Text: John 5 : 6 - 12

Introduction:
We have been through a difficult year.  Many are anxious for the future.  The year 1999 holds
many questions.  Many countries in our region are going through trying times.  They are going
through a process to determine the validity of witnesses.  Today, the people of God also face
an uncertain environment, both within and without the church.

Point One:
Changes in the world will affect the churches:
How we worship, how we talk about our belief, how we understand the authority of the church....
John's concern is that the CHURCH  will be stedfast in the face of such change and uncertainty.

Point Two:
The text tells us that God himself is called to be a witness.  This is indeed a tremendous and
blessed thought.  The witness of the Creator God is reliable and trustworthy. If the testimony of
man is important, the testimony of God is greater!  The text also refers to three other witnesses:
the spirit, the water and the blood.  They point to the incarnation of Jesus, the baptism of Jesus
and the crucifixion of Jesus.  These witnesses will stand even if put to any test.  However, these objective witnesses must be internalised.  People may know the truth, but it must be personalised.

Point Three:
To remain stedfast in the face of change and uncertainty, we must know for sure about our Lord Jesus Christ.  Our confidence is in God's testimony, attested to by the spirit, water and the blood.  Our sure foundation is in the turth of God's Word:  He who believes him has life and this life is in Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:
John 20 : 31  This is written so that you may believe and beliving, you may have eternal life
through his name.