WITNESSING: A CHRISTIAN VOCATION
Witnessing could be described as communicating God’s plan of salvation to unbelievers on a personal basis. Presenting the gospel to a lost and dying world is the responsibility of every believer. The Lord Jesus Christ commissioned all born again Christians to carry the Gospel to the end of the earth. Become “Fishers of men” is the first requirement made of the disciples of Jesus Christ after the call to follow Him. It’s also the last command of the Savior and Lord to His Church “Go ye into the world and proclaim, announce and preach the Gospel.” “You shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). As appointee of the King of glory and the Lord of all, we represent Him on earth as Ambassador (2 Cor. 5:20). We shall do the work of the king of kings on His prescribed ways.
Witnessing is the responsibility of every Christian where we are called to accept and know; to represent and present Christ (2 Cor. 5:19-20; John 17:18-20). It is the only solution for human immorality and deficiencies (disobedience) as well as reconciliation with God for eternity (Rom. 6:23; John 3:36). The basic knowledge of witnessing involves the person of Jesus Christ and His accomplishments on the cross –the doctrine of unlimited atonement (1 John 2:2) – Christ died for all. It’s a learned process and acquired experienced that follow knowing Christ to lead others to Christ. Too much zeal and too little knowledge is a dangerous combination – get a distorted or inaccurate picture of the gospel. Your spiritual growth or maturity sequel to your own assurance of salvation (conviction) enhances your positive mentality and resolve in witnessing (John 10:28; 15:2-16; 2Pt 5:18). Believers are agents of witnessing but the power for witnessing and conviction of the believers comes from God, the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11). Witnessing Christians communicate in 2 ways: (i) The word of our lips (what we say and how we say it) 2 Cor. 5:18-21; 6:2) and (ii) An exemplary life (our behavior or lifestyle) 2 Cor. 3:3; 6:3. The reward for witnessing is a part of our blessings in time (life) and eternity (Dan 12:3). It’s God’s will and desire that everyone believe and not perish in everlasting separation from God (2 Peter 3:9; Luke 9:56).
We are saved because somebody someday told us about Jesus. If we did not hear the Good News, we may have been living in darkness, groaning and travailing in pains and sorrow up till this day. God revealed His love to us so that we live it and through us others may come to God through faith in Christ. If we have found Christ, the solution to all human’s sins, we should not be reluctant to tell it to our families, relatives, friends and colleagues as well as neighbors; those living in immorality, in fears of life, in abject poverty and who are sick. The world is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God, to hear the truth about salvation [God’s saving grace].
Writing in, The whole world is waiting for you, Pastor Sunday Adelaja says, “Only God can deliver people from the curse of sin, from bondage to futility or whatever else it is that causes suffering. This is why God heals the sick, when they come to Church and deliver them from alcoholism and drug addiction.” He added people need freedom, this freedom that only Christians have. Each one of us can testify how, when we turned to God and accepted Christ; we were set free from spiritual bondage. And this freedom that each one of us has is something that those in captivity of sin would like to have. As a matter of fact, that is what they have been searching and seeking for in wrong quarters. We are called to set the world free through the power of the Gospel. God saved us; has chosen us and entrusted us with other people’s destinies. As Christians, our vocation and our mission are to preach the Gospel and tell people about the love of God exhibited in Christ sufferings, death and resurrection (Isaiah 43:10-12; Acts 5:30-32; 10:38-39).
DISCIPLESHIP IS GOD’S COMMISSION: The Great commission is not an option but a command. Witnessing involves telling the story of our salvation; how Jesus’ death and resurrection saved mankind and us in particular. We are called to share our heartfelt faith in Christ: what He has personally done to change our lives. No one can tell our story better than ourselves. However, discipleship is summed up in the Great Commission. It’s more than being a believer; it’s about being a follower. There are great decisions to make and prices to pay. Discipleship include witnessing, bringing people in, training and exposing them to the love inside; mentoring, grooming them and sending them out to reach the unreached. We become the Gospel and letters that people read to become saved. When Andrew found Christ, he went first to invite his own brother Simon, whom Jesus named, Peter. Jesus Christ found Philip himself and Philip found Nathaniel [John1: 40-41, 43-45]. Since you became a Christian, have you brought any person to Christ? (Matt. 28:18b-20; John 12:25-26). This is a command that we must carry out!!!
