Called to the Witness Box
Act 2:36-38
One of the greatest similarities between the folks Peter and the Apostles preached to, and the folks in Asia, Africa, South America, or down every local street have in common is that they have the same heart designed by our Lord and Savior, and the same need of salvation, healing and deliverance. They have the same insecurities and fears, and are usually open to the truth when it is genuinely and compassionately shared. So why are we not more successful, and why don’t we have churches packed as they ought to be? I believe the answer lies in the fact that we aren’t walking in and demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit. According to the scripture above, the disciples full of the Holy Spirit (v 4-7) stood and begun to preach. After a nice sermon the crowd could not resist, but to ask: “Men and brethren what shall we do?”
An experience with Jesus and the tasting presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of every individual in our church will certainly always yield great results. One touch of G-d levels the playing field; the person with the experience is never at the mercy of a person with a theory. Arguing will never convert someone, but genuine love and powerful demonstration of the Holy Spirit will. Argument may persuade people; yet the same people that have been persuaded can be dissuaded. That’s why we need true and genuine manifestation of the Holy Spirit in our circles. We never read that many of those who came to Christ that day when Peter and the eleven preached became backsliders. There was a genuine manifestation of the power of the Holy Spirit in that meeting. My question for us today is, “How serious are we about being used by the Holy Spirit?” How real is our experience with Him? How much are we willing to give of the things that have governed our lives till this day?
You will never do overseas what you wouldn’t do at home. If you wouldn’t walk across the street and share the Gospel with your neighbor, or reach out at work to someone in need of spiritual guidance, or even support our congregation financially, how real and life changing is your spiritual encounter with our Master and His Holy Spirit. At the end of the day we should remember one thing and that is that we have been called to the witness box. You are a witness, (Mathew 24:14) whether you agree or not. Hopefully He will need not to supine you into the witness box, because you will voluntarily take the stand and be the witness that you are called to be.
Your fellow servant,
Pastor Paul Santos