That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.
Witness…to furnish proof of…to have personal or direct cognizance of …one asked to be present at a transaction so as to be able to testify to its taken place.
I. By His Commandment…
· Matt 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in }the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, * and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
II. By His Choice…
We are His witness, good or bad. We are on the witness stand!
· Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
III. By His Power…
Boldness… power to "preach", power to win the guy with one eye on his forehead that love to physically harm people, maybe,…
but more practical is the simple ability to communicate with someone about Jesus, or give someone hope that God has an answer for their troubles.
*** Jeremiah ----- Moses Both felt unable to fulfill their calling.
· Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
· Luke 24: 45-49 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
III. By Our Experiences…
What they Heard…. Saw…. Experienced….
· 1John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.
· Luke 24: 45-49 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
· Acts 4:20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
· 2 Peter 1:16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
Are we Looking? Are we Seeing? Are we experiencing?
If not, is "Jesus Lord" of your life?
IV. By Our Vision… of the World…
· Jesus saw through his Father’s eyes…
V. By Our Relationship With Him…
· Matt 12:34 "... For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. "
VI. By Our Willingness to Be Available…
Philip, Holy Spirit and the Eunuch.
· Acts 8:26 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian {[27] That is, from the upper Nile region}eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."
