Witnessing As Jesus Taught It

Good evening. I am standing before you tonight on behalf of your family members and friends. They are going to be needing you to do two things–

–to live the Christian life before them.

–and then, in time, to explain to them how they can receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. To be saved, born again.

You cannot do the second until you make a good effort toward the first. No shortcuts.

Here is our text…

Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you and how He had mercy on you (Mark 5:19).

After the great Shantung revival in China a century ago, Missionary Bertha Smith returned to South Carolina and wrote the story, Go Home and Tell, the title based on Mark 5:19.

That’s our mandate. Let’s talk about it.

The Lord wants no secret agents. No undercover man. We are commanded to go public in our devotion to Him. We confess Him as Lord, we are baptized, and we love the brethren.

There are probably as many ways to bear a witness for Jesus as there are believers, millions. Place a Bible on your desk. Speak of Jesus in your conversation. Give your testimony. Pray for those in need. Befriend the strugglers. Give literature. Give food to the hungry.

I love the story of Al Braca. Tuesday, September 11, 2001, Al was at his usual job on the 104th floor of One World Trade Center in New York City. He was vice president for the Cantor Fitzgerald brokerage firm. Al Braca was a born-again believer, he had been saved 23 years earlier. And since he freely shared his faith among the employees, they referred to him–mostly behind his back–as “The Rev.” From time to time, those with personal problems sought out Al for counsel, usually when no one else could see them.

Everyone knew Al Braca to be a born-again Christian. Everyone. And from time to time over the years, Al had asked the Lord for permission to find other work where his co-workers were godly, and were not obsessed with making money. But no, the Lord said. He was where the Lord wanted him.

That morning, the planes hit that tower around the 90th floor. A few hours later, everyone above that level died when the tower crashed to the ground. Al Braca died along with all the others in his firm. But the fascinating thing is what Al was doing before the towers fell.

Over the next few weeks, family members of co-workers who died in that catastrophe called Al’s wife, Jeannie. They had talked with their loved ones on the phone before they died. And that’s how we know what went on in that office.

Al had them all together in a prayer circle, they said. They were holding hands and praying. Al Braca was leading them in prayer.

Some in that room received Jesus Christ as Savior. They were born into the family of God.

Now, think about that for a moment. There is only one way those frightened co-workers could have turned to Al in that scary moment: Over the years, he had stood up for Jesus, publicly confessing Christ. He had endured the teasing about being “The Rev.” When the crisis came, everyone turned to him.

Al Braca paid the price. Then, at the critical moment, everyone looked to him.

That’s how it’s done. When you and I get to heaven, we will meet people whom Al Braca led to Christ in the last minutes of their lives.

Let us be as faithful as he was.

We are His witnesses. This means we get to tell people about Jesus. It’s the best news ever. No wonder the Apostle Paul exclaimed, I am not ashamed of the gospel! For it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (meaning everyone else) (Romans 1:16).

I want to call your attention to three Scriptures that show how He wants us to witness…

MARK 1:40-45 “THE PROBLEM: WHAT WE ARE DOING WRONG”

When our Lord healed the leper, He gave him a strange command: See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them (Mark 1:44).

Keep it to yourself, the Lord said. He had His reasons, no doubt. This was early in His ministry, and the last thing He needed was crowds hampering His movements. The time would come to tell the world, but it was not yet.

Now, here is the thing. Jesus told the man not to tell what He had done. But he disobeyed. He went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city….

Don’t miss this. The man disobeyed Jesus and told everyone.

Who can blame the man? His life has just been changed by the healing touch of the Lord! I’d tell it too, wouldn’t you?

However. Look at what we do–

Jesus saves you and me and instructs us to tell the world. But what do we do?

We go home and sit down. We tell no one.

What’s wrong with this picture? You have to ask yourself if Jesus has changed our lives, if our sins are forgiven, and if we have become new creations in Christ.

Why aren’t we telling everyone we know?

MARK 5:19 IS THE SECOND TEXT: “WHAT HE COMMANDS US TO DO”

After the man of Gadara was freed from the oppressive demonic spirits that had tormented him, a short time later, he returned to the Lord. This time, he is cleaned up, clothed, and in his right mind (5:15). He asks the Lord if he might accompany Him and the apostles on their journeys.

We understand that, too, don’t we? The Man of Galilee had changed his life, and he owed Him everything.

But no. The Lord said no.

Go home to your people. Tell them what great things the Lord has done for you. Tell them how He has had mercy on you.

That’s his assignment. And, my friend, it’s your and my assignment also.

Notice the three parts of this commission…

–We are to go first to our family and friends. That’s our assignment

–We are to tell them what God has done for us. That’s our job description.

–We are to focus, not on what we did, but what He did, on His mercy. We are saved by the grace of God. That’s our emphasis.

ACTS 8:30 IS THE THIRD TEXT. “HERE IS A GREAT WAY TO HELP OTHERS KNOW JESUS.”

Philip was instructed to “get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem” (Acts 8:26).

He was not told why.

But God knew His man.

When he arrived at that lonely desert road, Philip encountered an Ethiopian eunuch, called a court official of Candance, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He was clearly somebody important.

We are told he had come to Jerusalem to worship. Now, he’s headed home and he’s sitting in his chariot reading from a scroll. It’s the message of Isaiah the prophet, what you and I know as Isaiah chapter 53.

At this point, the Spirit gave additional instructions. Go up and join his chariot.

We read: Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet. He said to the eunuch, Do you understand what you are reading?

Clearly, the man is reading aloud.

The eunuch answers, How can I understand unless someone teaches me?

Then, he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

They read the passage, and the eunuch asked his questions. Then Philip opened his mouth and beginning from this Scripture, he preached Jesus to him.

That day, the Ethiopian official received Jesus Christ as Savior and was baptized.

It’s a great lesson for all who would share faith in Christ. 1) We will want to stay close to the Lord and obey the promptings of the Spirit. 2) We will want to be respectful of those to whom we bear witness and not try to manipulate anyone into anything. 3) We listen for their questions and answer them as the Spirit leads us.

Notice the opening question of Philip. I often suggest that it’s a great way to begin a spiritual conversation. “Do you understand?”

–You were at church this morning. Did you understand the message?

–You’ve heard me talking about Jesus. Do you understand what He is saying to you?

–You’ve been reading the Scriptures. Do you understand what you are reading?

And: Could I help? May I explain to you what salvation means? How to become a born-again Christian?

Then, respond as the Spirit leads.

I can assure you, fellow believer, that the Heavenly Father is a lot more interested in your friend coming to Christ than you are. So, count on His assistance, His leadership, His presence with you in all you are doing here.

Okay. I have stories to tell about sharing our faith. But this piece is long enough. Let’s cut it off here. Thank you.

(Editor's Note: This blog was posted first on Dr. McKeever's blog site HERE.)

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