Becoming a Witness: How the Holy Spirit Empowers Our Testimony

The Holy Spirit is often the forgotten member of the Trinity. Many Christians pray to "God and Jesus" but overlook the vital role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Yet without the Spirit, we can't know Jesus or effectively serve Him. Everything we do for Christ comes through the power of the Spirit.

What Does It Mean to Be a Witness?

Acts 1:8 tells us, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

A witness is someone who sees or experiences something important enough for others to know about. Whether you realize it or not, every single day you are a witness to something. Some people witness passionately about sports teams or political positions, sharing their enthusiasm multiple times a day.

But as Christians, we're called to witness about something far more important - that Jesus is the true King who has changed our lives.

The Dangerous Power of Prayer

Consider the story of Melanie and Ray, who volunteered at a mentorship program for children whose parents struggled with addiction. When a mother they knew overdosed, leaving her four children to be separated into different foster homes, Melanie and Ray prayed for guidance.

They asked the Holy Spirit for help, wisdom, and direction. But here's the thing about prayer - if you ask the Holy Spirit for help and you have the ability to help, who is God going to call to service? You.

Ray and Melanie ended up becoming foster parents to all four children and entering the adoption process. These empty nesters who were approaching retirement had their plans completely changed because they prayed, "Lord, use me."

Prayer is a dangerous place. When you call out to God in desperation, unexpected things occur. The Holy Spirit is here to help us die to self. Sometimes everything changes when you invite the Spirit's guidance - and that's okay, even when it's scary.

The Contradiction: Go and Wait

Jesus gave His disciples a seemingly contradictory message: go and tell everybody, but wait until the Spirit settles upon you. "Stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:49).

We often find ourselves in this limbo - eager to move forward but instructed to wait for God's timing. The disciples were focused on restoring the kingdom of Israel, but Jesus was talking about changing the world. They were thinking about a triumphal nation; Jesus was thinking about a new humanity.

Too often, we want Jesus to make us live a better life. What He really wants is for us to live a sacrificial life and move in different ways.

The Spirit Doesn't Make Us Comfortable

The disciples first experienced the Holy Spirit in the safe company of the apostles in the upper room after a 49-day prayer meeting. But the Spirit didn't let them stay there. It led them out of their confines and into mission.

It wasn't their idea to go to the paralyzed beggar on the temple steps or the hungry widows. It wasn't their plan to open the scriptures with the Ethiopian eunuch, worship with Gentiles, or break bread with Samaritans. But that's where the Spirit led them.

The comforter doesn't come to allow people to be comfortable. The Holy Spirit has never arrived to make people's lives easier. Some people use "Spirit-filled" to refer to charismatic churches that are enthusiastic in their worship. But truly Spirit-filled communities are the ones that, when they leave the building, spread the kingdom of God in their community.

How Do We Witness About Jesus?

When Jesus came as king of a new kingdom, He told people about it through:

 

• Spoken love

• Supernatural love

• Sacrificial love

 

Spoken Love: Just Tell Your Story

Evangelism isn't about following a specific pattern or formula. It's simply telling others what Jesus has done in your life. Think about someone enthusiastically sharing their favorite recipe or food - they don't have a plan or follow steps; they just share their excitement.

If you were just half as excited about Jesus as someone who discovered a new food and told others about it, how many people would come to know Jesus because of you? A lot. Because you're not trying to save them; you're just trying to tell them, "This is good."

That's what "gospel" means - good news. It's not about standing on a corner yelling at people or making them feel bad. It's about honestly sharing how Jesus is helping you in your life - your joys, struggles, practices, and failures. It's about being honest that He loves you even when you fail Him.

Supernatural Love: Beyond Our Comfort Zone

Peter writes about Jesus: "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and he went around doing good and healing" (Acts 10:38). We are supernatural people empowered to carry out Jesus' supernatural ministry. We work in His power, not our own.

Consider Krista, who was sitting at a sidewalk cafe when she saw Stan, a man from her kids' school. When she asked how he was doing, he honestly replied, "Not good." His wife had left him, taking the kids. Krista invited him to sit with her, asked questions, and let him process what was happening. All the while, she prayed silently, listening prophetically and engaging supernaturally.

What Stan needed wasn't a casual expression of faith but a love that had claws - supernatural love that was scary but powerful. To love Stan this way required Krista to do something that felt unnatural to her. But if the kingdom of God is reality, what felt unnatural was actually the only natural thing in our unnatural, wounded world.

Sacrificial Love: The Hard Path

Anyone who says following Jesus is easy is lying. Jesus said the way is narrow. The statement "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life" isn't the whole truth. God loves you and has a difficult plan and a wonderful retirement from this earth. If you tell someone following Jesus will be easy, they'll run the minute life gets difficult.

Consider Mike, who was struggling with addiction and almost relapsed. At 2 a.m., he called his sponsor, who came to sit with him. The sponsor then asked Mike to speak at a local hospital for the severely mentally impaired. By serving those who were suffering, Mike came to understand who Jesus really is. Today, he's a pastor.

The witness identity thrust upon us means we need sustainable, rhythmic practices that permeate our lives:

• One day a week we worship
• Each day we pray
• We create rhythms of volunteering and finding people who need hearing
• We pursue kinship with others

Life Application

This week, try praying what we might call a "three open prayer":

 

• Open my eyes to see the people in need

• Open my heart to love them

• Open my mouth to tell them about the grace of God

 

Where have you compartmentalized your spirituality under the guise of being polite? Who do you think you're loving by hiding this part of you? Speaking the truth in love may terrify you at first, but it sets you free in the end.

Look for opportunities to invite someone to church or to share what God is doing in your life. It doesn't have to be complicated - a simple invitation can open doors. If you're filled with the Holy Spirit and consistently excited about what God is doing in you and your church, sooner or later, somebody will come to Jesus around you.

Ask yourself:

 

• Where is God calling me to witness about Him this week?

• What rhythmic practices can I establish to be more consistently led by the Spirit?

• Am I willing to be uncomfortable to follow where the Spirit leads?

 

The work of service in the kingdom of God comes from the Holy Spirit. Results will vary, but it's always worth it.