The Call to Testify (Mark 16:15, Matthew 28) Acts 1:8 (NIV) You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Witness: Someone that bears testimony to things seen, heard, transacted, or experienced. Testimony: A solemn statement made under oath or as part of a covenant. The verbal evidence of a witness by which something is affirmed to be true. Testify — To give testimony in a legal context.
We have the evidence of a changed life.
1 John 1:1–4 (NIV) 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.
“We heard about Jesus. We have encountered Jesus. Now we share Jesus.”
The power of a testimony. “The greatest revelation you will ever have is Jesus.” Revelation 12:7–11 (NIV) 7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
Nikao: To conquer/overcome. To carry off the victory. Romans 16:20 (NIV) The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. “Your story is a weapon.”
What is our testimony? 1. The expression of faith The evidence of a changed life.
