Stand Firm to be a Witnesses for God

Dr John Mulinde
05-11-2017

Acts 1:8New King James Version (NKJV)
8 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.”

These words were spoken by Jesus Christ after His resurrection.

The concept of witnesses is much bigger than sharing the gospel as mentioned in the New Testament.

In the beginning, God made one Kingdom. Man'd rebellion created a new order--a denial of position taken by God. Satan would like to challenge God--to prove that God is not God.

Isaiah 14:12-14New King James Version (NKJV)
The Fall of Lucifer

12 “How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer,[a] son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’

This is the stand that Lucifer took. He would like to raise his own throne above the throne of God.

In Ezekiel 28:11-17, the angels started a rebellion and God immediately pronounced judgment upon Lucifer.

Lucifer did not acknowlege that he was wrong. He never expressed his repentence and he was never forgiven.

He needs to bring proof that his stand is right.

God has a case to prove. Satan has a case to proof.

From the very beginning, God has always required witnesses and their evidence or testimony(ies).

The heavenly court is gathering evidence and testimonies.

Acts 1:8 means that God wants you to proof to the world that there is no other God besides Him.

Isaiah 43:1-12New King James Version (NKJV)
The Redeemer of Israel

43 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I gave Egypt for your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4 Since you were precious in My sight,
You have been honored,
And I have loved you;
Therefore I will give men for you,
And people for your life.
5 Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your descendants from the east,
And gather you from the west;
6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’
Bring My sons from afar,
And My daughters from the ends of the earth—
7 Everyone who is called by My name,
Whom I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”

8 Bring out the blind people who have eyes,
And the deaf who have ears.
9 Let all the nations be gathered together,
And let the people be assembled.
Who among them can declare this,
And show us former things?
Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified;
Or let them hear and say, “It is truth.”
10 “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.
11 I, even I, am the Lord,
And besides Me there is no savior.
12 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.

Proof to the world that God lives, that He is dependable.

The devil is against God. He is challenging God.

Both kingdoms have got to fight for the allegiance of man.

Whenever any man goes against God, there is a reasoning in the mind which begins to justify God's words. The devil brings forth the argument and lie.

When we believe the lie, we are bringing evidence to the court of the universe that God is unreasonable, that God is not God.

When we bring evidence and testify that God is God, that He is dependable, that His way is right, the heaven rejoices and appraises that our God reigns.

Read the story of Job. God takes pride in people who stand for Him and His Word.

In one day, all his cattle, donkeys, sheep and camels died. His sons and daughters died. But he is still standing.

The bible says that it is God who gives, it is He who takes. Let the glory return to Him. In all of that, he did not son against God. That is being a witness.

Whatever trials come your way, remember that the Lord will not try you beyond what you can bear. Behind every trial, He provides a way out.

"I am for God. I will stand to witness that He is God."

Other examples include: 
-Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the book of Daniel. 

-Daniel in the dens of the lions.

That is being a witness--to live a life that proves to the world that our God lives and that He is dependable and that there is no other god like our God and that we can trust Him--that God is God.

He who begun a good work in us will accomplish everything. Do not let the world put you down. I am more than a conqueror through Him who love me.

Sometimes we do not know why things happen to us but as we look back, we see that He is protecting us and that He is there for us.

As witnesses, we will be tried and tested and cross examined by the forces of the world. But stand firm and say that He is worthy and speak the trth.

Peter, John, James and the apostles--Their lives proved that Jesus is the Messiah. They were men who provided the proof that God is God, that Jesus is the Messiah.

In all our circumstances, may we be true witnesses.

The word witness is a concept from way back in the Old Testament.

In the world, witnesses are normally found in the court of law. The judge passes judgment in court.

All judges need witnesses. The role of a witness is to bring evidence and proof and testimony of the side that is standing to witness for. The judge weighs the sides of witnesses and passes the judgement. The case is settled by penalising one side ot rewarding the other side.

The ruling can be challenged. Time is allowed for an appeal.

There is a spiritual court before whom we are called to stand and provide witness.


You and I have been called into the arena to be witnesses for the kingdom of God or the kingdom of darkness.

The records go into eternity. On the day of judgment, every record will be brought out.

Every day we are called to testify or affirm whether we stand with God or with satan.


If satan is able to argue his case, and we believe him and follow him, then we are not able to be a witness for God, to obey God, to be faithful to God, and to be with Him.

An example is in the book of Genesis when satan the accuser tempted man to move away from being submitted to God, to rebel against God, and to be like God.

Genesis 3New King James Version (NKJV)
The Temptation and Fall of Man

3 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”

2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

What is the testimony of your own life?

Revelation 12:7-12New King James Version (NKJV)
Satan Thrown Out of Heaven

7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them[a] in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

Do we affirm that His Word is the Word of life? Do we accept God's standards but do not apply them in our lives? The whole world is working to bring us into a position of compromise. 

But God is still believing that there are still people who will make a stand for Him.

He is not only asking us to stand for Him, but He is also standing by us.


The contention between light and darkness is a battle of the ages.

God says, "I will fight for you. I will treasure you for who you are--My witnesses."


Example:
God promised a son to Abraham through Sarah. His Word is dependable.

Obey the Lord. Take God by His Word. Live by His Word.


God takes pride in those who choose to live by His Word.

Example: Job.

It is God who gives. It is God who takes away. All glory to God. And he did not sin against God.

God's standards are life-giving.

He who watches over Israel does not slumber. He is making sure that nothing will do you any harm.

God restored Job. He is able. If only we are certain that He is God. It is non-negotiable.

Satan was not contented. He said to God, "Let me touch him." God replied, "Do not touch his soul." Job was inflicted with sicknesses and infirmities. "Curse God and die," said satan to Job. In all of that, Job did not sin against God.


Matthew 24:14New King James Version (NKJV)
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.


The God we serve is the God of the bible.