A True Witness

We are to exalt Him every day, because there is urgency about people being brought to this exalted Christ.

ILLUSTRATION-Evangelist D. L. Moody told a story about a minister who was preparing a sermon on the urgency of receiving Christ without delay. After studying for some time, the preacher fell asleep in his chair and had a strange dream in which he overheard a conversation among several demons. They were huddled together, trying to devise a scheme for leading people on earth into hell.

One of the evil spirits said, "Let’s tell people that the Bible is not the Word of God and that it can’t be trusted." The others responded, "That isn’t enough."

Another spoke up, "Let’s tell them that God doesn’t exist, that Jesus was only a good man, and that there really is no heaven or hell."

Again the others responded negatively. Finally, a third demon said, "Let’s tell people there is a God, a Savior, and a heaven, and a hell. But let’s assure them that they’ve got all the time in the world to be saved, and encourage them to put off the decision." "That’s it!" the others shouted gleefully.

Many people will spend eternity in hell because they procrastinate, thinking they can receive Christ "tomorrow." But for them tomorrow never comes. There is the urgency about people being saved and the urgency about people sharing Jesus.

VI-A TRUE WITNESS IS ONE WHO IS ENERGIZED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT:

v-22, "Having therefore obtained help of God. "

What is that help? According to Acts 1:8, it the power of the Holy Spirit.

ILLUSTRATION-One New Year’s Day, in the Tournament of Roses parade, a beautiful float suddenly sputtered and quit. It was out of gas. The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of gas. The amusing thing was this float represented the Standard Oil Company. With its vast oil resources, its truck was out of gas. Often, Christians neglect their spiritual maintenance, and though they are "clothed with power" (Luke 24:49) find themselves out of gas.

The human body is a most remarkable machine. It can maintain a constant temperature of 98.6 degrees no matter what the weather is outside. Whether a man is at the Arctic Circle or the equator, his body temperature is about the same. There is an inner mechanism that makes the difference. The Holy Spirit dwells within the Christian to achieve this kind of stabilization in terms of spiritual health. Whether we face good times or bad, whether we are tempted or receiving spiritual nourishment, the Holy Spirit keeps us stable within.

VII-A TRUE WITNESS IS ONE WHO ENCOUNTERS EVERBODY:

v-22, "witnessing both to small and great"

Example of Bill Bright–He was never with a person more than 5 minutes before he had turned the conversation to their relationship with Christ

In verse 23, it says that Jesus "should shew lignt unto the people and to the gentiles."

At the airport, when the flight takes off, and a person who had a ticket didn’t come, they call that person, a no show.

I am glad Jesus wasn’t a no-show, but He showed up to provide salvation to all those who will call upon His name. But what about you and I, are we no-shows when it comes to being a witness for the Lord? If we are, let us change today, and becomes "true witness for Jesus."