A Witness, Not An Advocate

There is an apparent disparity between a professed faith and possessed faith. No doubt Jesus taught this when he said that in the day of judgment, many would CALL him Lord, even performing miracles, but whom he labeled "workers of lawlessness" (Matthew 7:23). And this was something of what Paul also taught when he told Timothy that there would be professors who'd be known for "having a form of godliness but denying it's power" (2 Tim. 3:5).

Holy Spirit Authority

In his wonderfully helpful little book, Authority, Martyn Lloyd-Jones stresses the necessity of the Spirit in the work of evangelism. He cites a political article in which the author makes reference to two speakers he had recently heard, differentiating them only by the fact that the first one spoke "brilliantly as an advocate," whereas the second had spoken as a "witness." So, Lloyd-Jones asks which are we? Then he shows why one is better than the other . . .

What Is An Advocate?

You can be an advocate of Christianity without being a Christian. You can be an advocate of these things without experiencing them. If you have intelligence, if you have been rightly trained, you can understand the Scriptures in a sense, and you can lay them out before others. You can present all the arguments, you can put the case for a kind of Christian philosophy. And it may sound wonderful. But you may be standing outside the true experience of it the whole time. You may be talking about something which you do not really know, about Someone you have never met. You are an advocate, perhaps even a brilliant advocate. But note what the Lord said to the apostles: "You shall be my witnesses."

Now, What Is A Witness?

"What the Holy Spirit does with His authority is to make us witnesses." . . . "You shall be my witnesses . . ." (Acts 1:8). . . . Lloyd-Jones demonstrates how intimately these disciples already knew the Lord having been with him from his baptism, throughout his daily teachings, and many miracles. They had witnessed his death upon the cross, and found the tomb empty three days later. They had seen the risen Savior on several occasions. If there were anyone who'd qualify as witnesses, it is these men! Yet, Jesus does not send them out as witnesses until something else occurs. What is that? They had to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit had come upon them (Acts 1:8 again). His point? "Knowledge of the facts is not enough. Before you can witness effectively there must be this power of the Holy Spirit."

For all the "air time" Christian institutions give to this doctrine, you might imagine that we'd have it down much better than we do. But I am afraid that we have fallen prey to many distracting, if not well-meaning, temptations. Many preachers work hard, use the hottest technologies and incorporate the latest fad in Church growth technique. Still, we do not seem to be producing God-lovers, but institution operators. We can run the machine, but grow weary when someone suggests that we rely on the Spirit for blessing. Why is this?

Misplaced Faith

It is a faithless thing to turn away from the sure power of the Spirit and to put one's trust in oneself or in lesser methodologies. Let us hear the Lord's words again, "Stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). And, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you . . ."

OK. So, here's the question: Are you an advocate or a witness?