Christmas Witnessing – Joy to the World

INTRODUCTION

Christmas witnessing is all about sharing the Joy that we received with others, the joy is not about shopping, food, or anything materialistic but Jesus himself.

I heard a story about a woman who was doing her last-minute Christmas shopping at a crowded mall. She was tired of fighting the crowds, standing in lines, and fighting her way down long aisles looking for a gift that had sold out days before. Her arms were full of bulky packages when the Elevator door opened. It was full.

The occupants of the Elevator grudgingly moved to allow a small space for her and her load. As the doors closed she blurted out, “Whoever is responsible for this whole Christmas thing ought to be arrested and punished!” Then, from somewhere in the back of the elevator came a single voice that said, “Don’t worry. They already crucified him.”

The Reason for Christmas

We need to remember who is responsible for the whole Christmas theme. It is all about how

John 3:16

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 

Unfortunately, many people do not even know the reason for Christmas and are looking for joy anywhere and everywhere else. An interviewer once asked Madonna: “Are you a happy person?” She replied, “I am a tormented person. I’m wrestling a lot of demons. But I want to be happy. I have moments of happiness. I am working towards knowing myself. and I assume that will bring me happiness.”

One of the messages of Christ’s birth is recorded in

Luke 2: 8

As Jesus was born there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 

Luke 2:9-10

⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 

Happiness

Pretty much everybody wants happiness. People go to every extent to find happiness. People work hard to buy possessions that can make them happy. They look for happiness in entertainment, hobbies, sports, passions, and various addictions. Some like Madonna look deep within, thinking maybe that’s where happiness is hiding.

When you consider that happiness seems to be man’s main goal, it seems surprising that the Bible doesn’t talk much about happiness. But the Bible says a lot about something that is often confused with happiness. The Bible says a lot about joy. The kind of joy the Bible talks about goes much deeper than mere happiness.

You see, happiness deals with what is happening. Happiness depends on circumstance. For some people, happiness is nothing more than a temporary interruption to boredom. Grace always comes and tells me, “Daddy I’m bored, what to do?” That means, “I want some happiness, and I’m not finding it!”

Joy

Genuine joy, on the other hand, does not depend on what’s happening. Joy is an inner sense of well-being that has nothing to do with circumstance. The kind of joy the Bible describes can’t be found in possessions, entertainment or anything in this world. Real joy can be found only in the Lord. That is why the song says “Joy to the world the Lord has come.”

There is a God vacuum in every life. If we look deeply within ourselves, we will not find happiness, but we will find that space that only God can fill. If you receive Christ as King of your life, He provides Joy. In the same way that your body craves food, in the same way, your Spirit craves a relationship with God. If you have the joy of Christ in you say an Amen!

Now, as much as we have received this joy we have a responsibility to share this joy with the others around us. This message is unreached.

Romans 10:14 

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? As we continue to fill our hearts with this joy, let’s also share this joy with others as we get into the season of Christmas this year.

The reason many are not witnessing their joy

John 7:10-13 10

¹⁰ However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. ¹¹ Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, “Where is he?” ¹² Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.” Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” ¹³ But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders. Old Testament Made Easy

We are supposed to be witnessing but most of us do not witness because we are afraid. Believers are afraid to speak publicly about Jesus. We feel we would ruin Christmas if we witnessed during these Joyful times.

ILLUSTRATION

A survey was given to those attending training sessions for a Billy Graham crusade in Detroit. One question asked, “What is your greatest hindrance to witnessing?” None said they didn’t care. 9% said they were too busy to remember to do it. 28% felt a lack of real information to share. 12% said their own lives were not speaking as they should. But for the largest group, 51% of people’s biggest problem was the fear of how the other person would react!

You see fear is a big stumbling block to our witnessing. It is a realistic fear. It is the fear of rejection, and embarrassment, being labelled as a fanatic, being thought of differently, or not being liked by friends anymore. Listen, you aren’t the first to be afraid; it’s common to man since the 1st Century but we can overcome our fear.

Keys to witnessing your joy this Christmas

Here are some practical tips to help you overcome your fear of witnessing.

1. Be filled.

Be filled with the Holy Spirit.

ILLUSTRATION

 The disciple Peter was afraid of the arrest of Jesus. He followed the procession of Jesus’ arrest as far as the house of the high priest. As he sat in the courtyard and warmed himself at the fire, a young lady recognized him and tried to point him out, and he denied Jesus 3 times. The third time Peter cursed and swore that he did not know Jesus. You see here, the fear of being a witness.

But in

Acts 4:13

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

KJV Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

The KJV says Peter spoke boldly. What made the difference in Acts 4? What happened? Acts 2 happened! Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gave him the boldness to witness.

