Becoming a Faithful Witness

It’s all about Jesus!

Hebrews 12:2 says He’s “the founder and perfecter of our faith” (ESV). This means that Jesus is the perfect example of what it looks like to be faithful to God.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner” (John 5:19).

As we follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit makes us more like Him. Our hands extend His healing, our feet go where He leads, and our mouths speak what He says.

This is glorious—the best life possible—but it’s not without trials. Just like Jesus, there will be times when we must speak the truth, even when it hurts.

The Lord has many titles and descriptions in the Bible. Jesus’ first title in the book of Revelation is “the faithful witness” (Revelation 1:5). As the dynamics of the end times increase, we will need Jesus’ example of speaking difficult things. Instead of conforming to the culture, we as Christians will be called to challenge what society says is normal and speak the difficult things.

“Jesus’ first title in Revelation emphasizes His prophetic teaching as a faithful witness of the truth,” says Mike Bickle, IHOPKC’s director. “He loved the truth and faithfully spoke it without backing down, even when it led to His death. Thus, He understands our challenges in being faithful witnesses in the end times.”

Before Jesus returns, Christians will face tremendous pressures to compromise on truth. That includes things like Jesus being fully God and fully man (not only one or the other), that He died a sinless death on the cross, and that He’s the only way to salvation.

The world will shake and there will be persecution, famine, and war (Matthew 24:7–9). People will be so desperate for answers that “they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3, NIV). Many false prophets and false christs will come, preaching a message that sounds good but leads to death (Matthew 7:15).

In this environment, the Lord is preparing forerunner messengers who will faithfully proclaim Jesus and His return, no matter what pressures arise. These bold men and women will release truth to all who will hear, reaching the lost and stirring the Church to live as an equally-yoked bride to Christ.

To become a faithful witness, start with receiving the knowledge of Jesus deep within, drawing near to Him in prayer and worship, and then following His example as a faithful messenger of truth.

“The Lord is calling His people to be faithful witnesses with great allegiance to Jesus’ heart for the Church, Israel, and the nations,” Mike says in his teaching on speaking boldly. “Our witness for truth must be clear, bold, fearless, and tender.”

This commitment is difficult, he adds, because “it affects our relationships, image, and identity at a deep level.”

Faithful witnesses commit to pleasing heaven and doing what the Lord says, not what the culture wants. There is often a call to speak truth to power (like John the Baptist telling Herod the truth about his adultery, which cost John his life), and this is costly.

But the challenge also roots our identity in something eternal, in something greater than earth. Those who live for heaven now will be great in the age to come.

“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord’” (Matthew 25:21).

Being a faithful witness is a call to dynamic partnership with heaven. As messengers, we will proclaim salvation, call people to pray, expose lies and false beliefs, and announce Jesus’ return. The Lord will also use witnesses to bring understanding of His judgments and to give understanding to praying them in at the proper time.

The cost is real, but the reward is great–shaping history, building the kingdom, and pleasing the Lord, not men.

Watch Mike’s full teaching on Being a Faithful Witness »

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Adam Wittenberg

position

A Detroit native who was raised in Vermont and Connecticut, Adam worked as a newspaper journalist until 2012, when he moved to Kansas City to complete the Intro to IHOPKC internship. Afterwards, he earned a four-year certificate in House of Prayer Leadership from IHOPU and is now on full-time staff in the Marketing department at IHOPKC. He also serves in the NightWatch (overnight prayer hours) and is active in evangelism. He, and his wife Stephany, have a vision to reach people everywhere with the good news of Jesus Christ.