Sermon - Jeff Raines - What Kind of Witnesses? [Exodus 20:16]

First Baptist Shreveport

October 20, 2024 - Dr Jeff Raines

What is our most important job as Christians? Before Jesus ascended, he left us with these words:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…”

Acts 1:8

We are to add our voice to those witnesses. We must have an authentic experience with Jesus and live lives of transformation consistent with the gospel. We can’t be faithful witnesses to Jesus if we are false witnesses about everything else.

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

Exodus 20:16

Today’s action step: fully commit to the truth

How can we be fully committed to the truth? Practice truth in the small things so that we’re ready to tell the truth in the big things. Lying in small things erodes trust. Pride, gossip, a consumer culture, political divisions, AI generated images- all of these are barriers to living in truth. Jesus never told us to set aside his teachings in order to gain power. We should never share something unless we’ve done the work to make sure that it’s true.

We may find ourselves in a culture of lies, but we have a different and higher calling. Don’t give up on the truth. Jesus tells us in John 14 that he will give us the Spirit of truth.

If we want to cling to the truth, cling to Jesus. Listen to Jesus. He calls us to truth.