What does the bible say about witnessing ?

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Witnessing, which can be described as having Jesus in our hearts and giving him to others in our words and actions, is a work of the Holy Spirit through Christians, who are willing to dispose themselves and respond to an age-long call for evangelization.

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Proclamation is very basic to our growth as Christians because all of us live in the age of Pentecost – the outpouring of the spirit. The final effect of the Pentecost event was to make the disciples, especially, peter to proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior. Christ as already prophesied this to be fruit of the spirit’s coming,

“you will receive power when the holy spirit comes down on you and then you will be my witness… even to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1: 8).

Bearing witness is the basis of our empowerment. What is the use of the spirit in us if we do not go out to live out our Christian demands?

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Thus, every Christian configured in the image of Jesus is of necessity, obligated to bear witness to the gospel. By our baptism, we receive a mark of God in us and thus empowered by the Holy Spirit who gives us the commissioning to go out and bear fruits. This is witnessing. As the light of the world,

“… your light must shine before men so that they may see Goodness in your acts and give praise to your heavenly Father”(Matthew 5; 15).

In this passage, Jesus makes emphasis on our action as Christians bearing in mind our entire life style. Furthermore, he tells us that if we deny him before men, he will also deny us before his heavenly Father. Proclamation is not just preaching the good news as not all of us are called to do that, but principally, it involves witnessing with our lives. This is particularly important, because those called to preach the word have a serious obligation to practice what they teach. Thus the more we share the light of God in us with others, the more in turn will the spirit set us in fire with his light and love.

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In our life as Christians, we are empowered by God with many gifts and charisms and it is by witnessing that the manifestation of these spiritual gifts will be seen in our lives. The attitude of the Christian must be the same as Christ’s – docility in letting the Spirit work through them, a desire to proclaim the goodness and reign of God. Jesus bears witness to God who has sent him; confirming this he says;

“The words I speak are not spoken of myself; it is the Father who lives in me accomplishing his work. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me, or else, believe because of the works I do. I solemnly assure you, the man who has faith in me will do works I do, and far greater than these. Why? Because I go to the Father, and whatever you ask in m name I will do so as to glorify the Son.” (John 14: 10- 14).

As Christians we should emulate Christ, by following him and witnessing to him anywhere we find ourselves, both in words and in actions.