Life On the Witness Stand
Part One
Throughout my thirty-year career in law-enforcement, I was called upon to testify from every conceivable witness stand that the criminal and civil institutions for the administration of justice system have to offer.
I can speak from experience in regards to the pressure, and even the frustration, that a witness goes through while being questioned, and especially cross-examined, on a witness stand.
Witnesses are sworn to tell the WHOLE truth, but the whole truth is often limited by only being allowed to respond to the carefully crafted questions from opposing attorneys that have very different objectives in mind.
There are times when witnesses are declared hostile witnesses before their testimony even begins, allowing the questioners greater latitude in asking leading questions.
In the spiritual realm, born-again believers, in their capacity as advancing disciples and ambassadors, are called to take the witness stand daily (1) Luke 9: 23), by way of all that they do and speak.
They too, will experience the adversity, and even the frustration, of being a witness for Christ. This is especially true in labor or social settings where the requirements of being politically correct would impede one’s participation in the Great Commission.
As if this weren’t enough, there are times when, like Paul, the advancing disciple will face the Gal. 4: 16 realities.
“So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth (Gal. 4: 16 NASB)?”
The unspoken testimony of our daily lives, and the words that we do speak, either contributes to the plans of God, or to the alternative plans of Satan. There is no neutral or demilitarized zone in the realm of spiritual warfare. God’s plans for the Church Age are laid out in the Great Commission of Matt. 28: 19, 20.
The devil’s plan is revealed in 1Pet. 5: 8. The plan of God calls the for the evangelization of souls through the proclamation of the unadulterated Gospel Message, followed up by the teaching of accurate Bible Doctrine for the development of post-salvation discipleship in the earthly lives of those who have been born again.
The devil’s plans are to impede the proclamation of the unadulterated Gospel Message, and to impede the teaching and application of accurate Bible Doctrine. The devil executes his plan by promoting false Gospels (means of salvation) and false doctrines WITHIN (2) 2Cor. 11: 14) and outside (3) Psalms 96: 5) of the Christian Community. For those born-again believers that become disciples, the devil’s plan is to impede their productivity.
Sooner or later, every born-again believer will either become a Mark 4: 18-19, or a Mark 4: 20, member of the Christian Community.
“… these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful (Mark 4: 18, 19 NASB).”
“And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold (Mark 9: 20 NASB.” I
t matters not (to the devil) if he impedes the production of a Church Age believer by offers of prosperity (4) Luke 4: 5, 6) or by imposing adversity (5) Job 1, Job 2), as long as it results in the believer’s lack of production.
Neither strategy worked for the devil when dealing with the Lord Jesus Christ, but has worked quite well when dealing with many who claim to be His followers.
The resulting conflict between the forces of good and evil primarily takes place in the soul where humans do their thinking. Our speech and overt behavior are the result of what first takes place in the thought processes of the soul (6) Proverbs 23: 7).
Satan is a master in the art of counterfeiting virtually everything that God provides, making his false gospels (means of salvation), and false doctrine appear to be the real thing(s), and having come from God.
In the midst of spiritual combat, He has mastered the art of putting a different spin on quotes of Scriptures (7) Luke 4/Matt 4). In other cases, he flat out disputes what God has said (8) Gen. 3: 4).
A born-again believer's failure to build a Biblically-sound soul structure (9) Matt. 7: 24-27) makes him or her an easy target for the deceptive ways of the devil (10) Hosea 4: 6).
Sad to say, but for many Christians, their “knowledge” of what God has to say is limited to what someone else told them, without taking into consideration who that someone else might be (11) John 8: 44/2Cor. 11: 14, 15).
God’s plan calls for the salvation of unbelievers, and for the edification of those who have been born-again.
After being saved, God’s plan calls for the development of Biblical discipleship. Biblical discipleship begins with the daily intake and application of the Word of God for one’s own spiritual growth, but with the long-term objective of participating in the Great Commission (12) Matt. 28: 19, 20.
Advancing disciples might ask, “Where do I fit into the Great Commission?”. All that one has to do to locate the “mission field” that God has in mind for him or her, is to shut one’s eyes, open them again, and THERE you are! Your assigned mission field is anywhere you find yourself 24-7.IF there are to be any changes, God will arrange for them to take place.
Satan’s plan calls for silencing the presentation of the unadulterated Gospel Message to unbelievers, and for the promotion of false doctrine and practices WITHIN the Christian Community. The fact that Church would be the last place that a nominal Christian would expect to be deceived is what makes an apostate pulpit one of the devil’s greatest assets.
Having been deceived, apostate clergy unwittingly become advocates for the devil.
