Paradigm 27 "Discipleship and Witnessing" 26/6/20.
Edmund Chan acknowledges the difficulties even 'seasoned' Christians have with witnessing. He says that the big picture of the Church is that, while our purpose is to glorify God in worship (e.g. Eph 1:1-14), our mission is to make disciples through our witness (Mt 28:28-30)
He speaks about a "PDA lifestyle": 1) walking in personal revival so that our witness comes from a deep love for the lost, a realization of God at work in our lives and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, 2) a sensitivity and alertness to the direction of God to set up divine appointments for us to take advantage of, and 3) active obedience to His Kingdom purposes. These 3 components are a contagious faith in action.
The idea of 'divine appointment' finds its basis in the doctrine of "providence". which is that God determines all things, and also determines how they come to pass. We can be alert to deviations from our normal routines, even though we may find them inconvenient or troublesome. These may be God's nudges to us to meet His appointments.
We recognize that our struggles with witnessing may be different Some may have problems not knowing what to say. Others lack courage rather than opportunity
I thought we could see what Scripture teaches us about witnessing so that we can motivate ourselves in our own witness.
1. The Psalmists call for witness to God's goodness as a fact of personal experience (e.g. Ps 37:27-28, 71:15) and a recognition of His greatness (eg. Ps 96:3), Worship and witness are blended.
Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore,
“Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of his servant!”
Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long. (Ps 37:27-28)
My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge.(Ps 71:15)
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! (Ps 96:3)
2. Christ has directly commanded us to witness to Him
And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.(Jn 15:27)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Ac 1:8)
And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.(Ac 10:42)
3. The Lord has appointed us to witness to His unique saving character and power. This speaks not only of what we are asked to do, but of our identity.
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen,
that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.
11 I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.
12 I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you;
and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God. (Is 43:10-12)
Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it?
And you are my witnesses!Is there a God besides me?
There is no Rock; I know not any.” (Is 44:8)
4. The watchman of Ezekiel are held responsible if they do not warn others about God's judgement
6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand. (Ez 33:1-9)
5. The Spirit may give specific leading for a particular time or target
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza....(Ac 8:26ff)
Peter's vision and Cornelius' household (Ac 10:1-48)
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Ac 13:2)
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul[c] had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Ac 16:9-10)
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. (Ac 16:29-32)
6. It is done because an opportunity arises from a change in circumstances.
Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word (Ac 8:4)
But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. (Ac 8:40)
Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. (Ac 11:19)
You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first (Gal 4:13)
7. There is no other appointed means for people to hear God's word. We can have the confidence that our witness can be used decisively by God.
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[c] And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (Ro 10:14-15)
8. The time is coming when people will no longer listen to our witness. There is a window of opportunity that will close.
5 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. (Jn 4:35)
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound[a] teaching (2 Ti 4:1-3)
9. We will have the guidance of the Spirit when we witness.
11 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”(Lk 12:11-12)
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (Jn 14:26)
10. The completion of the task of world evangelization is a prerequisite for Christ's return.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens. (Mk 13:27)
11. We are motivated by Christ's love for the lost
11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (2 Cor 5:11-15)
13. Evangelism is a joyful endeavour
In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Lk 15:9)
12. Some individuals have a specific calling to evangelize that should be recognized and faithfully fulfilled.
I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation (Ro 15:20)
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. (1 Co 1:17)
For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! (1 Co 9:16)
We had a brief discussion on the lyrics of the last chorus of the song, "The God I know"
The church "God knows" is the invisible church, not the visible church. 2 Ti 2:19 defines the former here: "Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”. There is the knowing in the mind of God, and the departure from sinful behaviour visible to men. We who are saved belong with saints past, present and future to the true church that is being perfected in holiness and beauty (Eph 5:25-27) by the Lord in preparation for His wedding feast. This perfecting process will never fail. The gates of hell will not prevail against the true church.
He speaks about a "PDA lifestyle": 1) walking in personal revival so that our witness comes from a deep love for the lost, a realization of God at work in our lives and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, 2) a sensitivity and alertness to the direction of God to set up divine appointments for us to take advantage of, and 3) active obedience to His Kingdom purposes. These 3 components are a contagious faith in action.
The idea of 'divine appointment' finds its basis in the doctrine of "providence". which is that God determines all things, and also determines how they come to pass. We can be alert to deviations from our normal routines, even though we may find them inconvenient or troublesome. These may be God's nudges to us to meet His appointments.
We recognize that our struggles with witnessing may be different Some may have problems not knowing what to say. Others lack courage rather than opportunity
I thought we could see what Scripture teaches us about witnessing so that we can motivate ourselves in our own witness.
1. The Psalmists call for witness to God's goodness as a fact of personal experience (e.g. Ps 37:27-28, 71:15) and a recognition of His greatness (eg. Ps 96:3), Worship and witness are blended.
Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore,
“Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of his servant!”
Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long. (Ps 37:27-28)
My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge.(Ps 71:15)
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! (Ps 96:3)
2. Christ has directly commanded us to witness to Him
And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.(Jn 15:27)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Ac 1:8)
And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.(Ac 10:42)
3. The Lord has appointed us to witness to His unique saving character and power. This speaks not only of what we are asked to do, but of our identity.
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen,
that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.
11 I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.
12 I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you;
and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God. (Is 43:10-12)
Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it?
And you are my witnesses!Is there a God besides me?
There is no Rock; I know not any.” (Is 44:8)
4. The watchman of Ezekiel are held responsible if they do not warn others about God's judgement
6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand. (Ez 33:1-9)
5. The Spirit may give specific leading for a particular time or target
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza....(Ac 8:26ff)
Peter's vision and Cornelius' household (Ac 10:1-48)
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Ac 13:2)
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul[c] had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Ac 16:9-10)
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. (Ac 16:29-32)
6. It is done because an opportunity arises from a change in circumstances.
Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word (Ac 8:4)
But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. (Ac 8:40)
Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. (Ac 11:19)
You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first (Gal 4:13)
7. There is no other appointed means for people to hear God's word. We can have the confidence that our witness can be used decisively by God.
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[c] And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (Ro 10:14-15)
8. The time is coming when people will no longer listen to our witness. There is a window of opportunity that will close.
5 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. (Jn 4:35)
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound[a] teaching (2 Ti 4:1-3)
9. We will have the guidance of the Spirit when we witness.
11 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”(Lk 12:11-12)
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (Jn 14:26)
10. The completion of the task of world evangelization is a prerequisite for Christ's return.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens. (Mk 13:27)
11. We are motivated by Christ's love for the lost
11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (2 Cor 5:11-15)
13. Evangelism is a joyful endeavour
In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Lk 15:9)
12. Some individuals have a specific calling to evangelize that should be recognized and faithfully fulfilled.
I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation (Ro 15:20)
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. (1 Co 1:17)
For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! (1 Co 9:16)
On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.(Ac 21:8)
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, (Eph 4:11)
We had a brief discussion on the lyrics of the last chorus of the song, "The God I know"
"The church He knows
Is strong and mighty
As He is, so are we"
There was a question as to whether that kind of phrasing spoke of a certain pride/arrogance.
My answer to that was twofold:
The church "God knows" is the invisible church, not the visible church. 2 Ti 2:19 defines the former here: "Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”. There is the knowing in the mind of God, and the departure from sinful behaviour visible to men. We who are saved belong with saints past, present and future to the true church that is being perfected in holiness and beauty (Eph 5:25-27) by the Lord in preparation for His wedding feast. This perfecting process will never fail. The gates of hell will not prevail against the true church.
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