Dear SOD Students: Here is the first of many thought provoking posts to activate your spiritual senses and capacities. We know that the Great Commission states: Acts 1.8 "But ye shall
receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto
the uttermost part of the earth." The two words - Unto Me; its not saying for me... make a good show to others. What did the Lord mean by this, and what does it look like?? Remember, minimum of 3 posts; read what some of your fellow students are saying and make comments to each other. Enjoy!
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I believe "Unto Me" means to be witnesses of Me and for Me. That is, tell people about Me, including who I am, what I told you, and of all you observed in Me and with Me. Give them (the Nations) the Gospel message.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, as that is what the witness is all about! We are the voices of "unto me", what an awesome priviledge, to be the witness of our Lord and Savior to the world. Kind of amazing, but in no way do we have the ability....grace alone, and by his love given freely to us....Mr. Shishmanian
DeleteIt is only through the Holy Spirit that we are witnesses unto Christ. It is not through our ‘good’ show, perfect performance or spotless life. We are broken vessels the Lord graciously chooses to use to carry the message of the gospel. Titus 3:4-8 beautifully states that is it not our own works but the richness of Christ through the renewing Holy Spirit. The DUNAMIS power of the Holy Spirit goes beyond sight straight to the heart of man, as the Lord seeks and saves the lost. Meditating on this verse really encourages soul winning from right next door to the uttermost. What a privilege we have to know Him and to witness salvations!
ReplyDeleteYes, Mary, and this is one facet of being a witness. It must be unto Him first, before it can be truly unto men. Does anyone know what the word 'Witness' is in the Greek?
DeleteWow! The Greek word is transliterated as martyr. That certainly sheds new light on the concept for me. Although I guess maybe it shouldn't as church that many have lost lives for being a witness to the gospel
DeleteBroken we are, but complete in him we are also....what a paradox, but truth in Christ! It is by him, and through him, and in his perfect plan...Amen!
DeleteHis strength is made perfect in our weakness. Amazing how anything we perceive as " good" in our flesh, may hold us back from being used by God, and that God uses the things we despise in ourselves to be a witness of His grace.
DeleteWe are all unique. We all have different ways of doing things. I believe that God puts specific people in our paths to witness to and to minister to as well.
DeleteIn the Greek, the words ''unto me'' is moi, which means 'to me'. God wants us to be His witnesses and not of this world's. He wants to fill us so it's Him, who is in us, witnessing the gospel to others.
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ReplyDeleteWhen I think of a witness, I like to imagine a witness in court who gives a testimony to convict or save someone from a charge. In our case we are to testify Christ and save others from the bondage of sin in "courthouses" next door all the way to the utmost parts of the world. The law condemns but we bring grace and the mercy of Christ in Love!
ReplyDeleteGood thought, Chad. There is a court, and for the unbeliever, it is a judgement throne. To some, our witness of the Gospel will be evidence used against them 2Cor. 2:14-16 explains this. Do you think this is a valid part of being a good witness for Jesus Christ?
DeleteTruth(the law and its highlight of our inadequacy) and grace(the sufficiency of Christ and His sacrifice to satisfy the law) is such a reality in witnessing. I do believe that there is a place in witnessing that we need to just impart truth into a matter. A matter of addiction,or other destructive lifestyles demands a loving confrontation of truth(which in most cases is percieved or recieved as that evidence against them). Balancing these two things of truth and grace in witnessing is so tough to manage ourselves, that is why we need to rely and draw from the word to direct our witnessing towards a message of truth delivered in grace. The Holy Spirit is our source in witnessing and when He is not our source we end up having an unbalanced message to the unbeliever.
DeleteGreat Thought, Chad. Gal. 6:1 is the mandate in confrontational ministry. A witness (martyr in the Gk) indicates that one who is spirit filled, to go for the purpose of restoring, must die to self and the judgmental disposition of our natural man..."considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." We can be tempted to be condescending based on the 'kind' of sin involved. The Holy Spirit is the great convict-or, conviction unto conversion. That is the way of God.
DeletePs 89:14- mercy and truth go before His face. God's heart toward us is that we can walk in the mercy and truth that are directed at us. they give us access to His throne of justice and judgement, that otherwise, we would never be able to approach as fallen people.We are blessed to walk in the light of His countenance.
Delete“Unto Me” means that it’s all about Christ –what He is doing in me – filling me with Himself until it spills over – until I can’t help speaking about Him and what He is doing in me, to whoever will listen. Of course that’s the ideal – God knows how often I witness only because that’s what I’m supposed to be doing. Thankfully His Spirit is always at work and can minister to another despite me.
