Acts 1:1–8  In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But 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.”

You have probably heard the story about a woman who was in a house that was being flooded. A rescuer came up to the house in a boat and offered to take her to safety. She refused saying, “The good Lord will take care of me.” A little while later, she was on the second floor because the water had risen so high. Another boat came by, offering her assistance. She again refused: “I’m trusting in the Lord.” Before too long, she was on the roof, and a helicopter came by. They dropped a basket and pleaded with her to get in. She stubbornly maintained that she didn’t need their help–she was trusting in God to help her. The water rose still higher, and she drowned. She went to heaven and asked, “Lord, I was trusting in you–what happened?” God replied: “I sent two boats and a helicopter–what do you want?”

I have a point here. When Jesus told His disciples that they were to be His witnesses, He promised to send the help they would need. He sent it — His Holy Spirit. That may not have been what they were expecting, or how they thought it should be done, but that was God’s plan. That is the same help you and I need to be His witnesses. We may not always see the hand of God assisting us and recognize it as such. We often ignore the obvious. But God’s Spirit will work through those who believe in Jesus.

How should you witness? Our witness needs to begin at the cross. If you do not proclaim that the suffering and death of Jesus Christ was to pay for the sins of all men, then you have nothing of lasting value to share with the world. Your witness must be sincere and come from your heart, but it must also be according to the Word of God. As followers of Jesus, your witness must be by the power of the Holy Spirit. He alone is able to lead men to the knowledge of the truth.

When you apply the knowledge that the life of Jesus Christ was lived for you, that the death of Jesus Christ was died for you, and that the Resurrection was for you, it changes you. Jesus will be seen by others through you. You will be His witnesses by simply living with this confidence. Hearing the message that you are a sinner who has been forgiven through the merits of Jesus Christ, and applying that to your life in all situations, You are His witnesses.