五項見證

FIVE WITNESSES

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. Jesus then left them and went away.   Matthew16:1-4  

It’s a reasonable question. But why does Jesus call them wicked, adulterous and hypocrites for asking Him to give them a sign? Obviously something is up! Obviously Jesus expected them to know certain truths and not to expect a sign. But many we meet want God to give them a sign.

Our Generation

1. Wicked, Adulterous and Hypocritical

 A. Why did Jesus call them these things? Why is it wicked, adulterous and hypocritical? They were looking for a sign when they willing chose to turn their eyes from all the other signs God had given them. The same is true today! We live in a wicked, adulterous and hypocritical generation that seeks after assign.

B. Wicked because it chooses to ignore God’s signs. Adulterous because they willingly cling to philosophies that oppose God. Hypocritical because they ask for a new sight when in fact they have the power to discern the truth but refuse to take the effort. They can discern the stock market etc. but not the truth.

2. No Excuse for Unbelief

  A. God has given us many sign already if we would but discern them. I have found at least 5 that anybody if they would discern with honesty would lead to salvation. Creation, conscience, God’s Word, Believers, and the Holy Spirit. Anyone with honesty when they look at the signs God has given should believe.

  B. This is why the world and Satan attacks these witnesses. They are under attack even right now and therefore we need to defend them and help and help people see. We must realize that there is no excuse for not believing. They will never be able to face God and say, “God you never showed me. You never gave me a sign!”

  3. Burden of Proof

    A. What does the burden of proof lie? In America you are innocent until proven guilty. In Taiwan I heard someone say you are guilty until proven innocent. Most people put the burden of proof on God. They say until He proves to me He is real will I believe. But they got it backwards! There is enough evidence for God’s existence and Jesus as Savior all around them.

    B. What we should tell them is prove God does not exist! They should assume He exists until proven not. But if they do this it means a real and honest look at the signs has given us and they don’t really want to do that!

The Five Witnesses

1. Creation

  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Romans1:20

  A. I know it’s repeating but faith comes by hearing and hearing. Creation does prove God’s existence. (Illustration) painting and a building! Common sense. It should be taken for granted that He exists until proven wrong. This is what God says to those that don’t believe in a creator “Fools”.

The fool says in his heart, “there is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.   Psalms14:1

  B. Think about the size of the universe, it’s complexity, and it’s beauty. Think about your eyes and your sense of smell and your ability to hear. Amazing!

  c. But this simple witness of God’s under attack by fools that want to believe that we came from fish. Paintings and building just happened to come about. They teach it in schools around the world as fact when it is truly fiction. They exclaim that God should prove Himself to be real!

2. Conscience

  A. Conscience means with knowledge. So it seems that everyone has a conscience and therefore must have some knowledge about God and His laws.

   The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.   John1:9

   Even those that don’t know God or have ever heard about Him have a conscience.

   Since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.   Romans2:15

    This means they have inside knowledge of God. That’s why even atheists pray when their lives are in danger. There are no atheists in foxholes! (Illustration) Believed in God as a boy / my parents didn’t.

B. Consciences under attack! Satan would like very much to deaden your conscience and give you a hard heart. So you won’t see!

But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.  Romans2:5

Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.  1Timothy4:2

3. God’s Word

   A. the Bible is a supernatural book that is filled with advanced scientific and medical knowledge way beyond the knowledge of other people 3,000 years ago. The Bible states that the earth is a sphere that hangs on nothing.

He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.  Job26:7

He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.  Isaiah40:22

Here circle means sphere! The Bible is also filled with fulfilled prophecies. God can do this because He knows the beginning and the end.

Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.  Isaiah46:9-10

  

   B. There is also an attack on this witness from the world and from the devil. Although The Bible is the most attacked, tried, and scrutinized book in the world it still is the #1 best seller. (Illustration) Many have tried to wipe out The Bible Voltaire/Mainland China.

4. Believers

And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.  John15:27

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will by my witnesses in Jerusalem , and in all Judea and Samaria , and to the ends of the earth.  Act1:8

A. You and I are to be witnesses for Jesus. If you have been truly born of God you know Jesus personally. You have experienced God’s love, mercy, power, deliverance etc. You have a testimony that God exists and that He still cares about us all. That’s why your testimony is so important.

