I got the opportunity to preach at least once a week during our time in Rwanda. It was a very humbling experience to come into these congregations and speak to them about what God was saying. My team was incredible and really encouraged each other in preaching. We helped each other see that it wasn’t some big or scary thing and not every sermon you preach has to end with people crying and being convicted and being the best sermon ever. It’s just speaking what God is telling you. I took the notes from 2 of these sermons and condensed it into a blog, so that’s what you’re reading currently, enjoy hahaha.
What are you a witness of?
Your life is a witness or something. Whether you know it or not. We were designed to be a witness.
It reminds me of how in every single nation they haven’t found one that doesn’t have a form of music. That speaks to how intentional God was to create us with the ability to worship. They’re worshiping something whether they realize it or not. In the same way, He created us with the ability to witness, and you’re witnessing about something whether you realize it or not. A witness is someone who speaks about what you have seen and heard. We are called to be witness to the things of God. If you observed the things you talked about during the day, would you say you’re witness to the things you’ve seen and heard from God? Or would you say you’re a witness for something else? John 5:31-40 shows Jesus talking about having a witness. He isn’t just there on His own authority, there are witnesses to Him being the Son of God. One of my favorite stories in the Bible is in John 4, it’s the story of the woman at the well. What stands out to me is verses 28 and 29. Because she had encountered Jesus, she naturally was led to witnessing and evangelism. She didn’t have a spiel, she didn’t have an ulterior motive, she just talked about what she had seen and heard. It reminds me of Acts 4 when Peter and John were on trial. When the council couldn’t find anything against them they just said to stop talking about Jesus. Peter and John responded in verse 20 that they couldn’t help but speak about what they’ve seen and heard. It just came out of them. Jesus is so good, when you’re living life with Him you naturally have stories of His goodness. When you include Him in every decision it radically changes the outcomes and you can’t help but point to Him when you’re talking about the story. Acts 1:8 is a very famous verse. It says, ““But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”” Notice that is says you WILL be a witness, not that you’ll try to be a witness. It’s a natural reaction to being with Jesus, you can’t help but talk about how good He is.
ooooo that’s so good! I never thought of it that way, but it’s so true. The more we’re saturated in God’s word, centered on thoughts of God, surrounded by others who also focus on God’s love, the more our natural witness just spills out….we can’t help but talk about it! I also love that there are so many ways to evangelize…all the way from Billy Graham types to individuals living quiet lives full of light for their family and friends, and everything in between.