The challenge of the witness to keeping the message pure - Acts 15v1-21

How does the witness keep his message pure, fresh, alive and clear?
What are the subtle threats to the content and quality of messages of the witness?  The church down the ages has battled with this.  Paul and Barnabas did in Chapter 15.  Martin Luther fought the Catholic Church on account of this problem.  Denominations of the Christian faith have come up as a result of responses to these issues.

Temptations every witness face include:
1.    Serving the message dressed in cultural apparel (v1- v5) - The message is no longer, “Jesus alone but Jesus and…..our culture or other prejudices. This happens when the vision of the witness shifts from the core message to cultural experience, to practices and to anything that will make the message different from the message of other groups.
2.    Serving the message in a blend of compromises (v19-21) -  This was clearly put by James.  Don’t insist on obeying the law of Moses but let us lay down certain rules.  Apparently Paul agreed for the sake of peace even though he did not completely believe it as subsequently argued in his letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 8v1-6)
3.    Serving the message dressed in experience – Some experiences that may not necessarily be hostile but in a subtle way may displace the message itself e.g. the cross, mode of dressing and attendance or regularity at church meetings…etc.
The challenge can be managed by:
•        Staying focused or plugged in to the word.  The constant study of the word and use of it would keep our vision and memory clear.
•        Sharing with one another the testimonies of what the Lord has done.  Peter used it, Paul and Barnabas also shared their testimonies.  Focus our vision on sharing what God has done and in the process focusing on Him.  Therefore, fellowship and testimonies have powerful impact on keeping the message pure and vision clear.
•        It follows from above that maintaining an accountability team helps to preserve the quality of our testimony.  Within the context of this, we must be willing to stand up against teachings and practices that have the potential of adulterating the message (v2).
Lord, keep my vision and message clear in and through Jesus Christ my Lord.  AMEN.