THETHENORMALNORMALChristian LifeChristian Life

1Acts 1:8 NLTActs 1:8 NLT““But you will receive But you will receive power when the Holy power when the Holy

Spirit comes upon Spirit comes upon you.you.

And you will be my And you will be my witnesses, telling witnesses, telling people about me people about me everywhere…”everywhere…”

Jesus didn’t say…Jesus didn’t say…““You may be my You may be my

witness”witness”Or “You could be my Or “You could be my

witness”witness” But “You will be my But “You will be my

witness”witness”

Being a witness for Christ Being a witness for Christ is is not an option.not an option.

Barna Group Barna Group >>>>Only 40% of the Christians Only 40% of the Christians today witness.today witness.

LifeWay Research LifeWay Research >>>>60% of Christians have not 60% of Christians have not witness yet.witness yet.

Why we Why we don’t don’t

witness?witness?

1““I don’t know I don’t know what to share”what to share”

Mark 5:20 NLT““So the man started off So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began that region and began to to proclaim the great proclaim the great things Jesus had done things Jesus had done for himfor him; and everyone ; and everyone

was amazed at what he was amazed at what he told them.”told them.”

Psalm 26:7Psalm 26:7““proclaiming aloud your praise and proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all telling of all your wonderful deedsyour wonderful deeds.”.”Psalm 71:16Psalm 71:16““I will come and proclaim your I will come and proclaim your mighty actsmighty acts, Sovereign LORD..”, Sovereign LORD..”Psalm 118:17Psalm 118:17““I… will proclaim what the LORD I… will proclaim what the LORD has has donedone.”.”Psalm 145:6Psalm 145:6“…“…I will proclaim your I will proclaim your great deedsgreat deeds.”.”

2 ““I am not I am not knowledgeable”knowledgeable”

John 9:25 NivHe replied, "Whether he He replied, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't is a sinner or not, I don't

know. know. One thing I do One thing I do knowknow. I was blind but . I was blind but

now I see!”now I see!”

Acts 4:13 ESv““Now when they saw Now when they saw the boldness of Peter the boldness of Peter

and John, and perceived and John, and perceived that they were that they were

uneducated, common uneducated, common men, they were men, they were

astonished. And they astonished. And they recognized that recognized that they they had been with Jesushad been with Jesus.”.”

3 ““I am not I am not persuasive persuasive

enough”enough”

John 15:26 ESV““But when the Helper But when the Helper

comes, whom I will send comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, to you from the Father, the Spirit of truththe Spirit of truth, who , who

proceeds from the proceeds from the Father, he will Father, he will bear bear witness about mewitness about me.”.”

Acts 16:14 NIV“…“…The Lord opened The Lord opened her heart to respond her heart to respond to Paul's message.”to Paul's message.”

2Ephesians 5:18 NIVEphesians 5:18 NIV“…“…be filled with the be filled with the

Spirit.”Spirit.”

Luke 1:41,42 NIVLuke 1:41,42 NIV“…“…and Elizabeth was and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy filled with the Holy

SpiritSpirit. In a loud voice . In a loud voice she she exclaimedexclaimed…”…”

acts 4:8 NIVacts 4:8 NIV““Then Peter, Then Peter, filled filled

with the Holy Spiritwith the Holy Spirit, , saidsaid to them…” to them…”

acts 4:31 NIVacts 4:31 NIV““And they were all And they were all filled with the Holy filled with the Holy

SpiritSpirit and and spokespoke the the word of God boldly.”word of God boldly.”

acts 9:15,17 NIVacts 9:15,17 NIV““But the Lord said to But the Lord said to

Ananias, "Go! This man Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen is my chosen

instrument to instrument to proclaim proclaim my namemy name”… Placing his ”… Placing his hands on Saul, he said, hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord "Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me so that you has sent me so that you may be may be filled with the filled with the

Holy SpiritHoly Spirit."."

