Your Life As A Witness Series

Your Life as a Witness

February 2, 2025 Morning Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: The life you live is a testimony to the change that is brought from a life in Jesus Christ.

Focus Passage: Galatians 1:10-24

Supplemental Passage: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. (1 Timothy 1:12-15 NASB)

Introduction: I heard of a twenty-something young man who was asked to share his testimony. He talked about falling into drugs, sex, and all sorts of hedonistic living. He talked about living on the streets, being in a gang, and short stints in jail. He said someone in a shelter shared the gospel with him and he was delivered from all manner of sins. At the regular stopping place, he said, “None of that is real. I was saved when I was ten, but I always wanted a dramatic testimony.” While I certainly don’t condone lying about your testimony, I am here to say that being saved at a young age IS a dramatic testimony! At the very, very least, you were dead in your sins and you are now alive in Jesus Christ! Do not be ashamed to tell what happened before and after your salvation!

I. Former Life

a. For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. (Galatians 1:13-14 NASB)

b. although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. (Philippians 3:4-6 NASB)

c. even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; (1 Timothy 1:13 NASB)

II. Changed Life

a. but only, they kept hearing, "He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy." (Galatians 1:23 NASB)

b. Apostle

c. Evangelist

d. Church Planter

e. Discipler

III. Life that Glorifies God

a. And they were glorifying God because of me. (Galatians 1:24 NASB)

b. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 NASB)

c. “When the change of your life is so real that others see it and say so, it proves to us and everyone else that the gospel truly is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16)” [Todd Wilson, PREACHING THE WORD, Galatians, page 48.]

Application/Call to Obedience: What about you? Have you trusted Jesus to save you? Is your life different than it was before salvation? If not, you need to take good hard look at your life and your confession of faith. You’re doing it wrong if you believe in God then continue to live like you want. If you are saved, does your life bring glory to God? Like the song we sang earlier, “Do others see Jesus in you?” The Bible says,“that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. (Romans 10:9-10 NASB)