



                          WITNESSING

    Do you have a problem witnessing for Christ?  For a few
short moments let us consider the qualifications of one of
God's prophets and witness, Isaiah.

Isa 6:5   He had a threefold vision;

          a. The holiness of God         Isa 6:1-3    "Holy, Holy, Holy"
          b. His own helpless position   Isa 6:5      "Unclean lips"
          c. The world's hopeless state  Isa 6:5      "Unclean people"

          This produced;

          a. A cry for help              Isa 6:5      "Woe is me"
          b. A Salvation experience      Isa 6:6-7    "sin purged"
          c. A willingness to go         Isa 6:8      "send me"

    Did God then just forget about Isaiah after he did what he was
told to do. NO!!  We will have to turn to the Chapter 50 for the
"rest of the story".

Isa 50:4  Note how God supplied:

          a. Knowledge                   Isa 50:4      "tongue of the
                                                        learned"

          b. Ability                     """"""""      "how to speak"

          c. The Message                 """"""""      "a word"

          d. The Proper Time             """"""""      "in season"

          e. The Person                  """"""""      "to him that is
                                                        weary"

Isa 50:4  It was a daily experience;

          a. A daily experience          Isa 50:4      "morning by
                                                        morning"

          b. New Knowledge               """"""""      "hear as the
                                                        learned"

          c. New Directions              Isa 50:5      "opened mine
                                                        ear"

Isa 50:5  He was obedient                "I was not rebellious neither
                                          turned away back"

What did all these things God provided Isaiah do for Him?

Isa 50:7  Confidence to face the problem:

          a. Divine Help and Presence     Isa 50:7      "will help me"

          b. Divine nearness              Isa 50:8      "he is near"








What did this confidence produce:

          a. He didn't hide               Isa 50:6      "I hid not my
                                                         face"

          b. He didn't become confounded  Isa 50:7      "not be confounded"

          c: He was not ashamed           """"""""      "not be ashamed"

          d: He was ready for anybody     """"""""      "who is my
                                                         adversary"


     This is what we all want and Isaiah gives us an invitation in the
tenth verse:

              "Who is among you that feareth the Lord,that
               obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh
               in darkness and hath no light"







I am going to stop right here for just a moment.  One can become confused
with the words Isaiah is using.  Please note the words "feareth" and
"obeyeth".  This should give us a hint to whom this invitation is directed.
Also note the words "darkness" and "hath no light".  I believe he is talking
not of the darkness of sin but the darkness of not having a witness.  Or
if you like how many of us hide our light.

Now to continue;

               "let him trust in the name of the Lord and
                stay upon his God"

This is were it all comes from. Not from man made programs. Not from
evangelism programs.  Not from our own ideas.  But from a trust and the
direction of an Holy God.

   Isaiah even issues a warning and the results of such efforts on our
own.  Take note of verse eleven:


               "Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that
                compass yourselves about with sparks: walk
                in the light of YOUR fire, and in the sparks
                that YE have kindled. This shall YE have of
                mine hand; YE SHALL lie down in sorrow."

There is nothing wrong with all the programs of evangelism.  However
when they become the fire and light by which you witness, the above
is sadly, in most, cases the results.

Which result do you want?






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