As unwitting as they may be, a bullet fired in ignorance can be just as lethal as one that is fired with malicious intent.
The Pharisees were a very strict religious group when it came to The Law, but became the blind leading the blind (13) Matt. 15: 14). God took the hard-driven devotion (14) Acts 8: 3) that Paul (a former Pharisee) had, and redirected it, making him one of the most committed and productive Apostle.
The devil does not persecute the followers of the many Psalms 96: 5 false religions of the world.
Why should he disturb their comfort zone when he already has them right where he wants them to be, serving his purposes?
The devil’s only concern is when an evangelist comes on the scene, promoting the unadulterated Gospel Message.
Having been born-again, believers already have an understanding of the unadulterated Gospel Message, and are called to share it with unbelievers whose path they cross every day in their personal peripheries.
Those who only HOPE that they are Heaven-bound do not have a clear understanding of the unadulterated Gospel Message.
Those who do have a clear understanding KNOW they are Heaven-bound.
This knowing is not arrogance. In fact, it is genuine humility. Those who understand the unadulterated Gospel Message acknowledge that their salvation was not the result of their deeds, behavior, or “religious” activity, but solely based on their faith in the Person, and the atoning Work, of the Lord Jesus Christ.
As the born-again believers responds and advances in the post salvation life of discipleship, they are called to continue to learn (15) 2Pet. 3: 18), and apply (16) James 1: 22), and share (17) Matt. 28: 19, 20) the unadulterated Gospel Message with unbelievers, and to share accurate Bible Doctrine with fellow believers when God gives them opportunity (18) 1Pet. 3: 15) to do so.
Participating in the Great Commission is what gives meaning and purpose to every day of an advancing disciple’s post salvation spiritual life, regardless of where he or she is or what he or she is otherwise doing.
The more of a threat that one’s spoken or unspoken testimony can be to the plan of Satan, the more intense the adversity or the cross-examination will be.
When the Eph. 6: 12 forces of evil can’t attack the message, they attack the messenger.
Every day, God gives us the opportunity to present the unspoken testimony of our lifestyle.
On many days, God gives us the opportunity to share the unadulterated Gospel Message with unbelievers, and edifying Bible Doctrine with fellow believers.
If diabolical induced adversity is not a part of one’s ongoing experience in one’s daily walk with the Lord, it’s time for a 2Cor. 13: 5 self-examination, as everyone who lives (19) Phil. 1: 21) for God (20) 2Tim. 3: 12) WILL be persecuted.
The suffering that we experience that is common to Man is NOT suffering for Christ. Suffering for Christ comes from our overt participation in the Great Commission, as we pick up the (message of the) cross, and follow Him daily (21) Luke 9: 23) into a world that has been darkened by sin. The darker the environment, the brighter His light, through us, will shine.
Just as Jesus often contended with the “religious” leadership of His day, it won’t be too far along the road of Biblical discipleship, before one discovers that his or her more intense adversity will come from WITHIN the “Christian” Community.
The existence of different denominations and non-denominational groups is evidence that there is much disagreement within the Christian Community as to what the truth is, even though each group believes it is they who have all the answers.
The truth begins with a clear understanding of the unadulterated Gospel Message that explains the need (22) John 3: 7) and the means (23) John 3: 16) to be born-again.
Being born-again is the result of making a one-time decision to believe (to place one’s personal trust and confidence) in the atoning Work of the Lord Jesus Christ that He finished (24) John 19: 30) on the cross.
Promoting any further requirements is what produces adulterated Gospel Messages, false doctrines, and accompanying religious activity.
Having laid the foundation of the unadulterated Gospel Message, the born-again believers THEN have the opportunity to embrace the post salvation life of discipleship. The post salvation life of discipleship involves the daily, ongoing study and application of the Word of God for one’s own spiritual growth, but with the long-term objective of participating in the Great Commission.
End of Part One
________________
(1) Luke 1: 23 (2) 2Cor. 11: 14 (3) Psalms 96: 5 (4) Luke 4: 5, 6. (5) Job 1/Job 2 (6) Prov. 23:7 (7) Matt. 4/Luke 4 (8) Gen. 3: 4 (9) Matt. 7: 24-27 (10) Hosea 4: 6 (11) John 8: 44/2cor. 11: 14, 15 (12) Matt. 28: 19, 20 (13) Matt. 15: 14 (14) Acts 8: 3 (15) 2Pet.3: 18 (16) James 1: 22 (17) Matt. 28: 19, 20 (18) 1Pet. 3: 15 (19) Phil. 1: 21 (20) 2Tim. 3: 12 (21) Luke 9: 23 (22) John 3: 7 (23) John 3: 16 (24) John 19: 30
Part One
Throughout my thirty-year career in law-enforcement, I was called upon to testify from every conceivable witness stand that the criminal and civil institutions for the administration of justice system have to offer.
