How Do You Bear Witness Counts

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Sword

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this person would obviously be able to relate an experience of going out as Christ commanded the Twelve, and also the Seventy, a different experience.
What was different other than they were growing into Christ?
 

bbyrd009

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What was different other than they were growing into Christ?
well, you would have to undergo the experience to see. What is different is that it is growing into Christ, but no one does it.

When the two of you leave town, no money or extra shirt, and go somewhere that is not "home" and get taken in, and then "eat what they give you" which is prolly not going to be "food" that you would choose, iow you might be tempted to disagree or argue doctrine or whatever, but that is not what was commanded, "eat what they give you," well, these are all humbling experiences.
 
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pia

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Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Herein is one of Gods bottom lines, as He taught me over a few years........
We will use the example of how the world system works..........For a person to give TESTIMONY in say, a court of law, so as to be an actual WITNESS, one MUST have seen or heard ONESELF, whatever it is one is testifying to or about...............One cannot testify to something one has read or heard through someone else , that is what is called 'hearsay'.......
What I see as the single biggest problem The Lord has today, is that most believers have been taught via hearsay, instead of by and through the Holy Spirit, and all try very hard to be and to do as they have read or heard from others , BUT ( and I sincerely hope you do agree with this ) to be 'transformed' into the image and likeness of Christ isn't something we can do without Him In us, and us In Him ( and thereby connected to our Father ). When we think of a transformer, it takes power strong enough to kill a person and converts it into usable battery power, or it does the opposite......So to be 'transformed' is not a self help, 10 step program, but rather a display of the power of God..........
I am (at least in my mind) a very fortunate person in as much as, having been a virtual atheist till the age of 30, then having what they call a 'near death experience' and finding out I couldn't have been more wrong AND that Jesus ( and therefore God also ) was actually real ! I can assure you that, that transformed my life in a lot of ways...................
By the way, let us not forget Jesus saying :" Blessed are they who have believed without having seen."......In my case I truly doubt any Christian I have met during all of the years since, could have convinced me of God being real in any way, shape or form........All they ever wanted to do was to preach to the already converted and using the Bible to justify, thinking of themselves way more highly than they ought to have, and basically just a lot of Bible bashing............ It didn't matter which branch of Christianity they said they were from, they all came across the same ( even if their doctrines were a little different ), and I really did seek out a few, because of the way I came into believing...............I am and always will be super grateful to Jesus for having mercy on me that night and not only saving me from death, but then to show Himself and following that up with hours of replying to questions I kept asking Him.....BUT most of all because He showed me He is REAL, not just like Santa Claus or the Easter bunny .
The point of all this ? I can say that I am a witness, to those things which He said to me, face to face, (but not to other things).........Something He has done with me 8 times over the past 3 decades....... I can testify of His love for the human race, or for any individual I might be witnessing to at any particular time, and look them in the eye when I say it, and they see for themselves the truth in what I am telling them ( many a grown man has broken down and wept, as I have witnessed to them) and the truth, spoken in love is one of Gods most powerful tools in getting through to those who simply do not know and get their faith ignited......
We must obviously always, all be careful that in our zeal in finding and bringing in the lost, we don't rely on anything other than the TRUTH, our experienced TRUTH ( otherwise it wouldn't be truth anyway ).....People respond to sincerity and to things they can relate to.......I also respond to that, as well as those rare individuals who actually come across as someone who knows what they're talking about .
From the description of your walk with Him you would obviously come across as someone who isn't just talking the talk, and that goes a long way for some........ Many people I have met who were Christians, acted anything but Christ like :)
Thank you for your post..................Peace In Him Pia
 

Sword

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Yes a man said to me You have revalation and you can only pass on information.
 

pia

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Yes a man said to me You have revalation and you can only pass on information.
Absolutely, and without EVER taking any credit, because you KNOW that you are just passing on information..... Built in safety mechanism lol......Would love to hear your testimony, if you feel inclined to share?......I noticed there are exactly zero testimonies ?
 
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Garrison

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A lot of believers will speak of their commitment and their dedication to the Lord, but His words does testify against that kind of witnessing when the believer seeks the praise of men.

John 5:31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

John 7:18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

Proverbs 20:6Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

Proverbs 27:1Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

To be His disciple is to testify of the Son in seeking His glory. That is what sinners and even other believers need to hear... your faith in Him and His promises to you in helping you live the christian life.

1 Corinthians 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

So ask the Lord Jesus Christ in helping you to be a better witness for Him in seeking His glory because the only witness that will be heard in Heaven is the one you give of Him down here.

I testify that I used to do the best I can in keeping my commitment to follow Christ, and I kept failing miserably. I was like a yo yo, asking the Lord for forgiveness and help, and then in showing my appreciation for His help, I went right back to doing the best I can in following Him and then failing again... until He led me to realize that He wants me to rely on Him all the time... to live only by faith in Him and all His promises to me for living as His.

Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

So thanks to Him as my Good Shepherd, I follow Him by faith which is why I can rest in Him. I deny myself as being able to follow Him, and by picking up the cross daily, I identify with Christ having been crucified in that it is not I who live but Christ Who lives in me...thus picking up the cross daily and I live by faith in the Son of God of Whom is how I can follow Him.

So please avoid testifying of your commitments, dedications, promises, and vows because that is not testifying to standing fast in the liberty that Christ has set us free and not entangling yourselves in a yoke of bondage, now is it? You cannot claim Galatians 5:1 as part of your testimony regarding Him, can you? So ask Jesus to forgive you of your sin of being a false witness, and He will set you free to rest in Him & His promises to you in helping you to follow Him as we can only follow Him by faith anyway if we seek to please Him.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world......9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Shouldn't sinners as well as believers see why we place all our hopes in Christ Jesus for all things?

