Evangelism and Experiences

How is one a witness in court? How can one give their “testimony” of a product?

You have to have seen, touched, heard, been around the situation and/or the product.

That is called an EXPERIENCE.

A witness gives testimony of what they have experienced. A witness is worthy if they have truly experienced the situation and/or the product and speak true words about their experience.

Jesus, the Word, became FLESH and DWELT among us.
John (the baptizer) came to bear witness about the light. He knew the light through the revelation and selection of God.

John the disciple/apostle/elder bore witness of the Word made flesh and His glory in order that we may know Him who is true, believe in His name, and be given the right to become children of God.

Isn’t that what we are supposed to do through the power of the Holy Spirit? (As did those guys.)

We are Christ’s BODY. Now that He has returned to His Father – we are His witnesses on the earth. We move through Him, to Him, and because of Him so that others can see His glory full of grace and truth.

Hallelujah!

The Word was not always abstract. The Word was not only unseen. The Word came and DWELT AMONG us!! The Word created us to need experiences! The Word has said to TASTE and SEE that He is good.
“That which is from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life – the life that was made MANIFEST, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us … so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

The Christian life is an experience of the Holy Spirit working in and through us to change us and mold us into the image of the Son. We are testimonies to His faithfulness, His patience, His kindness, His goodness, His gentleness, His love, His strength, His creativity, His power, His security, His care, His wonder, His mysteriousness, His trustworthiness, His sacrifice, His servanthood.

Do we know these for ourselves?
Have we experienced these things in our relationship with Him?
Can we articulate the experience of our relationship with Him to others who have yet to know?
Are we in the practice of these things?

This is a tweak in my understanding and I know that I am not in the practice of such things. I don’t know how well I can articulate the recent workings of the Holy Spirit in my life because they are often quiet and unseen. Maybe I just don’t taste and see often enough. Maybe I stay within the realms of my power too much.

It’s such a tweak because I have focused on the “main points of the Gospel” and “theological accuracy” and the practiced questions, “do you know where you are going when you die?” I do practice telling my salvation testimony, but what about the testimony of my sanctification?

Relationships and experience.

These are so important. They do NOT care how much you know (and we MUST know right theology and doctrine – they are intertwined with our testimonies) until they know how much you CARE.

Let me not be filled with EMPTY WORDS, but truth-filled ACTIONS.

I have a new motto for my life, a friendly reminder, “PRAY then ACT.”
Charles Spurgeon (I think) said, “PRAY as if it all depends on God; WORK as if it all depends on you.”
The paradox of God’s will and our responsibility; PRAY then ACT.