18 November 2007

You are My witnesses

You are My witnesses
Text: Isaiah 43

Series:
"Behold, My Servant"

Message Notes

(I) LESSONS FOR WOULD-BE WITNESSES OF GOD

“You are My witnesses, says the LORD,
And My servant whom I have chosen,
That you may know and believe Me,
And understand that I am He,
Before Me there was no God formed,
Nor shall there be after Me.”
Isaiah 43:10

1. Chosen to be God’s witnesses

“You are My witnesses…and My servant whom I have chosen…” Isaiah 43:10a

2. Challenges to learn the following lessons deeply:-

a) Knowledge

“That you may know…Me…” Isaiah 43:10b

b) Faith

“That you may…believe Me…” Isaiah 43:10b

c) Understanding

“…And understand that I am He Before Me there was no God Nor shall there be after Me.” Isaiah 43:10c

(II) MINISTRY OF GOD’S WITNESSES

” ‘I, even I, am the LORD,
And besides Me there is no saviour.
I have declared and saved,
I have proclaimed And there was no foreign god among you;
Therefore you are my witnesses,’ Says the LORD, ‘that I am God.’ ”
Isaiah 43:11-12

1. Proclamation of Salvation/Saviour

There is but One who can truly save!

“…besides Me there is no saviour.” Isaiah 43:11

a) Consistent theology

b) Consistent truth taught

2. Experience of salvation

“I have declared and saved…” Isaiah 43:12a

a) Practical experience

b) Personal experience

(III) YOU SHALL BE WITNESSES

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

1. Promised power of the Holy Spirit

a) Power from on high

b) Power from the Holy Spirit of God Himself

2. Program for witnessing

a) Jerusalem

b) Judea

c) Samaria

d) The end of the earth

(IV) RAMIFICATIONS

1. Call to be witnesses still relevant

2. Challenge to find that power to be effective witnesses for the Lord