ReplyDeleteSo true, your suggestion of "despite me" is so true....we get in the way....but God still just long suffers for us. We choosing him to increase, and we so incredibly decrease....what a marvelous plan, by his spirit all things are possible...:)
DeleteInitially reading this post, Jeremy Riddle's song "Sweetly Broken" popped into my head. And the more I thought about it, the more I liked how the lyrics relate to your thought on "Unto me." He doesn't want or need us to make any sort of show of our belief and testimony of him. He beckons us from the Cross, bringing us to our knees, oblivious to all but His love, sweetly broken and wholly surrendered. We're not hiding behind any veil of entertainment or show, we are simply below his feet, covered by his blood, testifying to others of the amazing grace we've been freely given. No gimmicks, just gospel.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Is it contradictory that I used a form of entertainment to answer that question, even if it is an epic worship song?
No, Mathew, it is a area that, I believe, is not clear in hearts: difference between entertainment and edification. Any thoughts anyone?
DeleteThe truth spoken in the form of worship - a testimony of what's been realized in our Christian walk is surely holy and good! There have many songs whose lyrics encouraged me by magnifying one of God's many amazing characteristics!
DeleteIs it that when the Holy spirit inside of us witnesses the person of Christ to other people God the father is witnessing it happen. When the Holy Spirit is filling me and using me I'm witnessing to God the Father that I am in grace and indwelled by the Holy Spirit. Of course he knows it but he probably enjoys watching it manifest. On the other hand maybe this doesn't make sense and I just read it weird. :)
ReplyDeleteIt surely does make sense...we are empty, and yet full in him. When I'm in service God is so faithful to make sure there is nothing left in me...I'm spirit taught as I allow him to minister through the word to me. The result is that I get filled with his truth, and can walk out in the "unto me" perspective of Jesus, ministering and serving others as a witness to the gospel, "Good news!" Amen!
DeleteNot quite, Micah! Actually you bring out an important aspect of being a witness unto Him. The minute we get the idea that we are "now" ministering - more likely we are not. It is not a conscious thing.... often we are not even thinking that we are doing anything spiritual at all... your thoughts. pw
ReplyDeleteI really like that, it's true that we never know. One of the biggest ones I can put my finger on for someone definitely ministering to me was when this random guy bought me a CD I wanted when I was a kid. It's a trivial sort of thing, but the love that was behind that gift has had such a huge impact on how I understand loving people. God is good.
Delete"Unto me," our Lord can say so much in the simplest of Words....what a message of truth. God's heart is to win the lost, each of us being once a stray, but now redeemed, justified, in the process of santification, to be one day glorified in Christ. All due to the work of the cross; what a message, and we are the messengers! But it's not us, but him working through us; it's not me, it's him giving life. So many times I've felt like some of the old testiment men....please Lord I don't know the words, please fill my mouth with your words through your mind, that's what I truly desire and pray for...thanks for the filling of SOD! :)
ReplyDeleteThere's no way I would be able to do this in my own flesh it only comes when I am filled with the Holy Spirit and He is speaking through me witnessing the Gospel to others. He puts the words in my mouth. This life is not about me its about glorifying God. He is winning the lost through me. I am just a servant, a vessel that He is using to carry out his work.2 Cor 4:7. We begin to tell people all about Him when we put God at the center. When we realize we are nothing without Him, He gives us power to become His witnesses, His life shines through us and people see something different about us, something glorious.
ReplyDeleteThe words "Unto me" is saying unto Christ it's about Him not we ourselves. In Matthew 4:19 Jesus made disciples by calling them to follow Him. He told them He would make them fishers of men. The Great Commission is he instructions to the resurrected Jesus Christ to His Disciples,to spread His teachings to all the nations of the world. This is a commandment that we must obey. However in order to do this we must be connected to the Father, we have to be in tuned with the Holy Spirit. We must study, listen, read God's word. We should prepare ourselves in knowing God's plan, purpose, provision and His finish work. As disciples we are learners through process by the Holy Spirit involves all of us to who received life from God through His word and who are willing to go out into the world and spread the gospel to others so that they shall have everlasting life also.
ReplyDeleteWhen you mentioned our true witness, Pastor Wright, I first thought of Colossians 3:22-25, where it says: "Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God. Whatsoever ye do, do it heartliy, as unto the Lord, not unto men. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ. But ye that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done; and there is NO RESPECT OF PERSONS."
ReplyDeleteHow are we TRULY living when others are not watching? God sees it all, and knows whether we are wholehearted towards Him or not. We need to have a sincere disposition towards God's work, not necessarily DOING, but HEARING Him and SUBMITTING to Him. He gives us the strength to do the work through the Holy Spirit, and He also gives the increase when we minister Christ to people everyday.
ReplyDeleteWe are a witness wherever we go, whatever we do. People are watching. It's a privilege to serve Him and co-labor with others.
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