul began his message by making people realize that they are alienated from God and are enemies due to their sinful behavior and attitudes. Because of our lying, anger, hatred, selfishness, lack of concern for others, unwillingness to help the poor, our prejudiced against other races, our stinginess in giving to God, our lust, immorality, lustful hearts, our sexual sins, pornography, our gluttony, our jealous, and gossip, we killed Jesus and deserve to have God’s punishment upon us.
Jesus said unless you repent you will all likewise perish. The key to rebellion is selfishness.
Reconciliation with God is possible for all people. It is because of what he did in taking our punishment for sin in suffering and dying on the cross, we can be forgiven of everything we ever did or thought. But it isn't just a prayer that we speak like magic formula, it is the heart commitment to want to follow Jesus.
Jesus said to His disciples, “if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Whoever wants to save his life will lose and whoever loses his life will find it." Matt. 16:24,25.
The clear message is us asking God to be merciful to me a sinner. God by His grace and mercy, not by our works and worth, comes into our lives. He becomes the new owner of our bodies, souls, and spirits. Pray that the message and presentation will be clear.
As a Christian you might be reluctant to share your testimony with anyone because you are not sure how to do that. Let me give you a suggestion. Share your testimony.
First, explain your life before Jesus. Don't make it dramatic but make it real.
Secondly, explain how you came to know about Jesus. What is it that was important to know? I was a sinner. I cannot save myself. Jesus died for my sin, and I turned my life over to God. Now I am seeking to follow Him by His power and Word.
talk about life after you became a Christian - maybe it includes struggles, but now there is the power of God available to be with you to change you. We are not alone as His Spirit now lives in us.
Then let God take it from there.
Application: As God to send you someone to tell the gospel to each day.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for saving me. Give me the wisdom to share the gospel message clearly.
