Preach The Gospel As A Witness

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And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world FOR A WITNESS unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Mat 24:14, KJV)

"as a mighty witness" Mat 24:14
“as a mighty witness” Mat 24:14

Everything in the world is in agitation. The signs of the times are ominous. Coming events cast their shadows before. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth, and calamity follows calamity by sea and by land. There are tempests, earthquakes, fires, floods, murders of every grade. Who can read the future? Where is security? There is assurance in nothing that is human or earthly. Rapidly people everywhere are ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen. Restlessly are they waiting and watching the movements of their leaders. Everyone diligently follows what is called ‘the news. Or some political or religious figure. But in humanity no suitable answer or expectation can be found. When Jesus comes, there will only be two classes of people on the earth. There are those who are waiting and watching and working for our Lord’s appearing. Another class are falling into line under the generalship of the first great apostate. Few believe with heart and soul that we have a hell to shun and a heaven to win.

The second coming of Christ is the blessed hope of the church, the grand climax of the gospel. The Savior’s coming will be literal, personal, visible, and worldwide. When He returns, the righteous dead will be resurrected, and together with the righteous living will be glorified and taken to heaven, but the unrighteous will die. The almost complete fulfillment of most lines of prophecy, together with the present condition of the world, indicates that Christ’s coming is imminent. The time of that event has not been revealed, and we are therefore exhorted to be ready at all times.-Fundamental Beliefs, 25

Jesus said that before he returns, the “gospel of the kingdom” would be preached throughout the world AS A WITNESS. (Mat 24:14) This was the disciples’ mission—and as Christ-followers today, it is also our mission now. The final evidence of the end times is the universal proclamation of the gospel AS A WITNESS to every nation, kindred, tribe, tongue, and people. Jesus talked about the gospel and the opposition to the gospel a lot, especially in Mathew 24.

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (Mat 24:3)

It is very interesting to note here that when the disciples asked Jesus this question Jesus had one overarching concern to convey to them and He replied:

“Take heed that no person deceive you.” (Mat 24:4)

From just looking at the Bible text here it appears that Jesus is trying to warn us that the biggest concern in the time of the end will be deception. That seems to be quite logical. The first casualty in any war is truth and as reflected here in Mat 24 and elsewhere there is a nasty battle going on between God and Satan. Between good and evil. Jesus’ first concern in this battle is that we do not let “any human” deceive us. This can only mean that Jesus wants us to get our gospel from a divine source. This can only mean that no human can better tell us what is truth than Jesus can. Jesus did allude to this when He said things like

“Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.” (John 14:6)

Jesus says he is the only way to God the Father. Some people may argue that this way is too narrow. In reality, it is wide enough for the whole world, if the world chooses to accept it. Instead of worrying about how limited it sounds to have only one way, we should be saying, “Thank you, God, for providing a sure way to get to you!” As the way, Jesus is our path to the Father. As the truth, he is the reality of all God’s promises. As the life, he joins his divine life to ours, both now and eternally. Jesus is, in truth, the only living way to the Father. Jesus. Living Hope.

During the final stages of the battle between good and evil, there is but one way to defeat the devil and His goals. We read about it in Rev 12:11

They won the victory over him because of the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony. They didn’t love their life so much that they refused to give it up. (Rev 12:11, GW)

The Secret of Overcoming Sin

We become overcomers by helping others to overcome, by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. The keeping of the commandments of God will yield in us an obedient spirit, and the service that is the offspring of such a spirit, God can accept {7BC 974.4}

God’s people everywhere must have a personal testimony about “the blood of the Lamb” and what has happened in their life as a result of His shed blood. This verse tells us “they overcame the devil by the blood of the lamb and the Word of their testimony” about that shed blood. This is exactly why the apostle stated

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:1-3)

What does a personal testimony look like, according to the Bible? We can view a very quick snapshot of the entire picture in the following

“…if any one is in Christ, that person is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Cor 5:17)