Many who are called Christians today came from fetish backgrounds, if they trace from two and three generation down. They became Christians by the sacrifices of early missionaries who left the comfort of their advance world to seek lost soul in other less privileged primitive worlds. Christianity has been likened to two beggars who went out in search of bread. One first found some quantity, tasted it to confirm it was bread and taste good. He rushed out to get his partner to join him. A Christian is one who was groping in the dark and has found glorious light. He has experienced much light that he can’t afford to keep quite but open up to invite others to the great light. You can’t be in the light and hide yourself, become selfish or complacent. Jesus came to save the world from sin. You can’t answer a Christian and neglect the work of Christ. Jesus died for lost souls. We can’t be nonchalant and complacent in seeking lost souls in a perishing world.
Christians are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works – to reveal the love of Christ to the lost world [Ephesians 2:10]. On the last day what matters to Christ is the work of saving souls. How would you feel that on the last day you have no soul in your harvest? God’s call on Christians is neither to play religion or ‘Churchanity.’ We’re not asked to win members but souls. The crazy chase and plight for membership has overtaken and overshadowed the call to seek for lost souls. Being a Church member is wonderful; everything we do – ushering members, teaching, prophesying, preaching, ministering in songs, visiting and caring for God’s house and people are excellent virtues. Of all these, the Great commission ask us to go and make disciples of all nations. In other words: go and reach out, bring them in, teach and mentor them and send them out. The Lord Jesus still says the harvest is great but the laborers are few. God depends on Christians as His laborers and co-harvesters of souls.
Christians are saved and delivered so that they may, through the power of the Gospel, set others free. The world is waiting to be saved by true Christians; waiting for the immeasurable love that can transform thieves, immoral people, drug addicts and alcoholics without punishment and imprisonment. They wait to receive the precious gift in life – transformation in human lives. Little wonder Apostle Paul after tasting the rich glory of the Father vowed, “Woe unto me if I do not preach the gospel; if I’m saved and doing nothing to get others saved” [1 Corinthians .9:6]. But God who is rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, … saved us by grace through faith in Christ Jesus… are God’s workmanship created in Christ to witness that same Christ [Ephesians 2:4-10; Mark 16:15-18]. These commands have been passed down to every believer to go in to the world, with the power and authority of Jesus Christ; preach the gospel to every creature: human beings, animals, demons, spirit and waters. You have the power in the name of Jesus to speak to the sun, moon, and stars; day and night, human beings as well as seasons and times (Acts 26:16-18; 1 Tim 4:26).
Christians are not perfect people but just forgiven; they have put their trust in God who is perfect in all His way [Psalm 18:30]. They make mistakes and drift into sin; disagree with one another and sometimes loose their tempers but they understand how to rebound to God and ask for forgiveness and mercies. They are people called out by God’s unmerited favor despite their imperfections and inabilities to enjoy God’s unconditional love and mercy. They are sick people who have found a great Physician [Jesus Christ] and a caring hospital [The Church]. Some are outward patients while others with severe cases are on admission; among them we have those in critical care, in labor wards and in psychiatric unit, etc. They are making progress in health and shall soon be discharged to tell the world how the Lord Jesus healed them. This is witnessing – every Christian’s vocation. The destiny of millions of unsaved people depends on us Christians; because you have returned and made peace with your Maker, you now enjoy the power of His love, His grace and His mercies (1 Timothy 1: 6-9; Romans 8: 19-22; 11:30-32).
Are you a Christian? How many souls have you led to Christ? Can God depend upon you for proclaiming His Gospel? How many people have heard the story of how God saved you? How many have heard how God healed you from sickness? How have you witnessed to the world the glorious light that shines in you, the joy you share and the peace you enjoy in your heart? Someone needs to know how you found Christ and what you are still struggling with in your faith journey. Perhaps it’s your testimony that would change him or her. Be a witnessing Christian and help to save and change our world.
Reach: Evangelist/Elder Ogbonnaya, Godswill at email: weefreeministries@yahoo.com or P. O. Box 720035, Houston, Texas, 77272; Web: www.weefreeministries.org; Call: 8328813929 (Cell).