ILLUSTRATION

Imagine cutting a tree with only the handle of the axe, you get nowhere! If you use the sharp cutting edge of the axe, the tree falls.

In witnessing the cutting edge is the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit will get their attention. The Holy Spirit makes the people listen. The Holy Spirit brings conviction. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. How can I be filled?

Steps to being filled by the Holy Spirit:

a. Self-examination.

Take time daily in prayer and in the Word to examine ourselves.

b. Confess.

After we see what is wrong, confess it. That is cleansing.

 1 John 1:9 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Ask God to bring your sins to mind, and name them one by one. Our problem is we want to sin retail and confess wholesale, not be specific.

c. Repent.

Repentance is fixing things right with God. Turning from our sins is a change of mind. You see, God won’t use a dirty vessel. He doesn’t put His powerful hand into a dirty glove to do His work!

God does not want to use a dirty vessel. We need to be cleansed for the Holy Spirit to flow through us.

d. Ask.

Ask God to fill you.

Luke 11:13 

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Examine, confess, repent, and ask you to have the Holy Spirit with you. And fear will flee when you’re filled with the Holy Spirit.

2. Pray

Pray about your fear.
Psalm 34:4 

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

Remember it is God’s will that people be saved

It is God’s will that we have the Wisdom to witness.

It is God’s will we have deliverance from Fear, too!

Pray for deliverance from fear and God will strengthen you.

3. Claim God’s presence.

Matthew 28:19-20 

¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.One look at all the 39 books – Part 1

Jesus said, “I am with you always”. Claim that promise! I’m not alone. Jesus is more with me when I make His last command my first concern!

He brought us to faith so that we can bring others to Jesus. God has planted us in specific places for a purpose so that we can bring others to him. Christmas is one of those times that we can serve.

You have been planted in your neighborhood, your job, and your family for a purpose. Wherever you are, you are uniquely qualified and gifted to reach out to a circle that no one else can!

Why did God give you that Job? We have a great purpose for our job other than your salary. It is not just doing that maintenance, working in that office, driving that vehicle, making those phone calls, running that machine, digging that ditch, negotiating that deal, coding the software, stocking those shelves, selling insurance, but to support you in your real job, soul winning! And that makes going to work all the more worthwhile, we are to witness!

4. Don’t be afraid to witness.

Do not be afraid of making mistakes. The biggest mistake people make is they do not try because they are afraid of making mistakes. So they say nothing.

God will still use your witness even if you make a mistake. He blesses your obedience to try. You see, it is not about you, you cannot save them. When you open your mouth, even if you make a mistake God will make it up. You start witnessing that God will fill your mouth with the right words, just try.

Example:

Jesus early in his ministry called a few of his disciples. Philip joined the team and is trying to be a witness but he is making a mistake in his witnessing.

John 1:45-49 

⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (Is that accurate? No Jesus is not the son of Joseph. It is a mistake.) ⁴⁶ “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. (He is still trying.)

⁴⁷ When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” ⁴⁸ “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” (Philip might have been the witness but Jesus was looking. He was watching from above and he was controlling what was going to happen.) ⁴⁹ Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” You are not the son of Joseph, you are the Son of God.

There were mistakes in Philip’s witnessing, but he tried his best and Jesus made the difference. You try to witness; that God does His best work despite us!

I speak the Word of God as your pastor. It is God who speaks to you despite me. Sometimes I think I am the least satisfied with my preaching but then I hear how God used it uniquely to minister to people! See, God works despite us. Do not be afraid of making mistakes.

5. To witnesses, have a soul-winning plan.

First, connect to people. You connect to different people differently, so you are the best to know how to start a conversation.

Once you connect, move to the witnessing mode. You can start like this, start with an apology. “I need to tell you that God told me to tell you but I did not, so I apologize but I need to tell you now. If you want to witness this is a simple procedure.”

You can take another approach of telling how happy you are in life and you would like to share that joy.

1. In Witnessing mention that God loves all people.

John 3:16 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

2. All are sinners.

Romans 3:23

 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

3. Sin must be paid for.

Romans 6:23

 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

4. In witnessing mention that Jesus paid for your sins.

Romans 5:8 

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

5. Trust Jesus as your Saviour.

Romans 10:13

For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Open your mouth and let God fill it!

CONCLUSION:

Apostle Paul is a great example of a person who used his time, profession, education, and opportunities to witness the Lord. He always was preaching, witnessing, disciplining, or visiting. He could have settled down in a large church in Antioch but went out and witnessed as there were people to be reached.

1 Corinthians 9:16

 Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel. He is saying, for me, witnessing is not an option, reaching the souls is not a suggestion, for me, it is a command and I am passionate about it.

Christmas, Jesus coming to this world is a joy to the world. Let’s make full use of this season to preach the real joy that can reach our people.