David Brainerd, in the forests of North America laboring among the Indians, was a sign-witness to the easy-going Christians of his day of the compassionate heart of Christ for the lost. The lonely, sacrificial life he lived, in utter forgetfulness of self, was a living challenge to their selfishness. 

Charles Spurgeon, preaching to thousands weekly in the great metropolis of London, was a sign-witness that the Holy Spirit could use in an unusual way an unordained stripling in His service. He was only 19 years of age, a boy from the country, when he first stood in the pulpit of New Park Street Chapel on the cold and dull morning of Dec. 18, 1853. This pastorate which began on that day was to continue for 38 years - until his death on Jan. 31, 1892. 

D. L. Moody, who reached the great intellectuals of America and Britain with the gospel, was a sign-witness to the church that God could use an uneducated and unlettered man. I had in my possession for a short time a postcard which Mr. Moody had written to a friend during the revival meetings in London. In its short message, I noted at least five errors in grammar. Yet, this plain, simple, middle-aged American from Chicago astonished all Britain with his amazing capacity for setting forth in striking, straight-forward language the winsome gospel of Christ. 

George Müller, the founder of the famous orphan homes of Bristol, was a sign-witness to an unbelieving church and world that God was able to send in vast sums of money for His work in answer to prayer alone, without his asking man for a penny. By faith in the living God, Mr. Müller prayed into God's treasury almost three million dollars without letting any man know of a particular need.

 Mrs. Catherine Booth-Clibborn, at the age of 90 years, was a sign-witness to all that God could give supernatural strength for His service until one's life-work was ended. Sometimes, she couldn't remember the name of the town in which she was preaching at the time, and yet, the moment she stepped only the platform to preach to the vast crowds, one felt that 40 years had slipped off her age; she could preach thus nightly for an hour without any notes whatsoever. 

Ezekiel is my favorite sign-witness. This prophet was often called upon to act out before the astonished eyes of his people the terrible events which were to take place among them in the future. Let us examine one incident, for example: 

The word of the Lord also came to me, saying, Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house who have eyes to see and see not, who have ears to hear and hear not; for they are a rebellious house. Therefore, son of man, prepare your belongings for removing and going into exile, and move out obey day in their sight; and you shall remove from your place to another place in their sight. It may be they will consider and perceive that they are a rebellious house. And you shall bring forth your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for removing into exile; and you shall go forth into exile. Dig through the wall in their sight, and carry the stuff out through the hole. In their sight you shall bear your baggage upon your shoulder and carry it forth in the dark; you shall cover your face so that you can't see the land; for I have set you as a sign for the house of Israel. Ez. 12:1-6

Ezekiel's life and ministry teach some fundamental lessons concerning the life and work of sign-witnesses. 

Sign-witnesses must give unquestioning obedience
In verse 7 we read, "And I did as I was commanded." Ezekiel obeyed God without knowing at the beginning what his actions were to signify. It was only when he had been proved willing to obey that the word of the Lord came to him in explanation. A prophet of the Lord must be so surrendered to Him that all circumstances of his life may serve His purpose. He must be ready at a moment's notice to obey God implicitly and without question. A true prophet is always at the disposal of his God. As Oswald Chambers has wisely said:

 When we hear the call of God, it isn't for us to dispute with God and arrange to obey Him if He will expound the meaning of the call to us. As long as we insist on having the call expounded to us, we will never obey; but when we obey, it is expounded, and in looking back, there comes a chuckle of confidence - "He doeth all things well." Before us there is nothing, but overhead there is God, and we have to trust Him. If we insist on explanations before we obey, we lie like clogs on God's plan and put ourselves clean athwart His purpose. 

Faith never knows where it's being led; it knows and loves the One who is leading. It's the life of faith … not of intelligence and reason, but a life of knowing who is making me go!!

 This is copyrighted material from James Stewart's book Come O Breath!, available from Revival Literature, PO Box 6068, Asheville, NC 28816.