Led of the Spirit — A.W. Tozer

The Privilege and Responsibility of Christian Witness

You have just as much burden lying on you to be a witness as Billy Graham has, or Charles King had, or as any other of the more celebrated leaders of that. You have that burden resting on you, and it's not only an obligation, it's a wonderful, wonderful privilege.

Are you ashamed when you travel abroad to say, I'm a Canadian? Are you ashamed? No, you're not ashamed. If you are, you ought to be ashamed. Am I ashamed, wherever I may be, to say I'm an American? No.

Living a Life That Exemplifies the Gospel

Americans do things I'm ashamed of, but the human race does that. But I'm not ashamed of my citizenship, and I am not ashamed of being a Christian. If your Christian witness is going to mean anything, you're going to have to live right and exemplify the life you're talking about.

Genuine Conversion Versus Mere Religious Profession

Moody told humorously of the man who staggered down the street and recognized Moody. He came up to him, wheezing back and forth as if he was on a ship's deck in a storm, and grabbed Moody's hand and said, Mr. Moody, I'm one of your converts.

Moody said, You look like one of mine. If God had converted you, we'd be walking straight up instead of staggering. He said, I must have made you a convert because God never did. He's right. That fellow is no witness.

The Need for a Spirit-Empowered Witness

What kind of witness could he give? I am a convert to Christ. A drunk man a convert to the Holy Lord Jesus, who says he gives men sound minds? No. You see, we need the Blessed Holy Spirit, and we need to witness.

Waiting for Power From on High

But don't think for a second that you're to be influenced by what I've said about witnessing tonight and determine, Well, starting Monday I'll be a witness. It doesn't work that way. Peter tried that one time, and the Lord said, No, tarry ye until ye be endued with power from on high, and then you'll be a witness.

The Holy Ghost as the Source of Effective Testimony

You can give your testimony, you can talk, you can let him have you, and he can clothe himself with you as he did with Gideon, and you can testify and witness, but it's the Holy Ghost in you, or it's no witness at all.

The Imperative of Spirit-Filled Christianity

So when I preach about the necessity for Christians to be Spirit-filled Christians, it's not a theory that I'm giving you, it is not attempting to bring people into conformity to a certain interpretation of scripture.

It is an imperative that will not be denied. Every individual here should be a witness, a testifier, somebody who goes to others and tells them that the Lord is risen indeed and has appeared unto Peter, and that that risen Lord has converted you, but you can't do it by yourself.

Dependence on the Holy Spirit Rather Than Methods

No books on how to win souls are any good. Don't buy them. The Holy Ghost is the best soul winner there is in all the wide world. And if he comes in and takes over, he'll make you want to tell what has happened to you.

Receiving Power to Become Witnesses

You shall receive power. Now, the question is, have we and do we? I don't think so, in any large measure or in very many people, because if we had received power in the spirit of power rested upon us, we would be witnesses.

We would feel within us an urge and urge to tell it. Well, I'm through for this evening, and I've simply given to you a little word about the necessity for individual witnesses to witness to Christ, to witness in the world in which you live.