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Testifying About Jesus

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Testifying About Jesus


John 4:16 - 19 - He said to her, "Go, call your husband and come here." The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have correctly said, 'I have no husband';for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly." The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.

Jesus demonstrates in the above Scripture the use of the gift of prophecy in relation to evangelism. He reveals himself to the woman by using this prophetic gift. The woman immediately runs to the town and begins to tell people about the Messiah.

Principles we can gain here are:

• Prophecy gets people’s attention.
• Prophecy reveals God and His plan.
• God will use whoever He chooses and He normally chooses unlikely candidates.

Luke 24:49 - "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

In the above Scripture Jesus is speaking to his disciples. He tells them clearly to stay where they are and not Minister until they have the power to do so.

Acts 1:8 – "but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

Jesus is saying in Acts 1:8 that only after the power of the Holy Spirit is received should the disciples begin witness.

The ministry of Jesus Christ should not be done in the flesh. The ministry of Jesus Christ should be done under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit.

When ministry is done through the anointing of the Holy Spirit God gets the credit not man. The anointing convicts the hearts of unbelievers and builds the kingdom of God with a model that Jesus asked us to follow.

Ministering in the prophetic is not an option — it is a commandment. 1Corinthians 14:39 - Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy.

All believers have a scriptural mandate to continue the ministry of Jesus Christ.

This ministry is to be done with the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.

Prophecy and other gifts of the spirit clearly demonstrate the supernatural power of God.

Ministry prophetically will accomplish more in a short period of time than years of ministering with our natural ability.

Jesus knew that His supernatural works would convince people that He was the son of God.

John 14:11 - "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves."

We are told to do the same works that Jesus did - John 14:12 - "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father."

The supernatural works of the Holy Spirit give testimony of Christ.

As believers our primary purpose is to give testimony of Christ. All gifts of the Holy Spirit ultimately should point to Jesus Christ. If they do not then the gift is a counterfeit gift.

Revelation 19:10b - "For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

So what we must do as believers is to continually hear God and proclaimed His truth throughout this world. The way this is done is through the gift of prophecy.

As Christians it is vital that we asked for the gift of prophecy.

It is important that we stir up this gift (practice).

It is important that we continually use this gift to testify of our wonderful Savior.

Study Questions:

1. Explain the importance of the prophetic gift in context with John 4:16 – 19.
2. Explain why in the context of Luke 24:49 Jesus told his disciples to stay in the city.
3. Why should the ministry of Jesus Christ be done supernaturally?
4. What is your response to 1 Corinthians 14: 39?

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