1.1. God wants all Christians to God wants all Christians to witnesswitness(tell, exclaim, speak, proclaim (tell, exclaim, speak, proclaim His name)His name)

2. 2. God wants all Christians to be God wants all Christians to be filled filled with the Spiritwith the Spirit

3.3. [Number 2] provides ability to [Number 2] provides ability to do [Number 1]do [Number 1]

4.4. [Number 1] and [Number 2] [Number 1] and [Number 2] is part ofis part ofthe normal Christian lifethe normal Christian life

<< Conclusion >>

Lord, thank You for Lord, thank You for loving me/ I believe that loving me/ I believe that

I am Yours/ and Your I am Yours/ and Your plans for me is good./ I plans for me is good./ I ask You to please keep ask You to please keep

me reminded/ of the me reminded/ of the great picture of Your great picture of Your

love/ – You died on the love/ – You died on the cross, in my behalf, for cross, in my behalf, for my sins,/ buried, but on my sins,/ buried, but on the third day, You are the third day, You are risen!/ You are alive!risen!/ You are alive!

Lord, I understand/ that Lord, I understand/ that it is Your call for me to it is Your call for me to be Your witness./ And I be Your witness./ And I say “Yes Lord, I accept say “Yes Lord, I accept the ministry of telling the ministry of telling others about You/ and others about You/ and will make Your name will make Your name high and honored”./ high and honored”./

God, Use me./ God, Use me./ Commission me./ Count Commission me./ Count

me in./ Create a me in./ Create a movement through me.movement through me.

Let your love flow Let your love flow through me./ Let Your through me./ Let Your words be my words words be my words and Your passion be and Your passion be

my passion./ my passion./ Continually give me a Continually give me a

strong desire to strong desire to witness/ Your witness/ Your

excellency and excellency and supremacy,/ and the supremacy,/ and the power to do whatever power to do whatever that pleases you./ In that pleases you./ In Jesus’ name./ Amen.Jesus’ name./ Amen.

The witness's The witness's function is to function is to give give

evidence or evidence or testimony testimony to the to the

court.court.For example, the For example, the witness may have witness may have

seen a robbery take seen a robbery take place and may be place and may be

able to tell the court able to tell the court what he or she saw. what he or she saw. This evidence may This evidence may help the judge to help the judge to make its decision.make its decision.

SOURCE: SOURCE: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/courtroom/the_role_http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/courtroom/the_role_of_witnesses.htmlof_witnesses.html

The judge has the The judge has the rightright

to satisfy himselfto satisfy himselfabout the facts of the about the facts of the

case.case.

Romans 10:14Romans 10:14the voicethe voice

“…“…How can they How can they believe in Him when believe in Him when they have not heard?they have not heard?How can they hear ifHow can they hear if

there is no one there is no one proclaiming Him?”proclaiming Him?”

The prosecutor proves The prosecutor proves that the person on trial that the person on trial has committed wrong. has committed wrong.

He questions the person He questions the person on trial, the witnesses on trial, the witnesses and experts in order to and experts in order to

establish that the establish that the person on trial is guilty.person on trial is guilty.

SOURCE: http://www.aklagare.se/In-English/The-role-of-the-SOURCE: http://www.aklagare.se/In-English/The-role-of-the-prosecutor/prosecutor/

2 Corinthians 4:42 Corinthians 4:4the voicethe voice

““[Satan] has blinded [Satan] has blinded the minds of the minds of

unbelievers. As a result unbelievers. As a result the light of the good the light of the good

news, the radiant glory news, the radiant glory of the Anointed - who is of the Anointed - who is the very image of God - the very image of God - cannot shine down on cannot shine down on

them.”them.”

You – witness in a You – witness in a trialtrialJesus – on trialJesus – on trialThe world – judgeThe world – judgeSatan – ProsecutorSatan – ProsecutorHoly Spirit – Holy Spirit – Defense AttorneyDefense Attorney

Based Based ononthe the

witnesswitness