Can I get a Witness

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

Can I get a witness?  Better question, what kind of witness are we?

A married couple coming to the apostles and laying before their feet, their money.  A good gesture, an offering if you will.  This couple has sold their house and are bringing the monies to the apostles' feet for distribution; to help those in need. So why did they die?

Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” Acts 5:8-9

What exactly is the role of a witness?  A witness is someone who, either voluntarily or under compulsion provides a testimony; to bear witness; to see, hear, or know by personal presence or perception; to be present at an occurrence as a formal witness, spectator; to testify.  These definitions found on the web gives us an idea why Sapphira dropped dead.  I am highlighting the wife because as I understand this passage; God was extending mercy and grace to Sapphira, but she missed it.

When we testify we have a choice to bring glory to God or perhaps glory to us.  One leads to life the other can bring death. Ever told a lie and had the Spirit of the Lord speak to you no sooner than the words came out of your mouth?  We have a choice; come clean and fix immediately or let the lie sleep in our hearts and give the enemy more ammunition to destroy us.   

I believe that if Sapphira had come clean, she would have encountered the mercy and grace of God.  But she chose to lie; to be a witness that robbed God; she spoke in a  manner that exposed her heart.  Perhaps she thought no one knew the truth.  The Word of God tells us that He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. 1 Corinthians 4:5. She bore witness to a lie and reaped the consequences.

John the Baptist, the forerunner to Christ.  He testified of the One who would come.  His entire life lived as a witness to the Christ.  Then he ends up  in jail; even as doubt arose in his heart and he questioned if indeed Jesus was was the long awaited one.  He found strength and courage to endure as the words came to him;  “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Luke 7:22. We know that John is beheaded later on, but he did not lose his witness!

How amazing!  The encouragement and strength to be the witness came from God himself.  If we are not ashamed, if we just hold on, he breaths life and strengthens us. 

Elijah and the people of Israel "How long will you waver between two opinions" 1 Kings 18:21 Choose!  Either serve your false god Baal or serve the One True God.  Testify and be a witness. Choose!  Elijah found strength from God to stand against the opposition.  Later we see Elijah terrified as he runs from Jezebel.  But once again, Elijah receives encouragement from God; an angel ministered to him.  Jezebel, a witness to evil; "Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel".  1 Kings 21:23  She dies!  Elijah maintains his witness.

We always have a choice. 

 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14-15

I can go on and on; the witnesses are all over Scripture. The witnesses of the Triumphal Entry, the spectators around the Cross; Saul the zealous witness, the observer even to Stephen death; discovered Christ on the road to Damascus and embraced the mercy & grace of God.  The one who thought could see was actually blind until he encountered the Lord. 

Then there is the Eunuch encountered by Philip (Acts 8).  Ever wondered how many other turned to the Lord?  Truly the Eunuch was not alone. he gave orders to stop the chariot; how many were with him; how many observers.  The message brought by Philip, the message of Salvation was received by the Eunuch; maybe it caused a rippling affect to those that were present.  They heard and saw; observed the Eunuch even get baptized!

I want to be a good witness!  I desire the strength and power of the Almighty that lives within me to lead me and "bear witness" not only to what God has done in me but what I expect him to do in others if they are willing.  I want this life to mean something; something bigger than myself.  I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20




God bless you!~Liz www.lizrod.com