A true story emerged from the country of India that the New York Times wrote in an article called “Inside the Persecution of India’s Christians” which spoke of an account that happened not long before the start of the COVID pandemic. The article states: "In church after church, the very act of worship has become dangerous despite constitutional protections for freedom of religion. India Pastor Vinod Patil refuses to stop witnessing for Jesus and must operate like a secret agent. He leaves his house quietly and never in a group. He jumps on a small Honda motorbike and putters past little towns and scratchy wheat fields, Bible tucked inside his jacket. He constantly checks his mirrors to make sure he is not tailed. Hindu extremists have warned Pastor Patil that they will kill him if they catch him preaching. So last year he shut down his Living Hope Pentecostal Church, which he said used to have 400 members, and shifted to small clandestine services, usually at night. One cold night this past winter, Pastor Patil drove to a secret prayer session in an unmarked farmhouse. He quickly stepped inside. On a dusty carpet that smelled like sheep, two dozen church members waited for him. Most were lower-caste farmers. When a dog barked outside, one woman whipped around and whispered, “What’s that?” Pastor Patil reassured the woman that God was watching over them. He cracked open his weathered, Hindi-language Holy Bible and rested his finger on Luke 21, an apt passage for his beleaguered flock. “They will seize you and persecute you,” he read, voice trembling. “They will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me.” Pastor Patil told the journalist, “You get this energy just thinking about his name.” The journalist concluded the article by stating, “They believe deeply in the teachings of Jesus, all because of the resurrection!”
This morning, I would like to try and help equip you towards an impossible task that we, sinful and redeemed servants of God often become neglectful by not bearing the witness of Christ to others. Although the word impossible is not something God uses, we however seem to give emphasis on it more and more especially as we age and even become too busy for God.
So let us start our Journey this morning and begin with the book of Acts chapter 3 as I’ll paraphrase here some, we have a lame man whom was placed at the gate of the temple everyday whom was crippled from the day of his birth. John and Peter approached the lame man and by Gods authority, the lame man was fully healed. So lets go to verse 9. And all the people saw him walking and praising God; 10 and they recognized him as being the very one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg for charitable gifts, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. So up to this point, the lame person was someone everyone knew who was always present at the temple, but never received acknowledgement except by giving him money or other items of little significance. You see friends, this man’s life was bleak at best. Didn’t have much to hope for. Scriptures tells us, he was literally taken to the gate every day and placed there to ask for money, food or whatever he needed. Not much of a life. We are not sure if this man was ever told about Jesus or has ever experienced God period, but what we do know is Peter and John both witnessed to this man and all things changed. The lame man was healed. The crucifixion of Jesus was still fresh in their mind. They knew of Jesus, they heard the stories, and some even seen the miracles first hand, yet Peter made a clear statement in verse 14, But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 but put to death the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. We are witnesses!
I cannot help but to think about just how powerful of a witness it must have been for Peter and John to literally do what the eloquent hymn “Tell me the story of Jesus” portrays. Friends, while living for Christ, we are are to bear the witness of the Risen Christ—even when we do not fully understand it all. As witness’s of the faith, we live by faith, not by sight. Peter went on to say, And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all. So I ask you this morning, what does it mean to be a witness, to bear witness of Christ?
In 1988, the newspapers cover the horrific bus crash where 24 children and 3 adults died in what was called "the worst drunken driver accident in Kentucky" history. The bus was occupied by members of First Assembly of God and witnesses of the crash who were also survivors told about one particular passenger, youth pastor Chuck Kytta. Chuck was seated in front of the bus just behind the driver. When the collision happened, a gas tank exploded and Chuck was instantly engulfed in flames from head to toe. While being consumed by this peril, these surviving witnesses saw something they didn’t expect. Chuck lifted up His hands and cried out “Jesus, I’m coming Home!” All the while smiling. This one act or demonstration, even in the midst of death, changed many lives that day. Chuck witnessed Christ for others! Even the reporter of the story that turned Christian from just hearing the account said this, “Chuck planted a seed in me that took root in my heart. One day I will see Chuck in Heaven and I will tell him how the manner of His death pointed me to eternal life!” Wow!
What it takes to be a witness friends is rather simple to say and there are hundreds of ways to witness for Christ from walking door to door to just simply praying for others. It’s all about living the life of Christ where others can bear witness! Everything we do, we mimic, exemplify and portray Christ. Pastor Patil’s witness by being a dedicated servant in the midst of true persecution, to Pastor Chuck whom faced death with a smile, and then another account I found very interesting as well.
Blaise Pascal is considered one of history’s greatest scientist, but his conversion to Christ was not in relation to science. When his carriage was once suspended on a bridge, hanging between life and death, the only thing Pascal could think of was the Christian conviction of his sister and the witness of Christ she had in his life. Pascal was the inventor of the barometer. The one thing that kept piercing his heart was not science or worldly views, but the Christian witness of his sister.
I don’t want to limit the idea to you this morning that if you witness x, y and z, then you are witnessing for Christ. What I’m trying to portray this morning friends, do not limit God to just one thing that you think you do best. Keep God open in your life and allow Him to reign free and true to become the living witness of just who exactly Jesus is, or should be as your Lord, Master, Savior and friend. We are Christ’s witnesses by living the life of Christ in all things we do. And some of the things will include death, trials and downright persecution—don’t let that waiver your faith. If we don’t think we are up to par, do NOT take the worlds point of view, see only through the eyes of God. Where does our witness begin? When we first realize we are sinners saved by grace. Then we go on see the tomb is empty, and then it’s not about us, but it’s all about Christ. Think on the angels’ words to Mary, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is NOT HERE but He is Risen.” Remember Pastor Patils words, “You get this energy just thinking about his name.” Billy Grahm also stated “I am not a great preacher, but there is power in the name of Jesus for anyone who witnesses in His name.” We each have a decision to make. As a witness to the Risen Christ, it is vital our ministry as disciples—Amen.