Mims Chapel Church
LESSON 3 • Third Week
PAUL EMBRACES
CHRISTIAN WITNESSING
Background Reading Devotional Reading
Matthew 4:19; 5:14; 28:19-20; Acts 13:31-46
Acts 1:8; Luke 24:47-49;
1 Corinthians 15:1-8
Central Verse
"For so hath the lord commanded us, saying, 'I have set thee to be a light of the gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth." Acts 13:47, KJV
"For the Lord gave us this command when He said, 'I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the
earth." Acts 13:47, NLT
Key Terms
Martyr—A person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion.
Conviction—A firm belief or opinion: the state of mind of a person who is sure that what they believe or say is true.
Commitment—An act of obligating or pledging oneself.
Introduction
Jesus has been shining His light into the world since time began, but now He shines the light in the heart of individual men who need to be that light to other men, even on the darkest days. A witness testifies by action or word to the truth. Christian witnesses are those who confirm and testify to the saving grace of Jesus by word, deed, or life, and if necessary, even death.
Christian witness is the obligation of all believers. For Jesus told His disciples that after they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they would have power to witness to all nations. When he gave the command to take the gospel to the entire world, it included all believers who were willing to go. After Saul received the Holy Spirit, he immediately began preaching and witnessing about the wonderful Jesus that he had met.
Discussion
The believer's witness must be missionary-minded, going to all nations and bearing God's salvation to the whole world. It must primarily speak about the meaning of Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection; His saving power, and the promise of the Holy Spirit. Like Paul, who was convicted himself, was able to speak and bring conviction to others concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. A believer's most excellent witness is his own life. Paul's name was feared throughout the known world, where people had accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ. His witness got the attention of the people, which brought them to a saving faith.
Sometimes, the witness of a believer can cause them to suffer and at times lead to their loss of life. A few years ago, one of the COGIC Pastors from Northern Nigeria lost his life because he refused to denounce Jesus Christ. In Northern Nigeria, there are many muslins, and they don't believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world. The unbelievers caught the Pastor in the Church alone and sealed the Church so the Pastor could not escape from the building. They set the Church afire, and that Pastor burned up in the fire. He became a martyr, as many did during Paul's day.
The believer's witness must be accompanied by separation from the world. The Word of the Lord tells the believers, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the lord" (2 Corinthians 6:17). The believer must believe the message that he witnesses about. Most of the time, he has seen God's faithfulness, which causes him to be confident in his declarations, assured of his hope, and fixed on the person and presence of Jesus. The Apostle Paul could say that his heart was fixed, and his mind was made up about his Savior, Jesus. His newfound faith in Jesus gave him confidence and boldness, which enabled him to take the necessary steps of faith to witness to the Gentiles.
When a believer's faith is empowered and inspired by the Spirit, it enables them to become prophetic in their witnessing. There is freedom that accompanies the boldness that the Holy Spirit gives to the believer. The believer must be willing to pass their faith on to the next generation by sharing their story and using scripture to provide ideas, biblical inspiration, and encouragement about living in a way that invites others to experience God's incredible grace and love with joy.
As each believer follows Christ, the Holy Spirit equips and empowers them to lead others to know Jesus Christ through their lives. As the believer follows Christ, their life becomes transformed, and their will, mind, desires, relationships, and ultimate reason for living are changed. His passion will change, and he will become so excited that he will live to witness and make disciples of Jesus. After his conversion, nothing could stop Paul from witnessing for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He took advantage of every opportunity to share his beliefs with others by traveling to the many towns in his area.
Conclusion
Every believer has the privilege of drawing from their own personal experiences as they witness. Everybody has a story. Each one has seen or had challenges in their personal lives that can make it difficult to grow in faith and live with boldness. He can draw from those experiences and share his personal insights and practical tips with others, helping them make it. The believer can decree and declare as Paul did and say within himself, "I can do all things through Christ." Believers can share fascinating stories and powerful truths that inspire others. Your witness can give others a boost of fresh inspiration and faith, providing an injection of hope to someone's weary soul. The believer's story can and will enrich and encourage others in their personal growth.
The believer must be committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and he must be willing to give up his life for Jesus, "to live is Christ, to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21).
Questions
What happened to Paul when he first accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior?
How did the disciples accept him as an Apostle?
Why did he leave the city and travel about?
What are some of the things that a real Christian is willing to do for the Kingdom?
How can your story help someone else?
Essential Thought- "If a conviction is not worth dying for, then maybe it's not worth living for."
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