B. That’s why the way you live as a Christian is so important. The devil wants to discredit your testimony. He will attack your testimony and witness. 

5. The Holy Spirit

 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid.  John5:32

When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.  John15:26

When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness, and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me.   John168-9

This is the one who came by water and blood-Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.   1John5:6

A. The scriptures are very clear on this. The Holy Spirit convicts, reveals and even does miracles to confirm the gospel that we preach. Often we see people touched by God but they run off. Why? Because they don’t want to face the issues. they want to stay in darkness. Maybe they get scared but it goes prove that they know God is real or they wouldn’t try to run so hard.

   

Using the Five Witnesses

1. Pointing Out These Truths To Sinners

 A. We must point out to the sinner that God is not on trial but here it is they that are on trial God does not have to prove Himself but they do have to explain why they continue in unbelief when there is so much evidence and help before them. Let us put the monkey on their backs instead of letting them push us into a corner to try to prove Christianity.

2. Use the Signs God Has Given Us to Witness

    A. When we witness we need to explain the reality of God, God’s word, conscience, our testimony and rely upon the Holy Spirit to work. No excuse!

Conclusion Are you seeking a sign? Are you trying to get God to prove Himself? The burden of proof is on your back not His!

中譯

五項見證

法利賽人和撒都該人來試探耶穌，請他從天上顯個神蹟給他們看。耶穌回答說：“晚上天發紅你們就說，‘天必要晴’；早晨天發紅，又發黑，你們就說，‘今天必有風雨’。你們知道分辨天上的氣色，倒不能分辨這時候的神蹟。一個邪惡淫亂的世代求神蹟，除了約拿的神蹟以外，再沒有神蹟給他看。”耶穌就離開他們去了。   馬太福音16:1-4

