How Is My Witness?

How is my Witness?

HHM Pastor Jim Parisi Aug 11, 2002

There was a little old man who was seen each Sunday walking to Church. In the rain, the snow or the blazing sun. You would see like clockwork this old man making his way to church every Sunday morning of his adult life. You could set your watch by his weekly trek. The one unique thing about this man was that he was 100 percent deaf. He could not hear a word of the sermon, he could not hear the music, and he could not hear the voices of the congregation. One Sunday a new person on the block a scoffer confronted the old man on his way to church and asked, I see you every week walking past my house to church “Why do you spend your Sundays in that church, you can’t hear a thing that is going on there, why bother. Why not sit home and watch TV?

The Old Man looked at the poor soul knowing he was lost with compassion in his eyes as spoke, first the old man said, even though I am not able to hear the voices or the music, I know with out a doubt that the Lord is there and I can feel his presence.

Secondly he explained to the local resident. I walk this walk every week no matter what the condition, because I want my neighbors to know which side I am on, and what I stand for..

The Moral of the story is: TAKE A FIRM STAND let everyone know what you believe in, tell them what side you are on

The little old man knew who he was. He was sacrificing for others so they could see him as a living testimony.

His witness was drawing them to ask questions about his habits.

The neighbor saw one thing but the little old man showed him something greater

This is what Christianity today is about, it’s YOUR WITNESS they are looking at under a microscope

Looking to see faults and cracks in your testimony

The testimony of your life is what will draw or repel others to the Lord or from the Lord

It is all done without you saying a word

The message today is:

6 Points on how others define your witness?

One….. Is your, individual or outward appearance

Luke 9:29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.

Do I look and act like a Christian?

How is my dress?

When I look in the mirror do I say ….. wow now that’s a handsome Christian?

When you are in the right place, am I rightly aligned with God

Men will notice that there something different about you.

What you looked like before is not what you will look like after.

You don’t have that heavy look of the world upon you anymore .

A look like the weight of the world is on your back

You start to look different, feel different, your strut is different. You start to think differently.

But most of all you see the world differently

And it is having a good effect on you.

Two…. Is your, communicative ability to others

How you think and sound….

1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child; I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

The way others receive your actions and words…

Can they depend on you? Is your word your bond?

Can you understand their needs?

Are you able to speak to them and sooth their hearts?

Can you minister to their needs with a few kind words?

Are your words seasoned with salt, not to hurt or harm others but to love them with every syllable?

The Tongue can either bless or kill

Jas 3: 8-10 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

1Pe 3:10 For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.

Our tongue is to be used to bless and praise God

Three…. Is your, personal conviction and relationship to God

Who are you serving? Are you serving man or God?

Are you sitting on the fence or are you doing the will of the Father like Jesus?

Is your Life a living testimony of His love?

Are you in fellowshipping with Him?