Psalm 19:12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.....8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.22 Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

How do you personally know when someone is seeking the praise of men? Are you able to read their mind? See their heart? Read in between the lines of what they say? Use a special intuitive sense? Hear the Holy Spirit?
 

Helen

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Im not sure if this thread is about baring witness, or being a witness or whatever.
We used to witness according to sowing seed in season and out of season....whether the person wanted to listen or not.
( it was usually "or not" LOL )
Now I never witness unless feeling a nudge from the Holy Spirit to do so.
Only that way does it bare fruit. ( Yet I am also very aware that not all of us see the fruit-bit...some sow, some water, some reap)

As @aspen said earlier...how we live and act speaks more than our mouth most times. I dislike the churches that nag about "getting out there and witnessing." I refuse to come under that kind of condemnation...been there, done that. Unless the Father is drawing we are wasting our time...just making ourselves 'feel good' that we are 'doing our bit'.
If we follow on to know the Lord...one day we will probably be called to be a witness... we used to call it "The Two Witness Company of people."
..and we know happens to them!!
Rev 11 6 "These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them." But ...the story ends well
(Sorry for mistakes...I am getting tired.)
 
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Garrison

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Thank you for sharing your thoughts. However, anectodally derived notions are not related to the axiomatic directives from Scripture, regardless of how many times one says "We/Us/Our" as if they represent the faith of others they do not know.

Can you tell me when you know someone who quotes Scripture is seeking the praise of men?
 

pia

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, anectodally derived notions
Isn't every person taught, by whatever church they go to, via this way ? What else is the writings in the Bible other than 'anecdotal' evidence ?
For us to know whether something is true, surely it takes the Holy Spirit to confirm it. I personally think it is a very dangerous thing to assume that a document written and translated and re-translated over and over again is as good as the Truth from Himself, and as I find out more and more, so very few are willing to take Jesus at His word and go to Him, to accept that He is a REAL resurrected being and well able to communicate with us.
I think the churches are guilty of keeping people from having a real relationship with Him, such as the early believers did. Somehow what happened to Saul ( Paul ) on the road to Damascus is now ( and has been for quite some time ) considered something that was only possible back then, and has no place in this 'modern' world.
All the various church leaders such as the Pope for the Catholic church, The prophet in the Mormons Latter day Saints or whatever other leaders, have a bad habit of usurping the Lord's position of being the head of His church. They take it upon themselves to be the judges and juries of all other people, and surely that was never meant to be.
It is no wonder that we do not see people being convinced that Jesus came from God, through what are termed 'believers'........We are missing the Love and the Truth, which can only come from above, and without that, how is His Kingdom supposed to be revealed ?
 

Job

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Can you tell me when you know someone who quotes Scripture is seeking the praise of men?


When they are politicians. Certainly not all, but a vast majority.

When their prayers go on for 5 minutes or more in front of an audience. I don't think the Lord's all that impressed with His word being spoken back to Him. Much of it in error no doubt.
 

bbyrd009

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Can you tell me when you know someone who quotes Scripture is seeking the praise of men?
There was nothing in your reply which identified how churches actually cultivate egos. It simply illustrated how they attract egos, which is quite easy to observe.

If you wish, I do know many of the ways churches in fact do cultivate egos. They are often quite good at doing so.
 

Garrison

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Isn't every person taught, by whatever church they go to, via this way ? What else is the writings in the Bible other than 'anecdotal' evidence ?
For us to know whether something is true, surely it takes the Holy Spirit to confirm it. I personally think it is a very dangerous thing to assume that a document written and translated and re-translated over and over again is as good as the Truth from Himself, and as I find out more and more, so very few are willing to take Jesus at His word and go to Him, to accept that He is a REAL resurrected being and well able to communicate with us.
I think the churches are guilty of keeping people from having a real relationship with Him, such as the early believers did. Somehow what happened to Saul ( Paul ) on the road to Damascus is now ( and has been for quite some time ) considered something that was only possible back then, and has no place in this 'modern' world.
All the various church leaders such as the Pope for the Catholic church, The prophet in the Mormons Latter day Saints or whatever other leaders, have a bad habit of usurping the Lord's position of being the head of His church. They take it upon themselves to be the judges and juries of all other people, and surely that was never meant to be.
It is no wonder that we do not see people being convinced that Jesus came from God, through what are termed 'believers'........We are missing the Love and the Truth, which can only come from above, and without that, how is His Kingdom supposed to be revealed ?
There is indeed much more to Scrupture than anecdotaly derived narrative. It is called "The Word of God." Does your church teach this?
 

pia

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There is indeed much more to Scrupture than anecdotaly derived narrative. It is called "The Word of God." Does your church teach this?
To me The Word Of God is Jesus.....I have attended quite a few churches in the past. and yes they called the Bible that too, but they all taught it differently.
 

Helen

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Thank you for sharing your thoughts. However, anectodally derived notions are not related to the axiomatic directives from Scripture, regardless of how many times one says "We/Us/Our" as if they represent the faith of others they do not know.

Can you tell me when you know someone who quotes Scripture is seeking the praise of men?

Why? Does it matter?!! o_O
Only God sees the hearts...and He is not saying...until the very end.

.
 

Garrison

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Why? Does it matter?!! o_O
Only God sees the hearts...and He is not saying...until the very end.

.
If "IT DOES NOT MATTER!", why do you presume to speak "We/Us/Our" as if you have been trained and appointed to speal for other people?

Lol.