How hard is it, to give someone a testimony or witness about Christ? I know its not easy to come up to complete stranger and just start chatting away. There is other subtle ways to do that I know. But here is a story I found very enlightening that I wanted to share about Witnessing for Christ!
There was a surgical assistant Brandon A. Bradley —the surgeon’s right-hand man that tells of a wonderful story.
At one point in my career, I lost my passion. I wanted a job with spiritual significance, and I prayed for that. Imagine my shock when God led me to a position in plastic surgery. Why would God want me in a hotbed of vanity? I wondered.
During my quiet times, the Lord assured me that this was part of his plan and that I should wait for his direction. So I obeyed, continuing to pray that the Lord would use me in this job.
The first directive when I started my new position was “Gather and pray in my name.” There were only a few Christians who worked in the plastic surgery department, but I started with them. “I’m going to start praying for our workplace each Monday, fifteen minutes before we clock in,” I told them. “I’ll be in Operating Room 2, and I hope you will join me.”
We met each week, praying for our work, our colleagues, and our patients. Soon we were praying boldly for opportunities to witness. By the end of that year, God had answered many prayers, which included ten friends who accepted Christ as their Savior!
God has given me a purpose far beyond patient care. He expanded my circle of influence by transferring me to the main surgery department, where I now rotate through all four departments in the hospital campus. I have started several prayer groups throughout the hospital. Each group focuses on inviting the Holy Spirit to move in their department. We encourage each other in Christ, pray for opportunities to witness, seek God’s will, and ask that Christ be glorified in our work.
Since I realized that I could advance the kingdom of God through praying at work, I have found renewed passion for my job, as well as for the opportunities for ministry it provides.
Wow what a story!
Not everyone can relate to the circumstance this surgeon assistant portraited, but this beings up some very good points.
What comes to mind, when I say the word witness?
How about testimony?
The word ‘witness’ is our modern word ‘martyrs’, to tell the story of something.
To tell of a story is not as hearsay, but as of our own knowledge or language.
How many times have you heard someone give you a full fledged story about something, only to add some flare or dress it up to make it be or atleast sound better than what it really is?
Witnessing is something John Wesley and many devout early Christians did, not just because God instructed such a thing, but because just like the many Jesus healed, they was so excited they wanted to tell everyone they meet about their miraculous healing. Its much like that for witnessing. You should want to share Gods redemptive story, especially in your life.
Now I know some of you are thinking “What I have to say as a witness, will it or does it really matter? Who would believe little oh me?”
2 Corinthians tells us “Light shall shine out darkness is the one who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
What ever we say in truth comes from the Holy Spirit, regardless of who we think we are. The Holy Spirit will pronounce and glory Christ in the truth.
So if you think about it, how could a tax collector, fisherman, tentmaker and even a murdered of other Christians be used to spread the Gospel (Good News).
Because the ‘truth’ is what will set us free, not our deeds, and not even our words! In the old testament, the High Priest was the only person allowed to give sacrifice to God for the people in the temple, but who gave sacrifice for the sins of the High Priest? The High Priest had to do it also for himself! Our witness is never fully relied upon our life, only where our heart is in regards to the relationship we have with Christ! We are not talking about Judging others or even condemning, but saving! Christ tells us I desire mercy not sacrifice!
So when we witness friends, we first should always give light to what is truth, the very same question Pontius Pilot asked Jesus. And what was Jesus answered “Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice!”
Do we hear Gods voice? Do we earnestly seek his ways in our lives? We should!
Gospel of Matthew tells us “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye”
But now friends, why does God use us to give witness to others when we have a plank in our own eye? I’m not qualified, I’m not even close to that status! What simple words could I speak to make any difference, besides, I don’t like to speak in front of people or even invade others lives!
Friends, none of us are ‘qualified’ to do Gods work! Scripture tells us “There are none righteous, no NOT ONE!”
But, the great commission is where Jesus tells us to spread the Gospel to every creature, but we do not do it alone!
According to Legend, when Jesus returned to heaven following His death on the cross and resurrection from the tomb, the angels gathered in amazement. They gazed at the wounds in His hands and feed, and shuddered to recall His suffering. Finally Gabriel spoke. “Master, You suffered terribly down there. Do they know and appreciate the extend of Your sacrifice?”
“No,” said Jesus. “Not yet. Right now only a handful of people in Palestine know.”
“Then what have You done to let everyone else know?” asked Gabriel.
“I’ve asked Peter, James, and John, and a few others to spread the news. They will tell others who will tell others until the message spreads to the ends of the earth.”
But Gabriel, knowing the nature of human beings, asked, “What is Plan B?”
“I have no Plan B,” replied Christ. “There is no alternative strategy. I’m counting on them.”
Twenty centuries later, He still has no other plan. He’s counting on you and me.
In closing friends, I want you to understand, our witness to others, is just NOT the words we speak, but also the lives we live! The lives we live MUST INCLUDE the Holy Spirit, to guide us into the ways we should go.
While yet we do sin, we each are a individual after Gods own heart just as David was, because we ‘Asked for forgiveness and repented our ways!’
When we give witness that is not based on truth, and our personal relationship is not with God, then our witness will be null and void!
How should we live then? Matthew 4:4 “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
The Power of the Holy Spirit, let it be your guide in all your ways, Amen