Bill Bright said, “Successful
witnessing is simply sharing Christ in the power of
the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God.”
Jesus promised all His
disciples the presence of the Holy Spirit to be
effective witnesses. “You shall receive power when
the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be
My witnesses . . .” (Acts 1:8). And “when the day of
Pentecost has come” they were all witnesses. Before
the day was over “there was added that day about
three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41). That is what
happens when a preacher is preaching from the
overflow.
There is a sweet fragrance
about the name of Jesus and those who emit the
distinctive qualities that name signifies. He
“manifests through us the sweet aroma of the
knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a
fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being
saved . . .” (2 Cor. 2:14-15).
That is what should happen in
the daily lives of the followers of Jesus Christ.
The impact of the lives of persecuted believers who
fled Jerusalem and went to Antioch was “the hand of
the Lord was with them, and a large number who
believed turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21). We do not
know who the first evangelist was who preached in
Antioch, the greatest city in the world next to Rome
and Alexander.
However, we do know when the
church at Jerusalem heard about what God was doing
in Antioch they sent Barnabas who “began to
encourage them all with resolute heart to remain
true to the Lord; for he was a good man and full of
the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable
numbers (lit. multitudes) were brought to the Lord”
(vv. 23-24).
Everywhere the believers went
they talked about Jesus Christ. They carried about
them the sweet fragrance of Christ—love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control, etc.
The name of Jesus Christ was
continually being glorified, and the result was “the
disciples were first called Christians in Antioch”
(v. 26).
Our job is not finished until
we have gone to every tribe and village preaching
the good news in Christ. God the Holy Spirit has
equipped us to be those witnesses just as He did the
early church in Acts. Their life, their passion was
Christ and so likewise must be ours.
C. T. Studd said with passion,
“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no
sacrifice that I can make for Him is too great.”
Have you found the “Pearl of
Great Price”? Then give it away to the poor, hungry,
thirsty who long to know our Lord and Savior.
The missionary heart is part of
the fruit of the Spirit of God.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit
of missions. He is the one who calls and sends forth
men and women who will be faithful witnesses of the
saving gospel of Jesus Christ. He finds people with
a missionary heart and says, “Separate me Barnabas
and Saul.” Separate me Will and Ann. They fasted and
prayed and asked the Spirit to give them guidance
and so He did. The will of God is always His very
best.
Do you tremble before God
because of the millions who have never heard the
name of Jesus? Is there the clarion call of God to
preach the gospel and make it plain to those who
have never understood that Jesus paid it all on
Calvary? Is Jesus the master passion of your life?
Are you ablaze with Him? Do you have the fire of God
in your soul?
Guard the holy fire. “You shall
be My witnesses.” You are His chosen vessel and He
has a chosen place for you to labor. The Spirit of
missions will make it very clear where He wants you
to serve and what He wants you to do in the kingdom
of God.
God had only one Son and He
sent Him as His missionary to a lost world (John
20:21). He says to you and me, “So send I you.”
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
Anyone is free to use this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author's written consent.
Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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Reports on what God is doing through Bible believing evangelical Christians in Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, India and Ecuador. Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you" (John 15:7).
Study the master theme of the Bible with these prophecies and types in the Old Testament of the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
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