Compelling Witness
Today’s Verse:
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. ~Acts 4:20
When a person is subpoenaed to the witness stand, he is expected to give an account of what he heard and saw to the best of his memory. The information he gives is critical to the arguments for or against a case being tried. He is not to make up his story but to testify accurately. Our devotion this morning centers on this statement made by Peter and John, “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
We see the duty.
“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” A compelling witness has a duty to testify of what he has seen and heard. Peter and John were eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ. They spent 40 intensive days with Jesus after his resurrection. They had received the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. What Jesus did in their lives changed them forever. Even though the High Priest and his companions tried to censure them, Peter and John were compelled to speak the truth about Jesus. We have a duty to witness to the unsaved of all that Jesus has done in and for us.
We see the declaration.
Our witness must testify accurately and powerfully of Jesus death and resurrection. We must unashamedly tell the unsaved how Christ’s shed blood and death on the cross was necessary for the payment of our sins. We must boldly demonstrate how the resurrection of Christ differentiates Christianity from religion, and belief systems that teach good works for entrance into heaven. We must tell the truth concerning Jesus even if people despise our message. We must tell the truth about Jesus even if we are threatened with censure and persecution. Our declaration must be without error and without exception.
We see the difficulty.
When we speak the things which we have seen and heard, we will be rejected. When we speak the things which we have seen and heard, we will be ridiculed. People will shun us. People will insult us. Those whom we love will disown us. We will be told that it is illegal to witness in our schools, at work, and in public settings. Humanly, we will be discouraged. The devil will whisper in our ear that God failed us. However, when we allow the power of Jesus death’ and resurrection to work in our lives, we will be compelled to say, “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
We see the dynamic.
A compelling witness is life-changing. It is the only kind of witness that convinces the hardest sinner of his need of salvation. It is the only kind of witness that can permeate a heathen society. It is the only kind of witness that gives sustainability to a church soulwinning program. Jesus was compelled to go to Samaria. Paul was compelled to go to Jerusalem. We must be compelled to take the gospel message to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Are you speaking the things which you have seen and heard? Is the message of salvation one that is burning in your heart to get out to those without Christ?
Have a compelled God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Leviticus 22-23