這是合理的問題，但耶穌為什麼要稱他們為“邪惡淫亂、假冒為善的世代尋求神蹟”呢？這是很顯然的。顯然耶穌期盼他們去尋求正確的真理，而不是一個異象。

我們的世代

1.邪惡淫亂又假冒為善

 A. 為什麼耶穌要這樣稱呼他們，“邪惡淫亂又假冒為善”？因為他們寧願選擇向神要一個神蹟，而不願向神要尋求真理。在今天我們所處的世代也是一個不要真理的世代。

 B. “邪惡者”因為他們忽視神的異象，“淫亂者”因為他們反對神的論調，假冒為善是，他們有能力去辨明真理，但不願去花時間，還一直向神要求新的異象。他們願意把時間花在股票投資上，而不願花時間在尋求真理上。

2.不信的人沒有藉口

  A. 神早已把異象給我們了，如果我們願意來分辨明識。我找到至少五項的證明，任何一人如果願意以真誠來辨明，會得救的。這五項是，創造、良心、神的話語、信徒和聖靈。任何人願意真心相信來尋求，神會把這些給予你。

B. 這些證明是世界和撒旦會來攻擊的。他們會在暗處攻擊，即使是現在我們一樣要抵抗它們，也要人們都知道。我們必須了解到對於不信的人他們是沒有藉口的。不信的人他不能在面對神的時候說：神啊！你從來沒告訴我；你從來沒給顯明給我看。

3.誰付證明的代價

 A. 證明的代價在哪裡？在美國你從無罪一直證明到有罪，在臺灣我聽過有人說你有罪一直證明到你無罪。許多人都一直向神要證明的代價。他們總說：當他向我證明他是真的，我就相信。但他們總是把事情全想反了。已有足夠的證據可證明神在身邊和耶穌是拯救者。

B. 我們該告訴他們的是上帝的不存在，讓他們假設他的存在，直到證明他的不存在。但如果他們真的用真誠的看神已給我們的異象，他們不會這麼做的。

五項見證

1.創造

自從造天地以來，神的水能和神性是明明可知的，雖是眼不能見，但藉著所造之物就可以曉得，叫人無可推諉。   羅馬書1:20

A. 信心就是要不斷的聆聽。“創造”確實證明神是存在的，例如，一幅畫作和一棟建築物，相同的道理。視為是一樣的，證明神是活著的，直到證明是錯的。神稱那些不相信創造的笨蛋。

  愚頑人心裏說：“沒有神。”他們都是邪惡，行了可憎惡的事；沒有一個人行善。   詩篇14:1

B. 想想這世界的大小尺寸，它的複雜，它的美好。想想你的眼晴能看，還有你聞東西及聽事物的能力，這是多驚異啊！

C. 但這些簡單的證明是神給笨蛋，相信我們是從魚變來的。一幅畫作和一棟建築物，剛好就有。他們還把虛構的事實，在全世界不斷的教導著。他們呼喊神應該要為證明他自己是真的。

2.良心

  A. 良心意思等同知識。因此似乎每個人都有良心，所以必有一些關於神和他的律法的知識。

     那光是真光，照亮一切生在世上的人。   約翰福音1:9

   即使那些不知道神或沒有聽過他的人，都是良心的。

     這是顯出律法的功用刻在他們心裏，他們是非之心同作見證，並且他們的思念互相較量，或以為是，或以為非。   羅馬書2:15

   這意思是他們的內心就有神的知識。那是為什麼即使是無神論者也祈

求，當他們處在危險中。這裡沒有是無神論者可躲藏的。

B. 良心是會被攻擊的。撒旦很喜歡讓你的良心變得麻木給你一顆硬的心。所以你不會查覺到。

你竟任著你剛硬不悔改的心，為自己積蓄忿怒，以致神震怒，顯他公義審判的日子來到。   羅馬書2:5

這是因為說謊之人的假冒，這等人的良心如同被熱鐵烙慣了一般。  提摩太前書4:2

3. 神的話語

A. 聖經是一本超自然的書，裡面充滿先進的，合乎科學的和醫學的知識。超過其他人的知識有3，000多年之久。聖經也是充滿被應驗的預言。神能夠做到的因為他知道起初到末後的事。

    你們要追念上古的事，因為我是神，並無別神；我是神，再沒有能比我的！我從起初指明末後的事，從古時言明未成的事，說：我的籌算必立定，凡我所喜悅的，我必成就。   以賽亞書46:9-10

B. 這個證明也會被世界和撒旦來攻擊。雖然聖經是常被攻擊和最受爭議的書，例如許多國家想試著消滅聖經，但還是世界上賣的最好的書。

4. 信徒

    

      你們也要作見證，因為你們從起頭就與我同在。  約翰福音15:27

      但聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必得著能力；並要在耶路撒冷、猶太全地和撒馬利亞，直到地極，作我的見證。   使徒行傳1:8

A. 我們要為耶穌作見證。如果你真是從神生的，你知道耶穌就在你身邊。你會經歷到神的愛、神的憐憫、神的能力及釋放。你有的證見是神的活著而且他關心我們所有的人。這是為什麼你的見證是很重要的。

B. 那就是為什麼你生為一個基督徒是多麼重要的事。撒旦想要來破壞你的見證，它會來攻擊你的見證和證明。

5. 聖靈

另有一位給我作見證，我也知道他給我作的見證是真的。   約翰福音5:32

但我要從父那裏差保惠師來，就是從父出來真理的聖靈，他來了，就要為我作見證。   約翰福音15:26

他既來了，就要叫世人為罪、為義、為審判，自己責備自己。為罪，是因他們不信我。   約翰福音16:8-9

這藉著水和血而來的，就是耶穌基督；不是單用水，乃是用水又用血。約翰一書5:6

  A. 經節在這有非常清楚的解釋，聖靈會來定罪，會行出奇蹟，會來確認我們所傳講的福音。通常我們會看到人們受到神的感動，但他們還是逃離神，為什麼呢？因為他們不想去面對這些問題。他們想繼續待在黑暗中。也許他們害怕去證明神是真的，或他們不願去嘗試辛苦。

使用這五項見證

 1. 向罪人點出這些事實

A. 我們必須向罪人點出神不會給考驗，是他們在考驗神。神沒有必要去證明他自己。但他們總是辯解為什麼他們還是不信，當這已有這麼多的證明在他們面前。讓我們放隻猴子在他們背上然後我們被推到角落去試著證明基督教。

2. 使用神給我們的異象去證明

A. 當我們作見證，我們需要去解釋神的真實，神的話語，良心，我們的見證，還有信賴聖靈會來作工，這是沒有藉口的。

結論 你在尋找異象嗎？你在試著要神去證明他自己嗎？

付證明的代價是在你的身上,而不是在他。