In a similar way, Jesus Christ has given a mission to every person who has received Him by faith as his or her personal Savior. He doesn’t make anyone do it because only our voluntary service can please God. At the same time the scripture clearly reveals that Jesus Christ highly desires that every believer fulfills the mission that He has for them.

Our mission is to be a witness of Jesus Christ wherever we go in our life journey.

When we agree to accept our life mission we ask Jesus:

• to help us rid our lives of all things we know displease Him.
• to help us live a life pleasing to Him
• to give us the power we need to witness about Him.
• to believe Him to give us the power to do these things.

To witness means the same thing that the term witness means in a court of law. Americans have a strong interest in court proceedings. A casual survey of the TV programs in our area lists The People’s Court; Judge Judy; Judge Joe Brown; Judge Joe Hatchett; Judge Mathis; Judge Miles Lane; Judge B; Curtis Court; JAG; American Justice; Moral Court; Divorce Court; The System; Prosecutors/Justice, etc, …and even Night Court. If we listed the programs featuring the gathering of evidence to be used in court by government and private agencies it would make a longer list than we have room to print.

On the stand people are required to swear or affirm that they will tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. If they answer a question and say something like, "Well, Joe Smith told me…", the opposing attorney will jump to his feet and yell, "Objection! Hearsay!" The judge will respond, "Objection sustained." If any of what Joe Smith told the witness got into the record the Judge will order it removed because a witness is only allowed to tell what they know by personal experience.

A witness of Jesus Christ is a person who truthfully tells what they know from personal experience about what Jesus Christ has done for them.

     When believers have experienced forgiveness of sins and their spirit made alive to God by the Holy Spirit, they have the greatest witness to the truth that any human being can give. This is their personal experience of what Jesus Christ has done for them. If a person has not experienced forgiveness of sin and an infusion of spiritual life that has made them children of God, they don’t have anything to witness about.

     Believers who have developed the spiritual insight of James, who wrote in verse 1:17, "Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…" have a witness about God’s provision in every area of their life. But, one who has not identified their financial income, their material possessions, their happiness in marriage, their physical health or their strength to cope with afflictions as coming from God they have no witness to give about what Jesus Christ has done for them in these areas.

Once again, a witness of Jesus Christ is a person who truthfully tells what they know from personal experience about what Jesus Christ has done for them.

ur life mission is unique because the effect of what Jesus has done in our life is different from the effects of what He has done for others. If we were to ask 100 people to give a witness of what Jesus had done in their life, we would be amazed at the difference. A husband might tell of putting away specific old habits and beginning new ones. He might speak of how he changed the way he related to his wife, children, friends, business associates and even strangers. He might speak of a new burden he felt for people in specific situations and how he has been impressed to help them. Should his wife or children witness of what Jesus Christ has done in their life, it would probably take on a totally different line of thought.

As a witness of Jesus Christ we simply tell the truth as to what Jesus Christ has done for us without adding or taking away anything.

What Jesus Christ did to save us is the same in every case. He died for our sins on the cross. He was buried and rose again. He ascended to Heaven to be the Savior of all those who come to the Father by Him. Every human who accepts by faith His sacrifice for their sin and receive Him by faith as their Savior receives forgiveness of sin and acceptance by the heavenly Father. However, He works differently in every one of us to accomplish our mission in life of being a witness of Him.

One. You’ve been given a life saving mission, -your story. Your mission will save physical lives from the slavery of sinful habits; from the anguish of bad choices; from the hurt and regret of broken marriages and other relationships; from the pain and eventual death of social diseases. Your mission will also save souls from the condemnation of sin to acceptance into the family of God.

Wherever the gospel of Christ goes it brings people into a relationship with God and changes them for the better. What the apostle Paul wrote believers at Colosse is still true, "since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel, which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you…" Colossians 1:4-6. Your mission is a life-saving mission.

Two. Millions of people need to hear the witness you have to share.

We often hear it said that people are no longer interested in God, Christ, or the Bible. The fact is that every poll taken on spiritual matters for many years reveals that Americans are intensely interested in spiritual matters. Articles in leading secular magazines confirm this is true.

From Newsweek: "In God We Trust"; "Is There Life After Death?"; "The Search For The Sacred".

From U.S. News And World Report: "The Last Days Of Jesus"; "Finding God On Flight 292: Gripping Stories"; "Is There A Clear View Of Heaven?"; and "Is The Bible Fact or Fiction?".

From Time: "Evil. Does It Exist Or Do Bad Things Just Happen?"; "Can We Still Believe In Miracles?"; "Who Is God?"; "Who Is Jesus?"; and one with the face of Jesus on the cover with the question, "Who Was He?".

Millions of people not only need to hear but are anxious to hear your witness of what Jesus had done in your life.

1. By doing quality work.

Work takes on a totally new meaning when you see yourself as a reresentative of Jesus Christ. You will find your heart affirming these words of the Apostle Paul, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…" Colossians 3:17. Whether in church ministry or your life mission, there should be a striving for excellence. Excellence is doing the best you can what with you have to work with. God wants "Show and Tell" Christians.

2. By maintaining a positive life.

"Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world." Philippians 2:14, 15.

A positive life includes a consistent positive integrity and positive words that build up rather than tear down.

3. By talking to others about the good news of Christ.

Talking to others can be very scary when you first start. But the abounding joy once you begin is illustrated by the following video clip:

(Video).

Rick Warren tells of a wallpaper hanger who finishes his work and writes his bill, and then says, "Now you’ve seen my side job. Let me take five minutes to tell you my real work." He then pulls out a gospel tract and tells them what Jesus means to him. Rick also tells of an eye doctor who has replaced the standard eye chart with "the four spiritual laws" which gives the plan of salvation.

You feel that you could not do those things. That was God working in their hearts to fulfill their mission. As God works in your heart He will show you how to share your witness and give you the power.

As a personal example, I have asked Howard Simon to share how God has been working in his heart and how God has impressed him to share his witness of Christ.