The old nature, born of blood and the will of the flesh, cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The old ways, the hereditary tendencies, the former habits, must be given up; for grace is not inherited. The new birth consists in having new motives, new tastes, new tendencies. Those who are born again (John 3:3) unto a new life by the Holy Spirit, have become partakers of the divine nature, (2 Pet 1:4) and in all their habits and practices they will give evidence of their relationship to Christ. When people who claim to be Christians retain all their natural defects of character and disposition, in what does their position differ from that of the worldling? They do not appreciate the truth as a sanctifier, as a refiner. They have not been born again because nothing is really changed. The Bible is clear. if anyone is in Christ, ALL THINGS become new. (2 Cor 5:17)

Jesus gives people no encouragement to think that He will accept a patchwork character, made up mostly of self, with a little of Christ. This is the condition of the Laodicean church. At first there seems to be some of self and some of Christ. But soon it is all of self and none of Christ. The root of selfishness is revealed. It continues to grow, striking its roots deeper and deeper, till its branches are covered with objectionable fruit. And Jesus did say “You will know them by their fruits.” (Mat 7:20) Christ looks with pitying tenderness on all who have combination characters. Those with such a character have a connection with Christ so frail that it is essentially worthless.

Jesus said in John 12:32 that if he was lifted up he would draw all people unto Himself. This could only mean the cross. its the only thing we can call “everlasting.” And when we have a personal walk and experience with Jesus, we will have a personal testimony.

The sacrifice of Christ as an atonement for sin is the great truth around which all other truths cluster. In order to be rightly understood and appreciated, every truth in the Word of God, from Genesis to Revelation, must be studied in the light which streams from the cross of Calvary, and in connection with the wondrous, central truth of the Savior’s atonement. Those who study the Redeemer’s wonderful sacrifice grow in grace and knowledge.

Personal Testimony Work Sheet

1/ My Life Before I Accepted Christ:

Share this part of your testimony with people in order to identify with them:

“I needed help and I found it in Jesus.” (8T pg 321).

2/ How I Became A Christian:

Tell how it happened. if you were brought up in a Christian home, there was still some point at which you gave your life fully to Jesus. Your testimony may resolve around a particular answer to prayer or perhaps some victory in your life that has meant a lot to you; and that has made Jesus real to you:

“I found the Bible to be the Voice of God to my soul…” (8T pg 321)

3/ My Life Since I Became A Christian:

Tell how your personal life has changed. (not too personal). Talk about something that you now enjoy in your experience as a result of knowing Jesus.

“In Christ, the hunger of my soul has been satisfied…” (8T pg 321)

4/ In Summary:

of your Christian experience, try to use an appropriate Scripture verse that sums up your life, and that will be a precious Bible promise for whomever you may be giving your testimony to.

“So everyone may be able through their own experience to set their seal to this, that God is true.” (John 3:33, ARV).

“I believe in Jesus. Jesus is to me a divine Savior.” (8T pg 321).

Whoever accepts what he says has given proof that God speaks the truth. (John 3:33, ERV) If we are willing to do whatever God’s Word reveals to you, you will then know what is the truth. (John 7:17)

Looking in faith to the Redeemer, John had risen to the height of self-denial. He sought not to attract people to himself, but to lift their thoughts higher and still higher, until they should rest upon the Lamb of God. He himself had been only a voice, a cry in the wilderness. Now with joy he accepted silence and obscurity, that the eyes of all might be turned to the Light of life. {DA 179.4}

Those who are true to their calling as messengers for God will not seek honor for themselves. Love for self will be swallowed up in love for Christ. No rivalry will mar the precious cause of the gospel. They will recognize that it is their work to proclaim, as did John the Baptist, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29. They will lift up Jesus, (John 12:32) and with Him humanity will be lifted up. “Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isa 57:15. {DA 179.5}

You may be sure that a personal testimony will result as you pray the following, giving your heart, your life, to Jesus:

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. (Psalms 51:1-13, ESV)