A Reluctant Witness– message #4 in the series Witness: Speaking the Gospel, Making Disciples, and Planting Churches- All for the Glory of God!

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
– Jesus (Acts 1:8, ESV) 

• Sunday, February 19  The First Witness
• Sunday, February 26  A Courageous Witness
• Sunday, March 5  A Spirit-Led Witness
• Sunday, March 12  A Reluctant Witness
• Sunday, March 19   A Barrier-Breaking Witness
• Sunday, March 26  A Church-Oriented Witness
• Palm Sunday, April 2  A Cross-Centered Witness 

Goals of the series:

• That every follower of Christ at Ingleside will become a better-equipped and more-active verbal witness for Jesus.
• That every Inglesider will invite someone who is not yet a follower of Jesus to our Easter weekend outreach on April 8-9.

Acts 9 (ESV)
¹⁰ Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” ¹¹ And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, ¹² and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” ¹³ But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”

• Ananias was a witness.

¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. ¹⁶ For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 

• The Lord Ananias’ concern. 

¹⁷ So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; ¹⁹ and taking food, he was strengthened. 

• The Lord used Ananias’ .

Concern #1: I don’t know what to say.
Response: Be .

“¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, ¹⁵ but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…”
(1 Peter 3:14-15)

• Know the .
  • For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, ESV)
• Know your . (Acts 22:1-21)
• Know good . 

Concern #2: I may mess it up.
Response: Give yourself .

“²⁴ Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. ²⁵ He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. ²⁶ He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. ²⁷ And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, ²⁸ for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.” (Acts 18:24-28, ESV)

Concern #3: They probably already know the gospel.
Response: Evangelism can be part of a .

“⁵ What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. ⁶ I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” (1 Corinthians 3:5-6, ESV) 

Concern #4: They may not want to hear the gospel.
Response: Be faithful. Trust the Lord with the .

“And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.” (Matthew 10:14, ESV)