I can speak from experience in regards to the pressure, and even the frustration, that a witness goes through while being questioned, and especially cross-examined, on a witness stand.
Witnesses are sworn to tell the WHOLE truth, but the whole truth is often limited by only being allowed to respond to the carefully crafted questions from opposing attorneys that have very different objectives in mind.
There are times when witnesses are declared hostile witnesses before their testimony even begins, allowing the questioners greater latitude in asking leading questions.
In the spiritual realm, born-again believers, in their capacity as advancing disciples and ambassadors, are called to take the witness stand daily (1) Luke 9: 23), by way of all that they do and speak.
They too, will experience the adversity, and even the frustration, of being a witness for Christ. This is especially true in labor or social settings where the requirements of being politically correct would impede one’s participation in the Great Commission.
As if this weren’t enough, there are times when, like Paul, the advancing disciple will face the Gal. 4: 16 realities.
“So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth (Gal. 4: 16 NASB)?”
The unspoken testimony of our daily lives, and the words that we do speak, either contributes to the plans of God, or to the alternative plans of Satan. There is no neutral or demilitarized zone in the realm of spiritual warfare. God’s plans for the Church Age are laid out in the Great Commission of Matt. 28: 19, 20.
The devil’s plan is revealed in 1Pet. 5: 8. The plan of God calls the for the evangelization of souls through the proclamation of the unadulterated Gospel Message, followed up by the teaching of accurate Bible Doctrine for the development of post-salvation discipleship in the earthly lives of those who have been born again.
The devil’s plans are to impede the proclamation of the unadulterated Gospel Message, and to impede the teaching and application of accurate Bible Doctrine. The devil executes his plan by promoting false Gospels (means of salvation) and false doctrines WITHIN (2) 2Cor. 11: 14) and outside (3) Psalms 96: 5) of the Christian Community. For those born-again believers that become disciples, the devil’s plan is to impede their productivity.
Sooner or later, every born-again believer will either become a Mark 4: 18-19, or a Mark 4: 20, member of the Christian Community.
“… these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful (Mark 4: 18, 19 NASB).”
“And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold (Mark 9: 20 NASB.” I
t matters not (to the devil) if he impedes the production of a Church Age believer by offers of prosperity (4) Luke 4: 5, 6) or by imposing adversity (5) Job 1, Job 2), as long as it results in the believer’s lack of production.
Neither strategy worked for the devil when dealing with the Lord Jesus Christ, but has worked quite well when dealing with many who claim to be His followers.
The resulting conflict between the forces of good and evil primarily takes place in the soul where humans do their thinking. Our speech and overt behavior are the result of what first takes place in the thought processes of the soul (6) Proverbs 23: 7).
Satan is a master in the art of counterfeiting virtually everything that God provides, making his false gospels (means of salvation), and false doctrine appear to be the real thing(s), and having come from God.
In the midst of spiritual combat, He has mastered the art of putting a different spin on quotes of Scriptures (7) Luke 4/Matt 4). In other cases, he flat out disputes what God has said (8) Gen. 3: 4).
A born-again believer's failure to build a Biblically-sound soul structure (9) Matt. 7: 24-27) makes him or her an easy target for the deceptive ways of the devil (10) Hosea 4: 6).
Sad to say, but for many Christians, their “knowledge” of what God has to say is limited to what someone else told them, without taking into consideration who that someone else might be (11) John 8: 44/2Cor. 11: 14, 15).
God’s plan calls for the salvation of unbelievers, and for the edification of those who have been born-again.
After being saved, God’s plan calls for the development of Biblical discipleship. Biblical discipleship begins with the daily intake and application of the Word of God for one’s own spiritual growth, but with the long-term objective of participating in the Great Commission (12) Matt. 28: 19, 20.
Advancing disciples might ask, “Where do I fit into the Great Commission?”. All that one has to do to locate the “mission field” that God has in mind for him or her, is to shut one’s eyes, open them again, and THERE you are! Your assigned mission field is anywhere you find yourself 24-7.IF there are to be any changes, God will arrange for them to take place.
Satan’s plan calls for silencing the presentation of the unadulterated Gospel Message to unbelievers, and for the promotion of false doctrine and practices WITHIN the Christian Community. The fact that Church would be the last place that a nominal Christian would expect to be deceived is what makes an apostate pulpit one of the devil’s greatest assets.
Having been deceived, apostate clergy unwittingly become advocates for the devil.
