From Being A Bad Witness To Good Series

And did God respond back to Isaac? Remember, God loves to hear from people and God loves to answer prayers! God spoke again to Isaac in v24 and reminded Isaac of His promise. And how did Isaac respond to God? V25………

Isaac reconnected with God in prayer and worship!

And what happened after that? Look again at v26-29……..

Isaac became a good witness after being a bad one!

And we note a happy ending in v30-33! The Philistines desired an agreement with Isaac, Isaac accepted the offer, and peace came to the land!

Do you desire peace in your community?

I bet you do and God does too!

Do you desire peace in your home?

I bet you do and God does too!

There is a story of a Japanese soldier Lt. Hiroo Onada left on the island Lubang in the Philippines on December 25, 1944, with the command to "carry on the mission even if Japan surrenders." Onada continued his war alone. All efforts to convince him to surrender or to capture him failed. He ignored messages from loudspeakers announcing Japan’s surrender and that Japan was now an ally of the United States. Leaflets were dropped over the jungle begging him to surrender so he could return to Japan. He refused to believe or surrender. Over the years he lived off the land and raided the fields and gardens of local citizens. He was responsible for killing at least 30 Filipinos during his 29-year personal war. Almost a half million dollars was spent trying to locate and convince him to surrender. Thirteen thousand men were used to try to locate him. Finally, on March 10, 1974, almost 30 years after World War II ended, Onada surrendered his rusty sword after receiving a personal command from his former superior officer, who read the terms of the cease-fire order. Onada handed his sword to President Marcos, who pardoned him. The war was over. Onada was 22 years old when left on the island. He returned a prematurely aged man of 52. Onada stated, "Nothing pleasant happened in the 29 years in the jungle."

You see, when you don’t have peace, you’re at war and nothing pleasant happens in war. Are you at peace with your life? Of course, Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace!

Please open your Bibles to 1 Peter 1:1-2, page….

Read with me v1-2……..

If you are a Believer of Jesus Christ, you are chosen and elected by God because you chose to be cleansed by the work of Jesus and the Holy Spirit and God desires grace and peace in your life! How can we experience this peace and be a good witness to this strange world?

Christians, even though strangers in this world, are to obey Jesus Christ. Like Isaac of old, we will only be a good witness for God when we avoid sin.

Now turn to Chapter 3 of 1 Peter, page….

Read with me v8-16……

Two other things we must focus on to be good witnesses for God. God has attentive ears to prayers of Believers. Learn from Isaac while he was in the strange land of the Philistines. Even though Christians are strangers in this world, God desires to bless Christians. Do not miss the blessings from God by not praying!

Have you been a poor witness for God? It is never too late! Confess your sins, profess Jesus Christ as your only Savior and God, and continue praying to Him!