Speaker: Sis. Techie Rodriguez ,Elder, The Lord's Flcok Catholic Charismatic Community

“ The No Guilt Guide To Witnessing ”

Witnessing to Sinners – The First Ministry of Jesus

A t the house of Matthew, the tax collector, Jesus heard the Pharisees saying to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” (Matthew 9:9-13).

J esus stayed at the house of Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, who climbed a sycamore tree in order to see him. The crowd all saw this and began to grumble saying “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” After Zacchaeus committed to give half of his possessions to the poor, Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:1-10).

I n both cases, Jesus was staying with sinners. Jesus said He has come to call the sinners and to seek and to save what was lost.

C an we be like Jesus, a friend of sinners? Can we follow his example of his first ministry of witnessing to sinners? Can we rub shoulders with all kinds of people as our Lord did?

One Can Become Thousands

W hen we start something, there are people who are going to follow us. One who begins may become thousands. “The smallest shall become a thousand.” (Isaiah 60:22).

J ohn the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29). The next day, two of John's disciples heard him say “Behold, the Lamb of God,” and followed Jesus. Andrew was one of these two; he brought his brother Simon Peter to Jesus. The next day, Jesus found Philip who found Nathanael. (John 1:35-45). The other disciples also followed Jesus. They all needed their Lord.

J esus started calling sinners and seeking the lost. He began as one but became thousands in the persons of his disciples and believers.

J esus is the light of the world, (John 8:12 ) and all his believers and disciples need him. We who are in the charismatic community are tasked to reflect the light of Jesus and let our light shine before others. (Matthew 5:16). We are commanded to be friends of sinners and to seek and to save the lost. How many of our relatives, friends, and officemates are still “lost”? Do we not care for their souls and for their salvation?

Obstacles in Witnessing

T he Lord commands us to share the Good News and to witness for him. We must overcome the following obstacles in witnessing for God:

1. FEAR – Some of us have fear of failure and fear of being rejected. We may even have the fear of offending the persons we are talking with or helping. We want to play safe by being silent and withholding our witnessing. We should overcome this fear, “For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony of our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.” (2 Timothy 1:7-8). We have been given a spirit of boldness to witness for the Lord.

2. LACK OF KNOWLEDGE – Some people are not witnessing because of lack of knowledge about God and his Word. They do not have enough faith which comes from hearing the Word of Christ. (Romans 10:17). They do not have enough knowledge to share through witnessing; no one can share what one does not have. They have not committed to memory the relevant scriptures; they are unable to wield power of the Word. They do not even know the context of the passages; hence, they are unable to paraphrase the verses that give power to their testimonies.

T he great importance of knowledge of the Way of the Lord is shown in the story of Apollos, an authority on the scriptures, who had to be explained the Way more accurately by Priscilla and Aquila. (Acts 18:24-28).

E zra is another biblical character who “had set his heart on the study and practice of the law of the Lord and on teaching statutes and ordinances in Israel .” (Ezra 7:10).

L et us overcome lack of knowledge of the subject by adequate preparation. Let us read and study diligently the Holy Bible. Let us commit to memory important verses and their location (Book, Chapter and Verse numbers). Let us keep in mind the main context of the passages and be ready to quote or paraphrase the verses as the need arises.

3. MISUNDERSTANDING What God Requires of Us – Sometimes, we do not understand clearly what God requires of us. We do not realize that we are told to sow the good seed – to spread the Good News (Gospel). We are asked to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14 ) and to dispel darkness; and also to be the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13 ).

O ur personal relationship with Jesus is essential. We should have a commitment to witness for Jesus. Let us accept Jesus' first instruction to his followers: “Come after me and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17 , Luke 5:10).

L et us also accept Jesus' last instruction before his ascension to heaven : “You will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem , throughout Judea and Samaria , and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). As followers of Jesus, let us be witnesses for the Lord in our home, our workplace, and wherever we go.

W e have already experienced the love of Jesus. We have felt the love of the Father. We have been blessed with the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit. We have the many privileges and favors of being followers of Jesus. Let us affirm to others about our Lord. Jesus has chosen us. Let us witness for our Lord and tell the world what Jesus has done for us.

Four Compelling Reasons Why We Have To Witness

1. Our Knowledge Makes Us Responsible. W e are blessed because we know about God's love of the world and how He gave his only Son. We know about the Good News. We know about God's mercy and grace. How about the millions of other people who do not have such knowledge? We have the responsibility to share our knowledge about God and to witness by sharing the Good News. Let us stop being quiet. Let us go to the whole world to tell about the Lord. Let us tell the world about the greatest sacrifice of Jesus. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29).

“C ome and see.” – This is what Philip said to Nathanael. (John 1:46). Let us invite as many people as possible to “Come and see” God's love. Let us be ready to be God's instruments; let us allow the Lord to use our hands, our eyes, and our lips in witnessing for him.

2. Our Blessing Makes Us Responsible. We are also blessed to be chosen by the Lord. We have been promised salvation. We have been given the answer – Jesus. But there are countless people who still do not know Jesus. They have not tasted the bread of life. They have not found the greatest treasure.

L et us have the passion to share with others what the Lord has done for us. It is a sin if we know the right thing to do and does not do it. (James 4:17). We are responsible if we fail to sound the warning for others. (Ezekiel 33:8). Let us proclaim the word; be persistent, whether it is convenient or inconvenient. (2 Timothy 4:2).

3. The Great Commission Makes Us Responsible. Before the ascension of Jesus, He told his disciples “But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem , throughout Judea and Samaria , and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). This is the Great Commission not only for the disciples of Jesus but for all of us, his followers. Our work with Jesus, i.e. our co-mission with him, is so clear that none of us can claim ignorance. Let us therefore be faithful to our great commission to be witnesses for Jesus.

4. Our Position Makes Us Responsible. “We are ambassadors for Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:20). We have our credentials:

- We can ‘tread upon serpents' and scorpions… and nothing will harm us. (Luke 10:19).

- We can drive out demons. We can lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18).

A s ambassadors for Christ, we should know him. We should have a personal relationship with him. We should know his Word. We should know the story of Jesus and what He has done for our lives. As soon as we do, we are ready to witness for the Lord!