As unwitting as they may be, a bullet fired in ignorance can be just as lethal as one that is fired with malicious intent.
The Pharisees were a very strict religious group when it came to The Law, but became the blind leading the blind (13) Matt. 15: 14). God took the hard-driven devotion (14) Acts 8: 3) that Paul (a former Pharisee) had, and redirected it, making him one of the most committed and productive Apostle.
The devil does not persecute the followers of the many Psalms 96: 5 false religions of the world.
Why should he disturb their comfort zone when he already has them right where he wants them to be, serving his purposes?
The devil’s only concern is when an evangelist comes on the scene, promoting the unadulterated Gospel Message.
Having been born-again, believers already have an understanding of the unadulterated Gospel Message, and are called to share it with unbelievers whose path they cross every day in their personal peripheries.
Those who only HOPE that they are Heaven-bound do not have a clear understanding of the unadulterated Gospel Message.
Those who do have a clear understanding KNOW they are Heaven-bound.
This knowing is not arrogance. In fact, it is genuine humility. Those who understand the unadulterated Gospel Message acknowledge that their salvation was not the result of their deeds, behavior, or “religious” activity, but solely based on their faith in the Person, and the atoning Work, of the Lord Jesus Christ.
As the born-again believers responds and advances in the post salvation life of discipleship, they are called to continue to learn (15) 2Pet. 3: 18), and apply (16) James 1: 22), and share (17) Matt. 28: 19, 20) the unadulterated Gospel Message with unbelievers, and to share accurate Bible Doctrine with fellow believers when God gives them opportunity (18) 1Pet. 3: 15) to do so.
Participating in the Great Commission is what gives meaning and purpose to every day of an advancing disciple’s post salvation spiritual life, regardless of where he or she is or what he or she is otherwise doing.
The more of a threat that one’s spoken or unspoken testimony can be to the plan of Satan, the more intense the adversity or the cross-examination will be.
When the Eph. 6: 12 forces of evil can’t attack the message, they attack the messenger.
Every day, God gives us the opportunity to present the unspoken testimony of our lifestyle.
On many days, God gives us the opportunity to share the unadulterated Gospel Message with unbelievers, and edifying Bible Doctrine with fellow believers.
If diabolical induced adversity is not a part of one’s ongoing experience in one’s daily walk with the Lord, it’s time for a 2Cor. 13: 5 self-examination, as everyone who lives (19) Phil. 1: 21) for God (20) 2Tim. 3: 12) WILL be persecuted.
The suffering that we experience that is common to Man is NOT suffering for Christ. Suffering for Christ comes from our overt participation in the Great Commission, as we pick up the (message of the) cross, and follow Him daily (21) Luke 9: 23) into a world that has been darkened by sin. The darker the environment, the brighter His light, through us, will shine.
Just as Jesus often contended with the “religious” leadership of His day, it won’t be too far along the road of Biblical discipleship, before one discovers that his or her more intense adversity will come from WITHIN the “Christian” Community.
The existence of different denominations and non-denominational groups is evidence that there is much disagreement within the Christian Community as to what the truth is, even though each group believes it is they who have all the answers.
The truth begins with a clear understanding of the unadulterated Gospel Message that explains the need (22) John 3: 7) and the means (23) John 3: 16) to be born-again.
Being born-again is the result of making a one-time decision to believe (to place one’s personal trust and confidence) in the atoning Work of the Lord Jesus Christ that He finished (24) John 19: 30) on the cross.
Promoting any further requirements is what produces adulterated Gospel Messages, false doctrines, and accompanying religious activity.
Having laid the foundation of the unadulterated Gospel Message, the born-again believers THEN have the opportunity to embrace the post salvation life of discipleship. The post salvation life of discipleship involves the daily, ongoing study and application of the Word of God for one’s own spiritual growth, but with the long-term objective of participating in the Great Commission.
End of Part One
________________
(1) Luke 1: 23 (2) 2Cor. 11: 14 (3) Psalms 96: 5 (4) Luke 4: 5, 6. (5) Job 1/Job 2 (6) Prov. 23:7 (7) Matt. 4/Luke 4 (8) Gen. 3: 4 (9) Matt. 7: 24-27 (10) Hosea 4: 6 (11) John 8: 44/2cor. 11: 14, 15 (12) Matt. 28: 19, 20 (13) Matt. 15: 14 (14) Acts 8: 3 (15) 2Pet.3: 18 (16) James 1: 22 (17) Matt. 28: 19, 20 (18) 1Pet. 3: 15 (19) Phil. 1: 21 (20) 2Tim. 3: 12 (21) Luke 9: 23 (22) John 3: 7 (23) John 3: 16 (24) John 19: 30